a tale of two cities(双城记)-第39章
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n went home to tea。
‘Now； I tell you where it is！' said Mr。 Cruncher to his wife； on entering。 ‘If； as a honest tradesman； my wenturs goes wrong tonight； I shall make sure that you've been praying again me； and I shall work you for it just the same as if I seen you do it。'
The dejected Mrs。 Cruncher shook her head。
‘Why； you're at it afore my face！' said Mr。 Cruncher； with signs of angry apprehension。
‘I am saying nothing。'
‘Well； then； don't meditate nothing。 You might as well meditate。 You may as well go again me one way as another。 Drop it altogether。'
‘Yes Jerry。'
‘Yes； Jerry；' repeated Mr。 Cruncher； sitting down to tea。 ‘Ah！ It is yes； Jerry。 That's about it。 You may say yes； Jerry。'
Mr。 Cruncher had no particular meaning in these sulky corroborations； but made use of them； as people not unfrequently do； to express general ironical dissatisfaction。
‘You and your yes； Jerry；' said Mr。 Cruncher； taking a bite out of his bread…and…butter； and seeming to help it down with a large invisible oyster out of his saucer。 ‘Ah！ I think so。 I believe you。'
‘You are going out to…night？' asked his decent wife； when he took another bite。
‘Yes； I am。'
‘May I go with you； father？' asked his son； briskly。
‘No； you mayn't。 I'm a goingas your mother knowsa fishing。 That's where I'm going to。 Going a fishing。'
‘Your fishing rod gets rather rusty； don't it； father？'
‘Never you mind。'
‘Shall you bring any fish home； father？'
‘If I don't； you'll have short commons； tomorrow；' returned that gentleman； shaking his head； ‘that's questions enough for you； I ain't a going out； till you've been long a…bed。'
He devoted himself during the remainder of the evening to keeping a most vigilant watch on Mrs。 Cruncher； and sullenly holding her in conversation that she might be prevented from meditating any petitions to his disadvantage。 With this view； he urged his son to hold her in conversation also； and led the unfortunate woman a hard life by dwelling on any causes of complaint lie could bring against her； rather than he would leave her for a moment to her own reflections。 The devoutest person could have rendered no greater homage to the efficacy of an honest prayer than he did in this distrust of his Mile。 It was as if a professed unbeliever in ghosts should be frightened by a ghost story。
‘And mind you！' said Mr。 Cruncher。 ‘No games tomorrow！ If I； as a honest tradesman； succeed in providing a jinte of meat or two； none of your not touching of it； and sticking to bread。 If I； as a honest tradesman； am able to provide a little beer； none of your declaring on water。 When you go to Rome； do as Rome does。 Rome will be a ugly customer to you； if you don't。 ‘I'm your Rome； you know。'
Then he began grumbling again：
‘With your flying into the face of your own wittles and drink！ I don't know how scarce you mayn't make the wittles and drink here； by your flopping tricks and your unfeeling conduct。 Look at your boy： he is your'n； ain't he？ He's as thin as a lath。 Do you call yourself a mother； and not know that a mother's first duty is to blow her boy out？'
This touched Young Jerry on a tender place； who adjured his mother to perform her first duty； and； whatever else she did or neglected； above all things to lay especial stress on the discharge of that maternal function so affectingly and delicately indicated by his other parent。
Thus the evening wore away with the Cruncher family； until Young Jerry was ordered to bed； and his mother； laid under similar injunctions； obeyed them。 Mr。 Cruncher beguiled the earlier watches of the night with solitary pipes； and did not start upon his excursion until nearly one o'clock。 Towards that small and ghostly hour； he rose up from his chair； took a key out of his pocket； opened a locked cupboard； and brought forth a sack； a crowbar of convenient size； a rope and chain； and other fishing tackle of that nature。 Disposing these articles about him in skilful manner； he bestowed a parting defiance on Mrs。 Cruncher； extinguished the light； and went out。
Young Jerry； who had only made a feint of undressing when he went to bed； was not long after his father。 Under cover of the darkness he followed out of the room； followed down the stairs； followed down the court； followed out into the streets。 He was in no uneasiness concerning his getting into the house again； for it was full of lodgers； and the door stood ajar all night。
Impelled by a laudable ambition to study the art and mystery of his father's honest calling； Young Jerry； keeping as close to house…fronts； walls； and doorways； as his eyes were close to one another； held his honoured parent in view。 The honoured parent steering Northward； had not gone far； when he was joined by another disciple of Izaak Walton； and the two trudged on together。
Within half an hour from the first starting； they were beyond the winking lamps； and the more than winking watchmen； and were out upon a lonely road。 Another fisherman was Picked up hereand that so silently； that if Young Jerry had been superstitious； he might have supposed the second follower of the gentle craft to have； all of a sudden； split himself in two。
The three went on； and Young Jerry went on； until the three stopped under a bank overhanging the road。 Upon the top of the bank was a low brick wall； surmounted by an iron railing。 In the shadow of bank and wall the three turned out of the road； and up a blind lane； of which the wallthere； risen to some eight or ten feet highformed one side。 Crouching down in a corner； peeping up the lane； the next object that Young Jerry saw； was the form of his honoured parent； pretty well defined against a watery and clouded moon； nimbly scaling an iron gate。 He was soon over； and then the second fisherman got over； and then the third。 They all dropped softly on the ground within the gate； and lay there a littlelistening perhaps。 Then； they moved away on their hands and knees。
It was now Young Jerry's turn to approach the gate： which he did； holding his breath。 Crouching down again in a corner there； and looking in； he made out the three fishermen creeping through some rank grass； and all the gravestones in the churchyardit was a large churchyard that they were in lookingon like ghosts in white； while the church tower itself looked on like the ghost of a monstrous giant。 They did not creep far； before they stopped and stood upright。 And then they began to fish。
They fished with a spade； at first。 Presently the honoured parent appeared to be adjusting some instrument like a great corkscrew。 Whatever tools they worked with； they worked hard； until the awful striking of the church clock so terrified Young； Jerry； that he made off； with his hair as stiff as his father's。
But； his long…cherished desire to know more about these matters； not only stopped him in his running away； but lured him back again。 They were still fishing perseveringly； when he peeped in at the gate for the second time； but； now they seemed to have got a bite。 There was a screwing and complaining sound down below； and their bent figures were strained； as if by a weight。 By slow degrees the weight broke away the earth upon it； and came to the surface。 Young Jerry very well knew what it would be； but； when he saw it； and saw his honoured parent about to wrench it open； he was so frightened； being new to the sight； that he made off again； and never stopped until he had run a mile or more。
He would not have stopped then for anything less necessary than breath； it being a spectral sort of race that he ran； and one highly desirable to get to the end of。 He had a strong idea that the coffin he had seen was running after him； and； pictured as hopping on behind him； bolt upright； upon its narrow end； always on the point of overtaking him and hopping on at his sideperhaps taking his armit was a pursuer to shun。 It was an inconsistent and ubiquitous fiend too； for； while it was making the whole night behind him dreadful； he darted out into the roadway to avoid dark alleys； fearful of its coming hopping out of them like a dropsical boy's Kite without tail and wings。 It hid in doorways too； rubbing its horrible shoulders against doors； and drawing them up to its ears；
