david elginbrod-第79章
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Oh； punishment！
Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexed
To add to golden numbers； golden numbers？
Oh； sweet content！
Work apace； apace； apace； apace；
Honest labour bears a lovely face。
Probably THOMAS DEKKER。Comedy of Patient Grissell。
CHAPTER I。
LODGINGS。
Heigh ho！ sing heigh ho！ unto the green holly：
Most friendship is feigning； most loving mere folly：
Then； heigh ho！ the holly！
This life is most jolly。
Song in As You Like It。
Hugh felt rather dreary as； through Bermondsey； he drew nigh to the
London Bridge Station。 Fog； and drizzle； and smoke； and stench
composed the atmosphere。 He got out in a drift of human atoms。
Leaving his luggage at the office； he set out on foot to
explorein fact； to go and look for his future； which； even when he
met it； he would not be able to recognise with any certainty。 The
first form in which he was interested to find it embodied； was that
of lodgings； but where even to look； he did not know。 He had been
in London for a few days in the spring on his way to Arnstead； so he
was not utterly ignorant of the anatomy of the monster city； but his
little knowledge could not be of much service to him now。 And how
different it was from the London of spring； which had lingered in
his memory and imagination； when； transformed by the 〃heavenly
alchemy〃 of the piercing sunbeams that slanted across the streets
from chimney…tops to opposite basements； the dust and smoke showed
great inclined planes of light； up whose steep slopes one longed to
climb to the fountain glory whence they flowed！ Now the streets；
from garret to cellar； seemed like huge kennels of muddy； moist；
filthy air； down through which settled the heavier particles of
smoke and rain upon the miserable human beings who crawled below in
the deposit； like shrimps in the tide； or whitebait at the bottom of
the muddy Thames。 He had to wade through deep thin mud even on the
pavements。 Everybody looked depressed； and hurried by with a cowed
look； as if conscious that the rain and general misery were a plague
drawn down on the city by his own individual crime。 Nobody seemed
to care for anybody or anything。 〃Good heavens！〃 thought Hugh； 〃what
a place this must be for one without money！〃 It looked like a chaos
of human monads。 And yet； in reality； the whole mass was so bound
together； interwoven； and matted； by the crossing and inter…twisting
threads of interest； mutual help； and relationship of every kind；
that Hugh soon found how hard it was to get within the mass at all；
so as to be in any degree partaker of the benefits it shared within
itself。
He did not wish to get lodgings in the outskirts； for he thought
that would remove him from every centre of action or employment。
But he saw no lodgings anywhere。 Growing tired and hungry； he went
at length into an eating…house； which he thought looked cheap； and
proceeded to dine upon a cinder； which had been a steak。 He tried
to delude himself into the idea that it was a steak still； by
withdrawing his attention from it； and fixing it upon a newspaper
two days old。 Finding nothing of interest； he dallied with the
advertisements。 He soon came upon a column from which single
gentlemen appeared to be in request as lodgers。 Looking over these
advertisements； which had more interest for him at the moment than
all home and foreign news； battles and murders included； he drew a
map from his pocket； and began to try to find out some of the
localities indicated。 Most of them were in or towards the suburbs。
At last he spied one in a certain square； which； after long and
diligent search； and with the assistance of the girl who waited on
him； he found on his map。 It was in the neighbourhood of Holborn；
and； from the place it occupied in the map； seemed central enough
for his vague purposes。 Above all； the terms were said to be
moderate。 But no description of the character of the lodgings was
given； else Hugh would not have ventured to look at them。 What he
wanted was something of the same sort as he had had in Aberdeena
single room； or a room and bed…room； for which he should have to pay
only a few shillings a week。
Refreshed by his dinner； wretched as it was； he set out again。 To
his great joy； the rain was over； and an afternoon sun was trying；
with some slight measure of success； to pierce the clouds of the
London atmosphere： it had already succeeded with the clouds of the
terrene。 He soon found his way into Holborn； and thence into the
square in question。 It looked to him very attractive； for it was
quietness itself； and had no thoroughfare； except across one of its
corners。 True； it was invaded by the universal roarfor what place
in London is not？but it contributed little or nothing of its own
manufacture to the general production of sound in the metropolis。
The centre was occupied by grass and trees； inclosed within an iron
railing。 All the leaves were withered； and many had dropped already
on the pavement below。 In the middle stood the statue of a queen；
of days gone by。 The tide of fashion had rolled away far to the
west； and yielded a free passage to the inroads of commerce； and of
the general struggle for ignoble existence； upon this once favoured
island in its fluctuating waters。 Old windows； flush with the
external walls； whence had glanced fair eyes to which fashion was
even dearer than beauty； now displayed Lodgings to Let between
knitted curtains； from which all idea of drapery had been expelled
by severe starching Amongst these he soon found the house he sought；
and shrunk from its important size and bright equipments； but；
summoning courage； thought it better to ring the bell。 A withered
old lady； in just the same stage of decay as the square； and adorned
after the same fashion as the house； came to the door； cast a
doubtful look at Hugh； and when he had stated his object； asked him；
in a hard； keen； unmodulated voice； to walk in。 He followed her；
and found himself in a dining…room； which to him； judging by his
purse； and not by what he had been used to of late； seemed
sumptuous。 He said at once：
〃It is needless for me to trouble you further。 I see your rooms
will not suit me。〃
The old lady looked annoyed。
〃Will you see the drawing…room apartments； then？〃 she said；
crustily。
〃No； thank you。 It would be giving you quite unnecessary trouble。〃
〃My apartments have always given satisfaction； I assure you； sir。〃
〃Indeed； I have no reason to doubt it。 I wish I could afford to
take them；〃 said Hugh； thinking it better to be open than to hurt
her feelings。 〃I am sure I should be very comfortable。 But a
poor〃
He did not know what to call himself。
〃O…oh！〃 said the landlady。 Then； after a pause〃Well？〃
interrogatively。
〃Well； I was a tutor last； but I don't know what I may be next。〃
She kept looking at him。 Once or twice she looked at him from head
to foot。
〃You are respectable？〃
〃I hope so；〃 said Hugh； laughing。
〃Well！〃this time not interrogatively。
〃How many rooms would you like？〃
〃The fewer the better。 Half a one； if there were nobody in the
other half。〃
〃Well！and you wouldn't give much trouble； I daresay。〃
〃Only for coals and water to wash and drink。〃
〃And you wouldn't dine at home？〃
〃Nonor anywhere else；〃 said Hugh； but the second and larger clause
was sotto voce。
〃And you wouldn't smoke in…doors？〃
〃No。〃
〃And you would wipe your boots clean before you went up…stairs？〃
〃Yes； certainly。〃 Hugh was beginning to be exceedingly amused； but
he kept his gravity wonderfully。
〃Have you any money？〃
〃Yes； plenty for the meantime。 But when I shall get more； I don't
know； you see。〃
〃Well； I've a room at the top of the house； which I'll make
comfortable for you； and you may stay as long as you like to behave
yourself。〃
〃But what is the rent？〃
〃Four shillings a weekto you。 Would you like to see it？〃
〃Yes； if you please。〃
She conducted him up to the third floor； and showed him a good…sized
room； rather bare； but clean。
〃This will do delightfully；〃 said Hugh。
〃I will make it a little more comfortable for you； you know。〃
〃Thank you very mu
