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！
delightful。 After dinner； in the sunshine of the wine； she went up
at least half…a…dozen degrees； and was perfectly enchanting。 As its
effect subsided； she fell rapidly； went to sleep for an hour or so at
temperate； and woke at something below freezing。 Now she was at
summer heat again； in the shade； and when tea was over； and old
John； producing a bottle of cordial from one of the oaken cases；
insisted on her sipping two glasses thereof in slow succession； she
stood steadily at ninety for one hour and a quarter。 Profiting by
experience； the locksmith took advantage of this genial weather to
smoke his pipe in the porch； and in consequence of this prudent
management； he was fully prepared； when the glass went down
again； to start homewards directly。
The horse was accordingly put in； and the chaise brought round
to the door。 Joe； who would on no account be dissuaded from
escorting them until they had passed the most dreary and solitary
part of the road； led out the grey mare at the same time； and
having helped Dolly into her seat （more happiness！） sprung gaily
into the saddle。 Then； after many good nights； and admonitions to
wrap up； and glancing of lights； and handing in of cloaks and
shawls； the chaise rolled away； and Joe trotted beside it—on
Dolly’s side； no doubt； and pretty close to the wheel too。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 241…
Barnaby Rudge 242
Chapter 22
t was a fine bright night； and for all her lowness of spirits
Dolly kept looking up at the stars in a manner so bewitching
I（and she knew it！） that Joe was clean out of his senses； and
plainly showed that if ever a man were—not to say over head and
ears； but over the Monument and the top of Saint Paul’s in love；
that man was himself。 The road was a very good one； not at all a
jolting road； or an uneven one； and yet Dolly held the side of the
chaise with one little hand； all the way。 If there had been an
executioner behind him with an uplifted axe ready to chop off his
head if he touched that hand； Joe couldn’t have helped doing it。
From putting his own hand upon it as if by chance； and taking it
away again after a minute or so； he got to riding along without
taking it off at all； as if he； the escort； were bound to do that as an
important part of his duty； and had come out for the purpose。 The
most curious circumstance about this little incident was； that Dolly
didn’t seem to know of it。 She looked so innocent and unconscious
when she turned her eyes on Joe； that it was quite provoking。
She talked though； talked about her fright； and about Joe’s
coming up to rescue her； and about her gratitude； and about her
fear that she might not have thanked him enough； and about their
always being friends from that time forth—and about all that sort
of thing。 And when Joe said； not friends he hoped； Dolly was quite
surprised； and said not enemies she hoped； and when Joe said；
couldn’t they be something much better than either； Dolly all of a
sudden found out a star which was brighter than all the other
stars； and begged to call his attention to the same； and was ten
thousand times more innocent and unconscious than ever。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 242…
Barnaby Rudge 243
In this manner they travelled along； talking very little above a
whisper； and wishing the road could be stretched out to some
dozen times its natural length—at least that was Joe’s desire—
when； as they were getting clear of the forest and emerging on the
more frequented road； they heard behind them the sound of a
horse’s feet at a round trot； which growing rapidly louder as it
drew nearer； elicited a scream from Mrs Varden； and the cry ‘a
friend！’ from the rider； who now came panting up； and checked his
horse beside them。
‘This man again！’ cried Dolly； shuddering。
‘Hugh！’ said Joe。 ‘What errand are you upon？’
‘I come to ride back with you；’ he answered； glancing covertly at
the locksmith’s daughter。 ‘He sent me。
‘My father！’ said poor Joe； adding under his breath； with a very
unfilial apostrophe； ‘Will he never think me man enough to take
care of myself！’
‘Aye！’ returned Hugh to the first part of the inquiry。 ‘The roads
are not safe just now； he says； and you’d better have a companion。’
‘Ride on then；’ said Joe。 ‘I’m not going to turn yet。’
Hugh complied； and they went on again。 It was his whim or
humour to ride immediately before the chaise； and from this
position he constantly turned his head； and looked back。 Dolly felt
that he looked at her； but she averted her eyes and feared to raise
them once； so great was the dread with which he had inspired her。
This interruption； and the consequent wakefulness of Mrs
Varden； who had been nodding in her sleep up to this point；
except for a minute or two at a time； when she roused herself to
scold the locksmith for audaciously taking hold of her to prevent
her nodding herself out of the chaise； put a restraint upon the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 243…
Barnaby Rudge 244
whispered conversation； and made it difficult of resumption。
Indeed； before they had gone another mile； Gabriel stopped at his
wife’s desire； and that good lady protested she would not hear of
Joe’s going a step further on any account whatever。 It was in vain
for Joe to protest on the other hand that he was by no means tired；
and would turn back presently； and would see them safely past
such a point； and so forth。 Mrs Varden was obdurate； and being so
was not to be overcome by mortal agency。
‘Good night—if I must say it；’ said Joe； sorrowfully。
‘Good night；’ said Dolly。 She would have added； ‘Take care of
that man； and pray don’t trust him；’ but he had turned his horse’s
head；