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！
that his horses were now rested enough； and that they had twelve miles to
ride； put the steeds to； and summoned the passengers。 Mrs。 Score； who had
seen with much satisfaction that her niece was really ill； and her fever
more violent； and hoped to have her for many days an inmate in her house；
now came forward； and casting upon the Liverpool tailor a look of
profound but respectful melancholy； said； 〃My Lord （for I recollect your
Lordship quite well）； the lady upstairs is so ill； that it would be a sin to
move her： had I not better tell coachman to take down your Lordship's
trunks； and the lady's； and make you a bed in the next room？〃
Very much to her surprise； this proposition was received with a roar of
57
… Page 58…
Catherine： A Story
laughter。 〃Madam；〃 said the person addressed； 〃I'm not a lord； but a tailor
and draper； and as for that young woman； before to…day I never set eyes on
her。〃
〃WHAT！〃 screamed out Mrs。 Score。 〃Are not you the Count？ Do you
mean to say that you a'n't Cat's？ DO you mean to say that you didn't
order her bed； and that you won't pay this here little bill？〃 And with this
she produced a document； by which the Count's lady was made her debtor
in a sum of half…a…guinea。
These passionate words excited more and more laughter。 〃Pay it； my
Lord；〃 said the coachman； 〃and then come along； for time presses。〃 〃Our
respects to her Ladyship；〃 said one passenger。 〃Tell her my Lord can't
wait；〃 said another； and with much merriment one and all quitted the hotel；
entered the coach； and rattled off。
Dumbpale with terror and ragebill in hand； Mrs。 Score had
followed the company； but when the coach disappeared； her senses
returned。 Back she flew into the inn； overturning the ostler； not deigning to
answer Doctor Dobbs （who； from behind soft tobacco…fumes； mildly asked
the reason of her disturbance）； and； bounding upstairs like a fury； she
rushed into the room where Catherine lay。
〃Well； madam！〃 said she； in her highest key； 〃do you mean that you
have come into this here house to swindle me？ Do you dare for to come
with your airs here； and call yourself a nobleman's lady； and sleep in the
best bed； when you're no better nor a common tramper？ I'll thank you；
ma'am； to get out； ma'am。 I'll have no sick paupers in this house； ma'am。
You know your way to the workhouse； ma'am； and there I'll trouble you
for to go。〃 And here Mrs。 Score proceeded quickly to pull off the
bedclothes； and poor Cat arose； shivering with fright and fever。
She had no spirit to answer； as she would have done the day before；
when an oath from any human being would have brought half…a…dozen
from her in return； or a knife； or a plate； or a leg of mutton； if such had
been to her hand。 She had no spirit left for such repartees； but in reply to
the above words of Mrs。 Score； and a great many more of the same kind
which are not necessary for our history； but which that lady uttered with
inconceivable shrillness and volubility； the poor wench could say little；
58
… Page 59…
Catherine： A Story
only sob and shiver； and gather up the clothes again； crying； 〃Oh； aunt；
don't speak unkind to me！ I'm very unhappy； and very ill！〃
〃Ill； you strumpet！ ill； be hanged！ Ill is as ill does； and if you are ill； it's
only what you merit。 Get out！ dress yourselftramp！ Get to the workhouse；
and don't come to cheat me any more！ Dress yourselfdo you hear？ Satin
petticoat forsooth； and lace to her smock！〃
Poor； wretched； chattering； burning； shivering Catherine huddled on
her clothes as well she might： she seemed hardly to know or see what she
was doing； and did not reply a single word to the many that the landlady
let fall。 Cat tottered down the narrow stairs； and through the kitchen； and
to the door； which she caught hold of； and paused awhile； and looked into
Mrs。 Score's face； as for one more chance。 〃Get out； you nasty trull！〃 said
that lady； sternly； with arms akimbo； and poor Catherine； with a most
piteous scream and outgush of tears； let go of the door…post and staggered
away into the road。
* * *
〃Why； noyesnoit is poor Catherine Hall； as I live！〃 said somebody；
starting up； shoving aside Mrs。 Score very rudely； and running into the
road； wig off and pipe in hand。 It was honest Doctor Dobbs； and the result
of his interview with Mrs。 Cat was； that he gave up for ever smoking his
pipe at the 〃Bugle；〃 and that she lay sick of a fever for some weeks in his
house。
* * *
Over this part of Mrs。 Cat's history we shall be as brief as possible； for；
to tell the truth； nothing immoral occurred during her whole stay at the
good Doctor's house； and we are not going to insult the reader by offering
him silly pictures of piety； cheerfulness； good sense； and simplicity； which
are milk…and…water virtues after all； and have no relish with them like a
good strong vice； highly peppered。 Well； to be short： Doctor Dobbs；
though a profound theologian； was a very simple gentleman； and before
Mrs。 Cat had been a month in the house； he had learned to look upon her
as one of the most injured and repentant characters in the world； and had；
with Mrs。 Dobbs； resolved many plans for the future welfare of the young
Magdalen。 〃She was but sixteen； my love； recollect；〃 said the Doctor； 〃she
59
… Page 60…
Catherine： A Story
was carried off； not by her own wish either。 The Count swore he would
marry her； and； though she did not leave him until that monster tried to
poison her； yet think what a fine Christian spirit the poor girl has shown！
she forgives him as heartilymore heartily； I am sure； than I do Mrs。 Score
for turning her adrift in that wicked way。〃 The reader will perceive some
difference in the Doctor's statement and ours； which we assure him is the
true one； but the fact is； the honest rector had had his tale from Mrs。 Cat；
and it was not in his nature to doubt； if she had told him a history ten times
more wonderful。
The reverend gentleman and his wife then laid their heads together；
and； recollecting something of John Hayes's former attachment to Mrs。
Cat； thought that it might be advantageously renewed； should Hayes be
still constant。 Having very adroitly sounded Catherine （so adroitly； indeed；
as to ask her 〃whether she would like to marry John Hayes？〃）； that young
woman had replied； 〃No。 She had loved John Hayeshe had been her
early； only love； but she was fallen now； and not good enough for him。〃
And this made the Dobbs family admire her more and more； and cast
about for means to bring the marriage to pass。
Hayes was away from the village when Mrs。 Cat had arrived there； but
he did not fail to hear of her illness； and how her aunt had deserted her；
and the good Doctor taken her in。 The worthy Doctor himself met Mr。
Hayes on the green； and； telling him that some repairs were wanting in his
kitchen begged him to step in and examine them。 Hayes first said no；
plump； and then no； gently； and then pished； and then psha'd； and then；
trembling very much； went in： and there sat Mrs。 Catherine； trembling
very much too。
What passed between them？ If your Ladyship is anxious to know；
think of that morning when Sir John himself popped the question。 Could
there be anything more stupid than the conversation which took place？
Such stuff is not worth repeating： no； not when uttered by people in the
very genteelest of company； as for the amorous dialogue of a carpenter
and an ex…barmaid； it is worse still。 Suffice it to say； that Mr。 Hayes； who
had had a year to recover from his passion； and had； to all appearances；
quelled it； was over head and ears again the very moment he saw Mrs。 Cat；
60
… Page 61…
Catherine： A Story
and had all his work to do again。
Whether the Doctor knew w