hard cash-第109节

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〃look　at　this；　a　day　lost　by　being　wiser　than　the　_'Tiser。_〃

〃I'll　waste　no　more　then；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　rising　quietly　from　the　chair。　They　begged　her　to　rest　herself　first。　No；　she　would　not。　〃I　saw　this　lost　by　half　an　hour；〃　said　she。　〃Succeed　or　fail；　I　will　have　no　remissness　to　reproach　myself　with。〃　And　she　glided　off　in　her　quiet　way；　to　encounter　Cross；　Fitchett；　Copland　and　Tylee；　in　the　lane　where　a　primrose　was　caught　growingsix　hundred　years　ago。　She　declined　Edward's　company　rather　peremptorily。　〃Stay　and　comfort　your　sister；〃　said　she。　But　that　was　a　blind；　the　truth　was；　she　could　not　bear　her　children　to　mingle　in　what　she　was　doing。　No；　her　ambition　was　to　ply　the　scissors　and　thimble　vigorously；　and　so　enable　them　to　be　ladies　and　gentlemen　at　large。　She　being　gone；　Julia　made　a　parcel　of　water…colour　drawings；　and　sallied　forth　all　on　fire　to　sell　them。　But；　while　she　was　dressing；　Edward　started　on　a　cruise　in　search　of　employment。　He　failed　entirely。　They　met　in　the　evening；　Mrs。　Dodd　resigned；　Edward　dogged；　Julia　rather　excited。　〃Now；　let　us　tell　our　adventures；　she　said。　〃As　for　me；　shop　after　shop　declined　my　poor　sketches。　They　all　wanted　something　about　as　good；　only　a　little　different：　nobody　complained　of　the　grand　fault；　and　that　is；　their　utter　badness。　At　last；　one　old　gentleman　examined　them；　and　oh！　he　was　so　fat；　there；　round。　And　he　twisted　his　mouth　so〃　（imitating　him）　〃and　squinted　into　them　so。　Then　I　was　full　of　hope；　and　said　to　myself；　'Dear　mamma　and　Edward！'　And　so；　when　he　ended　by　saying；　'No；'　like　all　the　rest；　I　burst　out　crying　like　a　goose。

〃My　poor　girl；〃　cried　Mrs。　Dodd；　with　tears　in　her　own　eyes；　〃why　expose　yourself　to　these　cruel　rebuffs？〃

〃Oh；　don't　waste　your　pity；　mamma；　those　great　babyish　tears　were　a　happy　thought　of　mine。　He　bought　two　directly　to　pacify　me；　and　there's　the　money。　Thirty　shillings！〃　And　she　laid　it　proudly　on　the　table。

〃The　old　cheat；〃　said　Edward；　〃they　were　worth　two　guineas　apiece；　I　know。〃

〃Not　they；　or　why　would　not　anybody　else　give　twopence　for　them？〃

〃Because　pictures　are　a　drug。〃

He　added　that　even　talent　was　not　saleable　unless　it　got　into　the　Great　Grooves；　and　then　looked　at　Mrs。　Dodd；　she　replied　that　unfortunately　those　Grooves　were　not　always　accessible。　The　City　firm　had　received　her　stiffly；　and　inquired　for　whom　she　had　worked。　〃Children；　my　heart　fell　at　that　question。　I　was　obliged　to　own　myself　an　amateur　and　beg　a　trial。　However；　I　gave　Madame　Blanch's　card：　but　Mr。I　don't　know　which　partner　it　wassaid　he　was　not　acquainted　with　her：　then　he　looked　a　little　embarrassed；　I　thought；　and　said　the　Firm　did　not　care　to　send　its　stuff　to　ladies　not　in　the　business。　I　might　cut　it　to　waste；　orhe　said　no　more；　but　I　do　really　think　he　meant　I　might　purloin　it。〃

〃Why　wasn't　I　there　to　look　him　into　the　earth？　Oh；　mamma；　that　you　should　be　subjected　to　all　this！〃

〃Be　quiet；　child；　I　had　only　to　put　on　my　armour；　and　do　you　know　what　my　armour　is？　Thinking　of　my　children。　So　I　put　on　my　armour；　and　said　quietly；　we　were　not　so　poor　but　we　could　pay　for　a　piece　of　cloth　should　I　be　so　unfortunate　as　to　spoil　it；　and　I　offered　in　plain　terms　to　deposit　the　price　as　security。　But　he　turned　as　stiff　at　that　as　his　yard　measure；　'that　was　not　Cross　and　Co。's　way　of　doing　business；'　he　said。　But　it　is　unreasonable　to　be　dejected　at　a　repulse　or　two；　and　I　am　not　out　of　spirits；　not　much：〃　with　this　her　gentle　mouth　smiled；　and　her　patient　eyes　were　moist。

The　next　day；　just　after　breakfast；　was　announced　a　gentleman　from　the　City。　He　made　his　bow　and　produced　a　parcel；　which　proved　to　be　a　pattern　cloak。　〃Order；　ladies；〃　said　he　briskly；　〃from　Cross；　Fitchett；　and　Co。；　Primrose　Lane。　Porter　outside　with　the　piece。　You　can　come　in；　sir。〃　Porter　entered　with　a　bale。　〃Please　sign　this；　ma'am。〃　Mrs。　Dodd　signed　a　receipt　for　the　stuff；　with　an　undertaking　to　deliver　it　in　cloaks；　at　11　Primrose　Lane；　in　such　a　time。　Porter　retreated。　The　other　said；　〃Our　Mr。　Fitchett　wishes　you　to　observe　this　fall　in　the　pattern。　It　is　new。〃

〃I　will；　sir。　Am　I　to　trouble　you　with　any　moneyby　way　of　deposit；　sir？〃

〃No　orders　about　it；　ma'am。　Ladies；　your　most　obedient。　Good　morning；　sir。〃

And　he　was　away。

All　this　seemed　like　a　click　or　two　of　City　clock…work：　followed　by　rural　silence。　Yet　in　that　minute　Commerce　had　walked　in　upon　genteel　poverty；　and　left　honest　labour　and　modest　income　behind　her。

Great　was　the　thankfulness；　strange　and　new　the　excitement。　Edward　was　employed　to　set　up　a　very　long　deal　table　for　his　mother　to　work　on；　Julia　to　go　and　buy　tailors'　scissors。　Calculations　were　made　how　to　cut　the　stuff　to　advantage；　and　in　due　course　the　heavy　scissors　were　heard　snick；　snick；　snicking　all　day　long。


Julia　painted　zealously；　and　Edward；　without　saying　a　word　to　them；　walked　twenty　miles　a　day　hunting　for　a　guinea　a　week；　and　finding　it　not。　Not　but　what　employment　was　often　bobbed　before　his　eyes：　but　there　was　no　grasping　it。　At　last　he　heard　of　a　place　peculiarly　suited　to　him；　a　packing　foreman's　in　a　warehouse　at　Southwark；　he　went　there；　and　was　referred　to　Mr。　A。's　private　house。　Mr。　A。　was　in　the　country　for　a　day。　Try　Mr。　B。　Mr。　B。　was　dining　with　the　Lord　Mayor。　Returning　belated；　he　fell　in　with　a　fire；　and；　sad　to　say；　life　was　in　jeopardy：　a　little　old　man　had　run　out　at　the　first　alarm；　when　there　was　no　danger；　and；　as　soon　as　the　fire　was　hot；　had　run　in　again　for　his　stockings；　or　some　such　treasure。　Fire　does　put　out　some　people's　reason；　clean。　While　he　was　rummaging　madly；　the　staircase　caught；　and　the　smoke　cut　off　his　second　exit；　and　drove　him　up　to　a　little　staircase　window　at　the　side　of　the　house。　Here　he　stood；　hose　in　hand；　scorching　behind　and　screeching　in　front。　A　ladder　had　been　brought：　but　it　was　a　yard　short：　and　the　poor　old　man　danced　on　the　window…ledge　and　dare　not　come　down　to　a　gallant　fireman　who　stood　ready　to　receive　him　at　great　personal　peril。　In　the　midst　of　shrieks　and　cries　and　shouts　of　encouragement；　Edward；　a　practised　gymnast；　saw　a　chance。　He　ran　up　the　ladder　like　a　cat；　begged　the　fireman　to　clasp　it　tight；　then　got　on　his　shoulders　and　managed　to　grasp　the　window…sill。　He　could　always　draw　his　own　weight　up　by　his　hands：　so　he　soon　had　his　knee　on　the　sill；　and　presently　stood　erect。　He　then　put　his　left　arm　inside　the　window；　collared　the　old　fellow　with　his　right；　and；　half　persuasion；　half　force；　actually　lowered　him　to　the　ladder　with　one　Herculean　arm　amidst　a　roar　that　made　the　Borough　ring。　Such　a　strain　could　not　long　be　endured；　but　the　fireman　speedily　relieved　him　by　seizing　the　old　fellow's　feet　and　directing　them　on　to　the　ladder；　and　so；　propping　him　by　the　waist；　went　down　before　him；　and　landed　him　safe。　Edward　waited　till　they　were　down：　then　begged　them　to　hold　the　ladder　tight　below；　he　hung　from　the　ledge；　got　his　eye　well　on　the　ladder　below　him；　let　himself　quietly　drop；　and　caught　hold　of　it　with　hands　of　iron；　and　twisting　round；　came　down　the　ladder　on　the　inside　hand　over　head　without　using　his　feet；　a　favourite　gymnastic　exercise　of　his　learnt　at　the　Modern　Athens。　He　was　warmly　received　by　the　crowd　and　by　the　firemen。　〃You　should　be　one　of　us；　sir；〃　said　a　fine　young　fellow　who　had　cheered　him　and　advised　him　all　through。　〃I　wish　to　Heaven　I　was；〃　said　Edward。　The　other　thought　he　was　joking；　but　laughed　and　said；　〃Then　you　should　talk　to　our　head　man　after　the　business；　there　is　a　vacancy；　you　know。〃

Edward　saw　the　fire　out；　and　rode　home　on　the　engine。　There　he　applied　to　the　head　man　for　the　vacancy。

〃You　are　a　stranger　to　me；　sir；〃　said　the　head　man。　〃And　I　am　sure　it　is　no　place　for　you；　you　are　a　gentleman。〃

〃Well；　is　there　anything　ungentlemanly　in　saving　people's　lives　and　property？〃

〃Hear！　hear！〃　said　a　comic　fireman。

The　compliment　began　to　tell；　though。　Others　put　in　their　word。　〃Why；　Mr。　Baldwin；　if　a　gentleman　ain't　ashamed　of　us；　why　should　we　be　ashamed　of　him？〃

〃Where　will　ye　get　a　better？〃　asked　another；　and　added；　〃He　is　no　stranger；　we've　seen　him　work。〃

〃Stop　a　bit；〃　said　the　comic　fireman：　〃what　does　the　dog　say？　Just　call　him；　sir；　if　you　please；　his　name　is　Charlie。〃

Edward　called　the　fire…dog　kindly；　he　came　and　fawned　on　him；　then　gravely　snuffed　him　all　round；　and　retired　wagging　his　tail　gently；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃I　was　rather　taken　by　surprise　at　first；　but；　on　the　whole；　I　see　no　reason　to　recall　my　judgment。〃

〃It　is　all　right；〃　said　the　firemen　in　chorus；　and　one　that　had　not　yet　spoken　to　Edward　now　whispered　him　mysteriously；　〃Ye　see　that　there　doghe　knows　more　than　we　do。〃

After　the　dog；　a　biped　oracle　at　head…quarters　was　communicated　with；　and　late　that　very　night　Edward　was　actually　enrolled　a　fireman；　and　went　home　warmer　at　heart　than　he　had　been　for　some　time。　They　were　all　in　bed；　and　when　he　came　down　in　the　morning；　Julia　was　reading　out　of　the　_'Tiser_　a　spirited　and　magniloquent　description　of　a　fire　in　Southwark；　and　of　the　heroism　displayed　by　a　young　gentleman　unknown；　but　whose　name　the　writer　hoped　at　so　much　the　line　would　never　be　allowed　to　pass　into　oblivion；　and　be　forgotten。　In　short；　the　_'Tiser_　paid　him　in　one　column；　for　years　of　devot