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！
sublet it to Ernest； of course taking care that it was put more
efficiently into repair than his landlord was at all likely to have
put it。
A week later I called and found everything so completely transformed
that I should hardly have recognised the house。 All the ceilings
had been whitewashed； all the rooms papered； the broken glass hacked
out and reinstated； the defective wood…work renewed； all the sashes；
cupboards and doors had been painted。 The drains had been
thoroughly overhauled； everything in fact； that could be done had
been done； and the rooms now looked as cheerful as they had been
forbidding when I had last seen them。 The people who had done the
repairs were supposed to have cleaned the house down before leaving；
but Ellen had given it another scrub from top to bottom herself
after they were gone； and it was as clean as a new pin。 I almost
felt as though I could have lived in it myself； and as for Ernest；
he was in the seventh heaven。 He said it was all my doing and
Ellen's。
There was already a counter in the shop and a few fittings； so that
nothing now remained but to get some stock and set them out for
sale。 Ernest said he could not begin better than by selling his
clerical wardrobe and his books； for though the shop was intended
especially for the sale of second…hand clothes； yet Ellen said there
was no reason why they should not sell a few books too； so a
beginning was to be made by selling the books he had had at school
and college at about one shilling a volume； taking them all round；
and I have heard him say that he learned more that proved of
practical use to him through stocking his books on a bench in front
of his shop and selling them； than he had done from all the years of
study which he had bestowed upon their contents。
For the enquiries that were made of him whether he had such and such
a book taught him what he could sell and what he could not； how much
he could get for this； and how much for that。 Having made ever such
a little beginning with books； he took to attending book sales as
well as clothes sales； and ere long this branch of his business
became no less important than the tailoring； and would； I have no
doubt； have been the one which he would have settled down to
exclusively； if he had been called upon to remain a tradesman； but
this is anticipating。
I made a contribution and a stipulation。 Ernest wanted to sink the
gentleman completely； until such time as he could work his way up
again。 If he had been left to himself he would have lived with
Ellen in the shop back parlour and kitchen； and have let out both
the upper floors according to his original programme。 I did not
want him； however； to cut himself adrift from music； letters and
polite life； and feared that unless he had some kind of den into
which he could retire he would ere long become the tradesman and
nothing else。 I therefore insisted on taking the first floor front
and back myself； and furnishing them with the things which had been
left at Mrs Jupp's。 I bought these things of him for a small sum
and had them moved into his present abode。
I went to Mrs Jupp's to arrange all this； as Ernest did not like
going to Ashpit Place。 I had half expected to find the furniture
sold and Mrs Jupp gone； but it was not so； with all her faults the
poor old woman was perfectly honest。
I told her that Pryer had taken all Ernest's money and run away with
it。 She hated Pryer。 〃I never knew anyone；〃 she exclaimed； 〃as
white…livered in the face as that Pryer； he hasn't got an upright
vein in his whole body。 Why； all that time when he used to come
breakfasting with Mr Pontifex morning after morning； it took me to a
perfect shadow the way he carried on。 There was no doing anything
to please him right。 First I used to get them eggs and bacon； and
he didn't like that； and then I got him a bit of fish； and he didn't
like that； or else it was too dear； and you know fish is dearer than
ever； and then I got him a bit of German； and he said it rose on
him； then I tried sausages； and he said they hit him in the eye
worse even than German； oh！ how I used to wander my room and fret
about it inwardly and cry for hours； and all about them paltry
breakfastsand it wasn't Mr Pontifex； he'd like anything that
anyone chose to give him。
〃And so the piano's to go；〃 she continued。 〃What beautiful tunes Mr
Pontifex did play upon it； to be sure； and there was one I liked
better than any I ever heard。 I was in the room when he played it
once and when I said； 'Oh； Mr Pontifex； that's the kind of woman I
am；' he said； 'No； Mrs Jupp； it isn't； for this tune is old； but no
one can say you are old。' But； bless you； he meant nothing by it；
it was only his mucky flattery。〃
Like myself； she was vexed at his getting married。 She didn't like
his being married； and she didn't like his not being marriedbut；
anyhow； it was Ellen's fault； not his； and she hoped he would be
happy。 〃But after all；〃 she concluded； 〃it ain't you and it ain't
me； and it ain't him and it ain't her。 It's what you must call the
fortunes of matterimony； for there ain't no other word for it。〃
In the course of the afternoon the furniture arrived at Ernest's new
abode。 In the first floor we placed the piano； table； pictures；
bookshelves； a couple of arm…chairs； and all the little household
gods which he had brought from Cambridge。 The back room was
furnished exactly as his bedroom at Ashpit Place had beennew
things being got for the bridal apartment downstairs。 These two
first…floor rooms I insisted on retaining as my own； but Ernest was
to use them whenever he pleased； he was never to sublet even the
bedroom； but was to keep it for himself in case his wife should be
ill at any time； or in case he might be ill himself。
In less than a fortnight from the time of his leaving prison all
these arrangements had been completed； and Ernest felt that he had
again linked himself on to the life which he had led before his
imprisonmentwith a few important differences； however； which were
greatly to his advantage。 He was no longer a clergyman； he was
about to marry a woman to whom he was much attached； and he had
parted company for ever with his father and mother。
True； he had lost all his money； his reputation； and his position as
a gentleman； he had； in fact； had to burn his house down in order to
get his roast sucking pig； but if asked whether he would rather be
as he was now or as he was on the day before his arrest； he would
not have had a moment's hesitation in preferring his present to his
past。 If his present could only have been purchased at the expense
of all that he had gone through； it was still worth purchasing at
the price； and he would go through it all again if necessary。 The
loss of the money was the worst； but Ellen said she was sure they
would get on； and she knew all about it。 As for the loss of
reputationconsidering that he had Ellen and me left； it did not
come to much。
I saw the house on the afternoon of the day on which all was
finished； and there remained nothing but to buy some stock and begin
selling。 When I was gone； after he had had his tea