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lavengro-第171部分
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by the hands; 'I'll go with you where you please; but I thought
this a strange lonesome place; though I ought not much to mind
strange lonesome places; having been in plenty of such when I was a
servant in Italy; without coming to any harm … come; let us move
on; for 'tis a shame to keep you two in the rain。'
So we descended the path which led into the depths of the dingle;
at the bottom I conducted the postilion to my tent; which; though
the rain dripped and trickled through it; afforded some shelter;
there I bade him sit down on the log of wood; whilst I placed
myself as usual on my stone。 Belle in the meantime had repaired to
her own place of abode。 After a little time; I produced a bottle
of the cordial of which I have previously had occasion to speak;
and made my guest take a considerable draught。 I then offered him
some; bread and cheese; which he accepted with thanks。 In about an
hour the rain had much abated: 'What do you now propose to do?'
said I。 'I scarcely know;' said the man; 'I suppose I must
endeavour to put on the wheel with your help。' 'How far are you
from your home?' I demanded。 'Upwards of thirty miles;' said the
man; 'my master keeps an inn on the great north road; and from
thence I started early this morning with a family; which I conveyed
across the country to a hall at some distance from here。 On my
return I was beset by the thunderstorm; which frightened the
horses; who dragged the chaise off the road to the field above; and
overset it as you saw。 I had proposed to pass the night at an inn
about twelve miles from here on my way back; though how I am to get
there to…night I scarcely know; even if we can put on the wheel;
for; to tell you the truth; I am shaken by my fall; and the
smoulder and smoke of that fireball have rather bewildered my head;
I am; moreover; not much acquainted with the way。
'The best thing you can do;' said I; 'is to pass the night here; I
will presently light a fire; and endeavour to make you comfortable
… in the morning we will see to your wheel。' 'Well;' said the man;
'I shall be glad to pass the night here; provided I do not intrude;
but I must see to the horses。' Thereupon I conducted the man to
the place where the horses were tied。 'The trees drip very much
upon them;' said the man; 'and it will not do for them to remain
here all night; they will be better out on the field picking the
grass; but first of all they must have a good feed of corn。'
Thereupon he went to his chaise; from which he presently brought
two small bags; partly filled with corn … into them he inserted the
mouths of the horses; tying them over their heads。 'Here we will
leave them for a time;' said the man; 'when I think they have had
enough; I will come back; tie their fore…legs; and let them pick
about。'
CHAPTER XCVII
Fire of charcoal … The new…comer … No wonder! … Not a blacksmith …
A love affair … Gretna Green … A cool thousand … Family estates …
Borough interest … Grand education … Let us hear … Already
quarrelling … Honourable parents … Most heroically … Not common
people … Fresh charcoal。
IT might be about ten o'clock at night。 Belle; the postilion; and
myself; sat just within the tent; by a fire of charcoal which I had
kindled in the chafing…pan。 The man had removed the harness from
his horses; and; after tethering their legs; had left them for the
night in the field above to regale themselves on what grass they
could find。 The rain had long since entirely ceased; and the moon
and stars shone bright in the firmament; up to which; putting aside
the canvas; I occasionally looked from the depths of the dingle。
Large drops of water; however; falling now and then upon the tent
from the neighbouring trees; would have served; could we have
forgotten it; to remind us of the recent storm; and also a certain
chilliness in the atmosphere; unusual to the season; proceeding
from the moisture with which the ground was saturated; yet these
circumstances only served to make our party enjoy the charcoal fire
the more。 There we sat bending over it: Belle; with her long
beautiful hair streaming over her magnificent shoulders; the
postilion smoking his pipe; in his shirt…sleeves and waistcoat;
having flung aside his greatcoat; which had sustained a thorough
wetting; and I without my wagoner's slop; of which; it being in the
same plight; I had also divested myself。
The new…comer was a well…made fellow of about thirty; with an open
and agreeable countenance。 I found him very well informed for a
man in his station; and with some pretensions to humour。 After we
had discoursed for some time on indifferent subjects; the
postilion; who had exhausted his pipe; took it from his mouth; and;
knocking out the ashes upon the ground; exclaimed; 'I little
thought; when I got up in the morning; that I should spend the
night in such agreeable company; and after such a fright。'
'Well;' said I; 'I am glad that your opinion of us has improved; it
is not long since you seemed to hold us in rather a suspicious
light。'
'And no wonder;' said the man; 'seeing the place you were taking me
to! I was not a little; but very much afraid of ye both; and so I
continued for some time; though; not to show a craven heart; I
pretended to be quite satisfied; but I see I was altogether
mistaken about ye。 I thought you vagrant gypsy folks and trampers;
but now … '
'Vagrant gypsy folks and trampers;' said I; 'and what are we but
people of that stamp?'
'Oh;' said the postilion; 'if you wish to be thought such; I am far
too civil a person to contradict you; especially after your
kindness to me; but … '
'But!' said I; 'what do you mean by but? I would have you to know
that I am proud of being a travelling blacksmith; look at these
donkey…shoes; I finished them this day。'
The postilion took the shoes and examined them。 'So you made these
shoes?' he cried at last。
'To be sure I did; do you doubt it?'
'Not in the least;' said the man。
'Ah! ah!' said I; 'I thought I should bring you back to your
original opinion。 I am; then; a vagrant gypsy body; a tramper; a
wandering blacksmith。'
'Not a blacksmith; whatever else you may be;' said the postilion;
laughing。
'Then how do you account for my making those shoes?'
'By your not being a blacksmith;' said the postilion; 'no
blacksmith would have made shoes in that manner。 Besides; what did
you mean just now by saying you had finished these shoes to…day? A
real blacksmith would have flung off three or four sets of donkey…
shoes in one morning; but you; I will be sworn; have been hammering
at these for days; and they do you credit … but why? … because you
are no blacksmith; no; friend; your shoes may do for this young
gentlewoman's animal; but I shouldn't like to have my horses shod
by
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