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第19章

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

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