burlesques-第84章
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and as for me； it's a most extraordinary thing； but I'm blest if
seeing them so miserable didn't make me quite happy。I don't
think； for the whole twelve months of our good fortune； I had ever
felt so gay as in that dismal room in the Fleet； where I was locked
up。
Poor Orlando Crump came to see us every day； and we； who had never
taken the slightest notice of him in Portland Place； and treated
him so cruelly that day at Beulah Spa； were only too glad of his
company now。 He used to bring books for my girl； and a bottle of
sherry for me； and he used to take home Jemmy's fronts and dress
them for her； and when locking…up time came； he used to see the
ladies home to their little three…pair bedroom in Holborn； where
they slept now； Tug and all。 〃Can the bird forget its nest？〃
Orlando used to say （he was a romantic young fellow； that's the
truth； and blew the flute and read Lord Byron incessantly； since he
was separated from Jemimarann）。 〃Can the bird； let loose in
eastern climes； forget its home？ Can the rose cease to remember
its beloved bulbul？Ah； no！ Mr。 Cox； you made me what I am； and
what I hope to diea hairdresser。 I never see a curling…irons
before I entered your shop； or knew Naples from brown Windsor。 Did
you not make over your house； your furniture； your emporium of
perfumery； and nine…and…twenty shaving customers； to me？ Are these
trifles？ Is Jemimarann a trifle？ if she would allow me to call her
so。 Oh； Jemimarann； your Pa found me in the workhouse； and made me
what I am。 Conduct me to my grave； and I never； never shall be
different！〃 When he had said this； Orlando was so much affected；
that he rushed suddenly on his hat and quitted the room。
Then Jemimarann began to cry too。 〃Oh； Pa！〃 said she； 〃isn't he
isn't he a nice young man？〃
〃I'm HANGED if he ain't；〃 says Tug。 〃What do you think of his
giving me eighteenpence yesterday； and a bottle of lavender…water
for Mimarann？〃
〃He might as well offer to give you back the shop at any rate；〃
says Jemmy。
〃What！ to pay Tuggeridge's damages？ My dear； I'd sooner die than
give Tuggeridge the chance。〃
FAMILY BUSTLE。
Tuggeridge vowed that I should finish my days there； when he put me
in prison。 It appears that we both had reason to be ashamed of
ourselves； and were； thank God！ I learned to be sorry for my bad
feelings toward him； and he actually wrote to me to say
〃SIR；I think you have suffered enough for faults which； I
believe； do not lie with you； so much as your wife； and I have
withdrawn my claims which I had against you while you were in
wrongful possession of my father's estates。 You must remember that
when； on examination of my father's papers； no will was found； I
yielded up his property； with perfect willingness； to those who I
fancied were his legitimate heirs。 For this I received all sorts
of insults from your wife and yourself （who acquiesced in them）；
and when the discovery of a will； in India； proved MY just claims；
you must remember how they were met； and the vexatious proceedings
with which you sought to oppose them。
〃I have discharged your lawyer's bill； and； as I believe you are
more fitted for the trade you formerly exercised than for any
other； I will give five hundred pounds for the purchase of a stock
and shop； when you shall find one to suit you。
〃I enclose a draft for twenty pounds to meet your present expenses。
You have； I am told； a son； a boy of some spirit： if he likes to
try his fortune abroad； and go on board an Indiaman； I can get him
an appointment； and am； Sir； your obedient servant；
〃JOHN TUGGERIDGE〃
It was Mrs。 Breadbasket； the housekeeper； who brought this letter；
and looked mighty contemptuous as she gave it。
〃I hope； Breadbasket； that your master will send me my things at
any rate；〃 cries Jemmy。 〃There's seventeen silk and satin dresses；
and a whole heap of trinkets； that can be of no earthly use to
him。〃
〃Don't Breadbasket me； mem； if you please； mem。 My master says
that them things is quite obnoxious to your sphere of life。
Breadbasket； indeed！〃 And so she sailed out。
Jemmy hadn't a word； she had grown mighty quiet since we have been
in misfortune： but my daughter looked as happy as a queen； and Tug；
when he heard of the ship； gave a jump that nearly knocked down
poor Orlando。 〃Ah； I suppose you'll forget me now？〃 says he with a
sigh； and seemed the only unhappy person in company。
〃Why； you conceive； Mr。 Crump；〃 says my wife； with a great deal of
dignity； 〃that； connected as we are； a young man born in a work〃
〃Woman！〃 cried I （for once in my life determined to have my own
way）； 〃hold your foolish tongue。 Your absurd pride has been the
ruin of us hitherto； and； from this day； I'll have no more of it。
Hark ye； Orlando； if you will take Jemimarann； you may have her；
and if you'll take five hundred pounds for a half…share of the
shop； they're yours； and THAT'S for you； Mrs。 Cox。〃
And here we are； back again。 And I write this from the old back
shop； where we are all waiting to see the new year in。 Orlando
sits yonder； plaiting a wig for my Lord Chief Justice； as happy as
may be； and Jemimarann and her mother have been as busy as you can
imagine all day long； and are just now giving the finishing touches
to the bridal…dresses： for the wedding is to take place the day
after to…morrow。 I've cut seventeen heads off （as I say） this very
day； and as for Jemmy； I no more mind her than I do the Emperor of
China and all his Tambarins。 Last night we had a merry meeting of
our friends and neighbors； to celebrate our reappearance among
them； and very merry we all were。 We had a capital fiddler； and we
kept it up till a pretty tidy hour this morning。 We begun with
quadrills； but I never could do 'em well； and after that； to please
Mr。 Crump and his intended； we tried a gallopard； which I found
anything but easy： for since I am come back to a life of peace and
comfort； it's astonishing how stout I'm getting。 So we turned at
once to what Jemmy and me excels ina country dance； which is
rather surprising； as we was both brought up to a town life。 As
for young Tug； he showed off in a sailor's hornpipe： which Mrs。 Cox
says is very proper for him to learn； now he is intended for the
sea。 But stop！ here comes in the punchbowls； and if we are not
happy； who is？ I say I am like the Swish people； for I can't
flourish out of my native HAIR。
End
