hard times(艰难时世)-第25章
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his attentive face。 Mrs Sparsit uttered a gentle ejaculation; as
having received a moral shock。
“What do you mean?” said Bounderby; getting up to lean his
back against the chimney…piece。 “What are you talking about? You
took her for better for worse。”
“I mun’ be ridden o’ her。 I cannot bear ’t nommore。 I ha’ lived
under ’t so long; for that I ha’ had’n the pity and comforting words
o’ th’ best lass living or dead。 Haply; but for her; I should ha’ gone
hottering mad。”
“He wishes to be free; to marry the female of whom he speaks; I
fear; sir;” observed Mrs Sparsit in an undertone; and much
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dejected by the immorality of the people。
“I do。 The lady says what’s right。 I do。 I were a coming to ’t。 I
ha’ read i’ th’ papers that great fok (fair faw ’em a’! I wishes ’em no
hurt!) are not bonded together for better for worse so fast; but that
they can be set free fro’ their misfortnet marriages; an marry ower
agen。 When they dunnot agree; for that their tempers is ill…sorted;
they has rooms o’ one kind an another in their houses; above a bit;
and they can live asunders。 We fok ha’ only one room; an we can’t。
When that won’t do; they ha’ gowd an other cash; an they can say;
’This for yo’; an that for me;’ an they can go their separate ways。
We can’t。 Spite o’ all that; they can be set free for smaller wrongs
than mine。 So; I mun be ridden o’ this woman; and I want t’ know
how?”
“No how;” returned Mr Bounderby。
“If I do her any hurt; sir; there’s a law to punish me?”
“Of course there is。”
“If I flee from her; there’s a law to punish me?”
“Of course there is。”
“If I marry t’oother dear lass; there’s a law to punish me?”
“Of course there is。”
“If I was to live wi’ her an not marry her—saying such a thing
could be; which it never could or would; an her so good—there’s a
law to punish me; in every innocent child belonging to me?”
“Of course there is。”
“Now; a’ God’s name;” said Stephen Blackpool; “show me the
law to help me!”
“Hem! There’s a sanctity in this relation of life;” said Mr
Bounderby; “and—and—it must be kept up。”
“No no; dunnot say that; sir。 ’Tan’t kep’ up that way。 Not that
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way。 ’Tis kep’ down that way。 I’m a weaver; I were in a fact’ry
when a chilt; but I ha’ gotten een to see wi’ and eern to year wi’。 I
read in th’ papers every ‘Sizes; every Sessions—and you read
too—I know it!—with dismay—how th’ supposed unpossibility o’
ever getting unchained from one another; at any price; on any
terms; brings blood upon this land; and brings many common
married fok to battle; murder; and sudden death。 Let us ha’ this;
right understood。 Mine’s a grievous case; an I want—if yo will be
so good—t’knaw the law that helps me。”
“Now; I tell you what!” said Mr Bounderby; putting his hands
in his pockets。 “There is such a law。”
Stephen; subsiding into his quiet manner; and never wandering
in his attention gave a nod。
“But it’s not for you at all。 It costs money。 It costs a mint of
money。”
“How much might that be?” Stephen calmly asked。
“Why; you’d have to go to Doctors’ Commons with a suit; and
you’d have to go to a court of Common Law with a suit; and you’d
have to go to the House of Lords with a suit; and you’d have to get
an Act of Parliament to enable you to marry again; and it would
cost you (if it was a case of very plain …sailing); I suppose from a
thousand to fifteen hundred pounds;” said Mr Bounderby。
“Perhaps twice the money。”
“There’s no other law?”
“Certainly not。”
“Why then; sir;” said Stephen; turning white; and motioning
with that right hand of his; as if he gave everything to the four
winds; “’tis a muddle。 ’Tis just a muddle a’toogether; an the sooner
I am dead; the better。”
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(Mrs Sparsit again dejected by the impiety of the people。)
“Pooh; pooh! Don’t you talk nonsense; my good fellow;” said Mr
Bounderby; “about things you don’t understand; and don’t you
call the Institutions of your country a muddle; or you’ll get yourself
into a real muddle one of these fine mornings。 The institutions of
your country are not your piece…work; and the only thing you have
got to do; is; to mind your piece…work。 You didn’t take your wife
for fast and for loose; but for better for worse。 If she has turned out
worse—why; all we have got to say is; she might have turned out
better。”
“’Tis a muddle;” said Stephen; shaking his head as he moved to
the door。 “’Tis a’ a muddle!”
“Now; I’ll tell you what!” Mr Bounderby resumed; as a
valedictory address。 “With what I shall call your unhallowed
opinions; you have been quite shocking this lady: who; as I have
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