english stories-london-第18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！



would　open　her　tattered　shawl　and　reveal　some　treasure　hidden　therein；

but　shrunk　back；　repelled　by　the　cold；　merciless　gaze　that　fell　upon

her　from　those　eyes；　in　which　youth　dwelt　without　tenderness。



〃You　have　no　business　on　our　door　step；〃　said　the　girl；　harshly。　〃Go

away　directly；　or　I　shall　tell　my　servant　to　call　a　policeman。〃



Then；　as　she　entered　the　brougham　after　her　mother；　she　addressed　the

respectable　footman　angrily；　giving　him　the　benefit　of　a　strong　nasal

intonation。



〃Howard；　why　do　you　let　such　dirty　beggars　come　near　the　carriage？

What　are　you　paid　for；　I　should　like　to　know？　It　is　perfectly

disgraceful　to　the　house！〃



〃Very　sorry；　miss！〃　said　the　footman；　gravely。　〃I　didn't　see　thethe

person　before。〃　Then　shutting　the　brougham　door；　he　turned　with　a

dignified　air　to　the　unfortunate　creature；　who　still　lingered　near；

and；　with　a　sweeping　gesture　of　his　gold…embroidered　coat…sleeve；　said

majestically：



〃Do　you　'ear？　Be　hoff！〃



Then；　having　thus　performed　his　duty；　he　mounted　the　box　beside　his

friend　the　coachman；　and　the　equipage　rattled　quickly　away；　its

gleaming　lights　soon　lost　in　the　smoke…laden　vapours　that　drooped

downward　like　funeral　hangings　from　the　invisible　sky　to　the　scarcely

visible　ground。　Left　to　herself；　the　woman　who　had　vainly　sought

charity　from　those　in　whom　no　charity　existed；　looked　up　despairingly；

as　one　distraught；　and　seemed　as　though　she　would　have　given　vent　to

some　fierce　exclamation；　when　a　feeble　wail　came　pitifully　forth　from

the　sheltering　folds　of　her　shawl。　She　restrained　herself　instantly；

and　walked　on　at　a　rapid　pace；　scarcely　heeding　whither　she　went；　till

she　reached　the　Catholic　church　known　as　the　〃Oratory。〃　Its　unfinished

facade　loomed　darkly　out　of　the　fog；　there　was　nothing　picturesque　or

inviting　about　it；　yet　there　were　people　passing　softly　in　and　out；

and　through　the　swinging　to　and　fro　of　the　red　baize…covered　doors

there　came　a　comforting　warm　glimmer　of　light。　The　woman　paused；

hesitated；　and　then；　having　apparently　made　up　her　mind；　ascended　the

broad　steps；　looked　in；　and　finally　entered。　The　place　was　strange　to

her；　she　knew　nothing　of　its　religious　meaning；　and　its　cold；

uncompleted　appearance　oppressed　her。　There　were　only　some　half…dozen

persons　scattered　about；　like　black　specks；　in　its　vast　white

interior；　and　the　fog　hung　heavily　in　the　vaulted　dome　and　dark　little

chapels。　One　corner　alone　blazed　with　brilliancy　and　colour；　this　was

the　altar　of　the　Virgin。　Toward　it　the　tired　vagrant　made　her　way；　and

on　reaching　it　sank　on　the　nearest　chair　as　though　exhausted。　She　did

not　raise　her　eyes　to　the　marble　splendours　of　the　shrineone　of　the

masterpieces　of　old　Italian　art；　she　had　been　merely　attracted　to　the

spot　by　the　glitter　of　the　lamps　and　candles；　and　took　no　thought　as

to　the　reason　of　their　being　lighted；　though　she　was　sensible　of　a

certain　comfort　in　the　soft　lustre　shed　around　her。　She　seemed　still

young；　her　face；　rendered　haggard　by　long　and　bitter　privation；　showed

traces　of　past　beauty；　and　her　eyes；　full　of　feverish　trouble；　were

large；　dark；　and　still　lustrous。　Her　mouth　alonethat　sensitive

betrayer　of　the　life's　good　and　bad　actionsrevealed　that　all　had　not

been　well　with　her；　its　lines　were　hard　and　vicious；　and　the　resentful

curve　of　the　upper　lip　spoke　of　foolish　pride；　not　unmixed　with

reckless　sensuality。　She　sat　for　a　moment　or　two　motionless；　then；

with　exceeding　care　and　tenderness；　she　began　to　unfold　her　thin；　torn

shawl　by　gentle　degrees；　looking　down　with　anxious　solicitude　at　the

object　concealed　within。　Only　a　babyand　withal　a　baby　so　tiny　and

white　and　frail　that　it　seemed　as　though　it　must　melt　like　a　snowflake

beneath　the　lightest　touch。　As　its　wrappings　were　loosened　it　opened　a

pair　of　large；　solemn　blue　eyes；　and　gazed　at　the　woman's　face　with　a

strange；　pitiful　wistfulness。　It　lay　quiet；　without　moan；　a　pinched；

pale　miniature　of　suffering　humanityan　infant　with　sorrow's　mark

painfully　impressed　upon　its　drawn；　small　features。　Presently　it

stretched　forth　a　puny　hand　and　feebly　caressed　its　protectress；　and

this；　too；　with　the　faintest　glimmer　of　a　smile。　The　woman　responded

to　its　affection　with　a　sort　of　rapture；　she　caught　it　fondly　to　her

breast　and　covered　it　with　kisses；　rocking　it　to　and　fro　with　broken

words　of　endearment。　〃My　little　darling！〃　she　whispered；　softly。　〃My

little　pet！　Yes；　yes；　I　know！　So　tired；　so　cold　and　hungry！　Never

mind；　baby；　never　mind！　We　will　rest　here　a　little；　then　we　will　sing

a　song　presently；　and　get　some　money　to　take　us　home。　Sleep　awhile

longer；　deary！　There！　now　we　are　warm　and　cosey　again。〃



So　saying；　she　rearranged　her　shawl　in　closer　and　tighter　folds；　so　as

to　protect　the　child　more　thoroughly。　While　she　was　engaged　in　this

operation　a　lady　in　deep　mourning　passed　close　by　her；　and；　advancing

to　the　very　steps　of　the　altar；　knelt　down；　hiding　her　face　with　her

clasped　hands。　The　tired　wayfarer's　attention　was　attracted　by　this；

she　gazed　with　a　sort　of　dull　wonder　at　the　kneeling　figure　robed　in

rich　rustling　silk　and　crape；　and　gradually　her　eyes　wandered　upward；

upward；　till　they　rested　on　the　gravely　sweet　and　serenely　smiling

marble　image　of　the　Virgin　and　Child。　She　looked　and　looked　again

surprisedincredulous；　then　suddenly　rose　to　her　feet　and　made　her

way　to　the　altar　railing。　There　she　paused；　staring　vaguely　at　a

basket　of　flowers；　white　and　odorous；　that　had　been　left　there　by　some

reverent　worshipper。　She　glanced　doubtfully　at　the　swinging　silver

lamps；　the　twinkling　candles；　she　was　conscious；　too；　of　a　subtle；

strange　fragrance　in　the　air；　as　though　a　basket　full　of　spring

violets　and　daffodils　had　just　been　carried　by；　then；　as　her　wandering

gaze　came　back　to　the　solitary　woman　in　black；　who　still　knelt

motionless　near　her；　a　sort　of　choking　sensation　came　into　her　throat

and　a　stinging　moisture　struggled　in　her　eyes。　She　strove　to　turn　this

hysterical　sensation　to　a　low　laugh　of　disdain。



〃Lord；　Lord！〃　she　muttered　beneath　her　breath；　〃what　sort　of　place　is

this；　where　they　pray　to　a　woman　and　a　baby？〃



At　that　moment　the　woman　in　black　rose；　she　was　young；　with　a　proud；

fair；　but　weary　face。　Her　eyes　lighted　on　her　soiled　and　poverty…

stricken　sister；　and　she　paused　with　a　pitying　look。　The　street

wanderer　made　use　of　the　opportunity　thus　offered；　and　in　an　urgent

whisper　implored　charity。　The　lady　drew　out　a　purse；　then　hesitated；

looking　wistfully　at　the　bundle　in　the　shawl。



〃You　have　a　child　there？〃　she　asked；　in　gentle　accents。　〃May　I　see

it？〃



〃Yes；　lady；〃　and　the　wrapper　was　turned　down　sufficiently　to　disclose

the　tiny　white　face；　now　more　infinitely　touching　than　ever　in　the

pathos　of　sleep。



〃I　lost　my　little　one　a　week　ago；〃　said　the　lady；　simply；　as　she

looked　at　it。　〃He　was　all　I　had。〃　Her　voice　trembled；　she　opened　her

purse；　and　placed　a　half…crown　in　the　hand　of　her　astonished

supplicant。　〃You　are　happier　than　I　am；　perhaps　you　will　pray　for　me。

I　am　very　lonely！〃



Then　dropping　her　long　crape　veil　so　that　it　completely　hid　her

features；　she　bent　her　head　and　moved　softly　away。　The　woman　watched

her　till　her　graceful　figure　was　completely　lost　in　the　gloom　of　the

great　church；　and　then　turned　again　vaguely　to　the　altar。



〃Pray　for　her！〃　she　thought。　〃I！　As　if　I　could　pray！〃　And　she　smiled

bitterly。　Again　she　looked　at　the　statue　in　the　shrine；　it　had　no

meaning　at　all　for　her。　She　had　never　heard　of　Christianity　save

through　the　medium　of　a　tract；　whose　consoling　title　had　been　〃Stop！

You　are　Going　to　Hell！〃　Religion　of　every　sort　was　mocked　at　by　those

among　whom　her　lot　was　cast；　the　name　of　Christ　was　only　used　as　a

convenience　to　swear　by；　and　therefore　this　mysterious；　smiling；

gently　inviting　marble　figure　was　incomprehensible　to　her　mind。



〃As　if　I　could　pray！〃　she　repeated；　with　a　sort　of　derision。　Then　she

looked　at　the　broad　silver　coin　in　her　hand　and　the　sleeping　baby　in

her　arms。　With　a　sudden　impulse　she　dropped　on　her　knees。



〃Whoever　you　are；〃　she　muttered；　addressing　the　statue　above　her；　〃it

seems　you've　got　a　child　of　your　own；　perhaps　you'll　help　me　to　take

care　of　this　one。　It　isn't　mine；　I　wish　it　was！　Anyway；　I　love　it　more

than　its　own　mother　does。　I　dare　say　you　won't　listen　to　the　likes　of

me；　but　if　there　was　God　anywhere　about　I'd　ask　Him　to　bless　that　good

soul　that's　lost　her　baby。　I　bless　her　with　all　my　heart；　but　my

blessing　ain't　good　for　much。　Ah！〃　and　she　surveyed　anew　the　Virgin's

serene　white　countenance；　〃you　just　look　as　if　you　understood　me；　but

I　don't　believe　you　do。　Never　mind；　I've　said　all　I　wanted　to　say　this

time。〃



Her　strange　petition；　or　rather　discourse；　concluded；　she　rose　and

walked　away。　The　great　doors　of　the　church　swung　heavily　behind　her　as

she　stepped　out　and　stood　once　more　in　the　muddy　street。　It　was

raining　steadilya　fine；　cold；　penetrating　rain。　But　the　coin　she

held　was　a　talisman　against　outer　discomforts；　and　she　continued　to

walk　on　till　she　came　to　a　clean…looking　dairy；　where　for　a　couple　of

pence　she　was　able　to　replenish　the　infant's　long　ago　emptied　feeding

bottle；　but　she　purchased　nothing　for　herself。　She　had　starved　all

day；　and　was　now　too　faint　to　eat。　Soon　she　entered　an　omnibus；　and

was　driven　to　Charing　Cross；　and　alighting　at　the　great　station；

brilliant　with　its　electric　light；　she　paced　up　and　down　outside　it；

accosting　several　of　the　passers…by　and　imploring　their　pity。　One　man

gave　her　a　penny；　another；　young　and　handsome；　with　a　flushed；

intemperate　face；　and　a　look　of　his　fast…fading　boyhood　still　about

him；　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket　and　drew　out　all　the　loose　coppers　it

contained；　amounting　to　three　pennies　and　an　odd　farthing；　and；

dropping　them　into　her　outstretched　palm；　said；　half　gaily；　half

boldly：　〃You　ought　to　do　better　than　that　with　those　big　eyes　of

yours！〃　She　drew　back　and　shuddered；　he　broke　into　a　coarse　laugh；　and

went　his　way。　Standing　where　he　had　left　her；　she　seemed　for　a　time

lost　in　wretched　reflections；　the　fretful；　wailing　cry　of　the　child

she　carried　roused　her；　and　hushing　it　softly；　she　murmured；　〃Yes；

yes；　darling；　it　is　too　wet　and　cold　for　you；　we　had　better　go。〃　And

acting　suddenly　on　her　resolve；　she　hailed　another　omnibus；　this　time

bound　for　Tottenham　Court　Road；　and　was；　after　some　dreary　jolting；

set　down　at　her　final　destinationa　dirty　alley　in　the　worst　part　of

Seven　Dials。　Entering　it；　she　was　hailed　with　a　shout　of　derisive

laughter　from　some　rough…looking　men　and　women；　who　were　standing

grouped　round　a　low　gin…shop　at　the　corner。



〃Here's　Liz！〃　cried　one。　〃Here's　Liz　and　the　bloomin'　kid！〃



〃Now；　old　gel；　fork　out！　How　much　'ave　you　got；　Liz？　Treat　us　to　a

drop　all　round！〃



Liz　waked　past　them　steadily；　the　conspicuous　curve　of　her　upper　lip

came　into　full　play；　and　he