the chimes(教堂钟声)-第19章
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the company; and made his homage to them with a humble bow。
'Gentlefolks!' he said。 'You've drunk the Labourer。 Look at me!'
'Just come from jail;' said Mr。 Fish。
'Just come from jail;' said Will。 'And neither for the first time; nor the
second; nor the third; nor yet the fourth。'
Mr。 Filer was heard to remark testily; that four times was over the
average; and he ought to be ashamed of himself。
'Gentlefolks!' repeated Will Fern。 'Look at me! You see I'm at the
worst。 Beyond all hurt or harm; beyond your help; for the time when
your kind words or kind actions could have done me good;' … he struck his
hand upon his breast; and shook his head; 'is gone; with the scent of last
year's beans or clover on the air。 Let me say a word for these;' pointing
to the labouring people in the Hall; 'and when you're met together; hear the
real Truth spoke out for once。'
'There's not a man here;' said the host; 'who would have him for a
spokesman。'
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'Like enough; Sir Joseph。 I believe it。 Not the less true; perhaps; is
what I say。 Perhaps that's a proof on it。 Gentlefolks; I've lived many a
year in this place。 You may see the cottage from the sunk fence over
yonder。 I've seen the ladies draw it in their books; a hundred times。 It
looks well in a picter; I've heerd say; but there an't weather in picters; and
maybe 'tis fitter for that; than for a place to live in。 Well! I lived there。
How hard … how bitter hard; I lived there; I won't say。 Any day in the year;
and every day; you can judge for your own selves。'
He spoke as he had spoken on the night when Trotty found him in the
street。 His voice was deeper and more husky; and had a trembling in it
now and then; but he never raised it passionately; and seldom lifted it
above the firm stern level of the homely facts he stated。
''Tis harder than you think for; gentlefolks; to grow up decent;
commonly decent; in such a place。 That I growed up a man and not a
brute; says something for me … as I was then。 As I am now; there's
nothing can be said for me or done for me。 I'm past it。'
'I am glad this man has entered;' observed Sir Joseph; looking round
serenely。 'Don't disturb him。 It appears to be Ordained。 He is an
example: a living example。 I hope and trust; and confidently expect;
that it will not be lost upon my Friends here。'
'I dragged on;' said Fern; after a moment's silence; 'somehow。 Neither
me nor any other man knows how; but so heavy; that I couldn't put a
cheerful face upon it; or make believe that I was anything but what I was。
Now; gentlemen … you gentlemen that sits at Sessions … when you see a
man with discontent writ on his face; you says to one another; 〃He's
suspicious。 I has my doubts;〃 says you; 〃about Will Fern。 Watch that
fellow!〃 I don't say; gentlemen; it ain't quite nat'ral; but I say 'tis so; and
from that hour; whatever Will Fern does; or lets alone … all one … it goes
against him。'
Alderman Cute stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat…pockets; and leaning
back in his chair; and smiling; winked at a neighbouring chandelier。 As
much as to say; 'Of course! I told you so。 The common cry! Lord
bless you; we are up to all this sort of thing … myself and human nature。'
'Now; gentlemen;' said Will Fern; holding out his hands; and flushing
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for an instant in his haggard face; 'see how your laws are made to trap and
hunt us when we're brought to this。 I tries to live elsewhere。 And I'm a
vagabond。 To jail with him! I comes back here。 I goes a…nutting in
your woods; and breaks … who don't? … a limber branch or two。 To jail
with him! One of your keepers sees me in the broad day; near my own
patch of garden; with a gun。 To jail with him! I has a nat'ral angry word
with that man; when I'm free again。 To jail with him! I cuts a stick。
To jail with him! I eats a rotten apple or a turnip。 To jail with him!
It's twenty mile away; and coming back I begs a trifle on the road。 To
jail with him! At last; the constable; the keeper … anybody … finds me
anywhere; a…doing anything。 To jail with him; for he's a vagrant; and a
jail…bird known; and jail's the only home he's got。'
The Alderman nodded sagaciously; as who should say; 'A very good
home too!'
'Do I say this to serve MY cause!' cried Fern。 'Who can give me back
my liberty; who can give me back my good name; who can give me back
my innocent niece? Not all the Lords and Ladies in wide England。 But;
gentlemen; gentlemen; dealing with other men like me; begin at the right
end。 Give us; in mercy; better homes when we're a…lying in our cradles;
give us better food when we're a… working for our lives; give us kinder
laws to bring us back when were a…going wrong; and don't set jail; jail; jail;
afore us; everywhere we turn。 There an't a condescension you can show
the Labourer then; that he won't take; as ready and as grateful as a man can
be; for; he has a patient; peaceful; willing heart。 But you must put his
rightful spirit in him first; for; whether he's a wreck and ruin such as me;
or is like one of them that stand here now; his spirit is divided from you at
this time。 Bring it back; gentlefolks; bring it back! Bring it back; afore
the day comes when even his Bible changes in his altered mind; and the
words seem to him to read; as they have sometimes read in my own eyes …
in jail: 〃Whither thou goest; I can Not go; where thou lodgest; I do Not
lodge; thy people are Not my people; Nor thy God my God!'
A sudden stir and agitation took place in Hall。 Trotty thought at first;
that several had risen to eject the man; and hence this change in its
appearance。 But; another moment showed him that the room and all the
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company had vanished from his sight; and that his daughter was again
before him; seated at her work。 But in a poorer; meaner garret than
before; and with no Lilian by her side。
The frame at which she had worked; was put away upon a shelf and
covered up。 The chair in which she had sat; was turned against the wall。
A history was written in these little things; and in Meg's grief…worn face。
Oh! who could fail to read it!
Meg strained her eyes upon her work until it was too dark to see the
threads; and when the night closed in; she lighted her feeble candle and
worked on。 Still her old father was invisible about her; looking down
upon her; loving her … how dearly loving her! … and talking to her in a
tender voice about the old times; and the Bells。 Though he knew; poor
Trot