barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第67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！
requested his fair friend to be more explicit； and demanded to
know what she meant by ‘her。’
‘Why； that Dolly；’ said Miggs； with an extremely sharp emphasis
on the name。 ‘But； oh upon my word and honour； young Joseph
Willet is a brave one； and he do deserve her； that he do。’
‘Woman！’ said Mr Tappertit； jumping off the counter on which
he was seated； ‘beware！’
‘My stars； Simmun！’ cried Miggs； in affected astonishment。 ‘You
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 248…
Barnaby Rudge 249
frighten me to death！ What’s the matter？’
‘There are strings；’ said Mr Tappertit； flourishing his bread…
and…cheese knife in the air； ‘in the human heart that had better
not be wibrated。 That’s what’s the matter。’
‘Oh； very well—if you’re in a huff；’ cried Miggs； turning away。
‘Huff or no huff；’ said Mr Tappertit； detaining her by the wrist。
‘What do you mean； Jezebel？ What were you going to say？ Answer
me！’
Notwithstanding this uncivil exhortation； Miggs gladly did as
she was required； and told him how that their young mistress；
being alone in the meadows after dark； had been attacked by three
or four tall men； who would have certainly borne her away and
perhaps murdered her； but for the timely arrival of Joseph Willet；
who with his own single hand put them all to flight； and rescued
her； to the lasting admiration of his fellow…creatures generally； and
to the eternal love and gratitude of Dolly Varden。
‘Very good；’ said Mr Tappertit； fetching a long breath when the
tale was told； and rubbing his hair up till it stood stiff and straight
on end all over his head。 ‘His days are numbered。’
‘Oh； Simmun！’
‘I tell you；’ said the ’prentice； ‘his days are numbered。 Leave
me。 Get along with you。’
Miggs departed at his bidding； but less because of his bidding
than because she desired to chuckle in secret。 When she had given
vent to her satisfaction； she returned to the parlour； where the
locksmith； stimulated by quietness and Toby； had become
talkative； and was disposed to take a cheerful review of the
occurrences of the day。 But Mrs Varden； whose practical religion
（as is not uncommon） was usually of the retrospective order； cut
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 249…
Barnaby Rudge 250
him short by declaiming on the sinfulness of such junketings； and
holding that it was high time to go to bed。 To bed therefore she
withdrew； with an aspect as grim and gloomy as that of the
Maypole’s own state couch； and to bed the rest of the
establishment soon afterwards repaired。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 250…
Barnaby Rudge 251
Chapter 23
wilight had given place to night some hours； and it was
high noon in those quarters of the town in which ‘the
T
world’ condescended to dwell—the world being then； as
now； of very limited dimensions and easily lodged—when Mr
Chester reclined upon a sofa in his dressing…room in the Temple；
entertaining himself with a book。
He was dressing； as it seemed； by easy stages； and having
performed half the journey was taking a long rest。 Completely
attired as to his legs and feet in the trimmest fashion of the day； he
had yet the remainder of his toilet to perform。 The coat was
stretched； like a refined scarecrow； on its separate horse； the
waistcoat was displayed to the best advantage； the various
ornamental articles of dress were severally set out in most alluring
order； and yet he lay dangling his legs between the sofa and the
ground； as intent upon his book as if there were nothing but bed
before him。
‘Upon my honour；’ he said； at length raising his eyes to the
ceiling with the air of a man who was reflecting seriously on what
he had read； ‘upon my honour； the most masterly composition； the
most delicate thoughts； the finest code of morality； and the most
gentlemanly sentiments in the universe！ Ah Ned； Ned； if you
would but form your mind by such precepts； we should have but
one common feeling on every subject that could possibly arise
between us！’
This apostrophe was addressed； like the rest of his remarks； to
empty air： for Edward was not present； and the father was quite
alone。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 251…
Barnaby Rudge 252
‘My Lord Chesterfield；’ he said； pressing his hand tenderly
upon the book as he laid it down； ‘if I could but have profited by
your genius soon enough to have formed my son on the model you
have left to all wise fathers； both he and I would have been rich
men。 Shakespeare was undoubtedly very fine in his way； Milton
good； though prosy； Lord Bacon deep； and decidedly knowing； but
the writer who should be his country’s pride； is my Lord
Chesterfield。’
He became thoughtful again； and the toothpick was in
requisition。
‘I thought I was tolerably accomplished as a man of the world；’
he continued； ‘I flattered myself that I was pretty well versed in all
those little arts and graces which distinguish men of the world
from boors and peasants； and separate their character from those
intensely vulgar sentiments which are called the national
character。 Apart from any natural prepossession in my own
favour； I believed I was。 Still； in every page of this enlightened
writer； I find some captivating hypocrisy which has never
occurred to me before； or some superlative piece of selfishness to
which I was utterly a stranger。 I should quite blush for myself
before this stupendous creature； if remembering his precepts； one
might blush at anything。 An amazing man！ a nobleman indeed！
any King or Queen may make a Lord； but only the Devil himself—
and the Graces—can make a Chesterfield。’
Men who are thoroughly false and hollow； seldom try to hide
those vices from themselves； and yet in the very act of avowing
them； they lay claim to the virtues they feign most to despise。 ‘For；’
say they； ‘this is honesty； this is truth。 All mankind are like us； but
they have not the candour to avow it。’ The more they affect to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 252…
Barnaby Rudge 253
deny the existence of any sincerity in the world； the more they
would
