hard times(艰难时世)-第35章
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east； west； north； and south。 And consequently three cheers for the
United Aggregate Tribunal！
Slackbridge acted as fugleman； and gave the time。 The
multitude of doubtful faces （a little conscience…stricken）
brightened at the sound； and took it up。 Private feeling must yield
to the common cause。 Hurrah！ The roof yet vibrated with the
cheering； when the assembly dispersed。
Thus easily did Stephen Blackpool fall into the loneliest of lives；
the life of solitude among a familiar crowd。 The stranger in the
land who looks into ten thousand faces for some answering look
and never finds it； is in cheering society as compared with him
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who passes ten averted faces daily； that were once the
countenances of friends。 Such experience was to be Stephen’s
now； in every waking moment of his life； at his work； on his way to
it and from it； at his door； at his window； everywhere。 By general
consent； they even avoided that side of the street on which he
habitually walked； and left it； of all the working men； to him only。
He had been for many years； a quiet silent man； associating but
little with other men； and used to companionship with his own
thoughts。 He had never known before； the strength of the want in
his heart for the frequent recognition of a nod； a look； a word； or
the immense amount of relief that had been poured into it by
drops； through such small means。 It was even harder than he
could have believed possible； to separate in his own conscience his
abandonment by all his fellows； from a baseless sense of shame
and disgrace。
The first four days of his endurance were days so long and
heavy； that he began to be appalled by the prospect before him。
Not only did he see no Rachael all the time； but he avoided every
chance of seeing her； for； although he knew that the prohibition
did not yet formally extend to the women working in the factories；
he found that some of them with whom he was acquainted were
changed to him； and he feared to try others； and dreaded that
Rachael might be even singled out from the rest if she were seen
in his company。 So； he had been quite alone during the four days；
and had spoken to no one； when； as he was leaving his work at
night； a young man of a very light complexion accosted him in the
street。
“Your name’s Blackpool； an’t it？” said the young man。
Stephen coloured to find himself with his hat in his hand； in his
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gratitude for being spoken to； or in the suddenness of it； or both。
He made a feint of adjusting the lining； and said； “Yes。”
“You are the Hand they have sent to Coventry； I mean？” said
Bitzer； the very light young man in question。
Stephen answered “Yes；” again。
“I supposed so； from their all appearing to keep away from you。
Mr Bounderby wants to speak to you。 You know his house； don’t
you？”
Stephen said “Yes；” again。
“Then go straight up there； will you？” said Bitzer。 “You’re
expected； and have only to tell the servant it’s you。 I belong to the
Bank； so； if you go straight up without me （I was sent to fetch you）；
you’ll save me a walk。”
Stephen； whose way had been in the contrary direction； turned
about； and betook himself as in duty bound； to the red brick castle
of the giant Bounderby。
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Chapter 5
Men And Masters
ell； Stephen；” said Bounderby； in his windy
manner； “what’s this I hear？ What have these
“W
pests of the earth been doing to you？ Come in and
speak up。”
It was into the drawing…room that he was thus bidden。 A tea…
table was set out； and Mr Bounderby’s young wife； and her
brother； and a great gentleman from London； were present。 To
whom Stephen made his obeisance； closing the door and standing
near it； with his hat in his hand。
“This is the man I was telling you about； Harthouse；” said Mr
Bounderby。 The gentleman he addressed； who was talking to Mrs
Bounderby on the sofa； got up； saying in an indolent way； “Oh
really？” and dawdled to the hearthrug where Mr Bounderby
stood。
“Now；” said Bounderby； “speak up！”
After the four days he had passed； this address fell rudely and
discordantly on Stephen’s ear。 Besides being a rough handling of
his wounded mind； it seemed to assume that he really was the self…
interested deserter he had been called。
“What were it； sir；” said Stephen； “as yo were pleased to want
wi’ me？”
“Why； I have told you；” returned Bounderby。 “Speak up like a
man； since you are a man； and tell us about yourself and this
Combination。”
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“Wi’ yor pardon； sir；” said Stephen Blackpool； “I ha’ nowt to
sen about it。”
Mr Bounderby； who was always more or less like a Wind；
finding something in his way here； began to blow at it directly。
“Now； look here； Harthouse；” said he； “here’s a specimen of
’em。 When this man was here once before； I warned this man
against the mischievous strangers who are always about—and who
ought to be hanged wherever they are found—and I told this man
that he was going in the wrong direction。 Now； would you believe
it； that although they have put this mark upon him； he is such a
slave to them still； that he’s afraid to open his lips about them？”
“I sed as I had nowt to sen； sir； not as I was fearfo o’ openin’ my
lips。”
“You said。 Ah！ I know what you said； more than that； I know
what you mean； you see。 Not always the same thing； by the Lord
Harry！ Quite different things。 You had better tell us at once； that
that fellow Slackbridge is not in the town； stirring up the people to
mutiny； and that he is not a regular qualified leader of the people：
that is； a most confounded scoundrel。 You had better tell us so at
once； you can’t deceive me。 You want to tell us so。 Why don’t
you？”
“I’m as sooary as yo； sir； when the people’s leaders is bad；” said
Stephen； shaking his head。 “They taks such as offers。 Haply ’tis na’
the sma’est o’ their misfortuns when they can get no better。”
The wind began to get boisterous。
“Now； you’ll think this pretty well； Harthouse；” said Mr
Bounderby。 “You’ll think this tolerably strong。 You’ll say； upon my
soul this is a tidy specimen of what my friends have to deal with；
but this is nothing； sir！ You shall hear me ask this man a question。
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Pray； Mr Blackpool”—wind springing up very fast—“may I take
the liberty of asking you how it happens that you refused to be in
this Combination？”
“How’t happens？”
“Ah！” said Mr Bounderby； with his thumbs in the arms of his
coat； and jerking his head and shutting his eyes in confidence with
the opposite wall： “how it happens。”
“I’d liefer not coom to ’t； sir； but sin you put th’ question—an
not want’n t’ be ill…manner’n—I’ll answer。 I ha passed a promess。”
“Not to me； you know；” said Bounderby。 （Gusty weather with
deceitful calms。 One now prevailing。） “O no； sir。 Not to yo。”
“As for me； any consideration for me has had just nothing at all
to do with it；” said Bounderby； still in confidence with the wall。 “If
only Josiah Bounderby of Coketown had been in question； you
would have joined and made no bones of it？”
“Why yes； sir。 ’Tis true。”
“Though he knows；” said Mr Bounderby； now blowing a gale；
“that these are a set of rascals and rebels whom transportation is
too good for！ Now； Mr Hart house； you have been knocking about
in the world some time。 Did you ever meet with anything like that
man out of this blessed country？” And Mr Bounderby pointed him
out for inspection； with an angry finger。
“Nay； ma’am；” said Stephen Blackpool； staunchly protesting
against the words that had been used； and instinctively addressing
himself to Louisa； after glancing at her face。 “Not rebels； nor yet
rascals。 Nowt o’ th’ kind； ma’am； nowt o th’ kind。 They’ve not doon
me a kindness； ma’am； as I know and feel。 But； there’s not a dozen
men amoong ’em； ma’am—a dozen？ Not six—but what believes as
he has doon his duty by the rest and by himseln。 God forbid as I；
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that ha known； and had’n experience o’ these men aw my life—I；
that ha’ ett’n an droonken wi’ em； an seet’n wi’ em； an seet’n wi’
em； and toil’n wi’ em； and lov’n ’em； should fail fur to stan by ’em
wi’ the truth； let ’em ha doon to me what they may！”
He spoke with the rugged earnestness of his place and
character—deepened perhaps by a proud consciousness that he
was faithful to his class under all their mistrust； but he fully
remembered where he was； and did not even raise his voice
