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！
between us；’ returned the other； waving his hand； ‘and say plainly
what we have to say。 You have asked me to meet you。 I am here。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 137…
Barnaby Rudge 138
Why do we stand face to face again？’
‘Still the same frank and sturdy character； I see！’
‘Good or bad； sir； I am；’ returned the other； leaning his arm
upon the chimney…piece； and turning a haughty look upon the
occupant of the easy…chair； ‘the man I used to be。 I have lost no old
likings or dislikings； my memory has not failed me by a hair’s…
breadth。 You ask me to give you a meeting。 I say； I am here。’
‘Our meeting； Haredale；’ said Mr Chester； tapping his snuff…
box； and following with a smile the impatient gesture he had
made—perhaps unconsciously—towards his sword； ‘is one of
conference and peace； I hope？’
‘I have come here；’ returned the other； ‘at your desire； holding
myself bound to meet you； when and where you would。 I have not
come to bandy pleasant speeches； or hollow professions。 You are a
smooth man of the world； sir； and at such play have me at a
disadvantage。 The very last man on this earth with whom I would
enter the lists to combat with gentle compliments and masked
faces； is Mr Chester； I do assure you。 I am not his match at such
weapons； and have reason to believe that few men are。’
‘You do me a great deal of honour Haredale；’ returned the
other； most composedly； ‘and I thank you。 I will be frank with
you—’
‘I beg your pardon—will be what？’
‘Frank—open—perfectly candid。’
‘Hah！’ cried Mr Haredale； drawing his breath。 ‘But don’t let me
interrupt you。’
‘So resolved am I to hold this course；’ returned the other；
tasting his wine with great deliberation； ‘that I have determined
not to quarrel with you； and not to be betrayed into a warm
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 138…
Barnaby Rudge 139
expression or a hasty word。’
‘There again；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘you have me at a great
advantage。 Your self…command—’
‘Is not to be disturbed； when it will serve my purpose； you
would say’—rejoined the other； interrupting him with the same
complacency。 ‘Granted。 I allow it。 And I have a purpose to serve
now。 So have you。 I am sure our object is the same。 Let us attain it
like sensible men； who have ceased to be boys some time。—Do you
drink？’
‘With my friends；’ returned the other。
‘At least；’ said Mr Chester； ‘you will be seated？’
‘I will stand；’ returned Mr Haredale impatiently； ‘on this
dismantled； beggared hearth； and not pollute it； fallen as it is； with
mockeries。 Go on。’
‘You are wrong； Haredale；’ said the other； crossing his legs； and
smiling as he held his glass up in the bright glow of the fire。 ‘You
are really very wrong。 The world is a lively place enough； in which
we must accommodate ourselves to circumstances； sail with the
stream as glibly as we can； be content to take froth for substance；
the surface for the depth； the counterfeit for the real coin。 I
wonder no philosopher has ever established that our globe itself is
hollow。 It should be； if Nature is consistent in her works。’
‘You think it is； perhaps？’
‘I should say；’ he returned； sipping his wine； ‘there could be no
doubt about it。 Well； we； in trifling with this jingling toy； have had
the ill…luck to jostle and fall out。 We are not what the world calls
friends； but we are as good and true and loving friends for all that；
as nine out of every ten of those on whom it bestows the title。 You
have a niece； and I a son—a fine lad； Haredale； but foolish。 They
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 139…
Barnaby Rudge 140
fall in love with each other； and form what this same world calls an
attachment； meaning a something fanciful and false like the rest；
which； if it took its own free time； would break like any other
bubble。 But it may not have its own free time—will not； if they are
left alone—and the question is； shall we two； because society calls
us enemies； stand aloof； and let them rush into each other’s arms；
when； by approaching each other sensibly； as we do now； we can
prevent it； and part them？’
‘I love my niece；’ said Mr Haredale； after a short silence。 ‘It may
sound strangely in your ears； but I love her。’
‘Strangely； my good fellow！’ cried Mr Chester； lazily filling his
glass again； and pulling out his toothpick。 ‘Not at all。 I like Ned
too—or； as you say； love him—that’s the word among such near
relations。 I’m very fond of Ned。 He’s an amazingly good fellow； and
a handsome fellow—foolish and weak as yet； that’s all。 But the
thing is； Haredale—for I’ll be very frank； as I told you I would at
first—independently of any dislike that you and I might have to
being related to each other； and independently of the religious
differences between us—and damn it； that’s important—I couldn’t
afford a match of this description。 Ned and I couldn’t do it。 It’s
impossible。’
‘Curb your tongue； in God’s name； if this conversation is to last；’
retorted Mr Haredale fiercely。 ‘I have said I love my niece。 Do you
think that； loving her； I would have her fling her heart away on
any man who had your blood in his veins？’
‘You see；’ said the other； not at all disturbed； ‘the advantage of
being so frank and open。 Just what I was about to add； upon my
honour！ I am amazingly attached to Ned—quite doat upon him；
indeed—and even if we could afford to throw ourselves away； that
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 140…
Barnaby Rudge 141
very objection would be quite insuperable。—I wish you’d take
some wine？’
‘Mark me；’ said Mr Haredale； striding to the table； and laying
his hand upon it heavily。 ‘If any man believes—presumes to
think—that I； in word or deed； or in the wildest dream； ever
entertained remotely the idea of Emma Haredale’s favouring the
suit of any one who was akin to you—in any way—I care not
what—he lies。 He lies； and does me grievous wrong； in the mere
thought。’
‘Haredale；’ returned the other； rocking himself to and fro as in
assent； and nodding at the fire； ‘it’s extremely manly； and really
very generous in you； to meet me in this unreserved and
handsome way。 Upon my word； those are exactly my sentiments；
only expressed with much more force and power than I could
use—you know my sluggish nature； and will forgive me； I am
sure。’
‘While I would restrain her from all correspondence with your
son； and sever their intercourse here； though it should cause her
death；’ said Mr Haredale； who had been pacing to and fro； ‘I would
do it kindly and tenderly if I can。 I have a trust to discharge； which
my nature is not formed to understand； and； for this reason； the
bare fact of there being any love between them comes upon me to…
night； almost for the first time。’
‘I am more delighted than I can possibly tell you；’ rejoined Mr
Chester with the utmost blandness； ‘to find my own impression so
confirmed。 You see the advantage of our having met。 We
understand each other。 We quite agree。 We have a most complete
and thorough explanation； and we know what course to take。—
Why don’t you taste your tenant’s wine？ It’s really very good。’
Charles Dickens ElecBo