神鸟电子书 > 都市言情电子书 > 双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯 >

第39部分

双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第39部分

小说: 双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



At length; a person better informed on the merits of the case; tumbled against him; and from this person he learned that the funeral was the funeral of One Roger Cly。
‘Was He a spy?' asked Mr。 Cruncher。
‘Old Bailey spy;' returned his informant。 ‘Yaha Tst! Yah! Old Bailey Spi…i…ies!'
‘Why; to be sure!' exclaimed Jerry; recalling the Trial at which he had assisted。 ‘I've seen him。 Dead; is he?'
‘Dead as mutton;' returned the other; ‘and can't be too dead。 Have ‘em out; there Spies! Pull ‘em out; there! Spies!'
The idea was so acceptable in the prevalent absence of any idea; that the crowd caught it up with eagerness; and; loudly repeating the suggestion to have ‘em out; and to pull em out; mobbed the two vehicles so closely that they came to a stop。 On the crowd's opening the coach doors; the one mourner scuffled out of himself and was in their hands for a moment; but he was so alert; and made such good use of his time; that in another moment he was scouring away up a bystreet; after shedding his cloak; hat; long hatband; white pocket handkerchief; and other symbolical tears。
These; the people tore to pieces and scattered far and wide with great enjoyment; while the tradesmen hurriedly shut up their shops; for a crowd in those times stopped at nothing; and was a monster much dreaded。 They had already got the length of opening the hearse to take the coffin out; when some brighter genius proposed instead; its being escorted to destination amidst general rejoicing。 Practical suggestions being much needed; this suggestion; too; was received with acclamation; and the coach was immediately filled with eight inside and a dozen out; while as many people got on the roof of the hearse as could by any exercise of ingenuity stick upon it。 Among the first of these volunteers was Jerry Cruncher himself; who modestly concealed his spiky head from the observation of Tellson's; in the further corner of the mourning coach。
The officiating undertakers made some protest against these changes in the ceremonies; but; the river being alarmingly near; and several voices remarking on the efficacy of cold immersion in bringing refractory members of the profession to reason; the protest was faint and brief。 The remodelled procession started; with a chimney…sweep driving the hearse……advised by the regular driver; who was perched beside him; under close inspection; for the purpose……and with a pieman; also attended by his cabinet minister; driving the mourning coach。 A bear…leader; a popular street character of the time; was impressed as an additional ornament; before the cavalcade had gone far down the Strand; and his bear; who was black and very mangy; gave quite an Undertaking air to that part of the procession in which he walked。
Thus; with beer…drinking; pipe…smoking; song…roaring; and infinite caricaturing of woe; the disorderly procession went its way; recruiting at every step; and all the shops shutting up before it。 Its destination was the old church of Saint Pancras; far off in the fields。 It got there in course of time; insisted on pouring into the burial…ground; finally; acplished the interment of the deceased Roger Cly in its own way; and highly to its own satisfaction。
The dead man disposed of; and the crowd being under the necessity of providing some other entertainment for itself; another brighter genius (or perhaps the same) conceived the humour of impeaching casual passersby; as Old Bailey spies; and wreaking vengeance on them。 Chase was given to some scores of inoffensive persons who had never been near the Old Bailey in their lives; in the realisation of this fancy; and they were roughly hustled and maltreated。 The transition to the sport of window…breaking; and thence to the plundering of public…houses; was easy and natural。 At last; after several hours; when sundry summerhouses had been pulled dow and some area…railings had been torn up; to arm the more belligerent spirits; a rumour got about that the Guards we ing。 Before this rumour; the crowd gradually melted away; and perhaps the Guards came; and perhaps they never came; and this was the usual progress of a mob。
Mr。 Cruncher did not assist at the closing sports; hut had remained behind in the churchyard; to confer and condole with the undertakers。 The place had a soothing influence on him。 He procured a pipe from a neighbouring public house; and smoked it; looking in at the railings and maturely considering the spot。
‘Jerry;' said Mr。 Cruncher; apostrophising himself in his usual way; ‘you see that there Cly that day; and you see with your own eyes that he was a young ‘un and a straight made ‘un。'
Having smoked his pipe out; and ruminated a little longer; he turned himself about; that he might appear; before the hour of closing; on his station at Tellson's。 Whether his meditations on mortality had touched his liver; or whether his general health had been previously at all amiss; or whether he desired to show a little attention to an eminent man; is not so much to the purpose; as that he made a short call upon his medical adviser……a distinguished surgeon……on his way back。
Young Jerry relieved his father with dutiful interest; and reported No job in his absence。 The bank closed; the ancient clerks came Out; the usual watch was set; and Mr。 Cruncher and his son went home to tea。
‘Now; I tell you where it is!' said Mr。 Cruncher to his wife; on entering。 ‘If; as a honest tradesman; my wenturs goes wrong tonight; I shall make sure that you've been praying again me; and I shall work you for it just the same as if I seen you do it。'
The dejected Mrs。 Cruncher shook her head。
‘Why; you're at it afore my face!' said Mr。 Cruncher; with signs of angry apprehension。
‘I am saying nothing。'
‘Well; then; don't meditate nothing。 You might as well meditate。 You may as well go again me one way as another。 Drop it altogether。'
‘Yes Jerry。'
‘Yes; Jerry;' repeated Mr。 Cruncher; sitting down to tea。 ‘Ah! It is yes; Jerry。 That's about it。 You may say yes; Jerry。'
Mr。 Cruncher had no particular meaning in these sulky corroborations; but made use of them; as people not unfrequently do; to express general ironical dissatisfaction。
‘You and your yes; Jerry;' said Mr。 Cruncher; taking a bite out of his bread…and…butter; and seeming to help it down with a large invisible oyster out of his saucer。 ‘Ah! I think so。 I believe you。'
‘You are going out to…night?' asked his decent wife; when he took another bite。
‘Yes; I am。'
‘May I go with you; father?' asked his son; briskly。 
‘No; you mayn't。 I'm a going……as your mother knows……a fishing。 That's where I'm going to。 Going a fishing。' 
‘Your fishing rod gets rather rusty; don't it; father?' 
‘Never you mind。' 
‘Shall you bring any fish home; father?' 
‘If I don't; you'll have short mons; tomorrow;' returned that gentleman; shaking his head; ‘that's questions enough for you; I ain't a going out; till you've been long a…bed。'
He devoted himself during the remainder of the evening to keeping a most vigilant watch on Mrs。 Cruncher; and sullenly holding her in conversation that she might be prevented from meditating any petitions to his disadvantage。 With this view; he urged his son to hold her in conversation also; and led the unfortunate woman a hard life by dwelling on any causes of plaint lie could bring against her; rather than he would leave her for a moment to her own reflections。 The devoutest person could have rendered no greater homage to the efficacy of an honest prayer than he did in this distrust of his Mile。 It was as if a professed unbeliever in ghosts should be frightened by a ghost story。
‘And mind you!' said Mr。 Cruncher。 ‘No games tomorrow! If I; as a honest tradesman; succeed in providing a jinte of meat or two; none of your not touching of it; and sticking to bread。 If I; as a honest tradesman; am able to provide a little beer; none of your declaring on water。 When you go to Rome; do as Rome does。 Rome will be a ugly customer to you; if you don't。 ‘I'm your Rome; you know。'
Then he began grumbling again:
‘With your flying into the face of your own wittles and drink! I don't know how scarce you mayn't make the wittles and drink here; by your flopping tricks and your unfeeling conduct。 Look at your boy: he is your'n; ain't he? 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的