barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第123节
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forty thousand good and true men at least？ There’s a crowd for
you！’
‘A crowd indeed！’ said Barnaby。 ‘Do you hear that； mother！’
‘And they’re mustering yonder； as I am told；’ resumed the old
man； ‘nigh upon a hundred thousand strong。 Ah！ Let Lord George
alone。 He knows his power。 There’ll be a good many faces inside
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them three windows over there；’ and he pointed to where the
House of Commons overlooked the river； ‘that’ll turn pale when
good Lord George gets up this afternoon； and with reason too！ Ay；
ay。 Let his lordship alone。 Let him alone。 He knows！’ And so； with
much mumbling and chuckling and shaking of his forefinger； he
rose； with the assistance of his stick； and tottered off。
‘Mother！’ said Barnaby； ‘that’s a brave crowd he talks of。 Come！’
‘Not to join it！’ cried his mother。
‘Yes； yes；’ he answered； plucking at her sleeve。 ‘Why not？
Come！’
‘You don’t know；’ she urged； ‘what mischief they may do； where
they may lead you； what their meaning is。 Dear Barnaby； for my
sake—’
‘For your sake！’ he cried； patting her hand。 ‘Well！ It is for your
sake； mother。 You remember what the blind man said； about the
gold。 Here’s a brave crowd！ Come！ Or wait till I come back—yes；
yes； wait here。’
She tried with all the earnestness her fears engendered； to turn
him from his purpose； but in vain。 He was stooping down to buckle
on his shoe； when a hackney…coach passed them rather quickly；
and a voice inside called to the driver to stop。
‘Young man；’ said a voice within。
‘Who’s that？’ cried Barnaby； looking up。
‘Do you wear this ornament？’ returned the stranger； holding
out a blue cockade。
‘In Heaven’s name； no。 Pray do not give it him！’ exclaimed the
widow。
‘Speak for yourself； woman；’ said the man within the coach；
coldly。 ‘Leave the young man to his choice； he’s old enough to
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make it； and to snap your apron…strings。 He knows； without your
telling； whether he wears the sign of a loyal Englishman or not。’
Barnaby； trembling with impatience； cried； ‘Yes！ yes； yes； I do；’
as he had cried a dozen times already。 The man threw him a
cockade； and crying； ‘Make haste to St George’s Fields；’ ordered
the coachman to drive on fast； and left them。
With hands that trembled with his eagerness to fix the bauble
in his hat； Barnaby was adjusting it as he best could； and hurriedly
replying to the tears and entreaties of his mother； when two
gentlemen passed on the opposite side of the way。 Observing
them； and seeing how Barnaby was occupied； they stopped；
whispered together for an instant； turned back； and came over to
them。
‘Why are you sitting here？’ said one of them； who was dressed
in a plain suit of black； wore long lank hair； and carried a great
cane。 ‘Why have you not gone with the rest？’
‘I am going； sir；’ replied Barnaby； finishing his task； and putting
his hat on with an air of pride。 ‘I shall be there directly。’
‘Say “my lord；” young man； when his lordship does you the
honour of speaking to you；’ said the second gentleman mildly。 ‘If
you don’t know Lord George Gordon when you see him； it’s high
time you should。’
‘Nay； Gashford；’ said Lord George； as Barnaby pulled off his hat
again and made him a low bow； ‘it’s no great matter on a day like
this； which every Englishman will remember with delight and
pride。 Put on your hat； friend； and follow us； for you lag behind
and are late。 It’s past ten now。 Didn’t you know that the hour for
assembling was ten o’clock？’
Barnaby shook his head and looked vacantly from one to the
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other。
‘You might have known it； friend；’ said Gashford； ‘it was
perfectly understood。 How came you to be so ill informed？’
‘He cannot tell you； sir；’ the widow interposed。 ‘It’s of no use to
ask him。 We are but this morning come from a long distance in the
country； and know nothing of these matters。’
‘The cause has taken a deep root； and has spread its branches
far and wide；’ said Lord George to his secretary。 ‘This is a pleasant
hearing。 I thank Heaven for it！’
‘Amen！’ cried Gashford with a solemn face。
‘You do not understand me； my lord；’ said the widow。 ‘Pardon
me； but you cruelly mistake my meaning。 We know nothing of
these matters。 We have no desire or right to join in what you are
about to do。 This is my son； my poor afflicted son； dearer to me
than my own life。 In mercy’s name； my lord； go your way alone；
and do not tempt him into danger！’
‘My good woman；’ said Gashford； ‘how can you！—Dear me！—
What do you mean by tempting； and by danger？ Do you think his
lordship is a roaring lion； going about and seeking whom he may
devour？ God bless me！’
‘No； no； my lord； forgive me；’ implored the widow； laying both
her hands upon his breast； and scarcely knowing what she did； or
said； in the earnestness of her supplication； ‘but there are reasons
why you should hear my earnest； mother’s prayer； and leave my
son with me。 Oh do！ He is not in his right senses； he is not；
indeed！’
‘It is a bad sign of the wickedness of these times；’ said Lord
George； evading her touch； and colouring deeply； ‘that those who
cling to the truth and support the right cause； are set down as
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mad。 Have you the heart to say this of your own son； unnatural
mother！’
‘I am astonished at you！’ said Gashford； with a kind of meek
severity。 ‘This is a very sad picture of female depravity。’
‘He has surely no appearance；’ said Lord George； glancing at
Barnaby； and whispering in his secretary’s ear； ‘of being
deranged？ And even if he had； we must not construe any trifling
peculiarity into madness。 Which of us’—and here he turned red
again—‘would be safe； if that were made the law！’
‘Not one；’ replied the secretary； ‘in that case； the greater the
zeal； the truth； and talent； the more direct the call from above； the
clearer would be the madness。 With regard to this young man； my
lord；’ he added； with a lip that slightly curled as he looked at
Barnaby； who stood twirling his hat； and stealthily beckoning
them to come away； ‘he is as sensible and self…possessed as any
one I ever saw。’
‘And you desire to make one of this great body？’ said Lord
George； addressing him； ‘and intended to make one； did you？’
‘Yes—yes；’ said Barnaby； with sparkling eyes。 ‘To be sure I did！
I told her so myself。’
‘I see；’ replied Lord George； with a reproachful glance at the
unhappy mother。 ‘I thought so。 Follow me and this gentleman； and
you shall have your wish。’
Barnaby kissed his mother tenderly on the cheek； and bidding
her be of good cheer； for their fortunes were both made now； did
as he was desired。 She； poor woman； followed too—with how
much fear and grief it would be hard to tell。
They passed quickly through the Bridge Road； where the shops
were all shut up （for the passage of the great crowd and the
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Barnaby Rudge
