barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第204节
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pause； resumed：
‘I have done you wrong； sir； and I ask your forgiveness—in no
common phrase； or show of sorrow； but with earnestness and
sincerity。 In the same spirit； I acknowledge to you both that the
time has been when I connived at treachery and falsehood—which
if I did not perpetrate myself； I still permitted—to rend you two
asunder。’
‘You judge yourself too harshly；’ said Edward。 ‘Let these things
rest。’
‘They rise in judgment against me when I look back； and not
now for the first time；’ he answered。 ‘I cannot part from you
without your full forgiveness； for busy life and I have little left in
common now； and I have regrets enough to carry into solitude；
without addition to the stock。’
‘You bear a blessing from us both；’ said Emma。 ‘Never mingle
thoughts of me—of me who owe you so much love and duty—with
anything but undying affection and gratitude for the past； and
bright hopes for the future。’
‘The future；’ returned her uncle； with a melancholy smile； ‘is a
bright word for you； and its image should be wreathed with
cheerful hopes。 Mine is of another kind； but it will be one of peace；
and free； I trust； from care or passion。 When you quit England I
shall leave it too。 There are cloisters abroad； and now that the two
great objects of my life are set at rest； I know no better home。 You
droop at that； forgetting that I am growing old； and that my course
is nearly run。 Well； we will speak of it again—not once or twice；
but many times； and you shall give me cheerful counsel； Emma。’
‘And you will take it？’ asked his niece。
‘I’ll listen to it；’ he answered； with a kiss； ‘and it will have its
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weight； be certain。 What have I left to say？ You have； of late； been
much together。 It is better and more fitting that the circumstances
attendant on the past； which wrought your separation； and sowed
between you suspicion and distrust； should not be entered on by
me。’
‘Much； much better；’ whispered Emma。
‘I avow my share in them；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘though I held it；
at the time； in detestation。 Let no man turn aside； ever so slightly；
from the broad path of honour； on the plausible pretence that he is
justified by the goodness of his end。 All good ends can he worked
out by good means。 Those that cannot； are bad； and may be
counted so at once； and left alone。’
He looked from her to Edward； and said in a gentler tone：
‘In goods and fortune you are now nearly equal。 I have been her
faithful steward； and to that remnant of a richer property which
my brother left her； I desire to add； in token of my love； a poor
pittance； scarcely worth the mention； for which I have no longer
any need。 I am glad you go abroad。 Let our ill…fated house remain
the ruin it is。 When you return； after a few thriving years； you will
command a better； and a more fortunate one。 We are friends？’
Edward took his extended hand； and grasped it heartily。
‘You are neither slow nor cold in your response；’ said Mr
Haredale； doing the like by him； ‘and when I look upon you now；
and know you； I feel that I would choose you for her husband。 Her
father had a generous nature； and you would have pleased him
well。 I give her to you in his name； and with his blessing。 If the
world and I part in this act； we part on happier terms than we
have lived for many a day。’
He placed her in his arms； and would have left the room； but
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that he was stopped in his passage to the door by a great noise at a
distance； which made them start and pause。
It was a loud shouting； mingled with boisterous acclamations；
that rent the very air。 It drew nearer and nearer every moment；
and approached so rapidly； that； even while they listened； it burst
into a deafening confusion of sounds at the street corner。
‘This must be stopped—quieted；’ said Mr Haredale； hastily。 ‘We
should have foreseen this； and provided against it。 I will go out to
them at once。’
But； before he could reach the door； and before Edward could
catch up his hat and follow him； they were again arrested by a
loud shriek from above…stairs： and the locksmith’s wife； bursting
in； and fairly running into Mr Haredale’s arms； cried out：
‘She knows it all； dear sir！—she knows it all！ We broke it out to
her by degrees； and she is quite prepared。’ Having made this
communication； and furthermore thanked Heaven with great
fervour and heartiness； the good lady； according to the custom of
matrons； on all occasions of excitement； fainted away directly。
They ran to the window； drew up the sash； and looked into the
crowded street。 Among a dense mob of persons； of whom not one
was for an instant still； the locksmith’s ruddy face and burly form
could be descried； beating about as though he was struggling with
a rough sea。 Now； he was carried back a score of yards； now
onward nearly to the door； now back again； now forced against the
opposite houses； now against those adjoining his own： now carried
up a flight of steps； and greeted by the outstretched hands of half a
hundred men； while the whole tumultuous concourse stretched
their throats； and cheered with all their might。 Though he was
really in a fair way to be torn to pieces in the general enthusiasm；
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the locksmith； nothing discomposed； echoed their shouts till he
was as hoarse as they； and in a glow of joy and right good…humour；
waved his hat until the daylight shone between its brim and
crown。
But in all the bandyings from hand to hand； and strivings to
and fro； and sweepings here and there； which—saving that he
looked more jolly and more radiant after every struggle—troubled
his peace of mind no more than if he had been a straw upon the
water’s surface； he never once released his firm grasp of an arm；
drawn tight through his。 He sometimes turned to clap this friend
upon the back； or whisper in his ear a word of staunch
encouragement； or cheer him with a smile； but his great care was
to shield him from the pressure； and force a passage for him to the
Golden Key。 Passive and timid； scared； pale； and wondering； and
gazing at the throng as if he were newly risen from the dead； and
felt himself a ghost among the living； Barnaby—not Barnaby in
the spirit； but in flesh and blood； with pulses； sinews； nerves； and
beating heart； and strong affections—clung to his stout old friend；
and followed where he led。
And thus； in course of time； they reached the door； held ready
for their entrance by no unwilling hands。 Then slipping in； and
shutting out the crowd by main force； Gabriel stood between Mr
Haredale and Edward Chester； and Barnaby； rushing up the
stairs； fell upon his knees beside his mother’s bed。
‘Such is the blessed end； sir；’ cried the panting locksmith； to Mr
Haredale； ‘of the best day’s work we ever did。 The rogues！ it’s been
hard fighting to get away from ’em。 I almost thought； once or
twice； they’d have been too much for us with their kindness！’
They had striven； all the previous day； to rescue Barnaby from
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his impending fate。 Failing in their attempts； in the first quarter to
which they addressed themselves； they renewed them in another。
Failing there； li
