stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第25节
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satin…and…lace skirts with a sort of fastidious disdain； as though she
scorned to set foot on earth that was not carpeted with the best velvet pile。
As they approached their carriage the inert dark bundle； crouched in the
corner； started into lifea woman； with wild hair and wilder eyes； whose
pale lips quivered with suppressed weeping as her piteous voice broke into
sudden clamour：
〃Oh； lady！〃 she cried； 〃for the love of God； a trifle！ Oh； lady； lady！〃
But the 〃lady；〃 with a contemptuous sniff and a shake of her scented
garments； passed her before she could continue her appeal； and she turned
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with a sort of faint hope to the softer face of the girl。
〃Oh； my dear； do have pity！ Just the smallest little thing； and God will
bless you！ You are rich and happyand I am starving！ Only a penny！ For
the babythe poor little baby！〃 And she made as though she would open
her tattered shawl and reveal some treasure hidden therein； but shrunk
back； repelled by the cold； merciless gaze that fell upon her from those
eyes； in which youth dwelt without tenderness。
〃You have no business on our door step；〃 said the girl； harshly。 〃Go
away directly； or I shall tell my servant to call a policeman。〃
Then； as she entered the brougham after her mother； she addressed the
respectable footman angrily； giving him the benefit of a strong nasal
intonation。
〃Howard； why do you let such dirty beggars come near the carriage？
What are you paid for； I should like to know？ It is perfectly disgraceful to
the house！〃
〃Very sorry； miss！〃 said the footman； gravely。 〃I didn't see thethe
person before。〃 Then shutting the brougham door； he turned with a
dignified air to the unfortunate creature； who still lingered near； and； with
a sweeping gesture of his gold…embroidered coat…sleeve； said majestically：
〃Do you 'ear？ Be hoff！〃
Then； having thus performed his duty； he mounted the box beside his
friend the coachman； and the equipage rattled quickly away； its gleaming
lights soon lost in the smoke…laden vapours that drooped downward like
funeral hangings from the invisible sky to the scarcely visible ground。 Left
to herself； the woman who had vainly sought charity from those in whom
no charity existed； looked up despairingly； as one distraught； and seemed
as though she would have given vent to some fierce exclamation； when a
feeble wail came pitifully forth from the sheltering folds of her shawl。 She
restrained herself instantly； and walked on at a rapid pace； scarcely
heeding whither she went； till she reached the Catholic church known as
the 〃Oratory。〃 Its unfinished facade loomed darkly out of the fog； there
was nothing picturesque or inviting about it； yet there were people passing
softly in and out； and through the swinging to and fro of the red baize…
covered doors there came a comforting warm glimmer of light。 The
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woman paused； hesitated； and then； having apparently made up her mind；
ascended the broad steps； looked in； and finally entered。 The place was
strange to her； she knew nothing of its religious meaning； and its cold；
uncompleted appearance oppressed her。 There were only some half…dozen
persons scattered about； like black specks； in its vast white interior； and
the fog hung heavily in the vaulted dome and dark little chapels。 One
corner alone blazed with brilliancy and colour； this was the altar of the
Virgin。 Toward it the tired vagrant made her way； and on reaching it sank
on the nearest chair as though exhausted。 She did not raise her eyes to the
marble splendours of the shrineone of the masterpieces of old Italian art；
she had been merely attracted to the spot by the glitter of the lamps and
candles； and took no thought as to the reason of their being lighted； though
she was sensible of a certain comfort in the soft lustre shed around her。
She seemed still young； her face； rendered haggard by long and bitter
privation； showed traces of past beauty； and her eyes； full of feverish
trouble； were large； dark； and still lustrous。 Her mouth alonethat
sensitive betrayer of the life's good and bad actionsrevealed that all had
not been well with her； its lines were hard and vicious； and the resentful
curve of the upper lip spoke of foolish pride； not unmixed with reckless
sensuality。 She sat for a moment or two motionless； then； with exceeding
care and tenderness； she began to unfold her thin； torn shawl by gentle
degrees； looking down with anxious solicitude at the object concealed
within。 Only a babyand withal a baby so tiny and white and frail that it
seemed as though it must melt like a snowflake beneath the lightest touch。
As its wrappings were loosened it opened a pair of large； solemn blue eyes；
and gazed at the woman's face with a strange； pitiful wistfulness。 It lay
quiet； without moan； a pinched； pale miniature of suffering humanityan
infant with sorrow's mark painfully impressed upon its drawn； small
features。 Presently it stretched forth a puny hand and feebly caressed its
protectress； and this； too； with the faintest glimmer of a smile。 The woman
responded to its affection with a sort of rapture； she caught it fondly to her
breast and covered it with kisses； rocking it to and fro with broken words
of endearment。 〃My little darling！〃 she whispered； softly。 〃My little pet！
Yes； yes； I know！ So tired； so cold and hungry！ Never mind； baby； never
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mind！ We will rest here a little； then we will sing a song presently； and get
some money to take us home。 Sleep awhile longer； deary！ There！ now we
are warm and cosey again。〃
So saying； she rearranged her shawl in closer and tighter folds； so as to
protect the child more thoroughly。 While she was engaged in this
operation a lady in deep mourning passed close by her； and； advancing to
the very steps of the altar； knelt down； hiding her face with her clasped
hands。 The tired wayfarer's attention was attracted by this； she gazed with
a sort of dull wonder at the kneeling figure robed in rich rustling silk and
crape； and gradually her eyes wandered upward； upward； till they rested
on the gravely sweet and serenely smiling marble image of the Virgin and
Child。 She looked and looked again surprisedincredulous； then
suddenly rose to her feet and made her way to the altar railing。 There she
paused； staring vaguely at a basket of flowers； white and odorous； that had
been left there by some reverent worshipper。 She glanced doubtfully at the
swinging silver lamps； the twinkling candles； she was conscious； too； of a
subtle； strange fragrance in the air； as though a basket full of spring violets
and daffodils had just been carried by； then； as her wandering gaze came
back to the solitary woman in black； who still knelt motionless near her； a
sort of choking sensation came into her throat and a stinging moisture
struggled in her eyes。 She strove to turn this hysterical sensation to a low
laugh of disdain。
〃Lord； Lord！〃 she muttered beneath her breath； 〃what sort of place is
this； where they pray to a woman and a baby？〃
At that moment the woman in black rose； she was young； with a proud；
fair； but weary face。 Her eyes lighted on her soiled and poverty… stricken
sister； and she paused with a pitying look。 The street wanderer made use of
the opportunity thus offered； and in an urgent whisper implored charity。
The lady drew out a purse； then hesitated； looking wistfully at the bundle
in the shawl。
〃You have a child there？〃 she asked； in gentle accents。 〃May I see it？〃
〃Yes； lady；〃 and the wrapper was turned down sufficiently to disclose
the tiny white face； now more infinitely touching than ever in the pathos of
sleep。
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〃I lost my little one a week ago；〃 said the lady； simply；
