hard times(艰难时世)-第23章
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here。 He took his end of candle from a shelf； lighted it at another
end of candle on the counter； without disturbing the mistress of
the shop who was asleep in her little room； and went upstairs into
his lodging。
It was a room； not unacquainted with the black ladder under
various tenants； but as neat； at present； as such a room could be。 A
few books and writings were on an old bureau in a corner； the
furniture was decent and sufficient； and though the atmosphere
was tainted； the room was clean。
Going to the hearth to set the candle down upon a round three…
legged table standing there； he stumbled against something。 As he
recoiled； looking down at it； it raised itself up into the form of a
woman in a sitting attitude。
“Heaven’s mercy； woman！” he cried； falling farther off from the
figure。 “Hast thou come back again！”
Such a woman！ A disabled； drunken creature； barely able to
preserve her sitting posture by steadying herself with one
begrimed hand on the floor； while the other was so purposeless in
trying to push away her tangled hair from her face； that it only
blinded her the more with the dirt upon it。 A creature so foul to
look at； in her tatters； stains and splashes； but so much fouler than
that in her moral infamy； that it was a shameful thing even to see
her。
After an impatient oath or two； and some stupid clawing of
herself with the hand not necessary to her support； she got her
hair away from her eyes sufficiently to obtain a sight of him。 Then
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she sat swaying her body to and fro； and making gestures with her
unnerved arm； which seemed intended as the accompaniment to a
fit of laughter； though her face was stolid and drowsy。
“Eigh lad？ What； yo’r there？” Some hoarse sounds meant for
this； came mockingly out of her at last； and her head dropped
forward on her breast。
“Back agen？” she screeched； after some minutes； as if he had
that moment said it。 “Yes！ And back agen。 Back agen ever and
ever so often。 Back？ Yes； back。 Why not？”
Roused by the unmeaning violence with which she cried it out；
she scrambled up； and stood supporting herself with her shoulders
against the wall； dangling in one hand by the strings； a dunghill…
fragment of a bonnet； and trying to look scornfully at him。
“I’ll sell thee off again； and I’ll sell thee off again； and I’ll sell
thee off a score of times！” she cried； with something between a
furious menace and an effort at a defiant dance。 “Come awa’ from
th’ bed！” He was sitting on the side of it； with his face hidden in his
hands。 “Come awa’ from ’t。 ’Tis mine； and I’ve a right to ’t！”
As she staggered to it； he avoided her with a shudder； and
passed—his face still hidden—to the opposite end of the room。 She
threw herself upon the bed heavily； and soon was snoring hard。
He sunk into a chair； and moved but once all that night。 It was to
throw a covering over her； as if his hands were not enough to hide
her； even in the darkness。
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Hard Times 92
Chapter 11
No Way Out
he Fairy palaces burst into illumination； before pale
morning showed the monstrous serpents of smoke trailing
T
themselves over Coketown。 A clattering of clogs upon the
pavement； a rapid ringing of bells； and all the melancholy mad
elephants； polished and oiled up for the day’s monotony； were at
their heavy exercise again。
Stephen bent over his loom； quiet； watchful； and steady。 A
special contrast； as every man was in the forest of looms where
Stephen worked to the crashing； smashing； tearing piece of
mechanism at which he laboured。 Never fear； good people of an
anxious turn of mind； that Art will consign Nature to oblivion。 Set
anywhere； side by side； the work of God and the work of man； and
the former； even though it be a troop of Hands of very small
account； will gain in dignity from the comparison。
So many hundred Hands in this Mill； so many hundred horse
Steam Power。 It is known； to the force of a single pound weight；
what the engine will do； but； not all the calculators of the National
Debt can tell me the capacity for good or evil； for love or hatred；
for patriotism or discontent； for the decomposition of virtue into
vice； or the reverse； at any single moment in the soul of one of
these its quiet servants； with the composed faces and the regulated
actions。 There is no mystery in it； there is an unfathomable
mystery in the meanest of them； for ever。—Supposing we were to
reserve our arithmetic for material objects； and to govern these
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Hard Times 93
awful unknown quantities by other means！
The day grew strong； and showed itself outside even against the
flaming lights within。 The lights were turned out； and the work
went on。 The rain fell； and the Smoke…serpents； submissive to the
curse of all that tribe； trailed themselves upon the earth。 In the
waste…yard outside； the steam from the escape pipe； the litter of
barrels and old iron； the shining heaps of coals； the ashes
everywhere； were shrouded in a veil of mist and rain。
The work went on； until the noon…bell rang。 More clattering
upon the pavements。 The looms； and wheels； and Hands all out of
gear for an hour。
Stephen came out of the hot mill into the damp wind and cold
wet streets； haggard and worn。 He turned from his own class and
his own quarter； taking nothing but a little bread as he walked
along； towards the hill on which his principal employer lived in a
red house with black outside shutters； green inside blinds； a black
street door； up two white steps； Bounderby （in letters very like
himself） upon a brazen plate； and a round brazen door…handle
underneath it； like a brazen full…stop。
Mr Bounderby was at his lunch。 So Stephen had expected。
Would his servant say that one of the Hands begged leave to speak
to him？ Message in return； requiring name of such Hand。 Stephen
Blackpool。 There was nothing troublesome against Stephen
Blackpool； yes； he might come in。
Stephen Blackpool in the parlour。 Mr Bounderby （whom he
just knew by sight）； at lunch on chop and sherry。 Mrs Sparsit
netting at the fire…side； in a side…saddle attitude with one foot in a
cotton stirrup。 It was a part； at once of Mrs Sparsit’s dignity and
service； not to lunch。 She supervised the meal officially； but
Charles Di
