catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第16节
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to walk up the hill； and the carriage had arrived at the top of it； and；
meditating a brisk trot down the declivity； waited there until the lagging
passengers should arrive： when Jehu； casting a good…natured glance upon
Mrs。 Catherine； asked the pretty maid whence she was come； and whether
she would like a ride in his carriage。 To the latter of which questions Mrs。
Catherine replied truly yes； to the former； her answer was that she had
come from Stratford； whereas； as we very well know； she had lately
quitted Birmingham。
〃Hast thee seen a woman pass this way； on a black horse； with a large
bag of goold over the saddle？〃 said Jehu； preparing to mount upon the roof
of his coach。
〃No； indeed；〃 said Mrs。 Cat。
〃Nor a trooper on another horse after herno？ Well； there be a mortal
row down Birmingham way about sich a one。 She have killed； they say；
nine gentlemen at supper； and have strangled a German prince in bed。 She
have robbed him of twenty thousand guineas； and have rode away on a
black horse。〃
〃That can't be I；〃 said Mrs。 Cat； naively； 〃for I have but three shillings
and a groat。〃
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Catherine： A Story
〃No； it can't be thee； truly； for where's your bag of goold？ and； besides；
thee hast got too pretty a face to do such wicked things as to kill nine
gentlemen and strangle a German prince。〃
〃Law； coachman；〃 said Mrs。 Cat； blushing archly〃；Law； coachman；
DO you think so？〃 The girl would have been pleased with a compliment
even on her way to be hanged； and the parley ended by Mrs。 Catherine
stepping into the carriage； where there was room for eight people at least；
and where two or three individuals had already taken their places。 For
these Mrs。 Catherine had in the first place to make a story； which she did；
and a very glib one for a person of her years and education。 Being asked
whither she was bound； and how she came to be alone of a morning sitting
by a road…side； she invented a neat history suitable to the occasion； which
elicited much interest from her fellow…passengers： one in particular； a
young man； who had caught a glimpse of her face under her hood； was
very tender in his attentions to her。
But whether it was that she had been too much fatigued by the
occurrences of the past day and sleepless night； or whether the little
laudanum which she had drunk a few hours previously now began to act
upon her； certain it is that Mrs。 Cat now suddenly grew sick； feverish； and
extraordinarily sleepy； and in this state she continued for many hours； to
the pity of all her fellow…travellers。 At length the 〃carryvan〃 reached the
inn； where horses and passengers were accustomed to rest for a few hours；
and to dine； and Mrs。 Catherine was somewhat awakened by the stir of the
passengers； and the friendly voice of the inn…servant welcoming them to
dinner。 The gentleman who had been smitten by her beauty now urged her
very politely to descend； which； taking the protection of his arm； she
accordingly did。
He made some very gallant speeches to her as she stepped out； and she
must have been very much occupied by them； or wrapt up in her own
thoughts； or stupefied by sleep； fever； and opium； for she did not take any
heed of the place into which she was going： which； had she done； she
would probably have preferred remaining in the coach； dinnerless and ill。
Indeed； the inn into which she was about to make her entrance was no
other than the 〃Bugle；〃 from which she set forth at the commencement of
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Catherine： A Story
this history； and which then； as now； was kept by her relative； the thrifty
Mrs。 Score。 That good landlady； seeing a lady； in a smart hood and cloak；
leaning； as if faint； upon the arm of a gentleman of good appearance；
concluded them to be man and wife； and folks of quality too； and with
much discrimination； as well as sympathy； led them through the public
kitchen to her own private parlour； or bar； where she handed the lady an
armchair； and asked what she would like to drink。 By this time； and indeed
at the very moment she heard her aunt's voice； Mrs。 Catherine was aware
of her situation； and when her companion retired； and the landlady； with
much officiousness； insisted on removing her hood； she was quite
prepared for the screech of surprise which Mrs。 Score gave on dropping it；
exclaiming； 〃Why； law bless us； it's our Catherine！〃
〃I'm very ill； and tired； aunt；〃 said Cat； 〃and would give the world for
a few hours' sleep。〃
〃A few hours and welcome； my love； and a sack…posset too。 You do
look sadly tired and poorly； sure enough。 Ah； Cat； Cat！ you great ladies are
sad rakes； I do believe。 I wager now； that with all your balls； and carriages；
and fine clothes； you are neither so happy nor so well as when you lived
with your poor old aunt； who used to love you so。〃 And with these gentle
words； and an embrace or two； which Mrs。 Catherine wondered at； and
permitted； she was conducted to that very bed which the Count had
occupied a year previously； and undressed； and laid in it； and
affectionately tucked up by her aunt； who marvelled at the fineness of her
clothes； as she removed them piece by piece； and when she saw that in
Mrs。 Catherine's pocket there was only the sum of three and fourpence；
said； archly； 〃There was no need of money； for the Captain took care of
that。〃
Mrs。 Cat did not undeceive her； and deceived Mrs。 Score certainly
was；for she imagined the well…dressed gentleman who led Cat from the
carriage was no other than the Count； and； as she had heard； from time to
time； exaggerated reports of the splendour of the establishment which he
kept up； she was induced to look upon her niece with the very highest
respect； and to treat her as if she were a fine lady。 〃And so she IS a fine
lady；〃 Mrs。 Score had said months ago； when some of these flattering
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stories reached her； and she had overcome her first fury at Catherine's
elopement。 〃The girl was very cruel to leave me； but we must recollect
that she is as good as married to a nobleman； and must all forget and
forgive； you know。〃
This speech had been made to Doctor Dobbs； who was in the habit of
taking a pipe and a tankard at the 〃Bugle；〃 and it had been roundly
reprobated by the worthy divine； who told Mrs。 Score； that the crime of
Catherine was only the more heinous； if it had been committed from
interested motives； and protested that； were she a princess； he would never
speak to her again。 Mrs。 Score thought and pronounced the Doctor's
opinion to be very bigoted； indeed； she was one of those persons who have
a marvellous respect for prosperity； and a corresponding scorn for ill…
fortune。 When； therefore； she returned to the public room； she went
graciously to the gentleman who had led Mrs。 Catherine from the carriage；
and with a knowing curtsey welcomed him to the 〃Bugle；〃 told him that
his lady would not come to dinner； but bade her say； with her best love to
his Lordship； that the ride had fatigued her； and that she would lie in bed
for an hour or two。
This speech was received with much wonder by his Lordship； who
was； indeed； no other than a Liverpool tailor going to London to learn
fashions； but he only smiled； and did not undeceive the landlady； who
herself went off； smilingly； to bustle about dinner。
The two or three hours allotted to that meal by the liberal
coachmasters of those days passed away； and Mr。 Coachman； declaring
that his horses were now rested enough； and that they had twelve miles to
ride
