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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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