barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第48章
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her nodding herself out of the chaise； put a restraint upon the
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whispered conversation； and made it difficult of resumption。
Indeed； before they had gone another mile； Gabriel stopped at his
wife’s desire； and that good lady protested she would not hear of
Joe’s going a step further on any account whatever。 It was in vain
for Joe to protest on the other hand that he was by no means tired；
and would turn back presently； and would see them safely past
such a point； and so forth。 Mrs Varden was obdurate； and being so
was not to be overcome by mortal agency。
‘Good night—if I must say it；’ said Joe； sorrowfully。
‘Good night；’ said Dolly。 She would have added； ‘Take care of
that man； and pray don’t trust him；’ but he had turned his horse’s
head； and was standing close to them。 She had therefore nothing
for it but to suffer Joe to give her hand a gentle squeeze； and when
the chaise had gone on for some distance； to look back and wave it；
as he still lingered on the spot where they had parted； with the tall
dark figure of Hugh beside him。
What she thought about； going home； and whether the coach…
maker held as favourable a place in her meditations as he had
occupied in the morning； is unknown。 They reached home at
last—at last； for it was a long way； made none the shorter by Mrs
Varden’s grumbling。 Miggs hearing the sound of wheels was at the
door immediately。
‘Here they are； Simmun！ Here they are！’ cried Miggs； clapping
her hands； and issuing forth to help her mistress to alight。 ‘Bring a
chair； Simmun。 Now； an’t you the better for it； mim？ Don’t you
feel more yourself than you would have done if you’d have stopped
at home？ Oh； gracious！ how cold you are！ Goodness me； sir； she’s a
perfect heap of ice。’
‘I can’t help it； my good girl。 You had better take her in to the
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fire；’ said the locksmith。
‘Master sounds unfeeling； mim；’ said Miggs； in a tone of
commiseration； ‘but such is not his intentions； I’m sure。 After what
he has seen of you this day； I never will believe but that he has a
deal more affection in his heart than to speak unkind。 Come in and
sit yourself down by the fire； there’s a good dear—do。’
Mrs Varden complied。 The locksmith followed with his hands in
his pockets； and Mr Tappertit trundled off with the chaise to a
neighbouring stable。
‘Martha； my dear；’ said the locksmith； when they reached the
parlour； ‘if you’ll look to Dolly yourself or let somebody else do it；
perhaps it will be only kind and reasonable。 She has been
frightened； you know； and is not at all well to…night。’
In fact； Dolly had thrown herself upon the sofa； quite regardless
of all the little finery of which she had been so proud in the
morning； and with her face buried in her hands was crying very
much。
At first sight of this phenomenon （for Dolly was by no means
accustomed to displays of this sort； rather learning from her
mother’s example to avoid them as much as possible） Mrs Varden
expressed her belief that never was any woman so beset as she；
that her life was a continued scene of trial； that whenever she was
disposed to be well and cheerful； so sure were the people around
her to throw； by some means or other； a damp upon her spirits；
and that； as she had enjoyed herself that day； and Heaven knew it
was very seldom she did enjoy herself so she was now to pay the
penalty。 To all such propositions Miggs assented freely。 Poor
Dolly； however； grew none the better for these restoratives； but
rather worse； indeed； and seeing that she was really ill； both Mrs
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Varden and Miggs were moved to compassion； and tended her in
earnest。
But even then； their very kindness shaped itself into their usual
course of policy； and though Dolly was in a swoon； it was rendered
clear to the meanest capacity； that Mrs Varden was the sufferer。
Thus when Dolly began to get a little better； and passed into that
stage in which matrons hold that remonstrance and argument
may be successfully applied； her mother represented to her； with
tears in her eyes； that if she had been flurried and worried that
day； she must remember it was the common lot of humanity； and
in especial of womankind； who through the whole of their
existence must expect no less； and were bound to make up their
minds to meek endurance and patient resignation。 Mrs Varden
entreated her to remember that one of these days she would； in all
probability； have to do violence to her feelings so far as to be
married； and that marriage； as she might see every day of her life
（and truly she did） was a state requiring great fortitude and
forbearance。 She represented to her in lively colours； that if she
（Mrs V。） had not； in steering her course through this vale of tears；
been supported by a strong principle of duty which alone upheld
and prevented her from drooping； she must have been in her
grave many years ago； in which case she desired to know what
would have become of that errant spirit （meaning the locksmith）；
of whose eye she was the very apple； and in whose path she was；
as it were； a shining light and guiding star？
Miss Miggs also put in her word to the same effect。 She said
that indeed and indeed Miss Dolly might take pattern by her
blessed mother； who； she always had said； and always would say；
though she were to be hanged； drawn； and quartered for it next
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minute； was the mildest； amiablest； forgivingest…spirited； longest…
sufferingest female as ever she could have believed； the mere
narration of whose excellencies had worked such a wholesome
change in the mind of her own sister…in…law； that； whereas； before；
she and her husband lived like cat and dog； and were in the habit
of exchanging brass candlesticks； pot…lids； flat…irons； and other
such strong resentments； they were now the happiest and
affectionatest couple upon earth； as could be proved any day on
application at Golden Lion Court； number twenty…sivin； second
bell…handle on the right…hand door…post。 After glancing at herself
as a comparatively worthless vessel； but still as one of some desert；
she besought her to bear in mind that her aforesaid dear and only
mother was of a weakly constitution and excitable temperament；
who had constantly to sustain afflictions in domestic life；
compared with which thieves and robbers were as nothing； and
yet never sunk down or gave way to despair or wrath； but； in
prize…fighting phraseology； always came up to time with a cheerful
countenance； and went in to win as if nothing had happened。
When Miggs finished her solo； her mistress struck in again； and
the two together performed a duet to the same purpose； the
burden being； that Mrs Varden was persecuted perfection； and Mr
Varden； as the representative of mankind in that apartment； a
creature of vicious and brutal habits； utterly insensible to the
blessings he enjoyed。 Of so refined a character； indeed； was their
talent of assault under the mask of sympathy； that when Dolly；
recovering； embraced her father tenderly； as in vindication of his
goodness； Mrs Varden expressed her solemn hope that this would
be a lesson to him for the remainder of his life； and that he would
do some little justice to a woman’s nature ever afterwards—in
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which aspiration Miss Miggs； by divers sniffs and coughs； more
significant than the longest oration； expressed her entire
concurrence。
But the great joy of Miggs’s heart was； that she not only picked
up a full account of what had happened； but had the exquisite
delight of conveying it to Mr Tappertit for his jealousy and torture。
For that gentleman； on account of Dolly’s indisposition； had been
requested to take his supper in the workshop； and it was conveyed
thither by Miss Miggs’s own fair hands。
‘Oh Simmun！’ said the young lady； ‘such goings on to…day！ Oh；
gracious me； Simmun！’
Mr Tappertit； who was not in the best of humours； and who
disliked Miss Miggs more when she laid her hand on her heart and
panted for breath than at any other time； as her deficiency of
outline was most apparent under such circumstances； eyed her
over in his loftiest style； and deigned to express no curiosity
whatever。
‘I never heard the like； nor nobody else；’ pursued Miggs。 ‘The
idea of interfering with her。 What people can see in her to make it
worth their while to do so； that’s the joke—he he he！’
Finding there was a lady in the case； Mr Tappertit haughtily
requested his fair friend to be more explicit； and demanded to
