hard times(艰难时世)-第20章
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lights sprung up again； and the Express whirled in full sight of the
Fairy Palace over the arches near： little felt amid the jarring of the
machinery； and scarcely heard above its crash and battle。 Long
before then his thoughts had gone back to the dreary room above
the little shop； and to the shameful figure heavy on the bed； but
heavier on his heart。
Machinery slackened； throbbing feebly like a fainting pulse；
stopped。 The bell again； the glare of light and heat dispelled； the
factories； looming heavy in the black wet night—their tall
chimneys rising up into the air like competing Towers of Babel。
He had spoken to Rachael only last night； it was true； and had
walked with her a little way； but he had his new misfortune on him
in which no one else could give him a moment’s relief； and； for the
sake of it； and because he knew himself to want that softening of
his anger which no voice but hers could effect； he felt he might so
far disregard what she had said as to wait for her again。 He waited；
but she had eluded him。 She was gone。 On no other night in the
year could he so ill have spared her patient face。
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Oh！ better to have no home in which to lay his head； than to
have a home and dread to go to it； through such a cause。 He ate
and drank； for he was exhausted—but he little knew or cared
what； and he wandered about in the chill rain； thinking and
thinking； and brooding and brooding。
No word of a new marriage had ever passed between them； but
Rachael had taken great pity on him years ago； and to her alone he
had opened his closed heart all this time； on the subject of his
miseries； and he knew very well that if he were free to ask her； she
would take him。 He thought of the home he might at that moment
have been seeking with pleasure and pride： of the different man
he might have been that night； of the lightness then in his now
heavy…laden breast； of the then restored honour； self …respect； and
tranquillity all torn to pieces。 He thought of the waste of the best
part of his life； of the change it made in his character for the worse
every day； of the dreadful nature of his existence； bound hand and
foot； to a dead woman； and tormented by a demon in her shape。
He thought of Rachael； how young when they were first brought
together in these circumstances； how mature now； how soon to
grow old。 He thought of the number of girls and women she had
seen marry； how many homes with children in them she had seen
grow up around her； how she had contentedly pursued her own
lone quiet path—for him—and how he had seen sometimes a
shade of melancholy on her blessed face； that smote him with
remorse and despair。 He set the picture of her up； beside the
infamous image of last night； and thought； Could it be； that the
whole earthly course of one so gentle； good； and self…denying； was
subjugate to such a wretch as that！
Filled with these thoughts—so filled that he had an
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Hard Times 108
unwholesome sense of growing larger； of being placed in some
new and diseased relation towards the objects among which he
passed； of seeing the iris round every misty light turn red—he
went home for shelter。
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Chapter 13
Rachael
candle faintly burned in the window； to which the black
Aladder had often been raised for the sliding away of all
that was most precious in this world to a striving wife and
a brood of hungry babies； and Stephen added to his other
thoughts the stern reflection； that of all the casualties of this
existence upon earth； not one was dealt out with so unequal a
hand as Death。 The inequality of Birth was nothing to it。 For； say
that the child of a King and the child of a Weaver were born
tonight in the same moment； what was that disparity； to the death
of any human creature who was serviceable to； or beloved by
another； while this abandoned woman lived on！
From the outside of his home he gloomily passed to the inside；
with suspended breath and with slow footstep。 He went up to his
door and opened it； and so into the room。 Quiet and peace were
there。 Rachael was there； sitting by the bed。
She turned her head； and the light of her face； shone in upon
the midnight of his mind。 She sat by the bed； watching and
tending his wife。 That is to say； he saw that some one lay there；
and he knew too well it must be she； but Rachael’s hands had put
a curtain up； so that she was screened from his eyes。 Her
disgraceful garments were removed； and some of Rachael’s were
in the room。 Everything was in its place and order as he had
always kept it； the little fire was newly trimmed； and the hearth
was freshly swept。 It appeared to him that he saw all this in
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Rachael’s face； and looked at nothing besides。 While looking at it；
it was shut out from his view by the softened tears that filled his
eyes； but not before he had seen how earnestly she looked at him；
and how her own eyes were filled too。
She turned again towards the bed； and satisfying herself that all
was quiet there； spoke in a low； calm； cheerful voice。
“I am glad you have come at last； Stephen。 You are very late。”
“I ha’ been walking up an’ down。”
“I thought so。 But ’tis too bad a night for that。 The rain falls
very heavy； and the wind has risen。”
The wind？ True。 It was blowing hard。 Hark to the thundering
in the chimney； and the surging noise！ To have been out in such a
wind； and not to have known it was blowing！
“I have been here once before today； Stephen Landlady came
round for me at dinner…time。 There was some one here who
needed looking to； she said。 And ’deed she was right。 All
wandering and lost； Stephen。 Wounded too； and bruised。”
He slowly moved to a chair and sat down； drooping his head
before her。
“I came to do what little I could； Stephen； first for that she
worked with me when we were girls both； and for that you courted
and married her when I was her friend—” He laid his furrowed
forehead on his hand； with a low groan。
“And next； for that I know your heart； and am right sure and
certain； that ’tis far too merciful to let her die； or even so much as
suffer； for want of aid。 Thou knowest who said； ‘Let him who is
without sin among you cast the first stone at her！’ There have been
plenty to do that。 Thou art not the man to cast the last stone；
Stephen； when she is brought so low。”
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“O Rachael； Rachael！”
“Thou hast been a cruel sufferer； Heaven reward thee！” she
said； in compassionate accents。 “I am thy poor friend； with all my
heart and mind。”
The wounds of which she had spoken； seemed to be about the
neck of the self…made outcast。 She dressed them now； still without
showing her。 She steeped a piece of linen in a basin； into which
she poured some liquid from a bottle； and laid it with a gentle
hand upon the sore。 The three…legged table had been drawn close
to the bedside； and on it there were two bottles。 This was one。
It was not so far off； but that Stephen； following her hands with
his eyes； could read what was printed on it； in large letters。 He
turned of a deadly hue； and a sudden horror seemed to fall upon
him。
“I will stay here； Stephen；” said Rachael； quietly resuming her
seat； “till the bells go Three。 ’Tis to be done again at three； and
then she may be left till morning。”
“But thy rest agen tomorrow’s work； my dear。”
“I slept sound last night。 I can wake many nights； when I am
put to it。 ’Tis thou who art in need of rest—so white and tired。 Try
to sleep in the chair there； while I watch。 Thou hadst no sleep last
night； I can well believe。 To…morrow’s work is far harder for thee
than for me。”
He heard the thundering and surging out of doors； and it
seemed to him as if his late angry mood were going about trying to
get at him。 She had cast it out； she would keep it out； he trusted to
her to defend him from himself。
“She don’t know me； Stephen； she just drowsily mutters and
stares。 I have spoken to her times and again； but she don’t notice！
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Hard Times 112
’Tis as well so。 When she comes to her right mind once more； I
shall have done what I can； and she never the wiser。”
“How long； Rachael； is’t looked for； that she’ll be so？”
“Doctor said she would haply come to her mind tomorrow。”
His eyes again fell on the bo
