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！
wanting in sustained force of character； but with real vigour of
purpose： shaking the dust off his mane and hind…feet at Allonby；
and tearing away from it； as if he had nobly made up his mind that
he never would be taken alive。 At sight of this inspiring
spectacle； which was visible from his sofa； Thomas Idle stretched
his neck and dwelt upon it rapturously。
'Francis Goodchild；' he then said； turning to his companion with a
solemn air； 'this is a delightful little Inn； excellently kept by
the most comfortable of landladies and the most attentive of
landlords； but … the donkey's right！'
The words； 'There is the sea； and here are the … ' again trembled
on the lips of Goodchild； unaccompanied however by any sound。
'Let us instantly pack the portmanteaus；' said Thomas Idle； 'pay
the bill； and order a fly out； with instructions to the driver to
follow the donkey！'
Mr。 Goodchild； who had only wanted encouragement to disclose the
real state of his feelings； and who had been pining beneath his
weary secret； now burst into tears； and confessed that he thought
another day in the place would be the death of him。
So； the two idle apprentices followed the donkey until the night
was far advanced。 Whether he was recaptured by the town…council；
or is bolting at this hour through the United Kingdom； they know
not。 They hope he may be still bolting； if so； their best wishes
are with him。
It entered Mr。 Idle's head； on the borders of Cumberland； that
there could be no idler place to stay at； except by snatches of a
few minutes each； than a railway station。 'An intermediate station
on a line … a junction … anything of that sort；' Thomas suggested。
Mr。 Goodchild approved of the idea as eccentric； and they journeyed
on and on； until they came to such a station where there was an
Inn。
'Here；' said Thomas； 'we may be luxuriously lazy； other people will
travel for us； as it were； and we shall laugh at their folly。'
It was a Junction…Station； where the wooden razors before mentioned
shaved the air very often； and where the sharp electric…telegraph
bell was in a very restless condition。 All manner of cross…lines
of rails came zig…zagging into it； like a Congress of iron vipers；
and； a little way out of it； a pointsman in an elevated signal…box
was constantly going through the motions of drawing immense
quantities of beer at a public…house bar。 In one direction；
confused perspectives of embankments and arches were to be seen
from the platform； in the other； the rails soon disentangled
themselves into two tracks and shot away under a bridge； and curved
round a corner。 Sidings were there； in which empty luggage…vans
and cattle…boxes often butted against each other as if they
couldn't agree； and warehouses were there； in which great
quantities of goods seemed to have taken the veil （of the
consistency of tarpaulin）； and to have retired from the world
without any hope of getting back to it。 Refreshment…rooms were
there； one； for the hungry and thirsty Iron Locomotives where their
coke and water were ready； and of good quality； for they were
dangerous to play tricks with； the other； for the hungry and
thirsty human Locomotives； who might take what they could get； and
whose chief consolation was provided in the form of three terrific
urns or vases of white metal； containing nothing； each forming a
breastwork for a defiant and apparently much…injured woman。
Established at this Station； Mr。 Thomas Idle and Mr。 Francis
Goodchild resolved to enjoy it。 But； its contrasts were very
violent； and there was also an infection in it。
First； as to its contrasts。 They were only two； but they were
Lethargy and Madness。 The Station was either totally unconscious；
or wildly raving。 By day； in its unconscious state； it looked as
if no life could come to it； … as if it were all rust； dust； and
ashes … as if the last train for ever； had gone without issuing any
Return…Tickets … as if the last Engine had uttered its last shriek
and burst。 One awkward shave of the air from the wooden razor； and
everything changed。 Tight office…doors flew open； panels yielded；
books； newspapers； travelling…caps and wrappers broke out of brick
walls； money chinked； conveyances oppressed by nightmares of
luggage came careering into the yard； porters started up from
secret places； ditto the much…injured women； the shining bell； who
lived in a little tray on stilts by himself； flew into a man's hand
and clamoured violently。 The pointsman aloft in the signal…box
made the motions of drawing； with some difficulty； hogsheads of
beer。 Down Train！ More bear！ Up Train！ More beer。 Cross
junction Train！ More beer！ Cattle Train！ More beer。 Goods
Train！ Simmering； whistling； trembling； rumbling； thundering。
Trains on the whole confusion of intersecting rails； crossing one
another； bumping one another； hissing one another； backing to go
forward； tearing into distance to come close。 People frantic。
Exiles seeking restoration to their native carriages； and banished
to remoter climes。 More beer and more bell。 Then； in a minute；
the Station relapsed into stupor as the stoker of the Cattle Train；
the last to depart； went gliding out of it； wiping the long nose of
his oil…can with a dirty pocket…handkerchief。
By night； in its unconscious state； the Station was not so much as
visible。 Something in the air； like an enterprising chemist's
established in business on one of the boughs of Jack's beanstalk；
was all that could be discerned of it under the stars。 In a moment
it would break out； a constellation of gas。 In another moment；
twenty rival chemists； on twenty rival beanstalks； came into
existence。 Then； the Furies would be seen； waving their lurid
torches up and down the confused perspectives of embankments and
arches … would be heard； too； wailing and shrieking。 Then； the
Station would be full of palpitating trains； as in the day； with
the heightening difference that they were not so clearly seen as in
the day； whereas the Station walls； starting forward under the gas；
like a hippopotamus's eyes； dazzled the human locomotives with the
sauce…bottle； the cheap music； the bedstead； the distorted range of
buildings where the patent safes are made； the gentleman in the
rain with the registered umbrella； the lady returning from the ball
with the registered respirator； and all their other embellishments。
And now； the human locomotives； creased as to their countenances
and purblind as to their eyes； would swarm forth in a heap；
addressing themselves to the mysterious urns and the much…injured
women； while the iron locomotives； dripping fire and water； shed
their steam about plentifully； making the dull oxen in their cages；
with heads depressed； and foam hanging from their mouths as their
red looks glanced fearfully at the surrounding terrors； seem as
though they had been drinking at half…frozen waters and were hung
with icicles