the chimes(教堂钟声)-第1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！
The Chimes
The Chimes
1
… Page 2…
The Chimes
CHAPTER I … First Quarter。
HERE are not many people … and as it is desirable that a story… teller
and a story…reader should establish a mutual understanding as soon as
possible； I beg it to be noticed that I confine this observation neither to
young people nor to little people； but extend it to all conditions of people：
little and big； young and old： yet growing up； or already growing down
again … there are not； I say； many people who would care to sleep in a
church。 I don't mean at sermon…time in warm weather （when the thing
has actually been done； once or twice）； but in the night； and alone。 A
great multitude of persons will be violently astonished； I know； by this
position； in the broad bold Day。 But it applies to Night。 It must be
argued by night； and I will undertake to maintain it successfully on any
gusty winter's night appointed for the purpose； with any one opponent
chosen from the rest； who will meet me singly in an old churchyard；
before an old church…door； and will previously empower me to lock him in；
if needful to his satisfaction； until morning。
For the night…wind has a dismal trick of wandering round and round a
building of that sort； and moaning as it goes； and of trying； with its unseen
hand； the windows and the doors； and seeking out some crevices by which
to enter。 And when it has got in； as one not finding what it seeks；
whatever that may be； it wails and howls to issue forth again： and not
content with stalking through the aisles； and gliding round and round the
pillars； and tempting the deep organ； soars up to the roof； and strives to
rend the rafters： then flings itself despairingly upon the stones below； and
passes； muttering； into the vaults。 Anon； it comes up stealthily； and
creeps along the walls； seeming to read； in whispers； the Inscriptions
sacred to the Dead。 At some of these； it breaks out shrilly； as with
laughter； and at others； moans and cries as if it were lamenting。 It has a
ghostly sound too； lingering within the altar； where it seems to chaunt； in
its wild way； of Wrong and Murder done； and false Gods worshipped； in
defiance of the Tables of the Law； which look so fair and smooth； but are
so flawed and broken。 Ugh！ Heaven preserve us； sitting snugly round
2
… Page 3…
The Chimes
the fire！ It has an awful voice； that wind at Midnight； singing in a church！
But； high up in the steeple！ There the foul blast roars and whistles！
High up in the steeple； where it is free to come and go through many an
airy arch and loophole； and to twist and twine itself about the giddy stair；
and twirl the groaning weathercock； and make the very tower shake and
shiver！ High up in the steeple； where the belfry is； and iron rails are
ragged with rust； and sheets of lead and copper； shrivelled by the changing
weather； crackle and heave beneath the unaccustomed tread； and birds
stuff shabby nests into corners of old oaken joists and beams； and dust
grows old and grey； and speckled spiders； indolent and fat with long
security； swing idly to and fro in the vibration of the bells； and never loose
their hold upon their thread…spun castles in the air； or climb up sailor…like
in quick alarm； or drop upon the ground and ply a score of nimble legs to
save one life！ High up in the steeple of an old church； far above the light
and murmur of the town and far below the flying clouds that shadow it； is
the wild and dreary place at night： and high up in the steeple of an old
church； dwelt the Chimes I tell of。
They were old Chimes； trust me。 Centuries ago； these Bells had been
baptized by bishops： so many centuries ago； that the register of their
baptism was lost long； long before the memory of man； and no one knew
their names。 They had had their Godfathers and Godmothers； these Bells
（for my own part； by the way； I would rather incur the responsibility of
being Godfather to a Bell than a Boy）； and had their silver mugs no doubt；
besides。 But Time had mowed down their sponsors； and Henry the
Eighth had melted down their mugs； and they now hung； nameless and
mugless； in the church… tower。
Not speechless； though。 Far from it。 They had clear； loud； lusty；
sounding voices； had these Bells； and far and wide they might be heard
upon the wind。 Much too sturdy Chimes were they； to be dependent on
the pleasure of the wind； moreover； for； fighting gallantly against it when
it took an adverse whim； they would pour their cheerful notes into a
listening ear right royally； and bent on being heard on stormy nights； by
some poor mother watching a sick child； or some lone wife whose
husband was at sea； they had been sometimes known to beat a blustering
3
… Page 4…
The Chimes
Nor' Wester； aye； 'all to fits；' as Toby Veck said； … for though they chose to
call him Trotty Veck； his name was Toby； and nobody could make it
anything else either （except Tobias） without a special act of parliament； he
having been as lawfully christened in his day as the Bells had been in
theirs； though with not quite so much of solemnity or public rejoicing。
For my part； I confess myself of Toby Veck's belief； for I am sure he
had opportunities enough of forming a correct one。 And whatever Toby
Veck said； I say。 And I take my stand by Toby Veck； although he DID
stand all day long （and weary work it was） just outside the church…door。
In fact he was a ticket…porter； Toby Veck； and waited there for jobs。
And a breezy； goose…skinned； blue…nosed； red…eyed； stony…toed； tooth…
chattering place it was； to wait in； in the winter…time； as Toby Veck well
knew。 The wind came tearing round the corner … especially the east wind
… as if it had sallied forth； express； from the confines of the earth； to have a
blow at Toby。 And oftentimes it seemed to come upon him sooner than it
had expected； for bouncing round the corner； and passing Toby； it would
suddenly wheel round again； as if it cried 'Why； here he is！' Incontinently
his little white apron would be caught up over his head like a naughty
boy's garments； and his feeble little cane would be seen to wrestle and
struggle unavailingly in his hand； and his legs would undergo tremendous
agitation； and Toby himself all aslant； and facing now in this direction；
now in that； would be so banged and buffeted； and to touzled； and worried；
and hustled； and lifted off his feet； as to render it a state of things but one
degree removed from a positive miracle； that he wasn't carried up bodily
into the air as a colony of frogs or snails or other very portable creatures
sometimes are； and rained down again； to the great astonishment of the
natives； on some strange corner of the world where ticket… porters are
unknown。
But； windy weather； in spite of its using him so roughly； was； after all；
a sort of holiday for Toby。 That's the fact。 He didn't seem to wait so
long for a sixpence in the wind； as at other times； the having to fight with
that boisterous element took off his attention； and quite freshened him up；
when he was getting hungry and low…spirited。 A hard frost too； or a fall
of snow； was an Event； and it seemed to do him good； somehow or other …
4
… Page 5…
The Chimes
it would have been hard to say in what respect though； Toby！ So wind
and frost and snow； and perhaps a good stiff storm of hail； were Toby
Veck's red…letter days。
Wet weather was the worst； the cold；
