barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第21节
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rs Varden was a lady of what is commonly called an
uncertain temper—a phrase which being interpreted
M
signifies a temper tolerably certain to make everybody
more or less uncomfortable。 Thus it generally happened； that
when other people were merry； Mrs Varden was dull； and that
when other people were dull； Mrs Varden was disposed to be
amazingly cheerful。 Indeed the worthy housewife was of such a
capricious nature； that she not only attained a higher pitch of
genius than Macbeth； in respect of her ability to be wise； amazed；
temperate and furious； loyal and neutral in an instant； but would
sometimes ring the changes backwards and forwards on all
possible moods and flights in one short quarter of an hour；
performing； as it were； a kind of triple bob major on the peal of
instruments in the female belfry； with a skilfulness and rapidity of
execution that astonished all who heard her。
It had been observed in this good lady （who did not want for
personal attractions； being plump and buxom to look at； though
like her fair daughter； somewhat short in stature） that this
uncertainty of disposition strengthened and increased with her
temporal prosperity； and divers wise men and matrons； on
friendly terms with the locksmith and his family； even went so far
as to assert； that a tumble down some half…dozen rounds in the
world’s ladder—such as the breaking of the bank in which her
husband kept his money； or some little fall of that kind—would be
the making of her； and could hardly fail to render her one of the
most agreeable companions in existence。 Whether they were right
or wrong in this conjecture； certain it is that minds； like bodies；
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will often fall into a pimpled ill…conditioned state from mere excess
of comfort； and like them； are often successfully cured by remedies
in themselves very nauseous and unpalatable。
Mrs Varden’s chief aider and abettor； and at the same time her
principal victim and object of wrath； was her single domestic
servant； one Miss Miggs； or as she was called； in conformity with
those prejudices of society which lop and top from poor hand…
maidens all such genteel excrescences—Miggs。 This Miggs was a
tall young lady； very much addicted to pattens in private life；
slender and shrewish； of a rather uncomfortable figure； and
though not absolutely ill…looking； of a sharp and acid visage。 As a
general principle and abstract proposition； Miggs held the male
sex to be utterly contemptible and unworthy of notice； to be fickle；
false； base； sottish； inclined to perjury； and wholly undeserving。
When particularly exasperated against them （which； scandal said；
was when Sim Tappertit slighted her most） she was accustomed to
wish with great emphasis that the whole race of women could but
die off； in order that the men might be brought to know the real
value of the blessings by which they set so little store； nay； her
feeling for her order ran so high； that she sometimes declared； if
she could only have good security for a fair； round number—say
ten thousand—of young virgins following her example； she would；
to spite mankind； hang； drown； stab； or poison herself； with a joy
past all expression。
It was the voice of Miggs that greeted the locksmith； when he
knocked at his own house； with a shrill cry of ‘Who’s there？’
‘Me； girl； me；’ returned Gabriel。
What； already； sir！’ said Miggs； opening the door with a look of
surprise。 ‘We were just getting on our nightcaps to sit up；—me and
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mistress。 Oh； she has been so bad！’
Miggs said this with an air of uncommon candour and concern；
but the parlour…door was standing open； and as Gabriel very well
knew for whose ears it was designed； he regarded her with
anything but an approving look as he passed in。
‘Master’s come home； mim；’ cried Miggs； running before him
into the parlour。 ‘You was wrong； mim； and I was right。 I thought
he wouldn’t keep us up so late； two nights running； mim。 Master’s
always considerate so far。 I’m so glad； mim； on your account。 I’m a
little’—here Miggs simpered—‘a little sleepy myself； I’ll own it
now； mim； though I said I wasn’t when you asked me。 It ain’t of no
consequence； mim； of course。’
‘You had better；’ said the locksmith； who most devoutly wished
that Barnaby’s raven was at Miggs’s ankles； ‘you had better get to
bed at once then。’
‘Thanking you kindly； sir；’ returned Miggs； ‘I couldn’t take my
rest in peace； nor fix my thoughts upon my prayers； otherways
than that I knew mistress was comfortable in her bed this night；
by rights she ought to have been there； hours ago。’
‘You’re talkative； mistress；’ said Varden； pulling off his
greatcoat； and looking at her askew。
‘Taking the hint； sir；’ cried Miggs； with a flushed face； ‘and
thanking you for it most kindly； I will make bold to say； that if I
give offence by having consideration for my mistress； I do not ask
your pardon； but am content to get myself into trouble and to be in
suffering。’
Here Mrs Varden； who； with her countenance shrouded in a
large nightcap； had been all this time intent upon the Protestant
Manual； looked round； and acknowledged Miggs’s championship
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by commanding her to hold her tongue。
Every little bone in Miggs’s throat and neck developed itself
with a spitefulness quite alarming； as she replied； ‘Yes； mim； I
will。’
‘How do you find yourself now； my dear？’ said the locksmith；
taking a chair near his wife （who had resumed her book）； and
rubbing his knees hard as he made the inquiry。
‘You’re very anxious to know； an’t you？’ returned Mrs Varden；
with her eyes upon the print。 ‘You； that have not been near me all
day； and wouldn’t have been if I was dying！’
‘My dear Martha—’ said Gabriel。
Mrs Varden turned over to the next page； then went back again
to the bottom line over leaf to be quite sure of the last words； and
then went on reading with an appearance of the deepest interest
and study。
‘My dear Martha；’ said the locksmith； ‘how can you say such
things； when you know you don’t mean them？ If you were dying！
Why； if there was anything serious the matter with you； Martha；
shouldn’t I be in constant attendance upon you？’
‘Yes！’ cried Mrs Varden； bursting into tears； ‘yes； you would。 I
don’t doubt it； Varden。 Certainly you would。 That’s as much as to
tell me that you would be hovering round me like a vulture；
waiting till the breath was out of my body； that you might go and
marry somebody else。’
Miggs groaned in sympathy—a little short groan； checked in its
birth； and changed into a cough。 It seemed to say； ‘I can’t help it。
It’s wrung from me by the dreadful brutality of that monster
master。’
‘But you’ll break my heart one of these days；’ added Mrs
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Varden； with more resignation； ‘and then we shall both be happy。
My only desire is to see Dolly comfortably settled； and when she is；
you may settle me as soon as you like。’
‘Ah！’ cried Miggs—and coughed again。
