barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第58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！
everythink he owns which it is in his powers to appreciate。 But we
never； sir’—said Miggs； looking sideways at Mrs Varden； and
interlarding her discourse with a sigh—‘we never know the full
value of some wines and fig…trees till we lose ’em。 So much the
worse； sir； for them as has the slighting of ’em on their consciences
when they’re gone to be in full blow elsewhere。’ And Miss Miggs
cast up her eyes to signify where that might be。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 295…
Barnaby Rudge 296
As Mrs Varden distinctly heard； and was intended to hear； all
that Miggs said； and as these words appeared to convey in
metaphorical terms a presage or foreboding that she would at
some early period droop beneath her trials and take an easy flight
towards the stars； she immediately began to languish； and taking a
volume of the Manual from a neighbouring table； leant her arm
upon it as though she were Hope and that her Anchor。 Mr Chester
perceiving this； and seeing how the volume was lettered on the
back； took it gently from her hand； and turned the fluttering
leaves。
‘My favourite book； dear madam。 How often； how very often in
his early life—before he can remember’—（this clause was strictly
true） ‘have I deduced little easy moral lessons from its pages； for
my dear son Ned！ You know Ned？’
Mrs Varden had that honour； and a fine affable young
gentleman he was。
‘You’re a mother； Mrs Varden；’ said Mr Chester； taking a pinch
of snuff； ‘and you know what I； as a father； feel； when he is praised。
He gives me some uneasiness—much uneasiness—he’s of a roving
nature； ma’am—from flower to flower—from sweet to sweet—but
his is the butterfly time of life； and we must not be hard upon such
trifling。’
He glanced at Dolly。 She was attending evidently to what he
said。 Just what he desired！
‘The only thing I object to in this little trait of Ned’s； is；’ said Mr
Chester； ‘—and the mention of his name reminds me； by the way；
that I am about to beg the favour of a minute’s talk with you
alone—the only thing I object to in it； is； that it does partake of
insincerity。 Now； however I may attempt to disguise the fact from
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 296…
Barnaby Rudge 297
myself in my affection for Ned； still I always revert to this—that if
we are not sincere； we are nothing。 Nothing upon earth。 Let us be
sincere； my dear madam—’
‘—and Protestant；’ murmured Mrs Varden。
‘—and Protestant above all things。 Let us be sincere and
Protestant； strictly moral； strictly just （though always with a
leaning towards mercy）； strictly honest； and strictly true； and we
gain—it is a slight point； certainly； but still it is something
tangible； we throw up a groundwork and foundation； so to speak；
of goodness； on which we may afterwards erect some worthy
superstructure。’
Now； to be sure； Mrs Varden thought； here is a perfect
character。 Here is a meek； righteous； thoroughgoing Christian；
who； having mastered all these qualities； so difficult of attainment；
who； having dropped a pinch of salt on the tails of all the cardinal
virtues； and caught them every one； makes light of their
possession； and pants for more morality。 For the good woman
never doubted （as many good men and women never do）； that this
slighting kind of profession； this setting so little store by great
matters； this seeming to say； ‘I am not proud； I am what you hear；
but I consider myself no better than other people； let us change
the subject； pray’—was perfectly genuine and true。 He so
contrived it； and said it in that way that it appeared to have been
forced from him； and its effect was marvellous。
Aware of the impression he had made—few men were quicker
than he at such discoveries—Mr Chester followed up the blow by
propounding certain virtuous maxims； somewhat vague and
general in their nature； doubtless； and occasionally partaking of
the character of truisms； worn a little out at elbow； but delivered
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 297…
Barnaby Rudge 298
in so charming a voice and with such uncommon serenity and
peace of mind； that they answered as well as the best。 Nor is this
to be wondered at； for as hollow vessels produce a far more
musical sound in falling than those which are substantial； so it will
oftentimes be found that sentiments which have nothing in them
make the loudest ringing in the world； and are the most relished。
Mr Chester； with the volume gently extended in one hand； and
with the other planted lightly on his breast； talked to them in the
most delicious manner possible； and quite enchanted all his
hearers； notwithstanding their conflicting interests and thoughts。
Even Dolly； who； between his keen regards and her eyeing over by
Mr Tappertit； was put quite out of countenance； could not help
owning within herself that he was the sweetest…spoken gentleman
she had ever seen。 Even Miss Miggs； who was divided between
admiration of Mr Chester and a mortal jealousy of her young
mistress； had sufficient leisure to be propitiated。 Even Mr
Tappertit； though occupied as we have seen in gazing at his
heart’s delight； could not wholly divert his thoughts from the voice
of the other charmer。 Mrs Varden； to her own private thinking；
had never been so improved in all her life； and when Mr Chester；
rising and craving permission to speak with her apart； took her by
the hand and led her at arm’s length upstairs to the best sitting…
room； she almost deemed him something more than human。
‘Dear madam；’ he said； pressing her hand delicately to his lips；
‘be seated。’
Mrs Varden called up quite a courtly air； and became seated。
‘You guess my object？’ said Mr Chester； drawing a chair
towards her。 ‘You divine my purpose？ I am an affectionate parent；
my dear Mrs Varden。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 298…
Barnaby Rudge 299
‘That I am sure you are； sir；’ said Mrs V。
‘Thank you；’ returned Mr Chester； tapping his snuff…box lid。
‘Heavy moral responsibilities rest with parents； Mrs Varden。’
Mrs Varden slightly raised her hands； shook her head； and
looked at the ground as though she saw straight through the globe；
out at the other end； and into the immensity of space beyond。
‘I may confide in you；’ said Mr Chester； ‘without reserve。 I love
my son； ma’am； dearly； and loving him as I do； I would save him
from working certain misery。 You know of his attachment to Miss
Haredale。 You have abetted him in it； and very kind of you it was
to do so。 I am deeply obliged to you—most deeply obliged to you—
for your interest in his behalf； but my dear ma’am； it is a mistaken
one； I do assure you。’
Mrs Varden stammered that she was sorry—’
‘Sorry； my dear ma’am；’ he interposed。 ‘Never be sorry for what
is so very amiable； so very good in intention； so perfectly like
yourself。 But there are grave and weighty reasons； pressing family
considerations； and apart even from these； points of religious
difference； which interpose themselves； and render their union
impossible； utterly im…possible。 I should have mentioned these
circumstances to your husband； but he has—you will excuse my
saying this so freely—he has not your quickness of apprehension
or depth of moral sense。 What an extremely airy house this is； and
how beautifully kept！ For one like myself—a widower so long—
these tokens of female care and superintendence have
inexpressible charms。’
Mrs Varden began to think （she scarcely knew why） that the
young Mr Chester must be in the wrong and the old Mr Chester
must he in the right。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 299…
Barnaby Rudge 300
‘My son Ned；’ resumed her tempter with his most winning air；
‘has had； I am told； your lovely daughter’s aid； and your open…
hearted husband’s。’
‘—Much more than mine； sir；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘a great deal
more。 I have often had my doubts。 It’s a—’
‘A bad example；’ suggested Mr Chester。 ‘It is。 No doubt it is。
Your daughter is at that age when to set before her an
encouragement for young persons to rebel against their parents on
this most important point； is particularly injudicious。 You are
quite right。 I ought to have thought of that myself； but it escaped
me； I confess—so far superior are your sex to ours； dear madam； in
point of penetration and sagacity。’
Mrs Varden looked as wise as if she had really said something
to deserve this compliment—firmly believed she had； in short—
and her faith in her own shrewdness increased considerably。
‘My dear ma’am；’ said Mr Chester； ‘you embolden me to be
plain with you。 My son and I are at variance on this point。 The
young lady and her natural guardian differ upon it； also。 And the
closing point is； that my son is bound by his duty to me； by his
ho
