the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第21节
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John Brough was not an angel of a man？
In this way it was that my aunt left us。 I was not aware of her
departure； for I was at the office at the time； and strolling back at five with
Gus； saw my dear Mary smiling and bobbing from the window； and
beckoning to us both to come up。 This I thought was very strange；
because Mrs。 Hoggarty could not abide Hoskins； and indeed had told me
repeatedly that either she or he must quit the house。 Well； we went
upstairs； and there was Mary； who had dried her tears and received us with
the most smiling of faces； and laughed and clapped her hands； and danced；
and shook Gus's hand。 And what do you think the little rogue proposed？
I am blest if she did not say she would like to go to Vauxhall！
As dinner was laid for three persons only； Gus took his seat with fear
and trembling； and then Mrs。 Sam Titmarsh related the circumstances
which had occurred； and how Mrs。 Hoggarty had been whisked away to
Fulham in Mr。 Brough's splendid carriage…and…four。 〃Let her go；〃 I am
sorry to say； said I； and indeed we relished our veal…cutlets and jam…
pudding a great deal more than Mrs。 Hoggarty did her dinner off plate at
the Rookery。
We had a very merry party to Vauxhall； Gus insisting on standing treat；
and you may be certain that my aunt； whose absence was prolonged for
three weeks； was heartily welcome to remain away； for we were much
merrier and more comfortable without her。 My little Mary used to make
my breakfast before I went to office of mornings； and on Sundays we had
a holiday； and saw the dear little children eat their boiled beef and potatoes
at the Foundling； and heard the beautiful music： but； beautiful as it is； I
think the children were a more beautiful sight still； and the look of their
innocent happy faces was better than the best sermon。 On week…days
Mrs。 Titmarsh would take a walk about five o'clock in the evening on the
LEFT…hand side of Lamb's Conduit Street （as you go to Holborn）ay； and
sometimes pursue her walk as far as Snow Hill； when two young gents
from the I。 W。 D。 Fire and Life were pretty sure to meet her； and then how
happily we all trudged off to dinner！ Once we came up as a monster of a
man； with high heels and a gold…headed cane； and whiskers all over his
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face； was grinning under Mary's bonnet； and chattering to her； close to
Day and Martin's Blacking Manufactory （not near such a handsome thing
then as it is now）there was the man chattering and ogling his best； when
who should come up but Gus and I？ And in the twinkling of a pegpost；
as Lord Duberley says； my gentleman was seized by the collar of his coat
and found himself sprawling under a stand of hackney…coaches； where all
the watermen were grinning at him。 The best of it was； he left his HEAD
OF HAIR AND WHISKERS in my hand： but Mary said； 〃Don't be hard
upon him； Samuel； it's only a Frenchman。〃 And so we gave him his wig
back； which one of the grinning stable…boys put on and carried to him as
he lay in the straw。
He shrieked out something about 〃arretez；〃 and 〃Francais；〃 and
〃champ…d'honneur；〃 but we walked on； Gus putting his thumb to his nose
and stretching out his finger at Master Frenchman。 This made everybody
laugh； and so the adventure ended。
About ten days after my aunt's departure came a letter from her； of
which I give a copy：…
〃My Dear Nephew；It was my earnest whish e'er this to have
returned to London； where I am sure you and my niece Titmarsh miss me
very much； and where she； poor thing； quite inexperienced in the ways of
'the great metropulus；' in aconamy； and indeed in every qualaty requasit in
a good wife and the mistress of a famaly； can hardly manidge； I am sure；
without me。
〃Tell her ON NO ACCOUNT to pay more than 6。5D。 for the prime
pieces； 4。75D。 for soup meat； and that the very best of London butter is to
be had for 8。5D。； of course； for pudns and the kitchin you'll employ a
commoner sort。 My trunks were sadly packed by Mrs。 Titmarsh； and the
hasp of the portmantyou…lock has gone through my yellow satn。 I have
darned it； and woar it already twice； at two ellygant （though quiat）
evening…parties given by my HOSPATABLE host； and my pegreen velvet
on Saturday at a grand dinner； when Lord Scaramouch handed me to table。
Everything was in the most SUMPTIOUS STYLE。 Soup top and bottom
（white and brown）； removed by turbit and sammon with IMMENSE
BOLES OF LOBSTER…SAUCE。 Lobsters alone cost 15S。 Turbit； three
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guineas。 The hole sammon； weighing； I'm sure； 15 lbs。； and NEVER
SEEN at table again； not a bitt of pickled sammon the hole weak
afterwards。 This kind of extravigance would JUST SUIT Mrs。 Sam
Titmarsh； who； as I always say； burns THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS。
Well； young people； it is lucky for you you have an old aunt who knows
better； and has a long purse； without witch； I dare say； SOME folks would
be glad to see her out of doors。 I don't mean you； Samuel； who have； I
must say； been a dutiful nephew to me。 Well； I dare say I shan't live long；
and some folks won't be sorry to have me in my grave。
〃Indeed； on Sunday I was taken in my stomick very ill； and thought it
might have been the lobster…sauce； but Doctor Blogg； who was called in；
said it was； he very much feared； CUMSUMPTIVE； but gave me some
pills and a draft wh made me better。 Please call upon him… …he lives at
Pimlico； and you can walk out there after office hoursand present him
with 1L。 lS。； with my compliments。 I have no money here but a 10L。
note； the rest being locked up in my box at Lamb's Cundit Street。
〃Although the flesh is not neglected in Mr。 B。's sumptious
establishment； I can assure you the SPERRIT is likewise cared for。 Mr。 B。
reads and igspounds every morning； and o but his exorcises refresh the
hungry sole before breakfast！ Everything is in the handsomest style；
silver and goold plate at breakfast； lunch； and dinner； and his crest and
motty； a beehive； with the Latn word INDUSTRIA； meaning industry； on
EVERYTHINGeven on the chany juggs and things in my bedd…room。
On Sunday we were favoured by a special outpouring from the Rev。
Grimes Wapshot； of the Amabaptist Congrigation here； and who egshorted
for 3 hours in the afternoon in Mr。 B。's private chapel。 As the widow of a
Hoggarty； I have always been a staunch supporter of the established
Church of England and Ireland； but I must say Mr。 Wapshot's stirring way
was far superior to that of the Rev。 Bland Blenkinsop of the Establishment；
who lifted up his voice after dinner for a short discourse of two hours。
〃Mrs。 Brough is； between ourselves； a poor creature； and has no sperrit
of her own。 As for Miss B。； she is so saucy that once I promised to box
her years； and would have left the house； had not Mr。 B。 taken my part；
and Miss made me a suitable apollogy。
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〃I don't know when I shall return to town； being made really so
welcome here。 Dr。 Blogg says the air of Fulham is the best in the world
for my simtums； and as the ladies of the house do not choose to walk out
with me； the Rev。 Grimes Wapshot has often been kind enough to lend me
his arm； and 'tis sweet with such a guide to wander both to Putney and
Wandsworth； and igsamin the wonderful works of nature。 I have spoke
to him about the Slopperton property； and he is not of Mr。 B。's opinion that
I should sell it； but on this point I shall follow my own counsel。
〃Meantime you must gett into more comfortable lodgings； and lett my
b
