hard times(艰难时世)-第43节
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you’ll save me a walk。”
Stephen； whose way had been in the contrary direction； turned
about； and betook himself as in duty bound； to the red brick castle
of the giant Bounderby。
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Chapter 5
Men And Masters
ell； Stephen；” said Bounderby； in his windy
manner； “what’s this I hear？ What have these
“W
pests of the earth been doing to you？ Come in and
speak up。”
It was into the drawing…room that he was thus bidden。 A tea…
table was set out； and Mr Bounderby’s young wife； and her
brother； and a great gentleman from London； were present。 To
whom Stephen made his obeisance； closing the door and standing
near it； with his hat in his hand。
“This is the man I was telling you about； Harthouse；” said Mr
Bounderby。 The gentleman he addressed； who was talking to Mrs
Bounderby on the sofa； got up； saying in an indolent way； “Oh
really？” and dawdled to the hearthrug where Mr Bounderby
stood。
“Now；” said Bounderby； “speak up！”
After the four days he had passed； this address fell rudely and
discordantly on Stephen’s ear。 Besides being a rough handling of
his wounded mind； it seemed to assume that he really was the self…
interested deserter he had been called。
“What were it； sir；” said Stephen； “as yo were pleased to want
wi’ me？”
“Why； I have told you；” returned Bounderby。 “Speak up like a
man； since you are a man； and tell us about yourself and this
Combination。”
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Hard Times 189
“Wi’ yor pardon； sir；” said Stephen Blackpool； “I ha’ nowt to
sen about it。”
Mr Bounderby； who was always more or less like a Wind；
finding something in his way here； began to blow at it directly。
“Now； look here； Harthouse；” said he； “here’s a specimen of
’em。 When this man was here once before； I warned this man
against the mischievous strangers who are always about—and who
ought to be hanged wherever they are found—and I told this man
that he was going in the wrong direction。 Now； would you believe
it； that although they have put this mark upon him； he is such a
slave to them still； that he’s afraid to open his lips about them？”
“I sed as I had nowt to sen； sir； not as I was fearfo o’ openin’ my
lips。”
“You said。 Ah！ I know what you said； more than that； I know
what you mean； you see。 Not always the same thing； by the Lord
Harry！ Quite different things。 You had better tell us at once； that
that fellow Slackbridge is not in the town； stirring up the people to
mutiny； and that he is not a regular qualified leader of the people：
that is； a most confounded scoundrel。 You had better tell us so at
once； you can’t deceive me。 You want to tell us so。 Why don’t
you？”
“I’m as sooary as yo； sir； when the people’s leaders is bad；” said
Stephen； shaking his head。 “They taks such as offers。 Haply ’tis na’
the sma’est o’ their misfortuns when they can get no better。”
The wind began to get boisterous。
“Now； you’ll think this pretty well； Harthouse；” said Mr
Bounderby。 “You’ll think this tolerably strong。 You’ll say； upon my
soul this is a tidy specimen of what my friends have to deal with；
but this is nothing； sir！ You shall hear me ask this man a question。
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Pray； Mr Blackpool”—wind springing up very fast—“may I take
the liberty of asking you how it happens that you refused to be in
this Combination？”
“How’t happens？”
“Ah！” said Mr Bounderby； with his thumbs in the arms of his
coat； and jerking his head and shutting his eyes in confidence with
the opposite wall： “how it happens。”
“I’d liefer not coom to ’t； sir； but sin you put th’ question—an
not want’n t’ be ill…manner’n—I’ll answer。 I ha passed a promess。”
“Not to me； you know；” said Bounderby。 （Gusty weather with
deceitful calms。 One now prevailing。） “O no； sir。 Not to yo。”
“As for me； any consideration for me has had just nothing at all
to do with it；” said Bounderby； still in confidence with the wall。 “If
only Josiah Bounderby of Coketown had been in question； you
would have joined and made no bones of it？”
“Why yes； sir。 ’Tis true。”
“Though he knows；” said Mr Bounderby； now blowing a gale；
“that these are a set of rascals and rebels whom transportation is
too good for！ Now； Mr Hart house； you have been knocking about
in the world some time。 Did you ever meet with anything like that
man out of this blessed country？” And Mr Bounderby pointed him
out for inspection； with an angry finger。
“Nay； ma’am；” said Stephen Blackpool； staunchly protesting
against the words that had been used； and instinctively addressing
himself to Louisa； after glancing at her face。 “Not rebels； nor yet
rascals。 Nowt o’ th’ kind； ma’am； nowt o th’ kind。 They’ve not doon
me a kindness； ma’am； as I know and feel。 But； there’s not a dozen
men amoong ’em； ma’am—a dozen？ Not six—but what believes as
he has doon his duty by the rest and by himseln。 God forbid as I；
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that ha known； and had’n experience o’ these men aw my life—I；
that ha’ ett’n an droonken wi’ em； an seet’n wi’ em； an seet’n wi’
em； and toil’n wi’ em； and lov’n ’em； should fail fur to stan by ’em
wi’ the truth； let ’em ha doon to me what they may！”
He spoke with the rugged earnestness of his place and
character—deepened perhaps by a proud consciousness that he
was faithful to his class under all their mistrust； but he fully
remembered where he was； and did not even raise his voice。
“No ma’am； no。 They’re true to one another； faithfo’ to one
another； fectionate to one another； e’en to death。 Be poor amoong
’em； be sick amoong ’em； grieve amoong ’em for onny o’ th’ monny
causes that carries grief to the poor man’s door； an they’ll be
tender wi’ yo； gentle wi’ yo； comfortable wi’ yo； Chrisen wi’ yo。 Be
sure o’ that； ma’am。 They’d be riven to bits； ere ever they’d be
different。”
“In short；” said Mr Bounderby； “it’s because they are so full of
virtues that they have turned you adrift。 Go through with it while
you are about it。 Out with it。”
“How ’tis； ma’am；” resumed Stephen； appearing still to find his
natural refuge in Louisa’s face； “that what is best in us fok； seems
to turn us most to trouble an misfort’n an mistake； I dunno。 But
’tis so。 I know ’tis； as I know the heavens is over me ahint the
smoke。 We’re patient too； and wants in general to do right。 An’ I
canna think the fawt is aw wi’ us。”
“Now； my friend；” said Mr Bounderby； whom he could not have
exasperated more； quite unconscious of it though he was； than by
seeming to appeal to any one else； “if you will favour me with your
attention for half a minute； I should like to have a word or two
with you。 You said just now； that you had nothing to tell us about
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this business。 You are quite sure of that before we go any
further？”
“Sir； I am sure on ’t。”
“Here’s a gentleman from London present；” Mr Bounderby
made a back…handed point at Mr James Harthouse with his
thumb； “Parliament gentleman。
