barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
who was the parish…clerk and bell…ringer of Chigwell； a village
hard by） had little round black shiny eyes like beads； moreover
this little man wore at the knees of his rusty black breeches； and
on his rusty black coat； and all down his long flapped waistcoat；
little queer buttons like nothing except his eyes； but so like them；
that as they twinkled and glistened in the light of the fire； which
shone too in his bright shoe…buckles； he seemed all eyes from head
to foot； and to be gazing with every one of them at the unknown
customer。 No wonder that a man should grow restless under such
an inspection as this； to say nothing of the eyes belonging to short
Tom Cobb the general chandler and post…office keeper； and long
Phil Parkes the ranger； both of whom； infected by the example of
their companions； regarded him of the flapped hat no less
attentively。
The stranger became restless； perhaps from being exposed to
this raking fire of eyes； perhaps from the nature of his previous
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 18…
Barnaby Rudge 19
meditations—most probably from the latter cause； for as he
changed his position and looked hastily round； he started to find
himself the object of such keen regard； and darted an angry and
suspicious glance at the fireside group。 It had the effect of
immediately diverting all eyes to the chimney； except those of
John Willet； who finding himself as it were； caught in the fact； and
not being （as has been already observed） of a very ready nature；
remained staring at his guest in a particularly awkward and
disconcerted manner。
‘Well？’ said the stranger。
Well。 There was not much in well。 It was not a long speech。 ‘I
thought you gave an order；’ said the landlord； after a pause of two
or three minutes for consideration。
The stranger took off his hat； and disclosed the hard features of
a man of sixty or thereabouts； much weatherbeaten and worn by
time； and the naturally harsh expression of which was not
improved by a dark handkerchief which was bound tightly round
his head； and； while it served the purpose of a wig； shaded his
forehead； and almost hid his eyebrows。 If it were intended to
conceal or divert attention from a deep gash； now healed into an
ugly seam； which when it was first inflicted must have laid bare
his cheekbone； the object was but indifferently attained； for it
could scarcely fail to be noted at a glance。 His complexion was of a
cadaverous hue； and he had a grizzly jagged beard of some three
weeks’ date。 Such was the figure （very meanly and poorly clad）
that now rose from the seat； and stalking across the room sat down
in a corner of the chimney； which the politeness or fears of the
little clerk very readily assigned to him。
‘A highwayman！’ whispered Tom Cobb to Parkes the ranger。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 19…
Barnaby Rudge 20
‘Do you suppose highwaymen don’t dress handsomer than
that？’ replied Parkes。 ‘It’s a better business than you think for；
Tom； and highwaymen don’t need or use to be shabby； take my
word for it。’
Meanwhile the subject of their speculations had done due
honour to the house by calling for some drink； which was
promptly supplied by the landlord’s son Joe； a broad…shouldered
strapping young fellow of twenty； whom it pleased his father still
to consider a little boy； and to treat accordingly。 Stretching out his
hands to warm them by the blazing fire； the man turned his head
towards the company； and after running his eye sharply over
them； said in a voice well suited to his appearance：
‘What house is that which stands a mile or so from here？’
‘Public…house？’ said the landlord； with his usual deliberation。
‘Public…house； father！’ exclaimed Joe； ‘where’s the public…house
within a mile or so of the Maypole？ He means the great house—
the Warren—naturally and of course。 The old red brick house； sir；
that stands in its own grounds—？’
‘Aye；’ said the stranger。
‘And that fifteen or twenty years ago stood in a park five times
as broad； which with other and richer property has bit by bit
changed hands and dwindled away—more’s the pity！’ pursued the
young man。
‘Maybe；’ was the reply。 ‘But my question related to the owner。
What it has been I don’t care to know； and what it is I can see for
myself。’
The heir…apparent to the Maypole pressed his finger on his lips；
and glancing at the young gentleman already noticed； who had
changed his attitude when the house was first mentioned； replied
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 20…
Barnaby Rudge 21
in a lower tone：
‘The owner’s name is Haredale； Mr Geoffrey Haredale； and’—
again he glanced in the same direction as before—‘and a worthy
gentleman too—hem！’
Paying as little regard to this admonitory cough； as to the
significant gesture that had preceded it； the stranger pursued his
questioning。
‘I turned out of my way coming here； and took the footpath that
crosses the grounds。 Who was the young lady that I saw entering a
carriage？ His daughter？’
‘Why； how should I know； honest man？’ replied Joe； contriving
in the course of some arrangements about the hearth； to advance
close to his questioner and pluck him by the sleeve； ‘I didn’t see
the young lady； you know。 Whew！ There’s the wind again—and
rain—well it is a night！’
Rough weather indeed！’ observed the strange man。
‘You’re used to it？’ said Joe； catching at anything which seemed
to promise a diversion of the subject。
‘Pretty well；’ returned the other。 ‘About the young lady—has Mr
Haredale a daughter？’
‘No； no；’ said the young fellow fretfully； ‘he’s a single
gentleman—he’s—be quiet； can’t you； man？ Don’t you see this talk
is not relished yonder？’
Regardless of this whispered remonstrance； and affecting not to
hear it； his tormentor provokingly continued：
‘Single men have had daughters before now。 Perhaps she may
be his daughter； though he is not married。’
‘What do you mean？’ said Joe； adding in an undertone as he
approached him again； ‘You’ll come in for it presently； I know you
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 21…
Barnaby Rudge 22
will！’
‘I mean no harm’—returned the traveller boldly； ‘and have said
none that I know of。 I ask a few questions—as any stranger may；
and not unnaturally—about the inmates of a remarkable house in
a neighbourhood which is new to me； and you are as aghast and
disturbed as if I were talking treason against King George。
Perhaps you can tell me why； sir； for （as I say） I am a stranger； and
this is Greek to me？’
The latter observation was addressed to the obvious cause of
Joe Willet’s discomposure； who had risen and was adjusting his
riding…cloak preparatory to sallying abroad。 Briefly replying that
he could give him no information； the young man beckoned to Joe；
and handing him a piece of money in payment of his reckoning；
hurried out attended by young Willet himself； who taking up a
candle followed to light him to the house…door。
While Joe was absent on this errand； the elder Willet and his
three companions continued to smoke with profound gravity； and
in a deep silence； each having his eyes fixed on a huge copper
boiler that was suspended over the fire。 After some time John
Willet slowly shook his head； and thereupon his friends slowly
shook theirs； but no man withdrew his eyes from the boiler； or
altered the solemn expression of his countenance in the slightest
degree。
At length Joe returned—very talkative and conciliatory； as
though with a strong presentiment that he was going to be found
fault with。
‘Such a thing as love is！’ he said； drawing a chair near the fire；
and looking round for sympathy。 ‘He has set off to walk to
London；—all the way to London。 His nag gone lame in riding out
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 22…
Barnaby Rudge 23
here this blessed afternoon； and comfortably littered down in our
stable at this minute； and he giving up a good hot supper and our
best bed； because Miss Haredale has gone to a masquerade up in
town； and he has set his heart upon seeing her！ I don’t think I
could persuade myself to do that； beautiful as she is；—but then I’m
not in love （at least I don’t think I am） and that’s the whole
difference。’
‘He is in love then？’ said the stranger。
‘Rather；’ replied Joe。 ‘He’ll never be more in love； and may very
easily be less。’
‘Silence； sir！’ cried his father。
‘What a chap you are； Joe！’ said Long Parkes。
‘Such a inconsiderate lad！’ murmured Tom Cobb。
‘Putting himself forward and wringing the very nose off his own
father’s face！’ exclaimed the parish…clerk； metaphorically。
‘What have I done？’ reasoned poor Joe。
‘Silence； sir！’ returned his father； ‘what do you mean by talking；
when you see people that are more than two or three times your
age； sitting still and silent and not dreaming of saying a word？’
