barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第107章
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they who were Protestants in anything but the name； were no
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more to be considered as abettors of these disgraceful
occurrences； than they themselves were chargeable with the uses
of the block； the rack； the gibbet； and the stake in cruel Mary’s
reign。
The clock was on the stroke of one； when Gabriel Varden； with
his lady and Miss Miggs； sat waiting in the little parlour。 This fact；
the toppling wicks of the dull； wasted candles； the silence that
prevailed； and； above all； the nightcaps of both maid and matron；
were sufficient evidence that they had been prepared for bed some
time ago； and had some reason for sitting up so far beyond their
usual hour。
If any other corroborative testimony had been required； it
would have been abundantly furnished in the actions of Miss
Miggs； who； having arrived at that restless state and sensitive
condition of the nervous system which are the result of long
watching； did； by a constant rubbing and tweaking of her nose； a
perpetual change of position （arising from the sudden growth of
imaginary knots and knobs in her chair）； a frequent friction of her
eyebrows； the incessant recurrence of a small cough； a small
groan； a gasp； a sigh； a sniff； a spasmodic start； and by other
demonstrations of that nature； so file down and rasp； as it were；
the patience of the locksmith； that after looking at her in silence
for some time； he at last broke out into this apostrophe：—
‘Miggs； my good girl； go to bed—do go to bed。 You’re really
worse than the dripping of a hundred water…butts outside the
window； or the scratching of as many mice behind the wainscot。 I
can’t bear it。 Do go to bed； Miggs。 To oblige me—do。’
‘You haven’t got nothing to untie； sir；’ returned Miss Miggs；
‘and therefore your requests does not surprise me。 But missis
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has—and while you sit up； mim’—she added； turning to the
locksmith’s wife； ‘I couldn’t； no； not if twenty times the quantity of
cold water was aperiently running down my back at this moment；
go to bed with a quiet spirit。’
Having spoken these words； Miss Miggs made divers efforts to
rub her shoulders in an impossible place； and shivered from head
to foot； thereby giving the beholders to understand that the
imaginary cascade was still in full flow； but that a sense of duty
upheld her under that and all other sufferings； and nerved her to
endurance。
Mrs Varden being too sleepy to speak； and Miss Miggs having；
as the phrase is； said her say； the locksmith had nothing for it but
to sigh and be as quiet as he could。
But to be quiet with such a basilisk before him was impossible。
If he looked another way； it was worse to feel that she was rubbing
her cheek； or twitching her ear； or winking her eye； or making all
kinds of extraordinary shapes with her nose； than to see her do it。
If she was for a moment free from any of these complaints； it was
only because of her foot being asleep； or of her arm having got the
fidgets； or of her leg being doubled up with the cramp； or of some
other horrible disorder which racked her whole frame。 If she did
enjoy a moment’s ease； then with her eyes shut and her mouth
wide open； she would be seen to sit very stiff and upright in her
chair； then to nod a little way forward； and stop with a jerk； then
to nod a little farther forward； and stop with another jerk； then to
recover herself； then to come forward again—lower—lower—
lower—by very slow degrees； until； just as it seemed impossible
that she could preserve her balance for another instant； and the
locksmith was about to call out in an agony； to save her from
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dashing down upon her forehead and fracturing her skull； then all
of a sudden and without the smallest notice； she would come
upright and rigid again with her eyes open； and in her
countenance an expression of defiance； sleepy but yet most
obstinate； which plainly said； ‘I’ve never once closed ’em since I
looked at you last； and I’ll take my oath of it！’
At length； after the clock had struck two； there was a sound at
the street door； as if somebody had fallen against the knocker by
accident。 Miss Miggs immediately jumping up and clapping her
hands； cried with a drowsy mingling of the sacred and profane；
‘Ally Looyer； mim！ there’s Simmuns’s knock！’
‘Who’s there？’ said Gabriel。
‘Me！’ cried the well…known voice of Mr Tappertit。 Gabriel
opened the door； and gave him admission。
He did not cut a very insinuating figure； for a man of his stature
suffers in a crowd； and having been active in yesterday morning’s
work； his dress was literally crushed from head to foot： his hat
being beaten out of all shape； and his shoes trodden down at heel
like slippers。 His coat fluttered in strips about him； the buckles
were torn away both from his knees and feet； half his neckerchief
was gone； and the bosom of his shirt was rent to tatters。 Yet
notwithstanding all these personal disadvantages； despite his
being very weak from heat and fatigue； and so begrimed with mud
and dust that he might have been in a case； for anything of the real
texture （either of his skin or apparel） that the eye could discern； he
stalked haughtily into the parlour； and throwing himself into a
chair； and endeavouring to thrust his hands into the pockets of his
small…clothes； which were turned inside out and displayed upon
his legs； like tassels； surveyed the household with a gloomy
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dignity。
‘Simon；’ said the locksmith gravely； ‘how comes it that you
return home at this time of night； and in this condition？ Give me
an assurance that you have not been among the rioters； and I am
satisfied。’
‘Sir；’ replied Mr Tappertit； with a contemptuous look； ‘I wonder
at your assurance in making such demands。’
‘You have been drinking；’ said the locksmith。
‘As a general principle； and in the most offensive sense of the
words； sir；’ returned his journeyman with great self…possession； ‘I
consider you a liar。 In that last observation you have
unintentionally—unintentionally； sir；—struck upon the truth。’
‘Martha；’ said the locksmith； turning to his wife； and shaking
his head sorrowfully； while a smile at the absurd figure beside him
still played upon his open face； ‘I trust it may turn out that this
poor lad is not the victim of the knaves and fools we have so often
had words about； and who have done so much harm to…day。 If he
has been at Warwick Street or Duke Street to…night—’
‘He has been at neither； sir；’ cried Mr Tappertit in a loud voice；
which he suddenly dropped into a whisper as he repeated； with
eyes fixed upon the locksmith； ‘he has been at neither。’
‘I am glad of it； with all my heart；’ said the locksmith in a
serious tone； ‘for if he had been； and it could be proved against
him； Martha； your Great Association would have been to him the
cart that draws men to the gallows and leaves them hanging in the
air。 It would； as sure as we’re alive！’
Mrs Varden was too much scared by Simon’s altered manner
and appearance； and by the accounts of the rioters which had
reached her ears that night； to offer any retort； or to have recourse
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to her usual matrimonial policy。 Miss Miggs wrung her hands； and
wept。
‘He was not at Duke Street； or at Warwick Street； G。 Varden；’
said Simon； sternly； ‘but he was at Westminster。 Perhaps； sir； he
kicked a county member； perhaps； sir； he tapped a lord—you may
stare； sir； I repeat it—blood flowed from noses； and perhaps he
tapped a lord。 Who knows？ This；’ he added； putting his hand into
his waistcoat…pocket； and taking out a large tooth； at the sight of
which both Miggs and Mrs Varden screamed； ‘this was a bishop’s。
Beware； G。 Varden！’
‘Now； I would rather；’ said the locksmith hastily； ‘have paid five
hundred pounds； than had this come to pass。 You idiot； do you
know what peril you stand in？’
‘I know it； sir；’ replied his journeyman； ‘and it is my glory。 I was
there； everybody saw me there。 I was conspicuous； and prominent。
I will abide the consequences。’
The locksmith； really disturbed and agitated； paced to and fro
in silence—glancing at his former ’prentice every now and then—
and at length stopping before him； said：
‘Get to bed； and sleep for a couple of hours that you may wake
penitent； and with some of your senses about you。 Be sorry for
what you have done； and we will try to save you。 If I call him by
five o’clock；’ said Varden； turning hurriedly to his wife； and he
washes himself clean and changes his dress； he may get to the
To
