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！
then thrusts the end of it into my mouth with such fury that it
made my lips bleed； and broke short one of my teeth which happened
to be decayed。 'Swear；' said he； 'swear； you mumping villain； take
your Bible oath that you will quit and give up the beat altogether；
or I'll … and then the hard…hearted villain made me swear by the
Bible； and my own damnation； half…throttled as I was； to … to … I
can't go on …
MYSELF。 Take another draught … stout liquor …
TINKER。 I can't； young man； my heart's too full； and what's more；
the pitcher is empty。
MYSELF。 And so he swore you； I suppose； on the Bible； to quit the
roads？
TINKER。 You are right； he did so； the gypsy villain。
MYSELF。 Gypsy！ Is he a gypsy？
TINKER。 Not exactly； what they call a half…and…half。 His father
was a gypsy； and his mother； like mine； one who walked the roads。
MYSELF。 Is he of the Smiths … the Petulengres？
TINKER。 I say； young man； you know a thing or two； one would
think； to hear you talk； you had been bred upon the roads。 I
thought none but those bred upon the roads knew anything of that
name … Petulengres！ No； not he； he fights the Petulengres whenever
he meets them； he likes nobody but himself； and wants to be king of
the roads。 I believe he is a Boss； or a … at any rate he's a bad
one； as I know to my cost。
MYSELF。 And what are you going to do？
TINKER。 Do！ you may well ask that； I don't know what to do。 My
poor wife and I have been talking of that all the morning； over
that half…pint mug of beer； we can't determine on what's to be
done。 All we know is； that we must quit the roads。 The villain
swore that the next time he saw us on the roads he'd cut all our
throats； and seize our horse and bit of a cart that are now
standing out there under the tree。
MYSELF。 And what do you mean to do with your horse and cart？
TINKER。 Another question！ What shall we do with our cart and
pony？ they are of no use to us now。 Stay on the roads I will not；
both for my oath's sake and my own。 If we had a trifle of money；
we were thinking of going to Bristol； where I might get up a little
business； but we have none； our last three farthings we spent about
the mug of beer。
MYSELF。 But why don't you sell your horse and cart？
TINKER。 Sell them！ and who would buy them； unless some one who
wished to set up in my line； but there's no beat； and what's the
use of the horse and cart and the few tools without the beat？
MYSELF。 I'm half inclined to buy your cart and pony； and your beat
too。
TINKER。 You！ How came you to think of such a thing？
MYSELF。 Why； like yourself； I hardly know what to do。 I want a
home and work。 As for a home； I suppose I can contrive to make a
home out of your tent and cart； and as for work； I must learn to be
a tinker； it would not be hard for one of my trade to learn to
tinker； what better can I do？ Would you have me go to Chester and
work there now？ I don't like the thoughts of it。 If I go to
Chester and work there； I can't be my own man； I must work under a
master； and perhaps he and I should quarrel； and when I quarrel I
am apt to hit folks； and those that hit folks are sometimes sent to
prison； I don't like the thought either of going to Chester or to
Chester prison。 What do you think I could earn at Chester？
TINKER。 A matter of eleven shillings a week； if anybody would
employ you； which I don't think they would with those hands of
yours。 But whether they would or not； if you are of a quarrelsome
nature you must not go to Chester； you would be in the castle in no
time。 I don't know how to advise you。 As for selling you my
stock； I'd see you farther first； for your own sake。
MYSELF。 Why？
TINKER。 Why！ you would get your head knocked off。 Suppose you
were to meet him？
MYSELF。 Pooh； don't be afraid on my account； if I were to meet him
I could easily manage him one way or other。 I know all kinds of
strange words and names； and； as I told you before； I sometimes hit
people when they put me out。
Here the tinker's wife； who for some minutes past had been
listening attentively to our discourse； interposed； saying； in a
low soft tone： 'I really don't see； John； why you shouldn't sell
the young man the things； seeing that he wishes for them； and is so
confident； you have told him plainly how matters stand； and if
anything ill should befall him； people couldn't lay the blame on
you； but I don't think any ill will befall him； and who knows but
God has sent him to our assistance in time of need？'
'I'll hear of no such thing；' said the tinker； 'I have drunk at the
young man's expense； and though he says he's quarrelsome； I would
not wish to sit in pleasanter company。 A pretty fellow I should
be； now； if I were to let him follow his own will。 If he once sets
up on my beat； he's a lost man； his ribs will be stove in； and his
head knocked off his shoulders。 There； you are crying； but you
shan't have your will though； I won't be the young man's
destruction 。 。 。 If； indeed； I thought he could manage the tinker
… but he never can； he says he can hit； but it's no use hitting the
tinker； … crying still！ you are enough to drive one mad。 I say；
young man； I believe you understand a thing or two； just now you
were talking of knowing hard words and names … I don't wish to send
you to your mischief … you say you know hard words and names； let
us see。 Only on one condition I'll sell you the pony and things；
as for the beat it's gone； isn't mine … sworn away by my own mouth。
Tell me what's my name； if you can't； may I … '
MYSELF。 Don't swear； it's a bad habit； neither pleasant nor
profitable。 Your name is Slingsby … Jack Slingsby。 There； don't
stare； there's nothing in my telling you your name： I've been in
these parts before； at least not very far from here。 Ten years
ago； when I was little more than a child； I was about twenty miles
from here in a post…chaise； at the door of an inn； and as I looked
from the window of the chaise； I saw you standing by a gutter； with
a big tin ladle in your hand； and somebody called you Jack
Slingsby。 I never forget anything I hear or see； I can't； I wish I
could。 So there's nothing strange in my knowing your name； indeed；
there's nothing strange in anything； provided you examine it to the
bottom。 Now what am I to give you for the things？
I paid Slingsby five pounds ten shillings for his stock in trade；
cart； and pony … purchased sundry provisions of the landlady； also
a wagoner's frock； which had belonged to a certain son of hers；
deceased； gave my little animal a feed of corn； and prepared to
depart。
'God bless you； young man；' said Slingsby； shaking me by the hand；
'you are the best friend I've had for many a day： I have but one
thing to tell you； Don't cross that fellow's path if y