barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第134节
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about him？ Did I say he was worth a dozen； when you doubted
him？’
Mr Dennis rolled lazily over upon his breast； and resting his
chin upon his hand in imitation of the attitude in which Hugh lay；
said； as he too looked towards the door：
‘Ay； ay； you knew him； brother； you knew him。 But who’d
suppose to look at that chap now； that he could be the man he is！
Isn’t it a thousand cruel pities； brother； that instead of taking his
nat’ral rest and qualifying himself for further exertions in this here
honourable cause； he should be playing at soldiers like a boy？ And
his cleanliness too！’ said Mr Dennis； who certainly had no reason
to entertain a fellow feeling with anybody who was particular on
that score； ‘what weaknesses he’s guilty of； with respect to his
cleanliness！ At five o’clock this morning； there he was at the
pump； though any one would think he had gone through enough；
the day before yesterday； to be pretty fast asleep at that time。 But
no—when I woke for a minute or two； there he was at the pump；
and if you’d seen him sticking them peacock’s feathers into his hat
when he’d done washing—ah！ I’m sorry he’s such a imperfect
character； but the best on us is incomplete in some pint of view or
another。’
The subject of this dialogue and of these concluding remarks；
which were uttered in a tone of philosophical meditation； was； as
the reader will have divined； no other than Barnaby； who； with his
flag in hand； stood sentry in the little patch of sunlight at the
distant door； or walked to and fro outside； singing softly to himself；
and keeping time to the music of some clear church bells。 Whether
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he stood still； leaning with both hands on the flagstaff； or； bearing
it upon his shoulder； paced slowly up and down； the careful
arrangement of his poor dress； and his erect and lofty bearing；
showed how high a sense he had of the great importance of his
trust； and how happy and how proud it made him。 To Hugh and
his companion； who lay in a dark corner of the gloomy shed； he；
and the sunlight； and the peaceful Sabbath sound to which he
made response； seemed like a bright picture framed by the door；
and set off by the stable’s blackness。 The whole formed such a
contrast to themselves； as they lay wallowing； like some obscene
animals； in their squalor and wickedness on the two heaps of
straw； that for a few moments they looked on without speaking；
and felt almost ashamed。
‘Ah！’ said Hugh at length； carrying it off with a laugh： ‘He’s a
rare fellow is Barnaby； and can do more； with less rest； or meat； or
drink； than any of us。 As to his soldiering； I put him on duty there。’
‘Then there was a object in it； and a proper good one too； I’ll be
sworn；’ retorted Dennis with a broad grin； and an oath of the same
quality。 ‘What was it； brother？’
‘Why； you see；’ said Hugh； crawling a little nearer to him； ‘that
our noble captain yonder； came in yesterday morning rather the
worse for liquor； and was—like you and me—ditto last night。’
Dennis looked to where Simon Tappertit lay coiled upon a truss
of hay； snoring profoundly； and nodded。
‘And our noble captain；’ continued Hugh with another laugh；
‘our noble captain and I； have planned for to…morrow a roaring
expedition； with good profit in it。’
‘Again the Papists？’ asked Dennis； rubbing his hands。
‘Ay； against the Papists—against one of ’em at least； that some
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of us； and I for one； owe a good heavy grudge to。’
‘Not Muster Gashford’s friend that he spoke to us about in my
house； eh？’ said Dennis； brimful of pleasant expectation。
‘The same man；’ said Hugh。
‘That’s your sort；’ cried Mr Dennis； gaily shaking hands with
him； ‘that’s the kind of game。 Let’s have revenges and injuries； and
all that； and we shall get on twice as fast。 Now you talk； indeed！’
‘Ha ha ha！ The captain；’ added Hugh； ‘has thoughts of carrying
off a woman in the bustle； and—ha ha ha！—and so have I！’
Mr Dennis received this part of the scheme with a wry face；
observing that as a general principle he objected to women
altogether； as being unsafe and slippery persons on whom there
was no calculating with any certainty； and who were never in the
same mind for four…and…twenty hours at a stretch。 He might have
expatiated on this suggestive theme at much greater length； but
that it occurred to him to ask what connection existed between the
proposed expedition and Barnaby’s being posted at the stable…
door as sentry； to which Hugh cautiously replied in these words：
‘Why； the people we mean to visit； were friends of his； once
upon a time； and I know that much of him to feel pretty sure that if
he thought we were going to do them any harm； he’d be no friend
to our side； but would lend a ready hand to the other。 So I’ve
persuaded him （for I know him of old） that Lord George has
picked him out to guard this place to…morrow while we’re away；
and that it’s a great honour—and so he’s on duty now； and as
proud of it as if he was a general。 Ha ha！ What do you say to me for
a careful man as well as a devil of a one？’
Mr Dennis exhausted himself in compliments； and then added；
‘But about the expedition itself—’
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‘About that；’ said Hugh； ‘you shall hear all particulars from me
and the great captain conjointly and both together—for see； he’s
waking up。 Rouse yourself； lion…heart。 Ha ha！ Put a good face upon
it； and drink again。 Another hair of the dog that bit you； captain！
Call for drink！ There’s enough of gold and silver cups and
candlesticks buried underneath my bed；’ he added； rolling back
the straw； and pointing to where the ground was newly turned； ‘to
pay for it； if it was a score of casks full。 Drink； captain！’
Mr Tappertit received these jovial promptings with a very bad
grace； being much the worse； both in mind and body； for his two
nights of debauch； and but indifferently able to stand upon his
legs。 With Hugh’s assistance； however； he contrived to stagger to
the pump； and having refreshed himself with an abundant
draught of cold water； and a copious shower of the same
refreshing liquid on his head and face； he ordered some rum and
milk to be served； and upon that innocent beverage and some
biscuits and cheese made a pretty hearty meal。 That done； he
disposed himself in an easy attitude on the ground beside his two
companions （who were carousing after their own tastes）； and
proceeded to enlighten Mr Dennis in reference to to…morrow’s
project。
That their conversation was an interesting one； was rendered
manifest by its length； and by the close attention of all three。 That
it was not of an oppressively grave character； but was enlivened by
various pleasantries arising out of the subject； was clear from their
loud and frequent roars of laughter； which startled Barnaby on his
post； and made him wonder at their levity。 But he was not
summoned to join them； until they had eaten； and drunk； and
slept； and talked together for some hours； not； indeed； until the
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