the water-babies-第38节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



And　at　last；　after　innumerable　adventures；　each　more　wonderful　than　the　last；　he　saw　before　him　a　huge　building；　much　bigger；　and　…　what　is　most　surprising　…　a　little　uglier　than　a　certain　new　lunatic　asylum；　but　not　built　quite　of　the　same　materials。　　None　of　it；　at　least　…　or；　indeed；　for　aught　that　I　ever　saw；　any　part　of　any　other　building　whatsoever　…　is　cased　with　nine…inch　brick　inside　and　out；　and　filled　up　with　rubble　between　the　walls；　in　order　that　any　gentleman　who　has　been　confined　during　Her　Majesty's　pleasure　may　be　unconfined　during　his　own　pleasure；　and　take　a　walk　in　the　neighbouring　park　to　improve　his　spirits；　after　an　hour's　light　and　wholesome　labour　with　his　dinner…fork　or　one　of　the　legs　of　his　iron　bedstead。　　No。　　The　walls　of　this　building　were　built　on　an　entirely　different　principle；　which　need　not　be　described；　as　it　has　not　yet　been　discovered。

Tom　walked　towards　this　great　building；　wondering　what　it　was；　and　having　a　strange　fancy　that　he　might　find　Mr。　Grimes　inside　it；　till　he　saw　running　toward　him；　and　shouting　〃Stop！〃　three　or　four　people；　who；　when　they　came　nearer；　were　nothing　else　than　policemen's　truncheons；　running　along　without　legs　or　arms。

Tom　was　not　astonished。　　He　was　long　past　that。　　Besides；　he　had　seen　the　naviculae　in　the　water　move　nobody　knows　how；　a　hundred　times；　without　arms；　or　legs；　or　anything　to　stand　in　their　stead。　Neither　was　he　frightened　for　he　had　been　doing　no　harm。

So　he　stopped；　and；　when　the　foremost　truncheon　came　up　and　asked　his　business；　he　showed　Mother　Carey's　pass；　and　the　truncheon　looked　at　it　in　the　oddest　fashion；　for　he　had　one　eye　in　the　middle　of　his　upper　end；　so　that　when　he　looked　at　anything；　being　quite　stiff；　he　had　to　slope　himself；　and　poke　himself；　till　it　was　a　wonder　why　he　did　not　tumble　over；　but；　being　quite　full　of　the　spirit　of　justice　（as　all　policemen；　and　their　truncheons；　ought　to　be）；　he　was　always　in　a　position　of　stable　equilibrium；　whichever　way　he　put　himself。

〃All　right　…　pass　on；〃　said　he　at　last。　　And　then　he　added：　　〃I　had　better　go　with　you；　young　man。〃　　And　Tom　had　no　objection；　for　such　company　was　both　respectable　and　safe；　so　the　truncheon　coiled　its　thong　neatly　round　its　handle；　to　prevent　tripping　itself　up　…　for　the　thong　had　got　loose　in　running　…　and　marched　on　by　Tom's　side。

〃Why　have　you　no　policeman　to　carry　you？〃　asked　Tom；　after　a　while。

〃Because　we　are　not　like　those　clumsy…made　truncheons　in　the　land…　world；　which　cannot　go　without　having　a　whole　man　to　carry　them　about。　　We　do　our　own　work　for　ourselves；　and　do　it　very　well；　though　I　say　it　who　should　not。〃

〃Then　why　have　you　a　thong　to　your　handle？〃　asked　Tom。

〃To　hang　ourselves　up　by；　of　course；　when　we　are　off　duty。〃

Tom　had　got　his　answer；　and　had　no　more　to　say；　till　they　came　up　to　the　great　iron　door　of　the　prison。　　And　there　the　truncheon　knocked　twice；　with　its　own　head。

A　wicket　in　the　door　opened；　and　out　looked　a　tremendous　old　brass　blunderbuss　charged　up　to　the　muzzle　with　slugs；　who　was　the　porter；　and　Tom　started　back　a　little　at　the　sight　of　him。

〃What　case　is　this？〃　he　asked　in　a　deep　voice；　out　of　his　broad　bell　mouth。

〃If　you　please；　sir；　it　is　no　case；　only　a　young　gentleman　from　her　ladyship；　who　wants　to　see　Grimes；　the　master…sweep。〃

〃Grimes？〃　said　the　blunderbuss。　　And　he　pulled　in　his　muzzle；　perhaps　to　look　over　his　prison…lists。

〃Grimes　is　up　chimney　No。　345；〃　he　said　from　inside。　　〃So　the　young　gentleman　had　better　go　on　to　the　roof。〃

Tom　looked　up　at　the　enormous　wall；　which　seemed　at　least　ninety　miles　high；　and　wondered　how　he　should　ever　get　up：　　but；　when　he　hinted　that　to　the　truncheon；　it　settled　the　matter　in　a　moment。　For　it　whisked　round；　and　gave　him　such　a　shove　behind　as　sent　him　up　to　the　roof　in　no　time；　with　his　little　dog　under　his　arm。

And　there　he　walked　along　the　leads；　till　he　met　another　truncheon；　and　told　him　his　errand。

〃Very　good；〃　it　said。　　〃Come　along：　　but　it　will　be　of　no　use。　　He　is　the　most　unremorseful；　hard…hearted；　foul…mouthed　fellow　I　have　in　charge；　and　thinks　about　nothing　but　beer　and　pipes；　which　are　not　allowed　here；　of　course。〃

So　they　walked　along　over　the　leads；　and　very　sooty　they　were；　and　Tom　thought　the　chimneys　must　want　sweeping　very　much。　　But　he　was　surprised　to　see　that　the　soot　did　not　stick　to　his　feet；　or　dirty　them　in　the　least。　　Neither　did　the　live　coals；　which　were　lying　about　in　plenty；　burn　him；　for；　being　a　water…baby；　his　radical　humours　were　of　a　moist　and　cold　nature；　as　you　may　read　at　large　in　Lemnius；　Cardan；　Van　Helmont；　and　other　gentlemen；　who　knew　as　much　as　they　could；　and　no　man　can　know　more。

And　at　last　they　came　to　chimney　No。　345。　　Out　of　the　top　of　it；　his　head　and　shoulders　just　showing；　stuck　poor　Mr。　Grimes；　so　sooty；　and　bleared；　and　ugly；　that　Tom　could　hardly　bear　to　look　at　him。　　And　in　his　mouth　was　a　pipe；　but　it　was　not　a…light；　though　he　was　pulling　at　it　with　all　his　might。

〃Attention；　Mr。　Grimes；〃　said　the　truncheon；　〃here　is　a　gentleman　come　to　see　you。〃

But　Mr。　Grimes　only　said　bad　words；　and　kept　grumbling；　〃My　pipe　won't　draw。　　My　pipe　won't　draw。〃

〃Keep　a　civil　tongue；　and　attend！〃　said　the　truncheon；　and　popped　up　just　like　Punch；　hitting　Grimes　such　a　crack　over　the　head　with　itself；　that　his　brains　rattled　inside　like　a　dried　walnut　in　its　shell。　　He　tried　to　get　his　hands　out；　and　rub　the　place：　　but　he　could　not；　for　they　were　stuck　fast　in　the　chimney。　　Now　he　was　forced　to　attend。

〃Hey！〃　he　said；　〃why；　it's　Tom！　　I　suppose　you　have　come　here　to　laugh　at　me；　you　spiteful　little　atomy？〃

Tom　assured　him　he　had　not；　but　only　wanted　to　help　him。

〃I　don't　want　anything　except　beer；　and　that　I　can't　get；　and　a　light　to　this　bothering　pipe；　and　that　I　can't　get　either。〃

〃I'll　get　you　one；〃　said　Tom；　and　he　took　up　a　live　coal　（there　were　plenty　lying　about）　and　put　it　to　Grimes'　pipe：　　but　it　went　out　instantly。

〃It's　no　use；〃　said　the　truncheon；　leaning　itself　up　against　the　chimney　and　looking　on。　　〃I　tell　you；　it　is　no　use。　　His　heart　is　so　cold　that　it　freezes　everything　that　comes　near　him。　　You　will　see　that　presently；　plain　enough。〃

〃Oh；　of　course；　it's　my　fault。　　Everything's　always　my　fault；〃　said　Grimes。　　〃Now　don't　go　to　hit　me　again〃　（for　the　truncheon　started　upright；　and　looked　very　wicked）；　〃you　know；　if　my　arms　were　only　free；　you　daren't　hit　me　then。〃

The　truncheon　leant　back　against　the　chimney；　and　took　no　notice　of　the　personal　insult；　like　a　well…trained　policeman　as　it　was；　though　he　was　ready　enough　to　avenge　any　transgression　against　morality　or　order。

〃But　can't　I　help　you　in　any　other　way？　　Can't　I　help　you　to　get　out　of　this　chimney？〃　said　Tom。

〃No；〃　interposed　the　truncheon；　〃he　has　come　to　the　place　where　everybody　must　help　themselves；　and　he　will　find　it　out；　I　hope；　before　he　has　done　with　me。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Grimes；　〃of　course　it's　me。　　Did　I　ask　to　be　brought　here　into　the　prison？　　Did　I　ask　to　be　set　to　sweep　your　foul　chimneys？　　Did　I　ask　to　have　lighted　straw　put　under　me　to　make　me　go　up？　　Did　I　ask　to　stick　fast　in　the　very　first　chimney　of　all；　because　it　was　so　shamefully　clogged　up　with　soot？　　Did　I　ask　to　stay　here　…　I　don't　know　how　long　…　a　hundred　years；　I　do　believe；　and　never　get　my　pipe；　nor　my　beer；　nor　nothing　fit　for　a　beast；　let　alone　a　man？〃

〃No；〃　answered　a　solemn　voice　behind。　　〃No　more　did　Tom；　when　you　behaved　to　him　in　the　very　same　way。〃

It　was　Mrs。　Bedonebyasyoudid。　　And；　when　the　truncheon　saw　her；　it　started　bolt　upright　…　Attention！　…　and　made　such　a　low　bow；　that　if　it　had　not　been　full　of　the　spirit　of　justice；　it　must　have　tumbled　on　its　end；　and　probably　hurt　its　one　eye。　　And　Tom　made　his　bow　too。

〃Oh；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　〃don't　think　about　me；　that's　all　past　and　gone；　and　good　times　and　bad　times　and　all　times　pass　over。　　But　may　not　I　help　poor　Mr。　Grimes？　　Mayn't　I　try　and　get　some　of　these　bricks　away；　that　he　may　move　his　arms？〃

〃You　may　try；　of　course；〃　she　said。

So　Tom　pulled　and　tugged　at　the　bricks：　　but　he　could　not　move　one。　And　then　he　tried　to　wipe　Mr。　Grimes'　face：　　but　the　soot　would　not　come　off。

〃Oh；　dear！〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　come　all　this　way；　through　all　these　terrible　places；　to　help　you；　and　now　I　am　of　no　use　at　all。〃

〃You　had　best　leave　me　alone；〃　said　Grimes；　〃you　are　a　good…natured　forgiving　little　chap；　and　that's　truth；　but　you'd　best　be　off。　The　hail's　coming　on　soon；　and　it　will　beat　the　eyes　out　of　your　little　head。〃

〃What　hail？〃

〃Why；　hail　that　falls　every　evening　here；　and；　till　it　comes　close　to　me；　it's　like　so　much　warm　rain：　　but　then　it　turns　to　hail　over　my　head；　and　knocks　me　about　like　small　shot。〃

〃That　hail　will　never　come　any　more；〃　said　the　strange　lady。　　〃I　have　told　you　before　what　it　was。　　It　was　your　mother's　tears；　those　which　she　shed　when　she　prayed　for　you　by　her　bedside；　but　your　cold　heart　froze　it　into　hail。　　But　she　is　gone　to　heaven　now；　and　will　weep　no　more　for　her　graceless　son。〃

Then　Grimes　was　silent　awhile；　and　then　he　looked　very　sad。

〃So　my　old　mother's　gone；　and　I　never　there　to　speak　to　her！　　Ah！　a　good　woman　she　was；　and　might　have　been　a　happy　one；　in　her　little　schoo