bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第89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！
account in the smallest items； and to post it publicly on the most
trival occasions。
“My friends；” says Chadband； “eightpence is not much； it might
justly have been one and fourpence： it might justly have been half…
a…crown。 O let us be joyful； joyful！ O let us be joyful！”
With which remark； which appears from its sound to be an
extract in verse； Mr Chadband stalks to the table； and before
taking a chair； lifts up his admonitory hand。
“My friends；” says he； “what is this which we now behold as
being spread before us？ Refreshment。 Do we need refreshment
then； my friends？ We do。 And why do we need refreshment； my
friends？ Because we are but mortal； because we are but sinful；
because we are but of the earth； because we are not of the air。 Can
we fly； my friends？ We cannot。 Why can we not fly； my friends？”
Mr Snagsby； presuming on the success of his last point；
ventures to observe in a cheerful and rather knowing tone； “No
wings。” But； is immediately frowned down by Mrs Snagsby。
“I say； my friends；” pursues Mr Chadband； utterly rejecting and
obliterating Mr Snagsby’s suggestion； “Why can we not fly？ Is it
because we are calculated to walk？ It is。 Could we walk； my
friends； without strength？ We could not。 What should we do
without strength； my friends？ Our legs would refuse to bear us；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 369…
Bleak House 369
our knees would double up； our ankles would turn over； and we
should come to the ground。 Then from whence； my friends； in a
human point of view； do we derive the strength that is necessary
to our limbs？ Is it；” says Chadband； glancing over the table； “from
bread in various forms； from butter which is churned from the
milk which is yielded untoe us by the cow； from the eggs which are
laid by the fowl； from ham； from tongue； from sausage； and from
such like？ It is。 Then let us partake of the good things which are
set before us！”
The persecutors denied that there was any particular gift in Mr
Chadband’s piling verbose flights of stairs； one upon another； after
this fashion。 But this can only be received as a proof of their
determination to persecute； since it must be within everybody’s
experience； that the Chadband style of oratory is widely received
and much admired。
Mr Chadband； however； having concluded for the present； sits
down at Mrs Snagsby’s table； and lays about him prodigiously。
The conversion of nutriment of any sort into oil of the quality
already mentioned； appears to be a process so inseparable from
the constitution of this exemplary vessel； that in beginning to eat
and drink； he may be described as always becoming a kind of
considerable Oil Mills； or other large factory for the production of
that article on a wholesome scale。 On the present evening of the
long vacation； in Cook’s Court； Cursitor Street； he does such a
powerful stroke of business； that the warehouse appears to be
quite full when the works cease。
At this period of the entertainment； Guster； who has never
recovered her first failure； but has neglected no possible or
impossible means of bringing the establishment and herself into
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 370…
Bleak House 370
contempt—among which may be briefly enumerated her
unexpectedly performing clashing military music on Mr
Chadband’s head with plates； and afterwards crowning that
gentleman with muffins—at which period of the entertainment；
Guster whispers Mr Snagsby that he is wanted。
“And being wanted in the—not to put too fine a point upon it—
in the shop！” says Mr Snagsby rising； “perhaps this good company
will excuse me for half a minute。”
Mr Snagsby descends； and finds the two ’prentices intently
contemplating a police constable； who holds a ragged boy by the
arm。
“Why； bless my heart；” says Mr Snagsby； “what’s the matter！”
“This boy；” says the constable； “although he’s repeatedly told
to； won’t move on—”
“I’m always a…moving on； sir；” cries the boy； wiping away his
grimy tears with his arm。 “I’ve always been a moving and a
moving on； ever since I was born。 Where can I possible move to；
sir； more nor I do move！”
“He won’t move on；” says the constable； calmly； with a slight
professional hitch of his neck involving its better settlement in his
stiff stock； “although he has been repeatedly cautioned； and
therefore I am obliged to take him into custody。 He’s as obstinate a
young gonoph as I know。 He Won’t move on。”
“O my eye！ Where can I move to！” cries the boy； clutching quite
desperately at his hair； and beating his bare feet upon the floor of
Mr Snagsby’s passage。
“Don’t you come none of that； or I shall make blessed short
work of you！” says the constable； giving him a passionless shake。
“My instructions are； that you are to move on。 I have told you so
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 371…
Bleak House 371
five hundred times。”
“But where？” cries the boy。
“Well！ Really； constable； you know；” says Mr Snagsby wistfully；
and coughing behind his hand his cough of great perplexity and
doubt； “really that does seem a question。 Where； you know？”
“My instructions don’t go to that；” replies the constable。 “My
instructions are that this boy is to move on。”
Do you hear； Jo？ It is nothing to you or to any one else； that the
great lights of the parliamentary sky have failed for some few
years； in this business； to set you the example of moving on。 The
one grand recipe remains for you—the profound philosophical
prescription—the be…all and the end…all of your strange existence
upon earth。 Move on！ You are by no means to move off； Jo； for the
great lights can’t at all agree about that。 Move on！
Mr Snagsby says nothing to this effect； says nothing at all；
indeed； but coughs his forlornest cough； expressive of no
thoroughfare in any direction。 By this time； Mr and Mrs
Chadband； and Mrs Snagsby； hearing the altercation； have
appeared upon the stairs。 Guster having never left the end of the
passage； the whole household are assembled。
“The simple question is； sir；” says the constable； “whether you
know this boy。 He says you do。”
Mrs Snagsby； from her elevation； instantly cries out； “No he
don’t！”
“My lit…tle woman！” says Mr Snagsby； looking up the staircase。
“My love； permit me！ Pray have a moment’s patience； my dear。 I
do know something of this lad； and in what I know of him； I can’t
say that there’s any harm； perhaps on the contrary； constable。” To
whom the law…stationer relates his Joful and woful experience；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 372…
Bleak House 372
suppressing the half…crown fact。
“Well！” says the constable； “so far； it seems； he had grounds for
what he said。 When I took him into custody up in Holborn； he said
you knew him。 Upon that； a young man who was in the crowd said
he was acquainted with you； and you were a respectable
housekeeper； and if I’d call and make the inquiry he’d appear。 The
young man don’t seem inclined to keep his word； but—oh！ Here is
the young man！”
Enter Mr Guppy； who nods to Mr Snagsby； and touches his hat
with the chivalry of clerkship to the ladies on the stai
