barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第26节
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distance； time； and place。 Thrice blessed be this last consideration；
since it enables us to follow the disdainful Miggs even into the
sanctity of her chamber； and to hold her in sweet companionship
through the dreary watches of the night！
Miss Miggs； having undone her mistress； as she phrased it
（which means； assisted to undress her）； and having seen her
comfortably to bed in the back room on the first floor； withdrew to
her own apartment； in the attic story。 Notwithstanding her
declaration in the locksmith’s presence； she was in no mood for
sleep； so； putting her light upon the table and withdrawing the
little window curtain； she gazed out pensively at the wild night
sky。
Perhaps she wondered what star was destined for her
habitation when she had run her little course below； perhaps
speculated which of those glimmering spheres might be the natal
orb of Mr Tappertit； perhaps marvelled how they could gaze down
on that perfidious creature； man； and not sicken and turn green as
chemists’ lamps； perhaps thought of nothing in particular。
Whatever she thought about； there she sat； until her attention；
alive to anything connected with the insinuating ’prentice； was
attracted by a noise in the next room to her own—his room； the
room in which he slept； and dreamed—it might be； sometimes
dreamed of her。
That he was not dreaming now； unless he was taking a walk in
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his sleep； was clear； for every now and then there came a shuffling
noise； as though he were engaged in polishing the whitewashed
wall； then a gentle creaking of his door； then the faintest
indication of his stealthy footsteps on the landing…place outside。
Noting this latter circumstance； Miss Miggs turned pale and
shuddered； as mistrusting his intentions； and more than once
exclaimed； below her breath； ‘Oh！ what a Providence it is； as I am
bolted in！’—which； owing doubtless to her alarm； was a confusion
of ideas on her part between a bolt and its use； for though there
was one on the door； it was not fastened。
Miss Miggs’s sense of hearing； however； having as sharp an
edge as her temper； and being of the same snappish and
suspicious kind； very soon informed her that the footsteps passed
her door； and appeared to have some object quite separate and
disconnected from herself。 At this discovery she became more
alarmed than ever； and was about to give utterance to those cries
of ‘Thieves！’ and ‘Murder！’ which she had hitherto restrained；
when it occurred to her to look softly out； and see that her fears
had some good palpable foundation。
Looking out accordingly； and stretching her neck over the
handrail； she descried； to her great amazement； Mr Tappertit
completely dressed； stealing downstairs； one step at a time； with
his shoes in one hand and a lamp in the other。 Following him with
her eyes； and going down a little way herself to get the better of an
intervening angle； she beheld him thrust his head in at the
parlour…door； draw it back again with great swiftness； and
immediately begin a retreat upstairs with all possible expedition。
‘Here’s mysteries！’ said the damsel； when she was safe in her
own room again； quite out of breath。 ‘Oh； gracious； here’s
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mysteries！’
The prospect of finding anybody out in anything； would have
kept Miss Miggs awake under the influence of henbane。 Presently；
she heard the step again； as she would have done if it had been
that of a feather endowed with motion and walking down on
tiptoe。 Then gliding out as before； she again beheld the retreating
figure of the ’prentice； again he looked cautiously in at the
parlour…door； but this time instead of retreating； he passed in and
disappeared。
Miggs was back in her room； and had her head out of the
window； before an elderly gentleman could have winked and
recovered from it。 Out he came at the street…door； shut it carefully
behind him； tried it with his knee； and swaggered off； putting
something in his pocket as he went along。 At this spectacle Miggs
cried ‘Gracious！’ again； and then ‘Goodness gracious！’ and then
‘Goodness gracious me！’ and then； candle in hand； went
downstairs as he had done。 Coming to the workshop； she saw the
lamp burning on the forge； and everything as Sim had left it。
‘Why I wish I may only have a walking funeral； and never be
buried decent with a mourning…coach and feathers； if the boy
hasn’t been and made a key for his own self！’ cried Miggs。 ‘Oh the
little villain！’
This conclusion was not arrived at without consideration； and
much peeping and peering about； nor was it unassisted by the
recollection that she had on several occasions come upon the
’prentice suddenly； and found him busy at some mysterious
occupation。 Lest the fact of Miss Miggs calling him； on whom she
stooped to cast a favourable eye； a boy； should create surprise in
any breast； it may be observed that she invariably affected to
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regard all male bipeds under thirty as mere chits and infants；
which phenomenon is not unusual in ladies of Miss Miggs’s
temper； and is indeed generally found to be the associate of such
indomitable and savage virtue。
Miss Miggs deliberated within herself for some little time；
looking hard at the shop…door while she did so； as though her eyes
and thoughts were both upon it； and then； taking a sheet of paper
from a drawer； twisted it into a long thin spiral tube。 Having filled
this instrument with a quantity of small coal…dust from the forge；
she approached the door； and dropping on one knee before it；
dexterously blew into the keyhole as much of these fine ashes as
the lock would hold。 When she had filled it to the brim in a very
workmanlike and skilful manner； she crept upstairs again； and
chuckled as she went。
‘There！’ cried Miggs； rubbing her hands； ‘now let’s see whether
you won’t be glad to take some notice of me； mister。 He； he； he！
You’ll have eyes for somebody besides Miss Dolly now； I think。 A
fat…faced puss she is； as ever I come across！’
As she uttered this criticism； she glanced approvingly at her
small mirror； as who should say； I thank my stars that can’t be said
of me！—as it certainly could not； for Miss Miggs’s style of beauty
was of that kind which Mr Tappertit himself had not inaptly
termed； in private； ‘scraggy。’
‘I don’t go to bed this night！’ said Miggs； wrapping herself in a
shawl； and drawing a couple of chairs near the window； flouncing
down upon one； and putting her feet upon the other； ’till you come
home； my lad。 I wouldn’t；’ said Miggs viciously； ‘no； not for five…
and…forty pound！’
With that； and with an expression of face in which a great
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number of opposite ingredients； such as mischief； cunning； malice；
triumph； and patient expectat
