barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第42节
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chief endowments。 Will you do this； sir？ At the expiration of the
term we agree upon； let us discuss this subject again。 Till then；
unless it is revived by you； let it never be renewed between us。’
‘My dear Ned；’ returned his father； laying down the newspaper
at which he had been glancing carelessly； and throwing himself
back in the window…seat； ‘I believe you know how very much I
dislike what are called family affairs； which are only fit for
plebeian Christmas days； and have no manner of business with
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people of our condition。 But as you are proceeding upon a
mistake； Ned—altogether upon a mistake—I will conquer my
repugnance to entering on such matters； and give you a perfectly
plain and candid answer； if you will do me the favour to shut the
door。’
Edward having obeyed him； he took an elegant little knife from
his pocket； and paring his nails； continued：
‘You have to thank me； Ned； for being of good family； for your
mother； charming person as she was； and almost broken…hearted；
and so forth； as she left me； when she was prematurely compelled
to become immortal—had nothing to boast of in that respect。’
‘Her father was at least an eminent lawyer； sir；’ said Edward。
‘Quite right； Ned； perfectly so。 He stood high at the bar； had a
great name and great wealth； but having risen from nothing—I
have always closed my eyes to the circumstance and steadily
resisted its contemplation； but I fear his father dealt in pork； and
that his business did once involve cow…heel and sausages—he
wished to marry his daughter into a good family。 He had his
heart’s desire； Ned。 I was a younger son’s younger son； and I
married her。 We each had our object； and gained it。 She stepped at
once into the politest and best circles； and I stepped into a fortune
which I assure you was very necessary to my comfort—quite
indispensable。 Now； my good fellow； that fortune is among the
things that have been。 It is gone； Ned； and has been gone—how
old are you？ I always forget。’
‘Seven…and…twenty； sir。’
‘Are you indeed？’ cried his father； raising his eyelids in a
languishing surprise。 ‘So much！ Then I should say； Ned； that as
nearly as I remember； its skirts vanished from human knowledge；
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about eighteen or nineteen years ago。 It was about that time when
I came to live in these chambers （once your grandfather’s； and
bequeathed by that extremely respectable person to me）； and
commenced to live upon an inconsiderable annuity and my past
reputation。’
‘You are jesting with me； sir；’ said Edward。
‘Not in the slightest degree； I assure you；’ returned his father
with great composure。 ‘These family topics are so extremely dry；
that I am sorry to say they don’t admit of any such relief。 It is for
that reason； and because they have an appearance of business；
that I dislike them so very much。 Well！ You know the rest。 A son；
Ned； unless he is old enough to be a companion—that is to say；
unless he is some two or three and twenty—is not the kind of thing
to have about one。 He is a restraint upon his father； his father is a
restraint upon him； and they make each other mutually
uncomfortable。 Therefore； until within the last four years or so—I
have a poor memory for dates； and if I mistake； you will correct me
in your own mind—you pursued your studies at a distance； and
picked up a great variety of accomplishments。 Occasionally we
passed a week or two together here； and disconcerted each other
as only such near relations can。 At last you came home。 I candidly
tell you； my dear boy； that if you had been awkward and
overgrown； I should have exported you to some distant part of the
world。’
‘I wish with all my soul you had； sir；’ said Edward。
‘No you don’t； Ned；’ said his father coolly； ‘you are mistaken； I
assure you。 I found you a handsome； prepossessing； elegant fellow；
and I threw you into the society I can still command。 Having done
that； my dear fellow； I consider that I have provided for you in life；
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and rely upon your doing something to provide for me in return。’
‘I do not understand your meaning； sir。’
‘My meaning； Ned； is obvious—I observe another fly in the
cream…jug； but have the goodness not to take it out as you did the
first； for their walk when their legs are milky； is extremely
ungraceful and disagreeable—my meaning is； that you must do as
I did； that you must marry well and make the most of yourself。’
‘A mere fortune…hunter！’ cried the son； indignantly。
‘What in the devil’s name； Ned； would you be！’ returned the
father。 ‘All men are fortune…hunters； are they not？ The law； the
church； the court； the camp—see how they are all crowded with
fortune…hunters； jostling each other in the pursuit。 The stock…
exchange； the pulpit； the counting…house； the royal drawing…room；
the senate；—what but fortune…hunters are they filled with？ A
fortune…hunter！ Yes。 You are one； and you would be nothing else；
my dear Ned； if you were the greatest courtier； lawyer； legislator；
prelate； or merchant； in existence。 If you are squeamish and
moral； Ned； console yourself with the reflection that at the very
worst your fortune…hunting can make but one person miserable or
unhappy。 How many people do you suppose these other kinds of
huntsmen crush in following their sport—hundreds at a step？ Or
thousands？’
The young man leant his head upon his hand； and made no
answer。
‘I am quite charmed；’ said the father rising； and walking slowly
to and fro—stopping now and then to glance at himself in the
mirror； or survey a picture through his glass； with the air of a
connoisseur； ‘that we have had this conversation； Ned；
unpromising as it was。 It establishes a confidence between us
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which is quite delightful； and was certainly necessary； though how
you can ever have mistaken our positions and designs； I confess I
cannot understand。 I conceived； until I found your fancy for this
girl； that all these points were tacitly agreed upon between us。’
‘I knew you were embarrassed； sir；’ returned the son； raising
his head for a moment； and then falling into his former attitude；
‘but I had no idea we were the beggared wretches you describe。
How could I suppose it； bred as I have been； witnessing the life
you have always led； and the appearance you have always made？’
‘My dear child；’ said the father—‘for you really talk so like a
child that I must call you one—you were bred upon a careful
principle； the very manner of your education； I assure you；
maintained my credit surprisingly。 As to the life I lead； I must lead
it； Ned。 I must have these little refinements about me。 I have
always been used to them； and I cannot exist without them。 They
must surround me； you observe； and therefore they are here。 With
regard to our circumstances； Ned； you may set your mind at rest
upon that score。 They are desperate。 Your own appearance is
