文学阅读与欣赏考试宝典

“文学阅读与欣赏”考前宝典

同学们，你们好！

期末考试临近了，面对厚厚的一本《文学阅读与欣赏》，你是否感到有些紧张呢？

请不要担心，如果你按照考试宝典的内容认真复习，相信你会考出一个好成绩的！

一、如何复习

该课程学习的主线是课本。复习时，依据复习要点(focalpoints),把课本

梳理一遍，是其他任何方法都替代不了的。考试内容大多是出自课本的，熟悉

课本是得高分的法宝。如果按教学平台里的“复习与自测”部分的要点，对照

教材和面授辅导课的课程讲义，从头到尾地详细复习一篇，你的考试成绩会使

你满意的。

二、复习参考

1面授课上的要点梳理/VOB考前串讲

2考前宝典的范围和要点

3论坛上的老师考前提醒

三、考点串讲

1.考试范围

《文学阅读与欣赏》教材的一至八单元为本次考试的范围。考试内容主要涉及教

材中的文学作品理解以及文学常识的掌握。

2.考试题型

笔试分为五个部分，第一部分文学常识，占35分：第二部分诗歌/戏剧分析，占8

分；第三部分莎士比亚作品理解，占12分；第四部分短篇小说分析，占25分；

第五部分写作，为20分。考试时间总共12()分钟，其中文学常识占25分钟，诗

歌/戏剧分析部分占15分钟，莎士比亚作品理解部分占10分钟，短篇小说分析部

分占30分钟，写作部分占40分钟。

.3.试卷各部分详解

a)文学常识的第一部分是10个有关课本出现的文学概念、文学人物和作品

的单项选择题。10个均是课本的重点或者基本常识，所以比较简单，而这

部分得分也较好。大部分同学都在12分以上（满分20分），很多是16一

20分。

1.Thepoem“Ozymandias"isabouta.

A.traveler

B.sculptor

C.writer

D.king

2.TheBennettfamilyarecharactersin.

A.GoneWiththeWind

B.PrideandPrejudice

C.TheImportanceofBeingErnest

D.Pygmalion

3.Thestory“AHorsemanintheSky“takesplacein.

A.AmericanIndependenceWar

B.AmericanCivilWar

C.Colonialtime

D.20thcentury

4.Mrs.Droverisacharacterin.

A.TheAdventuresofTomSawyer

B.TheDemonLover

C.MansfieldPark

D.HeartsandHands

5.ThepoemXuZhimowroteis"Farewellto

A.Cambridge

B.Arms

C.Beijing

D.Freedom

6.UponWestminsterBridgeisabeautifulpoemwrittenbyWordsworth.Inthispoem,

thepoetdescribedthebeautyofthecitywhichrefersto.

A.York

B.Westminster

C.London

D.Cambridge

7.Whenapairofconsecutivelinesinapoemrhymethisisknownasa.

A.ballad

B.stanza

C.couplet

D.sonnet

8.Inaworkofliterature,characterscanbeclassifiedasmajorandminorcharactersin

termsoftheirimportance.E.M.Forstercontraststwotypesofcharacters,the“flat”

andthe“________

A.round

B.flat

C.minor

D.little

9.Thecharacterwhospeaksof“aseaoftroubles”and"theWhipsandScornsof

Time"is.

A.Hamlet

B.Macbeth

C.JaneEyre

D.Scrooge

10.FourofShakespeare'swell-knowntragediesare.

A.Macbeth,Othello,KingLearandWutheringHeights

B.Macbeth,theMerchantofVenice,OthelloandKingLear

C.Macbeth,Hamlet,OthelloandWutheringHeights

D.Macbeth,Hamlet,OthelloandKingLear

11.AnaccepteddramaticconventionusedinShakespeare\timewhereacharacter

expresseshisthoughtsandfeelings,whilealoneonastage,isreferredtoasa

A.memorial

B.soliloquy

C.oration

D.setting

12.RobinsonCrusoeisastory,firstpublishedin1719.Inthestory,RobinsonCrusoeis

themajorcharacterandFridayishis.

A.enemy

B.boss

C.slave

D.colleague

13.Itisimportanttorealizethatwhentheauthorwritesastory,hecreates“someone”to

tellthestory:thatstorytelleriscalledthe"

A.writer

B.witness

C.character

D.narrator

14.“Omniscient“，“I-witness”,"I-agent”and“Objective“areallexamplesofa

narrator's.

A.depth

B.competence

C.reliability

D.pointofview

15.Wheneventsarearranged“firstthingsflrst^^theyareportrayed.

A.chronologically

B.symbolically

C.incoherently

D.horizontally

16.Asthetensionisresolvedtheplotcomestothe.

A.climax

B.denouement

C.exposition

D.elaboration

17.Poeticlicenceisfreedomto.

A.useanotherpoet'simagery

B.makepoliticalstatements

C.combinegenres

D.breaklanguagerules

18.Heathcliffisacharactercreatedby.

A.CharlotteBronte

B.OscarWilde

C.JaneAusten

D.EmilyBronte

Key:1.D2.B3.B4.B5.A

6.C7.C8.A9.A10.D

11.B12.C13.D14.D15.A

16.B17.D18.D

b）第一大题的第二部分是文学常识填空。一般是每句三个空，考核文学常识中的

知识点。这部分往年得分情况不好，反映出考生对文学常识中的知识点能够辨认,

但写出来有困难，请大家考前练习。

现举例如下，作为练习题。

1.Pleaselist3typesofliterarygenresd,p,f.

答案是drama,poetry,fiction

如果你写play,poem,story(ornovel)也是可以接受的。

2.WecallJaneEyrearcharacter,sinceshehasthreedimensionsasa

person,andweseeherchangeanddevelop.Sheisaplain-featured,empathetic,

hard-working,andpassionategirl.SheworksasagovernessatThornfieldHalland

fallsinlovewithherwealthyemployer,R.Butherstrongsenseof

consciencedoesnotpermithertobecomehismistress,andshedoesnotreturnto

himuntilhisinsanewifeisdeadandsheherselfhascomeintoaninheritance.

答案是round,Rochester

3.Dickens'screation,themiserScrooge,isanexampleofa/anaor

s_character.Otherexamplescouldbe'thewiseadvisor'or4the

absent-mindedprofessor

答案是archetype,stock

4.AdlestropisapoemwrittenbyEdwardThomas.Inthepoem,Adlestropisa

rs.

答案是railwaystation

5.Whentheinitialsettingforastoryoccursintheintroduction,theliterarytermfor

thisise.Followingthisthereisa(n)eoftheplotwherethe

actiondevelopsintoconflictcausingaclimaxtobereachedwhentheseconflictsall

reacha(n)cpointbeforeanultimateresolutionoccurs.

答案是exposition,elaboration,crisis

Moreexercisesofthistype:

6.Intheexpositionofaplot,thefouraspectsofthestory-'who',w,

wandwareintroduced.

(when,where,what)

7.Characterscanbeclassifiedasmajorandmcharactersintermsoftheir

importanceinworks.Ortheyarefandroundcharacters,dependingon

whethertheydevelopornotinthestory.

(minor,flat)

8.ADayisasimpleandplainAmericanpoem.Inthispoem,adaystandsfora

inwhichwemaybekeenlyawareofthejoyofbandfeeluncertain

aboutd.

(birth,death)

9.Thetoneinwhichcharactersspeakcanindicatetheira,m,or

m.

(attitudes,manners,mood)

10.AphraBenn,DanielDefoeandBlakeallexploretheideaofthe4darkstranger'

butfromdifferentpointsofview:the4darkstranger'asans,orasa

ns.

(noblesalvage,naturalslave)

11.'Tobeornottobe'arethefirstwordsofthesoliloquyspokenbyH

inS'sdrama,aprinceexperiencing'aseaoft

(Hamlet;Shakespeare,troubles)

12.Inastory,theplotstructuresconsistsofc,e,c

anddenouement.

(exposition,elaboration,climax)

c）戏剧或诗歌分析。这部分主要考查的是对课本中某段戏剧节选或对一篇诗歌的

理解。如果是戏剧分析，5个简答题涉及主题、人物、情节等，如果是诗歌分析，

5个简答题涉及主题、韵脚、诗歌形象、诗句的理解。只要对课本熟悉，这部分的

得分能够很高。

举例如下，请练习：

I.

Trees

IthinkthatIshallneversee

Apoemlovelyasatree

Atreewhosehungrymouthisprest

Againsttheearth'ssweetflowingbreast;

AtreethatlooksatGodallday;

Andliftsherleafyarmstopray;

AtreethatmayinSummerwear

Anestofrobinsinherhair;

Uponwhosebosomsnowhaslain;

Whointimatelyliveswithrain

Poemsaremadebyfoolslikeme,

RutonlyGodcanmakeatree.

Questions:

1.Whatistherhymingscheme?

2.Whatisthenamenormallygiventotwoconsecutivelinesofpoetrythatrhyme?

3.Whichfiguresofspeechdoesline3employ?

4.Whatisthepoet'sattitudetowardstrees?

Answers:

1.aabbccddeeaa

2.couplet

3.personification

4.Headoresthetrees.

II.

AnIrishAirmanForeseesHisDeath

IknowthatIshallseemyfate

Somewhereamongthecloudsabove;

ThosethatIfightIdonothate,

ThosethatIguardIdonotlove;

MycountryisKi1tartanCross,

MycountrymenKiItartan^poor,

Nolikelyendcouldbringthemloss

Orleavethemhappierthanbefore.

Norlaw,nordutybademefight,

Norpublicmen,norcheeringcrowds,

Alonelyimpulseofdelight

Drovetothistumultintheclouds;

Ibalancedall,broughtalltomind,

Theyearstocomeseemedwasteofbreath,

Awasteofbreaththeyearsbehind

Inbalancewiththislife,thisdeath.

Questions:

1.Whatistherhymingscheme?

2.Whatarcthemesofthepoem?

3.Whatattitudedoesthepoetseemtobeexpressinginthefirsthalfofhispoem?

4.IdentifytheimagethatYeatsusesinthelastfewlinesofthepoem?

Answers:

1.ababededefefghgh

2.(Anyoneofthesethree)(l)War,(2)Death,(3)Thefutilityofwar.

3.(Anyoneofthefollowingfive)

acceptanceofdeath;

exhilarationabouttheexperienceofwarintheair;

indifferencetothepurposeofwar;

indifferencetotheresultofthewar;

bitternessaboutthefutilityofthewar;

4.Yeatsuses€awasteofbreath5asanimagefbrboththefuture("theyearsaheadJ)and

thepast(4theyearsbehind)\ORYeatsusestheimage'awasteofbreath'foranytime

otherthanthepresentwhenthefighterisfacingdeathinthesky.

d)莎士比亚作品理解。这部分要求对莎士比亚作品中的词句理解。我们课文中的

莎士比亚作品总共选了四篇，大家下些功夫，我相信大家肯定能理解的。

举例如下：

True,Ihavemarriedher:

Theveryheadandfrontofmyoffending

Haththisextent,nomore.

A.TheonlywrongIhavedone.

B.Thebeginningofmyoffer.

C.TheexcuseIwillhave.

D.TheverydaughterIwillmarry.

答案是：A

这里把莎士比亚的作品用比较通俗的英语表达出来，希望帮助大家理解莎士比亚。

Hamlet(P215)

Tobeornottobe—thatistheQuestion;Whetherit'snoblerinthemindtosufferThe

slingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,Ortotakearmsagainstaseaoftroubles,And

byopposingendthem?

Toliveortodie,thatisaquestion.Isitbettertobearthebitternessofbadfateinthe

mind,orshouldpeopleriseuptopickupweaponsfightingagainstitandendsomany

troublesinone'slife?

Todie,tosleep-Nomore;一andbyasleeptosayweendTheheartache,andthe

thousandnaturalshocksThatfleshisheirto;'TisaconsummationDevoutlytobe

wished.

Todie,tosleep,therewillbenomoreexistence.Andifwecansaythatweendthe

troubleandthecountlessnaturalstrikesthathumanbeingsareboundtosufferbya

sleep,thenasleeporadeathwouldbetheperfectthingthatwehaveseriouslywished

for.

Todie,tosleep;Tosleep,perchancetodream.Ay,there'stherub;Forinthatsleepof

deathwhatdreamsmaycome,Whenwehaveshuffledoffthismortalcoil,Mustgiveus

pause.ThereistherespectThatmakescalamityofsolonglife;

Tosleepperhapsistodream,thatiswherethetroubleis.Inthesleepofdeath,whenwe

getridofourphysicalbodiesandfreeourselvesfromtheseearthlytroubles,whatmay

comeasourdrcamsmustmakeushesitate.Itiswiththisveryconsiderationthatpeople

wouldratherendurealifesolongandsopainful.

Othello(P328)

Othello:Mostpowerful,grave,andrespectedlords

myverynobleandapprovedgoodmasters,

thatIhavetakenawaythisoldman'sdaughter,itismosttrue.

TheonlymisdeedIamaccusedofisthatIhavemarriedher.

Iamunpolishedinmyspeech,andlittleblessedwiththesoftphraseofpeace.

SinceIwasachildofseven,allmyeffortshavebeenconcentratedonmy

militaryprofession,exceptforthelastninemonths.

Icanspeaklittleofthisgreatworld,nomorethanwhatbelongstobattlefield.

AndthereforeIshallhelplittlemyowncauseforwardinspeakingformyself.

Yethyyourgraciouspatience,Iwilltellmylovestoryplainlyandsimply.I

willtellhowIwonhisdaughterbywhatdrugs,whatcharms,whatconjuration

andwhatmightymagic,forIamchargedwiththeseforsuchproceeding.

Brabantio:Amaidwhoisneverbold,whoissostillandquietofspiritthathermotion

blushedatitself,istofallinlovewithwhatshefearedtolookon,inspiteof

hernature,ofheryears,ofhercountry,ofherreputation,ofeverything.

Tobelievethatlovestoryisajudgmentsodeformedandtotallyimperfect

thatitcouldacceptthatperfectioncouldgowrongandgoagainstalltherules

ofnature.Itmustbetheevilclevernessthatdrivesthelovetohappen.

Ithereforeassertagain,heworkedonherwithsomemixtureswhichwere

powerfuloverthebloodorconjuredtothiseffectwithsomemagicpotion.

Duke:Tovouchthisisnoproof.

AlltheWorld'saStage(P73)

Andallthemenandwomenmerelyplayers:theyhavetheirexitsandtheirentrances;

Alltheworldisastage,allthemenandwomenareplayingtheirroles.Theywereborn

intothisworldanddeathwouldtakethemawayfromthisworld.

Andonemaninhistimeplaysmanyparts,Hisactsbeingsevenages.Atfirsttheinfant,

Mewlingandpukinginthenurse'sarms.

Andeverymanplaysmanyrolesinhislifetime.Hiswholelifetimecouldbedivided

into7stages.Atfirstthepartofaninfant,cryingandvomitinginthenurse'sarms.

Andthentheschool-boy,withhissatchel.Andshiningmorningface,creepinglikesnail

Unwillinglytoschool.

Andthenthemanplays(hepartofaschoolboywhosefaceshinesinthemorning.He

walksveryslowlytowardschool,carryinghisschoolbag,forheisreluctanttogoto

school.

Andthenthelover,Sighinglikefurnace,withawofulballadMaketohismistress'

eyebrow.

Andthenheplaysthepartofalover.Sighingheavilylikeafurnace,hewritesa

sentimentalpoemwhichisdevotedtohisgirlfriend\eyebrow.

Thenasoldier,Fullofstrangeoaths,andbeardedlikethepard,Jealousinhonour,

suddenandquickinquarrel,SeekingthebubblereputationEveninthecannon'smouth.

Thenhewillbeasoldier,swearsalot,wearingbeardliketheleopard.Heisvery

vigilantinguardinghishonor.Hequarrelswithothersbecauseheisrashandtouchy

whilepursuingfameevenattheriskofhislifeinthewar.Yet,thereputationheis

seekingisactuallylikeabubble,easilybrokenandvanishedsoon.

Andthenthejustice,Infairroundbellywithgoodcaponlin'd,Witheyessevere,and

beardofformalcut,Fullofwisesawsandmoderninstances;Andsoheplayshispart.

Thenheplaysthepartofanexperiencedmanwithsevereeyes,formallycutbeardanda

fairlyroundbellywhichisfilledwithgoodfood.Whathesaysisfullofoldsayingsand

newexamples.

ThesixthageshiftsIntotheleanandslipper'dpantaloonWithspectaclesonnoseand

pouchonside,Hisyouthfulhosewellsav'daworldtoowideForhisshrunkshank;and

hisbigmanlyvoice,Turningagaintowardchildishtreble,pipesAndwhistlesinhis

sound.

Inthesixthage,heturnsouttobeathinridiculousoldmanwithglassesonhisnoseand

asmallbagonhisside.Histrousers,whichhavebeenkeptwellfromhisyouth,aretoo

wideforhislegs.Hisbassvoiceturnstobecomechildishlyhighwithsoundsasif

producedbyapipeandawhistle.

Lastsceneofall,Thatendshisstrangeeventfulhistory,Issecondchildishnessandmere

oblivionSansteeth,sanseyes,sanstaste,sanseverything.

Themaninhisoldagebecomeschildlikeinhisactionsandmindashelosestheability

tothinkproperlyandtounderstandtheworldaroundhim.Heloseshisteeth,eyesight,

tastebudsandeverythingthatisnecessarytoappreciatelife.

e）短篇小说。这部分是整个卷子里唯一出自课外的，是8道问答题。主要考查的

也是基本的文学常识，涉及布景、主题、人物、情节、矛盾冲突等。前5题每题2

分，后3题每题5分。从分数分布来看，前5题基本都是一句话或者一个短语简

答即可，而后3题同学们要稍微展开来说。失分原因有：1）后三题答案过于简单:

2）答案没有切中要害。从得分策略来说，建议同学们作答时尽量多说几句。

写作。这部分是人称变化和缩写的结合。有些同学不知道怎样才算是从要求的角

度写，所以使用了第三人称。其实就是把自己当成文中的角色，然后讲个故事就

行了。同时，把故事主要情节讲完整就可以了。太多的细节会超过字数限制。评

分是从语言、内容和是否按照要求写作三方面来给整体分。所以，提醒同学们注

意这三点。

以下是两篇小说供大家复习用。

小说1：

TheTidyDrawer

ByMoMcAuley

OneSaturdaymorningAbby'sMumcameupstairstoseeAbbyinherbedroom,orcriedto.There

wassomuchmessonthefloor.Shecouldonlypokeherheadaroundthedoor.Abbysatinthe

middleofitallreadingabook.

“Whatarubbish-tip,“Mumsaid."Youneedtohaveaclearupinhere."

“Why?”Abbyasked.

“Why?”Munirepeated.^Becausethingsgetbrokenorlostwhenthey'reallwilly-nillylikethis.

Comeon,haveatidyupnow?*

"ButI'mverybusy,“Abbyargued,t4andit'sboringonmyown.Caivtyouhelpme?^^

“No,Ican't,I'mbusytoo.ButI'llgiveyouextrapocketmoneyifyoudoagoodjob.**

WhenMumcamebacklater,allthetoysandclothesandbookshaddisappeared.

"I'mimpressedJsaidMum,"ButI'llinspectitproperlylater75

“Itwaseasy,^^saidAbby.uCanIhavemyextrapocketmoneynow?”

“Allright.Getitoutofmychangepurse.It'sinthekitchentidydra\ver.^^

InthekitchenAbbywentovertothedresserandpulledopenthetidydrawer.Shehuntedforthe

purse.

“Anyluck?”Mumasked.

Abbyshookherhead.

"Itmustbelurkingatthebottom,Mumsaid."Let'shaveaproperlook.”

Shepulledthedraweroutandcarrieditovertothetable.Abbykneeleduponachairtolookinside.

Therewerelotsofboringthngslikestaplersandstringsbuttherewerelotsofinterestingthingsas

well.

"What'sthis?^^Abbyasked,holdingupaplasticbottlefullofredliquid.Mumlaughed.

“Fakeblood,fromaHalloweenpartyyearsago.YourDadandItookyoutothat,dressedupasa

babyvampire.Youwerereallyscary.”

“Idon'trememberthat.”

Abbycarriedonlookingthroughthedrawer.Shefoundsomevampireteeth,whitefacepaint,plastic

witchnailsandhairgel.Mumpulledoutaglitteryhairband.Ithadspringswithwobblyballsonthe

lopthatflasheddiscocolors.Sheputitonherheadwhileshecarriedonlookingthrough(hedrawer.

Abbyfoundsomesparklyhairelasticstomatchthehairband.ShemadeherMumputlotsoflittle

bunchesalloverherheadsoshelookedreallysilly.

“Irememberthis,^^Abbysaidasshepulledoutaplasticbag,"Thisisfrommypirateparty."Inside

therewasablack,falsemoustacheandsomebiggoldearrings.

ShepeeledthestickybackingoffthefalsemoustacheandstuckitonMum'stoplipthenfounda

paintbrushinthedrawerandpaintedafierceredscardownhercheekusingthefakeblood.Murn

clippedonthepirateearrings.

“Comehere,“MumsaidandsmearedwhitefacepaintalloverAbby'sface.Shedribbledthefake

bloodsoitlookedasifitwascomingoutofAbby'seyesandmouth.SheputgelalloverAbby'shair

andmadeitstandupintoweird,pointyshapes.Abbyputinthevampireteethandslippedonthe

witchfingers.ShemadescarynoisesatWow-Wowthecat.Heignoredherandcarriedonwashing

himselfonthesealnexttoher.

“Wotchthish?”Abbyasked,holdingupaflatrubberything.Itwashardtospeakthroughthe

vampireteeth.

"It'sawhoopeecushion,''Mumsaid."Youblowitupandsitonit.Itmakesrudenoises.^^Sheblew

itupandgaveittoAbby.

Suddenlytherewasaknockatthebackdoor.Avoicecalledout.**Hello,it'sonlyme.Tveletmyself

in.”

Itwastheirnosyneighbour,Mrs.Hislop.Shewasalwaysinterferingandcomplaining.

Mrs.Hislopenteredthekitchen.Hermouthdroppedopen.

“Wc'rcjushwookingforthechangepursc,^^Abbyexplained.

“Yes,well,er,"Mrs.Hislopsaid,“Ijustwantedawordaboutyourfence.Someofit'sblowndown

onmyside.”

Atthatmoment,Abbysatonthewhoopeecushionandletoutanenormousrudenoise.Wow-Wow

jumpedoffhisseatandranaway.

“Well!”saidMrs.Hislopandhurriedfromtheroomandoutofthehouse.

WhenthedoorbangedshutAbbyandMumburstoutlaughinguntilMum'smoustachehungonbya

whiskerandAbby'svampireteethdroppedout.

AbbycametositonherMum'sknee.

“It'sfundoingthistogether,51shesaid.

“Maybe.butwestillhaven'tfoundthechangepurse."Theybothlookedattheenormousheapof

thingsspreadoverthekitchentable.

44Well,youknowthingswillgetlost,orbroken,whenthey'reallwillynilly,“Abbysaid.

“Youcheekymonkey!”Mumlaughed."ButwhatshallIdowithitall?”

“Iknow,it'seasy,“Abbysaidandbegantoscoopeverythingoffthetabicintoherarms.Shedumped

i(allbackinthekitchendrav/er.

Munilookedathersuspiciously.

“Let'sgoandinspectyourbedroom,shallwe.,J

Abbyfollowedherupstairsandintoherbedroom.Wow-Wcwwassittinginfrontofherfishtank

lookinghungrilyatthegoldfish.HedashedunderthebedwhenhesawMumandAbby.Mum

kneeleddownandliftedthebedcovertogethimout.UnderneathwereheapsAbby'stoys,dooks,

tapes,clothesandshoes,emptyplasticcupsandwrappersandahalf-eatensandwichonaplate.

"Abby!What'sallthis?''

“It'smytidydrawer,“Abbysaid.ShewrappedherarmsaroundherMumandgaveherakiss."Let's

sortthisoneouttogethernow.”

小说2

TheMouse

BySAKI(H.H.MUNRO)(1870-1916)

TheodoricVblerhadbeenbroughtup,frominfancytotheconfinesofmiddleage,bya

fondmotherwhosechiefsolicitudehadbeentokeephimscreenedfromwhatshecalled

thecoarserrealitiesoflife.WhenshediedsheleftTheodoricaloneinaworldthatwas

asrealasever,andagooddealcoarserthanheconsideredithadanyneedtobe.Toa

manofhistemperamentandupbringingevenasimplerailwayjourneywascrammed

withpettyannoyancesandminordiscords,andashesettledhimselfdownina

second-classcomparlmentoneSeptembermorninghewasconsciousofruffledfeelings

andgeneralmentaldiscomposure.Hehadbeenstayingatacountryvicarage(avicarsr

house),theinmatesofv/hichhadbeencertainlyneitherbrutalnorbacchanalian,but

theirsupervisionofthedomesticestablishmenthadbeenofthatlaxorderwhichinvites

disaster.Theponycarriagethatwastotakehimtothestationhadneverbeenproperly

ordered,andwhenihemomentforhisdeparturedrewnear,thehandymanwhoshould

haveproducedtherequiredarticlewasnowheretobefound.Inthisemergency

Theodoric,tohismutebutveryintensedisgust,foundhimselfobligedlocollaborate

withthevicar'sdaughterinthetaskofharnessingthepony,whichnecessitatedgroping

aboutinanilllightedoutbuildingcalledastable,andsmellingverylikeoneexceptin

patcheswhereitsmelledofmice.Withoutbeingactuallyafraidofmice,Theodoric

classedthemamongthecoarserincidentsoflife,andconsideredthatProvidence,witha

littleexerciseofmoralcourage,mightlongagohaverecognizedthattheywerenot

indispensable,andhavewithdrawnthemfromcirculation.

Asthetrainglidedoutofthestation,Theodoric'snervousimaginationaccusedhimself

ofexhalingaweakodorofstableyard,andpossiblyofdisplayingamoldystrawortwo

onhisunusuallywell-brushedgarments.Fortunatelytheonlyotheroccupationofthe

compartment,aladyofaboutthesameageashimself,seemedinclinedforslumber

ratherthanscrutiny;thetrainwasnotduetostoptill(heterminuswasreached,inabout

anhour'stime,andthecarriagewasoftheold-fashionedsortthatheldno

communicationwithacorridor,thereforenofurthertravelingcompanionswerelikelyto

intrudeonTheodoric'ssemiprivacy.Andyetthetrainhadscarcelyattaineditsnormal

speedbeforehebecamereluctantlybutvividlyawarethathewasnotalonewiththe

slumberinglady;hewasnotevenaloneinhisownclothes(28a).Awarm,creeping

movementoverhisfleshbetrayedtheunwelcomeandhighlyresentedpresence,unseen

butpoignant,ofastrayedmouse,thathadevidentlydashedintoitspresentretreat

duringtheepisodeoftheponyharnessing.

Furtivestampsandshakesandwildlydirectedpinchesfailedtodislodgetheintruder...

andthelawfuloccupantoftheclotheslaybackagainstthecushionsandendeavored

rapidlytoevolvesomemeansforputtinganendtothedualownership.Itwas

unthinkablethatheshouldcontinueforthespaceofawholehourinthehorrible

positionofaRowtonHouse(acharityhouse)forvagrantmice(alreadyhisimagination

hadatleastdoubledthenumbersofthealieninvasion).Ontheotherhand,nothingless

drasticthanpartialdisrobingwouldeasehimofhistormentor,andtoundressinthe

presenceofalady,evenforsolaudableapurpose,wasanideathatmadehiseartips

tingleinablushofabjectshame.Hehadneverbeenabletobringhimselfeventothe

mildexposureofopenworksocksinthepresenceofthefairsex.Andyet—theladyin

thiscasewastoallappearancessoundlyandsecurelyasleep;themouse,ontheolher

hand,seemedtobetryingtocrowdawandeijahr(alongjourney)intoafewstrenuous

minutes.Ifthereisanytruthinthetheoryoftransmigration,thisparticularmousemust

certainlyhavebeeninaformerstateamemberoftheAlpineClub.Sometimesinits

eagernessitlostitsfootingandslippedforhalfaninchorso;andthen,infright,or

moreprobablytemper,itbit.Theodoricwasgoadedintothemostaudacious

undertakingofhislife.

Crimsoningtothehueofabeetrootandkeepinganagonizedwatchonhisslumbering

fellowtraveler,heswiftlyandnoiselesslysecuredtheendsofhisrailwayrugiothe

racksoneithersideofthecarriage,sothatasubstantialcurtainhungathwartthe

compartment.Inthenarrowdressingroomthathehadthusimprovisedheproceeded

withviolenthastetoextricatehimselfpartiallyandthemouseentirelyfromthe

surroundingcasingsoftweedandhalf-wool.Astheunraveledmousegaveawildleap

lothefloor,iherug,slippingitsfasteningaleitherend,alsocamedownwi』ha

heart-curdlingflop(28b),andalmostsimultaneouslytheawakenedsleeperopenedher

eyes.

Withamovementalmostquickerthanthemouse's,Theodoricpouncedontherugand

hauleditsamplefoldschin-highoverhisdismantledpersonashecollapsedintothe

farthercornerofthecarriage.Thebloodracedandbeatintheveinsofhisneckand

forehead,whilehewaiteddumblyforthecommunicationcordtobepulled.Thelady,

however,contentedherselfwithasilentstareatherstrangelymuffledcompanion.How

muchhadsheseen,Theodoricqueriedtohimself;andinanycasewhatonearthmust

shethinkofhispresentposture?

"IthinkIhavecaughtachill,11heventureddesperately.

"Really,I'msorry,"shereplied."Iwasjustgoingtoaskyouifyouwouldopenthis

window."

“Ifancyit'smalaria,"headded,histeethchatteringslightly,asmuchfromfrightasfrom

adesiretosupporthistheory.