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…homes were in this condition） by the emblem reared on the
roadside over against the house； which； if not of those goodly
proportions that Maypoles were wont to present in olden times；
was a fair young ash； thirty feet in height； and straight as any
arrow that ever English yeoman drew。
The Maypole—by which term from henceforth is meant the
house； and not its sign—the Maypole was an old building； with
more gable ends than a lazy man would care to count on a sunny
day； huge zig…zag chimneys； out of which it seemed as though even
smoke could not choose but come in more than naturally fantastic
shapes； imparted to it in its tortuous progress； and vast stables；
gloomy； ruinous； and empty。 The place was said to have been built
in the days of King Henry the Eighth； and there was a legend； not
only that Queen Elizabeth had slept there one night while upon a
hunting excursion； to wit； in a certain oak…panelled room with a
deep bay window； but that next morning； while standing on a
mounting block before the door with one foot in the stirrup； the
virgin monarch had then and there boxed and cuffed an unlucky
page for some neglect of duty。 The matter…of…fact and doubtful
folks； of whom there were a few among the Maypole customers； as
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 13…
Barnaby Rudge 14
unluckily there always are in every little community； were inclined
to look upon this tradition as rather apocryphal； but； whenever the
landlord of that ancient hostelry appealed to the mounting block
itself as evidence； and triumphantly pointed out that there it stood
in the same place to that very day； the doubters never failed to be
put down by a large majority； and all true believers exulted as in a
victory。
Whether these； and many other stories of the like nature； were
true or untrue； the Maypole was really an old house； a very old
house； perhaps as old as it claimed to be； and perhaps older； which
will sometimes happen with houses of an uncertain； as with ladies
of a certain； age。 Its windows were old diamond…pane lattices； its
floors were sunken and uneven； its ceilings blackened by the hand
of time； and heavy with massive beams。 Over the doorway was an
ancient porch； quaintly and grotesquely carved； and here on
summer evenings the more favoured customers smoked and
drank—ay； and sang many a good song too； sometimes—reposing
on two grim…looking high…backed settles； which； like the twin
dragons of some fairy tale； guarded the entrance to the mansion。
In the chimneys of the disused rooms； swallows had built their
nests for many a long year； and from earliest spring to latest
autumn whole colonies of sparrows chirped and twittered in the
eaves。 There were more pigeons about the dreary stable…yard and
out…buildings than anybody but the landlord could reckon up。 The
wheeling and circling flights of runts； fantails； tumblers； and
pouters； were perhaps not quite consistent with the grave and
sober character of the building； but the monotonous cooing； which
never ceased to be raised by some among them all day long； suited
it exactly； and seemed to lull it to rest。 With its overhanging
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 14…
Barnaby Rudge 15
stories； drowsy little panes of glass； and front bulging out and
projecting over the pathway； the old house looked as if it were
nodding in its sleep。 Indeed； it needed no very great stretch of
fancy to detect in it other resemblances to humanity。 The bricks of
which it was built had originally been a deep dark red； but had
grown yellow and discoloured like an old man’s skin； the sturdy
timbers had decayed like teeth； and here and there the ivy； like a
warm garment to comfort it in its age； wrapt its green leaves
closely round the time…worn walls。
It was a hale and hearty age though； still： and in the summer or
autumn evenings； when the glow of the setting sun fell upon the
oak and chestnut trees of the adjacent forest； the old house；
partaking of its lustre； seemed their fit companion； and to have
many good years of life in him yet。
The evening with which we have to do； was neither a summer
nor an autumn one； but the twilight of a day in March； when the
wind howled dismally among the bare branches of the trees； and
rumbling in the wide chimneys and driving the rain against the
windows of the Maypole Inn； gave such of its frequenters as
chanced to be there at the moment an undeniable reason for
prolonging their stay； and caused the landlord to prophesy that
the night would certainly clear at eleven o’clock precisely；—which
by a remarkable coincidence was the hour at which he always
closed his house。
The name of him upon whom the spirit of prophecy thus
descended was John Willet； a burly； large…headed man with a fat
face； which betokened profound obstinacy and slowness of
apprehension； combined with a very strong reliance upon his own
merits。 It was John Willet’s ordinary boast in his more placid
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 15…
Barnaby Rudge 16
moods that if he were slow he was sure； which assertion could； in
one sense at least； be by no means gainsaid； seeing that he was in
everything unquestionably the reverse of fast； and withal one of
the most dogged and positive fellows in existence—always sure
that what he thought or said or did was right； and holding it as a
thing quite settled and ordained by the laws of nature and
Providence； that anybody who said or did or thought otherwise
must be inevitably and of necessity wrong。
Mr Willet walked slowly up to the window； flattened his fat nose
against the cold g