barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第31章
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home like a respectable and sober tradesman。 If there is one
character；’ said Mrs Varden with great emphasis； ‘that offends and
disgusts me more than another； it is a sot。’
‘Come； Martha； my dear；’ said the locksmith cheerily； ‘let us
have tea； and don’t let us talk about sots。 There are none here； and
Joe don’t want to hear about them； I dare say。’
At this crisis； Miggs appeared with toast。
‘I dare say he does not；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘and I dare say you do
not； Varden。 It’s a very unpleasant subject； I have no doubt；
though I won’t say it’s personal’—Miggs coughed—‘whatever I
may be forced to think’—Miggs sneezed expressively。 ‘You never
will know； Varden； and nobody at young Mr Willet’s age—you’ll
excuse me； sir—can be expected to know； what a woman suffers
when she is waiting at home under such circumstances。 If you
don’t believe me； as I know you don’t； here’s Miggs； who is only
too often a witness of it—ask her。’
‘Oh！ she were very bad the other night； sir； indeed she were；
said Miggs。 ‘If you hadn’t the sweetness of an angel in you； mim； I
don’t think you could abear it； I raly don’t。’
‘Miggs；’ said Mrs Varden； ‘you’re profane。’
‘Begging your pardon； mim；’ returned Miggs； with shrill
rapidity； ‘such was not my intentions； and such I hope is not my
character； though I am but a servant。’
‘Answering me； Miggs； and providing yourself；’ retorted her
mistress； looking round with dignity； ‘is one and the same thing。
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How dare you speak of angels in connection with your sinful
fellow…beings—mere’—said Mrs Varden； glancing at herself in a
neighbouring mirror； and arranging the ribbon of her cap in a
more becoming fashion—‘mere worms and grovellers as we are！’
‘I did not intend； mim； if you please； to give offence；’ said Miggs；
confident in the strength of her compliment； and developing
strongly in the throat as usual； ‘and I did not expect it would be
took as such。 I hope I know my own unworthiness； and that I hate
and despise myself and all my fellow…creatures as every
practicable Christian should。’
‘You’ll have the goodness； if you please；’ said Mrs Varden；
loftily； ‘to step upstairs and see if Dolly has finished dressing； and
to tell her that the chair that was ordered for her will be here in a
minute； and that if she keeps it waiting； I shall send it away that
instant。—I’m sorry to see that you don’t take your tea； Varden； and
that you don’t take yours； Mr Joseph； though of course it would be
foolish of me to expect that anything that can be had at home； and
in the company of females； would please you。’
This pronoun was understood in the plural sense； and included
both gentlemen； upon both of whom it was rather hard and
undeserved； for Gabriel had applied himself to the meal with a
very promising appetite； until it was spoilt by Mrs Varden herself；
and Joe had as great a liking for the female society of the
locksmith’s house—or for a part of it at all events—as man could
well entertain。
But he had no opportunity to say anything in his own defence；
for at that moment Dolly herself appeared； and struck him quite
dumb with her beauty。 Never had Dolly looked so handsome as
she did then； in all the glow and grace of youth； with all her
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charms increased a hundredfold by a most becoming dress； by a
thousand little coquettish ways which nobody could assume with a
better grace； and all the sparkling expectation of that accursed
party。 It is impossible to tell how Joe hated that party wherever it
was； and all the other people who were going to it； whoever they
were。
And she hardly looked at him—no； hardly looked at him。 And
when the chair was seen through the open door coming
blundering into the workshop； she actually clapped her hands and
seemed glad to go。 But Joe gave her his arm—there was some
comfort in that—and handed her into it。 To see her seat herself
inside； with her laughing eyes brighter than diamonds； and her
hand—surely she had the prettiest hand in the world—on the
ledge of the open window； and her little finger provokingly and
pertly tilted up； as if it wondered why Joe didn’t squeeze or kiss it！
To think how well one or two of the modest snowdrops would have
become that delicate bodice； and how they were lying neglected
outside the parlour window！ To see how Miggs looked on with a
face expressive of knowing how all this loveliness was got up； and
of being in the secret of every string and pin and hook and eye；
and of saying it ain’t half as real as you think； and I could look
quite as well myself if I took the pains！ To hear that provoking
precious little scream when the chair was hoisted on its poles； and
to catch that transient but not…to…be…forgotten vision of the happy
face within—what torments and aggravations； and yet what
delights were these！ The very chairmen seemed favoured rivals as
they bore her down the street。
There never was such an alteration in a small room in a small
time as in that parlour when they went back to finish tea。 So dark；
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so deserted； so perfectly disenchanted。 It seemed such sheer
nonsense to be sitting tamely there； when she was at a dance with
more lovers than man could calculate fluttering about her—with
the whole party doting on and adoring her； and wanting to marry
her。 Miggs was hovering about too； and the fact of her existence；
the mere circumstance of her ever having been born； appeared；
after Dolly； such an unaccountable practical joke。 It was
impossible to talk。 It couldn’t be done。 He had nothing left for it
but to stir his tea round； and round； and round； and ruminate on
all the fascinations of the locksmith’s lovely daughter。
Gabriel was dull too。 It was a part of the certain uncertainty of
Mrs Varden’s temper； that when they were in this condition； she
should be gay and sprightly。
‘I need have a cheerful disposition； I am sure；’ said the smiling
housewife； ‘to preserve any spirits at all； and how I do it I can
scarcely tell。’
‘Ah； mim；’ sighed Miggs； ‘begging your pardon for the
interruption； there an’t a many like you。’
‘Take away； Miggs；’ said Mrs Varden； rising； ‘take away； pray。 I
know I’m a restraint here； and as I wish everybody to enjoy
themselves as they best can； I feel I had better go。’
‘No； no； Martha；’ cried the locksmith。 ‘Stop here。 I’m sure we
shall be very sorry to lose you； eh Joe！’ Joe started； and said
‘Certainly。’
‘Thank you； Varden； my dear；’ returned his wife； ‘but I know
your wishes better。 Tobacco and beer； or spirits； have much
greater attractions than any I can boast of； and therefore I shall go
and sit upstairs and look out of window； my love。 Good night； Mr
Joseph。 I’m very glad to have seen you； and I only wish I could
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have provided something more suitable to your taste。 Remember
me very kindly if you please to old Mr Willet； and tell him that
whenever he comes here I have a crow to pluck with him。 Good
night！’
Having uttered these words with great sweetness of manner；
the good lady dropped a curtsey remarkable for its condescension；
and serenely withdrew。
And it was for this Joe had looked forward to the twenty…fifth of
March for weeks and weeks； and had gathered the flowers with so
much care； and had cocked his hat； and made himself so smart！
This was the end of all his bold determination； resolved upon for
the hundredth time； to speak out to Dolly and tell her how he
loved her！ To see her for a minute—for but a minute—to find her
going out to a party and glad to go； to be looked upon as a common
pipe…smoker； beer…bibber； spirit…guzzler； and tosspot！ He bade
farewell to his friend the locksmith； and hastened to take horse at
the Black Lion； thinking as he turned towards home； as many
another Joe has thought before and since； that here was an end to
all his hopes—that the thing was impossible and never could be—
that she didn’t care for him—that he was wretched for life—and
that the only congenial prospect left him； was to go for a soldier or
a sailor； and get some obliging enemy to knock his brains out as
soon as possible。
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Chapter 14
oe Willet rode leisurely along in his desponding mood；
Jpicturing the locksmith’s daughter going down long country…
dances； and poussetting dreadfully with bold strangers—
