barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第152章
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whole inside； between her father and mother； with Emma
Haredale and her uncle； quite real； sitting opposite。 But there was
no Joe； no Edward； and they had said nothing。 They had only
bowed once； and kept at a distance。 Dear heart！ what a long way it
was to the Black Lion！
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Chapter 72
he Black Lion was so far off； and occupied such a length of
time in the getting at； that notwithstanding the strong
T
presumptive evidence she had about her of the late events
being real and of actual occurrence； Dolly could not divest herself
of the belief that she must be in a dream which was lasting all
night。 Nor was she quite certain that she saw and heard with her
own proper senses； even when the coach； in the fulness of time；
stopped at the Black Lion； and the host of that tavern approached
in a gush of cheerful light to help them to dismount； and give them
hearty welcome。
There too； at the coach door； one on one side； one upon the
other； were already Edward Chester and Joe Willet； who must
have followed in another coach： and this was such a strange and
unaccountable proceeding； that Dolly was the more inclined to
favour the idea of her being fast asleep。 But when Mr Willet
appeared—old John himself—so heavy…headed and obstinate； and
with such a double chin as the liveliest imagination could never in
its boldest flights have conjured up in all its vast proportions—
then she stood corrected； and unwillingly admitted to herself that
she was broad awake。
And Joe had lost an arm—he—that well…made； handsome；
gallant fellow！ As Dolly glanced towards him； and thought of the
pain he must have suffered； and the far…off places in which he had
been wandering； and wondered who had been his nurse； and
hoped that whoever it was； she had been as kind and gentle and
considerate as she would have been； the tears came rising to her
bright eyes； one by one； little by little； until she could keep them
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back no longer； and so before them all； wept bitterly。
‘We are all safe now； Dolly；’ said her father； kindly。 ‘We shall
not be separated any more。 Cheer up； my love； cheer up！’
The locksmith’s wife knew better perhaps； than he； what ailed
her daughter。 But Mrs Varden being quite an altered woman—for
the riots had done that good—added her word to his； and
comforted her with similar representations。
‘Mayhap；’ said Mr Willet； senior； looking round upon the
company； ‘she’s hungry。 That’s what it is； depend upon it—I am；
myself。’
The Black Lion； who； like old John； had been waiting supper
past all reasonable and conscionable hours； hailed this as a
philosophical discovery of the profoundest and most penetrating
kind； and the table being already spread； they sat down to supper
straightway。
The conversation was not of the liveliest nature； nor were the
appetites of some among them very keen。 But； in both these
respects； old John more than atoned for any deficiency on the part
of the rest； and very much distinguished himself。
It was not in point of actual conversation that Mr Willet shone
so brilliantly； for he had none of his old cronies to ‘tackle；’ and was
rather timorous of venturing on Joe； having certain vague
misgivings within him； that he was ready on the shortest notice；
and on receipt of the slightest offence； to fell the Black Lion to the
floor of his own parlour； and immediately to withdraw to China or
some other remote and unknown region； there to dwell for
evermore； or at least until he had got rid of his remaining arm and
both legs； and perhaps an eye or so； into the bargain。 It was with a
peculiar kind of pantomime that Mr Willet filled up every pause；
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and in this he was considered by the Black Lion； who had been his
familiar for some years； quite to surpass and go beyond himself；
and outrun the expectations of his most admiring friends。
The subject that worked in Mr Willet’s mind； and occasioned
these demonstrations； was no other than his son’s bodily
disfigurement； which he had never yet got himself thoroughly to
believe； or comprehend。 Shortly after their first meeting； he had
been observed to wander； in a state of great perplexity； to the
kitchen； and to direct his gaze towards the fire； as if in search of
his usual adviser in all matters of doubt and difficulty。 But there
being no boiler at the Black Lion； and the rioters having so beaten
and battered his own that it was quite unfit for further service； he
wandered out again； in a perfect bog of uncertainty and mental
confusion； and in that state took the strangest means of resolving
his doubts： such as feeling the sleeve of his son’s greatcoat as
deeming it possible that his arm might be there； looking at his own
arms and those of everybody else； as if to assure himself that two
and not one was the usual allowance； sitting by the hour together
in a brown study； as if he were endeavouring to recall Joe’s image
in his younger days； and to remember whether he really had in
those times one arm or a pair； and employing himself in many
other speculations of the same kind。
Finding himself at this supper； surrounded by faces with which
he had been so well acquainted in old times； Mr Willet recurred to
the subject with uncommon vigour； apparently resolved to
understand it now or never。 Sometimes； after every two or three
mouthfuls； he laid down his knife and fork； and stared at his son
with all his might—particularly at his maimed side； then； he
looked slowly round the table until he caught some person’s eye；
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when he shook his head with great solemnity； patted his shoulder；
winked； or as one may say—for winking was a very slow process
with him—went to sleep with one eye for a minute or two； and so；
with another solemn shaking of his head； took up his knife and
fork again； and went on eating。 Sometimes； he put his food into his
mouth abstractedly； and； with all his faculties concentrated on Joe；
gazed at him in a fit of stupefaction as he cut his meat with one
hand； until he was recalled to himself by symptoms of choking on
his own part； and was by that means restored to consciousness。 At
other times he resorted to such small devices as asking him for the
salt； the pepper； the vinegar； the mustard—anything that was on
his maimed side—and watching him as he handed it。 By dint of
these experiments； he did at last so satisfy and convince himself；
that； after a longer silence than he had yet maintained； he laid
down his knife and fork on either side his plate； drank a long
draught from a tankard beside him （still keeping his eyes on Joe）；
and leaning backward in his chair and fetching a long breath； said；
as he looked all round the board：
‘It’s been took off！’
‘By George！’ said the Black Lion； striking the table with his
hand； ‘he’s got it！’
‘Yes； sir；’ said Mr Willet； with the look of a man who felt that he
had earned a compliment； and deserved it。 ‘That’s where it is。 It’s
been took off。’
‘Tell him where it was done；’ said the Black Lion to Joe。
‘At the defence of the Savannah； father。’
‘At the defence of the Salwanners；’ repeated Mr Willet； softly；
again looking round the table。
‘In America； where the war is；’ said Joe。
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‘In America； where the war is；’ repeated Mr Willet。 ‘It was took
off in the defence of the Salwanners in America where the war is。’
Continuing to repeat these words to himself in a low tone of voice
（the same information had been conveyed to him in the same
terms； at least fifty times before）； Mr Willet arose from table；
walked round to Joe； felt his empty sleeve all the way up； from the
cuff； to where the stump of his arm remained； shook his hand；
lighted his pipe at the fire； took a long whiff； walked to the door；
turned round once when he had reached it； wiped his left eye with
the back of his forefinger； and said； in a faltering voice： ‘My son’s
arm—was took off—at the defence of the—Salwanners—in
America—where the war is’—with which words he withdrew； and
returned no more that night。
Indeed； on various pretences； they all withdrew one after
another； save Dolly； who was left sitting there alone。 It was a great
relief to be alone； and she was crying to her heart’s content； when
she heard Joe’s voice at the end of the passage； bidding somebody
good night。
Good night！ Then he was going elsewhere—to some distance；
perhaps。 To what kind of home could he be going； now that it was
so late！
She heard him walk along the passage； and pass the door。 Bu
