lay morals-第41节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


consolation；　　or　I　would　bring　them　to　my　kind　consoler。　　Let　the　memory　of　　that　letter；　if　you　please；　be　buried。'　　And　then　as　she　　continued　to　gaze　at　him；　being；　in　spite　of　herself；　pained　　by　his　elaborate　phrase；　doubtfully　sincere　in　word　and　　manner：　'Let　it　be　enough；'　he　added　haughtily；　'that　if　this　　matter　wring　my　heart；　it　doth　not　touch　my　conscience。　　I　am　　a　man；　I　would　have　you　to　know；　who　suffers　undeservedly。'

He　had　never　spoken　so　directly：　never　with　so　convincing　an　　emotion；　and　her　heart　thrilled　for　him。　　She　could　have　　taken　his　pains　and　died　of　them　with　joy。

Meanwhile　she　was　left　without　support。　　Jonathan　now　swore　　by　his　lodger；　and　lived　for　him。　　He　was　a　fine　talker。　　He　　knew　the　finest　sight　of　stories；　he　was　a　man　and　a　　gentleman；　take　him　for　all　in　all；　and　a　perfect　credit　to　　Old　England。　　Such　were　the　old　man's　declared　sentiments；　　and　sure　enough　he　clung　to　Mr。　Archer's　side；　hung　upon　his　　utterance　when　he　spoke；　and　watched　him　with　unwearing　　interest　when　he　was　silent。　　And　yet　his　feeling　was　not　　clear；　in　the　partial　wreck　of　his　mind；　which　was　leaning　to　　decay；　some　after…thought　was　strongly　present。　　As　he　gazed　　in　Mr。　Archer's　face　a　sudden　brightness　would　kindle　in　his　　rheumy　eyes；　his　eye…brows　would　lift　as　with　a　sudden　　thought；　his　mouth　would　open　as　though　to　speak；　and　close　　again　on　silence。　　Once　or　twice　he　even　called　Mr。　Archer　　mysteriously　forth　into　the　dark　courtyard；　took　him　by　the　　button；　and　laid　a　demonstrative　finger　on　his　chest；　but　　there　his　ideas　or　his　courage　failed　him；　he　would　　shufflingly　excuse　himself　and　return　to　his　position　by　the　　fire　without　a　word　of　explanation。　　'The　good　man　was　　growing　old；'　said　Mr。　Archer　with　a　suspicion　of　a　shrug。　　　But　the　good　man　had　his　idea；　and　even　when　he　was　alone　the　　name　of　Mr。　Archer　fell　from　his　lips　continually　in　the　　course　of　mumbled　and　gesticulative　conversation。



THE　GREAT　NORTH　ROAD　CHAPTER　VI　…　THE　BAD　HALF…CROWN



HOWEVER　early　Nance　arose；　and　she　was　no　sluggard；　the　old　　man；　who　had　begun　to　outlive　the　earthly　habit　of　slumber；　　would　usually　have　been　up　long　before；　the　fire　would　be　　burning　brightly；　and　she　would　see　him　wandering　among　the　　ruins；　lantern　in　hand；　and　talking　assiduously　to　himself。　　　One　day；　however；　after　he　had　returned　late　from　the　market　　town；　she　found　that　she　had　stolen　a　march　upon　that　　indefatigable　early　riser。　　The　kitchen　was　all　blackness。　　　She　crossed　the　castle…yard　to　the　wood…cellar；　her　steps　　printing　the　thick　hoarfrost。　　A　scathing　breeze　blew　out　of　　the　north…east　and　slowly　carried　a　regiment　of　black　and　　tattered　clouds　over　the　face　of　heaven；　which　was　already　　kindled　with　the　wild　light　of　morning；　but　where　she　walked；　　in　shelter　of　the　ruins；　the　flame　of　her　candle　burned　　steady。　　The　extreme　cold　smote　upon　her　conscience。　　She　　could　not　bear　to　think　this　bitter　business　fell　usually　to　　the　lot　of　one　so　old　as　Jonathan；　and　made　desperate　　resolutions　to　be　earlier　in　the　future。

The　fire　was　a　good　blaze　before　he　entered；　limping　dismally　　into　the　kitchen。　　'Nance；'　said　he；　'I　be　all　knotted　up　　with　the　rheumatics；　will　you　rub　me　a　bit？'　　She　came　and　　rubbed　him　where　and　how　he　bade　her。　　'This　is　a　cruel　thing　　that　old　age　should　be　rheumaticky；'　said　he。　　'When　I　was　　young　I　stood　my　turn　of　the　teethache　like　a　man！　for　why？　　because　it　couldn't　last　for　ever；　but　these　rheumatics　come　　to　live　and　die　with　you。　　Your　aunt　was　took　before　the　time　　came；　never　had　an　ache　to　mention。　　Now　I　lie　all　night　in　　my　single　bed　and　the　blood　never　warms　in　me；　this　knee　of　　mine　it　seems　like　lighted　up　with　rheumatics；　it　seems　as　　though　you　could　see　to　sew　by　it；　and　all　the　strings　of　my　　old　body　ache；　as　if　devils　was　pulling　'em。　　Thank　you　　kindly；　that's　someways　easier　now；　but　an　old　man；　my　dear；　　has　little　to　look　for；　it's　pain；　pain；　pain　to　the　end　of　　the　business；　and　I'll　never　be　rightly　warm　again　till　I　get　　under　the　sod；'　he　said；　and　looked　down　at　her　with　a　face　　so　aged　and　weary　that　she　had　nearly　wept。

'I　lay　awake　all　night；'　he　continued；　'I　do　so　mostly；　and　a　　long　walk　kills　me。　　Eh；　deary　me；　to　think　that　life　should　　run　to　such　a　puddle！　　And　I　remember　long　syne　when　I　was　　strong；　and　the　blood　all　hot　and　good　about　me；　and　I　loved　　to　run；　too　…　deary　me；　to　run！　　Well；　that's　all　by。　　You'd　　better　pray　to　be　took　early；　Nance；　and　not　live　on　till　you　　get　to　be　like　me；　and　are　robbed　in　your　grey　old　age；　your　　cold；　shivering；　dark　old　age；　that's　like　a　winter's　　morning'；　and　he　bitterly　shuddered；　spreading　his　hands　　before　the　fire。

'Come　now；'　said　Nance；　'the　more　you　say　the　less　you'll　　like　it；　Uncle　Jonathan；　but　if　I　were　you　I　would　be　proud　　for　to　have　lived　all　your　days　honest　and　beloved；　and　come　　near　the　end　with　your　good　name：　isn't　that　a　fine　thing　to　　be　proud　of？　　Mr。　Archer　was　telling　me　in　some　strange　land　　they　used　to　run　races　each　with　a　lighted　candle；　and　the　　art　was　to　keep　the　candle　burning。　　Well；　now；　I　thought　　that　was　like　life：　a　man's　good　conscience　is　the　flame　he　　gets　to　carry；　and　if　he　comes　to　the　winning…post　with　that　　still　burning；　why；　take　it　how　you　will；　the　man's　a　hero　…　　even　if　he　was　low…born　like　you　and　me。'

'Did　Mr。　Archer　tell　you　that？'　asked　Jonathan。

'No；　dear；'　said　she；　'that's　my　own　thought　about　it。　　He　　told　me　of　the　race。　　But　see；　now；'　she　continued；　putting　　on　the　porridge；　'you　say　old　age　is　a　hard　season；　but　so　is　　youth。　　You're　half　out　of　the　battle；　I　would　say；　you　loved　　my　aunt　and　got　her；　and　buried　her；　and　some　of　these　days　　soon　you'll　go　to　meet　her；　and　take　her　my　love　and　tell　her　　I　tried　to　take　good　care　of　you；　for　so　I　do；　Uncle　　Jonathan。'

Jonathan　struck　with　his　fist　upon　the　settle。　　'D'　ye　think　　I　want　to　die；　ye　vixen？'　he　shouted。　　'I　want　to　live　ten　　hundred　years。'

This　was　a　mystery　beyond　Nance's　penetration；　and　she　stared　　in　wonder　as　she　made　the　porridge。

'I　want　to　live；'　he　continued；　'I　want　to　live　and　to　grow　　rich。　　I　want　to　drive　my　carriage　and　to　dice　in　hells　and　　see　the　ring；　I　do。　　Is　this　a　life　that　I　lived？　　I　want　to　　be　a　rake；　d'　ye　understand？　　I　want　to　know　what　things　are　　like。　　I　don't　want　to　die　like　a　blind　kitten；　and　me　　seventy…six。'

'O　fie！'　said　Nance。

The　old　man　thrust　out　his　jaw　at　her；　with　the　grimace　of　an　　irreverent　schoolboy。　　Upon　that　aged　face　it　seemed　a　　blasphemy。　　Then　he　took　out　of　his　bosom　a　long　leather　　purse；　and　emptying　its　contents　on　the　settle；　began　to　　count　and　recount　the　pieces；　ringing　and　examining　each；　and　　suddenly　he　leapt　like　a　young　man。　　'What！'　he　screamed。　　　'Bad？　　O　Lord！　　I'm　robbed　again！'　　And　falling　on　his　knees　　before　the　settle　he　began　to　pour　forth　the　most　dreadful　　curses　on　the　head　of　his　deceiver。　　His　eyes　were　shut；　for　　to　him　this　vile　solemnity　was　prayer。　　He　held　up　the　bad　　half…crown　in　his　right　hand；　as　though　he　were　displaying　it　　to　Heaven；　and　what　increased　the　horror　of　the　scene；　the　　curses　he　invoked　were　those　whose　efficacy　he　had　tasted　…　　old　age　and　poverty；　rheumatism　and　an　ungrateful　son。　　Nance　　listened　appalled；　then　she　sprang　forward　and　dragged　down　　his　arm　and　laid　her　hand　upon　his　mouth。

'Whist！'　she　cried。　　'Whist　ye；　for　God's　sake！　　O　my　man；　　whist　ye！　　If　Heaven　were　to　hear；　if　poor　Aunt　Susan　were　to　　hear！　　Think；　she　may　be　listening。'　　And　with　the　　histrionism　of　strong　emotion　she　pointed　to　a　corner　of　the　　kitchen。

His　eyes　followed　her　finger。　　He　looked　there　for　a　little；　　thinking；　blinking；　then　he　got　stiffly　to　his　feet　and　　resumed　his　place　upon　the　settle；　the　bad　piece　still　in　his　　hand。　　So　he　sat　for　some　time；　looking　upon　the　half…crown；　　and　now　wondering　to　himself　on　the　injustice　and　partiality　　of　the　law；　now　computing　again　and　again　the　nature　of　his　　loss。　　So　he　was　still　sitting　when　Mr。　Archer　entered　the　　kitchen。　　At　this　a　light　came　into　his　face；　and　after　some　　seconds　of　rumination　he　dispatched　Nance　upon　an　errand。

'Mr。　Archer；'　said　he；　as　soon　as　they　were　alone　together；　　'would　you　give　me　a　guinea…piece　for　silver？'

'Why；　sir；　I　believe　I　can；'　said　Mr。　Archer。

And　the　exchange　was　just　effected　when　Nance　re…entered　the　　apartment。　　The　blood　shot　into　her　face。

'What's　to　do　here？'　she　asked　rudely。

'Nothing；　my　dearie；'　said　old　Jonathan；　with　a　touch　of　　whine。

'What's　to　do？'　she　said　again。

'Your　uncle　was　but　changing　me　a　piece　of　gold；'　returned　　Mr。　Archer。

'Let　me　see　what　he　hath　given　you；　Mr。　Archer；'　replied　the　　girl。　　'I　had　a　bad　piece；　and　I　fear　it　is　mixed　up　among　　the　good。'

'Well；　well；'　replied　Mr。　Archer；　smiling；　'I　must　take　the　　merchant's　risk　of　it。　　The　money　is　now　mixed。'

'I　know　my　piece；'　quoth　Nance。　　'Come；　let　me　see　your　　silver；　Mr。　Archer。　　If　I　have　to　get　it　by　a　theft　I'll　see　　that　money；'　she　cried。

'Nay；　child；　if　you　put　as　much　passion　to　be　honest　as　the　　world　to　steal；　I　must　give　way；　though　I　betray　myself；'　　said　Mr。　Archer。　　'There　it　is　as　I　received　it。'

Nance　quickly　found　th