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！
air； colder in my uncle's unwarmed house than in the street； where the
winter sun did sometimes shine； and which was at all events enlivened by
cheerful faces and voices passing along； I carried a heavy heart towards
the long； low breakfast…room in which my uncle sat。 It was a large room
with a small fire； and there was a great bay window in it which the rain
had marked in the night as if with the tears of houseless people。 It stared
upon a raw yard； with a cracked stone pavement； and some rusted iron
railings half uprooted； whence an ugly out…building that had once been a
dissecting…room （in the time of the great surgeon who had mortgaged the
house to my uncle）； stared at it。
We rose so early always； that at that time of the year we breakfasted by
candle…light。 When I went into the room； my uncle was so contracted by
the cold； and so huddled together in his chair behind the one dim candle；
that I did not see him until I was close to the table。
As I held out my hand to him； he caught up his stick （being infirm； he
always walked about the house with a stick）； and made a blow at me； and
said； 〃You fool！〃
〃Uncle；〃 I returned； 〃I didn't expect you to be so angry as this。〃 Nor
had I expected it； though he was a hard and angry old man。
〃You didn't expect！〃 said he； 〃when did you ever expect？ When did
you ever calculate； or look forward； you contemptible dog？〃
〃These are hard words； uncle！〃
〃Hard words？ Feathers； to pelt such an idiot as you with；〃 said he。
〃Here！ Betsy Snap！ Look at him！〃
Betsy Snap was a withered； hard…favoured； yellow old womanour
only domesticalways employed； at this time of the morning； in rubbing
my uncle's legs。 As my uncle adjured her to look at me； he put his lean
grip on the crown of her head； she kneeling beside him； and turned her
27
… Page 28…
Some Short Christmas Stories
face towards me。 An involuntary thought connecting them both with the
Dissecting Room； as it must often have been in the surgeon's time； passed
across my mind in the midst of my anxiety。
〃Look at the snivelling milksop！〃 said my uncle。 〃Look at the baby！
This is the gentleman who； people say； is nobody's enemy but his own。
This is the gentleman who can't say no。 This is the gentleman who was
making such large profits in his business that he must needs take a partner；
t'other day。 This is the gentleman who is going to marry a wife without a
penny； and who falls into the hands of Jezabels who are speculating on my
death！〃
I knew； now； how great my uncle's rage was； for nothing short of his
being almost beside himself would have induced him to utter that
concluding word； which he held in such repugnance that it was never
spoken or hinted at before him on any account。
〃On my death；〃 he repeated； as if he were defying me by defying his
own abhorrence of the word。 〃On my deathdeathDeath！ But I'll
spoil the speculation。 Eat your last under this roof； you feeble wretch；
and may it choke you！〃
You may suppose that I had not much appetite for the breakfast to
which I was bidden in these terms； but； I took my accustomed seat。 I saw
that I was repudiated henceforth by my uncle； still I could bear that very
well； possessing Christiana's heart。
He emptied his basin of bread and milk as usual； only that he took it
on his knees with his chair turned away from the table where I sat。 When
he had done； he carefully snuffed out the candle； and the cold； slate…
coloured； miserable day looked in upon us。
〃Now； Mr。 Michael；〃 said he； 〃before we part； I should like to have a
word with these ladies in your presence。〃
〃As you will； sir；〃 I returned； 〃but you deceive yourself； and wrong us；
cruelly； if you suppose that there is any feeling at stake in this contract but
pure； disinterested； faithful love。〃
To this； he only replied； 〃You lie！〃 and not one other word。
We went； through half…thawed snow and half…frozen rain； to the house
where Christiana and her mother lived。 My uncle knew them very well。
28
… Page 29…
Some Short Christmas Stories
They were sitting at their breakfast； and were surprised to see us at that
hour。
〃Your servant； ma'am；〃 said my uncle to the mother。 〃You divine the
purpose of my visit； I dare say； ma'am。 I understand there is a world of
pure； disinterested； faithful love cooped up here。 I am happy to bring it
all it wants； to make it complete。 I bring you your son…in…law； ma'am
and you； your husband； miss。 The gentleman is a perfect stranger to me；
but I wish him joy of his wise bargain。〃
He snarled at me as he went out； and I never saw him again。
It is altogether a mistake （continued the poor relation） to suppose that
my dear Christiana； over…persuaded and influenced by her mother； married
a rich man； the dirt from whose carriage wheels is often； in these changed
times； thrown upon me as she rides by。 No； no。 She married me。
The way we came to be married rather sooner than we intended； was
this。 I took a frugal lodging and was saving and planning for her sake；
when； one day； she spoke to me with great earnestness； and said：
〃My dear Michael； I have given you my heart。 I have said that I
loved you； and I have pledged myself to be your wife。 I am as much
yours through all changes of good and evil as if we had been married on
the day when such words passed between us。 I know you well； and know
that if we should be separated and our union broken off； your whole life
would be shadowed； and all that might； even now； be stronger in your
character for the conflict with the world would then be weakened to the
shadow of what it is！〃
〃God help me； Christiana！〃 said I。 〃You speak the truth。〃
〃Michael！〃 said she； putting her hand in mine； in all maidenly devotion；
〃let us keep apart no longer。 It is but for me to say that I can live
contented upon such means as you have； and I well know you are happy。
I say so from my heart。 Strive no more alone； let us strive together。 My
dear Michael； it is not right that I should keep secret from you what you do
not suspect； but what distresses my whole life。 My mother： without
considering that what you have lost； you have lost for me； and on the
assurance of my faith： sets her heart on riches； and urges another suit
upon me； to my misery。 I cannot bear this； for to bear it is to be untrue to
29
… Page 30…
Some Short Christmas Stories
you。 I would rather share your struggles than look on。 I want no better
home than you can give me。 I know that you will aspire and labour with
a higher courage if I am wholly yours； and let it be so when you will！〃
I was blest indeed； that day； and a new world opened to me。 We were
married in a very little while； and I took my wife to our happy home。
That was the beginning of the residence I have spoken of； the Castle we
have ever since inhabited together； dates from that time。 All our children
have been born in it。 Our first childnow marriedwas a little girl；
whom we called Christiana。 Her son is so like Little Frank； that I hardly
know which is which。
The current impression as to my partner's dealings with me is also
quite erroneous。 He did not begin to treat me coldly； as a poor simpleton；
when my uncle and I so fatally quarrelled； nor did he afterwards gradually
possess himself of our business and edge me out。 On the contrary； he
behaved to me with the utmost good faith and honour。
Matters between us took this turn：… On the day of my separation from
my uncle； and even before the arrival at our counting…house of my trunks
（which he sent after me； NOT carriage paid）； I went down to our room of
business； on our little wharf； overlooking the r