oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第58章

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half　a　dozen　times；　before　he　began　to　think　that　it　was　time　for　
Mrs。　Corney　to　return。　Thinking　begets　thinking；　and；　as　there　
were　no　sounds　of　Mrs。　Corney’s　approach；　it　occurred　to　Mr。　
Bumble　that　it　would　be　an　innocent　and　virtuous　way　of　spending　
the　time；　if　he　were　further　to　allay　his　curiosity　by　a　cursory　
glance　at　the　interior　of　Mrs。　Corney’s　chest　of　drawers。　

Having　listened　at　the　keyhole；　to　assure　himself　that　nobody　
was　approaching　the　chamber；　Mr。　Bumble　beginning　at　the　
bottom；　proceeded　to　make　himself　acquainted　with　the　contents　
of　the　three　long　drawers；　which；　being　filled　with　various　
garments　of　good　fashion　and　texture；　carefully　preserved　
between　two　layers　of　old　newspapers；　speckled　with　dried　
lavender；　seemed　to　yield　him　exceeding　satisfaction。　Arriving；　in　
course　of　time；　at　the　right…hand　corner　drawer　（in　which　was　a　
key）；　and　beholding　therein　a　small　padlocked　box；　which；　being　
shaken；　gave　forth　a　pleasant　sound；　as　of　the　chinking　of　coin；　Mr。　
Bumble　returned　with　a　stately　walk　to　the　fireplace；　and；　

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resuming　his　old　attitude；　said；　with　a　grave　and　determined　air；　
“I’ll　do　it！”　He　followed　up　this　remarkable　declaration；　by　shaking　
his　head　in　a　waggish　manner　for　ten　minutes；　as　though　he　were　
remonstrating　with　himself　for　being　such　a　pleasant　dog；　and　
then　he　took　a　view　of　his　legs　in　profile；　with　much　seeming　
pleasure　and　interest。　

He　was　still　placidly　engaged　in　this　latter　survey；　when　Mrs。　
Corney；　hurrying　into　the　room；　threw　herself；　in　a　breathless　
state；　on　a　chair　by　the　fireside；　and　covering　her　eyes　with　one　
hand；　placed　the　other　over　her　heart；　and　gasped　for　breath。　

“Mrs。　Corney；”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　stooping　over　the　matron；　
“what　is　this；　ma’am？　Has　anything　happened；　ma’am？　Pray　
answer　me；　I’m　on—on—”　Mr。　Bumble；　in　his　alarm；　could　not　
immediately　think　of　the　word　“tenterhooks；”　so　he　said　“broken　
bottles。”　

“Oh；　Mr。　Bumble！”　cried　the　lady；　“I　have　been　so　dreadfully　
put　out！”　

“Put　out；　ma’am！”　exclaimed　Mr。　Bumble；　“who　has　dared　to—　
I　know！”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　checking　himself；　with　native　majesty；　
“this　is　them　wicious　paupers！”　

“It’s　dreadful　to　think　of！”　said　the　lady；　shuddering。　

“Then　don’t　think　of　it；　ma’am；”　rejoined　Mr。　Bumble。　

“I　can’t　help　it；”　whimpered　the　lady。　

“Then　take　something；　ma’am；”　said　Mr。　Bumble　soothingly。　“A　
little　of　the　wine？”　

“Not　for　the　world！”　replied　Mrs。　Corney。　“I　couldn’t—oh！　The　
top　shelf　in　the　right…hand　corner—oh！”　Uttering　these　words；　the　
good　lady　pointed；　distractedly；　to　the　cupboard；　and　underwent　a　
convulsion　from　internal　spasms。　Mr。　Bumble　rushed　to　the　closet；　

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and；　snatching　a　pint　green　glass　bottle　from　the　shelf　thus　
incoherently　indicated；　filled　a　tea…cup　with　its　contents；　and　held　
it　to　the　lady’s　lips。　

“I’m　better　now；”　said　Mrs。　Corney；　falling　back；　after　drinking　
half　of　it。　

Mr。　Bumble　raised　his　eyes　piously　to　the　ceiling　in　
thankfulness；　and；　bringing　them　down　again　to　the　brim　of　the　
cup；　lifted　it　to　his　nose。　

“Peppermint；”　exclaimed　Mrs。　Corney；　in　a　faint　voice；　smiling　
gently　on　the　beadle　as　she　spoke。　“Try　it！　There’s　a　little—a　little　
something　else　in　it。”　

Mr。　Bumble　tasted　the　medicine　with　a　doubtful　look；　smacked　
his　lips；　took　another　taste；　and　put　the　cup　down　empty。　

“It’s　very　comforting；”　said　Mrs。　Corney。　

“Very　much　so　indeed；　ma’am；”　said　the　beadle。　As　he　spoke；　he　
drew　a　chair　beside　the　matron；　and　tenderly　inquired　what　had　
happened　to　distress　her。　

“Nothing；”　replied　Mrs。　Corney。　“I　am　a　foolish；　excitable；　weak　
creetur。”　

“Not　weak；　ma’am；”　retorted　Mr。　Bumble；　drawing　his　chair　a　
little　closer。　“Are　you　a　weak　creetur；　Mrs。　Corney？”　

“We　are　all　weak　creeturs；”　said　Mrs。　Corney；　laying　down　a　
general　principle。　

“So　we　are；”　said　the　beadle。　

Nothing　was　said；　on　either　side；　for　a　minute　or　two　
afterwards。　By　the　expiration　of　that　time；　Mr。　Bumble　had　
illustrated　the　position　by　removing　his　left　arm　from　the　back　of　
Mrs。　Corney’s　chair；　where　it　had　previously　rested；　to　Mrs。　
Corney’s　apron　string；　round　which　it　gradually　became　entwined。　

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“We　are　all　weak　creeturs；”　said　Mr。　Bumble。　

Mrs。　Corney　sighed。　

“Don’t　sigh；　Mrs。　Corney；”　said　Mr。　Bumble。　

“I　can’t　help　it；”　said　Mrs。　Corney。　And　she　sighed　again。　

“This　is　a　very　comfortable　room；　ma’am；”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　
looking　round。　“Another　room；　and　this；　ma’am；　would　be　a　
complete　thing。”　

“It　would　be　too　much　for　one；”　murmured　the　lady。　

“But　not　for　two；　ma’am；”　replied　Mr。　Bumble；　in　soft　accents。　
“Eh；　Mrs。　Corney？”　

Mrs。　Corney　drooped　her　head　when　the　beadle　said　this；　the　
beadle　drooped　his；　to　get　a　view　of　Mrs。　Corney’s　face。　Mrs。　
Corney；　with　great　propriety；　turned　her　head　away；　and　released　
her　hand　to　get　at　her　pocket…handkerchief；　but　insensibly　
replaced　it　in　that　of　Mr。　Bumble。　

“The　Board　allow　you　coals；　don’t　they；　Mrs。　Corney？”　inquired　
the　beadle；　affectionately　pressing　her　hand。　

“And　candles；”　replied　Mrs。　Corney；　slightly　returning　the　
pressure。　

“Coals；　candle；　and　house…rent　free；”　said　Mr。　Bumble。　“Oh；　
Mrs。　Corney；　what　an　angel　you　are！”　

The　lady　was　not　proof　against　this　burst　of　feeling。　She　sank　
into　Mr。　Bumble’s　arms；　and　that　gentleman　in　his　agitation；　
imprinted　a　passionate　kiss　upon　her　chaste　nose。　

“Such　porochial　perfection！”　exclaimed　Mr。　Bumble　
rapturously。　“You　know　that　Mr。　Slout　is　worse　tonight；　my　
fascinator？”　

“Yes；”　replied　Mrs。　Corney　bashfully。　

“He　can’t　live　a　week；　the　doctor　says；”　pursued　Mr。　Bumble。　

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“He　is　the　master　of　this　establishment；　his　death　will　cause　a　
wacancy；　that　wacancy　must　be　filled　up。　Oh；　Mrs。　Corney；　what　a　
prospect　this　opens！　What　a　opportunity　for　a　jining　of　hearts　and　
housekeepings！”　

Mrs。　Corney　sobbed。　

“The　little　word？”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　bending　over　the　bashful　
beauty。　“The　one　little；　little；　little　word；　my　blessed　Corney？”　

“Ye—ye—yes！”　sighed　out　the　matron。　

“One　more；”　pursued　the　beadle；　“compose　your　darling　
feelings　for　only　one　more。　When　is　it　to　come　off？”　Mrs。　Corney　
twice　essayed　to　speak：　and　twice　failed。　At　length　summoning　up　
courage；　she　threw　her　arms　round　Mr。　Bumble’s　neck；　and　said；　it　
might　be　as　soon　as　ever　he　pleased；　and　that　he　was　“a　irresistible　
duck。”　

Matters　being　thus　amicably　and　satisfactorily　arranged；　the　
contract　was　solemnly　ratified　in　another　tea…cupful　of　the　
peppermint　mixture；　which　was　rendered　the　more　necessary；　by　
the　flutter　and　agitation　of　the　lady’s　spirits。　While　it　was　being　
disposed　of；　she　acquainted　Mr。　Bumble　with　the　old　woman’s　
decease。　

“Very　good；”　said　that　gentleman；　sipping　his　peppermint；　“I’ll　
call　at　Sowerberry’s　as　I　go　home；　and　tell　him　to　send　tomorrow　
morning。　Was　it　that　as　frightened　you；　love？”　

“It　wasn’t　anything　particular；　dear；”　said　the　lady　evasively。　

“It　must　have　been　something；　love；”　urged　Mr。　Bumble。　
“Won’t　you　tell　your　own　B。？”　

“Not　now；”　rejoined　the　lady；　“one　of　these　days。　After　we’re　
married；　dear。”　

“After　we’re　married！”　exclaimed　Mr。　Bumble。　“It　wasn’t　any　

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impudence　from　any　of　them　male　paupers　as—”　

“No；　no；　love！”　interposed　the　lady　hastily。　

“If　I　thought　it　was；”　continued　Mr。　Bumble；　“if　I　thought　as　
any　of　’em　dared　to　lift　his　wulgar　eyes　to　that　lovely　
countenance—”　

“They　wouldn’t　have　dared　to　do　it；　love；”　responded　the　lady。　

“They　had　better　not！”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　clenching　his　fist。　“Let　
me　see　any　man；　porochial　or　extra…porochial；　as　would　presume　
to　do　it；　and　I　can　tell　him　that