catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第34节
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never were the bailiffs delayed one single minute from their prey。 The
Beinkleider business； for instance； showed pretty well the genius of the
two。 Hayes was for closing with him at once； but his wife saw the vast
profits which might be drawn out of him； and arranged the apprenticeship
and the partnership before alluded to。 The woman heartily scorned and spit
upon her husband； who fawned upon her like a spaniel。 She loved good
cheer； she did not want for a certain kind of generosity。 The only feeling
that Hayes had for anyone except himself was for his wife； whom he held
in a cowardly awe and attachment： he liked drink； too； which made him
chirping and merry； and accepted willingly any treats that his
acquaintances might offer him； but he would suffer agonies when his wife
brought or ordered from the cellar a bottle of wine。
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And now for the Doctor。 He was about seventy years of age。 He had
been much abroad； he was of a sober； cheerful aspect； he dressed
handsomely and quietly in a broad hat and cassock； but saw no company
except the few friends whom he met at the coffee…house。 He had an
income of about one hundred pounds； which he promised to leave to
young Billings。 He was amused with the lad； and fond of his mother； and
had boarded with them for some years past。 The Doctor； in fact； was our
old friend Corporal Brock； the Reverend Doctor Wood now； as he had
been Major Wood fifteen years back。
Anyone who has read the former part of this history must have seen
that we have spoken throughout with invariable respect of Mr。 Brock； and
that in every circumstance in which he has appeared； he has acted not only
with prudence； but often with genius。 The early obstacle to Mr。 Brock's
success was want of conduct simply。 Drink； women； playhow many a
brave fellow have they ruined！had pulled Brock down as often as his
merit had carried him up。 When a man's passion for play has brought him
to be a scoundrel； it at once ceases to be hurtful to him in a worldly point
of view； he cheats； and wins。 It is only for the idle and luxurious that
women retain their fascinations to a very late period； and Brock's passions
had been whipped out of him in Virginia； where much ill…health； ill…
treatment； hard labour； and hard food； speedily put an end to them。 He
forgot there even how to drink； rum or wine made this poor declining
gentleman so ill that he could indulge in them no longer； and so his three
vices were cured。
Had he been ambitious； there is little doubt but that Mr。 Brock； on his
return from transportation； might have risen in the world； but he was old
and a philosopher： he did not care about rising。 Living was cheaper in
those days； and interest for money higher： when he had amassed about six
hundred pounds； he purchased an annuity of seventy…two pounds； and
gave outwhy should he not？that he had the capital as well as the
interest。 After leaving the Hayes family in the country； he found them
again in London： he took up his abode with them； and was attached to the
mother and the son。 Do you suppose that rascals have not affections like
other people？ hearts； madamay； heartsand family ties which they
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cherish？ As the Doctor lived on with this charming family he began to
regret that he had sunk all his money in annuities； and could not； as he
repeatedly vowed he would； leave his savings to his adopted children。
He felt an indescribable pleasure （〃suave mari magno；〃 etc。） in
watching the storms and tempests of the Hayes menage。 He used to
encourage Mrs。 Catherine into anger when； haply； that lady's fits of calm
would last too long； he used to warm up the disputes between wife and
husband； mother and son； and enjoy them beyond expression： they served
him for daily amusement； and he used to laugh until the tears ran down his
venerable cheeks at the accounts which young Tom continually brought
him of his pranks abroad； among watchmen and constables； at taverns or
elsewhere。
When； therefore； as the party were discussing their bacon and cabbage；
before which the Reverend Doctor with much gravity said grace； Master
Tom entered。 Doctor Wood； who had before been rather gloomy；
immediately brightened up； and made a place for Billings between himself
and Mrs。 Catherine。
〃How do； old cock？〃 said that young gentleman familiarly。 〃How goes
it； mother？〃 And so saying； he seized eagerly upon the jug of beer which
Mr。 Hayes had drawn； and from which the latter was about to help himself；
and poured down his throat exactly one quart。
〃Ah！〃 said Mr。 Billings； drawing breath after a draught which he had
learned accurately to gauge from the habit of drinking out of pewter
measures which held precisely that quantity。〃 Ah！〃 said Mr。 Billings；
drawing breath； and wiping his mouth with his sleeves； 〃this is very thin
stuff； old Squaretoes； but my coppers have been red…hot since last night；
and they wanted a sluicing。〃
〃Should you like some ale； dear？〃 said Mrs。 Hayes； that fond and
judicious parent。
〃A quart of brandy； Tom？〃 said Doctor Wood。 〃Your papa will run
down to the cellar for it in a minute。〃
〃I'll see him hanged first！〃 cried Mr。 Hayes； quite frightened。
〃Oh； fie； now； you unnatural father！〃 said the Doctor。
The very name of father used to put Mr。 Hayes in a fury。 〃I'm not his
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father； thank Heaven！〃 said he。
〃No； nor nobody else's；〃 said Tom。
Mr。 Hayes only muttered 〃Base…born brat！〃
〃His father was a gentleman；that's more than you ever were！〃
screamed Mrs。 Hayes。 〃His father was a man of spirit； no cowardly sneak
of a carpenter； Mr Hayes！ Tom has noble blood in his veins； for all he has
a tailor's appearance； and if his mother had had her right； she would be
now in a coach…and…six。〃
〃I wish I could find my father；〃 said Tom； 〃for I think Polly Briggs and
I would look mighty well in a coach…and…six。〃 Tom fancied that if his
father was a count at the time of his birth； he must be a prince now； and；
indeed； went among his companions by the latter august title。
〃Ay； Tom； that you would；〃 cried his mother； looking at him fondly。
〃With a sword by my side； and a hat and feather there's never a lord at
St。 James's would cut a finer figure。〃
After a little more of this talk； in which Mrs。 Hayes let the company
know her high opinion of her sonwho； as usual； took care to show his
extreme contempt for his stepfatherthe latter retired to his occupations；
the lodger； Mrs。 Springatt； who had never said a word all this time； retired
to her apartment on the second floor； and； pulling out their pipes and
tobacco； the old gentleman and the young one solaced themselves with
half…an…hour's more talk and smoking； while the thrifty Mrs。 Hayes；
opposite to them； was busy with her books。
〃What's in the confessions？〃 said Mr。 Billings to Doctor Wood。 〃There
were six of 'em besides Mac： two for sheep； four housebreakers； but
nothing of consequence； I fancy。〃
〃There's the paper；〃 said Wood； archly。 〃Read for yourself； Tom。〃
Mr。 Tom looked at the same time very fierce and very foolish； for；
though he could drink； swear； and fight as well as any lad of his inches in
England； reading was not among his accomplishments。 〃I tell you what；
Doctor；〃 said he； 〃 you！ have no bantering with me；for I'm not the
man that will bear it； me！〃 and he threw a tremendous swaggering look
across the table。
〃I want you to learn to read； Tommy dear。 Look at your mother there
