hard times(艰难时世)-第10章
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years ago。 He said； in what he meant for a reassuring tone； as they
turned down a narrow road； “And this is Pod’s End； is it； Jupe？”
“This is it； sir； and—if you wouldn’t mind； sir—this is the
house。”
She stopped； at twilight； at the door of a mean little public
house； with dim red lights in it。 As haggard and as shabby； as if；
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for want of custom； it had itself taken to drinking； and had gone
the way all drunkards go； and was very near the end of it。
“It’s only crossing the bar； sir； and up the stairs； if you wouldn’t
mind； and waiting there for a moment till I get a candle。 If you
should hear a dog； sir； it’s only Merrylegs； and he only barks。”
“Merrylegs and nine oils； eh！” said Mr Bounderby； entering last
with his metallic laugh。 “Pretty well this； for a self…made man！”
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Chapter 6
Sleary’s Horsemanship
he name of the public house was the Pegasus’s Arms。 The
Pegasus’s legs might have been more to the purpose； but；
T
underneath the winged horse upon the signboard； the
Pegasus’s Arms was inscribed in Roman letters。 Beneath that
inscription again； in a flowing scroll； the painter had touched off
the lines：
Good malt makes good beer；
Walk in； and they’ll draw it here；
Good wine makes good brandy；
Give us a call； and you’ll find it handy。
Framed and glazed upon the wall behind the dingy little bar；
was another Pegasus—a theatrical one—with real gauze let in for
his wings； golden stars stuck on all over him； and his ethereal
harness made of red silk。
As it had grown too dusky without； to see the sign； and as it had
not grown light enough within to see the picture； Mr Gradgrind
and Mr Bounderby received no offence from these idealities。 They
followed the girl up some steep corner…stairs without meeting
anyone； and stopped in the dark while she went on for a candle。
They expected every moment to hear Merrylegs give tongue； but
the highly trained performing dog had not barked when the girl
and the candle appeared together。
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“Father is not in our room； sir；” she said； with a face of great
surprise。 “If you wouldn’t mind walking in； I’ll find him directly。”
They walked in； and Sissy； having set two chairs for them； sped
away with a quick light step。 It was a mean； shabbily furnished
room； with a bed in it。 The white night…cap； embellished with two
peacock’s feathers and a pigtail bolt upright； in which Signor Jupe
had that very afternoon enlivened the varied performances with
his chaste Shakespearean quips and retorts； hung upon a nail； but
no other portion of his wardrobe； or other token of himself or his
pursuits； was to be seen anywhere。 As to Merrylegs； that
respectable ancestor of the highly trained animal who went
aboard the ark； might have been accidentally shut out of it； for any
sign of the dog that was manifest to eye or ear in the Pegasus’s
Arms。
They heard the doors of rooms above； opening and shutting as
Sissy went from one to another in quest of her father； and
presently they heard voices expressing surprise。 She came
bounding down again in a great hurry； opened a battered and
mangy old hair trunk； found it empty； and looked round with her
hands clasped and her face full of terror。
“Father must have gone down to the Booth； sir。 I don’t know
why he should go there； but he must be there； I’ll bring him in a
minute！” She was gone directly； without her bonnet； with her
long； dark； childish hair streaming behind her。
“What does she mean！” said Mr Gradgrind。 “Back in a minute？
It’s more than a mile off。”
Before Mr Bounderby could reply； a young man appeared at
the door； and introducing himself with the words； “By your leaves；
gentlemen！” walked in with his hands in his pockets。 His face；
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close…shaven； thin； and sallow； was shaded by a great quantity of
dark hair； brushed into a roll all round his head； and parted up the
centre。 His legs were very robust； but shorter than legs of good
proportions should have been。 His chest and back were as much
too broad； as his legs were too short。 He was dressed in a
Newmarket coat and tight…fitting trousers； wore a shawl round his
neck； smelt of lamp…oil； straw； orange…peel； horse’s provender； and
sawdust； and looked a most remarkable sort of Centaur；
compounded of the stable and the play…house。 Where the one
began； and the other ended； nobody could have told with any
precision。 This gentleman was mentioned in the bills of the day as
Mr E。 W。 B。 Childers； so justly celebrated for his daring vaulting
act as the Wild Huntsman of the North American prairies； in
which popular performance； a diminutive boy with an old face；
who now accompanied him； assisted as his infant son： being
carried upside down over his father’s shoulder； by one foot； and
held by the crown of his head； heels upwards； in the palm of his
father’s hand； according to the violent paternal manner in which
wild huntsmen may be observed to fondle their offspring。 Made up
with curls； wreaths； wings； white bismuth； and carmine； this
hopeful young person soared into so pleasing a Cupid as to
constitute the chief delight of the maternal part of the spectators；
but in private； where his characteristics were a precocious
cutaway coat and an extremely gruff voice； he became of the Turf；
turfy。
“By your leaves； gentlemen；” said Mr E。 W。 B。 Childers；
glancing round the room。 “It was you； I believe； that were wishing
to see Jupe？”
“It was；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “His daughter has gone to fetch
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him； but I can’t wait； therefore； if you please； I will leave a message
for him with you。”
“You see； my friend；” Mr Bounderby put in； “we are the kind of
people who know the value of time； and you are the kind of people
who don’t know the value of time。”
“I have not；” retorted Mr Childe
