hard times(艰难时世)-第19章
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already told you； is a born lady； and who； as I have not already told
you； has had her own marriage misfortunes to the tune of tens of
thousands of pounds—tens of Thou…sands of Pounds！” （he
repeated it with great relish）。 “Now； you have always been a
steady Hand hitherto； but my opinion is； and so I tell you plainly；
that you are turning into the wrong road。 You have been listening
to some mischievous stranger or other—they’re always about—
and the best thing you can do is； to come out of that。 Now you
know；” here his countenance expressed marvellous acuteness； “I
can see as far into a grindstone as another man； farther than a
good many； perhaps； because I had my nose well kept to it when I
was young。 I see traces of the turtle soup； and venison； and gold
spoon in this。 Yes； I do！” cried Mr Bounderby； shaking his head
with obstinate cunning。 “By the Lord Harry； I do！”
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With a very different shake of the head and deep sigh； Stephen
said； “Thank you； sir； I wish you good day。” So he left Mr
Bounderby swelling at his own portrait on the wall； as if he were
going to explode himself into it； and Mrs Sparsit still ambling on
with her foot in her stirrup； looking quite cast down by the
popular vices。
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Chapter 12
The Old Woman
ld Stephen descended the two white steps； shutting the
black door with the brazen door…plate； by the aid of the
O
brazen full…stop； to which he gave a parting polish with
the sleeve of his coat； observing that his hot hand clouded it。 He
crossed the street with his eyes bent upon the ground； and thus
was walking sorrowfully away； when he felt a touch upon his arm。
It was not the touch he needed most at such a moment—the
touch that could calm the wild waters of his soul； as the uplifted
hand of the sublimest love and patience could abate the raging of
the sea—yet it was a woman’s hand too。 It was an old woman； tall
and shapely still； though withered by time； on whom his eyes fell
when he stopped and turned。 She was very cleanly and plainly
dressed； had country mud upon her shoes； and was newly come
from a journey。 The flutter of her manner； in the unwonted noise
of the streets； the spare shawl； carried unfolded on her arm； the
heavy umbrella； and little basket； the loose long…fingered gloves； to
which her hands were unused； all bespoke an old woman from the
country； in her plain holiday clothes； come into Coketown on an
expedition of rare occurrence。 Remarking this at a glance； with the
quick observation of his class； Stephen Blackpool bent his
attentive face—his face； which like the faces of many of his order；
by dint of long working with eyes and hands in the midst of a
prodigious noise； had acquired the concentrated look with which
we are familiar in the countenances of the deaf—the better to hear
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what she asked him。
“Pray； sir；” said the old woman； “didn’t I see you come out of
that gentleman’s house？” pointing back to Mr Bounderby’s。 “I
believe it was you； unless I have had the bad luck to mistake the
person in following？”
“Yes； missus；” returned Stephen； “it were me。”
“Have you—you’ll excuse an old woman’s curiosity—have you
seen the gentleman？”
“Yes； missus。”
“And how did he look； sir？ Was he portly； bold； out…spoken； and
hearty？” As she straightened her own figure； and held up her head
in adapting her action to her words； the idea crossed Stephen that
he had seen this old woman before； and had not quite liked her。
“Oh yes；” he returned； observing her more attentively； “he were
all that。”
“And healthy；” said the old woman； “as the fresh wind？”
“Yes；” returned Stephen。 “He were ett’n and drinking—as large
and loud as a Hummobee。”
“Thank you！” said the old woman with infinite content。 “Thank
you！”
He certainly never had seen this old woman before。 Yet there
was a vague remembrance in his mind； as if he had more than
once dreamed of some old woman like her。
She walked along at his side； and； gently accommodating
himself to her humour； he said Coketown was a busy place； was it
not？ To which she answered “Eigh sure！ Dreadful busy！” Then he
said； she came from the country； he saw？ To which she answered
in the affirmative。
“By Parliamentary； this morning。 I came forty mile by
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Parliamentary this morning； and I’m going back the same forty
mile this afternoon。 I walked nine mile to the station this morning；
and if I find nobody on the road to give me a lift； I shall walk the
nine mile back tonight。 That’s pretty well； sir； at my age！” said the
chatty old woman； her eye brightening with exultation。
“Deed ’tis。 Don’t do’t too often； missus。”
“No； no。 Once a year；” she answered； shaking her head。 “I
spend my savings so； once every year。 I come regular； to tramp
about the streets； and see the gentlemen。”
“Only to see ’em？”
“That’s enough for me；” she replied； with great earnestness and
interest of manner。 “I ask no more！ I have been standing about on
this side of the way； to see that gentleman；” turning her head back
towards Mr Bounderby’s again； “come out。 But； he’s late this year；
and I have not seen him。 You came out instead。 Now if I am
obliged to go back without a glimpse of him—I only want a
glimpse—well！ I have seen you； and you have seen him； and I must
make that do。” Saying this； she looked at Stephen as if to fix his
features in her mind； and as her eye was not so bright as it had
been。
With a large allowance for difference of tastes； and with all
submission to the patricians of Coketown； this seemed so
extraordinary a source of interest to take so much trouble about；
that it perplexed him。 But they were passing the church now； and
his eye caught the clock； he quickened his pace。
He was going to his work？ the old woman said； quickening
hers； too； quite easily。 Yes； time was nearly out。 On his telling her
where he worked； the old woman became a more singular old
woman than before。
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“An’t you happy？” she asked him。
“Why—there’s awmost nobody but has their troubles； missus。”
He answered evasively； because the old woman appeared to take it
for granted that he would be very happy indeed； and he had not
the heart to disappoint her。 He knew that there was trouble
enough in the world； and if the old woman had lived so long； and
could count upon his having so little； why so much the better for
her； and none the worse for him。
“Ay； ay！ You have your troubles at home； you mean？” she said。
“Times。 Just now and then；” he answered slightly。
“But； working under such a gentleman； they don’t follow you to
the Factory？”
No； no； they didn’t follow him there； said Stephen。 All correct
there。 Everything accordant there。 （He did not go so far as to say；
for her pleasure； that there was a sort of Divine Right there； but； I
have heard claims almost as magnificent of late years。） They were
now in the black by…road near the place； and the Hands were
crowding in。 The bell was ringing； and the Serpent was a Serpent
of many coils； and the Elephant was getting ready。 The strange old
woman was delighted with the very bell。 It was the beautifullest
bell she had ever heard； she said； and sounded grand！
She asked him； when he stopped good…naturedly to shake
hands with her before going in； how long he had worked there？
“A dozen year；” he told her。
“I must kiss the hand；” said she； “that has worked in this fine
factory for a dozen years！” And she lifted it； though he would have
prevented her； and put it to her lips。 What harmony； besides her
age and her simplicity； surrounded her； he did not know； but even
in this fantastic action there was a something neither out of time
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nor place： a something which it seemed as if nobody else could
have made as serious； or done with such a natural and touching
air。
He had been at his loom full half an hour； thinking about this
old woman； when； having occasion to move round the loom for its
adjustment； he glanced through a window which was in his
corner； and saw her still looking up at the pile of building； lost in
admiration。 Heedless of the smoke and mud and wet； and of her
two long journeys； she was gazing at it； as if the heavy thrum that
issued from its many stories were proud music to her。
She was gone by…and…by； and the day went after her； and the
lights sprung up again； and the Express whirled in full sight of the
Fairy Palace o
