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！
window of the combination breakfast…room； a child is playing with a doll；
where Mr。 Thurtell's hair was brushed； a sanitary scrubbing is in progress
on the spot where Mr。 Palmer's braces were put on。 No signs of the
Races are in the streets； but the tramps and the tumble…down…carts and
trucks laden with drinking…forms and tables and remnants of booths； that
are making their way out of the town as fast as they can。 The Angel；
which has been cleared for action all the week； already begins restoring
every neat and comfortable article of furniture to its own neat and
comfortable place。 The Angel's daughters （pleasanter angels Mr。 Idle and
Mr。 Goodchild never saw； nor more quietly expert in their business； nor
more superior to the common vice of being above it）； have a little time to
rest； and to air their cheerful faces among the flowers in the yard。 It is
market…day。 The market looks unusually natural； comfortable； and
wholesome； the market…people too。 The town seems quite restored； when；
hark！ a metallic bray … The Gong…donkey！
The wretched animal has not cleared off with the rest； but is here；
under the window。 How much more inconceivably drunk now； how
much more begrimed of paw； how much more tight of calico hide； how
much more stained and daubed and dirty and dunghilly； from his horrible
broom to his tender toes； who shall say！ He cannot even shake the bray
out of himself now； without laying his cheek so near to the mud of the
street； that he pitches over after delivering it。 Now； prone in the mud；
and now backing himself up against shop…windows； the owners of which
come out in terror to remove him； now； in the drinking…shop； and now in
the tobacconist's； where he goes to buy tobacco； and makes his way into
the parlour； and where he gets a cigar； which in half…a…minute he forgets to
smoke； now dancing； now dozing； now cursing； and now complimenting
My Lord； the Colonel； the Noble Captain； and Your Honourable Worship；
the Gong…donkey kicks up his heels； occasionally braying； until suddenly；
he beholds the dearest friend he has in the world coming down the street。
The dearest friend the Gong…donkey has in the world； is a sort of
Jackall； in a dull； mangy； black hide； of such small pieces that it looks as if
103
… Page 104…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
it were made of blacking bottles turned inside out and cobbled together。
The dearest friend in the world （inconceivably drunk too） advances at the
Gong…donkey； with a hand on each thigh； in a series of humorous springs
and stops； wagging his head as he comes。 The Gong…donkey regarding
him with attention and with the warmest affection； suddenly perceives that
he is the greatest enemy he has in the world； and hits him hard in the
countenance。 The astonished Jackall closes with the Donkey； and they
roll over and over in the mud； pummelling one another。 A Police
Inspector； supernaturally endowed with patience； who has long been
looking on from the Guildhall…steps； says； to a myrmidon； 'Lock 'em up！
Bring 'em in！'
Appropriate finish to the Grand Race…Week。 The Gong…donkey；
captive and last trace of it； conveyed into limbo； where they cannot do
better than keep him until next Race…Week。 The Jackall is wanted too；
and is much looked for； over the way and up and down。 But； having had
the good fortune to be undermost at the time of the capture； he has
vanished into air。
On Saturday afternoon； Mr。 Goodchild walks out and looks at the
Course。 It is quite deserted； heaps of broken crockery and bottles are
raised to its memory； and correct cards and other fragments of paper are
blowing about it； as the regulation little paper…books； carried by the French
soldiers in their breasts； were seen； soon after the battle was fought；
blowing idly about the plains of Waterloo。
Where will these present idle leaves be blown by the idle winds； and
where will the last of them be one day lost and forgotten？ An idle
question； and an idle thought； and with it Mr。 Idle fitly makes his bow； and
Mr。 Goodchild his； and thus ends the Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices。
104