barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第11章
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open fields。 Although this part of town was then； as now； parcelled
out in streets； and plentifully peopled； it wore a different aspect。
There were gardens to many of the houses； and trees by the
pavement side； with an air of freshness breathing up and down；
which in these days would be sought in vain。 Fields were nigh at
hand； through which the New River took its winding course； and
where there was merry haymaking in the summer time。 Nature
was not so far removed； or hard to get at； as in these days； and
although there were busy trades in Clerkenwell； and working
jewellers by scores； it was a purer place； with farm…houses nearer
to it than many modern Londoners would readily believe； and
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lovers’ walks at no great distance； which turned into squalid
courts； long before the lovers of this age were born； or； as the
phrase goes； thought of。
In one of these streets； the cleanest of them all； and on the
shady side of the way—for good housewives know that sunlight
damages their cherished furniture； and so choose the shade rather
than its intrusive glare—there stood the house with which we have
to deal。 It was a modest building； not very straight； not large； not
tall； not bold…faced； with great staring windows； but a shy； blinking
house； with a conical roof going up into a peak over its garret
window of four small panes of glass； like a cocked hat on the head
of an elderly gentleman with one eye。 It was not built of brick or
lofty stone； but of wood and plaster； it was not planned with a dull
and wearisome regard to regularity； for no one window matched
the other； or seemed to have the slightest reference to anything
besides itself。
The shop—for it had a shop—was； with reference to the first
floor； where shops usually are； and there all resemblance between
it and any other shop stopped short and ceased。 People who went
in and out didn’t go up a flight of steps to it； or walk easily in upon
a level with the street； but dived down three steep stairs； as into a
cellar。 Its floor was paved with stone and brick； as that of any
other cellar might be； and in lieu of window framed and glazed it
had a great black wooden flap or shutter； nearly breast high from
the ground； which turned back in the day…time； admitting as much
cold air as light； and very often more。 Behind this shop was a
wainscoted parlour； looking first into a paved yard； and beyond
that again into a little terrace garden； raised some feet above it。
Any stranger would have supposed that this wainscoted parlour；
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saving for the door of communication by which he had entered；
was cut off and detached from all the world； and indeed most
strangers on their first entrance were observed to grow extremely
thoughtful； as weighing and pondering in their minds whether the
upper rooms were only approachable by ladders from without；
never suspecting that two of the most unassuming and unlikely
doors in existence； which the most ingenious mechanician on
earth must of necessity have supposed to be the doors of closets；
opened out of this room—each without the smallest preparation；
or so much as a quarter of an inch of passage—upon two dark
winding flights of stairs； the one upward； the other downward；
which were the sole means of communication between that
chamber and the other portions of the house。
With all these oddities； there was not a neater； more
scrupulously tidy； or more punctiliously ordered house； in
Clerkenwell； in London； in all England。 There were not cleaner
windows； or whiter floors； or brighter Stoves； or more highly
shining articles of furniture in old mahogany； there was not more
rubbing； scrubbing； burnishing and polishing； in the whole street
put together。 Nor was this excellence attained without some cost
and trouble and great expenditure of voice； as the neighbours
were frequently reminded when the good lady of the house
overlooked and assisted in its being put to rights on cleaning
days—which were usually from Monday morning till Saturday
night； both days inclusive。
Leaning against the door…post of this； his dwelling； the
locksmith stood early on the morning after he had met with the
wounded man； gazing disconsolately at a great wooden emblem of
a key； painted in vivid yellow to resemble gold； which dangled
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from the house…front； and swung to and fro with a mournful
creaking noise； as if complaining that it had nothing to unlock。
Sometimes； he looked over his shoulder into the shop； which was
so dark and dingy with numerous tokens of his trade； and so
blackened by the smoke of a little forge； near which his ’prentice
was at work； that it would have been difficult for one unused to
such espials to have distinguished anything but various tools of
uncouth make and shape； great bunches of rusty keys； fragments
of iron； half…finished locks； and such like things； which garnished
the walls and hung in clusters from the ceiling。
After a long and patient contemplation of the golden key； and
many such backward glances； Gabriel stepped into the road； and
stole a look at the upper windows。 One of them chanced to be
thrown open at the moment； and a roguish face met his； a face
lighted up by the loveliest pair of sparkling eyes that ever
locksmith looked upon； the face of a pretty； laughing； girl； dimpled
and fresh； and healthful—the very impersonation of good…humour
and blooming beauty。
‘Hush！’ she whispered； bending forward and pointing archly to
the window underneath。 ‘Mother is still asleep。’
‘Still； my dear；’ returned the locksmith in the same tone。 ‘You
talk as if she had been asleep all night； instead of little more than
half an hour。 But I’m very thankful。 Sleep’s a blessing—no doubt
about it。’ The last few words he muttered to himself。
‘How cruel of you to keep us up so late this morning； and never
tell us where you were； or send us word！’ said the girl。
‘Ah Dolly； Dolly！’ returned the locksmith； shaking his head； and
smiling； ‘how cruel of you to run upstairs to bed！ Come down to
breakfast； madcap； and come down lightly； or you’ll wake your
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mother。 She must be tired； I am sure—I am。’
Keeping these latter words to himself； and returning his
daughter’s nod； he was passing into the workshop； with the smile
she had awakened still beaming on his face； when he just caught
sight of his ’prentice’s brown paper cap ducking down to avoid
observation； and shrinking from the window back to its former
place； which the wearer no sooner reached than he began to
hammer lustily。
‘Listening again； Simon！’ said Gabriel to himself。 ‘That’s bad。
What in the name of wonder does he expect the girl to say； that I
always catch him listening when she speaks； and never at any
other time！ A bad habit； Sim； a sneaking； underhanded way。 Ah！
you may hammer； but you won’t beat that out of me； if you work at
it till your time’s up！’
So saying； and shaking his head gravely； he re…entered the
workshop； and confronted the subject of these remarks。
‘There’s enough of that just now；’ said the locksmith。 ‘You
needn’t make any more of that confounded clatter。 Breakfast’s
ready。’
‘Sir；’ said Sim； looking up with amazing politeness； and a
peculiar little bow cut short off at the neck； ‘I shall attend you
immediately。’
‘I suppose；’ muttered Gabriel； ‘that’s out of the ’Prentice’s
Garland or the ’Prentice’s Delight； or the ’Prentice’s Warbler； or
the ’Prentice’s Guide to the Gallows； or some such improving
textbook。 Now he’s going to beautify himself—here’s a precious
locksmith！’
Quite unconscious that his master was looking on from the dark
corner by the parlour door； Sim threw off the paper cap； sprang
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from his seat； and in two extraordinary steps； something between
skating and minuet dancing； bounded to a washing place at the
other end of the shop； and there removed from his face and hands
all traces of his previous work—practising the same step all the
time with the utmost gravity。 This done； he drew from some
concealed place a little scrap of looking…glass； and with its
assistance arranged his hair； and ascertained the exact state of a
little carbuncle on his nose。 Having now com
