barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第84节
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would do。 She supposed you to be rich； or at least quite rich
enough； and found you poor。 Marriage is a civil contract； people
marry to better their worldly condition and improve appearances；
it is an affair of house and furniture； of liveries； servants； equipage；
and so forth。 The lady being poor and you poor also； there is an
end of the matter。 You cannot enter upon these considerations；
and have no manner of business with the ceremony。 I drink her
health in this glass； and respect and honour her for her extreme
good sense。 It is a lesson to you。 Fill yours； Ned。’
‘It is a lesson；’ returned his son； ‘by which I hope I may never
profit； and if years and experience impress it on—’
‘Don’t say on the heart；’ interposed his father。
‘On men whom the world and its hypocrisy have spoiled；’ said
Edward warmly； ‘Heaven keep me from its knowledge。’
‘Come； sir；’ returned his father； raising himself a little on the
sofa； and looking straight towards him； ‘we have had enough of
this。 Remember； if you please； your interest； your duty； your moral
obligations； your filial affections； and all that sort of thing； which it
is so very delightful and charming to reflect upon； or you will
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repent it。’
‘I shall never repent the preservation of my self…respect； sir；’
said Edward。 ‘Forgive me if I say that I will not sacrifice it at your
bidding； and that I will not pursue the track which you would have
me take； and to which the secret share you have had in this late
separation tends。’
His father rose a little higher still； and looking at him as though
curious to know if he were quite resolved and earnest； dropped
gently down again； and said in the calmest voice—eating his nuts
meanwhile；
‘Edward； my father had a son； who being a fool like you； and；
like you； entertaining low and disobedient sentiments； he
disinherited and cursed one morning after breakfast。 The
circumstance occurs to me with a singular clearness of
recollection this evening。 I remember eating muffins at the time；
with marmalade。 He led a miserable life （the son； I mean） and died
early； it was a happy release on all accounts； he degraded the
family very much。 It is a sad circumstance； Edward； when a father
finds it necessary to resort to such strong measures。
‘It is；’ replied Edward； ‘and it is sad when a son； proffering him
his love and duty in their best and truest sense； finds himself
repelled at every turn； and forced to disobey。 Dear father；’ he
added； more earnestly though in a gentler tone； ‘I have reflected
many times on what occurred between us when we first discussed
this subject。 Let there be a confidence between us； not in terms；
but truth。 Hear what I have to say。’
‘As I anticipate what it is； and cannot fail to do so； Edward；’
returned his father coldly； ‘I decline。 I couldn’t possibly。 I am sure
it would put me out of temper； which is a state of mind I can’t
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endure。 If you intend to mar my plans for your establishment in
life； and the preservation of that gentility and becoming pride；
which our family have so long sustained—if； in short； you are
resolved to take your own course； you must take it； and my curse
with it。 I am very sorry； but there’s really no alternative。’
‘The curse may pass your lips；’ said Edward； ‘but it will be but
empty breath。 I do not believe that any man on earth has greater
power to call one down upon his fellow—least of all； upon his own
child—than he has to make one drop of rain or flake of snow fall
from the clouds above us at his impious bidding。 Beware； sir； what
you do。’
‘You are so very irreligious； so exceedingly undutiful； so
horribly profane；’ rejoined his father； turning his face lazily
towards him； and cracking another nut； ‘that I positively must
interrupt you here。 It is quite impossible we can continue to go on；
upon such terms as these。 If you will do me the favour to ring the
bell； the servant will show you to the door。 Return to this roof no
more； I beg you。 Go； sir； since you have no moral sense remaining；
and go to the Devil； at my express desire。 Good day。’
Edward left the room without another word or look； and turned
his back upon the house for ever。
The father’s face was slightly flushed and heated； but his
manner was quite unchanged； as he rang the bell again； and
addressed the servant on his entrance。
‘Peak—if that gentleman who has just gone out—’
‘I beg your pardon； sir； Mr Edward？’
‘Were there more than one； dolt； that you ask the question？—If
that gentleman should send here for his wardrobe； let him have it；
do you hear？ If he should call himself at any time； I’m not at home。
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You’ll tell him so； and shut the door。’
So； it soon got whispered about； that Mr Chester was very
unfortunate in his son； who had occasioned him great grief and
sorrow。 And the good people who heard this and told it again；
marvelled the more at his equanimity and even temper； and said
what an amiable nature that man must have； who； having
undergone so much； could be so placid and so calm。 And when
Edward’s name was spoken； Society shook its head； and laid its
finger on its lip； and sighed； and looked very grave； and those who
had sons about his age； waxed wrathful and indignant； and hoped；
for Virtue’s sake； that he was dead。 And the world went on turning
round； as usual； for five years； concerning which this Narrative is
silent。
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Chapter 33
ne wintry evening； early in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty； a keen north wind
O
arose as it grew dark； and night came on with black and
dismal looks。 A bitter storm of sleet； sharp； dense； and icy…cold；
swept the wet streets； and rattled on the trembling windows。
Signboards； shaken past endurance in their creaking frames； fell
crashing on the pavement； old tottering chimneys reeled and
staggered in the blast； and many a steeple rocked again that night；
as though the earth were troubled。
It was not a time for those who could by any means get light
and warmth； to brave the fury of the weather。 In coffee…houses of
the better sort； guests crowded round the fire； forgot to be
political； and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast
grew fiercer every minute。 Each humble tavern by the water…side；
had its group of uncouth figures round the hearth； who talked of
vessels foundering at sea； and all hands lost； related many a
dismal tale of shipwreck and drowned men； and hoped that some
they knew were safe； and shook their heads in doubt。 In private
dwellings； children clustered near the blaze； listening with timid
pleasure to tales of ghosts and goblins； and tall figures clad in
white standing by bed…sides； and people who had gone to sleep in
old churches and being overlooked had found themselves alone
there at the dead hour of the night： until they shuddered at the
thou
