hard times(艰难时世)-第47节
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that was new in her。 She looked from him to Rachael； and her
features softened。 “What will you do？” she asked him。 And her
voice had softened too。
“Weel； ma’am；” said Stephen； making the best of it； with a
smile； “when I ha finished off； I mun quit this part； and try
another。 Fortnet or misfortnet； a man can but try； there’s nowt to
be done wi’out tryin’—cept laying down and dying。”
“How will you travel？”
“Afoot； my kind ledy； afoot。”
Louisa coloured； and a purse appeared in her hand。 The
rustling of a banknote was audible； as she unfolded one and laid it
on the table。
“Rachael； will you tell him—for you know how； without
offence—that this is freely his； to help him on his way？ Will you
entreat him to take it？”
“I canna do that； young lady；” she answered； turning her head
aside。 “Bless you for thinking o’ the poor lad wi’ such tenderness。
But ’tis for him to know his heart and what is right according to
it。”
Louisa looked； in part incredulous； in part frightened； in part
overcome with quick sympathy； when this man of so much self…
command； who had been so plain and steady through the late
interview； lost his composure in a moment； and now stood with his
hand before his face。 She stretched out hers； as if she would have
touched him； then checked herself and remained still。
“Not e’en Rachael；” said Stephen； when he stood again with his
face uncovered； “could mak sitch a kind offerin； by onny words；
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kinder T’ show that I’m not a man wi’out reason and gratitude； I’ll
tak two pound。 I’ll borrow ’t for t’ pay ’t back。 ’Twill be the
sweetest work as ever I ha done； that puts it in my power t’
acknowledge once more my lasting thankfulness for this present
action。”
She was fain to take up the note again； and to substitute the
much smaller sum he had named。 He was neither courtly； nor
handsome； nor picturesque； in any respect； and yet his manner of
accepting it； and of expressing his thanks without more words；
had a grace in it that Lord Chesterfield could not have taught his
son in a century。
Tom had sat upon the bed； swinging one leg； and sucking his
walking…stick with sufficient unconcern； until the visit had
attained this stage。 Seeing his sister ready to depart； he got up；
rather hurriedly； and put in a word。
“Just wait a moment； Loo！ Before we go； I should like to speak
to him a moment。 Something comes into my head。 If you’ll step
out on the stairs； Blackpool； I’ll mention it。 Never mind a light；
man！” Tom was remarkably impatient of his moving towards the
cupboard to get one。 “It don’t want a light。”
Stephen followed him out； and Tom closed the room door； and
held the lock in his hand。
“I say！” he whispered。 “I think I can do you a good turn。 Don’t
ask me what it is； because it may not come to anything。 But there’s
no harm in my trying。”
His breath fell like a flame of fire on Stephen’s ear； it was so
hot。
“That was our light porter at the Bank；” said Tom； “who
brought you the message tonight。 I call him our light porter；
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because I belong to the Bank too。”
Stephen thought； “What a hurry he is in！” He spoke so
confusedly。
“Well！” said Tom。 “Now look here！ When are you off？”
“T’ day’s Monday；” replied Stephen； considering。 “Why； sir；
Friday or Saturday； nigh ‘bout。”
“Friday or Saturday；” said Tom。 “Now； look here！ I am not sure
that I can do you the good turn I want to do you—that’s my sister；
you know； in your room—but I may be able to； and if I should not
be able to； there’s no harm done。 So I tell you what。 You’ll know
our light porter again？”
“Yes； sure；” said Stephen。
“Very well；” returned Tom。 “When you leave work of a night；
between this and your going away； just hang about the Bank an
hour or so； will you？ Don’t take on； as if you meant anything； if he
should see you hanging about there； because I shan’t put him up
to speak to you； unless I find I can do you the service I want to do
you。 In that case he’ll have a note or a message for you； but not
else。 Now look here！ You are sure you understand。”
He had wormed a finger； in the darkness； through a button…hole
of Stephen’s coat； and was screwing that corner of the garment
tight up； round and round； in an extraordinary manner。
“I understand； sir；” said Stephen。
“Now look here；” repeated Tom。 “Be sure you don’t make any
mistake then； and don’t forget。 I shall tell my sister as we go home；
what I have in view； and she’ll approve； I know。 Now look here！
You’re all right； are you？ You understand all about it？ Very well
then。 Come along； Loo！”
He pushed the door open as he called to her； but did not return
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into the room； or wait to be lighted down the narrow stairs。 He
was at the bottom when she began to descend； and was in the
street before she could take his arm。
Mrs Pegler remained in her corner until the brother and sister
were gone； and until Stephen came back with the candle in his
hand。 She was in a state of inexpressible admiration of Mrs
Bounderby； and； like an unaccountable old woman； wept；
“because she was such a pretty dear。” Yet Mrs Pegler was so
flurried lest the object of her admiration should return by chance；
or anybody else should come； that her cheerfulness was ended for
that night。 It was late too； to people who rose early and worked
hard； therefore the party broke up； and Stephen and Rachael
escorted their mysterious acquaintance to the door of the
Traveller’s Coffee House； where they parted from her。
They walked back together to the corner of the street where
Rachael lived； and as they drew nearer and nearer to it； silence
crept upon them。 When they came to the dark corner where their
unfrequent meetings always ended； they stopped； still silent； as if
both were afraid to speak。
“I shall strive t’ see thee agen； Rachael； afore I go； but if not—”
“Thou wilt not； Stephen； I know。 ’Tis better that we make up
our minds to be open wi’ one another。”
“Thou’rt awlus right。 ’Tis bolder and better。 I ha been thinkin
then； Rachael； that as ’tis but a day or two that remains ’twere
better for thee； my dear； not t’ be seen wi’ me。 ’T might bring thee
into trouble fur no good。”
“’Tis not for that； Stephen； that I mind。 But thou know’st our
old agreement。 ’Tis for that。”
“Well； well；” said he。 “’Tis better onyways。”
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“Thou’lt write to me； and tell me all that happens； Stephen？”
“Yes。 What can I say now； but Heaven be wi’ thee； Heaven bless
thee； Heaven thank thee and reward thee！”
“May it bless thee； Stephen； too； in all thy wanderings； and send
thee peace and rest at last！”
“I towd thee； my dear；” said Stephen Blackpool—“that night—
that I would never see or think o’ onything that angered me； but
thou； so much better than me； shouldst be beside it。 Thou’rt beside
it now。 Thou mak’s
