jeremy-第13节

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slipped　back　into　distancehe　was　caught　into　the　world　where　he
had　longed　to　be。

He　saw　that　it　was　a　shopand　he　loved　shops。　His　heart　beat
thickly　as　his　eyes　travelled　up　and　up　and　up　over　the　rows　and
rows　of　shelves；　here　were　bales　of　cloth；　red　and　green　and　blue；
carpets　from　the　East；　table…covers；　sheets　and　blankets。　Behind　the
long　yellow　counters　young　men　in　strange　clothes　were　standing。　In
the　middle　of　the　scene　was　a　funny　old　woman；　her　hat　tumbling　off
her　head；　her　shabby　skirt　dragging；　large　boots；　and　a　red　nose。　It
was　from　this　strange　creature　that　the　deep　ugly　voice　proceeded。
She　had；　this　old　woman；　a　number　of　bales　of　cloth　under　her　arms；
and　she　tried　to　carry　them　all；　but　one　slipped；　and　then　another；
and　then　another；　she　bent　to　pick　them　up　and　her　hat　fell　off；　she
turned　for　her　hat　and　all　the　bales　tumbled　together。　Jeremy　began
to　laugheveryone　laughed；　the　strange　voice　came　again　and　again；
lamenting；　bewailing；　she　had　secured　one　bale；　a　smile　of　cautious
triumph　began　to　spread　over　her　ugly　face；　then　the　bales　all　fell
again；　and　once　more　she　was　on　her　knees。　It　was　then　that　her
voice　or　some　movement　brought　to　Jeremy's　eyes　so　vividly　the
figure　of　their　old　gardener；　Jordan；　that　he　turned　round　to　Uncle
Samuel；　and　suddenly　grasping　that　gentleman's　fat　thigh；　exclaimed
convulsively：　〃Why；　she's　a　man！〃

What　a　strange　topsy…turvy　world　this　was　in　which　women　were　men；
and　shops　turned　（as　with　a　sudden　creaking　and　darkness　and
clattering　did　this　one）　into　gardens　by　the　sea。　Jeremy　drew　his
breath　deeply　and　held　on。　His　mouth　was　open　and　his　hair　on　end。　。
。

It　is　impossible　to　define　exactly　Jeremy's　ultimate　impression　as
the　entertainment　proceeded。　Perhaps　he　had　no　ultimate　impression。
It　cannot　in　reality　have　been　a　very　wonderful　Pantomime。　Even　at
Drury　Lane　thirty　years　back　there　were　many　things　that　they　did
not　know；　and　it　is　not　likely　that　a　touring　company　fitted　into　so
inadequate　an　old　building　as　our　Assembly　Rooms　would　have　provided
anything　very　fine。　But　Jeremy　will　never　again　discover　so　complete
a　realisation　for　his　illusions。　Whatever　failures　in　the
presentation　there　were；　he　himself　made　good。

As　a　finale　to　the　first　half　of　the　entertainment　there　was　given
Dick's　dream　at　the　Cross…Roads。　He　lay　on　the　hard　ground；　his　head
upon　his　bundle；　the　cat　as　large　as　he　watching　sympathetically
beside　him。　In　the　distance　were　the　lights　of　London；　and　then；　out
of　the　half　dusk；　fairies　glittering　with　stars　and　silver　danced　up
and　down　the　dusky　road　whilst　all　the　London　bells　rang　out　〃Turn
again；　〃Whittington；　Lord　Mayor　of　London。〃

Had　Jeremy　been　of　the　age　and　wisdom　of　Uncle　Samuel　he　would　have
discovered　that　Dick　was　a　stout　lady　and　probably　the　mother　of　a
growing　family；　that　the　fairies　knew　as　much　about　dancing　as　the
Glebeshire　wives　sitting　on　the　bench　behind；　that　the　London　bells
were　two　hand　instruments　worked　by　a　youth　in　shirt　sleeves　behind
the　scenes　so　energetically　that　the　High　Road　and　the　painted
London　blew　backwards　and　forwards　in　sympathy　with　his　movements。
Jeremy；　happily；　was　not　so　worldly　wise　as　his　uncle。　This　scene
created　for　him　then　a　tradition　of　imperishable　beauty　that　would
never　fade　again。　The　world　after　that　night　would　be　a　more　magical
place　than　it　had　ever　been　before。　〃Turn　again；　Whittington〃
continued　the　education　that　the　Toy　Village　and　Hamlet　had　already
advanced。

When　the　gas　rose　once　again；　sizzling　like　crackling　bacon；　he　was
white　with　excitement。　The　only　remark　that　he　made　was：　〃It's　much
better　than　the　pictures　outside　Martin's；　isn't　it；　Uncle　Samuel？〃
to　which　Uncle　Samuel；　who　had　been　railing　for　weeks　at　the
deflowering　of　Polchester　by　those　abominable　posters；　could
truthfully　reply；　〃Much　better。〃　Little　by　little　he　withdrew
himself　from　the　other　world　and　realised　his　own。　He　could　see　that
he　and　his　uncle　were　certainly　not　amongst　the　Quality。　Large
ladies；　their　dresses　tucked　up　over　their　knees；　sucked　oranges。
Country　farmers　with　huge　knobbly　looking　sticks　were　there；　and
even　some　sailors；　on　their　way　probably　to　Drymouth。　He　recognised
the　lady　who　kept　charge　of　the　small　Orange　Street　post…office；　and
waved　to　her　with　delighted　excitement。　The　atmosphere　was　thick
with　gas　and　oranges；　and　I'm　afraid　that　Uncle　Samuel　must　have
suffered　a　great　deal。　I　can　only　put　it　on　record　that　he；　the　most
selfish　of　human　beings；　never　breathed　a　word　of　complaint。

They　were　all　packed　very　closely　together　up　there　in　the　gallery；
where　seventy　years　before　an　orchestra　straight　from　Jane　Austen's
novels　had　played　to　the　dancing　of　the　contemporaries　of　Elizabeth
Bennett；　Emma　Woodhouse；　and　the　dear　lady　of　〃Persuasion。〃　Another
thirty…two　years　and　that　same　gallery　would　be　listening　to
recruiting　appeals　and　echoing　the　drums　and　fifes　of　a　martial
band。　The　best　times　are　always　the　old　times。　The　huge　lady　in　the
seat　next　to　Jeremy　almost　swallowed　him　up；　so　that　he　peered　out
from　under　her　thick　arm；　and　heard　every　crunch　and　crackle　of　the
peppermints　that　she　was　enjoying。　He　grew　hotter　and　hotter；　so
that　at　last　he　seemed；　as　once　he　had　read　in　some　warning　tract
about　a　greedy　boy　that　Aunt　Amy　had　given　him；　〃to　swim　in　his　own
fat。〃　But　he　did　not　mind。　Discomfort　only　emphasised　his　happiness。
Then；　peering　forward　beneath　that　stout　black　arm；　he　suddenly
perceived；　far　below　in　the　swimming　distance；　the　back　of　his
mother；　the　tops　of　the　heads　of　Mary　and　Helen；　the　stiff　white
collar　of　his　father；　and　the　well…　known　coral　necklace　of　Aunt
Amy。　For　a　moment　dismay　seized　him；　the　morning's　lie　which　he　had
entirely　forgotten　suddenly　jumping　up　and　facing　him。　But　they　had
forgiven　him。

〃Shall　I　wave　to　them？〃　he　asked　excitedly　of　Uncle　Samuel。

〃No；　no；〃　said　his　uncle　very　hurriedly。　〃Nonsense。　They　wouldn't
see　you　if　you　did。　Leave　them　alone。〃

He　felt　immensely　superior　to　them　up　where　he　was；　and　he　wouldn't
have　changed　places　with　them　for　anything。　He　gave　a　little　sigh　of
satisfaction。　〃I　could　drop　an　orange　on　to　Aunt　Amy's　head；〃　he
said。　〃Wouldn't　she　jump！〃

〃You　must　keep　quiet；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel。　〃You're　good　enough　as　you
are。〃

〃I'd　rather　be　here；〃　said　Jeremy。　〃It's　beautifully　hot　here　and
there's　a　lovely　smell。〃

〃There　is；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel。

Then　the　gas　went　down；　and　the　curtain　went　up；　and　Dick；　now　in　a
suit　of　red　silk　with　golden　buttons；　continued　his　adventures。　I
have　not　space　here　to　describe　in　detail　the　further　events　of　his
lifehow；　receiving　a　telegram　from　the　King　of　the　Zanzibars　about
the　plague　of　rats；　he　took　ship　with　his　cat　and　Alderman
Fitzwarren　and　his　wife；　how　they　were　all　swallowed　by　a　whale；
cast　up　by　a　most　lucky　chance　on　the　Zanzibars；　nearly　cooked　by
the　natives；　and　rescued　by　the　King　of　the　Zanzibars'　beautiful
daughter；　killed　all　the　rats；　were　given　a　huge　feast；　with　dance
and　song；　and　finally　Dick；　although　tempted　by　the　dusky　Princess；
refused　a　large　fortune　and　returned　to　Alice　of　Eastcheap；　the　true
lady　of　his　heart。　There　were；　of　course；　many　other　things；　such　as
the　aspirations　and　misadventures　of　Mrs。　Fitzwarren；　the　deep…
voiced　lady　who　had　already　so　greatly　amused　Jeremy。　And　then　there
was　a　Transformation　Scene；　in　which　roses　turned　into　tulips　and
tulips　into　the　Hall　of　Gold；　down　whose　blazing　steps　marched　stout
representatives　of　all　the　nations。

It　was　in　the　middle　of　this　last　thrilling　spectacle；　when　Jeremy's
heart　was　in　his　mouth　and　he　was　so　deeply　excited　that　he　did　not
know　whether　it　were　he　or　the　lady　next　to　him　who　was　eating
peppermints；　that　his　uncle　plucked　him　by　the　sleeve　and　said　in
his　ear：　〃Come　on。　It's　close　on　the　end。　We　must　go。〃

Jeremy　very　reluctantly　got　up；　and　stumbled　out　over　knees　and　legs
and　exclamations　like：

〃There's　Japan！〃　〃No；　it　ain't；　it's　Chiney！〃　〃You's　a　fine；　hearty
young　woman！〃　and　so　on。　He　was　dragged　through　the　black　curtain；
down　the　stone　steps；　and　into　the　street。

〃But　it　wasn't　the　end；〃　he　said。

〃It　will　be　in　one　minute；〃　said　his　uncle。　〃And　I　want　us　to　get
home　first。〃

〃Why？〃　said　Jeremy。

〃Never　you　mind。　Come　on；　we'll　race　it。〃

They　arrived　home　breathless；　and　then；　once　again　in　the　old
familiar　hall；　Uncle　Samuel　said：

〃Now　you　nip　up　to　the　nursery；　and　then　they'll　never　know　you've
been　out　at　all。〃

〃Never　know？〃　said　Jeremy。　〃But　you　said　they'd　sent　for　me。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel；　〃that　wasn't　exactly　true。　As　a　matter　of
fact；　they　don't　know　you　were　there。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Jeremy；　the　corner　of　his　mouth　turning　down。　〃Then　I've
told　a　lie　again！〃

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Uncle　Samuel　impatiently。　〃It　wasn't　you；　it　was
I。〃

〃And　doesn't　it　matter　your　telling　lies？〃　asked　Jeremy。

The　answer　to　this　difficult　question　was；　happily　for　Uncle　Samuel；
interrupted　by　the　arrival　of　the　household；　who　had　careened　up
Orange　Street　in　a　cab。

When　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Cole　saw　Jeremy　standing　in　the　hall；　his　great
coat　still　on　and　his　muffler　round　his　ne