mugby junction(马格比岔口)-第6节
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elaborate smear; from behind the right ear; up the cheek; across the
forehead; and down the other cheek to behind his left ear。 After this
operation he shone exceedingly。
〃It's according to my custom when particular warmed up by any
agitation; sir;〃 he offered by way of apology。 〃And really; I am throwed
into that state of amaze by finding you brought acquainted with Phoebe;
that Ithat I think I will; if you'll excuse me; take another rounder。〃
Which he did; seeming to be greatly restored by it。
They were now both standing by the side of her couch; and she was
working at her lace…pillow。 〃Your daughter tells me;〃 said Barbox
Brothers; still in a half…reluctant shamefaced way; 〃that she never sits up。〃
〃No; sir; nor never has done。 You see; her mother (who died when
she was a year and two months old) was subject to very bad fits; and as
she had never mentioned to me that she WAS subject to fits; they couldn't
be guarded against。 Consequently; she dropped the baby when took; and
this happened。〃
〃It was very wrong of her;〃 said Barbox Brothers with a knitted brow;
〃to marry you; making a secret of her infirmity。'
〃Well; sir!〃 pleaded Lamps in behalf of the long…deceased。 〃You see;
Phoebe and me; we have talked that over too。 And Lord bless us! Such
a number on us has our infirmities; what with fits; and what with misfits;
of one sort and another; that if we confessed to 'em all before we got
married; most of us might never get married。〃
〃Might not that be for the better?〃
〃Not in this case; sir;〃 said Phoebe; giving her hand to her father。
〃No; not in this case; sir;〃 said her father; patting it between his own。
〃You correct me;〃 returned Barbox Brothers with a blush; 〃and I must
look so like a Brute; that at all events it would be superfluous in me to
confess to THAT infirmity。 I wish you would tell me a little more about
yourselves。 I hardly knew how to ask it of you; for I am conscious that I
have a bad stiff manner; a dull discouraging way with me; but I wish you
would。〃
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〃With all our hearts; sir;〃 returned Lamps gaily for both。 〃And first
of all; that you may know my name〃
〃Stay!〃 interposed the visitor with a slight flush。 〃What signifies
your name? Lamps is name enough for me。 I like it。 It is bright and
expressive。 What do I want more?〃
〃Why; to be sure; sir;〃 returned Lamps。 〃I have in general no other
name down at the Junction; but I thought; on account of your being here as
a first…class single; in a private character; that you might〃
The visitor waved the thought away with his hand; and Lamps
acknowledged the mark of confidence by taking another rounder。
〃You are hard…worked; I take for granted?〃 said Barbox Brothers;
when the subject of the rounder came out of it much dirtier than be went
into it。
Lamps was beginning; 〃Not particular so〃when his daughter took
him up。
〃Oh yes; sir; he is very hard…worked。 Fourteen; fifteen; eighteen
hours a day。 Sometimes twenty…four hours at a time。〃
〃And you;〃 said Barbox Brothers; 〃what with your school; Phoebe;
and what with your lace…making〃
〃But my school is a pleasure to me;〃 she interrupted; opening her
brown eyes wider; as if surprised to find him so obtuse。 〃I began it when
I was but a child; because it brought me and other children into company;
don't you see? THAT was not work。 I carry it on still; because it keeps
children about me。 THAT is not work。 I do it as love; not as work。
Then my lace…pillow;〃 her busy hands had stopped; as if her argument
required all her cheerful earnestness; but now went on again at the name;
〃it goes with my thoughts when I think; and it goes with my tunes when I
hum any; and THAT'S not work。 Why; you yourself thought it was music;
you know; sir。 And so it is to me。〃
〃Everything is!〃 cried Lamps radiantly。 〃Everything is music to her;
sir。〃
〃My father is; at any rate;〃 said Phoebe; exultingly pointing her thin
forefinger at him。 〃There is more music in my father than there is in a
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brass band。〃
〃I say! My dear! It's very fillyillially done; you know; but you are
flattering your father;〃 he protested; sparkling。
〃No; I am not; sir; I assure you。 No; I am not。 If you could hear my
father sing; you would know I am not。 But you never will hear him sing;
because he never sings to any one but me。 However tired he is; he
always sings to me when he comes home。 When I lay here long ago;
quite a poor little broken doll; he used to sing to me。 More than that; he
used to make songs; bringing in whatever little jokes we had between us。
More than that; he often does so to this day。 Oh! I'll tell of you; father;
as the gentleman has asked about you。 He is a poet; sir。〃
〃I shouldn't wish the gentleman; my dear;〃 observed Lamps; for the
moment turning grave; 〃to carry away that opinion of your father; because
it might look as if I was given to asking the stars in a molloncolly manner
what they was up to。 Which I wouldn't at once waste the time; and take
the liberty; my dear。〃
〃My father;〃 resumed Phoebe; amending her text; 〃is always on the
bright side; and the good side。 You told me; just now; I had a happy
disposition。 How can I help it?〃
〃Well; but; my dear;〃 returned Lamps argumentatively; 〃how can I
help it? Put it to yourself sir。 Look at her。 Always as you see her now。
Always workingand after all; sir; for but a very few shillings a week
always contented; always lively; always interested in others; of all sorts。
I said; this moment; she was always as you see her now。 So she is; with a
difference that comes to much the same。 For; when it is my Sunday off
and the morning bells have done ringing; I hear the prayers and thanks
read in the touchingest way; and I have the hymns sung to meso soft; sir;
that you couldn't hear 'em out of this roomin notes that seem to me; I am
sure; to come from Heaven and go back to it。〃
It might have been merely through the association of these words with
their sacredly quiet time; or it might have been through the larger
association of the words with the Redeemer's presence beside the
bedridden; but here her dexterous fingers came to a stop on the lace…pillow;
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and clasped themselves around his neck as he bent down。 There was great
natural sensibility in both father and daughter; the visitor could easily see;
but each made it; for the other's sake; retiring; not demonstrative; and
perfect cheerfulness; intuitive or acquired; was either the first or second
nature of both。 In a very few moments Lamps was taking another
rounder with his comical features beaming; while Phoebe's laughing eyes
(just a glistening speck or so upon their lashes) were again directed by
turns to him; and to her work; and to Barbox Brothers。
〃When my father; sir;〃 she said brightly; 〃tells you about my being
interested in other people; even though they know nothing about me
which; by the bye; I told you myselfyou ought to know how that comes
about。 That's my father's doing。〃
〃No; it isn't!〃 he protested。
〃Don't you believe him; sir; yes; it is。 He tells me of everything he
sees down at his work。 You would be surprised what a quantity he gets
together for me every day。 He looks into the carriages; and tells me how
the ladies are dressedso that I know all the fashions! He looks into the
carriages; and tells