hard times(艰难时世)-第57章
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consequences of his being so involved； but I have kept these
secrets until now； when I trust them to your honour。 I have held
no confidence with any one； be cause—you anticipated my reason
just now。” She abruptly broke off。
He was a ready man； and he saw； and seized； an opportunity
here of presenting her own image to her； slightly disguised as her
brother。
“Mrs Bounderby； though a graceless person； of the world
worldly； I feel the utmost interest； I assure you； in what you tell
me。 I cannot possibly be hard upon your brother。 I understand
and share the wise consideration with which you regard his errors。
With all possible respect both for Mr Gradgrind and for Mr
Bounderby； I think I perceive that he has not been fortunate in his
training。 Bred at a disadvantage towards the society in which he
has his part to play； he rushes into these extremities for himself；
from opposite extremes that have long been forced—with the very
best intentions we have no doubt—upon him。 Mr Bounderby’s fine
bluff English independence； though a most charming
characteristic； does not—as we have agreed—invite confidence。 If
I might venture to remark that it is the least in the world deficient
in that delicacy to which a youth mistaken； a character
misconceived； and abilities misdirected； would turn for relief and
guidance； I should express what it presents to my own view。”
As she sat looking straight before her； across the changing
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Hard Times 222
lights upon the grass into the darkness of the wood beyond； he saw
in her face her application of his very distinctly uttered words。
“All allowance；” he continued； “must be made。 I have one great
fault to find with Tom； however； which I cannot forgive； and for
which I take him heavily to account。”
Louisa turned her eyes to his face； and asked him what fault
was that？
“Perhaps；” he returned； “I have said enough。 Perhaps it would
have been better； on the whole； if no allusion to it had escaped
me。”
“You alarm me； Mr Harthouse。 Pray let me know it。”
“To relieve you from needless apprehension—and as this
confidence regarding your brother； which I prize I am sure above
all possible things； has been established between us—I obey。 I
cannot forgive him for not being more sensible in every word；
look； and act of his life； of the affection of his best friend； of the
devotion of his best friend； of her unselfishness； of her sacrifice。
The return he makes her； within my observation； is a very poor
one。 What she has done for him demands his constant love and
gratitude； not his ill…humour and caprice。 Careless fellow as I am； I
am not so indifferent； Mrs Bounderby； as to be regardless of this
vice in your brother； or inclined to consider it a venial offence。”
The wood floated before her； for her eyes were suffused with
tears。 They rose from a deep well； long concealed； and her heart
was filled with acute pain that found no relief in them。
“In a word； it is to correct your brother in this； Mrs Bounderby；
that I must aspire。 My better knowledge of his circumstances； and
my direction and advice in extricating him—rather valuable； I
hope； as coming from a scapegrace on a much larger scale—will
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Hard Times 223
give me some influence over him； and all I gain I shall certainly
use towards this end。 I have said enough； and more than enough。 I
seem to be protesting that I am a sort of good fellow； when； upon
my honour； I have not the least intention to make any protestation
to that effect； and openly announce that I am nothing of the sort。
Yonder； among the trees；” he added； having lifted up his eyes and
looked about； for he had watched her closely until now； “is your
brother himself； no doubt； just come down。 As he seems to be
loitering in this direction； it may be as well； perhaps； to walk
towards him； and throw ourselves in his way。 He has been very
silent and doleful of late。 Perhaps his brotherly conscience is
touched—if there are such things as consciences。 Though； upon
my honour； I hear of them much too often to believe in them。”
He assisted her to rise； and she took his arm； and they
advanced to meet the whelp。 He was idly beating the branches as
he lounged along： or he stooped viciously to rip the moss from the
trees with his stick。 He was startled when they came upon him
while he was engaged in this latter pastime； and his colour
changed。
“Halloa！” he stammered； “I didn’t know you were here。”
“Whose name； Tom；” said Mr Harthouse； putting his hand upon
his shoulder and turning him； so that they all three walked
towards the house together； have you been carving on the trees？”
“Whose name？” returned Tom。 “Oh！ You mean what girl’s
name？”
“You have a suspicious appearance of inscribing some fair
creature’s on the bark； Tom。”
“Not much of that； Mr Harthouse； unless some fair creature
with a slashing fortune at her own disposal would take a fancy to
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Hard Times 224
me。 Or she might be as ugly as she was rich； without any fear of
losing me。 I’d carve her name as often as she liked。”
“I am afraid you are mercenary； Tom。”
“Mercenary；” repeated Tom。 “Who is not mercenary？ Ask my
sister。”
“Have you so proved it to be a failing of mine； Tom？” said
Louisa； showing no other sense of his discontent and ill…nature。
“You know whether the cap fits you； Loo；” returned her brother
sulkily。 “If it does； you can wear it。”
“Tom is misanthropical today； as all bored people are now and
then；” said Mr Harthouse。 “Don’t believe him； Mrs Bounderby。 He
knows much better。 I shall disclose some of his opinions of you；
privately expressed to me； unless he relents a little。
“At all events； Mr Harthouse；” said Tom； softening in his
admiration of his patron； but shaking his head sullenly too； “you
can’t tell her that I ever praised her for being mercenary。 I may
have praised her for being the contrary； and I should do it again if
I had as good reason。 However； never mind this now； it’s not very
interesting to you； and I am sick of the subject。”
They walked on to the house； where Louisa quitted her visitor’s
arm and went in。 He stood looking after her； as she ascended the
steps； and passed into the shadow of the door； then put his hand
upon her brother’s shoulder again； and
