the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第3章
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volumes； and there were tales of those who go down to the sea in ships；
for windy nights； and there was really a choice of good books for rainy
days or fine。 It was so very pleasant to see these things in such a
lonesome by…place … so very agreeable to find these evidences of a taste；
however homely； that went beyond the beautiful cleanliness and trimness
of the house … so fanciful to imagine what a wonder a room must be to the
little children born in the gloomy village … what grand impressions of it
those of them who became wanderers over the earth would carry away；
and how； at distant ends of the world； some old voyagers would die；
cherishing the belief that the finest apartment known to men was once in
the Hesket…Newmarket Inn； in rare old Cumberland … it was such a
charmingly lazy pursuit to entertain these rambling thoughts over the
choice oatcake and the genial whiskey； that Mr。 Idle and Mr。 Goodchild
never asked themselves how it came to pass that the men in the fields were
never heard of more； how the stalwart landlord replaced them without
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explanation； how his dog…cart came to be waiting at the door； and how
everything was arranged without the least arrangement for climbing to old
Carrock's shoulders； and standing on his head。
Without a word of inquiry； therefore； the Two Idle Apprentices drifted
out resignedly into a fine； soft； close； drowsy； penetrating rain； got into the
landlord's light dog…cart； and rattled off through the village for the foot of
Carrock。 The journey at the outset was not remarkable。 The
Cumberland road went up and down like all other roads； the Cumberland
curs burst out from backs of cottages and barked like other curs； and the
Cumberland peasantry stared after the dog…cart amazedly； as long as it was
in sight； like the rest of their race。 The approach to the foot of the
mountain resembled the approaches to the feet of most other mountains all
over the world。 The cultivation gradually ceased； the trees grew
gradually rare； the road became gradually rougher； and the sides of the
mountain looked gradually more and more lofty； and more and more
difficult to get up。 The dog…cart was left at a lonely farm…house。 The
landlord borrowed a large umbrella； and； assuming in an instant the
character of the most cheerful and adventurous of guides； led the way to
the ascent。 Mr。 Goodchild looked eagerly at the top of the mountain； and；
feeling apparently that he was now going to be very lazy indeed； shone all
over wonderfully to the eye； under the influence of the contentment within
and the moisture without。 Only in the bosom of Mr。 Thomas Idle did
Despondency now hold her gloomy state。 He kept it a secret； but he
would have given a very handsome sum； when the ascent began； to have
been back again at the inn。 The sides of Carrock looked fearfully steep；
and the top of Carrock was hidden in mist。 The rain was falling faster
and faster。 The knees of Mr。 Idle … always weak on walking excursions …
shivered and shook with fear and damp。 The wet was already penetrating
through the young man's outer coat to a brand…new shooting…jacket； for
which he had reluctantly paid the large sum of two guineas on leaving
town； he had no stimulating refreshment about him but a small packet of
clammy gingerbread nuts； he had nobody to give him an arm； nobody to
push him gently behind； nobody to pull him up tenderly in front； nobody
to speak to who really felt the difficulties of the ascent； the dampness of
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the rain； the denseness of the mist； and the unutterable folly of climbing；
undriven； up any steep place in the world； when there is level ground
within reach to walk on instead。 Was it for this that Thomas had left
London？ London； where there are nice short walks in level public
gardens； with benches of repose set up at convenient distances for weary
travellers … London； where rugged stone is humanely pounded into little
lumps for the road； and intelligently shaped into smooth slabs for the
pavement！ No！ it was not for the laborious ascent of the crags of Carrock
that Idle had left his native city； and travelled to Cumberland。 Never did
he feel more disastrously convinced that he had committed a very grave
error in judgment than when he found himself standing in the rain at the
bottom of a steep mountain； and knew that the responsibility rested on his
weak shoulders of actually getting to the top of it。
The honest landlord went first； the beaming Goodchild followed； the
mournful Idle brought up the rear。 From time to time； the two foremost
members of the expedition changed places in the order of march； but the
rearguard never altered his position。 Up the mountain or down the
mountain； in the water or out of it； over the rocks； through the bogs；
skirting the heather； Mr。 Thomas Idle was always the last； and was always
the man who had to be looked after and waited for。 At first the ascent
was delusively easy； the sides of the mountain sloped gradually； and the
material of which they were composed was a soft spongy turf； very tender
and pleasant to walk upon。 After a hundred yards or so； however； the
verdant scene and the easy slope disappeared； and the rocks began。 Not
noble； massive rocks； standing upright； keeping a certain regularity in their
positions； and possessing； now and then； flat tops to sit upon； but little
irritating； comfortless rocks； littered about anyhow； by Nature； treacherous；
disheartening rocks of all sorts of small shapes and small sizes； bruisers of
tender toes and trippers… up of wavering feet。 When these impediments
were passed； heather and slough followed。 Here the steepness of the
ascent was slightly mitigated； and here the exploring party of three turned
round to look at the view below them。 The scene of the moorland and
the fields was like a feeble water…colour drawing half sponged out。 The
mist was darkening； the rain was thickening； the trees were dotted about
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like spots of faint shadow； the division…lines which mapped out the fields
were all getting blurred together； and the lonely farm…house where the
dog…cart had been left； loomed spectral in the grey light like the last
human dwelling at the end of the habitable world。 Was this a sight worth
climbing to see？ Surely … surely not！
Up again … for the top of Carrock is not reached yet。 The land… lord；
just as good…tempered and obliging as he was at the bottom of the
mountain。 Mr。 Goodchild brighter in the eyes and rosier in the face than
ever； full of cheerful remarks and apt quotations； and walking with a
springiness of step wonderful to behold。 Mr。 Idle； farther and farther in
the rear； with the water squeaking in the toes of his boots； with his two…
guinea shooting…jacket clinging damply to his aching sides； with his
overcoat so full of rain； and standing out so pyramidically stiff； in
consequence； from his shoulders downwards； that he felt as if he was
walking in a gigantic extinguisher … the despairing spirit within him
representing but too aptly the candle that had just been put out。 Up and up
and up again； till a ridge is reached and the outer edge of the mist on the
summit of Carrock is darkly and drizzingly near。 Is this the top？ No；
nothing like the top。 It is an aggravating peculiarity of all mountains；
that； although they have only one top when they are seen （as they ought
always to be seen） from below； they turn out to have a perfect eruption of
false tops whenever the traveller is sufficiently ill…advised to go out of his
way for the purpose of ascending them。 Carrock is but a trumpery little
mountain of fifteen hundred feet； and it presumes to have false tops； and
even precipices； as if it were Mont Blanc。 No matter； Goodchild enjoys
it； and will go on； and Idle； who is afraid of being left behind by himself；
must follow。 On entering the edge of the mist； the landlord stops； and
says he hopes that it will not get any thicker。 It is twenty years since he
last ascended Carrock； and it is barely possible； if the mist increases； that
the party may be lost on the mountain。 Goodchild hears this dreadful
intimation； and is not in the least impressed by it。 He marches for the top
that is never to be found； as if he was the Wandering Jew； bound to go on
for ever； in defiance of everything。 The landlord faithfully accompanies
him。 The two； to the dim eye of Idle； far below； look in the exaggerative
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mist； like a pair of friendly giants； mounting the steps of some invisible
castle together。 Up and up； and then down a little； and then up； and then
along a strip of level ground； and then up again。 The wind； a wind
unknown in the happy valley； blows keen and strong； the rain…mist gets
impenetrable； a dreary little cairn of stones appears。 The landlord adds
one to the heap； first walking all round the cairn as if he were about to
perform an incantation； then
