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！
she might see his eyes。 ‘My darling Miggs—’
Miggs screamed slightly。
‘—That I love so much； and never can help thinking of；’ and it is
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 113…
Barnaby Rudge 114
impossible to describe the use he made of his eyes when he said
this—‘do—for my sake； do。’
‘Oh Simmun；’ cried Miggs； ‘this is worse than all。 I know if I
come down； you’ll go； and—’
‘And what； my precious？’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘And try；’ said Miggs； hysterically； ‘to kiss me； or some such
dreadfulness； I know you will！’
‘I swear I won’t；’ said Mr Tappertit； with remarkable
earnestness。 ‘Upon my soul I won’t。 It’s getting broad day； and the
watchman’s waking up。 Angelic Miggs！ If you’ll only come and let
me in； I promise you faithfully and truly I won’t。’
Miss Miggs； whose gentle heart was touched； did not wait for
the oath （knowing how strong the temptation was； and fearing he
might forswear himself）； but tripped lightly down the stairs； and
with her own fair hands drew back the rough fastenings of the
workshop window。 Having helped the wayward ’prentice in； she
faintly articulated the words ‘Simmun is safe！’ and yielding to her
woman’s nature； immediately became insensible。
‘I knew I should quench her；’ said Sim； rather embarrassed by
this circumstance。 ‘Of course I was certain it would come to this；
but there was nothing else to be done—if I hadn’t eyed her over；
she wouldn’t have come down。 Here。 Keep up a minute； Miggs。
What a slippery figure she is！ There’s no holding her； comfortably。
Do keep up a minute； Miggs； will you？’
As Miggs； however； was deaf to all entreaties； Mr Tappertit
leant her against the wall as one might dispose of a walking…stick
or umbrella； until he had secured the window； when he took her in
his arms again； and； in short stages and with great difficulty—
arising from her being tall and his being short； and perhaps in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 114…
Barnaby Rudge 115
some degree from that peculiar physical conformation on which
he had already remarked—carried her upstairs； and planting her；
in the same umbrella and walking…stick fashion； just inside her
own door； left her to her repose。
‘He may be as cool as he likes；’ said Miss Miggs； recovering as
soon as she was left alone； ‘but I’m in his confidence and he can’t
help himself； nor couldn’t if he was twenty Simmunses！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 115…
Barnaby Rudge 116
Chapter 10
t was on one of those mornings； common in early spring；
when the year； fickle and changeable in its youth like all other
I
created things； is undecided whether to step backward into
winter or forward into summer； and in its uncertainty inclines now
to the one and now to the other； and now to both at once—wooing
summer in the sunshine； and lingering still with winter in the
shade—it was； in short； on one of those mornings； when it is hot
and cold； wet and dry； bright and lowering； sad and cheerful；
withering and genial； in the compass of one short hour； that old
John Willet； who was dropping asleep over the copper boiler； was
roused by the sound of a horse’s feet； and glancing out at window；
beheld a traveller of goodly promise； checking his bridle at the
Maypole door。
He was none of your flippant young fellows； who would call for
a tankard of mulled ale； and make themselves as much at home as
if they had ordered a hogshead of wine； none of your audacious
young swaggerers； who would even penetrate into the bar—that
solemn sanctuary—and； smiting old John upon the back； inquire if
there was never a pretty girl in the house； and where he hid his
little chambermaids； with a hundred other impertinences of that
nature； none of your free…and…easy companions； who would scrape
their boots upon the firedogs in the common room； and be not at
all particular on the subject of spittoons； none of your
unconscionable blades； requiring impossible chops； and taking
unheard…of pickles for granted。 He was a staid； grave； placid
gentleman； something past the prime of life； yet upright in his
carriage； for all that； and slim as a greyhound。 He was well…
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 116…
Barnaby Rudge 117
mounted upon a sturdy chestnut cob； and had the graceful seat of
an experienced horseman； while his riding gear； though free from
such fopperies as were then in vogue； was handsome and well
chosen。 He wore a riding…coat of a somewhat brighter green than
might have been expected to suit the taste of a gentleman of his
years； with a short； black velvet cape； and laced pocket…holes and
cuffs； all of a jaunty fashion； his linen； too； was of the finest kind；
worked in a rich pattern at the wrists and throat； and scrupulously
white。 Although he seemed； judging from the mud he had picked
up on the way； to have come from London； his horse was as
smooth and cool as his own iron…grey periwig and pigtail。 Neither
man nor beast had turned a single hair； and saving for his soiled
skirts and spatter…dashes； this gentleman； with his blooming face；
white teeth； exactly…ordered dress； and perfect calmness； might
have come from making an elaborate and leisurely toilet； to sit for
an equestrian portrait at old John Willet’s gate。
It must not be supposed that John observed these several
characteristics by other than very slow degrees； or that he took in
more than half a one at a time； or that he even made up his mind
upon that； without a great deal of very serious consideration。
Indeed； if he had been distracted