hard times(艰难时世)-第83章
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his hand again； looking grey and old； Louisa； with a face of fear
and pity； hurriedly went over to him； and sat close at his side。 Her
eyes by accident met Sissy’s at the moment。 Sissy flushed and
started； and Louisa put her finger on her lip。
Next night； when Sissy returned home and told Louisa that
Stephen was not come； she told it in a whisper。 Next night again；
when she came home with the same account； and added that he
had not been heard of； she spoke in the same low frightened tone。
From the moment of that interchange of looks； they never uttered
his name； or any reference to him； aloud； nor ever pursued the
subject of the robbery； when Mr Gradgrind spoke of it。
The two appointed days ran out； three days and nights ran out；
and Stephen Blackpool was not come； and remained unheard of。
On the fourth day； Rachael； with unabated confidence； but
considering her despatch to have miscarried； went up to the Bank；
and showed her letter from him with his address； at a working
colony； one of many； not upon the main road； sixty miles away。
Messengers were sent to that place； and the whole town looked for
Stephen to be brought in next day。
During this whole time the whelp； moved about with Mr
Bounderby like his shadow； assisting in all the proceedings。 He
was greatly excited； horribly fevered； bit his nails down to the
quick； spoke in a hard rattling voice； and with lips that were black
and burnt up。 At the hour when the suspected man was looked for；
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the whelp was at the station； offering to wager that he had made
off before the arrival of those who were sent in quest of him； and
that he would not appear。
The whelp was right。 The messengers returned alone。 Rachael’s
letter had gone； Rachael’s letter had been delivered； Stephen
Blackpool had decamped in that same hour； and no soul knew
more of him。 The only doubt in Coketown was； whether Rachael
had written in good faith； believing that he really would come
back； or warning him to fly。 On this point opinion was divided。
Six days； seven days； far on into another week。 The wretched
whelp plucked up a ghastly courage； and began to grow defiant。
“Was the suspected fellow the thief？ A pretty question！ If not；
where was the man； and why did he not come back？”
Where was the man； and why did he not come back？ In the
dead of night the echoes of his own words； which had rolled
Heaven knows how far away in the daytime； came back instead；
and abided by him until morning。
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Chapter 5
Found
ay and night again； day and night again。 No Stephen
Blackpool。 Where was the man； and why did he not come
D
back？
Every night； Sissy went to Rachael’s lodging； and sat with her
in her small neat room。 All day； Rachael toiled as such people
must toil； whatever their anxieties。 The smoke…serpents were
indifferent who was lost or found； who turned out bad or good； the
melancholy mad elephants； like the Hard Fact men； abated
nothing of their set routine； whatever happened。 Day and night
again； day and night again。 The monotony was unbroken。 Even
Stephen Blackpool’s disappearance was falling into the general
way； and becoming as monotonous a wonder as any piece of
machinery in Coketown。
“I misdoubt；” said Rachael； “if there is as many as twenty left in
all this place； who have any trust in the poor dear lad now。”
She said it to Sissy； as they sat in her lodging； lighted only by
the lamp at the street…corner。 Sissy had come there when it was
already dark； to await her return from work； and they had since
sat at the window where Rachael had found her； wanting no
brighter light to shine on their sorrowful talk。
“If it hadn’t been mercifully brought about； that I was to have
you to speak to；” pursued Rachael； “times are； when I think my
mind would not have kept right。 But I get hope and strength
through you； and you believe that though appearances may rise
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against him； he will be proved clear？”
“I do believe so；” returned Sissy； “with my whole heart。 I feel so
certain； Rachael； that the confidence you hold in yours against all
discouragement； is not like to be wrong； that I have no more doubt
of him than if I had known him through as many years of trial as
you have。”
“And I； my dear；” said Rachael； with a tremble in her voice；
“have known him through them all； to be； according to his quiet
ways； so faithful to everything honest and good； that if he was
never to be heard of more； and I was to live to be a hundred years
old； I could say with my last breath； God knows my heart。 I have
never once left trusting Stephen Blackpool！”
“We all believe； up at the Lodge； Rachael； that he will be freed
from suspicion； sooner or later。”
“The better I know it to be so believed there； my dear；” said
Rachael； “and the kinder I feel it that you come away from there；
purposely to comfort me； and keep me company； and be seen wi’
me when I am not yet free from all suspicion myself； the more
grieved I am that I should ever have spoken those mistrusting
words to the young lady。 And yet—”
“You don’t mistrust her now； Rachael？”
“Now that you have brought us more together； no。 But I can’t at
all times keep out of my mind—” Her voice so sunk into a low and
slow communing with herself； that Sissy； sitting by her side； was
obliged to listen with attention。
“I can’t at all times keep out of my mind； mistrustings of some
one。 I can’t think who ’tis； I can’t think how or why it may be done；
but I mistrust that some one has put Stephen out of the way。 I
mistrust that by his coming back of his own accord； and showing
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himself innocent before them all； some one would be confounded；
who—to prevent that—has stopped him； and put him out of the
way。”
“That is a dreadful thought；” said Sissy； turning pale。
“It is a dreadful thought to think he may be murdered。”
Sissy shuddered and turned paler yet。
“When it makes its way into my mind； dear；” said Rachael； “and
it will come sometimes； though I do all I can to keep it out
