barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第169章
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many little circumstances （all of which she named） so exceedingly
minute that nobody else could make anything out of them even
now； and had； it seemed from first to last； displayed the most
unbounded tact and most consummate generalship。
Of course the night when Joe would ride homeward by the side
of the chaise； and when Mrs Varden would insist upon his going
back again； was not forgotten—nor the night when Dolly fainted
on his name being mentioned—nor the times upon times when
Mrs Varden； ever watchful and prudent； had found her pining in
her own chamber。 In short； nothing was forgotten； and everything
by some means or other brought them back to the conclusion； that
that was the happiest hour in all their lives； consequently； that
everything must have occurred for the best； and nothing could be
suggested which would have made it better。
While they were in the full glow of such discourse as this； there
came a startling knock at the door； opening from the street into
the workshop； which had been kept closed all day that the house
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might be more quiet。 Joe； as in duty bound； would hear of nobody
but himself going to open it； and accordingly left the room for that
purpose。
It would have been odd enough； certainly； if Joe had forgotten
the way to this door； and even if he had； as it was a pretty large
one and stood straight before him； he could not easily have missed
it。 But Dolly； perhaps because she was in the flutter of spirits
before mentioned； or perhaps because she thought he would not
be able to open it with his one arm—she could have had no other
reason—hurried out after him； and they stopped so long in the
passage—no doubt owing to Joe’s entreaties that she would not
expose herself to the draught of July air which must infallibly
come rushing in on this same door being opened—that the knock
was repeated； in a yet more startling manner than before。
‘Is anybody going to open that door？’ cried the locksmith。 ‘Or
shall I come？’
Upon that； Dolly went running back into the parlour； all
dimples and blushes； and Joe opened it with a mighty noise； and
other superfluous demonstrations of being in a violent hurry。
‘Well；’ said the locksmith； when he reappeared： ‘what is it？ eh
Joe？ what are you laughing at？’
‘Nothing； sir。 It’s coming in。’
‘Who’s coming in？ what’s coming in？’ Mrs Varden； as much at a
loss as her husband； could only shake her head in answer to his
inquiring look： so； the locksmith wheeled his chair round to
command a better view of the room…door； and stared at it with his
eyes wide open； and a mingled expression of curiosity and wonder
shining in his jolly face。
Instead of some person or persons straightway appearing；
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divers remarkable sounds were heard； first in the workshop and
afterwards in the little dark passage between it and the parlour； as
though some unwieldy chest or heavy piece of furniture were
being brought in； by an amount of human strength inadequate to
the task。 At length after much struggling and humping； and
bruising of the wall on both sides； the door was forced open as by a
battering…ram； and the locksmith； steadily regarding what
appeared beyond； smote his thigh； elevated his eyebrows； opened
his mouth； and cried in a loud voice expressive of the utmost
consternation：
‘Damme； if it an’t Miggs come back！’
The young damsel whom he named no sooner heard these
words； than deserting a small boy and a very large box by which
she was accompanied； and advancing with such precipitation that
her bonnet flew off her head； burst into the room； clasped her
hands （in which she held a pair of pattens； one in each）； raised her
eyes devotedly to the ceiling； and shed a flood of tears。
‘The old story！’ cried the locksmith； looking at her in
inexpressible desperation。 ‘She was born to be a damper； this
young woman！ nothing can prevent it！’
‘Ho master； ho mim！’ cried Miggs； ‘can I constrain my feelings
in these here once agin united moments！ Ho Mr Warden； here’s
blessedness among relations； sir！ Here’s forgivenesses of injuries；
here’s amicablenesses！’
The locksmith looked from his wife to Dolly； and from Dolly to
Joe； and from Joe to Miggs； with his eyebrows still elevated and
his mouth still open。 When his eyes got back to Miggs； they rested
on her； fascinated。
‘To think；’ cried Miggs with hysterical joy； ‘that Mr Joe； and
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dear Miss Dolly； has raly come together after all as has been said
and done contrairy！ To see them two a…settin’ along with him and
her； so pleasant and in all respects so affable and mild； and me not
knowing of it； and not being in the ways to make no preparations
for their teas。 Ho what a cutting thing it is； and yet what sweet
sensations is awoke within me！’
Either in clasping her hands again； or in an ecstasy of pious joy；
Miss Miggs clinked her pattens after the manner of a pair of
cymbals； at this juncture； and then resumed； in the softest accents：
‘And did my missis think—ho goodness； did she think—as her
own Miggs； which supported her under so many trials； and
understood her natur’ when them as intended well but acted
rough； went so deep into her feelings—did she think as her own
Miggs would ever leave her？ Did she think as Miggs； though she
was but a servant； and knowed that servitudes was no
inheritances； would forgit that she was the humble instruments as
always made it comfortable between them two when they fell out；
and always told master of the meekness and forgiveness of her
blessed dispositions！ Did she think as Miggs had no attachments！
Did she think that wages was her only object！’
To none of these interrogatories； whereof every one was more
pathetically delivered than the last； did Mrs Varden answer one
word： but Miggs； not at all abashed by this circumstance； turned to
the small boy in attendance—her eldest nephew—son of her own
married sister—born in Golden Lion Court； number twenty…sivin；
and bred in the very shadow of the second bell…handle on the
right…hand door…post—and with a plentiful use of her pocket…
handkerchief； addressed herself to him： requesting that on his
return home he would console his parents for the loss of her； his
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aunt； by delivering to them a faithful statement of his having left
her in the bosom of that family； with which； as his aforesaid
parents well knew； her best affections were incorporated； that he
would remind them that nothing less than her imperious sense of
duty； and devoted attachment to her old master and missis；
likewise Miss Dolly and young Mr Joe； should ever have induced
her to decline that pressing invitation which they； his parents； had；
as he could testify； given her； to lodge and board with them； free of
all cost and charge； for evermore； lastly； that he would help her
with her box upstairs； and then repair straight home； bearing her
blessing and her strong injunctions to mingle in his prayers a
supplication that he might in course of time grow up a locksmith；
or a Mr Joe； and have Mrs Vardens and Miss Dollys for his
relations and friends。
Having brought this admonition to an end—upon which； to say
the truth； the young gentleman for whose benefit it was designed；
bestowed little or no heed； having to all appearance his faculties
absorbed in the contemplation of the sweetmeats；—Miss Miggs
signified to the company in general that they were not to be
uneasy； for she would soon return； and； with her nephew’s aid；
prepared to bear her wardrobe up the staircase。
‘My dear；’ said the locksmith to his wife。 ‘Do you desire this？’
‘I desire it！’ she answered。 ‘I am astonished—I am amazed—at
her audacity。 Let her leave the house this moment。’
Miggs； hearing this； let her end of the box fall heavily to the
floor； gave a very loud sniff； crossed her arms； screwed down the
corners of her mouth； and cried； in an ascending scale； ‘Ho； good
gracious！’ three distinct times。
‘You hear what your mistress says； my love；’ remarked the
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locksmith。 ‘You had better go； I think。 Stay； take this with you； for
the sake of old service。’
Miss Miggs clutched the bank…note he took from his pocket…
book and held out to her； deposited it in a small； red leather purse；
put the purse in her pocket （displaying； as she did so； a
considerable portion of some under…garment； made of flannel； and
more black cotton stocking than is commonly seen in public）； and；
tossing her head； as she looked at Mrs Varden； repeated—
‘Ho； good gracious！’
‘I think you said that once before； my de
