the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第34节
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The room； then； was made ready； and though I took some pains not to
speak of the arrangement too suddenly to Mary； yet there was no need of
disguise or hesitation； for when at last I told her〃Is that all？〃 said she；
and took my hand with one of her blessed smiles； and vowed that she and
Jemima would keep the room as pretty and neat as possible。 〃And I will
cook your dinners；〃 added she； 〃for you know you said I make the best
roly…poly puddings in the world。〃 God bless her！ I do think some
women almost love poverty： but I did not tell Mary how poor I was； nor
had she any idea how lawyers'； and prison's； and doctors' fees had
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diminished the sum of money which she brought me when we came to the
Fleet。
It was not； however； destined that she and her child should inhabit that
little garret。 We were to leave our lodgings on Monday morning； but on
Saturday evening the child was seized with convulsions； and all Sunday
the mother watched and prayed for it： but it pleased God to take the
innocent infant from us； and on Sunday； at midnight； it lay a corpse in its
mother's bosom。 Amen。 We have other children； happy and well； now
round about us； and from the father's heart the memory of this little thing
has almost faded； but I do believe that every day of her life the mother
thinks of the firstborn that was with her for so short a while： many and
many a time has she taken her daughters to the grave； in Saint Bride's；
where he lies buried； and she wears still at her neck a little little lock of
gold hair； which she took from the head of the infant as he lay smiling in
his coffin。 It has happened to me to forget the child's birthday； but to her
never； and often in the midst of common talk comes something that shows
she is thinking of the child still；some simple allusion that is to me
inexpressibly affecting。
I shall not try to describe her grief； for such things are sacred and
secret； and a man has no business to place them on paper for all the world
to read。 Nor should I have mentioned the child's loss at all； but that even
that loss was the means of a great worldly blessing to us； as my wife has
often with tears and thanks acknowledged。
While my wife was weeping over her child； I am ashamed to say I was
distracted with other feelings besides those of grief for its loss； and I have
often since thought what a masternay； destroyerof the affections want is；
and have learned from experience to be thankful for DAILY BREAD。
That acknowledgment of weakness which we make in imploring to be
relieved from hunger and from temptation； is surely wisely put in our daily
prayer。 Think of it you who are rich； and take heed how you turn a
beggar away。
The child lay there in its wicker cradle； with its sweet fixed smile in its
face （I think the angels in heaven must have been glad to welcome that
pretty innocent smile）； and it was only the next day； after my wife had
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gone to lie down； and I sat keeping watch by it； that I remembered the
condition of its parents； and thought； I can't tell with what a pang； that I
had not money left to bury the little thing； and wept bitter tears of despair。
Now； at last； I thought I must apply to my poor mother； for this was a
sacred necessity； and I took paper； and wrote her a letter at the baby's side；
and told her of our condition。 But； thank Heaven！ I never sent the letter；
for as I went to the desk to get sealing…wax and seal that dismal letter； my
eyes fell upon the diamond pin that I had quite forgotten； and that was
lying in the drawer of the desk。
I looked into the bedroom；my poor wife was asleep； she had been
watching for three nights and days； and had fallen asleep from sheer
fatigue； and I ran out to a pawnbroker's with the diamond； and received
seven guineas for it； and coming back put the money into the landlady's
hand； and told her to get what was needful。 My wife was still asleep
when I came back； and when she woke； we persuaded her to go downstairs
to the landlady's parlour； and meanwhile the necessary preparations were
made； and the poor child consigned to its coffin。
The next day； after all was over； Mrs。 Stokes gave me back three out of
the seven guineas； and then I could not help sobbing out to her my doubts
and wretchedness； telling her that this was the last money I had； and when
that was gone I knew not what was to become of the best wife that ever a
man was blest with。
My wife was downstairs with the woman。 Poor Gus； who was with
me； and quite as much affected as any of the party； took me by the arm；
and led me downstairs； and we quite forgot all about the prison and the
rules； and walked a long long way across Blackfriars Bridge； the kind
fellow striving as much as possible to console me。
When we came back； it was in the evening。 The first person who met
me in the house was my kind mother； who fell into my arms with many
tears； and who rebuked me tenderly for not having told her of my
necessities。 She never should have known of them； she said； but she had
not heard from me since I wrote announcing the birth of the child； and she
felt uneasy about my silence； and meeting Mr。 Smithers in the street； asked
from him news concerning me： whereupon that gentleman； with some
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little show of alarm； told her that he thought her daughter…in…law was
confined in an uncomfortable place； that Mrs。 Hoggarty had left us； finally；
that I was in prison。 This news at once despatched my poor mother on
her travels； and she had only just come from the prison； where she learned
my address。
I asked her whether she had seen my wife； and how she found her。
Rather to my amaze she said that Mary was out with the landlady when
she arrived； and eightnine o'clock came； and she was absent still。
At ten o'clock returnednot my wife； but Mrs。 Stokes； and with her a
gentleman； who shook hands with me on coming into the room； and said；
〃Mr。 Titmarsh！ I don't know whether you will remember me： my name is
Tiptoff。 I have brought you a note from Mrs。 Titmarsh； and a message
from my wife； who sincerely commiserates your loss； and begs you will
not be uneasy at Mrs。 Titmarsh's absence。 She has been good enough to
promise to pass the night with Lady Tiptoff； and I am sure you will not
object to her being away from you； while she is giving happiness to a sick
mother and a sick child。〃 After a few more words； my Lord left us。 My
wife's note only said that Mrs。 Stokes would tell me all。
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CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT A GOOD WIFE IS THE BEST
DIAMOND A MAN CAN WEAR IN HIS BOSOM
〃Mrs。 Titmarsh； ma'am；〃 says Mrs。 Stokes； 〃before I gratify your
curiosity； ma'am； permit me to observe that angels is scarce； and it's rare to
have one； much more two； in a family。 Both your son and your daughter…
in…law； ma'am； are of that uncommon sort； they are； now； reely； ma'am。〃
My mother said she thanked God for both of us； and Mrs。 Stokes
proceeded：…
〃When the fu… when the seminary； ma'am； was concluded this morning；
your poor daughter…in…law was glad to take shelter in my humble parlour；
ma'am； where she wept； and told a thousand stories of the little cherub
that's gone。 Heaven bless us！ it was here but a month； and no one could
have thought it could have done such a many things in that time。 But a
mother's eyes are clear； ma'am； and I had just such another angel； my dear
little Antony； that was born before Jemima； and would have been twenty…
