clocks(时钟)-第3节
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to him； and telling him about the old days and the old ways of thought；
and the old life and the old people。
The clock impressed my wife very much。 She was very thoughtful
all the way home； and； as we went upstairs to our flat； she said； 〃Why
could not we have a clock like that？〃 She said it would seem like having
some one in the house to take care of us allshe should fancy it was
looking after baby！
I have a man in Northamptonshire from whom I buy old furniture now
and then； and to him I applied。 He answered by return to say that he had
got exactly the very thing I wanted。 （He always has。 I am very lucky in
this respect。） It was the quaintest and most old…fashioned clock he had
come across for a long while； and he enclosed photograph and full
particulars； should he send it up？
From the photograph and the particulars； it seemed； as he said； the
very thing； and I told him； 〃Yes； send it up at once。〃
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Three days afterward； there came a knock at the doorthere had been
other knocks at the door before this； of course； but I am dealing merely
with the history of the clock。 The girl said a couple of men were outside；
and wanted to see me； and I went to them。
I found they were Pickford's carriers； and glancing at the way…bill； I
saw that it was my clock that they had brought； and I said； airily； 〃Oh； yes；
it's quite right； bring it up！〃
They said they were very sorry； but that was just the difficulty。 They
could not get it up。
I went down with them； and wedged securely across the second
landing of the staircase； I found a box which I should have judged to be
the original case in which Cleopatra's Needle came over。
They said that was my clock。
I brought down a chopper and a crowbar； and we sent out and
collected in two extra hired ruffians and the five of us worked away for
half an hour and got the clock out； after which the traffic up and down the
staircase was resumed； much to the satisfaction of the other tenants。
We then got the clock upstairs and put it together； and I fixed it in the
corner of the dining…room。
At first it exhibited a strong desire to topple over and fall on people；
but by the liberal use of nails and screws and bits of firewood； I made life
in the same room with it possible； and then； being exhausted； I had my
wounds dressed； and went to bed。
In the middle of the night my wife woke me up in a great state of
alarm； to say that the clock had just struck thirteen； and who did I think
was going to die？
I said I did not know； but hoped it might be the next…door dog。
My wife said she had a presentiment it meant baby。 There was no
comforting her； she cried herself to sleep again。
During the course of the morning； I succeeded in persuading her that
she must have made a mistake； and she consented to smile once more。 In
the afternoon the clock struck thirteen again。
This renewed all her fears。 She was convinced now that both baby
and I were doomed； and that she would be left a childless widow。 I tried
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to treat the matter as a joke； and this only made her more wretched。 She
said that she could see I really felt as she did； and was only pretending to
be light…hearted for her sake； and she said she would try and bear it
bravely。
The person she chiefly blamed was Buggles。
In the night the clock gave us another warning； and my wife accepted
it for her Aunt Maria； and seemed resigned。 She wished； however； that I
had never had the clock； and wondered when； if ever； I should get cured of
my absurd craze for filling the house with tomfoolery。
The next day the clock struck thirteen four times and this cheered her
up。 She said that if we were all going to die； it did not so much matter。
Most likely there was a fever or a plague coming； and we should all be
taken together。
She was quite light…hearted over it！
After that the clock went on and killed every friend and relation we
had； and then it started on the neighbors。
It struck thirteen all day long for months； until we were sick of
slaughter； and there could not have been a human being left alive for miles
around。
Then it turned over a new leaf； and gave up murdering folks； and took
to striking mere harmless thirty…nines and forty…ones。 Its favorite number
now is thirty…two； but once a day it strikes forty…nine。 It never strikes
more than forty…nine。 I don't know whyI have never been able to
understand whybut it doesn't。
It does not strike at regular intervals； but when it feels it wants to and
would be better for it。 Sometimes it strikes three or four times within the
same hour； and at other times it will go for half…a…day without striking at
all。
He is an odd old fellow！
I have thought now and then of having him 〃seen to；〃 and made to
keep regular hours and be respectable； but； somehow； I seem to have
grown to love him as he is with his daring mockery of Time。
He certainly has not much respect for it。 He seems to go out of his
way almost to openly insult it。 He calls half…past two thirty…eight o'clock；
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and in twenty minutes from then he says it is one！
Is it that he really has grown to feel contempt for his master； and
wishes to show it？ They say no man is a hero to his valet； may it be that
even stony…face Time himself is but a short…lived； puny mortala little
greater than some others； that is allto the dim eyes of this old servant of
his？ Has be； ticking； ticking； all these years； come at last to see into the
littleness of that Time that looms so great to our awed human eyes？
Is he saying； as he grimly laughs； and strikes his thirty…fives and
forties： 〃Bah！ I know you； Time； godlike and dread though you seem。
What are you but a phantoma dreamlike the rest of us here？ Ay； less；
for you will pass away and be no more。 Fear him not； immortal men。
Time is but the shadow of the world upon the background of Eternity！〃
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