barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第47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！
Protestant。 Arguing from this imperfect state of his morals； Mrs
Varden further opined that he had never studied the Manual。
Hugh admitting that he never had； and moreover that he couldn’t
read； Mrs Varden declared with much severity； that he ought to he
even more ashamed of himself than before； and strongly
recommended him to save up his pocket…money for the purchase
of one； and further to teach himself the contents with all
convenient diligence。 She was still pursuing this train of discourse；
when Hugh； somewhat unceremoniously and irreverently；
followed his young master out； and left her to edify the rest of the
company。 This she proceeded to do； and finding that Mr Willet’s
eyes were fixed upon her with an appearance of deep attention；
gradually addressed the whole of her discourse to him； whom she
entertained with a moral and theological lecture of considerable
length； in the conviction that great workings were taking place in
his spirit。 The simple truth was； however； that Mr Willet； although
his eyes were wide open and he saw a woman before him whose
head by long and steady looking at seemed to grow bigger and
bigger until it filled the whole bar； was to all other intents and
purposes fast asleep； and so sat leaning back in his chair with his
hands in his pockets until his son’s return caused him to wake up
with a deep sigh； and a faint impression that he had been
dreaming about pickled pork and greens—a vision of his slumbers
which was no doubt referable to the circumstance of Mrs Varden’s
having frequently pronounced the word ‘Grace’ with much
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 239…
Barnaby Rudge 240
emphasis； which word； entering the portals of Mr Willet’s brain as
they stood ajar； and coupling itself with the words ‘before meat；’
which were there ranging about； did in time suggest a particular
kind of meat together with that description of vegetable which is
usually its companion。
The search was wholly unsuccessful。 Joe had groped along the
path a dozen times； and among the grass； and in the dry ditch； and
in the hedge； but all in vain。 Dolly； who was quite inconsolable for
her loss； wrote a note to Miss Haredale giving her the same
account of it that she had given at the Maypole； which Joe
undertook to deliver as soon as the family were stirring next day。
That done； they sat down to tea in the bar； where there was an
uncommon display of buttered toast； and—in order that they
might not grow faint for want of sustenance； and might have a
decent halting…place or halfway house between dinner and
supper—a few savoury trifles in the shape of great rashers of
broiled ham； which being well cured； done to a turn； and smoking
hot； sent forth a tempting and delicious fragrance。
Mrs Varden was seldom very Protestant at meals； unless it
happened that they were underdone； or overdone； or indeed that
anything occurred to put her out of humour。 Her spirits rose
considerably on beholding these goodly preparations； and from
the nothingness of good works； she passed to the somethingness of
ham and toast with great cheerfulness。 Nay； under the influence of
these wholesome stimulants； she sharply reproved her daughter
for being low and despondent （which she considered an
unacceptable frame of mind）； and remarked； as she held her own
plate for a fresh supply； that it would be well for Dolly； who pined
over the loss of a toy and a sheet of paper； if she would reflect
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 240…
Barnaby Rudge 241
upon the voluntary sacrifices of the missionaries in foreign parts
who lived chiefly on salads。
The proceedings of such a day occasion various fluctuations in
the human thermometer； and especially in instruments so
sensitively and delicately constructed as Mrs Varden。 Thus； at
dinner Mrs V。 stood at summer heat； genial； smiling； and
delightful。 After dinner； in the sunshine of the wine； she went up
at least half…a…dozen degrees； and was perfectly enchanting。 As its
effect subsided； she fell rapidly； went to sleep for an hour or so at
temperate； and woke at something below freezing。 Now she was at
summer heat again； in the shade； and when tea was over； and old
John； producing a bottle of cordial from one of the oaken cases；
insisted on her sipping two glasses thereof in slow succession； she
stood steadily at ninety for one hour and a quarter。 Profiting by
experience； the locksmith took advantage of this genial weather to
smoke his pipe in the porch； and in consequence of this prudent
management； he was fully prepared； when the glass went down
again； to start homewards directly。
The horse was accordingly put in； and the chaise brought round
to the door。 Joe； who would on no account be dissuaded from
escorting them until they had passed the most dreary and solitary
part of the road； led out the grey mare at the same time； and
having helped Dolly into her seat （more happiness！） sprung gaily
into the saddle。 Then； after many good nights； and admonitions to
wrap up； and glancing of lights； and handing in of cloaks and
shawls； the chaise rolled away； and Joe trotted beside it—on
Dolly’s side； no doubt； and pretty close to the wheel too。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 241…
Barnaby Rudge 242
Chapter 22
t was a fine bright night； and for all her lowness of spirits
Dolly kept looking up at the stars in a manner so bewitching
I（and she knew it！） that Joe was clean out of his senses； and
plainly showed that if ever a man were—not to say over head and
ears； but over the Monument and the top of Saint Paul’s in love；
that man was himself。 The road was a very good one； not at all a
jolting road； or an uneven one； and yet Dolly held the side of the
chaise with one little hand； all the way。 If there had been an
executioner behind him with an uplifted axe ready to chop off his
head if he touched that hand； Joe couldn’t have helped doing it。
From putting his own hand upon it as if by chance； and taking it
away again after a minute or so； he got to riding along without
taking it off at all； as if he； the escort； were bound to do that as an
important part of his duty； and had come out for the purpose。 The
most curious circumstance about this little incident was； that Dolly
didn’t seem to know of it。 She looked so innocent and unconscious
when she turned her eyes on Joe； that it was quite provoking。
She talked though； talked about her fright； and about Joe’s
coming up to rescue her； and about her gratitude； and about her
fear that she might not have thanked him enough； and about their
always being friends from that time forth—and about all that sort
of thing。 And when Joe said； not friends he hoped； Dolly was quite
surprised； and said not enemies she hoped； and when Joe said；
couldn’t they be something much better than either； Dolly all of a
sudden found out a star which was brighter than all the other
stars； and begged to call his attention to the same； and was ten
thousand times more innocent and unconscious than ever。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 242…
Barnaby Rudge 243
In this manner they travelled along； talking very little above a
whisper； and wishing the road could be stretched out to some
dozen times its natural length—at least that was Joe’s desire—
when； as they were getting clear of the forest and emerging on the
more frequented road； they heard behind them the sound of a
horse’s feet at a round trot； which growing rapidly louder as it
drew nearer； elicited a scream from Mrs Varden； and the cry ‘a
friend！’ from the rider； who now came panting up； and checked his
horse beside them。
‘This man again！’ cried Dolly； shuddering。
‘Hugh！’ said Joe。 ‘What errand are you upon？’
‘I come to ride back with you；’ he answered； glancing covertly at
the locksmith’s daughter。 ‘He sent me。
‘My father！’ said poor Joe； adding under his breath； with a very
unfilial apostrophe； ‘Will he never think me man enough to take
care of myself！’
‘Aye！’ returned Hugh to the first part of the inquiry。 ‘The roads
are not safe just now； he says； and you’d better have a companion。’
‘Ride on then；’ said Joe。 ‘I’m not going to turn yet。’
Hugh complied； and they went on again。 It was his whim or
humour to ride immediately before the chaise； and from this
position he constantly turned his head； and looked back。 Dolly felt
that he looked at her； but she averted her eyes and feared to raise
them once； so great was the dread with which he had inspired her。
This interruption； and the consequent wakefulness of Mrs
Varden； who had been nodding in her sleep up to this point；
except for a minute or two at a time； when she roused herself to
scold the locksmith for audaciously taking hold of her to prevent
her nodding herself out of the chaise； put a restraint upon the
Charles Dickens
