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！
France； with the great church…tower rising above the courtyard； the
horse…bells jingling merrily up and down the street beyond； and the
clocks of all descriptions in all the rooms； which are never right；
unless taken at the precise minute when； by getting exactly twelve
hours too fast or too slow； they unintentionally become so。 Away I
went； next； to the lesser roadside Inns of Italy； where all the
dirty clothes in the house （not in wear） are always lying in your
anteroom； where the mosquitoes make a raisin pudding of your face in
summer； and the cold bites it blue in winter； where you get what you
can； and forget what you can't： where I should again like to be
boiling my tea in a pocket…handkerchief dumpling； for want of a
teapot。 So to the old palace Inns and old monastery Inns； in towns
and cities of the same bright country； with their massive
quadrangular staircases； whence you may look from among clustering
pillars high into the blue vault of heaven； with their stately
banqueting…rooms； and vast refectories； with their labyrinths of
ghostly bedchambers； and their glimpses into gorgeous streets that
have no appearance of reality or possibility。 So to the close
little Inns of the Malaria districts； with their pale attendants；
and their peculiar smell of never letting in the air。 So to the
immense fantastic Inns of Venice； with the cry of the gondolier
below； as he skims the corner； the grip of the watery odours on one
particular little bit of the bridge of your nose （which is never
released while you stay there）； and the great bell of St。 Mark's
Cathedral tolling midnight。 Next I put up for a minute at the
restless Inns upon the Rhine； where your going to bed； no matter at
what hour； appears to be the tocsin for everybody else's getting up；
and where； in the table…d'hote room at the end of the long table
（with several Towers of Babel on it at the other end； all made of
white plates）； one knot of stoutish men； entirely dressed in jewels
and dirt； and having nothing else upon them； will remain all night；
clinking glasses； and singing about the river that flows； and the
grape that grows； and Rhine wine that beguiles； and Rhine woman that
smiles and hi drink drink my friend and ho drink drink my brother；
and all the rest of it。 I departed thence； as a matter of course；
to other German Inns； where all the eatables are soddened down to
the same flavour； and where the mind is disturbed by the apparition
of hot puddings； and boiled cherries； sweet and slab； at awfully
unexpected periods of the repast。 After a draught of sparkling beer
from a foaming glass jug； and a glance of recognition through the
windows of the student beer…houses at Heidelberg and elsewhere； I
put out to sea for the Inns of America； with their four hundred beds
apiece； and their eight or nine hundred ladies and gentlemen at
dinner every day。 Again I stood in the bar…rooms thereof； taking my
evening cobbler； julep； sling； or cocktail。 Again I listened to my
friend the General；whom I had known for five minutes； in the
course of which period he had made me intimate for life with two
Majors； who again had made me intimate for life with three Colonels；
who again had made me brother to twenty…two civilians；again； I
say； I listened to my friend the General； leisurely expounding the
resources of the establishment； as to gentlemen's morning…room； sir；
ladies' morning…room； sir； gentlemen's evening…room； sir； ladies'
evening…room； sir； ladies' and gentlemen's evening reuniting…room；
sir； music…room； sir； reading…room； sir； over four hundred sleeping…
rooms； sir； and the entire planned and finited within twelve
calendar months from the first clearing off of the old encumbrances
on the plot； at a cost of five hundred thousand dollars； sir。 Again
I found； as to my individual way of thinking； that the greater； the
more gorgeous； and the more dollarous the establishment was； the
less desirable it was。 Nevertheless； again I drank my cobbler；
julep； sling； or cocktail； in all good…will； to my friend the
General； and my friends the Majors； Colonels； and civilians all；
full well knowing that； whatever little motes my beamy eyes may have
descried in theirs； they belong to a kind； generous； large…hearted；
and great people。
I had been going on lately at a quick pace to keep my solitude out
of my mind； but here I broke down for good； and gave up the subject。
What was I to do？ What was to become of me？ Into what extremity
was I submissively to sink？ Supposing that； like Baron Trenck； I
looked out for a mouse or spider； and found one； and beguiled my
imprisonment by training it？ Even that might be dangerous with a
view to the future。 I might be so far gone when the road did come
to be cut through the snow； that； on my way forth； I might burst
into tears； and beseech； like the prisoner who was released in his
old age from the Bastille； to be taken back again to the five
windows； the ten curtains； and the sinuous drapery。
A desperate idea came into my head。 Under any other circumstances I
should have rejected it； but； in the strait at which I was； I held
it fast。 Could I so far overcome the inherent bashfulness which
withheld me from the landlord's table and the company I might find
there； as to call up the Boots； and ask him to take a chair；and
something in a liquid form；and talk to me？ I could； I would； I
did。
SECOND BRANCHTHE BOOTS
Where had he been in his time？ he repeated； when I asked him the
question。 Lord； he had been everywhere！ And what had he been？
Bless you； he had been everything you could mention a'most！
Seen a good deal？ Why； of course he had。 I should say so； he could
assure me； if I only knew about a twentieth part of what had come in
his way。 Why； it would be easier for him； he expected； to tell what
he hadn't seen than what he had。 Ah！ A deal； it would。
What was the curiousest thing he had seen？ Well！ He didn't know。
He couldn't momently name what was the curiousest thing he had seen…
…unless it was a Unicorn； and he see him once at a Fair。 But
supposing a young gentleman not eight year old was to run away with
a fine young woman of seven； might I think that a queer start？
Certainly。 Then that was a start as he himself had had his blessed
eyes on； and he had cleaned the shoes they run away inand they was
so little that he couldn't get his hand into 'em。
Master Harry Walmers' father； you see； he lived at the Elmses； down
away by Shooter's Hill there； six or seven miles from Lunnon。 He
was a gentleman of spirit； and good…looking； and held his head up
when he walked； and had what you may call Fire about him。 He wrote
poetry； and he rode； and he ran； and he cricketed； and he danced；
and he acted； and he done it all equally beautiful。 He was uncommon
proud of Master Harry as was his only child； but he didn't spoil him
neither。 He was a gentleman that had a will of his own and a eye of