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lavengro-第92部分
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bench beside her; she was inquiring what was the matter with me。
At first; I believe; I answered her very incoherently; for I
observed alarm beginning to depict itself upon her countenance。
Rousing myself; however; I in my turn put a few questions to her
upon her present condition and prospects。 The old woman's
countenance cleared up instantly; she informed me that she had
never been more comfortable in her life; that her trade; her HONEST
trade … laying an emphasis on the word honest … had increased of
late wonderfully; that her health was better; and; above all; that
she felt no fear and horror 'here;' laying her hand on her breast。
On my asking her whether she still heard voices in the night; she
told me that she frequently did; but that the present were mild
voices; sweet voices; encouraging voices; very different from the
former ones; that a voice; only the night previous; had cried out
about 'the peace of God;' in particularly sweet accents; a sentence
which she remembered to have read in her early youth in the primer;
but which she had clean forgotten till the voice the night before
brought it to her recollection。
After a pause; the old woman said to me; 'I believe; dear; that it
is the blessed book you brought me which has wrought this goodly
change。 How glad I am now that I can read; but oh what a
difference between the book you brought to me and the one you took
away! I believe the one you brought is written by the finger of
God; and the other by … '
'Don't abuse the book;' said I; 'it is an excellent book for those
who can understand it; it was not exactly suited to you; and
perhaps it had been better that you had never read it … and yet;
who knows? Peradventure; if you had not read that book; you would
not have been fitted for the perusal of the one which you say is
written by the finger of God'; and; pressing my hand to my head; I
fell into a deep fit of musing。 'What; after all;' thought I; 'if
there should be more order and system in the working of the moral
world than I have thought? Does there not seem in the present
instance to be something like the working of a Divine hand? I
could not conceive why this woman; better educated than her mother;
should have been; as she certainly was; a worse character than her
mother。 Yet perhaps this woman may be better and happier than her
mother ever was; perhaps she is so already … perhaps this world is
not a wild; lying dream; as I have occasionally supposed it to be。'
But the thought of my own situation did not permit me to abandon
myself much longer to these musings。 I started up。 'Where are you
going; child?' said the woman; anxiously。 'I scarcely know;' said
I; 'anywhere。' 'Then stay here; child;' said she; 'I have much to
say to you。' 'No;' said I; 'I shall be better moving about'; and I
was moving away; when it suddenly occurred to me that I might never
see this woman again; and turning round I offered her my hand; and
bade her good…bye。 'Farewell; child;' said the old woman; 'and God
bless you!' I then moved along the bridge until I reached the
Southwark side; and; still holding on my course; my mind again
became quickly abstracted from all surrounding objects。
At length I found myself in a street or road; with terraces on
either side; and seemingly of interminable length; leading; as it
would appear; to the south…east。 I was walking at a great rate …
there were likewise a great number of people; also walking at a
great rate; also carts and carriages driving at a great rate; and
all … men; carts; and carriages … going in the selfsame direction;
namely to the south…east。 I stopped for a moment and deliberated
whether or not I should proceed。 What business had I in that
direction? I could not say that I had any particular business in
that direction; but what could I do were I to turn back? only walk
about well…known streets; and; if I must walk; why not continue in
the direction in which I was to see whither the road and its
terraces led? I was ere in a TERRA INCOGNITA; and an unknown place
had always some interest for me; moreover; I had a desire to know
whither all this crowd was going; and for what purpose。 I thought
they could not be going far; as crowds seldom go far; especially at
such a rate; so I walked on more lustily than before; passing group
after group of the crowd; and almost vying in speed with some of
the carriages; especially the hackney…coaches; and; by dint of
walking at this rate; the terraces and houses becoming somewhat
less frequent as I advanced; I reached in about three…quarters of
an hour a kind of low dingy town; in the neighbourhood of the
river; the streets were swarming with people; and I concluded; from
the number of wild…beast shows; caravans; gingerbread stalls; and
the like; that a fair was being held。 Now; as I had always been
partial to fairs; I felt glad that I had fallen in with the crowd
which had conducted me to the present one; and; casting away as
much as I was able all gloomy thoughts; I did my best to enter into
the diversions of the fair; staring at the wonderful
representations of animals on canvas hung up before the shows of
wild beasts; which; by the bye; are frequently found much more
worthy of admiration than the real beasts themselves; listening to
the jokes of the merry…andrews from the platforms in front of the
temporary theatres; or admiring the splendid tinsel dresses of the
performers who thronged the stages in the intervals of the
entertainments; and in this manner; occasionally gazing and
occasionally listening; I passed through the town till I came in
front of a large edifice looking full upon the majestic bosom of
the Thames。
It was a massive stone edifice; built in an antique style; and
black with age; with a broad esplanade between it and the river; on
which; mixed with a few people from the fair; I observed moving
about a great many individuals in quaint dresses of blue; with
strange three…cornered hats on their heads; most of them were
mutilated; this had a wooden leg … this wanted an arm; some had but
one eye; and as I gazed upon the edifice; and the singular…looking
individuals who moved before it; I guessed where I was。 'I am at …
' said I; 'these individuals are battered tars of Old England; and
this edifice; once the favourite abode of Glorious Elizabeth; is
the refuge which a grateful country has allotted to them。 Here
they can rest their weary bodies; at their ease talk over the
actions in which they have been injured; and; with the tear of
enthusiasm flowing from their eyes; boast how they have trod the
deck of fame with Rodney; or Nelson; or others whose names stand
emblazoned in the naval annals of their country。'
Turning to the right; I entered a park or wood consisting of
enormous trees; occupying the foot; sides; and top of a hil
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