catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第42节
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〃Oh； Moffycousin； I mean'tis a shame to treat the poor boy so。 Go
away； Tommy； do go away； my cousin's in liquor；〃 whimpered Madam
Briggs； who really thought that the great doorkeeper would put his threat
into execution。
〃Tommy！〃 said Mr。 Moffat； frowning horribly； 〃Tommy to me too？
Dog； get out of my ssss…〃 SIGHT was the word which Mr。 Moffat
intended to utter； but he was interrupted； for； to the astonishment of his
friends and himself； Mr。 Billings did actually make a spring at the
monster's nose； and caught it so firmly； that the latter could not finish his
sentence。
The operation was performed with amazing celerity； and； having
concluded it； Mr。 Billings sprang back； and whisked from out its sheath
that new silver…hilted sword which his mamma had given him。 〃Now；〃
said he； with a fierce kind of calmness； 〃now for the throat…cutting； cousin：
I'm your man！〃
How the brawl might have ended； no one can say； had the two
gentlemen actually crossed swords； but Mrs。 Polly； with a wonderful
presence of mind； restored peace by exclaiming； 〃Hush； hush！ the beaks；
the beaks！〃 Upon which； with one common instinct； the whole party made
a rush for the garden gates； and disappeared into the fields。 Mrs。 Briggs
knew her company： there was something in the very name of a constable
which sent them all a…flying。
After running a reasonable time； Mr。 Billings stopped。 But the great
Moffat was nowhere to be seen； and Polly Briggs had likewise vanished。
Then Tom bethought him that he would go back to his mother； but；
arriving at the gate of the gardens； was refused admittance； as he had not a
shilling in his pocket。 〃I've left；〃 says Tommy； giving himself the airs of a
gentleman； 〃some friends in the gardens。 I'm with his Excellency the
Bavarian henvy。〃
〃Then you had better go away with him；〃 said the gate people。
〃But I tell you I left him there； in the grand circle； with a lady； and；
what's more； in the dark walk； I have left a silver…hilted sword。〃
〃Oh； my Lord； I'll go and tell him then；〃 cried one of the porters； 〃if
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you will wait。〃
Mr。 Billings seated himself on a post near the gate； and there
consented to remain until the return of his messenger。 The latter went
straight to the dark walk； and found the sword； sure enough。 But； instead
of returning it to its owner this discourteous knight broke the trenchant
blade at the hilt； and flinging the steel away； pocketed the baser silver
metal； and lurked off by the private door consecrated to the waiters and
fiddlers。
In the meantime； Mr。 Billings waited and waited。 And what was the
conversation of his worthy parents inside the garden？ I cannot say； but one
of the waiters declared that he had served the great foreign Count with two
bowls of rack…punch； and some biscuits； in No。 3： that in the box with him
were first a young gentleman； who went away； and a lady； splendidly
dressed and masked： that when the lady and his Lordship were alone； she
edged away to the further end of the table； and they had much talk： that at
last； when his Grace had pressed her very much； she took off her mask and
said； 〃Don't you know me now； Max？〃 that he cried out； 〃My own
Catherine； thou art more beautiful than ever！〃 and wanted to kneel down
and vow eternal love to her； but she begged him not to do so in a place
where all the world would see： that then his Highness paid； and they left
the gardens； the lady putting on her mask again。
When they issued from the gardens； 〃Ho！ Joseph la Rose； my coach！〃
shouted his Excellency； in rather a husky voice； and the men who had been
waiting came up with the carriage。 A young gentleman； who was dosing
on one of the posts at the entry； woke up suddenly at the blaze of the
torches and the noise of the footmen。 The Count gave his arm to the lady
in the mask； who slipped in； and he was whispering La Rose； when the lad
who had been sleeping hit his Excellency on the shoulder； and said； 〃I say；
Count； you can give ME a cast home too；〃 and jumped into the coach。
When Catherine saw her son； she threw herself into his arms； and
kissed him with a burst of hysterical tears； of which Mr。 Billings was at a
loss to understand the meaning。 The Count joined them； looking not a little
disconcerted； and the pair were landed at their own door； where stood Mr。
Hayes； in his nightcap； ready to receive them； and astounded at the
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splendour of the equipage in which his wife returned to him。
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CHAPTER XI。 OF SOME
DOMESTIC QUARRELS； AND
THE CONSEQUENCE THEREOF。
An ingenious magazine…writer； who lived in the time of Mr。 Brock and
the Duke of Marlborough； compared the latter gentleman's conduct in
battle； when he
〃In peaceful thought the field of death surveyed； To fainting
squadrons lent the timely aid； Inspired repulsed battalions to engage； And
taught the doubtful battle where to rage〃
Mr。 Joseph Addison； I say； compared the Duke of Marlborough to an
angel； who is sent by Divine command to chastise a guilty people
〃And pleased his Master's orders to perform； Rides on the whirlwind；
and directs the storm。〃
The first four of these novel lines touch off the Duke's disposition and
genius to a tittle。 He had a love for such scenes of strife： in the midst of
them his spirit rose calm and supreme； soaring （like an angel or not； but
anyway the compliment is a very pretty one） on the battle…clouds majestic；
and causing to ebb or to flow the mighty tide of war。
But as this famous simile might apply with equal proprietyto a bad
angel as to a good one； it may in like manner be employed to illustrate
small quarrels as well as greata little family squabble； in which two or
three people are engaged； as well as a vast national dispute； argued on
each side by the roaring throats of five hundred angry cannon。 The poet
means； in fact； that the Duke of Marlborough had an immense genius for
mischief。
Our friend Brock； or Wood （whose actions we love to illustrate by the
very handsomest similes）； possessed this genius in common with his
Grace； and was never so happy； or seen to so much advantage； as when he
was employed in setting people by the ears。 His spirits； usually dull； then
rose into the utmost gaiety and good…humour。 When the doubtful battle
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flagged； he by his art would instantly restore it。 When； for instance； Tom's
repulsed battalions of rhetoric fled from his mamma's fire； a few words of
apt sneer or encouragement on Wood's part would bring the fight round
again； or when Mr。 Hayes's fainting squadrons of abuse broke upon the
stubborn squares of Tom's bristling obstinacy； it was Wood's delight to
rally the former； and bring him once more to the charge。 A great share had
this man in making those bad people worse。 Many fierce words and bad
passions； many falsehoods and knaveries on Tom's part； much bitterness；
scorn； and jealousy on the part of Hayes and Catherine； might be attributed
to this hoary old tempter； whose joy and occupation it was to raise and
direct the domestic storms and whirlwinds of the family of which he was a
member。 And do not let us be accused of an undue propensity to use
sounding words； because we compare three scoundrels in the Tyburn Road
to so many armies； and Mr。 Wood to a mighty field…marshal。 My dear sir；
when you have well studied the worldhow supremely great the meanest
thing in this world is； and how infinitely mean the greatestI am mistaken
if you do not make a strange and proper jumble of t
