the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第19节
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shares were （comparatively） low； and must inevitably； in the course of a
year or two； double； treble； quadruple their present value。
In this way I was prepared； and in this way I took leave of my dear
Gus。 As we parted in the yard of the 〃Bolt…in…Tun；〃 Fleet Street； I felt
that I never should go back to Salisbury Square again； and had made my
little present to the landlady's family accordingly。 She said I was the
respectablest gentleman she had ever had in her house： nor was that
saying much； for Bell Lane is in the Rules of the Fleet； and her lodgers
used commonly to be prisoners on Rule from that place。 As for Gus； the
poor fellow cried and blubbered so that he could not eat a morsel of the
muffins and grilled ham with which I treated him for breakfast in the
〃Bolt…in…Tun〃 coffee… house； and when I went away was waving his hat
and his handkerchief so in the archway of the coach…office that I do
believe the wheels of the 〃True Blue〃 went over his toes； for I heard him
roaring as we passed through the arch。 Ah！ how different were my
feelings as I sat proudly there on the box by the side of Jim Ward； the
coachman； to those I had the last time I mounted that coach； parting from
my dear Mary and coming to London with my DIAMOND PIN！
When arrived near home （at Grumpley； three miles from our village；
where the 〃True Blue〃 generally stops to take a glass of ale at the
Poppleton Arms） it was as if our Member； Mr。 Poppleton himself； was
come into the country； so great was the concourse of people assembled
round the inn。 And there was the landlord of the inn and all the people of
the village。 Then there was Tom Wheeler； the post…boy； from Mrs。
Rincer's posting…hotel in our town； he was riding on the old bay posters；
and they； Heaven bless us！ were drawing my aunt's yellow chariot； in
which she never went out but thrice in a year； and in which she now sat in
her splendid cashmere shawl and a new hat and feather。 She waved a
white handkerchief out of the window； and Tom Wheeler shouted out
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〃Huzza！〃 as did a number of the little blackguard boys of Grumpley：
who； to be sure； would huzza for anything。 What a change on Tom
Wheeler's part； however！ I remembered only a few years before how he
had whipped me from the box of the chaise； as I was hanging on for a ride
behind。 Next to my aunt's carriage came the four…wheeled chaise of
Lieutenant Smith； R。N。； who was driving his old fat pony with his lady by
his side。 I looked in the back seat of the chaise； and felt a little sad at
seeing that SOMEBODY was not there。 But； O silly fellow！ there was
Somebody in the yellow chariot with my aunt； blushing like a peony； I
declare； and looking so happy！oh； so happy and pretty！ She had a
white dress； and a light blue and yellow scarf； which my aunt said were
the Hoggarty colours； though what the Hoggartys had to do with light blue
and yellow； I don't know to this day。
Well； the 〃True Blue〃 guard made a great bellowing on his horn as his
four horses dashed away； the boys shouted again； I was placed bodkin
between Mrs。 Hoggarty and Mary； Tom Wheeler cut into his bays； the
Lieutenant （who had shaken me cordially by the hand； and whose big dog
did not make the slightest attempt at biting me this time） beat his pony till
its fat sides lathered again； and thus in this； I may say； unexampled
procession； I arrived in triumph at our village。
My dear mother and the girls；Heaven bless them！nine of them in
their nankeen spencers （I had something pretty in my trunk for each of
them）could not afford a carriage； but had posted themselves on the road
near the village； and there was such a waving of hands and handkerchiefs：
and though my aunt did not much notice them； except by a majestic toss of
the head； which is pardonable in a woman of her property； yet Mary Smith
did even more than I； and waved her hands as much as the whole nine。
Ah！ how my dear mother cried and blessed me when we met； and called
me her soul's comfort and her darling boy； and looked at me as if I were a
paragon of virtue and genius： whereas I was only a very lucky young
fellow； that by the aid of kind friends had stepped rapidly into a very
pretty property。
I was not to stay with my mother；that had been arranged beforehand；
for though she and Mrs。 Hoggarty were not remarkably good friends； yet
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Mother said it was for my benefit that I should stay with my aunt； and so
give up the pleasure of having me with her： and though hers was much
the humbler house of the two； I need not say I preferred it far to Mrs。
Hoggarty's more splendid one； let alone the horrible Rosolio； of which I
was obliged now to drink gallons。
It was to Mrs。 H。's then we were driven： she had prepared a great
dinner that evening； and hired an extra waiter； and on getting out of the
carriage； she gave a sixpence to Tom Wheeler； saying that was for himself；
and that she would settle with Mrs。 Rincer for the horses afterwards。 At
which Tom flung the sixpence upon the ground； swore most violently； and
was very justly called by my aunt an 〃impertinent fellow。〃
She had taken such a liking to me that she would hardly bear me out of
her sight。 We used to sit for morning after morning over her accounts；
debating for hours together the propriety of selling the Slopperton property；
but no arrangement was come to yet about it； for Hodge and Smithers
could not get the price she wanted。 And； moreover； she vowed that at her
decease she would leave every shilling to me。
Hodge and Smithers； too； gave a grand party； and treated me with
marked consideration； as did every single person of the village。 Those who
could not afford to give dinners gave teas； and all drank the health of the
young couple； and many a time after dinner or supper was my Mary made
to blush by the allusions to the change in her condition。
The happy day for that ceremony was now fixed； and the 24th July；
1823； saw me the happiest husband of the prettiest girl in Somersetshire。
We were married from my mother's house； who would insist upon that at
any rate； and the nine girls acted as bridesmaids； ay！ and Gus Hoskins
came from town express to be my groomsman； and had my old room at
my mother's； and stayed with her for a week； and cast a sheep's…eye upon
Miss Winny Titmarsh too； my dear fourth sister； as I afterwards learned。
My aunt was very kind upon the marriage ceremony； indeed。 She
had desired me some weeks previous to order three magnificent dresses
for Mary from the celebrated Madame Mantalini of London； and some
elegant trinkets and embroidered pocket…handkerchiefs from Howell and
James's。 These were sent down to me； and were to be MY present to the
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bride； but Mrs。 Hoggarty gave me to understand that I need never trouble
myself about the payment of the bill； and I thought her conduct very
generous。 Also she lent us her chariot for the wedding journey； and made
with her own hands a beautiful crimson satin reticule for Mrs。 Samuel
Titmarsh； her dear niece。 It contained a huswife completely furnished
with needles； &c。； for she hoped Mrs。 Titmarsh would never neglect her
needle； and a purse containing some silver pennies； and a very curious
pocket…piece。 〃As long as you keep these； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Hoggarty；
〃you will never want； and ferventlyfervently do I pray that you will keep
them。〃 In the carriage…pocket we found a paper of biscuits and a bottle of
