barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第125章
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the pride she felt for a moment in having won his heart； faded in a
burst of tears； and she sobbed more bitterly than ever。
As the night wore on； and they proceeded by ways which were
quite unknown to them—for they could recognise none of the
objects of which they sometimes caught a hurried glimpse—their
fears increased； nor were they without good foundation； it was not
difficult for two beautiful young women to find； in their being
borne they knew not whither by a band of daring villains who eyed
them as some among these fellows did； reasons for the worst
alarm。 When they at last entered London； by a suburb with which
they were wholly unacquainted； it was past midnight； and the
streets were dark and empty。 Nor was this the worst； for the
carriage stopping in a lonely spot； Hugh suddenly opened the
door； jumped in； and took his seat between them。
It was in vain they cried for help。 He put his arm about the neck
of each； and swore to stifle them with kisses if they were not as
silent as the grave。
‘I come here to keep you quiet；’ he said； ‘and that’s the means I
shall take。 So don’t be quiet； pretty mistresses—make a noise—
do—and I shall like it all the better。’
They were proceeding at a rapid pace； and apparently with
fewer attendants than before； though it was so dark （the torches
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being extinguished） that this was mere conjecture。 They shrunk
from his touch； each into the farthest corner of the carriage； but
shrink as Dolly would； his arm encircled her waist； and held her
fast。 She neither cried nor spoke； for terror and disgust deprived
her of the power； but she plucked at his hand as though she would
die in the effort to disengage herself； and crouching on the ground；
with her head averted and held down； repelled him with a
strength she wondered at as much as he。 The carriage stopped
again。
‘Lift this one out；’ said Hugh to the man who opened the door；
as he took Miss Haredale’s hand； and felt how heavily it fell。 ‘She’s
fainted。’
‘So much the better；’ growled Dennis—it was that amiable
gentleman。 ‘She’s quiet。 I always like ’em to faint； unless they’re
very tender and composed。’
‘Can you take her by yourself？’ asked Hugh。
‘I don’t know till I try。 I ought to be able to； I’ve lifted up a good
many in my time；’ said the hangman。 ‘Up then！ She’s no small
weight； brother； none of these here fine gals are。 Up again！ Now
we have her。’
Having by this time hoisted the young lady into his arms； he
staggered off with his burden。
‘Look ye； pretty bird；’ said Hugh； drawing Dolly towards him。
‘Remember what I told you—a kiss for every cry。 Scream； if you
love me； darling。 Scream once； mistress。 Pretty mistress； only
once； if you love me。’
Thrusting his face away with all her force； and holding down
her head； Dolly submitted to be carried out of the chaise； and
borne after Miss Haredale into a miserable cottage； where Hugh；
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after hugging her to his breast； set her gently down upon the floor。
Poor Dolly！ Do what she would； she only looked the better for it；
and tempted them the more。 When her eyes flashed angrily； and
her ripe lips slightly parted； to give her rapid breathing vent； who
could resist it？ When she wept and sobbed as though her heart
would break； and bemoaned her miseries in the sweetest voice
that ever fell upon a listener’s ear； who could be insensible to the
little winning pettishness which now and then displayed itself；
even in the sincerity and earnestness of her grief？ When； forgetful
for a moment of herself； as she was now； she fell on her knees
beside her friend； and bent over her； and laid her cheek to hers；
and put her arms about her； what mortal eyes could have avoided
wandering to the delicate bodice； the streaming hair； the neglected
dress； the perfect abandonment and unconsciousness of the
blooming little beauty？ Who could look on and see her lavish
caresses and endearments； and not desire to be in Emma
Haredale’s place； to be either her or Dolly； either the hugging or
the hugged？ Not Hugh。 Not Dennis。
‘I tell you what it is； young women；’ said Mr Dennis； ‘I an’t
much of a lady’s man myself； nor am I a party in the present
business further than lending a willing hand to my friends： but if I
see much more of this here sort of thing； I shall become a principal
instead of a accessory。 I tell you candid。’
‘Why have you brought us here？’ said Emma。 ‘Are we to be
murdered？’
‘Murdered！’ cried Dennis； sitting down upon a stool； and
regarding her with great favour。 ‘Why； my dear； who’d murder
sich chickabiddies as you？ If you was to ask me； now； whether you
was brought here to be married； there might be something in it。’
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And here he exchanged a grin with Hugh； who removed his
eyes from Dolly for the purpose。
‘No； no；’ said Dennis； ‘there’ll be no murdering； my pets。
Nothing of that sort。 Quite the contrairy。’
‘You are an older man than your companion； sir；’ said Emma；
trembling。 ‘Have you no pity for us？ Do you not consider that we
are women？’
‘I do indeed； my dear；’ retorted Dennis。 ‘It would be very hard
not to； with two such specimens afore my eyes。 Ha ha！ Oh yes； I
consider that。 We all consider that； miss。’
He shook his head waggishly； leered at Hugh again； and
laughed very much； as if he had said a noble thing； and rather
thought he was coming out。
‘There’ll be no murdering； my dear。 Not a bit on it。 I tell you
what though； brother；’ said Dennis； cocking his hat for the
convenience of scratching his head； and looking gravely at Hugh；
‘it’s worthy of notice； as a proof of the amazing equalness and
dignity of our law； that it don’t make no distinction between men
and women。 I’ve heerd the judge say； sometimes； to a highwayman
or housebreaker as had tied the ladies neck and heels—you’ll
excuse me making mention of it； my darlings—and put ’em in a
cellar； that he showed no consideration to women。 Now； I say that
there judge didn’t know his business； brother； and that if I had
been that there highwayman or housebreaker； I should have made
answer： “What are you a talking of； my lord？ I showed the women
as much consideration as the law does； and what more would you
have me do？” If you was to count up in the newspapers the
number of females as have been worked off in this here city alone；
in the last ten year；’ said Mr Dennis thoughtfully； ‘you’d be
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surprised at the total—quite amazed； you would。 There’s a
dignified and equal thing； a beautiful thing！ But we’ve no security
for its lasting。 Now that they’ve begun to favour these here
Papists； I shouldn’t wonder if they went and altered even that； one
of these days。 Upon my soul； I shouldn’t。’
The subject； perhaps from being of too exclusive and
professional a nature； failed to interest Hugh as much as his friend
had anticipated。 But he had no time to pursue it； for at this crisis
Mr Tappertit entered precipitately； at sight of whom Dolly uttered
a scream of joy； and fairly threw herself into his arms。
‘I knew it； I was sure of it！’ cried Dolly。 ‘My dear father’s at the
door。 Thank God； thank God！ Bless you； Sim。 Heaven bless you for
this！’
Simon Tappertit； who had at first implicitly believed that the
locksmith’s daughter； unable any longer to suppress her secret
passion for himself； was about to give it full vent in its intensity；
and to declare that she was his for ever； looked extremely foolish
when she said these words；—the more so； as they were received
by Hugh and Dennis with a loud laugh； which made her draw
back； and regard him with a fixed and earnest look。
‘Miss Haredale；’ said Sim； after a very awkward silence； ‘I hope
you’re as comfortable as circumstances will permit of。 Dolly
Varden； my darling—my own； my lovely one—I hope you’re pretty
comfortable likewise。’
Poor little Dolly！ She saw how it was； hid her face in her hands；
and sobbed more bitterly than ever。
‘You meet in me； Miss V。；’ said Simon； laying his hand upon his
breast； ‘not a ’prentice； not a workman； not a slave； not the wictim
of your father’s tyrannical behaviour； but the leader of a great
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people； the captain of a noble band； in which these gentlemen are；
as I may say； corporals and serjeants。 You behold in me； not a
private individual； but a public character； not a mender of locks
