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！
made up my mind。’
‘A mettlesome fellow like you； and not made up his mind！’ cried
the serjeant。 ‘Here—let me give the bell a pull； and you’ll make up
your mind in half a minute； I know。’
‘You’re right so far’—answered Joe； ‘for if you pull the bell here；
where I’m known； there’ll be an end of my soldiering inclinations
in no time。 Look in my face。 You see me； do you？’
‘I do；’ replied the serjeant with an oath； ‘and a finer young
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 338…
Barnaby Rudge 339
fellow or one better qualified to serve his king and country； I never
set my—’ he used an adjective in this place—‘eyes on。’
‘Thank you；’ said Joe； ‘I didn’t ask you for want of a
compliment； but thank you all the same。 Do I look like a sneaking
fellow or a liar？’
The serjeant rejoined with many choice asseverations that he
didn’t； and that if his （the serjeant’s） own father were to say he did；
he would run the old gentleman through the body cheerfully； and
consider it a meritorious action。
Joe expressed his obligations； and continued； ‘You can trust me
then； and credit what I say。 I believe I shall enlist in your regiment
to…night。 The reason I don’t do so now is； because I don’t want
until to…night； to do what I can’t recall。 Where shall I find you； this
evening？’
His friend replied with some unwillingness； and after much
ineffectual entreaty having for its object the immediate settlement
of the business； that his quarters would be at the Crooked Billet in
Tower Street； where he would be found waking until midnight；
and sleeping until breakfast time to…morrow。
‘And if I do come—which it’s a million to one； I shall—when will
you take me out of London？’ demanded Joe。
‘To…morrow morning； at half after eight o’clock；’ replied the
serjeant。 ‘You’ll go abroad—a country where it’s all sunshine and
plunder—the finest climate in the world。’
‘To go abroad；’ said Joe； shaking hands with him； ‘is the very
thing I want。 You may expect me。’
‘You’re the kind of lad for us；’ cried the serjeant； holding Joe’s
hand in his； in the excess of his admiration。 ‘You’re the boy to
push your fortune。 I don’t say it because I bear you any envy； or
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 339…
Barnaby Rudge 340
would take away from the credit of the rise you’ll make； but if I
had been bred and taught like you； I’d have been a colonel by this
time。’
‘Tush； man！’ said Joe； ‘I’m not so young as that。 Needs must
when the devil drives； and the devil that drives me is an empty
pocket and an unhappy home。 For the present； good…bye。’
‘For king and country！’ cried the serjeant； flourishing his cap。
‘For bread and meat！’ cried Joe； snapping his fingers。 And so
they parted。
He had very little money in his pocket； so little indeed； that
after paying for his breakfast （which he was too honest and
perhaps too proud to score up to his father’s charge） he had but a
penny left。 He had courage； notwithstanding； to resist all the
affectionate importunities of the serjeant； who waylaid him at the
door with many protestations of eternal friendship； and did in
particular request that he would do him the favour to accept of
only one shilling as a temporary accommodation。 Rejecting his
offers both of cash and credit； Joe walked away with stick and
bundle as before； bent upon getting through the day as he best
could； and going down to the locksmith’s in the dusk of the
evening； for it should go hard； he had resolved； but he would have
a parting word with charming Dolly Varden。
He went out by Islington and so on to Highgate； and sat on
many stones and gates； but there were no voices in the bells to bid
him turn。 Since the time of noble Whittington； fair flower of
merchants； bells have come to have less sympathy with
humankind。 They only ring for money and on state occasions。
Wanderers have increased in number； ships leave the Thames for
distant regions； carrying from stem to stern no other cargo； the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 340…
Barnaby Rudge 341
bells are silent； they ring out no entreaties or regrets； they are
used to it and have grown worldly。
Joe bought a roll； and reduced his purse to the condition （with a
difference） of that celebrated purse of Fortunatus； which；
whatever were its favoured owner’s necessities； had one unvarying
amount in it。 In these real times； when all the Fairies are dead and
buried； there are still a great many purses which possess that
quality。 The sum…total they contain is expressed in arithmetic by a
circle； and whether it be added to or multiplied by its own amount；
the result of the problem is more easily stated than any known in
figures。
Evening drew on at last。 With the desolate and solitary feeling
of one who had no home or shelter； and was alone utterly in the
world for the first time； he bent his steps towards the locksmith’s
house。 He had delayed till now； knowing that Mrs Varden
sometimes went out alone； or with Miggs for her sole attendant； to
lectures in the evening； and devoutly hoping that this might be
one of her nights of moral culture。
He had walked up and down before the house； on the opposite
side of the way； two or three times； when as he returned to it
again； he caught a glimpse of a fluttering skirt at the door。 It was
Dolly’s—to whom else could it belong？ no dress but hers had such
a flow as that。 He plucked up his spirits； and followed it into the
workshop of the Golden Key。
His darkening the door caused her to look round。 Oh that face！
‘If it hadn’t been for that；’ thought Joe； ‘I should never h