barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第184节
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moment to put the light upon the table； and immediately returning
to his former position against the door； bared his head； and looked
on smilingly。
‘You have news of my uncle； sir？’ said Emma； turning hastily
towards him。
‘And of my father and mother？’ added Dolly。
‘Yes；’ he said。 ‘Good news。’
‘They are alive and unhurt？’ they both cried at once。
‘Yes； and unhurt；’ he rejoined。
‘And close at hand？’
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‘I did not say close at hand；’ he answered smoothly； ‘they are at
no great distance。 Your friends； sweet one；’ he added； addressing
Dolly； ‘are within a few hours’ journey。 You will be restored to
them； I hope； to…night。’
‘My uncle； sir—’ faltered Emma。
‘Your uncle； dear Miss Haredale； happily—I say happily；
because he has succeeded where many of our creed have failed；
and is safe—has crossed the sea； and is out of Britain。’
‘I thank God for it；’ said Emma； faintly。
‘You say well。 You have reason to be thankful： greater reason
than it is possible for you； who have seen but one night of these
cruel outrages； to imagine。’
‘Does he desire；’ said Emma； ‘that I should follow him？’
‘Do you ask if he desires it？’ cried the stranger in surprise。 ‘If he
desires it！ But you do not know the danger of remaining in
England； the difficulty of escape； or the price hundreds would pay
to secure the means； when you make that inquiry。 Pardon me。 I
had forgotten that you could not； being prisoner here。’
‘I gather； sir；’ said Emma； after a moment’s pause； ‘from what
you hint at； but fear to tell me； that I have witnessed but the
beginning； and the least； of the violence to which we are exposed；
and that it has not yet slackened in its fury？’
He shrugged his shoulders； shook his head； lifted up his hands；
and with the same smooth smile； which was not a pleasant one to
see； cast his eyes upon the ground； and remained silent。
‘You may venture； sir； to speak plain；’ said Emma； ‘and to tell
me the worst。 We have undergone some preparation for it。’
But here Dolly interposed； and entreated her not to hear the
worst； but the best； and besought the gentleman to tell them the
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best； and to keep the remainder of his news until they were safe
among their friends again。
‘It is told in three words；’ he said； glancing at the locksmith’s
daughter with a look of some displeasure。 ‘The people have risen；
to a man； against us； the streets are filled with soldiers； who
support them and do their bidding。 We have no protection but
from above； and no safety but in flight； and that is a poor resource；
for we are watched on every hand； and detained here； both by
force and fraud。 Miss Haredale； I cannot bear—believe me； that I
cannot bear—by speaking of myself； or what I have done； or am
prepared to do； to seem to vaunt my services before you。 But；
having powerful Protestant connections； and having my whole
wealth embarked with theirs in shipping and commerce； I happily
possessed the means of saving your uncle。 I have the means of
saving you； and in redemption of my sacred promise； made to him；
I am here； pledged not to leave you until I have placed you in his
arms。 The treachery or penitence of one of the men about you； led
to the discovery of your place of confinement； and that I have
forced my way here； sword in hand； you see。’
‘You bring；’ said Emma； faltering； ‘some note or token from my
uncle？’
‘No； he doesn’t；’ cried Dolly； pointing at him earnestly； ‘now I
am sure he doesn’t。 Don’t go with him for the world！’
‘Hush； pretty fool—be silent；’ he replied； frowning angrily upon
her。 ‘No； Miss Haredale； I have no letter； nor any token of any
kind； for while I sympathise with you； and such as you； on whom
misfortune so heavy and so undeserved has fallen； I value my life。
I carry； therefore； no writing which； found upon me； would lead to
its certain loss。 I never thought of bringing any other token； nor
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did Mr Haredale think of entrusting me with one—possibly
because he had good experience of my faith and honesty； and
owed his life to me。’
There was a reproof conveyed in these words； which to a nature
like Emma Haredale’s； was well addressed。 But Dolly； who was
differently constituted； was by no means touched by it； and still
conjured her； in all the terms of affection and attachment she
could think of； not to be lured away。
‘Time presses；’ said their visitor； who； although he sought to
express the deepest interest； had something cold and even in his
speech； that grated on the ear； ‘and danger surrounds us。 If I have
exposed myself to it； in vain； let it be so； but if you and he should
ever meet again； do me justice。 If you decide to remain （as I think
you do）； remember； Miss Haredale； that I left you with a solemn
caution； and acquitting myself of all the consequences to which
you expose yourself。’
‘Stay； sir！’ cried Emma—one moment； I beg you。 Cannot we—
and she drew Dolly closer to her—‘cannot we go together？’
‘The task of conveying one female in safety through such scenes
as we must encounter； to say nothing of attracting the attention of
those who crowd the streets；’ he answered； ‘is enough。 I have said
that she will be restored to her friends to…night。 If you accept the
service I tender； Miss Haredale； she shall be instantly placed in
safe conduct； and that promise redeemed。 Do you decide to
remain？ People of all ranks and creeds are flying from the town；
which is sacked from end to end。 Let me be of use in some quarter。
Do you stay； or go？’
‘Dolly；’ said Emma； in a hurried manner； ‘my dear girl； this is
our last hope。 If we part now； it is only that we may meet again in
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happiness and honour。 I will trust to this gentleman。’
‘No no…no！’ cried Dolly； clinging to her。 ‘Pray； pray； do not！’
‘You hear；’ said Emma； ‘that to…night—only to…night—within a
few hours—think of that！—you will be among those who would die
of grief to lose you； and who are now plunged in the deepest
misery for your sake。 Pray for me； dear girl； as I will for you； and
never forget the many quiet hours we have passed together。 Say
one “God bless you！” Say that at parting！’
But Dolly could say nothing； no； not when Emma kissed her
cheek a hundred times； and covered it with tears； could she do
more than hang upon her neck； and sob； and clasp； and hold her
tight。
‘We have time for no more of this；’ cried the man； unclenching
her hands； and pushing her roughly off； as he drew Emma
Haredale towards the door： ‘Now！ Quick； outside there！ are you
ready？’
‘Ay！’ cried a loud voice； which made him start。 ‘Quite ready！
Stand back here； for your lives！’
And in an instant he was felled like an ox in the butcher’s
shambles—struck down as though a block of marble had fallen
from the roof and crushed him—and cheerful light； and beaming
faces came pouring in—and Emma was clasped in her uncle’s
embrace； and Dolly； with a shriek that pierced the air； fell into the
arms of her father and mo
