lavengro-第75章

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like　such　usage　at　all；　and　was　woundily　frightened；　and　tried　to　

keep　as　much　out　of　his　way　as　possible；　going　anywhere　but　where　I　

thought　I　was　likely　to　meet　him；　and　sure　enough　for　several　

months　I　contrived　to　keep　out　of　his　way。　　At　last　somebody　told　

me　that　he　was　gone　back　to　Yorkshire；　whereupon　I　was　glad　at　

heart；　and　ventured　to　show　myself；　going　here　and　there　as　I　did　

before。　　Well；　young　man；　it　was　yesterday　that　I　and　mine　set　

ourselves　down　in　a　lane；　about　five　miles　from　here；　and　lighted　

our　fire；　and　had　our　dinner；　and　after　dinner　I　sat　down　to　mend　

three　kettles　and　a　frying　pan　which　the　people　in　the　

neighbourhood　had　given　me　to　mend　…　for；　as　I　told　you　before；　I　

have　a　good　connection；　owing　to　my　honesty。　　Well；　as　I　sat　there　

hard　at　work；　happy　as　the　day's　long；　and　thinking　of　anything　but　

what　was　to　happen；　who　should　come　up　but　this　Black　Jack；　this　

king　of　the　tinkers；　rattling　along　in　his　cart；　with　his　wife；　

that　they　call　Grey　Moll；　by　his　side　…　for　the　villain　has　got　a　

wife；　and　a　maid…servant　too；　the　last　I　never　saw；　but　they　that　

has；　says　that　she　is　as　big　as　a　house；　and　young；　and　well　to　

look　at；　which　can't　be　all　said　of　Moll；　who；　though　she's　big　

enough　in　all　conscience；　is　neither　young　nor　handsome。　　Well；　no　

sooner　does　he　see　me　and　mine；　than；　giving　the　reins　to　Grey　

Moll；　he　springs　out　of　his　cart；　and　comes　straight　at　me；　not　a　

word　did　he　say；　but　on　he　comes　straight　at　me　like　a　wild　bull。　　

I　am　a　quiet　man；　young　fellow；　but　I　saw　now　that　quietness　would　

be　of　no　use；　so　I　sprang　up　upon　my　legs；　and　being　bred　upon　the　

roads；　and　able　to　fight　a　little；　I　squared　as　he　came　running　in　

upon　me；　and　had　a　round　or　two　with　him。　　Lord　bless　you；　young　

man；　it　was　like　a　fly　fighting　with　an　elephant　…　one　of　those　big　

beasts　the　show…folks　carry　about。　　I　had　not　a　chance　with　the　

fellow；　he　knocked　me　here；　he　knocked　me　there；　knocked　me　into　

the　hedge；　and　knocked　me　out　again。　　I　was　at　my　last　shifts；　and　

my　poor　wife　saw　it。　　Now　my　poor　wife；　though　she　is　as　gentle　as　

a　pigeon；　has　yet　a　spirit　of　her　own；　and　though　she　wasn't　bred　

upon　the　roads；　can　scratch　a　little；　so　when　she　saw　me　at　my　last　

shifts；　she　flew　at　the　villain　…　she　couldn't　bear　to　see　her　

partner　murdered　…　and　scratched　the　villain's　face。　　Lord　bless　

you；　young　man；　she　had　better　have　been　quiet：　　Grey　Moll　no　

sooner　saw　what　she　was　about；　than；　springing　out　of　the　cart；　

where　she　had　sat　all　along　perfectly　quiet；　save　a　little　whooping　

and　screeching　to　encourage　her　blade：…　Grey　Moll；　I　say　（my　flesh　

creeps　when　I　think　of　it　…　for　I　am　a　kind　husband；　and　love　my　

poor　wife）　。　。　。



MYSELF。　　Take　another　draught　of　the　ale；　you　look　frightened；　and　

it　will　do　you　good。　　Stout　liquor　makes　stout　heart；　as　the　man　

says　in　the　play。



TINKER。　　That's　true；　young　man；　here's　to　you　…　where　was　I？　　Grey　

Moll　no　sooner　saw　what　my　wife　was　about；　than；　springing　out　of　

the　cart；　she　flew　at　my　poor　wife；　clawed　off　her　bonnet　in　a　

moment；　and　seized　hold　of　her　hair。　　Lord　bless　you；　young　man；　my　

poor　wife；　in　the　hands　of　Grey　Moll；　was　nothing　better　than　a　

pigeon　in　the　claws　of　a　buzzard　hawk；　or　I　in　the　hands　of　the　

Flaming　Tinman；　which　when　I　saw；　my　heart　was　fit　to　burst；　and　I　

determined　to　give　up　everything　…　everything　to　save　my　poor　wife　

out　of　Grey　Moll's　claws。　　'Hold！'　I　shouted。　　'Hold；　both　of　you　…　

Jack；　Moll。　　Hold；　both　of　you；　for　God's　sake；　and　I'll　do　what　

you　will：　　give　up　trade；　and　business；　connection；　bread；　and　

everything；　never　more　travel　the　roads；　and　go　down　on　my　knees　to　

you　in　the　bargain。'　　Well；　this　had　some　effect；　Moll　let　go　my　

wife；　and　the　Blazing　Tinman　stopped　for　a　moment；　it　was　only　for　

a　moment；　however；　that　he　left　off　…　all　of　a　sudden　he　hit　me　a　

blow　which　sent　me　against　a　tree；　and　what　did　the　villain　then？　

why　the　flying　villain　seized　me　by　the　throat；　and　almost　

throttled　me；　roaring　…　what　do　you　think；　young　man；　that　the　

flaming　villain　roared　out？



MYSELF。　　I　really　don't　know　…　something　horrible；　I　suppose。



TINKER。　　Horrible；　indeed；　you　may　well　say　horrible；　young　man；　

neither　more　nor　less　than　the　Bible　…　'A　Bible；　a　Bible！'　roared　

the　Blazing　Tinman；　and　he　pressed　my　throat　so　hard　against　the　

tree　that　my　senses　began　to　dwaul　away　…　a　Bible；　a　Bible；　still　

ringing　in　my　ears。　　Now；　young　man；　my　poor　wife　is　a　Christian　

woman；　and；　though　she　travels　the　roads；　carries　a　Bible　with　her　

at　the　bottom　of　her　sack；　with　which　sometimes　she　teaches　the　

children　to　read　…　it　was　the　only　thing　she　brought　with　her　from　

the　place　of　her　kith　and　kin；　save　her　own　body　and　the　clothes　on　

her　back；　so　my　poor　wife；　half　distracted；　runs　to　her　sack；　pulls　

out　the　Bible；　and　puts　it　into　the　hand　of　the　Blazing　Tinman；　who　

then　thrusts　the　end　of　it　into　my　mouth　with　such　fury　that　it　

made　my　lips　bleed；　and　broke　short　one　of　my　teeth　which　happened　

to　be　decayed。　　'Swear；'　said　he；　'swear；　you　mumping　villain；　take　

your　Bible　oath　that　you　will　quit　and　give　up　the　beat　altogether；　

or　I'll　…　and　then　the　hard…hearted　villain　made　me　swear　by　the　

Bible；　and　my　own　damnation；　half…throttled　as　I　was；　to　…　to　…　I　

can't　go　on　…　



MYSELF。　　Take　another　draught　…　stout　liquor　…



TINKER。　　I　can't；　young　man；　my　heart's　too　full；　and　what's　more；　

the　pitcher　is　empty。



MYSELF。　　And　so　he　swore　you；　I　suppose；　on　the　Bible；　to　quit　the　

roads？



TINKER。　　You　are　right；　he　did　so；　the　gypsy　villain。



MYSELF。　　Gypsy！　　Is　he　a　gypsy？



TINKER。　　Not　exactly；　what　they　call　a　half…and…half。　　His　father　

was　a　gypsy；　and　his　mother；　like　mine；　one　who　walked　the　roads。



MYSELF。　　Is　he　of　the　Smiths　…　the　Petulengres？



TINKER。　　I　say；　young　man；　you　know　a　thing　or　two；　one　would　

think；　to　hear　you　talk；　you　had　been　bred　upon　the　roads。　　I　

thought　none　but　those　bred　upon　the　roads　knew　anything　of　that　

name　…　Petulengres！　　No；　not　he；　he　fights　the　Petulengres　whenever　

he　meets　them；　he　likes　nobody　but　himself；　and　wants　to　be　king　of　

the　roads。　　I　believe　he　is　a　Boss；　or　a　…　at　any　rate　he's　a　bad　

one；　as　I　know　to　my　cost。



MYSELF。　　And　what　are　you　going　to　do？



TINKER。　　Do！　you　may　well　ask　that；　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　　My　

poor　wife　and　I　have　been　talking　of　that　all　the　morning；　over　

that　half…pint　mug　of　beer；　we　can't　determine　on　what's　to　be　

done。　　All　we　know　is；　that　we　must　quit　the　roads。　　The　villain　

swore　that　the　next　time　he　saw　us　on　the　roads　he'd　cut　all　our　

throats；　and　seize　our　horse　and　bit　of　a　cart　that　are　now　

standing　out　there　under　the　tree。



MYSELF。　　And　what　do　you　mean　to　do　with　your　horse　and　cart？



TINKER。　　Another　question！　　What　shall　we　do　with　our　cart　and　

pony？　they　are　of　no　use　to　us　now。　　Stay　on　the　roads　I　will　not；　

both　for　my　oath's　sake　and　my　own。　　If　we　had　a　trifle　of　money；　

we　were　thinking　of　going　to　Bristol；　where　I　might　get　up　a　little　

business；　but　we　have　none；　our　last　three　farthings　we　spent　about　

the　mug　of　beer。



MYSELF。　　But　why　don't　you　sell　your　horse　and　cart？



TINKER。　　Sell　them！　and　who　would　buy　them；　unless　some　one　who　

wished　to　set　up　in　my　line；　but　there's　no　beat；　and　what's　the　

use　of　the　horse　and　cart　and　the　few　tools　without　the　beat？



MYSELF。　　I'm　half　inclined　to　buy　your　cart　and　pony；　and　your　beat　

too。



TINKER。　　You！　　How　came　you　to　think　of　such　a　thing？



MYSELF。　　Why；　like　yourself；　I　hardly　know　what　to　do。　　I　want　a　

home　and　work。　　As　for　a　home；　I　suppose　I　can　contrive　to　make　a　

home　out　of　your　tent　and　cart；　and　as　for　work；　I　must　learn　to　be　

a　tinker；　it　would　not　be　hard　for　one　of　my　trade　to　learn　to　

tinker；　what　better　can　I　do？　　Would　you　have　me　go　to　Chester　and　

work　there　now？　　I　don't　like　the　thoughts　of　it。　　If　I　go　to　

Chester　and　work　there；　I　can't　be　my　own　man；　I　must　work　under　a　

master；　and　perhaps　he　and　I　should　quarrel；　and　when　I　quarrel　I　

am　apt　to　hit　folks；　and　those　that　hit　folks　are　sometimes　sent　to　

prison；　I　don't　like　the　thought　either　of　going　to　Chester　or　to　

Chester　prison。　　What　do　you　think　I　could　earn　at　Chester？



TINKER。　　A　matter　of　eleven　shillings　a　week；　if　anybody　would　

employ　you；　which　I　don't　think　they　would　with　those　hands　of　

yours。　　But　whether　they　would　or　not；　if　you　are　of　a　quarrelsome　

nature　you　must　not　go　to　Chester；　you　would　be　in　the　castle　in　no　

time。　　I　don't　know　how　to　advise　you。　　As　for　selling　you　my　

stock；　I'd　see　you　farther　first；　for　your　own　sake。



MYSELF。　　Why？



TINKER。　　Why！　you　would　get　your　head　knocked　off。　　Suppose　you　

were　to　meet　him？



MYSELF。　　Pooh；　don't　be　afraid　on　my　account；　if　I　were　to　meet　him　

I　could　easily　manage　him　one　way　or　other。　　I　know　all　kinds　of　

strange　words　and　names；　and；　as　I　told　you　before；　I　sometimes　hit　

people　when　they　put　me　out。



Here　the　tinker's　wife；　who　for　some　minutes　past　had　been　

listening　attentively　to　our　discourse；　interposed；　saying；　in　a　

low　soft　tone：　　'I　really　don't　see；　John；　why　you　shouldn't　sell　

the　young　man　the　things；　seeing　that　he　wishes　for　them；　and　is　so　

confident；　you　have　told　him　plainly　how　matters　stand；　and　if　

anything　ill　should　befall　him；　people　couldn't　lay　the　blame　on　

you；　but　I　don't　think　any　ill　will　befall　him；　and　who　knows　but　

God　has　sent　him　to　our　assistance　in　time　of　need？'



'I'll　hear　of　no　such　thing；'　said　the　tinker；　'I　have　drunk　at　the　

young　man's　expense；　and　though　he　says　he's　quarrelsome；　I　would　

not　wish　to　sit　in　pleasanter　company。　　A　pretty　fellow　I　should　

be；　now；　if　I　were　to　let　him　follow　his　own　will。　　If　he　once　sets　

up　on　my　beat；　he's　a　lost　man；　his　ribs　will　be　stove　in；　and　his　

head　knocked　off　his　shoulders。　　There；　you　are　crying；　but　you　

shan't　have　your　will　though；　I　won't　be　the　young　man's　

destruction　。　。　。　If；　indeed；　I　thought　he　could　manage　the　tinker　

…　but　he　never　can；　he　says　he　can　hit；　but　it's　no　use　hitting　the　

tinker；　…　crying　still！　you　are　enough　to　drive　one　mad。　　I　say；　

young　man；　I　believe　you　understand　a　thing　or　two；　just　now　you　

were　talking　of　knowing　hard　words　and　names　…　I　don't　wish　to　send　

you　to　your　mischief　…　you　say　you　know　hard　words　and　names；　let　

us　see。　　Only　on　one　condition　I'll　sell　you　the　pony　and　things；　

as　for　the　beat　it's　gone；　isn't　mine　…　sworn　away　by　my　own　mouth。　　

Tell　me　what's　my　name；　if　you　can't；　may　I　…　'



MYSELF。　　Don't　swear；　it's　a　bad　habit；　neither　pleasant　nor　

profitable。　　Your　name　is　Slingsby　…　Jack　Slingsby。　　There；　don't　

stare；　there's　nothing　in　my　telling　you　your　name：　　I've　been　in　

these　parts　before；　at　least　not　very　far　fr