barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第14节
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lighted up by the loveliest pair of sparkling eyes that ever
locksmith looked upon； the face of a pretty； laughing； girl； dimpled
and fresh； and healthful—the very impersonation of good…humour
and blooming beauty。
‘Hush！’ she whispered； bending forward and pointing archly to
the window underneath。 ‘Mother is still asleep。’
‘Still； my dear；’ returned the locksmith in the same tone。 ‘You
talk as if she had been asleep all night； instead of little more than
half an hour。 But I’m very thankful。 Sleep’s a blessing—no doubt
about it。’ The last few words he muttered to himself。
‘How cruel of you to keep us up so late this morning； and never
tell us where you were； or send us word！’ said the girl。
‘Ah Dolly； Dolly！’ returned the locksmith； shaking his head； and
smiling； ‘how cruel of you to run upstairs to bed！ Come down to
breakfast； madcap； and come down lightly； or you’ll wake your
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mother。 She must be tired； I am sure—I am。’
Keeping these latter words to himself； and returning his
daughter’s nod； he was passing into the workshop； with the smile
she had awakened still beaming on his face； when he just caught
sight of his ’prentice’s brown paper cap ducking down to avoid
observation； and shrinking from the window back to its former
place； which the wearer no sooner reached than he began to
hammer lustily。
‘Listening again； Simon！’ said Gabriel to himself。 ‘That’s bad。
What in the name of wonder does he expect the girl to say； that I
always catch him listening when she speaks； and never at any
other time！ A bad habit； Sim； a sneaking； underhanded way。 Ah！
you may hammer； but you won’t beat that out of me； if you work at
it till your time’s up！’
So saying； and shaking his head gravely； he re…entered the
workshop； and confronted the subject of these remarks。
‘There’s enough of that just now；’ said the locksmith。 ‘You
needn’t make any more of that confounded clatter。 Breakfast’s
ready。’
‘Sir；’ said Sim； looking up with amazing politeness； and a
peculiar little bow cut short off at the neck； ‘I shall attend you
immediately。’
‘I suppose；’ muttered Gabriel； ‘that’s out of the ’Prentice’s
Garland or the ’Prentice’s Delight； or the ’Prentice’s Warbler； or
the ’Prentice’s Guide to the Gallows； or some such improving
textbook。 Now he’s going to beautify himself—here’s a precious
locksmith！’
Quite unconscious that his master was looking on from the dark
corner by the parlour door； Sim threw off the paper cap； sprang
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from his seat； and in two extraordinary steps； something between
skating and minuet dancing； bounded to a washing place at the
other end of the shop； and there removed from his face and hands
all traces of his previous work—practising the same step all the
time with the utmost gravity。 This done； he drew from some
concealed place a little scrap of looking…glass； and with its
assistance arranged his hair； and ascertained the exact state of a
little carbuncle on his nose。 Having now completed his toilet； he
placed the fragment of mirror on a low bench； and looked over his
shoulder at so much of his legs as could be reflected in that small
compass； with the greatest possible complacency and satisfaction。
Sim； as he was called in the locksmith’s family； or Mr Simon
Tappertit； as he called himself； and required all men to style him
out of doors； on holidays； and Sundays out；—was an old…fashioned；
thin…faced； sleek…haired； sharp…nosed； small…eyed little fellow； very
little more than five feet high； and thoroughly convinced in his
own mind that he was above the middle size； rather tall； in fact；
than otherwise。 Of his figure； which was well enough formed；
though somewhat of the leanest； he entertained the highest
admiration； and with his legs； which； in knee…breeches； were
perfect curiosities of littleness； he was enraptured to a degree
amounting to enthusiasm。 He also had some majestic； shadowy
ideas； which had never been quite fathomed by his intimate
friends； concerning the power of his eye。 Indeed he had been
known to go so far as to boast that he could utterly quell and
subdue the haughtiest beauty by a simple process； which he
termed ‘eyeing her over；’ but it must be added； that neither of this
faculty； nor of the power he claimed to have； through the same
gift； of vanquishing and heaving down dumb animals； even in a
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rabid state； had he ever furnished evidence which could be
deemed quite satisfactory and conclusive。
It may be inferred from these premises； that in the small body
of Mr Tappertit there was locked up an ambitious and aspiring
soul。 As certain liquors； confined in casks too cramped in their
dimensions； will ferment； and fret； and chafe in their
imprisonment； so the spiritual essence or soul of Mr Tappertit
would sometimes fume within that precious cask； his body； until；
with great foam and froth and splutter； it would force a vent； and
carry all before it。 It was his custom to remark； in reference to any
one of these occasions； that his soul had got into his head； and in
this novel kind of intoxication many scrapes and mishaps befell
him； which he had frequently concealed with no small difficulty
from his worthy master。
Sim Tappertit； among the other fancies upon which his before…
mentioned soul was for ever feasting and regaling itself （and
which fancies； like the liver of Prometheus； grew as they were fed
upon）； had a mighty notion of his order； and had been heard by
the servant…maid openly expressing his regret that the ’prentices
no longer carried clubs wherewith to mace the citizens： that was
his strong expression。 He was likewise reported to have said that
in former times a stigma had been cast upon the body by the
execution of George Barnwell； to which they should not have
basely submitted； but should have demanded him of the
legislature—temperately at first； then by an appeal to arms； if
necessary—to be dealt with as they in their wisdom might think
fit。 These thoughts always led him to consider what a glorious
engine the ’prentices might yet become if they had but a master
spirit at their head； and then he would darkly； and to the terror of
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his hearers； hint at certain reckless fellows that he knew of； and at
a certain Lion Heart ready to become their captain； who； once
afoot； would make the Lord Mayor tremble on his throne。
In respect of dress and personal decoration； Sim Tappertit was
no less of an adventurous and enterprising character。 He had been
seen； beyond dispute； to pull off ruffles of the finest quality at the
corner of the street on Sunday nights； and to put them carefully in
his pocket before returning home； and it was quite notorious that
on all great holiday occasions it was his hab
