hard times(艰难时世)-第60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！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 318…
Hard Times 318
“So far； that’s true enough；” assented Mr Bounderby； with his
hands in his pockets and his hat on。 “But I have known you people
before today； you’ll observe； and I know you never die for want of
talking。 Now； I recommend you not so much to mind talking just
now； as doing。 You have undertaken to do something； all I remark
upon that at present is； do it！”
“I have written to Stephen by the post that went out this
afternoon； as I have written to him once before sin’ he went away；”
said Rachael； “and he will be here； at furthest； in two days。”
“Then； I’ll tell you something。 You are not aware perhaps；”
retorted Mr Bounderby； “that you yourself have been looked after
now and then； not being considered quite free from suspicion in
this business； on account of most people being judged according to
the company they keep。 The post…office hasn’t been forgotten
either。 What I’ll tell you is； that no letter to Stephen Blackpool has
ever got into it。 Therefore； what has become of yours； I leave you
to guess。 Perhaps you’re mistaken； and never wrote any。”
“He hadn’t been gone from here； young lady；” said Rachael；
turning appealingly to Louisa； “as much as a week； when he sent
me the only letter I have had from him； saying that he was forced
to seek work in another name。”
“Oh； by George！” cried Bounderby； shaking his head； with a
whistle； “he changes his name； does he！ That’s rather unlucky； too；
for such an immaculate chap。 It’s considered a little suspicious in
Courts of Justice； I believe； when an Innocent happens to have
many names。”
“What；” said Rachael； with tears in her eyes again； “what young
lady； in the name of Mercy； was left the poor lad to do！ The
masters against him on one hand； the men against him on the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 319…
Hard Times 319
other； he only wantin’ to work hard in peace； and do what he felt
right。 Can a man have no soul of his own； no mind of his own？
Must he go wrong all through wi’ this side； or must he go wrong all
through wi’ that； or else be hunted like a hare？”
“Indeed； indeed； I pity him from my heart；” returned Louisa；
“and I hope that he will clear himself。”
“You need have no fear of that； young lady。 He is sure！”
“All the surer； I suppose；” said Mr Bounderby； “for your
refusing to tell where he is？ Eh？”
“He shall not； through any act of mine； come back wi’ the
unmerited reproach of being brought back。 He shall come back of
his own accord to clear himself； and put all those that have injured
his good character； and he not here for its defence； to shame。 I
have told him what has been done against him；” said Rachael；
throwing off all distrust as a rock throws off the sea； “and he will
be here； at furthest； in two days。”
“Notwithstanding which；” added Mr Bounderby； “if he can be
laid hold of any sooner； he shall have an earlier opportunity of
clearing himself。 As to you； I have nothing against you； what you
came and told me turns out to be true； and I have given you the
means of proving it to be true； and there’s an end of it。 I wish you
good…night all！ I must be off to look a little further into this。”
Tom came out of his corner when Mr Bounderby moved；
moved with him； kept close to him； and went away with him。 The
only parting salutation of which he delivered himself was a sulky
“Good…night； father！” With a brief speech； and a scowl at his sister；
he left the house。
Since his sheet anchor had come home； Mr Gradgrind had been
sparing of speech。 He still sat silent； when Louisa mildly said：
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 320…
Hard Times 320
“Rachael； you will not distrust me one day； when you know me
better。”
“It goes against me；” Rachael answered in a gentler manner；
“to mistrust any one； but when I am so mistrusted—when we all
are—I cannot keep such things quite out of my mind。 I ask your
pardon for having done you an injury。 I don’t think what I said；
now。 Yet I might come to think it again； wi’ the poor lad so
wronged。”
“Did you tell him in your letter；” inquired Sissy； “that suspicion
seemed to have fallen upon him； because he had been seen about
the bank at night？ He would then know what he would have to
explain on coming back； and would be ready。”
“Yes； dear；” she returned； “but I can’t guess what can have ever
taken him there。 He never used to go there。 It was never in his
way。 His way was the same as mine； and not near it。”
Sissy had already been at her side asking her where she lived；
and whether she might come tomorrow night to inquire if there
were news of him。
“I doubt；” said Rachael； “if he can be here till next day。”
“Then I will come next night too；” said Sissy。
When Rachael； assenting to this； was gone； Mr Gradgrind lifted
up his head； and said to his daughter：
“Louisa； my dear； I have never that I know of seen this man。 Do
you believe him to be implicated？”
“I think I have believed it； father； though with great difficulty。 I
do not believe it now。”
“That is to say； you once persuaded yourself to believe it； from
knowing him to be suspected。 His appearance and manner； are
they so honest？”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 321…
Hard Times 321
“Very honest。”
“And her confidence not to be shaken！ I ask myself；” said Mr
Gradgrind； musing； “does the real culprit know of these
accusations？ Where is he？ Who is he？”
His hair had latterly began to change colour。 As he leaned upon
his hand again； looking grey and old； Louisa； with a face of fear
and pity； hurriedly went over to him； and sat close at his side。 Her
eyes by accident met Sissy’s at the moment。 Sissy flushed and
started； and Louisa put her finger on her lip。
Next night； when Sissy returned home and told Louisa that
Stephen was not come； she told it in a whisper。 Next night again；
when she came home with the same account； and added that he
had not been heard of； she spoke in the same low frightened tone。
From the moment of that interchange of looks； they never uttered
his name； or any reference to him； aloud； nor ever pursued the
subject of the robbery； when Mr Gradgrind spoke of it。
The two appointed days ran out； three days and nights ran out；
and Stephen Blackpool was not come； and remained unheard of。
On the fourth day； Rachael； with unabated confidence； but
considering her despatch to have miscarried； went up to the Bank；
and showed her letter from him with his address； at a working
colony； one of many； not upon the main road； sixty miles away。
Messengers were sent to that place； and the whole town looked for
Stephen to be brought in next day。
During this whole time the whelp； moved about with Mr
Bounderby like his shadow； assisting in all the proceedings。 He
was greatly excited； horribly fevered； bit his nails down to the
quick； spoke in a hard rattling voice； and with lips that were black
and burnt up。 At the hour when the suspected man was looked for；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 322…
Hard Times 322
the whelp was at the station； offering to wager that he had made
off before the arrival of those who were sent in quest of him； and
that he would not appear。
The whelp was right。 The messengers returned alone。 Rachael’s
letter had gone； Rachael’s letter had been delivered； Stephen
Blackpool had decamped in that same hour； and no soul knew
more of him。 The only doubt in Coketown was； whether Rachael
had written in good faith； believing that he really would come
back； or warning him to fly。 On this point opinion was divided。
Six days； seven days； far on into another week。 The wretched
whelp plucked up a ghastly courage； and began to grow defiant。
“Was the suspected fellow the thief？ A pretty question！ If not；
where was the man； and why did he not come back？”
Where was the man； and why did he not come back？ In the
dead of night the echoes of his own words； which had rolled
Heaven knows how far away in the daytime； came back instead；
and abided by him until morning。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 323…
Hard Times 323
Chapter 5
Found
ay and night again； day and night again。 No Stephen
Blackpool。 Where was the man； and why did he not come
D
back？
Every night； Sissy went to Rachael’s lodging； and sat with her
in her small neat room。 All day； Rachael toiled as such people
must toil； whatever their anxieties。 The smoke…serpents were
indifferent who was lost or found； who turned out bad or good； the
melancholy mad elephants； like the Hard Fact men； abated
nothing of their set routine； whatever hap
