hard times(艰难时世)-第61章
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nothing of their set routine； whatever happened。 Day and night
again； day and night again。 The monotony was unbroken。 Even
Stephen Blackpool’s disappearance was falling into the general
way； and becoming as monotonous a wonder as any piece of
machinery in Coketown。
“I misdoubt；” said Rachael； “if there is as many as twenty left in
all this place； who have any trust in the poor dear lad now。”
She said it to Sissy； as they sat in her lodging； lighted only by
the lamp at the street…corner。 Sissy had come there when it was
already dark； to await her return from work； and they had since
sat at the window where Rachael had found her； wanting no
brighter light to shine on their sorrowful talk。
“If it hadn’t been mercifully brought about； that I was to have
you to speak to；” pursued Rachael； “times are； when I think my
mind would not have kept right。 But I get hope and strength
through you； and you believe that though appearances may rise
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against him； he will be proved clear？”
“I do believe so；” returned Sissy； “with my whole heart。 I feel so
certain； Rachael； that the confidence you hold in yours against all
discouragement； is not like to be wrong； that I have no more doubt
of him than if I had known him through as many years of trial as
you have。”
“And I； my dear；” said Rachael； with a tremble in her voice；
“have known him through them all； to be； according to his quiet
ways； so faithful to everything honest and good； that if he was
never to be heard of more； and I was to live to be a hundred years
old； I could say with my last breath； God knows my heart。 I have
never once left trusting Stephen Blackpool！”
“We all believe； up at the Lodge； Rachael； that he will be freed
from suspicion； sooner or later。”
“The better I know it to be so believed there； my dear；” said
Rachael； “and the kinder I feel it that you come away from there；
purposely to comfort me； and keep me company； and be seen wi’
me when I am not yet free from all suspicion myself； the more
grieved I am that I should ever have spoken those mistrusting
words to the young lady。 And yet—”
“You don’t mistrust her now； Rachael？”
“Now that you have brought us more together； no。 But I can’t at
all times keep out of my mind—” Her voice so sunk into a low and
slow communing with herself； that Sissy； sitting by her side； was
obliged to listen with attention。
“I can’t at all times keep out of my mind； mistrustings of some
one。 I can’t think who ’tis； I can’t think how or why it may be done；
but I mistrust that some one has put Stephen out of the way。 I
mistrust that by his coming back of his own accord； and showing
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himself innocent before them all； some one would be confounded；
who—to prevent that—has stopped him； and put him out of the
way。”
“That is a dreadful thought；” said Sissy； turning pale。
“It is a dreadful thought to think he may be murdered。”
Sissy shuddered and turned paler yet。
“When it makes its way into my mind； dear；” said Rachael； “and
it will come sometimes； though I do all I can to keep it out； wi’
counting on to high numbers as I work； and saying over and over
again pieces that I knew when I were a child—I fall into such a
wild； hot hurry； that； however tired I am； I want to walk fast； miles
and miles。 I must get the better of this before bedtime。 I’ll walk
home wi’ you。”
“He might fall ill upon the journey back；” said Sissy； faintly
offering a worn…out scrap of hope； “and in such a case； there are
many places on the road where he might stop。”
“But he is in none of them。 He has been sought for in all； and
he’s not there。”
“True；” was Sissy’s reluctant admission。
“He’d walk the journey in two days。 If he was footsore and
couldn’t walk； I sent him in the letter he got； the money to ride；
lest he should have none of his own to spare。”
“Let us hope that tomorrow will bring something better；
Rachael。 Come into the air！”
Her gentle hand adjusted Rachael’s shawl upon her shining
black hair in the usual manner of her wearing it； and they went
out。 The night being fine； little knots of Hands were here and there
lingering at street…corners； but it was supper time with the greater
part of them； and there were but few people in the streets。
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“You are not so hurried now； Rachael； and your hand is cooler。”
“I get better； dear； if I can only walk； and breathe a little fresh。
’Times when I can’t； I turn weak and confused。”
“But you must not begin to fail； Rachael； for you may be wanted
at any time to stand by Stephen。 To…morrow is Saturday。 If no
news comes tomorrow； let us walk in the country on Sunday
morning； and strengthen you for another week。 Will you go？”
“Yes； dear。”
They were by this time in the street where Mr Bounderby’s
house stood。 The way to Sissy’s destination led them past the door；
and they were going straight towards it。 Some train had newly
arrived in Coketown； which had put a number of vehicles in
motion； and scattered a considerable bustle about the town。
Several coaches were rattling before them and behind them as
they approached Mr Bounderby’s； and one of the latter drew up
with such briskness as they were in the act of passing the house；
that they looked round involuntarily。 The bright gaslight over Mr
Bounderby’s steps showed them Mrs Sparsit in the coach； in an
ecstasy of excitement； struggling to open the door； Mrs Sparsit
seeing them at the same moment； called to them to stop。
“It’s a coincidence；” exclaimed Mrs Sparsit； as she was released
by the coachman。 “It’s a Providence！ Come out； ma’am！” then said
Mrs Sparsit； to some one inside； “Come out； or we’ll have you
dragged out！”
Hereupon； no other than the mysterious old woman descended。
Whom Mrs Sparsit incontinently collared。
“Leave her alone； everybody！” cried Mrs Sparsit； with great
energy。 “Let nobody touch her。 She belongs to me。 Come in；
ma’am！” then said Mrs Sparsit； reversing her former word of
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command。 “Come in； ma’am； or we’ll have you dragged in！”
The spectacle of a matron of classical deportment； seizing an
ancient woman by the throat； and hauling her into a dwelling…
house； would have been； under any circumstances； sufficient
temptation to all true English stragglers so blest as to witness it； to
force a way into that dwelling…house and see the matter out。 But
when the phenomenon was enhanced by the notoriety and
mystery by this time associated all over the town； with the Bank
robbery； it would have lured the stragglers in； with an irresistible
attraction； though the roof had been expected to fall upon their
heads。 Accordingly； the chance witnesses on the ground；
consisting of the busiest of the neighbours to the number of some
five…and…twenty； closed in after Sissy and Rachael； as they closed it
after Mrs Sparsit and her prize； and the whole body made a
disorderly irruption into Mr Bounderby’s dining…room； where the
people behind lost not a moment’s time in mounting on the chairs；
to get the better of the people in front。
“Fetch Mr Bounderby down！” cried Mrs Sparsit。 “Rachael；
young woman； you know who this is？”
“It’s Mrs Pegler；” said Rachael。
“I should think it is！” cried Mrs Sparsit； exulting。 “Fetch Mr
Bounderby。 Stand away； everybody！” Here old Mrs Pegler；
muffing herself up； and shrinking from observation； whispered a
word of entreaty。 “Don’t tell me；” said Mrs Sparsit； aloud； “I have
told you twenty times； coming along； that I will not leave you till I
have handed you over to him myself。”
Mr Bounderby now appeared； accompanied by Mr Gradgrind
and the whelp； with whom he had been holding conference
upstairs。 Mr Bounderby looked more astonished than hospitable；
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at the sight of this uninvited party in his dining…room。
“Why； what’s the matter now？” said he。 “Mrs Sparsit； ma’am？”
“Sir；” explained that worthy woman。 “I trust it is my good
fortune to produce a person you have much desired to find。
Stimulated by my wish to relieve your mind； sir； and connecting
together such imperfect clues to the part of the country in which
that person might be supposed to reside； as have been afforded by
the young woman Rachael； fortunately now present to identify； I
have had the happiness to succeed； and to bring that person with
me—I need not say most unwillingly on her part。 It has not been；
sir； without some trouble that I have effected this； but trouble in
you
