barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第62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！
a roasting jack。 Having achieved this performance； he cast it on
the ground； and sliding down the pole with inconceivable rapidity；
alighted on his feet almost as soon as it had touched the earth。
‘There； sir；’ said John； relapsing into his usual stolid state； ‘you
won’t see that at many houses； besides the Maypole； where there’s
good accommodation for man and beast—nor that neither； though
that with him is nothing。’
This last remark bore reference to his vaulting on horseback； as
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 315…
Barnaby Rudge 316
upon Mr Chester’s first visit； and quickly disappearing by the
stable gate。
‘That with him is nothing；’ repeated Mr Willet； brushing his wig
with his wrist； and inwardly resolving to distribute a small charge
for dust and damage to that article of dress； through the various
items of his guest’s bill； ‘he’ll get out of a’most any winder in the
house。 There never was such a chap for flinging himself about and
never hurting his bones。 It’s my opinion； sir； that it’s pretty nearly
allowing to his not having any imagination； and that if imagination
could be （which it can’t） knocked into him； he’d never be able to
do it any more。 But we was a…talking； sir； about my son。’
‘True； Willet； true；’ said his visitor； turning again towards the
landlord with his accustomed serenity of face。 ‘My good friend；
what about him？’
It has been reported that Mr Willet； previously to making
answer； winked。 But as he was never known to be guilty of such
lightness of conduct either before or afterwards； this may be
looked upon as a malicious invention of his enemies—founded；
perhaps； upon the undisputed circumstance of his taking his guest
by the third breast button of his coat； counting downwards from
the chin； and pouring his reply into his ear：
‘Sir；’ whispered John； with dignity； ‘I know my duty。 We want
no love…making here； sir； unbeknown to parents。 I respect a
certain young gentleman； taking him in the light of a young
gentleman； I respect a certain young lady； taking her in the light of
a young lady； but of the two as a couple； I have no knowledge； sir；
none whatever。 My son； sir； is upon his patrole。’
‘I thought I saw him looking through the corner window but
this moment；’ said Mr Chester； who naturally thought that being
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 316…
Barnaby Rudge 317
on patrole； implied walking about somewhere。
‘No doubt you did； sir；’ returned John。 ‘He is upon his patrole of
honour； sir； not to leave the premises。 Me and some friends of
mine that use the Maypole of an evening； sir； considered what was
best to be done with him； to prevent his doing anything
unpleasant in opposing your desires； and we’ve put him on his
patrole。 And what’s more； sir； he won’t be off his patrole for a
pretty long time to come； I can tell you that。’
When he had communicated this bright idea； which had its
origin in the perusal by the village cronies of a newspaper；
containing； among other matters； an account of how some officer
pending the sentence of some court…martial had been enlarged on
parole； Mr Willet drew back from his guest’s ear； and without any
visible alteration of feature； chuckled thrice audibly。 This nearest
approach to a laugh in which he ever indulged （and that but
seldom and only on extreme occasions）； never even curled his lip
or effected the smallest change in—no； not so much as a slight
wagging of—his great； fat； double chin； which at these times； as at
all others； remained a perfect desert in the broad map of his face；
one changeless； dull； tremendous blank。
Lest it should be matter of surprise to any； that Mr Willet
adopted this bold course in opposition to one whom he had often
entertained； and who had always paid his way at the Maypole
gallantly； it may be remarked that it was his very penetration and
sagacity in this respect； which occasioned him to indulge in those
unusual demonstrations of jocularity； just now recorded。 For Mr
Willet； after carefully balancing father and son in his mental
scales； had arrived at the distinct conclusion that the old
gentleman was a better sort of a customer than the young one。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 317…
Barnaby Rudge 318
Throwing his landlord into the same scale； which was already
turned by this consideration； and heaping upon him； again； his
strong desires to run counter to the unfortunate Joe； and his
opposition as a general principle to all matters of love and
matrimony； it went down to the very ground straightway； and sent
the light cause of the younger gentleman flying upwards to the
ceiling。 Mr Chester was not the kind of man to be by any means
dim…sighted to Mr Willet’s motives； but he thanked him as
graciously as if he had been one of the most disinterested martyrs
that ever shone on earth； and leaving him； with many
complimentary reliances on his great taste and judgment； to
prepare whatever dinner he might deem most fitting the occasion；
bent his steps towards the Warren。
Dressed with more than his usual elegance； assuming a
gracefulness of manner； which； though it was the result of long
study； sat easily upon him and became him well； composing his
features into their most serene and prepossessing expression； and
setting in short that guard upon himself； at every point； which
denoted that he attached no slight importance to the impression
he was about to make； he entered the bounds of Miss Haredale’s
usual walk。 He had not gone far； or looked about him long； when
he descried coming towards him； a female figure。 A glimpse of the
form and dress as she crossed a little wooden bridge which lay
between them； satisfied him that he had found her whom he
desired to see。 He threw himself in her way； and a very few paces
brought them close together。
He raised his hat from his head； and yielding the path； suffered
her to pass him。 Then； as if the idea had but that moment occurred
to him； he turned hastily back and said in an agitated voice：
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 318…
Barnaby Rudge 319
‘I beg pardon—do I address Miss Haredale？’
She stopped in some confusion at being so unexpectedly
accosted by a stranger； and answered ‘Yes。’
‘Something told me；’ he said； looking a compliment to her
beauty； ‘that it could be no other。 Miss Haredale； I bear a name
which is not unknown to you—which it is a pride； and yet a pain to
me to know； sounds pleasantly in your ears。 I am a man advanced
in life； as you see。 I am the father of him whom you honour and
distinguish above all other men。 May I for weighty reasons which
fill me with distress； beg but a minute’s conversation with you
here？’
Who that was inexperienced in deceit； and had a frank and
youthful heart； could doubt the speaker’s truth—could doubt it
too； when the voice that spoke； was like the faint echo of one she
knew so well； and so much loved to hear？ She inclined her head；
and stopping； cast her eyes upon the ground。
‘A little more apart—among these trees。 It is an old man’s hand；
Miss Haredale； an honest one； believe me。’
She put hers in it as he said these words； and suffered him to
lead her to a neighbouring seat。
‘You alarm me； sir；’ she said in a low voice。 ‘You are not the
bearer of any ill news； I hope？’
‘Of none that you anticipate；’ he answered； sitting down beside
her。 ‘Edward is well—quite well。 It is of him I wish to speak；
certainly； but I have no misfortune to communicate。’
She bowed her head again； and made as though she would have
begged him to proceed； but said nothing。
‘I am sensible that I speak to you at a disadvantage； dear Miss
Haredale。 Believe me that I am not so forgetful of the feelings of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 319…
Barnaby Rudge 320
my younger days as not to know that you are little disposed to
view me with favour。 You have heard me described as cold…
hearted； calculating； selfish—’
‘I have never； sir；’—she interposed with an altered manner and
a firmer voice； ‘I have never heard you spoken of in harsh or
disrespectful terms。 You do a great wrong to Edward’s nature if
you believe him capable of any mean or base proceeding。’
‘Pardon me； my sweet young lady； but your uncle—’
‘Nor is it my uncle’s nature either；’ she replied； with a
heightened colour in her cheek。 ‘It is not his nature to stab in the
dark； nor is it mine to love such deeds。’
She rose as she spoke； and would have left him； but he detained
her with a gentle hand； and besought her in such persuasive
accents to hear him but another minute； that she was easily
prevailed upon to comply； and so sat down again。
‘And it is；’ said Mr Chester； looking upward； an
