barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第97章
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Chapter 46
hen Barnaby returned with the bread； the sight of the
Wpious old pilgrim smoking his pipe and making himself
so thoroughly at home； appeared to surprise even him；
the more so； as that worthy person； instead of putting up the loaf
in his wallet as a scarce and precious article； tossed it carelessly on
the table； and producing his bottle； bade him sit down and drink。
‘For I carry some comfort； you see；’ he said。 ‘Taste that。 Is it
good？’
The water stood in Barnaby’s eyes as he coughed from the
strength of the draught； and answered in the affirmative。
‘Drink some more；’ said the blind man； ‘don’t be afraid of it。
You don’t taste anything like that； often； eh？’
‘Often！’ cried Barnaby。 ‘Never！’
‘Too poor？’ returned the blind man with a sigh。 ‘Ay。 That’s bad。
Your mother； poor soul； would be happier if she was richer；
Barnaby。’
‘Why； so I tell her—the very thing I told her just before you
came to…night； when all that gold was in the sky；’ said Barnaby；
drawing his chair nearer to him； and looking eagerly in his face。
‘Tell me。 Is there any way of being rich； that I could find out？’
‘Any way！ A hundred ways。’
‘Ay； ay？’ he returned。 ‘Do you say so？ What are they？—Nay；
mother； it’s for your sake I ask； not mine；—for yours； indeed。 What
are they？’
The blind man turned his face； on which there was a smile of
triumph； to where the widow stood in great distress； and
answered；
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‘Why； they are not to be found out by stay…at…homes； my good
friend。’
‘By stay…at…homes！’ cried Barnaby； plucking at his sleeve。 ‘But I
am not one。 Now； there you mistake。 I am often out before the sun；
and travel home when he has gone to rest。 I am away in the woods
before the day has reached the shady places； and am often there
when the bright moon is peeping through the boughs； and looking
down upon the other moon that lives in the water。 As I walk along；
I try to find； among the grass and moss； some of that small money
for which she works so hard and used to shed so many tears。 As I
lie asleep in the shade； I dream of it—dream of digging it up in
heaps； and spying it out； hidden under bushes； and seeing it
sparkle； as the dew…drops do； among the leaves。 But I never find it。
Tell me where it is。 I’d go there； if the journey were a whole year
long； because I know she would be happier when I came home and
brought some with me。 Speak again。 I’ll listen to you if you talk all
night。’
The blind man passed his hand lightly over the poor fellow’s
face； and finding that his elbows were planted on the table； that
his chin rested on his two hands； that he leaned eagerly forward；
and that his whole manner expressed the utmost interest and
anxiety； paused for a minute as though he desired the widow to
observe this fully； and then made answer：
‘It’s in the world； bold Barnaby； the merry world； not in solitary
places like those you pass your time in； but in crowds； and where
there’s noise and rattle。’
‘Good！ good！’ cried Barnaby； rubbing his hands。 ‘Yes！ I love
that。 Grip loves it too。 It suits us both。 That’s brave！’
‘—The kind of places；’ said the blind man； ‘that a young fellow
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likes； and in which a good son may do more for his mother； and
himself to boot； in a month； than he could here in all his life—that
is； if he had a friend； you know； and some one to advise with。’
‘You hear this； mother？’ cried Barnaby； turning to her with
delight。 ‘Never tell me we shouldn’t heed it； if it lay shining at out
feet。 Why do we heed it so much now？ Why do you toil from
morning until night？’
‘Surely；’ said the blind man； ‘surely。 Have you no answer；
widow？ Is your mind；’ he slowly added； ‘not made up yet？’
‘Let me speak with you；’ she answered； ‘apart。’
‘Lay your hand upon my sleeve；’ said Stagg； arising from the
table； ‘and lead me where you will。 Courage； bold Barnaby。 We’ll
talk more of this： I’ve a fancy for you。 Wait there till I come back。
Now； widow。’
She led him out at the door； and into the little garden； where
they stopped。
‘You are a fit agent；’ she said； in a half breathless manner； ‘and
well represent the man who sent you here。’
‘I’ll tell him that you said so；’ Stagg retorted。 ‘He has a regard
for you； and will respect me the more （if possible） for your praise。
We must have our rights； widow。’
‘Rights！ Do you know；’ she said； ‘that a word from me—’
‘Why do you stop？’ returned the blind man calmly； after a long
pause。 ‘Do I know that a word from you would place my friend in
the last position of the dance of life？ Yes； I do。 What of that？ It will
never be spoken； widow。’
‘You are sure of that？’
‘Quite—so sure； that I don’t come here to discuss the question。 I
say we must have our rights； or we must be bought off。 Keep to
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that point； or let me return to my young friend； for I have an
interest in the lad； and desire to put him in the way of making his
fortune。 Bah！ you needn’t speak；’ he added hastily； ‘I know what
you would say： you have hinted at it once already。 Have I no
feeling for you； because I am blind？ No； I have not。 Why do you
expect me； being in darkness； to be better than men who have
their sight—why should you？ Is the hand of Heaven more
manifest in my having no eyes； than in your having two？ It’s the
cant of you folks to be horrified if a blind man robs； or lies； or
steals； oh yes； it’s far worse in him； who can barely live on the few
halfpence that are thrown to him in streets； than in you； who can
see； and work； and are not dependent on the mercies of the world。
A curse on you！ You who have five senses may be wicked at your
pleasure； we who have four； and want the most important； are to
live and be moral on our affliction。 The true charity and justice of
rich to poor； all the world over！’
He paused a moment when he had said these words； and
caught the sound of money； jingling in her hand。
‘Well？’ he cried； quickly resuming his former manner。 ‘That
should lead to something。 The point； widow？’
‘First answer me one question；’ she replied。 ‘You say he is close
at hand。 Has he left London？’
‘Being close at hand； widow； it would seem he has；’ returned
the blind man。
‘I mean； for good？ You know that。’
‘Yes； for good。 The truth is； widow； that his making a longer
stay there might have had disagreeable consequences。 He has
come away for that reason。’
‘Listen；’ said the widow； telling some money out； upon a bench
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beside them。 ‘Count。’
‘Six；’ said the blind man； listening attentively。 ‘Any more？’
‘They are the savings；’ she answered； ‘of five years。 Six
guineas。’
He put out his hand for one of the coins； felt it carefully； put it
between his teeth； rung it on the bench； and nodded to her to
proceed。
‘These have been scraped together and laid by； lest sickness or
death should separate my son and me。 They have been purchased
at the price of much hunger； hard labour； and want of rest。 If you
can take them—do—on condition that you leave this place upon
the instant； and enter no more into that room； where he sits now；
expecting your return。’
‘Six guineas；’ said the blind man； shaking his head； ‘though of
the fullest weight that were ever coined； fall very far short of
twenty pounds； widow。’
‘For such a sum； as you know； I must write to a distant part of
the country。 To do that； and receive an answer； I must have time。’
‘Two days？’ said Stagg。
‘More。’
‘Four days？’
‘A week。 Return on this day week； at the same hour； but not to
the house。 Wait at the corner of the lane。’
‘Of course；’ said the blind man； with a crafty look； ‘I shall find
you there？’
‘Where else can I take refuge？ Is it not enough that you have
made a beggar of me； and that I have sacrificed my whole store； so
hardly earned； to preserve this home？’
‘Humph！’ said the blind man； after some consideration。 ‘Set me
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with my face towards the point you speak of； and in the middle of
the road。 Is this the spot？’
‘It is。’
‘On this day week at sunset。 And think of him within doors。—
For the present； good night。’
She made him no answer； nor did he stop for any。 He went
slowly away； turning his head from time to time； and stopping to
listen； as if he were curious to know whether he was watched by
any one。 The shadows of night were closing fast around； and he
was soon lost in the gloom。 It was not； however； until she had
traversed the lane from end to end； and made sure that he was
gone； that she re…entered the c
