stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第24章
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than they had sickened。 Thus soothing her inward tremors as best she
might； she took more care than ever of her frail charge； stinting herself
than she might nourish it； though the baby seemed to care less and less for
mundane necessities； and only submitted to be fed； as it were； under
patient and silent protest。
And so the sands in Time's hour…glass ran slowly but surely away； and
it was New…Year's eve。 Liz had wandered about all day； singing her little
repertoire of ballads in the teeth of a cruel； snow…laden wind so cruel that
people otherwise charitably disposed had shut close their doors and
windows； and had not even heard her voice。 Thus the last span of the Old
Year had proved most unprofitable and dreary； she had gained no more
than sixpence； how could she return with only that humble amount to face
Mother Mawks and her vituperative fury？ Her throat ached； she was very
tired； and； as the night darkened from pale to deep and starless shadows；
she strolled mechanically from the Strand to the Embankment； and after
walking some little distance she sat down in a corner close to Cleopatra's
Needlethat mocking obelisk that has looked upon the decay of empires；
itself impassive； and that still appears to say； 〃Pass on； ye puny
generations！ I； a mere carven block of stone； shall outlive you all！〃 For the
first time in all her experience the child in her arms seemed a heavy
burden。 She put aside her shawl and surveyed it tenderly； it was fast asleep；
a small； peaceful smile on its thin； quiet face。 Thoroughly worn out herself；
she leaned her head against the damp stone wall behind her； and clasping
the infant tightly to her breast； she also sleptthe heavy； dreamless sleep
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of utter fatigue and physical exhaustion。 The solemn night moved on； a
night of black vapours； the pageant of the Old Year's deathbed was
unbrightened by so much as a single star。 None of the hurrying passers…by
perceived the weary woman where she slept in that obscure corner； and for
a long while she rested there undisturbed。 Suddenly a vivid glare of light
dazzled her eyes； she started to her feet half asleep； but still instinctively
retaining the infant in her close embrace。 A dark form； buttoned to the
throat and holding a brilliant bull's…eye lantern； stood before her。
〃Come now；〃 said this personage； 〃this won't do！ Move on！〃
Liz smiled faintly and apologetically。
〃All right！〃 she answered； striving to speak cheerfully； and raising her
eyes to the policeman's good…natured countenance。 〃I didn't mean to fall
asleep here。 I don't know how I came to do it。 I must go home； of course。〃
〃Of course；〃 said the policeman； somewhat mollified by her evident
humility； and touched in spite of himself by the pathos of her eyes。 Then
turning his lamp more fully upon her； he continued； 〃Is that a baby you've
got there？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Liz； half proudly； half tenderly。 〃Poor little dear！ it's been
ailing sadlybut I think it's better now than it was。〃
And； encouraged by his friendly tone； she opened the folds of her
shawl to show him her one treasure。 The bulls…eye came into still closer
requisition as the kindly guardian of the peace peered inquiringly at the
tiny bundle。 He had scarcely looked when he started back with an
exclamation：
〃God bless my soul！〃 he cried； 〃it's dead！〃
〃Dead！〃 shrieked Liz； 〃oh； no； no！ Not dead！ Don't say so； oh； don't；
don't say so！ Oh； you can't mean it！ Oh； for God's love； say you didn't
mean it！ It can't be dead； not really dead！no； no； indeed！ Oh； baby； baby！
You are not dead； my pet my angel； not dead； oh no！〃
And breathless； frantic with fear； she felt the little thing's hands and
feet and face； kissed it wildly； and called it by a thousand endearing names；
in vainin vain！ Its tiny body was already stiff and rigid； it had been a
corpse more than two hours。
The policeman coughed； and brushed his thick gauntlet glove across
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his eyes。 He was an emissary of the law； but he had a heart。 He thought of
his bright…eyed wife at home； and of the soft…cheeked； cuddling little
creature that clung to her bosom and crowed with rapture whenever he
came near。
〃Look here；〃 he said； very gently； laying one hand on the woman's
shoulder as she crouched shivering against the wall； and staring piteously
at the motionless waxen form in her arms； 〃it's no use fretting about it。〃
He paused； there was an uncomfortable lump in his throat； and he had to
cough again to get it down。 〃The poor little creature's gonethere's no help
for it。 The next world's a better place than this； you know！ There； there；
don't take on so about it〃 this as Liz shuddered and sighed； a sigh of such
complete despair that it went straight to his honest soul； and showed him
how futile were his efforts at consolation。 But he had his duty to attend to；
and he went on in firmer tones： 〃Now； like a good woman； you just move
off from here and go home。 If I leave you here by yourself a bit； will you
promise me to go straight home？ I mustn't find you here when I come
back on this beat； d' ye understand？〃 Liz nodded。 〃That's right！〃 he
resumed； cheerily。 〃I'll give you just ten minutes； you just go straight
home。〃
And with a 〃Good…night；〃 uttered in accents meant to be comforting；
he turned away and paced on； his measured tread echoing on the silence at
first loudly； then fainter and fainter； till it altogether died away； as his
bulky figure disappeared in the distance。 Left to herself； Liz rose from her
crouching posture； rocking the dead child in her arms； she smiled。
〃Go straight home！〃 she murmured； half aloud。 〃Home； sweet home！
Yes； baby； yes； my darling； we will go home together！〃
And creeping cautiously along in the shadows； she reached a flight of
the broad stone steps leading down to the river。 She descended them； one
by one； the black water lapped against them heavily； heavily； the tide was
full up。 She paused； a sonorous； deep…toned iron voice rang through the air
with reverberating； solemn melody。 It was the great bell of St。 Paul's
tolling midnightthe Old Year was dead。
〃Straight home！〃 she repeated； with a beautiful； expectant look in her
wild； weary eyes。 〃My little darling！ Yes； we are both tired； we will go
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home！ Home； sweet home！ We will go！〃
Kissing the cold face of the baby corpse she held； she threw herself
forward； there followed a sullen； deep splasha slight struggleand all
was over！ The water lapped against the steps heavily； heavily； as before；
the policeman passed once more； and saw to his satisfaction that the coast
was clear； through the dark veil of the sky one star looked out and
twinkled for a brief instant； then disappeared again。 A clash and clamour
of bells startled the brooding night； here and there a window was opened；
and figures appeared in balconies to listen。 They were ringing in the New
Yearthe festival of hope； the birthday of the world！ But what were New
Years to her； who； with white； upturned face； and arms that embraced an
infant in the tenacious grip of death； went drifting； drifting solemnly down
the dark river； unseen； unpitied by all those who awoke to new hopes and
aspirations on that first morning of another life…probation！ Liz had gone；
gone to make her peace with Godperhaps through the aid of her 〃hired〃
baby； the little sinless soul she had so fondly cherished； gone to that
sweetest 〃home〃 we dream of and pray for； where the lost and bewildered
wanderers of this earth shall find true welcome and rest from grief and
exile； gone to that fair； far glory…world where reigns the divine Master；
whose words still ring above the tumult of ages： 〃See that ye despise not
one of these little ones； for I say unto you； that their angels do always
behold the face of My Father who is in heaven。〃
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