the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第20节
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them。〃 In the carriage…pocket we found a paper of biscuits and a bottle of
Rosolio。 We laughed at this； and made it over to Tom Wheelerwho；
however； did not seem to like it much better than we。
I need not say I was married in Mr。 Von Stiltz's coat （the third and
fourth coats； Heaven help us！ in a year）； and that I wore sparkling in my
bosom the GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND。
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
CHAPTER IX
BRINGS BACK SAM； HIS WIFE； AUNT； AND DIAMOND； TO
LONDON
We pleased ourselves during the honeymoon with forming plans for
our life in London； and a pretty paradise did we build for ourselves！ Well；
we were but forty years old between us； and； for my part； I never found
any harm come of castle…building； but a great deal of pleasure。
Before I left London I had； to say the truth； looked round me for a
proper place； befitting persons of our small income； and Gus Hoskins and
I； who hunted after office…hours in couples； bad fixed on a very snug little
cottage in Camden Town； where there was a garden that certain SMALL
PEOPLE might play in when they came： a horse and gig…house； if ever
we kept one；and why not； in a few years？and a fine healthy air； at a
reasonable distance from 'Change； all for 30L。 a year。 I had described
this little spot to Mary as enthusiastically as Sancho describes Lizias to
Don Quixote； and my dear wife was delighted with the prospect of
housekeeping there； vowed she would cook all the best dishes herself
（especially jam…pudding； of which I confess I am very fond）； and promised
Gus that he should dine with us at Clematis Bower every Sunday： only
he must not smoke those horrid cigars。 As for Gus； he vowed he would
have a room in the neighbourhood too； for he could not bear to go back to
Bell Lane； where we two had been so happy together； and so good…natured
Mary said she would ask my sister Winny to come and keep her company。
At which Hoskins blushed； and said； 〃Pooh！ nonsense now。〃
But all our hopes of a happy snug Clematis Lodge were dashed to the
ground on our return from our little honeymoon excursion； when Mrs。
Hoggarty informed us that she was sick of the country； and was
determined to go to London with her dear nephew and niece； and keep
house for them； and introduce them to her friends in the metropolis。
What could we do？ We wished her atBath： certainly not in
London。 But there was no help for it； and we were obliged to bring her：
for； as my mother said； if we offended her； her fortune would go out of our
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family； and were we two young people not likely to want it？
So we came to town rather dismally in the carriage； posting the whole
way； for the carriage must be brought； and a person of my aunt's rank in
life could not travel by the stage。 And I had to pay 14L。 for the posters；
which pretty nearly exhausted all my little hoard of cash。
First we went into lodgings；into three sets in three weeks。 We
quarrelled with the first landlady； because my aunt vowed that she cut a
slice off the leg of mutton which was served for our dinner； from the
second lodgings we went because aunt vowed the maid would steal the
candles； from the third we went because Aunt Hoggarty came down to
breakfast the morning after our arrival with her face shockingly swelled
and bitten bynever mind what。 To cut a long tale short； I was half mad
with the continual choppings and changings； and the long stories and
scoldings of my aunt。 As for her great acquaintances； none of them were
in London； and she made it a matter of quarrel with me that I had not
introduced her to John Brough； Esquire； M。P。； and to Lord and Lady
Tiptoff； her relatives。
Mr。 Brough was at Brighton when we arrived in town； and on his
return I did not care at first to tell our Director that I had brought my aunt
with me； or mention my embarrassments for money。 He looked rather
serious when perforce I spoke of the latter to him and asked for an
advance； but when he heard that my lack of money had been occasioned
by the bringing of my aunt to London； his tone instantly changed。 〃That；
my dear boy； alters the question； Mrs。 Hoggarty is of an age when all
things must be yielded to her。 Here are a hundred pounds； and I beg you
to draw upon me whenever you are in the least in want of money。〃 This
gave me breathing…time until she should pay her share of the household
expenses。 And the very next day Mr。 and Mrs。 John Brough； in their
splendid carriage… and…four； called upon Mrs。 Hoggarty and my wife at our
lodgings in Lamb's Conduit Street。
It was on the very day when my poor aunt appeared with her face in
that sad condition； and she did not fail to inform Mrs。 Brough of the cause；
and to state that at Castle Hoggarty； or at her country place in
Somersetshire； she had never heard or thought of such vile odious things。
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〃Gracious heavens！〃 shouted John Brough； Esquire； 〃a lady of your
rank to suffer in this way！the excellent relative of my dear boy； Titmarsh！
Never； madamnever let it be said that Mrs。 Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty
should be subject to such horrible humiliation； while John Brough has a
home to offer her；a humble； happy； Christian home； madam； though
unlike； perhaps； the splendour to which you have been accustomed in the
course of your distinguished career。 Isabella my love！Belinda！ speak to
Mrs。 Hoggarty。 Tell her that John Brough's house is hers from garret to
cellar。 I repeat it； madam； from garret to cellar。 I desireI insistI
order； that Mrs。 Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty's trunks should be placed
this instant in my carriage！ Have the goodness to look to them yourself；
Mrs。 Titmarsh； and see that your dear aunt's comforts are better provided
for than they have been。〃
Mary went away rather wondering at this order。 But； to be sure； Mr。
Brough was a great man； and her Samuel's benefactor； and though the silly
child absolutely began to cry as she packed and toiled at Aunt's enormous
valises； yet she performed the work； and came down with a smiling face to
my aunt； who was entertaining Mr。 and Mrs。 Brough with a long and
particular account of the balls at the Castle； in Dublin； in Lord
Charleville's time。
〃I have packed the trunks； Aunt； but I am not strong enough to bring
them down；〃 said Mary。
〃Certainly not； certainly not；〃 said John Brough； perhaps a little
ashamed。 〃Hallo！ George； Frederic； Augustus； come upstairs this
instant； and bring down the trunks of Mrs。 Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty；
which this young lady will show you。〃
Nay； so great was Mr。 Brough's condescension； that when some of his
fashionable servants refused to meddle with the trunks； he himself seized a
pair of them with both bands； carried them to the carriage； and shouted
loud enough for all Lamb's Conduit Street to hear； 〃John Brough is not
proudno； no； and if his footmen are too high and mighty； he'll show them
a lesson of humility。〃
Mrs。 Brough was for running downstairs too； and taking the trunks
from her husband； but they were too heavy for her； so she contented
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herself with sitting on one； and asking all persons who passed her； whether
John Brough was not an angel of a man？
In this
