hard times(艰难时世)-第27章
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inspectors were appointed to look into their works； they were
ruined when such inspectors considered it doubtful whether they
were quite justified in chopping people up with their machinery；
they were utterly undone； When it was hinted that perhaps they
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need not always make quite so much smoke。 Besides Mr
Bounderby’s gold spoon which was generally received in
Coketown； another prevalent fiction was very popular there。 It
took the form of a threat。 Whenever a Coketowner felt he was ill…
used—that is to say； whenever he was not left entirely alone； and it
was proposed to hold him accountable for the consequences of any
of his acts he was sure to come out with the awful menace； that he
would “sooner pitch his property into the Atlantic”。 This had
terrified the Home Secretary within an inch of his life； on several
occasions 。
However； the Coketowners were so patriotic after all； that they
never had pitched their property into the Atlantic yet； but on the
contrary； had been kind enough to take mighty good care of it。 So
there it was； in the haze yonder； and it increased and multiplied。
The streets were hot and dusty on the summer day； and the sun
was so bright that it even shone through the heavy vapour
drooping over Coketown； and could not be looked at steadily。
Stokers emerged from low underground doorways into factory
yards； and sat on steps； and posts； and palings； wiping their
swarthy visages； and contemplating coals。 The whole town seemed
to be frying in oil。 There was a stifling smell of hot oil everywhere。
The steam…engines shone with it； the dresses of the Hands were
soiled with it； the mills throughout their many storeys oozed and
trickled it。 The atmosphere of those Fairy Palaces was like the
breath of the simoon； and their inhabitants； wasting with heat；
toiled languidly in the desert。 But no temperature made the
melancholy mad elephants more mad or more sane。 Their
wearisome heads went up and down at the same rate； in hot
weather and cold； wet weather and dry； fair weather and foul。 The
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measured motion of their shadows on the walls； was the substitute
Coketown had to show for the shadows of rustling woods； while；
for the summer hum of insects； it could offer； all the year round；
from the dawn of Monday to the night of Saturday； the whirr of
shafts and wheels。
Drowsily they whirred all through this sunny day； making the
passenger more sleepy and more hot as he passed the humming
walls of the mills。 Sun…blinds； and sprinklings of water； a little
cooled the main streets and the shops； but the mills； and the
courts and alleys； baked at a fierce heat。 Down upon the river that
was black and thick with dye； some Coketown boys who were at
large—a rare sight there—rowed a crazy boat； which made a
spumous track upon the water as it jogged along； while every dip
of an oar stirred up vile smells。 But the sun itself； however
beneficent generally； was less kind to Coketown than hard frost；
and rarely looked intently into any of its closer regions without
engendering more death than life。 So does the eye of Heaven itself
become an evil eye； when incapable or sordid hands are
interposed between it and the things it looks upon to bless。
Mrs Sparsit sat in her afternoon apartment at the Bank； on the
shadier side of the frying street。 Office…hours were over： and at
that period of the day； in warm weather； she usually embellished
with her genteel presence； a managerial boardroom over the
public office。 Her own private sitting…room was a storey higher； at
the window of which post of observation she was ready； every
morning； to greet Mr Bounderby as he came across the road； with
the sympathising recognition appropriate to a Victim。 He had been
married now； a year； and Mrs Sparsit had never released him from
her determined pity a moment。
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The Bank offered no violence to the wholesome monotony of
the town。 It was another red brick house； with black outside
shutters； green inside blinds； a black street…door up two white
steps； a brazen door…plate； and a brazen door…handle full stop。 It
was a size larger than Mr Bounderby’s house； as other houses
were from a size to half…a…dozen sizes smaller； in all other
particulars； it was strictly according to pattern。
Mrs Sparsit was conscious that by coming in the evening…tide
among the desks and writing implements； she shed a feminine； not
to say also aristocratic； grace upon the office。 Seated； with her
needlework or netting apparatus； at the window； she had a self…
laudatory sense of correcting； by her ladylike deportment； the
rude business aspect of the place。 With this impression of her
interesting character upon her； Mrs Sparsit considered herself； in
some sort； the Bank Fairy。 The townspeople who； in their passing
and repassing； saw her there； regarded her as the Bank Dragon；
keeping watch over the treasures of the mine。
What those treasures were； Mrs Sparsit knew as little as they
did。 Gold and silver coin； precious paper； secrets that if divulged
would bring vague destruction upon vague persons （generally；
however； people whom she disliked）； were the chief items in her
ideal catalogue thereof。 For the rest； she knew that after office…
hours； she reigned supreme over all the office furniture； and over
a locked…up iron room with three locks； against the door of which
strong chamber the light porter laid his head every night； on a
truckle bed； that disappeared at cockcrow。 Further； she was lady
paramount over certain vaults in the basement； sharply spiked off
from communication with the predatory world； and over the relics
of the current day’s work； consisting of blots of ink； worn…out pens；
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fragments of wafers； and scraps of paper torn so small； that
nothing interesting could ever be deciphered on them when Mrs
Sparsit tried。 Lastly she was guardian over a little armoury of
cutlasses and carbines； arrayed in vengeful order above one of the
official chimney…pieces； and over that respectable tradition never
to be separated from a place of business claiming to be wealthy—a
row of fire…buckets—vessels calculated to be of no physical utility
on any occasion； but observed to exercise a fine moral influence；
almost equal to bullion； on most beholders。
A deaf serving…woman and the light porter completed Mrs
Sparsit’s empire。 The deaf serving…woman was rumoured to be
wealthy； and a saying had for years gone about among the lower
orders of Coketown； that she would be murdered some night when
the Bank was shut； for the sake of her money。 It was generally
considered； indeed； that she had been due some time； and ought to
have fallen long ago； but she had kept her life； and her situation；
with an ill…conditioned tenacity that occasioned much offence and
disappointment。
Mrs Sparsit’s tea was just set for her on a pert little table； with
its tripod of legs in an attitude； which she insinuated after office…
hours； into the company of the stern； leathern…topped； long board…
table that bestrode the middle of the room。 The light porter placed
the tea…tray on it； knuckling his forehead as a form of homage。
“Thank you； Bitzer；” said Mrs Sparsit。
“Thank you； ma’am；” returned the light porter。 He was a very
light porter indeed； as light as in the days when he blinkingly
defined a horse； for girl number twenty。
“All is shut up； Bitzer？” said Mrs Sparsit。
“All is shut up； ma’am。”
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“And what；” said Mrs Sparsit； pouring out her tea； “is the news
of the day？ Anything？”
“Well； ma’am； I can’t say that I have heard anything particular。
Our people are a bad lot； ma’am； but that is no news；
unfortunately。 “
“What are the restless wretches doing now？” asked Mrs
Sparsit。
“Merely going on in the old way； ma’am。 Uniting； and leaguing；
and engaging to stand by one another。”
“It is much to be regretted；” said Mrs Sparsit； making her nose
more Roman and her eyebrows more Coriolanian in the strength
of her severity； “that the united masters allow of any such class…
combinations。”
“Yes； ma’am；” said Bitzer。
“Being united themselves； they ought one and all to set their
faces against employing any man who is united with any other
man；” said Mrs Sparsit。
“They have done that； ma’am；” returned Bitzer； “but it rather
fell through； ma’am。”
“I do not pretend to understand these things；” said Mrs Sparsit；
with dignity； “my lot having been originally cast in a widely
