stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第4章
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〃Why should that make him good to her？〃 I asked； cynically； out of
my knowledge of the poor。 But the girl； precocious in many ways； had
never had any opportunities of studying the lower classes in the
newspapers； fiction； and club talk。 She shut one eye； and； looking up
wonderingly； said：
〃Ain't you greenjust！〃
〃When does William reach home at night？〃
〃 'Tain't night； it's morning。 When I wakes up at half dark and half
light； and hears a door shutting； I know as it's either father going off to his
work or Mr。 Hicking come home from his。〃
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〃Who is Mr。 Hicking？〃
〃Him as we've been speaking onWilliam。 We calls him mister； 'cause
he's a toff。 Father's just doing jobs in Covent Gardens； but Mr。 Hicking；
he's a waiter； and a clean shirt every day。 The old woman would like father
to be a waiter； but he hain't got the 'ristocratic look。〃
〃What old woman？〃
〃Go 'long！ that's my mother。 Is it true there's a waiter in the club just
for to open the door？〃
〃Yes； but〃
〃And another just for to lick the stamps？ My！〃
〃William leaves the club at one o'clock？〃 I said； interrogatively。
She nodded。 〃My mother；〃 she said； 〃is one to talk； and she says Mr。
Hicking as he should get away at twelve； 'cause his missis needs him
more'n the gentlemen need him。 The old woman do talk。〃
〃And what does William answer to that？〃
〃He says as the gentleman can't be kept waiting for their cheese。〃
〃But William does not go straight home when he leaves the club？〃
〃That's the kid。〃
〃Kid！〃 I echoed； scarcely understanding； for； knowing how little the
poor love their children； I had asked William no questions about the baby。
〃Didn't you know his missis had a kid？〃
〃Yes； but that is no excuse for William's staying away from his sick
wife；〃 I answered； sharply。 A baby in such a home as William's； I reflected；
must be trying； but still Besides； his class can sleep through any din。
〃The kid ain't in our court；〃 the girl explained。 〃He's in W。； he is； and
I've never been out of W。C。； leastwise； not as I knows on。〃
〃This is W。 I suppose you mean that the child is at West Kensington？
Well； no doubt it was better for William's wife to get rid of the child〃
〃Better！〃 interposed the girl。 〃 'Tain't better for her not to have the kid。
Ain't her not having him what she's always thinking on when she looks
like a dead one？〃
〃How could you know that？〃
〃Cause；〃 answered the girl； illustrating her words with a gesture； 〃I
watches her； and I sees her arms going this way； just like as she wanted to
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hug her kid。〃
〃Possibly you are right；〃 I said； frowning； 〃but William had put the
child out to nurse because it disturbed his night's rest。 A man who has his
work to do〃
〃You are green！〃
〃Then why have the mother and child been separated？〃
〃Along of that there measles。 Near all the young 'uns in our court has
'em bad。〃
〃Have you had them？〃
〃I said the young 'uns。〃
〃And William sent the baby to West Kensington to escape infection？〃
〃Took him； he did。〃
〃Against his wife's wishes？〃
〃Na…o！〃
〃You said she was dying for want of the child？〃
〃Wouldn't she rayther die than have the kid die？〃
〃Don't speak so heartlessly； child。 Why does William not go straight
home from the club？ Does he go to West Kensington to see it？〃
〃 'Tain't a hit； it's an 'e。 Course he do。〃
〃Then he should not。 His wife has the first claim on him。〃
〃Ain't you green！ It's his missis as wants him to go。 Do you think she
could sleep till she knowed how the kid was？〃
〃But he does not go into the house at West Kensington？〃
〃Is he soft？ Course he don't go in； fear of taking the infection to the kid。
They just holds the kid up at the window to him； so as he can have a good
look。 Then he comes home and tells his missis。 He sits foot of the bed and
tells。〃
〃And that takes place every night？ He can't have much to tell。〃
〃He has just。〃
〃He can only say whether the child is well or ill。〃
〃My！ He tells what a difference there is in the kid since he seed him
last。〃
〃There can be no difference！〃
〃Go 'long！ Ain't a kid always growing？ Haven't Mr。 Hicking to tell
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how the hair is getting darker； and heaps of things beside？〃
〃Such as what？〃
〃Like whether he larfed； and if he has her nose； and how as he knowed
him。 He tells her them things more 'n once。〃
〃And all this time he is sitting at the foot of the bed？〃
〃 'Cept when he holds her hand。〃
〃But when does he get to bed himself？〃
〃He don't get much。 He tells her as he has a sleep at the club。〃
〃He cannot say that。〃
〃Hain't I heard him？ But he do go to his bed a bit； and then they both
lies quiet； her pretending she is sleeping so as he can sleep； and him 'feard
to sleep case he shouldn't wake up to give her the bottle stuff。〃
〃What does the doctor say about her？〃
〃He's a good one； the doctor。 Sometimes he says she would get better
if she could see the kid through the window。〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃And if she was took to the country。〃
〃Then why does not William take her？〃
〃My！ you are green！ And if she drank port wines。〃
〃Doesn't she？〃
〃No； but William； he tells her about the gentlemen drinking them。〃
On the tenth day after my conversation with this unattractive child I
was in my brougham； with the windows up； and I sat back； a paper before
my face lest any one should look in。 Naturally； I was afraid of being seen
in company of William's wife and Jenny； for men about town are
uncharitable； and； despite the explanation I had ready； might have charged
me with pitying William。 As a matter of fact； William was sending his
wife into Surrey to stay with an old nurse of mine； and I was driving her
down because my horses needed an outing。 Besides； I was going that way
at any rate。
I had arranged that the girl Jenny； who was wearing an outrageous
bonnet； should accompany us； because； knowing the greed of her class； I
feared she might blackmail me at the club。
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William joined us in the suburbs； bringing the baby with him； as I had
foreseen they would all be occupied with it； and to save me the trouble of
conversing with them。 Mrs。 Hicking I found too pale and fragile for a
workingman's wife； and I formed a mean opinion of her intelligence from
her pride in the baby； which was a very ordinary one。 She created quite a
vulgar scene when it was brought to her； though she had given me her
word not to do so； what irritated me even more than her tears being her ill…
bred apology that she 〃had been 'feared baby wouldn't know her again。〃 I
would have told her they didn't know any one for years had I not been
afraid of the girl Jenny； who dandled the infant on her knees and talked to
it as if it understood。 She kept me on tenter…hooks by asking it offensive
questions； such as； 〃 'Oo know who give me that bonnet？〃 and answering
them herself； 〃It was the pretty gentleman there；〃 and several times I had
to affect sleep because she announced； 〃Kiddy wants to kiss the pretty
gentleman。〃
Irksome as all this necessarily was to a man of taste； I suffered even
more when we reached our destination。 As we drove through the village
the girl Jenny uttered shrieks of delight at the sight of flowers growing up
the cottage walls； and declared they were 〃just like a music…'all without the
drink license。〃 As my horses required a rest； I was forced to abandon my
intention of dropping these persons at their lodgings and returning to town
at once； and I could not go to the inn lest I should meet inquisitive
acquaintances。 Disagreeable circumstances； therefore； compelled me to
take tea with a waiter's familyclose to a window too； through which I
could see the girl Jenny talking excitedly to the villagers； and telling them；
I felt certain； that I had been good to William。 I had a desire to go out and
put myself right with those people。
William's long connection with the club should have given him some
manners； but apparently his class cannot take them on； for； though he
knew I regarded his thanks as an insult； he looked them when he was not
speaking them； and hardly had he sat down； by my orders； than he
remembered that I was a member of the club； and jumped up。 Nothing is
in worse form than whispering； yet again and again； when he thought I
was not listening； he whispered to Mrs。 Hicking； 〃You don't feel faint？〃 or
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〃How are you now？〃 He was also in extravagant glee because she ate two
cakes （it takes so little to put these people in good spirits）； and when she
said she felt like another being already the fellow's face charged me with
the change。 I could not but conclude； from the way Mrs。 Hicking let the
baby pound her； that she was stronger than she had pretended。
I remained longer than was necessary； because I had something to say
to William which I knew he would misunderstand； and so I put off saying
it。 But when he announced that it was time for him to return to London；at
which his wife suddenly paled； so that he had to sign to her not to break
down；I delivered the message。
〃William；〃 I said； 〃the head waiter asked me to say that you could take
a fortnight's holiday just now。 Your wages will be paid as usual。〃
Confound them！ William had me by the hand； and his wife was in
tears before I could reach the door。
〃Is it your doing again； sir？〃 William cried。
〃Will
