barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第187节
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night and morning till I die！’
‘Will you？’ said Joe； eagerly。 ‘Will you indeed？ It makes me—
well； it makes me very glad and proud to hear you say so。’
Dolly still sobbed； and held her handkerchief to her eyes。 Joe
still stood； looking at her。
‘Your voice；’ said Joe； ‘brings up old times so pleasantly； that；
for the moment； I feel as if that night—there can be no harm in
talking of that night now—had come back； and nothing had
happened in the mean time。 I feel as if I hadn’t suffered any
hardships； but had knocked down poor Tom Cobb only yesterday；
and had come to see you with my bundle on my shoulder before
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running away。—You remember？’
Remember！ But she said nothing。 She raised her eyes for an
instant。 It was but a glance； a little； tearful； timid glance。 It kept
Joe silent though； for a long time。
‘Well！’ he said stoutly； ‘it was to be otherwise； and was。 I have
been abroad； fighting all the summer and frozen up all the winter；
ever since。 I have come back as poor in purse as I went； and
crippled for life besides。 But； Dolly； I would rather have lost this
other arm—ay； I would rather have lost my head—than have come
back to find you dead； or anything but what I always pictured you
to myself； and what I always hoped and wished to find you。 Thank
God for all！’
Oh how much； and how keenly； the little coquette of five years
ago； felt now！ She had found her heart at last。 Never having
known its worth till now； she had never known the worth of his。
How priceless it appeared！
‘I did hope once；’ said Joe； in his homely way； ‘that I might
come back a rich man； and marry you。 But I was a boy then； and
have long known better than that。 I am a poor； maimed；
discharged soldier； and must be content to rub through life as I
can。 I can’t say； even now； that I shall be glad to see you married；
Dolly； but I am glad—yes； I am； and glad to think I can say so—to
know that you are admired and courted； and can pick and choose
for a happy life。 It’s a comfort to me to know that you’ll talk to your
husband about me； and I hope the time will come when I may be
able to like him； and to shake hands with him； and to come and see
you as a poor friend who knew you when you were a girl。 God
bless you！’
His hand did tremble； but for all that； he took it away again； and
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left her。
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Chapter 73
y this Friday night—for it was on Friday in the riot week；
Bthat Emma and Dolly were rescued； by the timely aid of
Joe and Edward Chester—the disturbances were entirely
quelled； and peace and order were restored to the affrighted city。
True； after what had happened； it was impossible for any man to
say how long this better state of things might last； or how suddenly
new outrages； exceeding even those so lately witnessed； might
burst forth and fill its streets with ruin and bloodshed； for this
reason； those who had fled from the recent tumults still kept at a
distance； and many families； hitherto unable to procure the means
of flight； now availed themselves of the calm； and withdrew into
the country。 The shops； too； from Tyburn to Whitechapel； were
still shut； and very little business was transacted in any of the
places of great commercial resort。 But； notwithstanding； and in
spite of the melancholy forebodings of that numerous class of
society who see with the greatest clearness into the darkest
perspectives； the town remained profoundly quiet。 The strong
military force disposed in every advantageous quarter； and
stationed at every commanding point； held the scattered
fragments of the mob in check； the search after rioters was
prosecuted with unrelenting vigour； and if there were any among
them so desperate and reckless as to be inclined； after the terrible
scenes they had beheld； to venture forth again； they were so
daunted by these resolute measures； that they quickly shrunk into
their hiding…places； and had no thought but for their safety。
In a word； the crowd was utterly routed。 Upwards of two
hundred had been shot dead in the streets。 Two hundred and fifty
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more were lying； badly wounded； in the hospitals； of whom
seventy or eighty died within a short time afterwards。 A hundred
were already in custody； and more were taken every hour。 How
many perished in the conflagrations； or by their own excesses； is
unknown； but that numbers found a terrible grave in the hot ashes
of the flames they had kindled； or crept into vaults and cellars to
drink in secret or to nurse their sores； and never saw the light
again； is certain。 When the embers of the fires had been black and
cold for many weeks； the labourers’ spades proved this； beyond a
doubt。
Seventy…two private houses and four strong jails were
destroyed in the four great days of these riots。 The total loss of
property； as estimated by the sufferers； was one hundred and fifty…
five thousand pounds； at the lowest and least partial estimate of
disinterested persons； it exceeded one hundred and twenty…five
thousand pounds。 For this immense loss； compensation was soon
afterwards made out of the public purse； in pursuance of a vote of
the House of Commons； the sum being levied on the various wards
in the city； on the county； and the borough of Southwark。 Both
Lord Mansfield and Lord Saville； however； who had been great
sufferers； refused to accept of any compensation whatever。
The House of Commons； sitting on Tuesday with locked and
guarded doors； had passed a resolution to the effect that； as soon
as the tumults subsided； it would immediately proceed to consider
the petitions presented from many of his Majesty’s Protestant
subjects； and would take the same into its serious consideration。
While this question was under debate； Mr Herbert； one of the
members present； indignantly rose and called upon the House to
observe that Lord George Gordon was then sitting under the
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gallery with the blue cockade； the signal of rebellion； in his hat。 He
was not only obliged； by those who sat near； to take it out； but
offering to go into the street to pacify the mob with the somewhat
indefinite assurance that the House was prepared to give them
‘the satisfaction they sought；’ was actually held down in his seat by
the combined force of several members。 In short； the disorder and
violence which reigned triumphant out of doors； penetrated into
the senate； and there； as elsewhere； terror and alarm prevailed；
and ordinary forms were for the time forgotten。
On the Thursday； both Houses had adjourned until the
following Monday se’nnight； declaring it impossible to pursue
their deliberations with the necessary gravity and freedom； while
they were surrounded by armed troops。 And now that the rioter
