the chimes(教堂钟声)-第25章
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mother died and left her！' Why was her step so quick； her eye so wild；
her love so fierce and terrible； whenever she repeated those words？
'But； it is Love；' said Trotty。 'It is Love。 She'll never cease to love it。
My poor Meg！'
She dressed the child next morning with unusual care … ah； vain
expenditure of care upon such squalid robes！ … and once more tried to find
some means of life。 It was the last day of the Old Year。 She tried till
night； and never broke her fast。 She tried in vain。
She mingled with an abject crowd； who tarried in the snow； until it
pleased some officer appointed to dispense the public charity （the lawful
charity； not that once preached upon a Mount）； to call them in； and
question them； and say to this one； 'Go to such a place；' to that one； 'Come
next week；' to make a football of another wretch； and pass him here and
there； from hand to hand； from house to house； until he wearied and lay
down to die； or started up and robbed； and so became a higher sort of
criminal； whose claims allowed of no delay。 Here； too； she failed。
She loved her child； and wished to have it lying on her breast。 And that
was quite enough。
It was night： a bleak； dark； cutting night： when； pressing the child
close to her for warmth； she arrived outside the house she called her home。
She was so faint and giddy； that she saw no one standing in the doorway
until she was close upon it； and about to enter。 Then； she recognised the
master of the house； who had so disposed himself … with his person it was
not difficult … as to fill up the whole entry。
'O！' he said softly。 'You have come back？'
She looked at the child； and shook her head。
'Don't you think you have lived here long enough without paying any
rent？ Don't you think that； without any money； you've been a pretty
constant customer at this shop； now？' said Mr。 Tugby。
She repeated the same mute appeal。
'Suppose you try and deal somewhere else；' he said。 'And suppose
you provide yourself with another lodging。 Come！ Don't you think you
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could manage it？'
She said in a low voice； that it was very late。 To…morrow。
'Now I see what you want；' said Tugby； 'and what you mean。 You
know there are two parties in this house about you； and you delight in
setting 'em by the ears。 I don't want any quarrels； I'm speaking softly to
avoid a quarrel； but if you don't go away； I'll speak out loud； and you shall
cause words high enough to please you。 But you shan't come in。 That I
am determined。'
She put her hair back with her hand； and looked in a sudden manner at
the sky； and the dark lowering distance。
'This is the last night of an Old Year； and I won't carry ill…blood and
quarrellings and disturbances into a New One； to please you nor anybody
else；' said Tugby； who was quite a retail Friend and Father。 'I wonder you
an't ashamed of yourself； to carry such practices into a New Year。 If you
haven't any business in the world； but to be always giving way； and always
making disturbances between man and wife； you'd be better out of it。 Go
along with you。'
'Follow her！ To desperation！'
Again the old man heard the voices。 Looking up； he saw the figures
hovering in the air； and pointing where she went； down the dark street。
'She loves it！' he exclaimed； in agonised entreaty for her。 'Chimes！ she
loves it still！'
'Follow her！' The shadow swept upon the track she had taken； like a
cloud。
He joined in the pursuit； he kept close to her； he looked into her face。
He saw the same fierce and terrible expression mingling with her love； and
kindling in her eyes。 He heard her say； 'Like Lilian！ To be changed like
Lilian！' and her speed redoubled。
O； for something to awaken her！ For any sight； or sound； or scent； to
call up tender recollections in a brain on fire！ For any gentle image of
the Past； to rise before her！
'I was her father！ I was her father！' cried the old man； stretching out
his hands to the dark shadows flying on above。 'Have mercy on her； and on
me！ Where does she go？ Turn her back！ I was her father！'
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But they only pointed to her； as she hurried on； and said； 'To
desperation！ Learn it from the creature dearest to your heart！' A
hundred voices echoed it。 The air was made of breath expended in those
words。 He seemed to take them in； at every gasp he drew。 They were
everywhere； and not to be escaped。 And still she hurried on； the same
light in her eyes； the same words in her mouth； 'Like Lilian！ To be
changed like Lilian！' All at once she stopped。
'Now； turn her back！' exclaimed the old man； tearing his white hair。
'My child！ Meg！ Turn her back！ Great Father； turn her back！'
In her own scanty shawl； she wrapped the baby warm。 With her
fevered hands； she smoothed its limbs； composed its face； arranged its
mean attire。 In her wasted arms she folded it； as though she never would
resign it more。 And with her dry lips； kissed it in a final pang； and last
long agony of Love。
Putting its tiny hand up to her neck； and holding it there； within her
dress； next to her distracted heart； she set its sleeping face against her：
closely； steadily； against her： and sped onward to the River。
To the rolling River； swift and dim； where Winter Night sat brooding
like the last dark thoughts of many who had sought a refuge there before
her。 Where scattered lights upon the banks gleamed sullen； red； and dull；
as torches that were burning there； to show the way to Death。 Where no
abode of living people cast its shadow； on the deep； impenetrable；
melancholy shade。
To the River！ To that portal of Eternity； her desperate footsteps
tended with the swiftness of its rapid waters running to the sea。 He tried to
touch her as she passed him； going down to its dark level： but； the wild
distempered form； the fierce and terrible love； the desperation that had left
all human check or hold behind； swept by him like the wind。
He followed her。 She paused a moment on the brink； before the
dreadful plunge。 He fell down on his knees； and in a shriek addressed the
figures in the Bells now hovering above them。
'I have learnt it！' cried the old man。 'From the creature dearest to my
heart！ O； save her； save her！'
He could wind his fingers in her dress； could hold it！ As the words
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escaped his lips； he felt his sense of touch return； and knew that he
detained her。
The figures looked down steadfastly upon him。
'I have learnt it！' cried the old man。 'O； have mercy on me in this
hour； if；
