barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第150章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
subscriptions to the red…brick dwelling…house； in the articles of
peace of mind and a quiet conscience。 And； while on serious
topics； Miss Miggs considered it her duty to try her hand at the
conversion of Miss Haredale； for whose improvement she
launched into a polemical address of some length； in the course
whereof； she likened herself unto a chosen missionary； and that
young lady to a cannibal in darkness。 Indeed； she returned so
often to these subjects； and so frequently called upon them to take
a lesson from her；—at the same time vaunting and； as it were；
rioting in； her huge unworthiness； and abundant excess of sin；—
that； in the course of a short time； she became； in that small
chamber； rather a nuisance than a comfort； and rendered them； if
possible； even more unhappy than they had been before。
The night had now come； and for the first time （for their jailers
had been regular in bringing food and candles）； they were left in
darkness。 Any change in their condition in such a place inspired
new fears； and when some hours had passed； and the gloom was
still unbroken； Emma could no longer repress her alarm。
They listened attentively。 There was the same murmuring in
the outer room； and now and then a moan which seemed to be
wrung from a person in great pain； who made an effort to subdue
it； but could not。 Even these men seemed to be in darkness too； for
no light shone through the chinks in the door； nor were they
moving； as their custom was； but quite still： the silence being
unbroken by so much as the creaking of a board。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 761…
Barnaby Rudge 762
At first； Miss Miggs wondered greatly in her own mind who this
sick person might be； but arriving； on second thoughts； at the
conclusion that he was a part of the schemes on foot； and an artful
device soon to be employed with great success； she opined； for
Miss Haredale’s comfort； that it must be some misguided Papist
who had been wounded： and this happy supposition encouraged
her to say； under her breath； ‘Ally Looyer！’ several times。
‘Is it possible；’ said Emma； with some indignation； ‘that you
who have seen these men committing the outrages you have told
us of； and who have fallen into their hands； like us； can exult in
their cruelties！’
‘Personal considerations； miss；’ rejoined Miggs； ‘sinks into
nothing； afore a noble cause。 Ally Looyer！ Ally Looyer！ Ally
Looyer； good gentlemen！’
It seemed from the shrill pertinacity with which Miss Miggs
repeated this form of acclamation； that she was calling the same
through the keyhole of the door； but in the profound darkness she
could not be seen。
‘If the time has come—Heaven knows it may come at any
moment—when they are bent on prosecuting the designs；
whatever they may be； with which they have brought us here； can
you still encourage； and take part with them？’ demanded Emma。
‘I thank my goodness…gracious…blessed…stars I can； miss；’
returned Miggs； with increased energy。—‘Ally Looyer； good
gentlemen！’
Even Dolly； cast down and disappointed as she was； revived at
this； and bade Miggs hold her tongue directly。
‘Which； was you pleased to observe； Miss Varden？’ said Miggs；
with a strong emphasis on the irrelative pronoun。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 762…
Barnaby Rudge 763
Dolly repeated her request。
‘Ho； gracious me！’ cried Miggs； with hysterical derision。 ‘Ho；
gracious me！ Yes； to be sure I will。 Ho yes！ I am a abject slave； and
a toiling； moiling； constant…working； always…being…found…fault…
with； never…giving…satisfactions； nor…having…no…time…to…clean…
oneself； potter’s wessel—an’t I； miss！ Ho yes！ My situations is
lowly； and my capacities is limited； and my duties is to humble
myself afore the base degenerating daughters of their blessed
mothers as is—fit to keep companies with holy saints but is born to
persecutions from wicked relations—and to demean myself before
them as is no better than Infidels—an’t it； miss！ Ho yes！ My only
becoming occupations is to help young flaunting pagins to brush
and comb and titiwate theirselves into whitening and suppulchres；
and leave the young men to think that there an’t a bit of padding
in it nor no pinching ins nor fillings out nor pomatums nor deceits
nor earthly wanities—an’t it； miss！ Yes； to be sure it is—ho yes！’
Having delivered these ironical passages with a most wonderful
volubility； and with a shrillness perfectly deafening （especially
when she jerked out the interjections）； Miss Miggs； from mere
habit； and not because weeping was at all appropriate to the
occasion； which was one of triumph； concluded by bursting into a
flood of tears； and calling in an impassioned manner on the name
of Simmuns。
What Emma Haredale and Dolly would have done； or how long
Miss Miggs； now that she had hoisted her true colours； would have
gone on waving them before their astonished senses； it is
impossible to tell。 Nor is it necessary to speculate on these
matters； for a startling interruption occurred at that moment；
which took their whole attention by storm。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 763…
Barnaby Rudge 764
This was a violent knocking at the door of the house； and then
its sudden bursting open； which was immediately succeeded by a
scuffle in the room without； and the clash of weapons。
Transported with the hope that rescue had at length arrived；
Emma and Dolly shrieked aloud for help； nor were their shrieks
unanswered； for after a hurried interval； a man； bearing in one
hand a drawn sword； and in the other a taper； rushed into the
chamber where they were confined。
It was some check upon their transport to find in this person an
entire stranger； but they appealed to him； nevertheless； and
besought him； in impassioned language； to restore them to their
friends。
‘For what other purpose am I here？’ he answered； closing the
door； and standing with his back against it。 ‘With what object have
I made my way to this place； through difficulty and danger； but to
preserve you？’
With a joy for which it was impossible to find adequate
expression； they embraced each other； and thanked Heaven for
this most timely aid。 Their deliverer stepped forward for a
moment to put the light upon the table； and immediately returning
to his former position against the door； bared his head； and looked
on smilingly。
‘You have news of my uncle； sir？’ said Emma； turning hastily
towards him。
‘And of my father and mother？’ added Dolly。
‘Yes；’ he said。 ‘Good news。’
‘They are alive and unhurt？’ they both cried at once。
‘Yes； and unhurt；’ he rejoined。
‘And close at hand？’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 764…
Barnaby Rudge 765
‘I did not say close at hand；’ he answered smoothly； ‘they are at
no great distance。 Your friends； sweet one；’ he added； addressing
Dolly； ‘are within a few hours’ journey。 You will be restored to
them； I hope； to…night。’
‘My uncle； sir—’ faltered Emma。
‘Your uncle； dear Miss Haredale； happily—I say happily；
because he has succeeded where many of our creed have failed；
and is safe—has crossed the sea； and is out of Britain。’
‘I thank God for it；’ said Emma； faintly。
‘You say well。 You have reason to be thankful： greater reason
than it is possible for you； who have seen but one night of these
cruel outrages； to imagine。’
‘Does he desire；’ said Emma； ‘that I should follow him？’
‘Do you ask if he desires it？’ cried the stranger in surprise。 ‘If he
desires it！ But you do not know the danger of remaining in
England； the difficulty of escape； or the price hundreds would pay
to secure the means； when you make that inquiry。 Pardon me。 I
had forgotten that you could not； being prisoner here。’
‘I gather； sir；’ said Emma； after a moment’s pause； ‘from what
you hint at； but fear to tell me； that I have witnessed but the
beginning； and the least； of the violence to which we are exposed；
and that it has not yet slackened in its fury？’
He shrugged his shoulders； shook his head； lifted up his hands；
and with the same smooth smile； which was not a pleasant one to
see； cast his eyes upon the ground； and remained silent。
‘You may venture； sir； to speak plain；’ said Emma； ‘and to tell
me the worst。 We have undergone some preparation for it。’
But here Dolly interposed； and entreated her not to hear the
worst； but the best； and besought the gentleman to tell them the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 765…
Barnaby Rudge 766
best； and to keep the remainder of his news until they were safe
among their friends again。
‘It is told in three words；’ he said； glancing at the locks
