barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第173章
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been； shook； and pulled； and beat him； until he was fain to call for
help； most lustily。 Hugh had never admired her half so much as at
that moment。
‘She’s in an excited state to…night；’ said Simon； as he smoothed
his rumpled feathers； ‘and don’t know when she’s well off。 Let her
be by herself till to…morrow； and that’ll bring her down a little。
Carry her into the next house！’
Hugh had her in his arms directly。 It might be that Mr
Tappertit’s heart was really softened by her distress； or it might be
that he felt it in some degree indecorous that his intended bride
should be struggling in the grasp of another man。 He commanded
him； on second thoughts； to put her down again； and looked
moodily on as she flew to Miss Haredale’s side； and clinging to her
dress； hid her flushed face in its folds。
‘They shall remain here together till to…morrow；’ said Simon；
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who had now quite recovered his dignity—‘till to…morrow。 Come
away！’
‘Ay！’ cried Hugh。 ‘Come away； captain。 Ha ha ha！’
‘What are you laughing at？’ demanded Simon sternly。
‘Nothing； captain； nothing；’ Hugh rejoined； and as he spoke；
and clapped his hand upon the shoulder of the little man； he
laughed again； for some unknown reason； with tenfold violence。
Mr Tappertit surveyed him from head to foot with lofty scorn
（this only made him laugh the more）； and turning to the prisoners；
said：
‘You’ll take notice； ladies； that this place is well watched on
every side； and that the least noise is certain to be attended with
unpleasant consequences。 You’ll hear—both of you—more of our
intentions to…morrow。 In the mean time； don’t show yourselves at
the window； or appeal to any of the people you may see pass it； for
if you do； it’ll be known directly that you come from a Catholic
house； and all the exertions our men can make； may not be able to
save your lives。’
With this last caution； which was true enough； he turned to the
door； followed by Hugh and Dennis。 They paused for a moment；
going out； to look at them clasped in each other’s arms； and then
left the cottage； fastening the door； and setting a good watch upon
it； and indeed all round the house。
‘I say；’ growled Dennis； as they walked away in company； ‘that’s
a dainty pair。 Muster Gashford’s one is as handsome as the other；
eh？’
‘Hush！’ said Hugh； hastily。 ‘Don’t you mention names。 It’s a bad
habit。’
‘I wouldn’t like to be him； then （as you don’t like names）； when
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he breaks it out to her； that’s all；’ said Dennis。 ‘She’s one of them
fine； black…eyed； proud gals； as I wouldn’t trust at such times with
a knife too near ’em。 I’ve seen some of that sort； afore now。 I
recollect one that was worked off； many year ago—and there was a
gentleman in that case too—that says to me； with her lip a
trembling； but her hand as steady as ever I see one： “Dennis； I’m
near my end； but if I had a dagger in these fingers； and he was
within my reach； I’d strike him dead afore me；”—ah； she did—and
she’d have done it too！’
Strike who dead？’ demanded Hugh。
‘How should I know； brother？’ answered Dennis。 ‘She never
said； not she。’
Hugh looked； for a moment； as though he would have made
some further inquiry into this incoherent recollection； but Simon
Tappertit； who had been meditating deeply； gave his thoughts a
new direction。
‘Hugh！’ said Sim。 ‘You have done well to…day。 You shall be
rewarded。 So have you； Dennis。—There’s no young woman you
want to carry off； is there？’
‘N—no；’ returned that gentleman； stroking his grizzly beard；
which was some two inches long。 ‘None in partickler； I think。’
‘Very good；’ said Sim； ‘then we’ll find some other way of making
it up to you。 As to you； old boy’—he turned to Hugh—‘you shall
have Miggs （her that I promised you； you know） within three days。
Mind。 I pass my word for it。’
Hugh thanked him heartily； and as he did so； his laughing fit
returned with such violence that he was obliged to hold his side
with one hand； and to lean with the other on the shoulder of his
small captain； without whose support he would certainly have
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rolled upon the ground。
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Chapter 60
he three worthies turned their faces towards The Boot；
with the intention of passing the night in that place of
T
rendezvous； and of seeking the repose they so much
needed in the shelter of their old den； for now that the mischief
and destruction they had purposed were achieved； and their
prisoners were safely bestowed for the night； they began to be
conscious of exhaustion； and to feel the wasting effects of the
madness which had led to such deplorable results。
Notwithstanding the lassitude and fatigue which oppressed him
now； in common with his two companions； and indeed with all
who had taken an active share in that night’s work； Hugh’s
boisterous merriment broke out afresh whenever he looked at
Simon Tappertit； and vented itself—much to that gentleman’s
indignation—in such shouts of laughter as bade fair to bring the
watch upon them； and involve them in a skirmish； to which in
their present worn…out condition they might prove by no means
equal。 Even Mr Dennis； who was not at all particular on the score
of gravity or dignity； and who had a great relish for his young
friend’s eccentric humours； took occasion to remonstrate with him
on this imprudent behaviour； which he held to be a species of
suicide； tantamount to a man’s working himself off without being
overtaken by the law； than which he could imagine nothing more
ridiculous or impertinent。
Not abating one jot of his noisy mirth for these remonstrances；
Hugh reeled along between them； having an arm of each； until
they hove in sight of The Boot； and were within a field or two of
that convenient tavern。 He happened by great good luck to have
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roared and shouted hi
