barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第164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！
and struggled； you could not escape me or loosen my grasp to…
night！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 607…
Barnaby Rudge 608
Chapter 57
arnaby； armed as we have seen； continued to pace up and
Bdown before the stable…door； glad to be alone again； and
heartily rejoicing in the unaccustomed silence and
tranquillity。 After the whirl of noise and riot in which the last two
days had been passed； the pleasures of solitude and peace were
enhanced a thousandfold。 He felt quite happy； and as he leaned
upon his staff and mused； a bright smile overspread his face； and
none but cheerful visions floated into his brain。
Had he no thoughts of her； whose sole delight he was； and
whom he had unconsciously plunged in such bitter sorrow and
such deep affliction？ Oh； yes。 She was at the heart of all his
cheerful hopes and proud reflections。 It was she whom all this
honour and distinction were to gladden； the joy and profit were for
her。 What delight it gave her to hear of the bravery of her poor
boy！ Ah！ He would have known that； without Hugh’s telling him。
And what a precious thing it was to know she lived so happily； and
heard with so much pride （he pictured to himself her look when
they told her） that he was in such high esteem： bold among the
boldest； and trusted before them all！ And when these frays were
over； and the good lord had conquered his enemies； and they were
all at peace again； and he and she were rich； what happiness they
would have in talking of these troubled times when he was a great
soldier： and when they sat alone together in the tranquil twilight；
and she had no longer reason to be anxious for the morrow； what
pleasure would he have in the reflection that this was his doing—
his—poor foolish Barnaby’s； and in patting her on the cheek； and
saying with a merry laugh； ‘Am I silly now； mother—am I silly
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 608…
Barnaby Rudge 609
now？’
With a lighter heart and step； and eyes the brighter for the
happy tear that dimmed them for a moment； Barnaby resumed his
walk； and singing gaily to himself； kept guard upon his quiet post。
His comrade Grip； the partner of his watch； though fond of
basking in the sunshine； preferred to…day to walk about the stable；
having a great deal to do in the way of scattering the straw； hiding
under it such small articles as had been casually left about； and
haunting Hugh’s bed； to which he seemed to have taken a
particular attachment。 Sometimes Barnaby looked in and called
him； and then he came hopping out； but he merely did this as a
concession to his master’s weakness； and soon returned again to
his own grave pursuits： peering into the straw with his bill； and
rapidly covering up the place； as if； Midas…like； he were whispering
secrets to the earth and burying them； constantly busying himself
upon the sly； and affecting； whenever Barnaby came past； to look
up in the clouds and have nothing whatever on his mind： in short；
conducting himself； in many respects； in a more than usually
thoughtful； deep； and mysterious manner。
As the day crept on； Barnaby； who had no directions forbidding
him to eat and drink upon his post； but had been； on the contrary；
supplied with a bottle of beer and a basket of provisions；
determined to break his fast； which he had not done since
morning。 To this end； he sat down on the ground before the door；
and putting his staff across his knees in case of alarm or surprise；
summoned Grip to dinner。
This call； the bird obeyed with great alacrity； crying； as he
sidled up to his master； ‘I’m a devil； I’m a Polly； I’m a kettle； I’m a
Protestant； No Popery！’ Having learnt this latter sentiment from
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 609…
Barnaby Rudge 610
the gentry among whom he had lived of late； he delivered it with
uncommon emphasis。
‘Well said； Grip！’ cried his master； as he fed him with the
daintiest bits。 ‘Well said； old boy！’
‘Never say die； bow wow wow； keep up your spirits； Grip Grip
Grip； Holloa！ We’ll all have tea； I’m a Protestant kettle； No
Popery！’ cried the raven。
‘Gordon for ever； Grip！’ cried Barnaby。
The raven； placing his head upon the ground； looked at his
master sideways； as though he would have said； ‘Say that again！’
Perfectly understanding his desire； Barnaby repeated the phrase a
great many times。 The bird listened with profound attention；
sometimes repeating the popular cry in a low voice； as if to
compare the two； and try if it would at all help him to this new
accomplishment； sometimes flapping his wings； or barking； and
sometimes in a kind of desperation drawing a multitude of corks；
with extraordinary viciousness。
Barnaby was so intent upon his favourite； that he was not at
first aware of the approach of two persons on horseback； who were
riding at a foot…pace； and coming straight towards his post。 When
he perceived them； however； which he did when they were within
some fifty yards of him； he jumped hastily up； and ordering Grip
within doors； stood with both hands on his staff； waiting until he
should know whether they were friends or foes。
He had hardly done so； when he observed that those who
advanced were a gentleman and his servant； almost at the same
moment he recognised Lord George Gordon； before whom he
stood uncovered； with his eyes turned towards the ground。
‘Good day！’ said Lord George； not reining in his horse until he
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 610…
Barnaby Rudge 611
was close beside him。 ‘Well！’
‘All quiet； sir； all safe！’ cried Barnaby。 ‘The rest are away—they
went by that path—that one。 A grand party！’
‘Ay？’ said Lord George； looking thoughtfully at him。 ‘And you？’
‘Oh！ They left me here to watch—to mount guard—to keep
everything secure till they come back。 I’ll do it； sir； for your sake。
You’re a good gentleman； a kind gentleman—ay； you are。 There
are many against you； but we’ll be a match for them； never fear！’
‘What’s that？’ said Lord George—pointing to the raven who was
peeping out of the stable…door—but still looking thoughtfully； and
in some perplexity； it seemed； at Barnaby。
‘Why； don’t you know！’ retorted Barnaby； with a wondering
laugh。 ‘Not know what he is！ A bird； to be sure。 My bird—my
friend—Grip。’
‘A devil； a kettle； a Grip； a Polly； a Protestant； no Popery！’ cried
