barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第61章
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‘They think；’ said Hugh； when he had tossed the liquor down；
‘that I am sleeping soundly in the stable。 Ha ha ha！ The stable
door is shut； but the steed’s gone； master。’
‘You are a most convivial fellow；’ returned his friend； ‘and I love
your humour of all things。 Good night！ Take the greatest possible
care of yourself； for my sake！’
It was remarkable that during the whole interview； each had
endeavoured to catch stolen glances of the other’s face； and had
never looked full at it。 They interchanged one brief and hasty
glance as Hugh went out； averted their eyes directly； and so
separated。 Hugh closed the double doors behind him； carefully
and without noise； and Mr Chester remained in his easy…chair；
with his gaze intently fixed upon the fire。
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‘Well！’ he said； after meditating for a long time—and said with a
deep sigh and an uneasy shifting of his attitude； as though he
dismissed some other subject from his thoughts； and returned to
that which had held possession of them all the day—the plot
thickens； I have thrown the shell； it will explode； I think； in eight…
and…forty hours； and should scatter these good folks amazingly。
We shall see！’
He went to bed and fell asleep； but had not slept long when he
started up and thought that Hugh was at the outer door； calling in
a strange voice； very different from his own； to be admitted。 The
delusion was so strong upon him； and was so full of that vague
terror of the night in which such visions have their being； that he
rose； and taking his sheathed sword in his hand； opened the door；
and looked out upon the staircase； and towards the spot where
Hugh had lain asleep； and even spoke to him by name。 But all was
dark and quiet； and creeping back to bed again； he fell； after an
hour’s uneasy watching； into a second sleep； and woke no more till
morning。
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Chapter 29
he thoughts of worldly men are for ever regulated by a
moral law of gravitation； which； like the physical one；
T
holds them down to earth。 The bright glory of day； and the
silent wonders of a starlit night； appeal to their minds in vain。
There are no signs in the sun； or in the moon； or in the stars； for
their reading。 They are like some wise men； who； learning to know
each planet by its Latin name； have quite forgotten such small
heavenly constellations as Charity； Forbearance； Universal Love；
and Mercy； although they shine by night and day so brightly that
the blind may see them； and who； looking upward at the spangled
sky； see nothing there but the reflection of their own great wisdom
and book…learning。
It is curious to imagine these people of the world； busy in
thought； turning their eyes towards the countless spheres that
shine above us； and making them reflect the only images their
minds contain。 The man who lives but in the breath of princes； has
nothing his sight but stars for courtiers’ breasts。 The envious man
beholds his neighbours’ honours even in the sky； to the money…
hoarder； and the mass of worldly folk； the whole great universe
above glitters with sterling coin—fresh from the mint—stamped
with the sovereign’s head—coming always between them and
heaven； turn where they may。 So do the shadows of our own
desires stand between us and our better angels； and thus their
brightness is eclipsed。
Everything was fresh and gay； as though the world were but
that morning made； when Mr Chester rode at a tranquil pace
along the Forest road。 Though early in the season； it was warm
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and genial weather； the trees were budding into leaf； the hedges
and the grass were green； the air was musical with songs of birds；
and high above them all the lark poured out her richest melody。 In
shady spots； the morning dew sparkled on each young leaf and
blade of grass； and where the sun was shining； some diamond
drops yet glistened brightly； as in unwillingness to leave so fair a
world； and have such brief existence。 Even the light wind； whose
rustling was as gentle to the ear as softly…falling water； had its
hope and promise； and； leaving a pleasant fragrance in its track as
it went fluttering by； whispered of its intercourse with Summer；
and of his happy coming。
The solitary rider went glancing on among the trees； from
sunlight into shade and back again； at the same even pace—
looking about him； certainly； from time to time； but with no
greater thought of the day or the scene through which he moved；
than that he was fortunate （being choicely dressed） to have such
favourable weather。 He smiled very complacently at such times；
but rather as if he were satisfied with himself than with anything
else： and so went riding on； upon his chestnut cob； as pleasant to
look upon as his own horse； and probably far less sensitive to the
many cheerful influences by which he was surrounded。
In the course of time； the Maypole’s massive chimneys rose
upon his view： but he quickened not his pace one jot； and with the
same cool gravity rode up to the tavern porch。 John Willet； who
was toasting his red face before a great fire in the bar； and who；
with surpassing foresight and quickness of apprehension； had
been thinking； as he looked at the blue sky； that if that state of
things lasted much longer； it might ultimately become necessary
to leave off fires and throw the windows open； issued forth to hold
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his stirrup； calling lustily for Hugh。
‘Oh； you’re here； are you； sir？’ said John； rather surprised by
the quickness with which he appeared。 ‘Take this here valuable
animal into the stable； and have more than particular care of him
if you want to keep your place。 A mortal lazy fellow； sir； he needs a
deal of looking after。’
‘But you have a son；’ returned Mr Chester； giving his bridle to
Hugh as he dismounted； and acknowledging his salute by a
careless motion of his hand towards his hat。 ‘Why don’t you make
him useful？’
‘Why； the truth is； sir；’ replied John with great importance； ‘that
my son—what； you’re a…listening are you； villain？’
‘Who’s listening？’ returned Hugh angrily。 ‘A treat； indeed； to
hear you speak！ Would you have me take him in till he’s cool？’
‘Walk him up and down further off then； sir；’ cried old John；
‘and when you see me and a noble gentleman entertaining
ourselves with talk； keep your distance。 If you don’t know your
distance； sir；’ added Mr Willet； after an enormously long pause；
during which he fixed his great dull eyes on Hugh； and waited
with exemplary patience for any little property in the way of ideas
that might come to him； ‘we’ll find a way to teach you； pretty soon。’
Hugh shrugged his shoulders scornfully； and in his reckless
swaggering way； crossed to the other side of the little green； and
there； with the bridle slung loosely over his shoulder； led the horse
to and fro； glancing at his master every now and then from under
his bushy eyebrows； with as sinister an aspect as one would desire
to see。
Mr Chester； who； without appearing to do so； had eyed him
attentively during this brief dispute； stepped into the porch； and
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turning abruptly to Mr Willet； said；
‘You keep strange servants； John。’
‘Strange enough to look at； sir； certainly；’ answered the host；
‘but out of doors； for horses； dogs； and the likes of that； there an’t a
better man in England than is that Maypole Hugh yonder。 He an’t
fit for indoors；’ added Mr Willet； with the confidential air of a man
who felt his own superior nature。 ‘I do that； but if that chap had
only a little imagination； sir—’
‘He’s an active fellow now； I dare swear；’ said Mr Chester； in a
musing tone； which seemed to suggest that he would have said the
same had there been nobody to hear him。
‘Active； sir！’ retorted John； with quite an expression in his face；
‘that chap！ Hallo there！ You； sir！ Bring that horse here； and go and
hang my wig on the weathercock； to show this gentleman whether
you’re one of the lively sort or not。’
Hugh made no answer； but throwing the bridle to his master；
and snatching his wig from his head； in a manner so
unceremonious and hasty that the action discomposed Mr Willet
not a little； though performed at his own special desire； climbed
nimbly to the very summit of the maypole before the house； and
hanging the wig upon the weathercock； sent it twirling round like
a roasting jack。 Having achieved thi
