david elginbrod-第62章

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this　treasure　in　earthen　vessels；　and　so　long　as　this　vessel
lasts〃here　he　struck　his　chest　so　that　it　resounded〃it　shall　be
faithfully　and　liberally　dispensed。　　Let　us　pray。〃

After　the　prayer；　he　spread　abroad　his　arms　and　hands　as　if　he　would
clasp　the　world　in　his　embrace；　and　pronounced　the　benediction　in　a
style　of　arrogance　that　the　pope　himself　would　have　been　ashamed　of。

The　service　being　thus　concluded；　the　organ　absolutely　blasted　the
congregation　out　of　the　chapel；　so　did　it　storm　and　rave　with　a
fervour　anything　but　divine。

My　readers　must　not　suppose　that　I　give　this　chapel　as　the　type　of
orthodox　dissenting　chapels。　　I　give　it　only　as　an　approximate
specimen　of　a　large　class　of　them。　　The　religious　life　which　these
communities　once　possessed；　still　lingers　in　those　of　many　country
districts　and　small　towns；　but　is；　I　fear；　all　but　gone　from　those
of　the　cities　and　larger　towns。　　What　of　it　remains　in　these；　has
its　chief　manifestation　in　the　fungous　growth　of　such　chapels　as　the
one　I　have　described；　the　congregations　themselves　taking　this　for　a
sure　indication　of　the　prosperity　of　the　body。　　How　much　even　of　the
kind　of　prosperity　which　they　ought　to　indicate；　is　in　reality　at
the　foundation　of　these　appearances；　I　would　recommend　those　to
judge　who　are　versed　in　the　mysteries　of　chapel…building　societies。

As　to　Hugh；　whether　it　was　that　the　whole　was　suggestive　of　Egyptian
bondage；　or　that　his　own　mood　was；　at　the　time；　of　the　least
comfortable　sort；　I　will　not　pretend　to　determine；　but　he　assured　me
that　he　felt　all　the　time；　as　if；　instead　of　being　in　a　chapel　built
of　bricks　harmoniously　arranged；　as　by　the　lyre　of　Amphion；　he　were
wandering　in　the　waste；　wretched　field　whence　these　bricks　had　been
dug；　of　all　places　on　the　earth's　surface　the　most　miserable；
assailed　by　the　nauseous　odours；　which　have　not　character　enough　to
be　described；　and　only　remind　one　of　the　colours　on　a　snake's　back。

When　they　reached　the　open　air；　Mr。　Appleditch　introduced　Hugh　to
Mrs。　Appleditch；　on　the　steps　in　front　of　the　chapel。

〃This　is　Mr。　Sutherland；　Mrs。　Appleditch。〃

Hugh　lifted　his　hat；　and　Mrs。　Appleditch　made　a　courtesy。　　She　was　a
very　tall　womana　head　beyond　her　husband；　extremely　thin；　with
sharp　nose；　hollow　cheeks；　and　good　eyes。　　In　fact；　she　was　partly
pretty；　and　might　have　been　pleasant…looking；　but　for　a　large；
thin…lipped；　vampire…like　mouth；　and　a　general　expression　of　greed
and　contempt。　　She　was　meant　for　a　lady；　and　had　made　herself　a
money…maggot。　　She　was　richly　and　plainly　dressed；　and　until　she
began　to　be　at　her　ease；　might　have　passed　for　an　unpleasant　lady。
Master　Appleditch；　the　future　pastor；　was　a　fat　boy；　dressed　like　a
dwarf；　in　a　frock　coat　and　man's　hat；　with　a　face　in　which　the
meanness　and　keenness　strove　for　mastery；　and　between　them　kept　down
the　appearance　of　stupidity　consequent　on　fatness。　　They　walked　home
in　silence；　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Appleditch　apparently　pondering　either　upon
the　spiritual　food　they　had　just　received；　or　the　corporeal　food　for
which　they　were　about　to　be　thankful。

Their　house　was　one　of　many　in　a　crescent。　　Not　content　with　his
sign　in　town；　the　grocer　had　a　large　brass　plate　on　his　door；　with
Appleditch　engraved　upon　it　in　capitals：　it　saved　them　always
looking　at　the　numbers。　　The　boy　ran　on　before；　and　assailed　this
door　with　a　succession　of　explosive　knocks。

As　soon　as　it　was　opened；　in　he　rushed；　bawling：

〃Peter；　Peter；　here's　the　new　apprentice！　　Papa's　brought　him　home
to　dinner；　because　he　was　at　chapel　this　morning。〃　　Then　in　a　lower
tone〃I　mean　to　have　a　ride　on　his　back　this　afternoon。〃

The　father　and　mother　laughed。　　A　solemn　priggish　little　voice
answered：

〃Oh；　no；　Johnny。　　Don't　you　know　what　day　this　is？　　This　is　the
Sabbath…day。〃

〃The　dear　boy！〃　sighed　his　mother。

〃That　boy　is　too　good　to　live；〃　responded　the　father。

Hugh　was　shown　into　the　dining…room；　where　the　table　was　already
laid　for　dinner。　　It　was　evident　that　the　Appleditches　were
well…to…do　people。　　The　room　was　full　of　what　is　called　handsome
furniture；　in　a　high　state　of　polish。　　Over　the　chimney…piece　hung
the　portrait　of　a　preacher　in　gown　and　bands；　the　most　prominent　of
whose　features　were　his　cheeks。

In　a　few　minutes　the　host　and　hostess　entered；　followed　by　a
pale…faced　little　boy；　the　owner　of　the　voice　of　reproof。

〃Come　here；　Peetie；〃　said　his　mother；　〃and　tell　Mr。　Sutherland　what
you　have　got。〃　　She　referred　to　some　toyno；　not　toy；　for　it　was
the　Sabbathto　some　book；　probably。

Peetie　answered　in　a　solemn　voice；　mouthing　every　vowel：

〃I've　got　five　bags　of　gold　in　the　Bank　of　England。〃

〃Poor　child！〃　said　his　mother；　with　a　scornful　giggle。　〃You　wouldn't
have　much　to　reckon　on；　if　that　were　all。〃

Two　or　three　gaily　dressed　riflemen　passed　the　window。　　The　poor
fellows；　unable　to　bear　the　look　of　their　Sunday　clothes；　if　they
had　any；　after　being　used　to　their　uniform；　had　come　out　in　all　its
magnificence。

〃Ah！〃　said　Mr。　Appleditch；　〃that's　all　very　well　in　a　state　of
nature；　but　when　a　man　is　once　born　into　a　state　of　grace；　Mr。
Sutherlandah！〃

〃Really；〃　responded　Mrs。　Appleditch；　〃the　worldliness　of　the　lower
classes　is　quite　awful。　　But　they　are　spared　for　a　day　of　wrath；
poor　things！　　I　am　sure　that　accident　on　the　railway　last　Sabbath；
might　have　been　a　warning　to　them　all。　　After　that　they　can't　say
there　is　not　a　God　that　ruleth　in　the　earth；　and　taketh　vengeance
for　his　broken　Sabbaths。〃

〃Mr。。　　I　don't　know　your　name；〃　said　Peter；　whose　age　Hugh　had
just　been　trying　in　vain　to　conjecture。

〃Mr。　Sutherland；〃　said　the　mother。

〃Mr。　Slubberman；　are　you　a　converted　character？〃　resumed　Peter。

〃Why　do　you　ask　me　that；　Master　Peter？〃　said　Hugh；　trying　to　smile。

〃I　think　you　look　good；　but　mamma　says　she　don't　think　you　are；
because　you　say　Sunday　instead　of　Sabbath；　and　she　always　finds
people　who　do　are　worldly。〃

Mrs。　Appleditch　turned　rednot　blushed；　and　said；　quickly：

〃Peter　shouldn't　repeat　everything　he　hears。〃

〃No　more　I　do；　ma。　　I　haven't　told　what　you　said　about〃　Here　his
mother　caught　him　up；　and　carried　him　out　of　the　room；　saying：

〃You　naughty　boy！　　You　shall　go　to　bed。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　shan't！〃

〃Yes；　you　shall。　　Here；　Jane；　take　this　naughty　boy　to　bed。〃

〃I'll　scream。〃

〃Will　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　will！〃

　　　　　And　such　a　yell　was　there
　　　　　Of　sudden　and　portentous　birth；
　　　　　As　if。。。

ten　cats　were　being　cooked　alive。

〃Well！　well！　well！　my　Peetie！　　He　shan't　go　to　bed；　if　he'll　be　a
good　boy。　　Will　he　be　good？〃

〃May　I　stay　up　to　supper；　then？　　May　I？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　anything　to　stop　such　dreadful　screaming。　　You　are　very
naughtyvery　naughty　indeed。〃

〃No。　I'm　not　naughty。　　I'll　scream　again。〃

〃No；　no。　　Go　and　get　your　pinafore　on；　and　come　down　to　dinner。
Anything　rather　than　a　scream。〃

I　am　sick　of　all　this；　and　doubt　if　it　is　worth　printing；　but　it
amused　me　very　much　one　night　as　Hugh　related　it　over　a　bottle　of
Chablis　and　a　pipe。

He　certainly　did　not　represent　Mrs。　Appleditch　in　a　very　favourable
light　on　the　whole；　but　he　took　care　to　say　that　there　was　a　certain
liberality　about　the　table；　and　a　kind　of　heartiness　in　her　way　of
pressing　him　to　have　more　than　he　could　possibly　eat；　which
contrasted　strangely　with　her　behaviour　afterwards　in　money　matters。
There　are　many　people　who　can　be　liberal　in　almost　anything　but
money。　　They　seem　to　say；　〃Take　anything　but　my　purse。〃　　Miss　Talbot
told　him　afterwards；　that　this　same　lady　was　quite　active　amongst
the　poor　of　her　district。　　She　made　it　a　rule　never　to　give　money；
or　at　least　never　more　than　sixpence；　but　she　turned　scraps　of
victuals　and　cast…off　clothes　to　the　best　account；　and；　if　she　did
not　make　friends　with　the　mammon　of　unrighteousness；　she　yet　kept　an
eye　on　the　eternal　habitations　in　the　distribution　of　the　crumbs
that　fell　from　her　table。　　Poor　Mr。　Appleditch；　on　the　other　hand；
often　embezzled　a　shilling　or　a　half…crown　from　the　till；　for　the
use　of　a　poor　member　of　the　same　churchmeaning　by　church；　the
individual　community　to　which　he　belonged；　but　of　this；　Mrs。
Appleditch　was　carefully　kept　ignorant。

After　dinner　was　over；　and　the　children　had　been　sent　away；　which
was　effected　without　a　greater　amount　of　difficulty　than；　from　the
anticipative　precautions　adopted；　appeared　to　be　lawful　and
ordinary；　Mr。　Appleditch　proceeded　to　business。

〃Now；　Mr。　Sutherland；　what　do　you　think　of　Johnnie；　sir？〃

〃It　is　impossible　for　me　to　say　yet；　but　I　am　quite　willing　to　teach
him　if　you　like。〃

〃He's　a　forward　boy；〃　said　his　mother。

〃Not　a　doubt　of　it；〃　responded　Hugh；　for　he　remembered　the　boy
asking　him；　across　the　table：　〃Isn't　our　Mr。　Lixom〃（the
pastor）〃a　oner？〃

〃And　very　eager　and　retentive；〃　said　his　father。

Hugh　had　seen　the　little　glutton　paint　both　cheeks　to　the　eyes　with
damson　tart；　and　render　more　than　a　quantity　proportionate　to　the
colouring；　invisible。

〃Yes；　he　is　eager；　and　retentive；　too；　I　daresay；〃　he　said；　〃but
much　will　depend　on　whether　he　has　a　turn　for　study。〃

〃Well；　you　will　find　that　out　to…morrow。　　I　think　you　will　be
surprised；　sir。〃

〃At　what　hour　would　you　like　me　to　come？〃

〃Stop；　Mr。　Appleditch；〃　interposed　his　wife。　〃You　have　said　nothing
yet　about　terms；　and　that　is　of　some　importance；　considering　the
rent　and　taxes　we　pay。〃

〃Well；　my　love；　what　do　you　feel　inclined　to　give？〃

〃How　much　do　you　charge　a　lesson；　Mr。　Sutherland？　　Only　let　me
remind　you；　sir；　that　he　is　a　very　little　boy；　although　stout；　and
that　you　cannot　expect　to　put　much　Greek　and　Latin　into　him　for　some
time　yet。　　Besides；　we　want　you　to　come　every　day；　which　ought　to　be
considered　in　the　rate　of　charge。〃

〃Of　course　it　ought；〃　said　Hugh。

〃How　much　do　you　say；　then；　sir？〃

〃I　should　be　content　with　half…a…crown　a　lesson。〃

〃I　daresay　you　would！〃　replied　the　lady；　with　indignation。

〃Half…a…crown！　　That'ssix　half…crowns　isfifteen　shillings。
Fifteen　shillings　a　week　for　that　mite　of　a　boy！　　Mr。　Sutherland；
you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself；　sir。〃

〃You　forget；　Mrs。　Appleditch；　that　it　is　as　much　trouble　to　me　to
teach　one　little　boyyes；　a　great　deal　more　than　to　teach　twenty
grown　men。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself；　sir。　　You　a　Christian　man；　and
talk　of　trouble　in　teaching　such　a　little　cherub　as　that？〃

〃But　do　pray　remember　the　distance　I　have　to　come；　and　that　it　will
take　nearly　four　hours　of　my　time　every　day。〃

〃Then　you　can　get　lodgings　nearer。〃

〃But　I　could　not　get　any　so　cheap。〃

〃Then　you　can　the　better　afford　to　do　it。〃

And　she　threw　herself　back　in　her　chair；　as　if　she　had　struck　the
decisive　blow。　　Mr。　Appleditch　remarked；　gently：

〃It　is　good　for　your　health　to　walk　the　distance；　sir。〃

Mrs。　Appleditch　resumed：

〃I　won't　give　a　farthing　more　than　one　shilling　a　lesson。　　There；
now！〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Hugh；　rising；　〃then　I　must　wish　you　good　day。　　We
need　not　waste　more　time　in　talking　about　it。〃

〃Surely　you　are　not　going　to　make　any　use　of　your　time　on　a　Sunday？〃
said　the　grocer；　mildly。　〃Don't　be　in　a　hurry；　Mr。　Sutherland。　　We
tradespeople　like　to　make　the　best　bargain　we　can。〃

〃Mr。　Appleditch；　I　am