catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第32节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
apprentice in his service； charged with having broken open a cupboard in
which Mr。 Hayes had forty guineas in gold and silver； and to which none
108
… Page 109…
Catherine： A Story
but he and his wife had access。
Having made these arrangements； the Corporal and his little party
decamped to a short distance； and Mrs。 Catherine was left to prepare her
husband for a speedy addition to his family； in the shape of this darling
nephew。 John Hayes received the news with anything but pleasure。 He had
never heard of any brother of Catherine's； she had been bred at the
workhouse； and nobody ever hinted that she had relatives： but it is easy for
a lady of moderate genius to invent circumstances； and with lies； tears；
threats； coaxings； oaths； and other blandishments； she compelled him to
submit。
Two days afterwards； as Mr。 Hayes was working in his shop with his
lady seated beside him； the trampling of a horse was heard in his courtyard；
and a gentleman； of huge stature； descended from it； and strode into the
shop。 His figure was wrapped in a large cloak； but Mr。 Hayes could not
help fancying that he had somewhere seen his face before。
〃This； I preshoom；〃 said the gentleman； 〃is Misther Hayes； that I have
come so many miles to see； and this is his amiable lady？ I was the most
intimate frind； madam； of your laminted brother； who died in King Lewis's
service； and whose last touching letthers I despatched to you two days ago。
I have with me a further precious token of my dear friend； Captain Hallit
is HERE。〃
And so saying； the military gentleman； with one arm； removed his
cloak； and stretching forward the other into Hayes's face almost； stretched
likewise forward a little boy； grinning and sprawling in the air； and
prevented only from falling to the ground by the hold which the Ensign
kept of the waistband of his little coat and breeches。
〃Isn't he a pretty boy？〃 said Mrs。 Hayes； sidling up to her husband
tenderly； and pressing one of Mr。 Hayes's hands。
* * *
About the lad's beauty it is needless to say what the carpenter thought；
but that night； and for many many nights after； the lad stayed at Mr。
Hayes's。
109
… Page 110…
Catherine： A Story
CHAPTER VIII。 ENUMERATES
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF
MASTER THOMAS BILLINGS
INTRODUCES BROCK AS
DOCTOR WOODAND
ANNOUNCES THE EXECUTION
OF ENSIGN MACSHANE。
We are obliged； in recording this history； to follow accurately that
great authority； the 〃Calendarium Newgaticum Roagorumque
Registerium；〃 of which every lover of literature； in the present day knows
the value； and as that remarkable work totally discards all the unities in its
narratives； and reckons the life of its heroes only by their actions； and not
by periods of time； we must follow in the wake of this mighty arka
humble cock…boat。 When it pauses； we pause； when it runs ten knots an
hour； we run with the same celerity； and as； in order to carry the reader
from the penultimate chapter of this work unto the last chapter； we were
compelled to make him leap over a gap of seven blank years； ten years
more must likewise be granted to us before we are at liberty to resume our
history。
During that period； Master Thomas Billings had been under the
especial care of his mother； and； as may be imagined； he rather increased
than diminished the accomplishments for which he had been remarkable
while under the roof of his foster…father。 And with this advantage； that
while at the blacksmith's； and only three or four years of age； his virtues
were necessarily appreciated only in his family circle and among those
few acquaintances of his own time of life whom a youth of three can be
expected to meet in the alleys or over the gutters of a small country
hamlet；in his mothers residence； his circle extended with his own growth；
110
… Page 111…
Catherine： A Story
and he began to give proofs of those powers of which in infancy there had
been only encouraging indications。 Thus it was nowise remarkable that a
child of four years should not know his letters； and should have had a
great disinclination to learn them； but when a young man of fifteen
showed the same creditable ignorance； the same undeviating dislike； it was
easy to see that he possessed much resolution and perseverance。 When it
was remarked； too； that； in case of any difference； he not only beat the
usher； but by no means disdained to torment and bully the very smallest
boys of the school； it was easy to see that his mind was comprehensive
and careful； as well as courageous and grasping。 As it was said of the
Duke of Wellington； in the Peninsula； that he had a thought for everybody…
…from Lord Hill to the smallest drummer in the armyin like manner Tom
Billings bestowed HIS attention on high and low； but in the shape of
blows： he would fight the strongest and kick the smallest； and was always
at work with one or the other。 At thirteen； when he was removed from the
establishment whither he had been sent； he was the cock of the school out
of doors； and the very last boy in。 He used to let the little boys and new…
comers pass him by； and laugh； but he always belaboured them
unmercifully afterwards； and then it was； he said； HIS turn to laugh。 With
such a pugnacious turn； Tom Billings ought to have been made a soldier；
and might have died a marshal； but； by an unlucky ordinance of fate； he
was made a tailor； and died anever mind what for the present； suffice it
to say； that he was suddenly cut off； at a very early period of his existence；
by a disease which has exercised considerable ravages among the British
youth。
By consulting the authority above mentioned； we find that Hayes did
not confine himself to the profession of a carpenter； or remain long
established in the country； but was induced； by the eager spirit of Mrs。
Catherine most probably； to try his fortune in the metropolis； where he
lived； flourished； and died。 Oxford Road； Saint Giles's； and Tottenham
Court were； at various periods of his residence in town； inhabited by him。
At one place he carried on the business of greengrocer and small…coalman；
in another； he was carpenter； undertaker； and lender of money to the poor；
finally； he was a lodging…house keeper in the Oxford or Tyburn Road； but
111
… Page 112…
Catherine： A Story
continued to exercise the last…named charitable profession。
Lending as he did upon pledges； and carrying on a pretty large trade； it
was not for him； of course； to inquire into the pedigree of all the pieces of
plate； the bales of cloth； swords； watches； wigs； shoe…buckles； etc。 that
were confided by his friends to his keeping； but it is clear that his friends
had the requisite confidence in him； and that he enjoyed the esteem of a
class of characters who still live in history； and are admired unto this very
day。 The mind loves to think that； perhaps； in Mr。 Hayes's back parlour the
gallant Turpin might have hob…and…nobbed with Mrs。 Catherine； that here；
perhaps； the noble Sheppard might have cracked his joke； or quaffed his
pint of rum。 Who knows but that Macheath and Paul Clifford may have
crossed legs under Hayes's dinner…table？ But why pause to speculate on
things that might have been？ why desert reality for fond imagination； or
call up from their honoured graves the sacred dead？ I know not： and yet；
in sooth； I can never pass Cumberland Gate without a sigh； as I think of
the gallant cavaliers who traversed that road in old time。 Pious priests
accompanied their triumphs； their chariots were surrounded by hosts of
glittering javelin…men。 As the slave at the car of the Roman conqueror
shouted； 〃Remember thou art mortal！〃； before the e
