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lavengro-第60部分

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the fall; and an almost total darkness reigned in the room。  The 

form pressed heavily against my bosom … at last methought it moved。  

Yes; I was right; there was a heaving of the breast; and then a 

gasping。  Were those words which I heard?  Yes; they were words; 

low and indistinct at first; and then audible。  The mind of the 

dying man was reverting to former scenes。  I heard him mention 

names which I had often heard him mention before。  It was an awful 

moment; I felt stupefied; but I still contrived to support my dying 

father。  There was a pause; again my father spoke:  I heard him 

speak of Minden; and of Meredith; the old Minden sergeant; and then 

he uttered another name; which at one period of his life was much 

in his lips; the name of 。 。 。 but this is a solemn moment!  There 

was a deep gasp:  I shook; and thought all was over; but I was 

mistaken … my father moved; and revived for a moment; he supported 

himself in bed without my assistance。  I make no doubt that for a 

moment he was perfectly sensible; and it was then that; clasping 

his hands; he uttered another name clearly; distinctly … it was the 

name of Christ。  With that name upon his lips; the brave old 

soldier sank back upon my bosom; and; with his hands still clasped; 

yielded up his soul。







CHAPTER XXIX







The greeting … Queer figure … Cheer up … The cheerful fire … It 

will do … The sally forth … Trepidation … Let him come in。



'ONE…AND…NINEPENCE; sir; or the things which you have brought with 

you will be taken away from you!'



Such were the first words which greeted my ears; one damp misty 

morning in March; as I dismounted from the top of a coach in the 

yard of a London inn。



I turned round; for I felt that the words were addressed to myself。  

Plenty of people were in the yard … porters; passengers; coachmen; 

hostlers; and others; who appeared to be intent on anything but 

myself; with the exception of one individual; whose business 

appeared to lie with me; and who now confronted me at the distance 

of about two yards。



I looked hard at the man … and a queer kind of individual he was to 

look at … a rakish figure; about thirty; and of the middle size; 

dressed in a coat smartly cut; but threadbare; very tight 

pantaloons of blue stuff; tied at the ankles; dirty white stockings 

and thin shoes; like those of a dancing…master; his features were 

not ugly; but rather haggard; and he appeared to owe his complexion 

less to nature than carmine; in fact; in every respect; a very 

queer figure。



'One…and…ninepence; sir; or your things will be taken away from 

you!' he said; in a kind of lisping tone; coming yet nearer to me。



I still remained staring fixedly at him; but never a word answered。  

Our eyes met; whereupon he suddenly lost the easy impudent air 

which he before wore。  He glanced; for a moment; at my fist; which 

I had by this time clenched; and his features became yet more 

haggard; he faltered; a fresh 'one…and…ninepence;' which he was 

about to utter; died on his lips; he shrank back; disappeared 

behind a coach; and I saw no more of him。



'One…and…ninepence; or my things will be taken away from me!' said 

I to myself; musingly; as I followed the porter to whom I had 

delivered my scanty baggage; 'am I to expect many of these 

greetings in the big world?  Well; never mind!  I think I know the 

counter…sign!'  And I clenched my fist yet harder than before。



So I followed the porter; through the streets of London; to a 

lodging which had been prepared for me by an acquaintance。  The 

morning; as I have before said; was gloomy; and the streets through 

which I passed were dank and filthy; the people; also; looked dank 

and filthy; and so; probably; did I; for the night had been rainy; 

and I had come upwards of a hundred miles on the top of a coach; my 

heart had sunk within me; by the time we reached a dark narrow 

street; in which was the lodging。



'Cheer up; young man;' said the porter; 'we shall have a fine 

afternoon!'



And presently I found myself in the lodging which had been prepared 

for me。  It consisted of a small room; up two pair of stairs; in 

which I was to sit; and another still smaller above it; in which I 

was to sleep。  I remember that I sat down; and looked disconsolate 

about me … everything seemed so cold and dingy。  Yet how little is 

required to make a situation … however cheerless at first sight … 

cheerful and comfortable。  The people of the house; who looked 

kindly upon me; lighted a fire in the dingy grate; and; then; what 

a change! … the dingy room seemed dingy no more!  Oh the luxury of 

a cheerful fire after a chill night's journey!  I drew near to the 

blazing grate; rubbed my hands; and felt glad。



And; when I had warmed myself; I turned to the table; on which; by 

this time; the people of the house had placed my breakfast; and I 

ate and I drank; and; as I ate and drank; I mused within myself; 

and my eyes were frequently directed to a small green box; which 

constituted part of my luggage; and which; with the rest of my 

things; stood in one corner of the room; till at last; leaving my 

breakfast unfinished; I rose; and; going to the box; unlocked it; 

and took out two or three bundles of papers tied with red tape; 

and; placing them on the table; I resumed my seat and my breakfast; 

my eyes intently fixed upon the bundles of papers all the time。



And when I had drained the last cup of tea out of a dingy teapot; 

and ate the last slice of the dingy loaf; I untied one of the 

bundles; and proceeded to look over the papers; which were closely 

written over in a singular hand; and I read for some time; till at 

last I said to myself; 'It will do。'  And then I looked at the 

other bundle for some time without untying it; and at last I said; 

'It will do also。'  And then I turned to the fire; and; putting my 

feet against the sides of the grate; I leaned back on my chair; 

and; with my eyes upon the fire; fell into deep thought。



And there I continued in thought before the fire; until my eyes 

closed; and I fell asleep; which was not to be wondered at; after 

the fatigue and cold which I had lately undergone on the coach…top; 

and; in my sleep; I imagined myself still there; amidst darkness 

and rain; hurrying now over wild heaths; and now along roads 

overhung with thick and umbrageous trees; and sometimes methought I 

heard the horn of the guard; and sometimes the voice of the 

coachman; now chiding; now encouraging his horses; as they toiled 

through the deep and miry ways。  At length a tremendous crack of a 

whip saluted the tympanum of my ear; and I started up broad awake; 

nearly oversetting the chair on which I reclined … and lo! I was in 

the dingy room before the fire; which was by this time half 

extinguished。  In my dream I had confounded the noise of the street 

with those of my night journey; the crack which had arou
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