redgauntlet-第12节

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　he　did　not　deign　either　to　reply；　or　even　to　listen；　and　Cristal；　at　a　signal　from　his　master；　removed　the　object　of　my　curiosity；　as　well　as　the　cup；　upon　which　the　same　arms　were　engraved。

Then　ensued　an　awkward　pause；　which　I　endeavoured　to　break　by　observing；　that　'I　feared　my　intrusion　upon　his　hospitality　had　put　his　family　to　some　inconvenience'。

'I　hope　you　see　no　appearance　of　it；　sir；'　he　replied；　with　cold　civility。　　'What　inconvenience　a　family　so　retired　as　ours　may　suffer　from　receiving　an　unexpected　guest　is　like　to　be　trifling；　in　comparison　of　what　the　visitor　himself　sustains　from　want　of　his　accustomed　comforts。　　So　far；　therefore；　as　our　connexion　stands；　our　accounts　stand　clear。'

Notwithstanding　this　discouraging　reply；　I　blundered　on；　as　is　usual　in　such　cases；　wishing　to　appear　civil；　and　being；　perhaps；　in　reality　the　very　reverse。　　'I　was　afraid；'　I　said；　that　my　presence　had　banished　one　of　the　family'　（looking　at　the　side…　door）　'from　his　table。'

'If；'　he　coldly　replied；　'I　meant　the　young　woman　whom　I　had　seen　in　the　apartment；　he　bid　me　observe　that　there　was　room　enough　at　the　table　for　her　to　have　seated　herself；　and　meat　enough；　such　as　it　was；　for　her　supper。　　I　might；　therefore；　be　assured；　if　she　had　chosen　it；　she　would　have　supped　with　us。'

There　was　no　dwelling　on　this　or　any　other　topic　longer；　for　my　entertainer；　taking　up　the　lamp；　observed；　that　'my　wet　clothes　might　reconcile　me　for　the　night　to　their　custom　of　keeping　early　hours；　that　he　was　under　the　necessity　of　going　abroad　by　peep　of　day　to…morrow　morning；　and　would　call　me　up　at　the　same　time；　to　point　out　the　way　by　which　I　was　to　return　to　the　Shepherd's　Bush。'

This　left　no　opening　for　further　explanation；　nor　was　there　room　for　it　on　the　usual　terms　of　civility；　for；　as　he　neither　asked　my　name；　nor　expressed　the　least　interest　concerning　my　condition；　Ithe　obliged　personhad　no　pretence　to　trouble　him　with　such　inquiries　on　my　part。

He　took　up　the　lamp；　and　led　me　through　the　side…door　into　a　very　small　room；　where　a　bed　had　been　hastily　arranged　for　my　accommodation；　and；　putting　down　the　lamp；　directed　me　to　leave　my　wet　clothes　on　the　outside　of　the　door；　that　they　might　be　exposed　to　the　fire　during　the　night。　　He　then　left　me；　having　muttered　something　which　was　meant　to　pass　for　good　night。

I　obeyed　his　directions　with　respect　to　my　clothes；　the　rather　that；　in　despite　of　the　spirits　which　I　had　drunk；　I　felt　my　teeth　begin　to　chatter；　and　received　various　hints　from　an　aguish　feeling；　that　a　town…bred　youth；　like　myself；　could　not　at　once　rush　into　all　the　hardihood　of　country　sports　with　impunity。　　But　my　bed；　though　coarse　and　hard；　was　dry　and　clean；　and　I　soon　was　so　little　occupied　with　my　heats　and　tremors；　as　to　listen　with　interest　to　a　heavy　foot；　which　seemed　to　be　that　of　my　landlord；　traversing　the　boards　（there　was　no　ceiling；　as　you　may　believe）　which　roofed　my　apartment。　　Light；　glancing　through　these　rude　planks；　became　visible　as　soon　as　my　lamp　was　extinguished；　and　as　the　noise　of　the　slow；　solemn；　and　regular　step　continued；　and　I　could　distinguish　that　the　person　turned　and　returned　as　he　reached　the　end　of　the　apartment；　it　seemed　clear　to　me　that　the　walker　was　engaged　in　no　domestic　occupation；　but　merely　pacing　to　and　fro　for　his　own　pleasure。　　'An　odd　amusement　this；'　I　thought；　'for　one　who　had　been　engaged　at　least　a　part　of　the　preceding　day　in　violent　exercise；　and　who　talked　of　rising　by　the　peep　of　dawn　on　the　ensuing　morning。'

Meantime　I　heard　the　storm；　which　had　been　brewing　during　the　evening；　begin　to　descend　with　a　vengeance；　sounds　as　of　distant…　thunder　（the　noise　of　the　more　distant　waves；　doubtless；　on　the　shore）　mingled　with　the　roaring　of　the　neighbouring　torrent；　and　with　the　crashing；　groaning；　and　even　screaming　of　the　trees　in　the　glen　whose　boughs　were　tormented　by　the　gale。　　Within　the　house；　windows　clattered；　and　doors　clapped；　and　the　walls；　though　sufficiently　substantial　for　a　building　of　the　kind；　seemed　to　me　to　totter　in　the　tempest。

But　still　the　heavy　steps　perambulating　the　apartment　over　my　head　were　distinctly　heard　amid　the　roar　and　fury　of　the　elements。　　I　thought　more　than　once　I　even　heard　a　groan；　but　I　frankly　own　that；　placed　in　this　unusual　situation；　my　fancy　may　have　misled　me。　　I　was　tempted　several　times　to　call　aloud；　and　ask　whether　the　turmoil　around　us　did　not　threaten　danger　to　the　building　which　we　inhabited；　but　when　I　thought　of　the　secluded　and　unsocial　master　of　the　dwelling；　who　seemed　to　avoid　human　society；　and　to　remain　unperturbed　amid　the　elemental　war；　it　seemed　that　to　speak　to　him　at　that　moment　would　have　been　to　address　the　spirit　of　the　tempest　himself；　since　no　other　being；　I　thought；　could　have　remained　calm　and　tranquil　while　winds　and　waters　were　thus　raging　around。

In　process　of　time；　fatigue　prevailed　over　anxiety　and　curiosity。　The　storm　abated；　or　my　senses　became　deadened　to　its　terrors；　and　I　fell　asleep　ere　yet　the　mysterious　paces　of　my　host　had　ceased　to　shake　the　flooring　over　my　head。

It　might　have　been　expected　that　the　novelty　of　my　situation；　although　it　did　not　prevent　my　slumbers；　would　have　at　least　diminished　their　profoundness；　and　shortened　their　duration。　It　proved　otherwise；　however；　for　I　never　slept　more　soundly　in　my　life；　and　only　awoke　when；　at　morning　dawn；　my　landlord　shook　me　by　the　shoulder；　and　dispelled　some　dream；　of　which；　fortunately　for　you；　I　have　no　recollection；　otherwise　you　would　have　been　favoured　with　it；　in　hopes　you　might　have　proved　a　second　Daniel　upon　the　occasion。

'You　sleep　sound'　said　his　full　deep　voice；　'ere　five　years　have　rolled　over　your　head；　your　slumbers　will　be　lighterunless　ere　then　you　are　wrapped　in　the　sleep　which　is　never　broken。'

'How！'　　said　I；　starting　up　in　the　bed；　'do　you　know　anything　of　meof　my　prospectsof　my　views　in　life？'

'Nothing；'　he　answered；　with　a　grim　smile；　'but　it　is　evident　you　are　entering　upon　the　world　young；　inexperienced；　and　full　of　hopes；　and　I　do　but　prophesy　to　you　what　I　would　to　any　one　in　your　condition。　　But　come；　there　lie　your　clothesa　brown　crust　and　a　draught　of　milk　wait　you；　if　you　choose　to　break　your　fast；　but　you　must　make　haste。'

'I　must　first；'　I　said；　'take　the　freedom　to　spend　a　few　minutes　alone；　before　beginning　the　ordinary　works　of　the　day。'

'Oh！umph！I　cry　your　devotions　pardon；'　he　replied；　and　left　the　apartment。

Alan；　there　is　something　terrible　about　this　man。

I　joined　him；　as　I　had　promised；　in　the　kitchen　where　we　had　supped　overnight；　where　I　found　the　articles　which　he　had　offered　me　for　breakfast；　without　butter　or　any　other　addition。

He　walked　up　and　down　while　I　partook　of　the　bread　and　milk；　and　the　slow　measured　weighty　step　seemed　identified　with　those　which　I　had　heard　last　night。　　His　pace；　from　its　funereal　slowness；　seemed　to　keep　time　with　some　current　of　internal　passion；　dark；　slow；　and　unchanged。　　'We　run　and　leap　by　the　side　of　a　lively　and　bubbling　brook；'　thought　I；　internally；　'as　if　we　would　run　a　race　with　it；　but　beside　waters　deep；　slow；　and　lonely；　our　pace　is　sullen　and　silent　as　their　course。　　What　thoughts　may　be　now　corresponding　with　that　furrowed　brow；　and　bearing　time　with　that　heavy　step？'

'If　you　have　finished；'　said　he；　looking　up　to　me　with　a　glance　of　impatience；　as　he　observed　that　I　ate　no　longer；　but　remained　with　my　eyes　fixed　upon　him；　'I　wait　to　show　you　the　way。'

We　went　out　together；　no　individual　of　the　family　having　been　visible　excepting　my　landlord。　　I　was　disappointed　of　the　opportunity　which　I　watched　for　of　giving　some　gratuity　to　the　domestics；　as　they　seemed　to　be。　　As　for　offering　any　recompense　to　the　master　of　the　household；　it　seemed　to　me　impossible　to　have　attempted　it。

What　would　I　have　given　for　a　share　of　thy　composure；　who　wouldst　have　thrust　half　a　crown　into　a　man's　hand　whose　necessities　seemed　to　crave　it；　conscious　that　you　did　right　in　making　the　proffer；　and　not　caring　sixpence　whether　you　hurt　the　feelings　of　him　whom　you　meant　to　serve！　　I　saw　thee　once　give　a　penny　to　a　man　with　a　long　beard；　who；　from　the　dignity　of　his　exterior；　might　have　represented　Solon。　　I　had　not　thy　courage；　and　therefore　I　made　no　tender　to　my　mysterious　host；　although；　notwithstanding　his　display　of　silver　utensils；　all　around　the　house　bespoke　narrow　circumstances；　if　not　actual　poverty。

We　left　the　place　together。　　But　I　hear　thee　murmur　thy　very　new　and　appropriate　ejaculation；　OHE；　JAM　SATIS！The　rest　for　another　time。　　Perhaps　I　may　delay　further　communication　till　I　learn　how　my　favours　are　valued。




LETTER　V

ALAN　FAIRFORD　TO　DARSIE　LATIMER

I　have　thy　two　last　epistles；　my　dear　Darsie；　and　expecting　the　third；　have　been　in　no　hurry　to　answer　them。　　Do　not　think　my　silence　ought　to　be　ascribed　to　my　failing　to　take　interest　in　them；　for；　truly；　they　excel　（though　the　task　was　difficult）　thy　usual　excellings。　　Since　the　moon…calf　who　earliest　discovered　the　Pandemonium　of　Milton　in　an　expiring　wood…firesince　the　first　ingenious　urchin　who　blew　bubbles　out　of　soap　and　water；　thou；　my　best　of　friends；　hast　the　highest　knack　at　making　histories　out　of　nothing。　　Wert　thou　to　p