barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第21章
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With that； he beckoned the new knight apart； and putting the
pattern in his pocket； motioned to him to walk by his side。
‘And so；’ he said； when they had taken a few turns up and
down； you—you love your master’s daughter？’
‘I do；’ said the ’prentice。 ‘Honour bright。 No chaff； you know。’
‘Have you；’ rejoined Mr Tappertit； catching him by the wrist；
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and giving him a look which would have been expressive of the
most deadly malevolence； but for an accidental hiccup that rather
interfered with it； ‘have you a—a rival？’
‘Not as I know on；’ replied the ’prentice。
‘If you had now—’ said Mr Tappertit—‘what would you—eh？—’
The ’prentice looked fierce and clenched his fists。
‘It is enough；’ cried Mr Tappertit hastily； ‘we understand each
other。 We are observed。 I thank you。’
So saying； he cast him off again； and calling the long comrade
aside after taking a few hasty turns by himself； bade him
immediately write and post against the wall； a notice； proscribing
one Joseph Willet （commonly known as Joe） of Chigwell；
forbidding all ’Prentice Knights to succour； comfort； or hold
communion with him； and requiring them； on pain of
excommunication； to molest； hurt； wrong； annoy； and pick
quarrels with the said Joseph； whensoever and wheresoever they；
or any of them； should happen to encounter him。
Having relieved his mind by this energetic proceeding； he
condescended to approach the festive board； and warming by
degrees； at length deigned to preside； and even to enchant the
company with a song。 After this； he rose to such a pitch as to
consent to regale the society with a hornpipe； which be actually
performed to the music of a fiddle （played by an ingenious
member） with such surpassing agility and brilliancy of execution；
that the spectators could not be sufficiently enthusiastic in their
admiration； and their host protested； with tears in his eyes； that he
had never truly felt his blindness until that moment。
But the host withdrawing—probably to weep in secret—soon
returned with the information that it wanted little more than an
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hour of day； and that all the cocks in Barbican had already begun
to crow； as if their lives depended on it。 At this intelligence； the
’Prentice Knights arose in haste； and marshalling into a line； filed
off one by one and dispersed with all speed to their several homes；
leaving their leader to pass the grating last。
‘Good night； noble captain；’ whispered the blind man as he held
it open for his passage out； ‘Farewell； brave general。 Bye； bye；
illustrious commander。 Good luck go with you for a—conceited；
bragging； empty…headed； duck…legged idiot。’
With which parting words； coolly added as he listened to his
receding footsteps and locked the grate upon himself； he
descended the steps； and lighting the fire below the little copper；
prepared； without any assistance； for his daily occupation； which
was to retail at the area…head above pennyworths of broth and
soup； and savoury puddings； compounded of such scraps as were
to be bought in the heap for the least money at Fleet Market in the
evening time； and for the sale of which he had need to have
depended chiefly on his private connection； for the court had no
thoroughfare； and was not that kind of place in which many
people were likely to take the air； or to frequent as an agreeable
promenade。
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Chapter 9
hronicler’s are privileged to enter where they list； to come
and go through keyholes； to ride upon the wind； to
C
overcome； in their soarings up and down； all obstacles of
distance； time； and place。 Thrice blessed be this last consideration；
since it enables us to follow the disdainful Miggs even into the
sanctity of her chamber； and to hold her in sweet companionship
through the dreary watches of the night！
Miss Miggs； having undone her mistress； as she phrased it
（which means； assisted to undress her）； and having seen her
comfortably to bed in the back room on the first floor； withdrew to
her own apartment； in the attic story。 Notwithstanding her
declaration in the locksmith’s presence； she was in no mood for
sleep； so； putting her light upon the table and withdrawing the
little window curtain； she gazed out pensively at the wild night
sky。
Perhaps she wondered what star was destined for her
habitation when she had run her little course below； perhaps
speculated which of those glimmering spheres might be the natal
orb of Mr Tappertit； perhaps marvelled how they could gaze down
on that perfidious creature； man； and not sicken and turn green as
chemists’ lamps； perhaps thought of nothing in particular。
Whatever she thought about； there she sat； until her attention；
alive to anything connected with the insinuating ’prentice； was
attracted by a noise in the next room to her own—his room； the
room in which he slept； and dreamed—it might be； sometimes
dreamed of her。
That he was not dreaming now； unless he was taking a walk in
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his sleep； was clear； for every now and then there came a shuffling
noise； as though he were engaged in polishing the whitewashed
wall； then a gentle creaking of his door； then the faintest
indication of his stealthy footsteps on the landing…place outside。
Noting this latter circumstance； Miss Miggs turned pale and
shuddered； as mistrusting his intentions； and more than once
exclaimed； below her breath； ‘Oh！ what a Providence it is； as I am
bolted in！’—which； owing doubtless to her alarm； was a confusion
of ideas on her part between a bolt and its use； for though there
was one on the door； it was not fastened。
Miss Miggs’s sense of hearing； however； having as sharp an
edge as her temper； and being of the same snappish and
suspicious kind； very soon informed her that the footsteps passed
her door； and appeared to have some object quite separate and
disconnected from herself。 At this discovery she became more
alarmed than ever； and was about to give utterance to those cries
of ‘Thieves！’ and ‘Murder！’ which she had hitherto restrained；
when it occurred to her to look softly out； and see that her fears
had some good palpable foundation。
Looking out accordingly； and stretching her neck over the
handrail； she descried； to her great amazement； Mr Tappertit
completely dressed； stealing downstairs； one step at a time； with
his shoes in one hand and a lamp in the other。 Following him with
her eyes； and going down a little way herself to get the better of an
intervening angle； she beheld him thrust his head in at the
parlour…door； draw it back again with great swiftness； and
immediately begin a retreat upstairs with all possible expedition。
‘Here’s mysteries！’ said the damsel； when she was safe in her
own room again； quite out of breath。 ‘Oh； gracious； here’s
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mysteries！’
The prospect of finding anybody out in anything； would have
kept Miss Miggs awake under the influence of henbane。 Presently；
she heard the step again； as she would have done if it had been
that of a feather endowed with motion and walking down on
tiptoe。 Then gliding out as before； she again beheld the retreating
figure of the ’prentice； again he looked cautiously in at the
parlour…door； but this time instead of retreating； he passed in and
disappeared。
Miggs was back in her room； and had her head out of the
window； before an elderly gentleman could have winked and
recovered from it。 Out he came at the street…door； shut it carefully
behind him； tried it with his knee； and swaggered off； putting
something in his pocket as he went along。 At this spectacle Miggs
cried ‘Gracious！’ again； and then ‘Goodness gracious！’ and then
‘Goodness gracious me！’ and then； candle in hand； went
downstairs as he had done。 Coming to the workshop； she saw the
lamp burning on the forge； and everything as Sim had left it。
‘Why I wish I may only have a walking funeral； and never be
buried decent with a mourning…coach and feathers； if the boy
hasn’t been and made a key for his own self！’ cried Miggs。 ‘Oh the
little villain！’
This conclusion was not
