catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第11节
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for telling it。
It came to pass； then； that the Count had come to have a perfect
contempt and indifference for Mrs。 Hall；how should he not for a young
person who had given herself up to him so easily？and would have been
quite glad of any opportunity of parting with her。 But there was a certain
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Catherine： A Story
lingering shame about the man； which prevented him from saying at once
and abruptly； 〃Go！〃 and the poor thing did not choose to take such hints as
fell out in the course of their conversation and quarrels。 And so they kept
on together； he treating her with simple insult； and she hanging on
desperately； by whatever feeble twig she could find； to the rock beyond
which all was naught； or death； to her。
Well； after the night with Tom Trippet and the pretty fellows at the
〃Rose；〃 to which we have heard the Count allude in the conversation just
recorded； Fortune smiled on him a good deal； for the Warwickshire squire；
who had lost forty pieces on that occasion； insisted on having his revenge
the night after； when； strange to say； a hundred and fifty more found their
way into the pouch of his Excellency the Count。 Such a sum as this quite
set the young nobleman afloat again； and brought back a pleasing
equanimity to his mind； which had been a good deal disturbed in the
former difficult circumstances； and in this； for a little and to a certain
extent； poor Cat had the happiness to share。 He did not alter the style of
his establishment； which consisted； as before； of herself and a small person
who acted as scourer； kitchen…wench； and scullion； Mrs。 Catherine always
putting her hand to the principal pieces of the dinner； but he treated his
mistress with tolerable good…humour； or； to speak more correctly； with
such bearable brutality as might be expected from a man like him to a
woman in her condition。 Besides； a certain event was about to take place；
which not unusually occurs in circumstances of this nature； and Mrs。
Catherine was expecting soon to lie in。
The Captain； distrusting naturally the strength of his own paternal
feelings； had kindly endeavoured to provide a parent for the coming infant；
and to this end had opened a negotiation with our friend Mr。 Thomas
Bullock； declaring that Mrs。 Cat should have a fortune of twenty guineas；
and reminding Tummas of his ancient flame for her： but Mr。 Tummas；
when this proposition was made to him； declined it； with many oaths； and
vowed that he was perfectly satisfied with his present bachelor condition。
In this dilemma； Mr。 Brock stepped forward； who declared himself very
ready to accept Mrs。 Catherine and her fortune： and might possibly have
become the possessor of both； had not Mrs。 Cat； the moment she heard of
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Catherine： A Story
the proposed arrangement； with fire in her eyes； and rageoh； how bitter！…
…in her heart； prevented the success of the measure by proceeding
incontinently to the first justice of the peace； and there swearing before his
worship who was the father of the coming child。
This proceeding； which she had expected would cause not a little
indignation on the part of her lord and master； was received by him；
strangely enough； with considerable good…humour： he swore that the
wench had served him a good trick； and was rather amused at the anger；
the outbreak of fierce rage and contumely； and the wretched wretched
tears of heartsick desperation； which followed her announcement of this
step to him。 For Mr。 Brock； she repelled his offer with scorn and loathing；
and treated the notion of a union with Mr。 Bullock with yet fiercer
contempt。 Marry him indeed！ a workhouse pauper carrying a brown…bess！
She would have died sooner； she said； or robbed on the highway。 And so；
to do her justice； she would： for the little minx was one of the vainest
creatures in existence； and vanity （as I presume everybody knows）
becomes THE principle in certain women's heartstheir moral spectacles；
their conscience； their meat and drink； their only rule of right and wrong。
As for Mr。 Tummas； he； as we have seen； was quite unfriendly to the
proposition as she could be； and the Corporal； with a good deal of comical
gravity； vowed that； as he could not be satisfied in his dearest wishes； he
would take to drinking for a consolation： which he straightway did。
〃Come； Tummas；〃 said he to Mr。 Bullock 〃since we CAN'T have the
girl of our hearts； why； hang it； Tummas； let's drink her health！〃 To which
Bullock had no objection。 And so strongly did the disappointment weigh
upon honest Corporal Brock； that even when； after unheard…of quantities
of beer； he could scarcely utter a word； he was seen absolutely to weep；
and； in accents almost unintelligible； to curse his confounded ill…luck at
being deprived； not of a wife； but of a child： he wanted one so； he said； to
comfort him in his old age。
The time of Mrs。 Catherine's couche drew near； arrived； and was gone
through safely。 She presented to the world a chopping boy； who might use；
if he liked； the Galgenstein arms with a bar…sinister； and in her new cares
and duties had not so many opportunities as usual of quarrelling with the
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Count： who； perhaps； respected her situation； or； at least； was so properly
aware of the necessity of quiet to her； that he absented himself from home
morning； noon； and night。
The Captain had； it must be confessed； turned these continued
absences to a considerable worldly profit； for he played incessantly； and；
since his first victory over the Warwickshire Squire； Fortune had been so
favourable to him； that he had at various intervals amassed a sum of nearly
a thousand pounds； which he used to bring home as he won； and which he
deposited in a strong iron chest； cunningly screwed down by himself under
his own bed。 This Mrs。 Catherine regularly made； and the treasure
underneath it could be no secret to her。 However； the noble Count kept the
key； and bound her by many solemn oaths （that he discharged at her
himself） not to reveal to any other person the existence of the chest and its
contents。
But it is not in a woman's nature to keep such secrets； and the Captain；
who left her for days and days； did not reflect that she would seek for
confidants elsewhere。 For want of a female companion； she was compelled
to bestow her sympathies upon Mr。 Brock； who； as the Count's corporal；
was much in his lodgings； and who did manage to survive the
disappointment which he had experienced by Mrs。 Catherine's refusal of
him。
About two months after the infant's birth； the Captain； who was
annoyed by its squalling； put it abroad to nurse； and dismissed its attendant。
Mrs。 Catherine now resumed her household duties； and was； as before； at
once mistress and servant of the establishment。 As such； she had the keys
of the beer； and was pretty sure of the attentions of the Corporal； who
became； as we have said； in the Count's absence； his lady's chief friend
and companion。 After the manner of ladies； she very speedily confided to
him all her domestic secrets； the causes of her former discontent； the
Count's ill… treatment of her； the wicked names he called her； the prices
that all her gowns had cost her； how he beat her； how much money he won
and lost at play； how she had once pawned a coat for him； how he had four
new ones； laced； and paid for； what was the best way of cleaning and
keeping gold…lace； of making cherry…brandy； pickling salmon； etc。； etc。
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Her confidences upon all these subjects used to follow each other in rapid
succession； and M
