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lavengro-第121部分

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three cups; of the first I should rather say I found the remains; 

it being broken in three parts; no doubt since it came into my 

possession; which would have precluded the possibility of my asking 

anybody to tea for the present; should anybody visit me; even 

supposing I had tea and sugar; which was not the case。  I then 

overhauled what might more strictly be called the stock in trade; 

this consisted of various tools; an iron ladle; a chafing…pan and 

small bellows; sundry pans and kettles; the latter being of tin; 

with the exception of one which was of copper; all in a state of 

considerable dilapidation … if I may use the term; of these first 

Slingsby had spoken in particular; advising me to mend them as soon 

as possible; and to endeavour to sell them; in order that I might 

have the satisfaction of receiving some return upon the outlay 

which I had made。  There was likewise a small quantity of block 

tin; sheet tin; and solder。  'This Slingsby;' said I; 'is certainly 

a very honest man; he has sold me more than my money's worth; I 

believe; however; there is something more in the cart。'  Thereupon 

I rummaged the farther end of the cart; and; amidst a quantity of 

straw; I found a small anvil and bellows of that kind which are 

used in forges; and two hammers such as smiths use; one great; and 

the other small。



The sight of these last articles caused me no little surprise; as 

no word which had escaped from the mouth of Slingsby had given me 

reason to suppose that he had ever followed the occupation of a 

smith; yet; if he had not; how did he come by them?  I sat down 

upon the shaft; and pondered the question deliberately in my mind; 

at length I concluded that he had come by them by one of those 

numerous casualties which occur upon the roads; of which I; being a 

young hand upon the roads; must have a very imperfect conception; 

honestly; of course … for I scouted the idea that Slingsby would 

have stolen this blacksmith's gear … for I had the highest opinion 

of his honesty; which opinion I still retain at the present day; 

which is upwards of twenty years from the time of which I am 

speaking; during the whole of which period I have neither seen the 

poor fellow nor received any intelligence of him。







CHAPTER LXX







New profession … Beautiful night … Jupiter … Sharp and shrill … The 

Rommany chi … All alone … Three…and…sixpence … What is Rommany?  Be 

civil … Parraco tute … Slight start … She will be grateful … The 

rustling。



I PASSED the greater part of the day in endeavouring to teach 

myself the mysteries of my new profession。  I cannot say that I was 

very successful; but the time passed agreeably; and was therefore 

not ill spent。  Towards evening I flung my work aside; took some 

refreshment; and afterwards a walk。



This time I turned up the small footpath of which I have already 

spoken。  It led in a zigzag manner through thickets of hazel; 

elder; and sweet…brier; after following its windings for somewhat 

better than a furlong; I heard a gentle sound of water; and 

presently came to a small rill; which ran directly across the path。  

I was rejoiced at the sight; for I had already experienced the want 

of water; which I yet knew must be nigh at hand; as I was in a 

place to all appearance occasionally frequented by wandering 

people; who I was aware never take up their quarters in places 

where water is difficult to be obtained。  Forthwith I stretched 

myself on the ground; and took a long and delicious draught of the 

crystal stream; and then; seating myself in a bush; I continued for 

some time gazing on the water as it purled tinkling away in its 

channel through an opening in the hazels; and should have probably 

continued much longer had not the thought that I had left my 

property unprotected compelled me to rise and return to my 

encampment。



Night came on; and a beautiful night it was; up rose the moon; and 

innumerable stars decked the firmament of heaven。  I sat on the 

shaft; my eyes turned upwards。  I had found it:  there it was 

twinkling millions of miles above me; mightiest star of the system 

to which we belong:  of all stars the one which has most interest 

for me … the star Jupiter。



Why have I always taken an interest in thee; O Jupiter?  I know 

nothing about thee; save what every child knows; that thou art a 

big star; whose only light is derived from moons。  And is not that 

knowledge enough to make me feel an interest in thee?  Ay; truly; I 

never look at thee without wondering what is going on in thee; what 

is life in Jupiter?  That there is life in Jupiter who can doubt?  

There is life in our own little star; therefore there must be life 

in Jupiter; which is not a little star。  But how different must 

life be in Jupiter from what it is in our own little star!  Life 

here is life beneath the dear sun … life in Jupiter is life beneath 

moons … four moons … no single moon is able to illumine that vast 

bulk。  All know what life is in our own little star; it is anything 

but a routine of happiness here; where the dear sun rises to us 

every day:  then how sad and moping must life be in mighty Jupiter; 

on which no sun ever shines; and which is never lighted save by 

pale moonbeams!  The thought that there is more sadness and 

melancholy in Jupiter than in this world of ours; where; alas! 

there is but too much; has always made me take a melancholy 

interest in that huge distant star。



Two or three days passed by in much the same manner as the first。  

During the morning I worked upon my kettles; and employed the 

remaining part of the day as I best could。  The whole of this time 

I only saw two individuals; rustics; who passed by my encampment 

without vouchsafing me a glance; they probably considered 

themselves my superiors; as perhaps they were。



One very brilliant morning; as I sat at work in very good spirits; 

for by this time I had actually mended in a very creditable way; as 

I imagined; two kettles and a frying…pan; I heard a voice which 

seemed to proceed from the path leading to the rivulet; at first it 

sounded from a considerable distance; but drew nearer by degrees。  

I soon remarked that the tones were exceedingly sharp and shrill; 

with yet something of childhood in them。  Once or twice I 

distinguished certain words in the song which the voice was 

singing; the words were … but no; I thought again I was probably 

mistaken … and then the voice ceased for a time; presently I heard 

it again; close to the entrance of the footpath; in another moment 

I heard it in the lane or glade in which stood my tent; where it 

abruptly stopped; but not before I had heard the very words which I 

at first thought I had distinguished。



I turned my head; at the entrance of the footpath; which might be 

about thirty yards from the place where I was sitting; I perceived 

the figure of a young girl; her face was turned to
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