barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第183节
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devout belief that all would happen for the best； that Emma felt
her courage strengthened by the bright example； never doubting
but that everything she said was true； and that she； like them； was
torn from all she loved； and agonised by doubt and apprehension。
As to poor Dolly； she was roused； at first； by seeing one who came
from home； but when she heard under what circumstances she
had left it； and into whose hands her father had fallen； she wept
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more bitterly than ever； and refused all comfort。
Miss Miggs was at some trouble to reprove her for this state of
mind； and to entreat her to take example by herself； who； she said；
was now receiving back； with interest； tenfold the amount of her
subscriptions to the red…brick dwelling…house； in the articles of
peace of mind and a quiet conscience。 And； while on serious
topics； Miss Miggs considered it her duty to try her hand at the
conversion of Miss Haredale； for whose improvement she
launched into a polemical address of some length； in the course
whereof； she likened herself unto a chosen missionary； and that
young lady to a cannibal in darkness。 Indeed； she returned so
often to these subjects； and so frequently called upon them to take
a lesson from her；—at the same time vaunting and； as it were；
rioting in； her huge unworthiness； and abundant excess of sin；—
that； in the course of a short time； she became； in that small
chamber； rather a nuisance than a comfort； and rendered them； if
possible； even more unhappy than they had been before。
The night had now come； and for the first time （for their jailers
had been regular in bringing food and candles）； they were left in
darkness。 Any change in their condition in such a place inspired
new fears； and when some hours had passed； and the gloom was
still unbroken； Emma could no longer repress her alarm。
They listened attentively。 There was the same murmuring in
the outer room； and now and then a moan which seemed to be
wrung from a person in great pain； who made an effort to subdue
it； but could not。 Even these men seemed to be in darkness too； for
no light shone through the chinks in the door； nor were they
moving； as their custom was； but quite still： the silence being
unbroken by so much as the creaking of a board。
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At first； Miss Miggs wondered greatly in her own mind who this
sick person might be； but arriving； on second thoughts； at the
conclusion that he was a part of the schemes on foot； and an artful
device soon to be employed with great success； she opined； for
Miss Haredale’s comfort； that it must be some misguided Papist
who had been wounded： and this happy supposition encouraged
her to say； under her breath； ‘Ally Looyer！’ several times。
‘Is it possible；’ said Emma； with some indignation； ‘that you
who have seen these men committing the outrages you have told
us of； and who have fallen into their hands； like us； can exult in
their cruelties！’
‘Personal considerations； miss；’ rejoined Miggs； ‘sinks into
nothing； afore a noble cause。 Ally Looyer！ Ally Looyer！ Ally
Looyer； good gentlemen！’
It seemed from the shrill pertinacity with which Miss Miggs
repeated this form of acclamation； that she was calling the same
through the keyhole of the door； but in the profound darkness she
could not be seen。
‘If the time has come—Heaven knows it may come at any
moment—when they are bent on prosecuting the designs；
whatever they may be； with which they have brought us here； can
you still encourage； and take part with them？’ demanded Emma。
‘I thank my goodness…gracious…blessed…stars I can； miss；’
returned Miggs； with increased energy。—‘Ally Looyer； good
gentlemen！’
Even Dolly； cast down and disappointed as she was； revived at
this； and bade Miggs hold her tongue directly。
‘Which； was you pleased to observe； Miss Varden？’ said Miggs；
with a strong emphasis on the irrelative pronoun。
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Dolly repeated her request。
‘Ho； gracious me！’ cried Miggs； with hysterical derision。 ‘Ho；
gracious me！ Yes； to be sure I will。 Ho yes！ I am a abject slave； and
a toiling； moiling； constant…working； always…being…found…fault…
with； never…giving…satisfactions； nor…having…no…time…to…clean…
oneself； potter’s wessel—an’t I； miss！ Ho yes！ My situations is
lowly； and my capacities is limited； and my duties is to humble
myself afore the base degenerating daughters of their blessed
mothers as is—fit to keep companies with holy saints but is born to
persecutions from wicked relations—and to demean myself before
them as is no better than Infidels—an’t it； miss！ Ho yes！ My only
becoming occupations is to help young flaunting pagins to brush
and comb and titiwate theirselves into whitening and suppulchres；
and leave the young men to think that there an’t a bit of padding
in it nor no pinching ins nor fillings out nor pomatums nor deceits
nor earthly wanities—an’t it； miss！ Yes； to be sure it is—ho yes！’
Having delivered these ironical passages with a most wonderful
volubility； and with a shrillness perfectly deafening （especially
when she jerked out the interjections）； Miss Miggs； from mere
habit； and not because weeping was at all appropriate to the
occasion； which was one of triumph； concluded by bursting into a
flood of tears； and calling in an impassioned manner on the name
of Simmuns。
What Emma Haredale and Dolly would have done； or how long
Miss Miggs； now that she had hoisted her true colours； would have
gone on waving them before their astonished senses； it is
impossible to tell。 Nor is it necessary to speculate on these
matters； for a startling interruption occurred at that moment；
which took their whole attention by storm。
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This was a violent knocking at the door of the house； and then
its sudden bursting open； which was immediately succeeded by a
scuffle in the room without； and the clash of weapons。
Transported with the hope that rescue had at length arrived；
Emma and Dolly shrieked aloud for help； nor were their shrieks
unanswered； for after a hurried interval； a man； bearing in one
hand a drawn sword； and in the other a taper； rushed into the
chamber where they were confined。
It was some check upon their transport to find in this person an
entire stranger； but they appealed to him； nevertheless； and
besought him； in impassioned language； to restore them to their
friends。
‘For what other purpose am I here？’ he answered； closing the
door； and standing with his back against it。 ‘With what object have
I made my way to this place； through difficulty and danger； but to
preserve you？’
With a joy for which it was impossible to find adequate
expression； they embraced each other； and thanked Heaven for
this most timely aid。 Their deliverer stepped forward for a
moment to put the light upon the table； and immediately returning
to his former position against the door； bared his hea
