lazy tour of two idle apprentices-第22章

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quite　restored；　when；　hark！　a　metallic　bray　…　The　Gong…donkey！



The　wretched　animal　has　not　cleared　off　with　the　rest；　but　is　here；

under　the　window。　　How　much　more　inconceivably　drunk　now；　how　much

more　begrimed　of　paw；　how　much　more　tight　of　calico　hide；　how　much

more　stained　and　daubed　and　dirty　and　dunghilly；　from　his　horrible

broom　to　his　tender　toes；　who　shall　say！　　He　cannot　even　shake　the

bray　out　of　himself　now；　without　laying　his　cheek　so　near　to　the

mud　of　the　street；　that　he　pitches　over　after　delivering　it。　　Now；

prone　in　the　mud；　and　now　backing　himself　up　against　shop…windows；

the　owners　of　which　come　out　in　terror　to　remove　him；　now；　in　the

drinking…shop；　and　now　in　the　tobacconist's；　where　he　goes　to　buy

tobacco；　and　makes　his　way　into　the　parlour；　and　where　he　gets　a

cigar；　which　in　half…a…minute　he　forgets　to　smoke；　now　dancing；　now

dozing；　now　cursing；　and　now　complimenting　My　Lord；　the　Colonel；

the　Noble　Captain；　and　Your　Honourable　Worship；　the　Gong…donkey

kicks　up　his　heels；　occasionally　braying；　until　suddenly；　he

beholds　the　dearest　friend　he　has　in　the　world　coming　down　the

street。



The　dearest　friend　the　Gong…donkey　has　in　the　world；　is　a　sort　of

Jackall；　in　a　dull；　mangy；　black　hide；　of　such　small　pieces　that　it

looks　as　if　it　were　made　of　blacking　bottles　turned　inside　out　and

cobbled　together。　　The　dearest　friend　in　the　world　（inconceivably

drunk　too）　advances　at　the　Gong…donkey；　with　a　hand　on　each　thigh；

in　a　series　of　humorous　springs　and　stops；　wagging　his　head　as　he

comes。　　The　Gong…donkey　regarding　him　with　attention　and　with　the

warmest　affection；　suddenly　perceives　that　he　is　the　greatest　enemy

he　has　in　the　world；　and　hits　him　hard　in　the　countenance。　　The

astonished　Jackall　closes　with　the　Donkey；　and　they　roll　over　and

over　in　the　mud；　pummelling　one　another。　　A　Police　Inspector；

supernaturally　endowed　with　patience；　who　has　long　been　looking　on

from　the　Guildhall…steps；　says；　to　a　myrmidon；　'Lock　'em　up！　　Bring

'em　in！'



Appropriate　finish　to　the　Grand　Race…Week。　　The　Gong…donkey；

captive　and　last　trace　of　it；　conveyed　into　limbo；　where　they

cannot　do　better　than　keep　him　until　next　Race…Week。　　The　Jackall

is　wanted　too；　and　is　much　looked　for；　over　the　way　and　up　and

down。　　But；　having　had　the　good　fortune　to　be　undermost　at　the　time

of　the　capture；　he　has　vanished　into　air。



On　Saturday　afternoon；　Mr。　Goodchild　walks　out　and　looks　at　the

Course。　　It　is　quite　deserted；　heaps　of　broken　crockery　and　bottles

are　raised　to　its　memory；　and　correct　cards　and　other　fragments　of

paper　are　blowing　about　it；　as　the　regulation　little　paper…books；

carried　by　the　French　soldiers　in　their　breasts；　were　seen；　soon

after　the　battle　was　fought；　blowing　idly　about　the　plains　of

Waterloo。



Where　will　these　present　idle　leaves　be　blown　by　the　idle　winds；

and　where　will　the　last　of　them　be　one　day　lost　and　forgotten？　　An

idle　question；　and　an　idle　thought；　and　with　it　Mr。　Idle　fitly

makes　his　bow；　and　Mr。　Goodchild　his；　and　thus　ends　the　Lazy　Tour

of　Two　Idle　Apprentices。











End