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！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 735…
Barnaby Rudge 736
Chapter 69
t was the dead of night； and very dark； when Barnaby； with
his stumbling comrade； approached the place where he had
I
left his father； but he could see him stealing away into the
gloom； distrustful even of him； and rapidly retreating。 After calling
to him twice or thrice that there was nothing to fear； but without
effect； he suffered Hugh to sink upon the ground； and followed to
bring him back。
He continued to creep away； until Barnaby was close upon him；
then turned； and said in a terrible； though suppressed voice：
‘Let me go。 Do not lay hands upon me。 You have told her； and
you and she together have betrayed me！’
Barnaby looked at him； in silence。
‘You have seen your mother！’
‘No；’ cried Barnaby； eagerly。 ‘Not for a long time—longer than I
can tell。 A whole year； I think。 Is she here？’
His father looked upon him steadfastly for a few moments； and
then said—drawing nearer to him as he spoke； for； seeing his face；
and hearing his words； it was impossible to doubt his truth：
‘What man is that？’
‘Hugh—Hugh。 Only Hugh。 You know him。 He will not harm
you。 Why； you’re afraid of Hugh！ Ha ha ha！ Afraid of gruff； old；
noisy Hugh！’
‘What man is he； I ask you；’ he rejoined so fiercely； that
Barnaby stopped in his laugh； and shrinking back； surveyed him
with a look of terrified amazement。
‘Why； how stern you are！ You make me fear you； though you
are my father。 Why do you speak to me so？’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 736…
Barnaby Rudge 737
—‘I want；’ he answered； putting away the hand which his son；
with a timid desire to propitiate him； laid upon his sleeve；—‘I want
an answer； and you give me only jeers and questions。 Who have
you brought with you to this hiding…place； poor fool； and where is
the blind man？’
‘I don’t know where。 His house was close shut。 I waited； but no
person came； that was no fault of mine。 This is Hugh—brave
Hugh； who broke into that ugly jail； and set us free。 Aha！ You like
him now； do you？ You like him now！’
‘Why does he lie upon the ground？’
‘He has had a fall； and has been drinking。 The fields and trees
go round； and round； and round with him； and the ground heaves
under his feet。 You know him？ You remember？ See！’
They had by this time returned to where he lay； and both
stooped over him to look into his face。
‘I recollect the man；’ his father murmured。 ‘Why did you bring
him here？’
‘Because he would have been killed if I had left him over
yonder。 They were firing guns and shedding blood。 Does the sight
of blood turn you sick； father？ I see it does； by your face。 That’s
like me—What are you looking at？’
‘At nothing！’ said the murderer softly； as he started back a pace
or two； and gazed with sunken jaw and staring eyes above his
son’s head。 ‘At nothing！’
He remained in the same attitude and with the same expression
on his face for a minute or more； then glanced slowly round as if
he had lost something； and went shivering back； towards the shed。
‘Shall I bring him in； father？’ asked Barnaby； who had looked
on； wondering。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 737…
Barnaby Rudge 738
He only answered with a suppressed groan； and lying down
upon the ground； wrapped his cloak about his head； and shrunk
into the darkest corner。
Finding that nothing would rouse Hugh now； or make him
sensible for a moment； Barnaby dragged him along the grass； and
laid him on a little heap of refuse hay and straw which had been
his own bed； first having brought some water from a running
stream hard by； and washed his wound； and laved his hands and
face。 Then he lay down himself； between the two； to pass the
night； and looking at the stars； fell fast asleep。
Awakened early in the morning； by the sunshine and the songs
of birds； and hum of insects； he left them sleeping in the hut； and
walked into the sweet and pleasant air。 But he felt that on his
jaded senses； oppressed and burdened with the dreadful scenes of
last night； and many nights before； all the beauties of opening day；
which he had so often tasted； and in which he had had such deep
delight； fell heavily。 He thought of the blithe mornings when he
and the dogs went bounding on together through the woods and
fields； and the recollection filled his eyes with tears。 He had no
consciousness； God help him； of having done wrong； nor had he
any new perception of the merits of the cause in which he had
been engaged； or those of the men who advocated it； but he was
full of cares now； and regrets； and dismal recollections； and wishes
（quite unknown to him before） that this or that event had never
happened； and that the sorrow and suffering of so many people
had been spared。 And now he began to think how happy they
would be—his father； mother； he； and Hugh—if they rambled
away together； and lived in some lonely place； where there were
none of these troubles； and that perhaps the blind man； who had
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 738…
Barnaby Rudge 739
talked so wisely about gold； and told him of the great secrets he
knew； could teach them how to live without being pinched by
want。 As this occurred to him； he was the more sorry that he had
not seen him last night； and he was still brooding over this regret；
when his father came； and touched him on the shoulder。
‘Ah！’ cried Barnaby； starting from his fit of thoughtfulness。 ‘Is it
only you？’
‘Who should it be？’
‘I almost thought；’ he answered； ‘it was the blind man。 I must
have some talk with him； father。’
‘And so must I； for without seeing him； I don’t know where to
fly or what to do； and lingering here； is death。 You must go to him
again； and bring him here。’
‘Must I！’ cried Barnaby； delighted； ‘that’s brave； father。 That’s
what I want to do。’
‘But you must bring only him； and none other。 And though you
wait at his door a whole day and night； still you must wait； and not
come back without him。’
‘Don’t you fear that；’ he cried gaily。 ‘He shall come； he shall
come。’
‘Trim off these gewgaws；’ said his father； plucking the scraps of
ribbon and the feathers from his hat； ‘and over your own dress
wear my cloak。 Take heed how you go； and they will be too busy in
the streets to notice you。 Of your coming back you need take no
account； for he’ll manage that； safely。’
‘To be sure！’ said Barnaby。 ‘To be sure he will！ A wise man；
father； and one who can teach us to be rich。 Oh！ I know him； I
know him。’
He was speedily dressed； and as well disguised as he could be。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 739…
Barnaby Rudge 740
With a lighter heart he then set off upon his second journey；
leaving Hugh； who was still in a drunken stupor； stretched upon
the ground within the shed； and his father walking to and fro
before it。
The murderer； full of anxious thoughts； looked after him； and
paced up and down； disquieted by every breath of air that
whispered among the boughs； and by every light shadow thrown
by the passing clouds upon the daisied ground。 He was anxious for
his s