barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第33章
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rode up shouting for Hugh； was out directly； and said with great
importance as he held the young man’s stirrup；
‘He’s comfortable in bed—the best bed。 A thorough gentleman；
the smilingest； affablest gentleman I ever had to do with。’
‘Who； Willet？’ said Edward carelessly； as he dismounted。
‘Your worthy father； sir；’ replied John。 ‘Your honourable；
venerable father。’
‘What does he mean？’ said Edward； looking with a mixture of
alarm and doubt； at Joe。
‘What do you mean？’ said Joe。 ‘Don’t you see Mr Edward
doesn’t understand； father？’
‘Why； didn’t you know of it； sir？’ said John； opening his eyes
wide。 ‘How very singular！ Bless you； he’s been here ever since
noon to…day； and Mr Haredale has been having a long talk with
him； and hasn’t been gone an hour。’
‘My father； Willet！’
‘Yes； sir； he told me so—a handsome； slim； upright gentleman；
in green…and…gold。 In your old room up yonder； sir。 No doubt you
can go in； sir；’ said John； walking backwards into the road and
looking up at the window。 ‘He hasn’t put out his candles yet； I see。’
Edward glanced at the window also； and hastily murmuring
that he had changed his mind—forgotten something—and must
return to London； mounted his horse again and rode away； leaving
the Willets； father and son； looking at each other in mute
astonishment。
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Chapter 15
t noon next day； John Willet’s guest sat lingering over his
Abreakfast in his own home； surrounded by a variety of
comforts； which left the Maypole’s highest flight and
utmost stretch of accommodation at an infinite distance behind；
and suggested comparisons very much to the disadvantage and
disfavour of that venerable tavern。
In the broad old…fashioned window…seat—as capacious as many
modern sofas； and cushioned to serve the purpose of a luxurious
settee—in the broad old…fashioned window…seat of a roomy
chamber； Mr Chester lounged； very much at his ease； over a well…
furnished breakfast…table。 He had exchanged his riding…coat for a
handsome morning…gown； his boots for slippers； had been at great
pains to atone for the having been obliged to make his toilet when
he rose without the aid of dressing…case and tiring equipage； and；
having gradually forgotten through these means the discomforts of
an indifferent night and an early ride； was in a state of perfect
complacency； indolence； and satisfaction。
The situation in which he found himself； indeed； was
particularly favourable to the growth of these feelings； for； not to
mention the lazy influence of a late and lonely breakfast； with the
additional sedative of a newspaper； there was an air of repose
about his place of residence peculiar to itself； and which hangs
about it； even in these times； when it is more bustling and busy
than it was in days of yore。
There are； still； worse places than the Temple； on a sultry day；
for basking in the sun； or resting idly in the shade。 There is yet a
drowsiness in its courts； and a dreamy dulness in its trees and
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Barnaby Rudge 169
gardens； those who pace its lanes and squares may yet hear the
echoes of their footsteps on the sounding stones； and read upon its
gates； in passing from the tumult of the Strand or Fleet Street；
‘Who enters here leaves noise behind。’ There is still the plash of
falling water in fair Fountain Court； and there are yet nooks and
corners where dun…haunted students may look down from their
dusty garrets； on a vagrant ray of sunlight patching the shade of
the tall houses； and seldom troubled to reflect a passing stranger’s
form。 There is yet； in the Temple； something of a clerkly monkish
atmosphere； which public offices of law have not disturbed； and
even legal firms have failed to scare away。 In summer time； its
pumps suggest to thirsty idlers； springs cooler； and more
sparkling； and deeper than other wells； and as they trace the
spillings of full pitchers on the heated ground； they snuff the
freshness； and； sighing； cast sad looks towards the Thames； and
think of baths and boats； and saunter on； despondent。
It was in a room in Paper Buildings—a row of goodly
tenements； shaded in front by ancient trees； and looking； at the
back； upon the Temple Gardens—that this； our idler； lounged；
now taking up again the paper he had laid down a hundred times；
now trifling with the fragments of his meal； now pulling forth his
golden toothpick； and glancing leisurely about the room； or out at
window into the trim garden walks； where a few early loiterers
were already pacing to and fro。 Here a pair of lovers met to
quarrel and make up； there a dark…eyed nursery…maid had better
eyes for Templars than her charge； on this hand an ancient
spinster； with her lapdog in a string； regarded both enormities
with scornful sidelong looks； on that a weazen old gentleman；
ogling the nursery…maid； looked with like scorn upon the spinster；
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and wondered she didn’t know she was no longer young。 Apart
from all these； on the river’s margin two or three couple of
business…talkers walked slowly up and down in earnest
conversation； and one young man sat thoughtfully on a bench；
alone。
‘Ned is amazingly patient！’ said Mr Chester； glancing at this
last…named person as he set down his teacup and plied the golden
toothpick； ‘immensely patient！ He was sitting yonder when I
began to dress； and has scarcely changed his posture since。 A most
eccentric dog！’
As he spoke； the figure rose； and came towards him with a
rapid pace。
‘Really； as if he had heard me；’ said the father； resuming his
newspaper with a yawn。 ‘Dear Ned！’
Presently the room…door opened； and the young man entered；
to whom his father gently waved his hand； and smiled。
‘Are you at leisure for a little conversation； sir？’ said Edward。
‘Surely； Ned。 I am always at leisure。 You know my
constitution。—Have you breakfasted？’
‘Three hours ago。’
‘What a very early dog！’ cried his father； contemplating him
from behind the toothpick； with a languid smile。
‘The truth is；’ said Edward； bringing a chair forward； and
seating himself near the table； ‘that I slept but ill last night； and
was glad to rise。 The cause of my uneasiness cannot but be known
to you； sir； and it is upon that I wish to speak。’
‘My dear boy；’ returned his father； ‘confide in me； I beg。 But
you know my constitution—don’t be prosy； Ned。’
‘I will be plain； and brief；’ said Edward。
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‘Don’t say you will； my good fellow；’ returned his father；
crossing his legs； ‘or you certainly will not。 You are going to tell
me’—
‘Plainly this； then；’ said the son； with an air of great concern；
‘that I know where you were last night—from being on the spot；
indeed—and whom you saw； and what your purpose was。’
‘You don’t say so！’ cried his father。 ‘I am delighted to hear it。 It
saves us the worry； and terrible wear and tear of a long
explanation； and is a great relief for both。 At the very house！ Why
didn’t you come up？ I should have been charmed to see you。’
‘I knew that what I had to say would be better said after a
night’s reflection； when both of us were cool；’ returned the son。
‘‘Fore Gad； Ned；’ rejoined the father； ‘I was cool enough last
night。 That detestable Maypole！ By some infernal contrivance of
the builder； it holds the wind； and keeps it fresh。 You remember
the sharp east wind that blew so hard five weeks ago？ I give you
my honour it was rampant in that old house last night； though out
of doors there was a dead calm。 But you were saying’—
‘I was about to say； Heaven knows how seriously and earnestly；
that you have made me wretched； sir。 Will you hear me gravely for
a moment？’
‘My dear Ned；’ said his father； ‘I will hear you with the patience
of an anchorite。 Oblige me with the milk。’
‘I saw Miss Haredale last night；’ Edward resumed； when he had
complied with this request； ‘her uncle； in her presence；
immediately after your interview； and； as of course I know； in
consequence of it； forbade me the house； and； with circumstances
of indignity which are of your creation I am sure； commanded me
to leave it on the instant。’
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‘For his manner of doing so； I give you my honour； Ned； I am
not accountable；’ said his father。 ‘That you must excuse。 He is a
mere bo
