barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第133节
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should furnish new occasion for reference to the painful theme；
and now hid the same still more； with the skirts of her dress。
But it happened that the locksmith had been thinking of this
very article on his way home； and that； coming into the room and
not seeing it； he at once demanded where it was。
Mrs Varden had no resource but to produce it； which she did
with many tears； and broken protestations that if she could have
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known—
‘Yes； yes；’ said Varden； ‘of course—I know that。 I don’t mean to
reproach you； my dear。 But recollect from this time that all good
things perverted to evil purposes； are worse than those which are
naturally bad。 A thoroughly wicked woman； is wicked indeed。
When religion goes wrong； she is very wrong； for the same reason。
Let us say no more about it； my dear。’
So he dropped the red…brick dwelling…house on the floor； and
setting his heel upon it； crushed it into pieces。 The halfpence； and
sixpences； and other voluntary contributions； rolled about in all
directions； but nobody offered to touch them； or to take them up。
‘That；’ said the locksmith； ‘is easily disposed of； and I would to
Heaven that everything growing out of the same society could be
settled as easily。’
‘It happens very fortunately； Varden；’ said his wife； with her
handkerchief to her eyes； ‘that in case any more disturbances
should happen—which I hope not； I sincerely hope not—’
‘I hope so too； my dear。’
‘—That in case any should occur； we have the piece of paper
which that poor misguided young man brought。’
‘Ay； to be sure；’ said the locksmith； turning quickly round。
‘Where is that piece of paper？’
Mrs Varden stood aghast as he took it from her outstretched
band； tore it into fragments； and threw them under the grate。
‘Not use it？’ she said。
‘Use it！’ cried the locksmith。 No！ Let them come and pull the
roof about our ears； let them burn us out of house and home； I’d
neither have the protection of their leader； nor chalk their howl
upon my door； though； for not doing it； they shot me on my own
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threshold。 Use it！ Let them come and do their worst。 The first man
who crosses my doorstep on such an errand as theirs； had better
be a hundred miles away。 Let him look to it。 The others may have
their will。 I wouldn’t beg or buy them off； if； instead of every pound
of iron in the place； there was a hundred weight of gold。 Get you to
bed； Martha。 I shall take down the shutters and go to work。’
‘So early！’ said his wife。
‘Ay；’ replied the locksmith cheerily； ‘so early。 Come when they
may； they shall not find us skulking and hiding； as if we feared to
take our portion of the light of day； and left it all to them。 So
pleasant dreams to you； my dear； and cheerful sleep！’
With that he gave his wife a hearty kiss； and bade her delay no
longer； or it would be time to rise before she lay down to rest。 Mrs
Varden quite amiably and meekly walked upstairs； followed by
Miggs； who； although a good deal subdued； could not refrain from
sundry stimulative coughs and sniffs by the way； or from holding
up her hands in astonishment at the daring conduct of master。
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Chapter 52
mob is usually a creature of very mysterious existence；
Aparticularly in a large city。 Where it comes from or
whither it goes； few men can tell。 Assembling and
dispersing with equal suddenness； it is as difficult to follow to its
various sources as the sea itself； nor does the parallel stop here； for
the ocean is not more fickle and uncertain； more terrible when
roused； more unreasonable； or more cruel。
The people who were boisterous at Westminster upon the
Friday morning； and were eagerly bent upon the work of
devastation in Duke Street and Warwick Street at night； were； in
the mass； the same。 Allowing for the chance accessions of which
any crowd is morally sure in a town where there must always be a
large number of idle and profligate persons； one and the same
mob was at both places。 Yet they spread themselves in various
directions when they dispersed in the afternoon； made no
appointment for reassembling； had no definite purpose or design；
and indeed； for anything they knew； were scattered beyond the
hope of future union。
At The Boot； which； as has been shown； was in a manner the
head…quarters of the rioters； there were not； upon this Friday
night； a dozen people。 Some slept in the stable and outhouses；
some in the common room； some two or three in beds。 The rest
were in their usual homes or haunts。 Perhaps not a score in all lay
in the adjacent fields and lanes； and under haystacks； or near the
warmth of brick…kilns； who had not their accustomed place of rest
beneath the open sky。 As to the public ways within the town； they
had their ordinary nightly occupants； and no others； the usual
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amount of vice and wretchedness； but no more。
The experience of one evening； however； had taught the
reckless leaders of disturbance； that they had but to show
themselves in the streets； to be immediately surrounded by
materials which they could only have kept together when their aid
was not required； at great risk； expense； and trouble。 Once
possessed of this secret； they were as confident as if twenty
thousand men； devoted to their will； had been encamped about
them； and assumed a confidence which could not have been
surpassed； though that had really been the case。 All day； Saturday；
they remained quiet。 On Sunday； they rather studied how to keep
their men within call； and in full hope； than to follow out； by any
fierce measure； their first day’s proceedings。
‘I hope；’ said Dennis； as； with a loud yawn； he raised his body
from a heap of straw on which he had been sleeping； and
supporting his head upon his hand； appealed to Hugh on Sunday
morning； ‘that Muster Gashford allows some rest？ Perhaps he’d
have us at work again already； eh？’
‘It’s not his way to let matters drop； you may be sure of that；’
growled Hugh in answer。 ‘I’m in no humour to stir yet； though。 I’m
as stiff as a dead body； and as full of ugly scratches as if I had been
fighting all day yesterday with wild cats。’
‘You’ve so much enthusiasm； that’s it；’ said Dennis； looking
with great admiration at the uncombed head； matted beard； and
torn hands and face of the wild figure before him； ‘you’re such a
devil of a fellow。 You hurt yourself a hundred times more than you
need； because you will be foremost in everything； and will do more
than the rest。’
‘For the matter of that；’ returned Hugh； shaking back his
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ragged hair and glancing towards the door of the stable in which
they lay； ‘there’s one yonder as good as me。 What did I tell you
about him？ Did I say he was worth a dozen； when you doubted
him？’
Mr
