catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第36节
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said about Beinkleider and the clothes？ Tommy will just wait on the Count
with his Lordship's breeches。 A man may learn a deal of news in the trying
on of a pair of breeches。〃
And so it was agreed that in this manner the son should at first make
his appearance before his father。 Mrs。 Cat gave him the piece of brocade；
which； in the course of the day； was fashioned into a smart waistcoat （for
Beinkleider's shop was close by； in Cavendish Square）。 Mrs。 Gretel； with
many blushes； tied a fine blue riband round his neck； and； in a pair of silk
stockings； with gold buckles to his shoes； Master Billings looked a very
proper young gentleman。
〃And； Tommy；〃 said his mother； blushing and hesitating； 〃should Max…
…should his Lordship ask after yourwant to know if your mother is alive；
you can say she is； and well； and often talks of old times。 And； Tommy〃
（after another pause）； 〃you needn't say anything about Mr。 Hayes； only say
I'm quite well。〃
Mrs。 Hayes looked at him as he marched down the street； a long long
way。 Tom was proud and gay in his new costume； and was not unlike his
father。 As she looked； lo！ Oxford Street disappeared； and she saw a green
common； and a village； and a little inn。 There was a soldier leading a pair
of horses about on the green common； and in the inn sat a cavalier； so
young； so merry； so beautiful！ Oh； what slim white hands he had； and
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winning words； and tender； gentle blue eyes！ Was it not an honour to a
country lass that such a noble gentleman should look at her for a moment？
Had he not some charm about him that she must needs obey when he
whispered in her ear； 〃Come； follow me！〃 As she walked towards the lane
that morning； how well she remembered each spot as she passed it； and the
look it wore for the last time！ How the smoke was rising from the pastures；
how the fish were jumping and plashing in the mill…stream！ There was the
church； with all its windows lighted up with gold； and yonder were the
reapers sweeping down the brown corn。 She tried to sing as she went up
the hillwhat was it？ She could not remember； but oh； how well she
remembered the sound of the horse's hoofs； as they came quicker； quicker…
…nearer； nearer！ How noble he looked on his great horse！ Was he thinking
of her； or were they all silly words which he spoke last night； merely to
pass away the time and deceive poor girls with？ Would he remember
them；would he？
〃Cat my dear；〃 here cried Mr。 Brock； alias Captain； alias Doctor Wood；
〃here's the meat a…getting cold； and I am longing for my breakfast。〃
As they went in he looked her hard in the face。 〃What； still at it； you
silly girl？ I've been watching you these five minutes； Cat； and be hanged
but I think a word from Galgenstein； and you would follow him as a fly
does a treacle…pot！〃
They went in to breakfast； but though there was a hot shoulder of
mutton and onion…sauceMrs。 Catherine's favourite dishshe never
touched a morsel of it。
In the meanwhile Mr。 Thomas Billings； in his new clothes which his
mamma had given him； in his new riband which the fair Miss Beinkleider
had tied round his neck； and having his Excellency's breeches wrapped in
a silk handkerchief in his right hand； turned down in the direction of
Whitehall； where the Bavarian Envoy lodged。 But； before he waited on
him； Mr。 Billings； being excessively pleased with his personal appearance；
made an early visit to Mrs。 Briggs； who lived in the neighbourhood of
Swallow Street； and who； after expressing herself with much enthusiasm
regarding her Tommy's good looks； immediately asked him what he would
stand to drink？ Raspberry gin being suggested； a pint of that liquor was
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sent for； and so great was the confidence and intimacy subsisting between
these two young people； that the reader will be glad to hear that Mrs。 Polly
accepted every shilling of the money which Tom Billings had received
from his mamma the day before； nay； could with difficulty be prevented
from seizing upon the cut…velvet breeches which he was carrying to the
nobleman for whom they were made。 Having paid his adieux to Mrs。 Polly；
Mr。 Billings departed to visit his father。
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Catherine： A Story
CHAPTER IX。 INTERVIEW
BETWEEN COUNT
GALGENSTEIN AND MASTER
THOMAS BILLINGS； WHEN HE
INFORMS THE COUNT OF HIS
PARENTAGE。
I don't know in all this miserable world a more miserable spectacle
than that of a young fellow of five or six and forty。 The British army； that
nursery of valour； turns out many of the young fellows I mean： who；
having flaunted in dragoon uniforms from seventeen to six…and…thirty；
having bought； sold； or swapped during that period some two hundred
horses； having played； say； fifteen thousand games at billiards； having
drunk some six thousand bottles of wine； having consumed a reasonable
number of Nugee coats； split many dozen pairs of high…heeled Hoby boots；
and read the newspaper and the army…list duly； retire from the service
when they have attained their eighth lustre； and saunter through the world；
trailing from London to Cheltenham； and from Boulogne to Paris； and
from Paris to Baden； their idleness； their ill…health； and their ennui。 〃In the
morning of youth；〃 and when seen along with whole troops of their
companions； these flowers look gaudy and brilliant enough； but there is no
object more dismal than one of them alone； and in its autumnal； or seedy
state。 My friend； Captain Popjoy； is one who has arrived at this condition；
and whom everybody knows by his title of Father Pop。 A kinder； simpler；
more empty…headed fellow does not exist。 He is forty…seven years old； and
appears a young； good…looking man of sixty。 At the time of the Army of
Occupation he really was as good…looking a man as any in the Dragoons。
He now uses all sorts of stratagems to cover the bald place on his head； by
combing certain thin grey sidelocks over it。 He has； in revenge； a pair of
enormous moustaches； which he dyes of the richest blue…black。 His nose is
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a good deal larger and redder than it used to be； his eyelids have grown
flat and heavy； and a little pair of red； watery eyeballs float in the midst of
them： it seems as if the light which was once in those sickly green pupils
had extravasated into the white part of the eye。 If Pop's legs are not so firm
and muscular as they used to be in those days when he took such leaps
into White's buckskins； in revenge his waist is much larger。 He wears a
very good coat； however； and a waistband； which he lets out after dinner。
Before ladies he blushes； and is as silent as a schoolboy。 He calls them
〃modest women。〃 His society is chiefly among young lads belonging to
his former profession。 He knows the best wine to be had at each tavern or
cafe； and the waiters treat him with much respectful familiarity。 He knows
the names of every one of them； and shouts out； 〃Send Markwell here！〃 or；
〃Tell Cuttriss to give us a bottle of the yellow seal！〃 or； 〃Dizzy voo；
Monsure Borrel； noo donny shampang frappy；〃 etc。 He always makes the
salad or the punch； and dines out three hundred days in the year： the other
days you see him in a two…franc eating…house at Paris； or prowling about
Rupert Street； or St。 Martin's Court； where you get a capital cut of meat for
eightpence。 He has decent lodgings and scrupulously clean linen； his
animal functions are still tolerably well preserved； his spiritual have
evaporated long since； he sleeps well； has no conscience； believes himself
to be a respectable fellow； and is tolerably happy on the days when he is
asked out to dinner。
Poor Pop is not very high in the scale of created beings； but； if yo
