bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第143节
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quieter than I had previously seen it； though quite as miserable。
The kilns were burning； and a stifling vapour set towards us with a
pale blue glare。
We came to the cottage； where there was a feeble candle in the
patched window。 We tapped at the door and went in。 The mother
of the little child who had died； was sitting in a chair on one side of
the poor fire by the bed； and opposite to her； a wretched boy；
supported by the chimney…piece； was cowering on the floor。 He
held under his arm； like a little bundle； a fragment of a fur cap；
and as he tried to warm himself； he shook until the crazy door and
window shook。 The place was closer than before； and had an
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unhealthy； and a very peculiar smell。
I had not lifted my veil when I first spoke to the woman； which
was at the moment of our going in。 The boy staggered up instantly；
and stared at me with a remarkable expression of surprise and
terror。
His action was so quick； and my being the cause of it was so
evident； that I stood still； instead of advancing nearer。
“I won’t go no more to the berryin ground；” muttered the boy；
“I ain’t a…going there； so I tell you！”
I lifted my veil and spoke to the woman。 She said to me in a low
voice； “Don’t mind him； ma’am。 He’ll soon come back to his head；”
and said to him； “Jo； Jo； what’s the matter？”
“I know wot she’s come for！” cried the boy。
“Who？”
“The lady there。 She’s come to get me to go along with her to
the berryin ground。 I won’t go to the berryin ground。 I don’t like
the name of it。 She might go a…berryin me！” His shivering came on
again； and as he leaned against the wall； he shook the hovel。
“He has been talking off and on about such like； all day；
ma’am；” said Jenny； softly。 “Why； how you stare！ This is my lady；
Jo。”
“Is it？” returned the boy； doubtfully； and surveying me with his
arm held out above his burning eyes。 “She looks to me the t’other
one。 It ain’t the bonnet； nor yet it ain’t the gownd； but she looks to
me the t’other one。”
My little Charley； with her premature experience of illness and
trouble； had pulled off her bonnet and shawl； and now went
quietly up to him with a chair； and sat him down in it； like an old
sick nurse。 Except that no such attendant could have shown him
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Charley’s youthful face； which seemed to engage his confidence。
“I say！” said the boy。 “You tell me。 Ain’t the lady the t’other
lady？”
Charley shook her head； as she methodically drew his rags
about him and made him as warm as she could。
“O！” the boy muttered。 “Then I ’spose she ain’t。”
“I came to see if I could do you any good；” said I。 “What is the
matter with you？”
“I’m a…being froze；” returned the boy hoarsely； with his
haggard gaze wandering about me； “and then burnt up； and then
froze； and then burnt up； ever so many times in a hour。 And my
head’s all sleepy； and all a…going mad—like—and I’m so dry—and
my bones isn’t half so much bones as pain。”
“When did he come here？” I asked the woman。
“This morning； ma’am； I found him at the corner of the town。 I
had known him up in London yonder。 Hadn’t I； Jo？”
“Tom…all…Alone’s；” the boy replied。
Whenever he fixed his attention or his eyes； it was only for a
very little while。 He soon began to droop his head again； and roll it
heavily； and speak as if he were half awake。
“When did he come from London？” I asked。
“I come from London yes’day；” said the boy himself； now
flushed and hot。 “I’m a…going somewheres。”
“Where is he going？” I asked。
“Somewheres；” repeated the boy； in a louder tone。 “I have been
moved on； and moved on； more nor ever I was afore； since the
t’other one giv’ me the sov’ring。 Mrs Snagsby； she’s always a…
watching； and a…driving of me—what have I done to her？—and
they’re all a…watching and a…driving of me。 Every one of ’em’s
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doing of it； from the time when I don’t get up； to the time when I
don’t go to bed。 And I’m a going somewheres。 That’s where I’m a…
going。 She told me； down in Tom…all…Alone’s； as she come from
Stolbuns； and so I took the Stolbuns Road。 It’s as good as
another。”
He always concluded by addressing Charley。
“What is to be done with him？” said I； taking the woman aside。
“He could not travel in this state； even if he had a purpose； and
knew where he was going！”
“I know no more； ma’am； than the dead；” she replied； glancing
compassionately at him。 “Perhaps the dead know better if they
could only tell us。 I’ve kept him here all day for pity’s sake； and
I’ve given him broth and physic； and Liz is gone to try if any one
will take him in （here’s my pretty in the bed—her child； but I call it
mine）； but I can’t keep him long； for if my husband was to come
home and find him here； he’d be rough in putting him out； and
might do him a hurt。 Hark！ Here comes Liz back！”
The other woman came hurriedly in as she spoke； and the boy
got up with a half obscured sense that he was expected to be
going。 When the little child awoke； and when and how Charley got
at it； took it out of bed； and began to walk about hushing it； I don’t
know。 There she was； doing all this； in a quiet motherly manner；
as if she were living in Mrs Blinder’s attic with Tom and Emma
again。
The friend had been here and there； and had been played about
from hand to hand； and had come back as she went。 At first it was
too early for the boy to be received into the proper refuge； and at
least it was too late。 One official sent her to another； and the other
sent her back again to the first； and so backward and forward；
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until it appeared to me as if both must have been appointed for
their skill in evading their duties； instead of performing them。 And
now； after all； she said； breathing quickly； for she had been
running； and was frightened too； “Jenny； your master’s on the
road home； and mine’s not far behind； and the Lord help the boy；
for we can do no more for him！” They put a few half…pence
together； and hurried them into his hand； and so； in an oblivious；
half…thankful； half…insensible way； he shuffled out of the house。
“Give me the child； my dear！” said its mother to Charley； “and
thank you kindly too！ Jenny； woman dear； good night！ Young lady；
if my master don’t fall out with me； I’ll look down by the kiln by…
and…bye； where the boy will be most like； and again in the
morning！” She hurried off； and presently we passed her hushing
and singing to her child at her own door； and looking anxiously
along the road for her drunken husband。
I was afraid of staying then to speak to either woman； lest I
should bring her into trouble。 But I said to Charley that we must
not leave the boy to die。 Charley； who knew what to do much
better than I did； and whose quickness equalled her presence of
mind； glided on before me； and presently we came up with Jo； just
short of the brick…kiln。
I think he must have begun his journey with some small bundle
under his arm； and must have had it stolen or lost it。 For he still
carried his wretched fragment of fur cap like a bundle； though he
went bare…headed through the r
