hard times(艰难时世)-第81章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
labouring friends； for I rejoice and triumph in that stigma—my
friends whose hard but honest beds are made in toil； and whose
scanty but independent pots are boiled in hardship； and； now I
say； my friends； what appellation has that dastard craven taken to
himself； when； with the mask torn from his features he stands
before us in all his native deformity； a What？ A thief！ A plunderer！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 314…
Hard Times 314
A proscribed fugitive； with a price upon his head； a fester and a
wound upon the noble character of the Coketown operative！
Therefore； my band of brothers in a sacred bond； to which your
children and your children’s children yet unborn have set their
infant hands and seals； I propose to you on the part of the United
Aggregate Tribunal； ever watchful for your welfare； ever zealous
for your benefit； that this meeting does Resolve； That Stephen
Blackpool； weaver； referred to in this placard； having been already
solemnly disowned by the community of Coketown Hands； the
same are free from the shame of his misdeeds； and cannot as a
class be reproached with his dishonest actions！”
Thus Slackbridge； gnashing and perspiring after a prodigious
sort。 A few stern voices called out “No！” and a score or two hailed；
with assenting cries of “Hear； hear！” the caution from one man；
“Slackbridge； y’or over hetter int； y’or a goen too fast！” But these
were pigmies against an army； the general assemblage subscribed
to the gospel according to Slackbridge； and gave three cheers for
him； as he sat demonstratively panting at them。
These men and women were yet in the streets； passing quietly
to their homes； when Sissy； who had been called away from
Louisa some minutes before； returned。
“Who is it？” asked Louisa。
“It is Mr Bounderby；” said Sissy； timid of the name； “and your
brother Mr Tom； and a young woman who says her name is
Rachael； and that you know her。”
“What do they want； Sissy dear？”
“They want to see you。 Rachael has been crying； and seems
angry。”
“Father；” said Louisa； for he was present； “I cannot refuse to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 315…
Hard Times 315
see them； for a reason that will explain itself。 Shall they come in
here？”
As he answered in the affirmative； Sissy went away to bring
them。 She reappeared with them directly。 Tom was last； and
remained standing in the obscurest part of the room； near the
door。
“Mrs Bounderby；” said her husband； entering with a cool nod；
“I don’t disturb you； I hope。 This is an unseasonable hour； but
here is a young woman who has been making statements which
render my visit necessary。 Tom Gradgrind； as your son； young
Tom； refuses for some obstinate reason or other to say anything at
all about those statements； good or bad； I am obliged to confront
her with your daughter。”
“You have seen me once before； young lady；” said Rachael；
standing in front of Louisa。
Tom coughed。
“You have seen me； young lady；” repeated Rachael； as she did
not answer； “once before。”
Tom coughed again。
“I have。”
Rachael cast her eyes proudly towards Mr Bounderby； and said；
“Will you make it known； young lady； where； and who was there？”
“I went to the house where Stephen Blackpool lodged； on the
night of his discharge from his work； and I saw you there。 He was
there too： and an old woman who did not speak； and whom I could
scarcely see； stood in a dark corner。 My brother was with me。”
“Why couldn’t you say so； young Tom？” demanded Bounderby。
“I promised my sister I wouldn’t。” Which Louisa hastily
confirmed。 “And besides；” said the whelp bitterly； “she tells her
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 316…
Hard Times 316
own story so precious well—and so full—that what business had I
to take it out of her mouth！”
“Say； young lady； if you please；” pursued Rachael； “why in an
evil hour； you ever came to Stephen’s that night。
“I felt compassion for him；” said Louisa； her colour deepening；
“and I wished to know what he was going to do； and wished to
offer him assistance。”
“Thank you； ma’am；” said Mr Bounderby。 “Much flattered and
obliged。”
“Did you offer him；” asked Rachael； “a banknote？”
“Yes； but he refused it； and would only take two pounds in
gold。”
Rachael cast her eyes towards Mr Bounderby again。
“Oh certainly！” said Bounderby。 “If you put the question
whether your ridiculous and improbable account was true or not； I
am bound to say it’s confirmed。”
“Young lady；” said Rachael； “Stephen Blackpool is now named
as a thief in public print all over this town； and where else！ There
have been a meeting tonight where he have been spoken of in the
same shameful way。 Stephen！ The honestest lad； the truest lad；
the best！” Her indignation failed her； and she broke off； sobbing。
“I am very； very sorry；” said Louisa。
“O young lady； young lady；” returned Rachael； “I hope you may
be； but I don’t know！ I can’t say what you may ha’ done！ The like
of you don’t know us； don’t care for us； don’t belong to us。 I am not
sure why you may ha’ come that night。 I can’t tell but what you
may ha’ come wi’ some aim of your own； not mindin’ to what
trouble you brought such as the poor lad。 I said then； Bless you for
coming； and I said it of my heart； you seemed to take so pitifully to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 317…
Hard Times 317
him； but I don’t know now； I don’t know！”
Louisa could not reproach her for her unjust suspicions； she
was so faithful to her idea of the man； and so afflicted。
“And when I think；” said Rachael through her sobs； “that the
poor lad was so grateful； thinkin you so good to him—when I mind
that he put his hand over his hard…worken face to hide the tears
that you brought up there—O； I hope you may be sorry； and ha’ no
bad cause to be it； but I don’t know； I don’t know！”
“You’re a pretty article；” growled the whelp； moving uneasily in
his dark corner； “to come here with these precious imputations！
You ought to be bundled out for not knowing how to behave
yourself； and you would be by rights。”
She said nothing in reply； and her low weeping was the only
sound that was heard； until Mr Bounderby spoke。
“Come！” said he； “you know what you have engaged to do。 You
had better give your mind to that； not this。”
“’Deed； I am loath；” ret
