Натаниель Готорн - Дом о семи шпилях

Странно, однако, что джентльмен, славившийся своей пунктуальностью, так задержался в старом пустом доме, который он, по-видимому, никогда не любил посещать.

What next? A decayed widow, whose husband was Judge Pyncheon's early friend, has laid her case of destitution before him in a very moving letter. She and her fair daughter have scarcely bread to eat. He partly intends to call on her today-perhaps so-perhaps not-accordingly as he may happen to have leisure and a small bank note. Another business, which, however, he puts no great weight on (it is well, you know, to be heedful, but not over anxious, as respects one's personal health), another business, then, was to consult his family physician. About what, for Heaven's sake? Why, it is rather difficult to describe the symptoms. A mere dimness of sight and dizziness of brain, was it?-or a disagreeable choking, or stifling, or gurgling, or bubbling, in the region of the thorax, as the anatomists say?-or was it a pretty severe throbbing and kicking of the heart, rather creditable to him than otherwise, as showing that the organ had not been left out of the judge's physical contrivance? No matter what it was. The doctor probably would smile at the statement of such trifles to his professional ear; the judge would smile in his turn; and meeting one another's eyes, they would enjoy a hearty laugh together! But a fig for medical advice! The judge will never need it! Pray, pray, Judge Pyncheon, look at your watch, now! What-not a glance!

Наконец, судья намеревался позвать к себе по какому-то делу вдову одного друга своих ранних лет, терпевшую крайнюю бедность. Впрочем, он мог это сделать или не сделать в зависимости от того, найдется ли у него несколько свободных минут.