barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第166章
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were。
To say that during these proceedings Mr Willet the elder
underwent the greatest emotions of astonishment of which our
common nature is susceptible—to say that he was in a perfect
paralysis of surprise； and that he wandered into the most
stupendous and theretofore unattainable heights of complicated
amazement—would be to shadow forth his state of mind in the
feeblest and lamest terms。 If a roc； an eagle； a griffin； a flying
elephant； a winged sea…horse； had suddenly appeared； and； taking
him on its back； carried him bodily into the heart of the
‘Salwanners；’ it would have been to him as an everyday
occurrence； in comparison with what he now beheld。 To be sitting
quietly by； seeing and hearing these things； to be completely
overlooked； unnoticed； and disregarded； while his son and a young
lady were talking to each other in the most impassioned manner；
kissing each other； and making themselves in all respects perfectly
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at home； was a position so tremendous； so inexplicable； so utterly
beyond the widest range of his capacity of comprehension； that he
fell into a lethargy of wonder； and could no more rouse himself
than an enchanted sleeper in the first year of his fairy lease； a
century long。
‘Father；’ said Joe； presenting Dolly。 ‘You know who this is？’
Mr Willet looked first at her； then at his son； then back again at
Dolly； and then made an ineffectual effort to extract a whiff from
his pipe； which had gone out long ago。
‘Say a word； father； if it’s only “how d’ye do；”’ urged Joe。
‘Certainly； Joseph；’ answered Mr Willet。 ‘Oh yes！ Why not？’
‘To be sure；’ said Joe。 ‘Why not？’
‘Ah！’ replied his father。 ‘Why not？’ and with this remark； which
he uttered in a low voice as though he were discussing some grave
question with himself； he used the little finger—if any of his
fingers can be said to have come under that denomination—of his
right hand as a tobacco…stopper； and was silent again。
And so he sat for half an hour at least； although Dolly； in the
most endearing of manners； hoped； a dozen times； that he was not
angry with her。 So he sat for half an hour； quite motionless； and
looking all the while like nothing so much as a great Dutch Pin or
Skittle。 At the expiration of that period； he suddenly； and without
the least notice； burst （to the great consternation of the young
people） into a very loud and very short laugh； and repeating；
‘Certainly； Joseph。 Oh yes！ Why not？’ went out for a walk。
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Chapter 79
ld John did not walk near the Golden Key； for between
the Golden Key and the Black Lion there lay a wilderness
O
of streets—as everybody knows who is acquainted with
the relative bearings of Clerkenwell and Whitechapel—and he was
by no means famous for pedestrian exercises。 But the Golden Key
lies in our way； though it was out of his； so to the Golden Key this
chapter goes。
The Golden Key itself； fair emblem of the locksmith’s trade； had
been pulled down by the rioters； and roughly trampled under foot。
But； now； it was hoisted up again in all the glory of a new coat of
paint； and shewed more bravely even than in days of yore。 Indeed
the whole house…front was spruce and trim； and so freshened up
throughout； that if there yet remained at large any of the rioters
who had been concerned in the attack upon it； the sight of the old；
goodly； prosperous dwelling； so revived； must have been to them
as gall and wormwood。
The shutters of the shop were closed； however； and the
window…blinds above were all pulled down； and in place of its
usual cheerful appearance； the house had a look of sadness and an
air of mourning； which the neighbours； who in old days had often
seen poor Barnaby go in and out； were at no loss to understand。
The door stood partly open； but the locksmith’s hammer was
unheard； the cat sat moping on the ashy forge； all was deserted；
dark； and silent。
On the threshold of this door； Mr Haredale and Edward Chester
met。 The younger man gave place； and both passing in with a
familiar air； which seemed to denote that they were tarrying there；
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or were well…accustomed to go to and fro unquestioned； shut it
behind them。
Entering the old back…parlour； and ascending the flight of
stairs； abrupt and steep； and quaintly fashioned as of old； they
turned into the best room； the pride of Mrs Varden’s heart； and
erst the scene of Miggs’s household labours。
‘Varden brought the mother here last evening； he told me？’ said
Mr Haredale。
‘She is above…stairs now—in the room over here；’ Edward
rejoined。 ‘Her grief； they say； is past all telling。 I needn’t add—for
that you know beforehand； sir—that the care； humanity； and
sympathy of these good people have no bounds。’
‘I am sure of that。 Heaven repay them for it； and for much
more！ Varden is out？’
‘He returned with your messenger； who arrived almost at the
moment of his coming home himself。 He was out the whole
night—but that of course you know。 He was with you the greater
part of it？’
‘He was。 Without him； I should have lacked my right hand。 He
is an older man than I； but nothing can conquer him。’
‘The cheeriest； stoutest…hearted fellow in the world。’
‘He has a right to be。 He has a right to he。 A better creature
never lived。 He reaps what he has sown—no more。’
‘It is not all men；’ said Edward； after a moment’s hesitation；
‘who have the happiness to do that。’
‘More than you imagine；’ returned Mr Haredale。 ‘We note the
harvest more than the seed…time。 You do so in me。’
In truth his pale and haggard face； and gloomy bearing； had so
far influenced the remark； that Edward was； for the moment； at a
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loss to answer him。
‘Tut； tut；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘‘twas not very difficult to read a
thought so natural。 But you are mistaken nevertheless。 I have had
my share of sorrows—more than the common lot； perhaps； but I
have borne them ill。 I have broken where I should have bent； and
have mused and brooded； when my spirit should have mixed with
all God’s great creation。 The men who learn endurance； are they
who call the whole world； brother。 I have turned from the world；
and I pay the penalty。’
Edward would have interposed； but he went on without giving
him time。
‘It is too late to evade it now。 I sometimes think； that if I had to
live my life once more； I might amend this fault—not so much； I
discover when I search my mind； for the love of what is right； as
for my own sake。 But even when I make these better resolutions； I
instinctively recoil from the idea of suffering again what I have
undergone； and in this circumstance I find the unwelcome
assurance that I should still be the same man； though I could
cancel the past； and begin anew； with its experience to guide me。’
‘Nay； you make too sure of that；’ said Edward。
‘You think so；’ Mr Haredale answered； ‘and I am glad you do。 I
know myself better； and therefore distrust myself more。 Let us
leave this subject for another—not so far removed from it as it
might； at first sight； seem to be。 Sir； you still love my niece； and
she is still attached to you。’
‘I have that assurance from her own lips；’ said Edward； ‘and
you know—I am sure you know—that I would not exchange it for
any blessing life could yield me。’
‘You are frank； honourable； and disinterested；’ said Mr
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Haredale； ‘you have forced the conviction that you are so； even on
my once…jaundiced mind； and I believe you。 Wait here till I come
back。’
He left the room as he spoke； but soon returned with his niece。
‘On that first and only time；’ he said； looking from the one to the
other； ‘when we three stood together under her father’s roof； I told
you to quit it； and charged you never to return。’
‘It is the only circumstance arising out of our love；’ observed
Edward； ‘that I have forgotten。’
‘You own a name；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘I had deep reason to
remember。 I was moved and goaded by recollections of personal
wrong and injury； I know； but； even now I cannot charge myself
with having； then； or ever； lost sight of a heartfelt desire for her
true happiness； or with having acted—however much I was
mistaken—with any other impulse than the one pure； single；
earnest wish to be to her； as far as in my inferior nature lay； the
father she had lost。’
‘Dear uncle；’ cried Emma； ‘I have known no parent but you。 I
have loved the memory of others； but I have loved you all my life。
Never w
