stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第20章
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meaner； I should search about for the flowers and nests； and listen for the
music that I knew sixty…five years ago； and remember； and they would not
be discoverable。 Also every face would stare at me； for all the faces I
know are dead。 Then I should think I had missed my way and come to the
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wrong place； or （worse） that no such spot ever existed； and I have been
cheating myself all these years； that； in fact； I was mad all the while； and
have no stable reason for existingI； the oldest clerk in Tweedy's！ To be
sure； there would be my parents' headstones in the churchyard。 But what
are they； if the churchyard itself is changed？
〃As it is； with three hundred pounds per annum； and enough laid by to
keep him； if I fail； an old bachelor has no reason to grumble。 But the sight
of that little chap's nosegay； and the thought of the mother who tied it there；
made my heart swell as I fancy the earth must swell when rain is coming。
His eyes filled once； and he brushed them under the pretence of pulling his
cap forward； and stole a glance round to see if any one had noticed him。
The other passengers were busy with their own thoughts； and I pretended
to stare out of the window opposite； but there was the drop； sure enough；
on his hand as he laid it on his lap again。
〃He was bound for the docks； and thence for the open sea； and I； that
was bound for Tweedy's only； had to get out at the top of Cheapside。 I
know the 'bus conductor；a very honest man；and； in getting out； I
slipped half a crown into his hand to give to the boy； with my blessing； at
his journey's end。 When I picture his face； sir； I wish I had made it five
shillings； and gone without a new tie and dinner altogether。〃
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THE HIRED BABY
BY MARIE CORELLI
A dark； desolate December night； a night that clung to the metropolis
like a wet black shroud； a night in which the heavy； low…hanging vapours
melted every now and then into a slow； reluctant rain； cold as icicle…drops
in a rock cavern。 People passed and repassed in the streets like ghosts in a
bad dream； the twinkling gas…light showed them at one moment rising out
of the fog； and then disappearing from view as though suddenly engulfed
in a vaporous ebon sea。 With muffled； angry shrieks； the metropolitan
trains deposited their shoals of shivering； coughing travelers at the several
stations； where sleepy officials； rendered vicious by the weather； snatched
the tickets from their hands with offensive haste and roughness。 Omnibus
conductors grew ill…tempered and abusive without any seemingly adequate
reason； shopkeepers became flippant； disobliging； and careless of custom；
cabmen shouted derisive or denunciatory language after their rapidly
retreating fares； in short； everybody was in a discontented； almost spiteful
humour； with the exception of those few aggressively cheerful persons
who are in the habit of always making the best of everything； even bad
weather。 Down the long wide vista of the Cromwell Road； Kensington； the
fog had it all its own way； it swept on steadily； like thick smoke from a
huge fire； choking the throats and blinding the eyes of foot…passengers；
stealing through the crannies of the houses； and chilling the blood of even
those luxurious individuals who； seated in elegant drawing…rooms before
blazing fires； easily forgot that there were such bitter things as cold and
poverty in that outside world against which they had barred their windows。
At one house in particulara house with gaudy glass doors and somewhat
spoiled yellow silk curtains at the windows； a house that plainly said to
itself； 〃Done up for show！〃 to all who cared to examine its exteriorthere
stood a closed brougham； drawn by a prancing pair of fat horses。 A
coachman of distinguished appearance sat on the box； a footman of
irreproachable figure stood waiting on the pavement； his yellow…gloved
hand resting elegantly on the polished silver knob of the carriage door。
Both these gentlemen were resolute and inflexible of face； they looked as
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if they had determined on some great deed that should move the world to
wild applause； but； truth to tell； they had only just finished a highly
satisfactory 〃meat…tea；〃 and before this grave silence had fallen upon them；
they had been discussing the advisability of broiled steak and onions for
supper。 The coachman had inclined to plain mutton…chops as being easier
of digestion； the footman had earnestly asseverated his belief in the
superior succulence and sweetness of the steak and onions； and in the end
he had gained his point。 This weighty question being settled； they had
gradually grown reflective on the past； present； and future joys of eating at
some one else's expense； and in this bland and pleasing state of meditation
they were still absorbed。 The horses were impatient； and pawed the muddy
ground with many a toss of their long manes and tails； the steam from
their glossy coats mingling with the ever…thickening density of the fog。 On
the white stone steps of the residence before which they waited was an
almost invisible bundle； apparently shapeless and immovable。 Neither of
the two gorgeous personages in livery observed it； it was too far back in a
dim corner； too unobtrusive； for the casual regard of their lofty eyes。
Suddenly the glass doors before mentioned were thrown apart with a
clattering noise； a warmth and radiance from the entrance…hall thus
displayed streamed into the foggy street； and at the same instant the
footman； still with grave and imperturbable countenance； opened the
brougham。 An elderly lady； richly dressed； with diamonds sparkling in her
gray hair； came rustling down the steps； bringing with her faint odours of
patchouly and violet…powder。 She was followed by a girl of doll…like
prettiness； with a snub nose and petulant little mouth； who held up her
satin…and…lace skirts with a sort of fastidious disdain； as though she
scorned to set foot on earth that was not carpeted with the best velvet pile。
As they approached their carriage the inert dark bundle； crouched in the
corner； started into lifea woman； with wild hair and wilder eyes； whose
pale lips quivered with suppressed weeping as her piteous voice broke into
sudden clamour：
〃Oh； lady！〃 she cried； 〃for the love of God； a trifle！ Oh； lady； lady！〃
But the 〃lady；〃 with a contemptuous sniff and a shake of her scented
garments； passed her before she could continue her appeal； and she turned
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with a sort of faint hope to the softer face of the girl。
〃Oh； my dear； do have pity！ Just the smallest little thing； and God will
bless you！ You are rich and happyand I am starving！ Only a penny！ For
the babythe poor little baby！〃 And she made as though she would open
her tattered shawl and reveal some treasure hidden therein； but shrunk
back； repelled by the cold； merciless gaze that fell upon her from those
eyes； in which youth dwelt without tenderness。
〃You have no business on our door step；〃 said the girl； harshly。 〃Go
away directly； or I shall tell my servant to call a policeman。〃
Then； as she entered the brougham after her mother； she addressed the
respectable footman angrily； giving him the benefit of a strong nasal
intonation。
〃Howard； why do you let such dirty beggars come near the carriage？
What are you paid for； I should like to know？ It is perfectly disgraceful to
the house！〃
〃Very sorry； miss！〃 said the footman； gravely。 〃I didn't see thethe
person before。〃 Then shutting the brougham door； he turned with a
dignified air to the unfortunate creature； who still lingered near； and； with
a sweeping gesture of his gold…embroidered coat…sleeve； said majestically：
〃Do you 'ear？ Be hoff！〃
Then； having thus performed his duty； he mounted the box beside his
friend the coachman； and the equipage rattled quickly away； its gleaming
lights soon lost in the smoke…laden vapours that drooped downward like
funeral hangings from the invisible sky to the scarcely visible ground。 Left
to herself； the woman who had vainly sought charity from those in whom
no charity existed； looked up despairingly； as one distraught； and seemed
as though she would have given vent to some fierce exclamation； when a
feeble wail came pitifully forth from the sheltering folds of her shawl。 She
restrained herself instantly； and walked on at a rapid pace； scarcely
heeding whither she went； till she reached the Catholic church known as
the 〃Oratory。〃 Its unfinished facade loomed darkly out of the fog； there
was nothing picturesque or inviting about it； yet there were people passing
softly in and out； and through the swinging to and fro of the red baize…
covered doors there came a comforting warm glimmer of light。 The
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woman paused； hesitated； and then； having apparently made up her mind；
ascended the broad steps； looked in； and finally entered。 The place was
strange to her； she knew nothing of its religious meaning； and its cold；
uncompleted appearance oppressed her。 There were only some half…dozen
persons scattered about； like black specks； in its vast white interior； and
the fog hung heavily in the vaulted dome and dark little chapels。 One
corner alone blazed with brilliancy and colour； this was the altar of the
Virgin。 To
