english stories-london-第12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！



forgot　to　wonder　why　he　had　never　thought　of　Rose　before。　Afterward　he

remembered　that　she　had　always　been　his　social　superior。



The　situation　seemed　too　dream…like　for　explanation　to　the　room　just

yet。　Leibel　lovingly　passed　a　bottle　of　ginger…beer；　and　Rose　took　a

sip；　with　a　beautiful　air　of　plighting　troth；　understood　only　of　those

two。　When　Leibel　quaffed　the　remnant　it　intoxicated　him。　The　relics　of

the　bread　and　cheese　were　the　ambrosia　to　this　nectar。　They　did　not

dare　kiss；　the　suddenness　of　it　all　left　them　bashful；　and　the　smack

of　lips　would　have　been　like　a　cannon…peal　announcing　their

engagement。　There　was　a　subtler　sweetness　in　this　sense　of　a　secret；

apart　from　the　fact　that　neither　cared　to　break　the　news　to　the　master

tailor；　a　stern　little　old　man。　Leibel's　chalk　marks　continued


indecisive　that　afternoon；　which　shows　how　correctly　Rose　had

connected　them　with　love。



Before　he　left　that　night　Rose　said　to　him；　〃Art　thou　sure　thou

wouldst　not　rather　have　Leah　Volcovitch？〃



〃Not　for　all　the　boots　and　shoes　in　the　world；〃　replied　Leibel；

vehemently。



〃And　I；〃　protested　Rose；　〃would　rather　go　without　my　own　than　without

thee。〃



The　landing　outside　the　workshop　was　so　badly　lighted　that　their　lips

came　together　in　the　darkness。



〃Nay；　nay；　thou　must　not　yet；〃　said　Rose。　〃Thou　art　still　courting

Leah　Volcovitch。　For　aught　thou　knowest；　Sugarman　the　Shadchan　may

have　entangled　thee　beyond　redemption。〃



〃Not　so；〃　asserted　Leibel。　〃I　have　only　seen　the　maiden　once。〃



〃Yes。　But　Sugarman　has　seen　her　father　several　times；〃　persisted　Rose。

〃For　so　misshapen　a　maiden　his　commission　would　be　large。　Thou　must　go

to　Sugarman　to…night；　and　tell　him　that　thou　canst　not　find　it　in　thy

heart　to　go　on　with　the　match。〃



〃Kiss　me；　and　I　will　go；〃　pleaded　Leibel。



〃Go；　and　I　will　kiss　thee；〃　said　Rose；　resolutely。



〃And　when　shall　we　tell　thy　father？〃　he　asked；　pressing　her　hand；　as

the　next　best　thing　to　her　lips。



〃As　soon　as　thou　art　free　from　Leah。〃



〃But　will　he　consent？〃



〃He　will　not　be　glad；〃　said　Rose；　frankly。　〃But　after　mother's　death

peace　be　upon　herthe　rule　passed　from　her　hands　into　mine。〃



〃Ah；　that　is　well；〃　said　Leibel。　He　was　a　superficial　thinker。



Leibel　found　Sugarman　at　supper。　The　great　Shadchan　offered　him　a

chair；　but　nothing　else。　Hospitality　was　associated　in　his　mind　with

special　occasions　only；　and　involved　lemonade　and　〃stuffed　monkeys。〃



He　was　very　put　outalmost　to　the　point　of　indigestionto　hear　of

Leibel's　final　determination；　and　plied　him　with　reproachful

inquiries。



〃You　don't　mean　to　say　that　you　give　up　a　boot　and　shoe　manufacturer

merely　because　his　daughter　has　round　shoulders！〃　he　exclaimed；

incredulously。



〃It　is　more　than　round　shouldersit　is　a　hump！〃　cried　Leibel。



〃And　suppose？　See　how　much　better　off　you　will　be　when　you　get　your

own　machines！　We　do　not　refuse　to　let　camels　carry　our　burdens　because

they　have　humps。〃



〃Ah；　but　a　wife　is　not　a　camel；〃　said　Leibel；　with　a　sage　air。



〃And　a　cutter　is　not　a　master　tailor；〃　retorted　Sugarman。



〃Enough；　enough！〃　cried　Leibel。　〃I　tell　you；　I　would　not　have　her　if

she　were　a　machine　warehouse。〃



〃There　sticks　something　behind；〃　persisted　Sugarman；　unconvinced。



Leibel　shook　his　head。　〃Only　her　hump〃　he　said　with　a　flash　of　humour。



〃Moses　Mendelssohn　had　a　hump；〃　expostulated　Sugarman；　reproachfully。



〃Yes；　but　he　was　a　heretic；〃　rejoined　Leibel；　who　was　not　without

reading。　〃And　then　he　was　a　man！　A　man　with　two　humps　could　find　a

wife　for　each。　But　a　woman　with　a　hump　cannot　expect　a　husband　in

addition。〃



〃Guard　your　tongue　from　evil；〃　quoth　the　Shadchan；　angrily。　〃If

everybody　were　to　talk　like　you　Leah　Volcovitch　would　never　be　married

at　all。〃



Leibel　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　reminded　him　that　hunchbacked　girls

who　stammered　and　squinted　and　halted　on　left　legs　were　not　usually

led　under　the　canopy。



〃Nonsense！　Stuff！〃　cried　Sugarman；　angrily。　〃That　is　because　they　do

not　come　to　me。〃



〃Leah　Volcovitch　/has/　come　to　you；〃　said　Leibel；　〃but　she　shall　not

come　to　me。〃　And　he　rose；　anxious　to　escape。



Instantly　Sugarman　gave　a　sigh　of　resignation。　〃Be　it　so！　Then　I　shall

have　to　look　out　for　another；　that's　all。〃



〃No；　I　don't　want　any；〃　replied　Leibel；　quickly。



Sugarman　stopped　eating。　〃You　don't　want　any？〃　he　cried。　〃But　you　came

to　me　for　one？〃



〃IIknow；〃　stammered　Leibel。　〃But　I'veI've　altered　my　mind。〃



〃One　needs　Hillel's　patience　to　deal　with　you！〃　cried　Sugarman。　〃But　I

shall　charge　you；　all　the　same；　for　my　trouble。　You　cannot　cancel　an

order　like　this　in　the　middle！　No；　no！　You　can　play　fast　and　loose

with　Leah　Volcovitch；　but　you　shall　not　make　a　fool　of　me。〃



〃But　if　I　don't　want　one？〃　said　Leibel；　sullenly。



Sugarman　gazed　at　him　with　a　cunning　look　of　suspicion。　〃Didn't　I　say

there　was　something　sticking　behind？〃



Leibel　felt　guilty。　〃But　whom　have　you　got　in　your　eye？〃　he　inquired；

desperately。



〃Perhaps　you　may　have　some　one　in　yours！〃　naively　answered　Sugarman。



Leibel　gave　a　hypocritic　long…drawn　〃U…m…m…m！　I　wonder　if　Rose　Green

where　I　work〃　he　said；　and　stopped。



〃I　fear　not；〃　said　Sugarman。　〃She　is　on　my　list。　Her　father　gave　her

to　me　some　months　ago；　but　he　is　hard　to　please。　Even　the　maiden

herself　is　not　easy；　being　pretty。〃



〃Perhaps　she　has　waited　for　some　one；〃　suggested　Leibel。



Sugarman's　keen　ear　caught　the　note　of　complacent　triumph。



〃You　have　been　asking　her　yourself！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　horror…stricken

accents。



〃And　if　I　have？〃　said　Leibel；　defiantly。



〃You　have　cheated　me！　And　so　has　Eliphaz　GreenI　always　knew　he　was

tricky！　You　have　both　defrauded　me！〃



〃I　did　not　mean　to；〃　said　Leibel；　mildly。



〃You　/did/　mean　to。　You　had　no　business　to　take　the　matter　out　of　my

hands。　What　right　had　you　to　propose　to　Rose　Green？〃



〃I　did　not；〃　cried　Leibel；　excitedly。



〃Then　you　asked　her　father！〃



〃No；　I　have　not　asked　her　father　yet。〃



〃Then　how　do　you　know　she　will　have　you？〃



〃II　know；〃　stammered　Leibel；　feeling　himself　somehow　a　liar　as　well

as　a　thief。　His　brain　was　in　a　whirl；　he　could　not　remember　how　the

thing　had　come　about。　Certainly　he　had　not　proposed；　nor　could　he　say

that　she　had。



〃You　know　she　will　have　you；〃　repeated　Sugarman；　reflectively。　〃And

does　/she/　know？〃



〃Yes。　In　fact；〃　he　blurted　out；　〃we　arranged　it　together。〃



〃Ah；　you　both　know。　And　does　her　father　know？〃



〃Not　yet。〃



〃Ah；　then　I　must　get　his　consent；〃　said　Sugarman；　decisively。



〃II　thought　of　speaking　to　him　myself。〃



〃Yourself！〃　echoed　Sugarman；　in　horror。　〃Are　you　unsound　in　the　head？

Why；　that　would　be　worse　than　the　mistake　you　have　already　made！〃



〃What　mistake？〃　asked　Leibel；　firing　up。



〃The　mistake　of　asking　the　maiden　herself。　When　you　quarrel　with　her

after　your　marriage　she　will　always　throw　it　in　your　teeth　that　you

wished　to　marry　her。　Moreover；　if　you　tell　a　maiden　you　love　her；　her

father　will　think　you　ought　to　marry　her　as　she　stands。　Still；　what　is

done　is　done。〃　And　he　sighed　regretfully。



〃And　what　more　do　I　want？　I　love　her。〃



〃You　piece　of　clay！〃　cried　Sugarman；　contemptuously。　〃Love　will　not

turn　machines；　much　less　buy　them。　You　must　have　a　dowry。　Her　father

has　a　big　stocking；　he　can　well　afford　it。〃



Leibel's　eyes　lit　up。　There　was　really　no　reason　why　he　should　not

have　bread　and　cheese　with　his　kisses。



〃Now；　if　/you/　went　to　her　father；〃　pursued　the　Shadchan；　〃the　odds

are　that　he　would　not　even　give　you　his　daughterto　say　nothing　of

the　dowry。　After　all；　it　is　a　cheek　of　you　to　aspire　so　high。　As　you

told　me　from　the　first；　you　haven't　saved　a　penny。　Even　my　commission

you　won't　be　able　to　pay　till　you　get　the　dowry。　But　if　/I/　go　I　do

not　despair　of　getting　a　substantial　sumto　say　nothing　of　the

daughter。〃



〃Yes；　I　think　you　had　better　go；〃　said　Leibel；　eagerly。



〃But　if　I　do　this　thing　for　you　I　shall　want　a　pound　more；〃　rejoined

Sugarman。



〃A　pound　more！〃　echoed　Leibel；　in　dismay。　〃Why？〃



〃Because　Rose　Green's　hump　is　of　gold；〃　replied　Sugarman；　oracularly。

〃Also；　she　is　fair　to　see；　and　many　men　desire　her。〃



〃But　you　have　always　your　five　per　cent；　on　the　dowry。〃



〃It　will　be　less　than　Volcovitch's；〃　explained　Sugarman。　〃You　see；

Green　has　other　and　less　beautiful　daughters。〃



〃Yes；　but　then　it　settles　itself　more　easily。　Say　five　shillings。〃



〃Eliphaz　Green　is　a　hard　man；〃　said　the　Shadchan　instead。



〃Ten　shillings　is　the　most　I　will　give！〃



〃Twelve　and　sixpence　is　the　least　I　will　take。　Eliphaz　Green　haggles

so　terribly。〃



They　split　the　difference；　and　so　eleven　and　threepence　represented

the　predominance　of　Eliphaz　Green's　stinginess　over　Volcovitch's。



The　very　next　day　Sugarman　invaded　the　Green　workroom。　Rose　bent　over

her　seams；　her　heart　fluttering。　Leibel　had　duly　apprised　her　of　the

roundabout　manner　in　which　she　would　have　to　be　won；　and　she　had

acquiesced　in　the　comedy。　At　the　least　it　would　save　her　the　trouble

of　father…taming。



Sugarman's　entry　was　brusque　and　breathless。　He　was　overwhelmed　with

joyous　emotion。　His　blue　bandana　trailed　agitatedly　from　his　coat…

tail。



〃At　last！〃　he　cried；　addressing　the　little　white…haired　master　tailor；

〃I　have　the　very　man　for　you。〃



〃Yes？〃　grunted　Eliphaz；　unimpressed。　The　monosyllable　was　packed　with

emotion。　It　said；　〃Have　you　really　the　face　to　come　to　me　again　with

an　ideal　man？〃



〃He　has　all　the　qualities　that　you　desire；〃　began　the　Shadchan；　in　a

tone　that　repudiated　the　implications　of　the　monosyllable。　〃He　is

young；　strong；　God…fearing〃



〃Has　he　any　money？〃　grumpily　interrupted　Eliphaz。



〃He　/will/　have　money；〃　replied　Sugarman；　unhesitatingly；　〃when　he

marries。〃



〃Ah！〃　The　father's　voice　relaxed；　and　his　foot　lay　limp　on　the

treadle。　He　worked　one　of　his　machines　himself；　and　paid　himself　the

wages　so　as　to　enjoy　the　profit。　〃How　much　will　he　have？〃



〃I　think　he　will　have　fifty　pounds；　and　the　least　you　can　do　is　to　let

him　have　fifty　pounds；〃　replied　Sugarman；　with　the　same　happy

ambiguity。



Eliphaz　shook　his　head　on　principle。



〃Yes；　you　will；〃　said　Sugarman；　〃when　you　learn　how　fine　a　man　he　is。〃



The　flush　of　confusion　and　trepidation　already　on　Leibel's　countenance

became　a　rosy　glow　of　modesty；　for　he　could　not　help　overhearing　what

was　being　said；　owing　to　the　lull　of　the　master　tailor's　machine。



〃Tell　me；　then；〃　rejoined　Eliphaz。



〃Tell　me；　first；　if　you　will　give　fifty　to　a　young；　healthy；　hard…

working；　God…fearing　man；　whose　idea　it　is　to　start　as　a　master　tailor

on　his　own　account？　And　you　know　how　profitable　that　is！〃



〃To　a　man　like　that；〃　said　Eliphaz；　in　a　burst　of　enthusiasm；　〃I　would

give　as　much　as