stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第26节
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〃I lost my little one a week ago；〃 said the lady； simply； as she looked at
it。 〃He was all I had。〃 Her voice trembled； she opened her purse； and
placed a half…crown in the hand of her astonished supplicant。 〃You are
happier than I am； perhaps you will pray for me。 I am very lonely！〃
Then dropping her long crape veil so that it completely hid her
features； she bent her head and moved softly away。 The woman watched
her till her graceful figure was completely lost in the gloom of the great
church； and then turned again vaguely to the altar。
〃Pray for her！〃 she thought。 〃I！ As if I could pray！〃 And she smiled
bitterly。 Again she looked at the statue in the shrine； it had no meaning at
all for her。 She had never heard of Christianity save through the medium
of a tract； whose consoling title had been 〃Stop！ You are Going to Hell！〃
Religion of every sort was mocked at by those among whom her lot was
cast； the name of Christ was only used as a convenience to swear by； and
therefore this mysterious； smiling； gently inviting marble figure was
incomprehensible to her mind。
〃As if I could pray！〃 she repeated； with a sort of derision。 Then she
looked at the broad silver coin in her hand and the sleeping baby in her
arms。 With a sudden impulse she dropped on her knees。
〃Whoever you are；〃 she muttered； addressing the statue above her； 〃it
seems you've got a child of your own； perhaps you'll help me to take care
of this one。 It isn't mine； I wish it was！ Anyway； I love it more than its own
mother does。 I dare say you won't listen to the likes of me； but if there was
God anywhere about I'd ask Him to bless that good soul that's lost her
baby。 I bless her with all my heart； but my blessing ain't good for much。
Ah！〃 and she surveyed anew the Virgin's serene white countenance； 〃you
just look as if you understood me； but I don't believe you do。 Never mind；
I've said all I wanted to say this time。〃
Her strange petition； or rather discourse； concluded； she rose and
walked away。 The great doors of the church swung heavily behind her as
she stepped out and stood once more in the muddy street。 It was raining
steadilya fine； cold； penetrating rain。 But the coin she held was a
talisman against outer discomforts； and she continued to walk on till she
came to a clean…looking dairy； where for a couple of pence she was able to
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replenish the infant's long ago emptied feeding bottle； but she purchased
nothing for herself。 She had starved all day； and was now too faint to eat。
Soon she entered an omnibus； and was driven to Charing Cross； and
alighting at the great station； brilliant with its electric light； she paced up
and down outside it； accosting several of the passers…by and imploring
their pity。 One man gave her a penny； another； young and handsome； with
a flushed； intemperate face； and a look of his fast…fading boyhood still
about him； put his hand in his pocket and drew out all the loose coppers it
contained； amounting to three pennies and an odd farthing； and； dropping
them into her outstretched palm； said； half gaily； half boldly： 〃You ought
to do better than that with those big eyes of yours！〃 She drew back and
shuddered； he broke into a coarse laugh； and went his way。 Standing
where he had left her； she seemed for a time lost in wretched reflections；
the fretful； wailing cry of the child she carried roused her； and hushing it
softly； she murmured； 〃Yes； yes； darling； it is too wet and cold for you； we
had better go。〃 And acting suddenly on her resolve； she hailed another
omnibus； this time bound for Tottenham Court Road； and was； after some
dreary jolting； set down at her final destinationa dirty alley in the worst
part of Seven Dials。 Entering it； she was hailed with a shout of derisive
laughter from some rough…looking men and women； who were standing
grouped round a low gin…shop at the corner。
〃Here's Liz！〃 cried one。 〃Here's Liz and the bloomin' kid！〃
〃Now； old gel； fork out！ How much 'ave you got； Liz？ Treat us to a
drop all round！〃
Liz waked past them steadily； the conspicuous curve of her upper lip
came into full play； and her eyes flashed disdainfully； but she said nothing。
Her silence exasperated a tangle…haired； cat…faced girl of seventeen years；
who； more than half drunk； sat on the ground； clasping her knees with both
arms and rocking herself lazily to and fro。
〃Mother Mawks！〃 cried she； 〃Mother Mawks！ You're wanted！ Here's
Liz come back with your babby！〃
As if her words had been a powerful incantation to summon forth an
evil spirit； a door in one of the miserable houses was thrown open； and a
stout woman； nearly naked to the waist； with a swollen； blotched； and
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most hideous countenance； rushed out furiously； and darting at Liz； shook
her violently by the arm。
〃Where's my shullin'？〃 she yelled； 〃where's my gin？ Out with it！ Out
with my shullin' an' fourpence！ None of yer sneakin' ways with me； a
bargain's a bargain all the world over！ Yer're making a fortin' with my
babbyyer know y' are； pays yer a good deal better than yer old trade！
Don't say it don'tyer know it do。 Yer'll not find such a sickly kid
anywheres； an' it's the sickly kids wot pays an' moves the 'arts of the kyind
ladies an' good gentlemen〃this with an imitative whine that excited the
laughter and applause of her hearers。 〃Yer've got it cheap； I kin tell yer； an'
if yer don't pay up reg'lar； there's others that'll take the chance； an' thankful
too！〃
She stopped for lack of breath； and Liz spoke quietly：
〃It's all right； Mother Mawks；〃 she said； with an attempt at a smile；
〃here's your shilling； here's the four pennies for the gin。 I don't owe you
anything for the child now。〃 She stopped and hesitated； looking down
tenderly at the frail creature in her arms； then added； almost pleadingly；
〃It's asleep now。 May I take it with me to…night？〃
Mother Mawks； who had been testing the coins Liz had given her by
biting them ferociously with her large yellow teeth； broke into a loud
laugh。
〃Take it with yer！ I like that！ Wot imperence！ Take it with yer！〃 Then；
with her huge red arms akimbo； she added； with a grin； 〃Tell yer wot； if
yer likes to pay me 'arf a crown； yer can 'ave it to cuddle； an' welcome！〃
Another shout of approving merriment burst from the drink…sodden
spectators of the little scene； and the girl crouched on the ground removed
her encircling hands from her knees to clap them loudly； as she exclaimed：
〃Well done； Mother Mawks！ One doesn't let out kids at night for
nothing！ 'T ought to be more expensive than daytime！〃
The face of Liz had grown white and rigid。
〃You know I can't give you that money；〃 she said； slowly。 〃I have not
tasted bit or drop all day。 I must live； though it doesn't seem worth while。
The child〃and her voice softened involuntarily〃is fast asleep； it's a pity
to wake it； that's all。 It will cry and fret all night； andand I will make it
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warm and comfortable if you'd let me。〃 She raised her eyes hopefully and
anxiously。 〃Will you？〃
Mother Mawks was evidently a lady of an excitable disposition。 The
simple request seemed to drive her nearly frantic。 She raised her voice to
an absolute scream； thrusting her dirty hands through her still dirtier hair
as the proper accompanying gesture to her vituperative oratory。
〃Will I！ Will I！〃 she screeched。 〃Will I let out my hown babby for the
night for nuthin'？ Will I？ No； I won't！ I'll see yer blowed into the middle of
next week fust！ Lor' 'a' mussey！ 'ow 'igh an' mighty we are gittin'； to be
sure！ The babby'll be quiet with you； Miss Liz； will it； hindeed！ An' it will
cry an' fret with its hown mother； will it； hindeed！〃 And at every sentence
she approached Liz more nearly； increasing in fury as she advanced。 〃Yer
low hussy！ D'ye think I
