贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) >

第58章

oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第58章

小说: oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) 字数: 每页4000字

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!



half a dozen times; before he began to think that it was time for 
Mrs。 Corney to return。 Thinking begets thinking; and; as there 
were no sounds of Mrs。 Corney’s approach; it occurred to Mr。 
Bumble that it would be an innocent and virtuous way of spending 
the time; if he were further to allay his curiosity by a cursory 
glance at the interior of Mrs。 Corney’s chest of drawers。 

Having listened at the keyhole; to assure himself that nobody 
was approaching the chamber; Mr。 Bumble beginning at the 
bottom; proceeded to make himself acquainted with the contents 
of the three long drawers; which; being filled with various 
garments of good fashion and texture; carefully preserved 
between two layers of old newspapers; speckled with dried 
lavender; seemed to yield him exceeding satisfaction。 Arriving; in 
course of time; at the right…hand corner drawer (in which was a 
key); and beholding therein a small padlocked box; which; being 
shaken; gave forth a pleasant sound; as of the chinking of coin; Mr。 
Bumble returned with a stately walk to the fireplace; and; 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 280 

resuming his old attitude; said; with a grave and determined air; 
“I’ll do it!” He followed up this remarkable declaration; by shaking 
his head in a waggish manner for ten minutes; as though he were 
remonstrating with himself for being such a pleasant dog; and 
then he took a view of his legs in profile; with much seeming 
pleasure and interest。 

He was still placidly engaged in this latter survey; when Mrs。 
Corney; hurrying into the room; threw herself; in a breathless 
state; on a chair by the fireside; and covering her eyes with one 
hand; placed the other over her heart; and gasped for breath。 

“Mrs。 Corney;” said Mr。 Bumble; stooping over the matron; 
“what is this; ma’am? Has anything happened; ma’am? Pray 
answer me; I’m on—on—” Mr。 Bumble; in his alarm; could not 
immediately think of the word “tenterhooks;” so he said “broken 
bottles。” 

“Oh; Mr。 Bumble!” cried the lady; “I have been so dreadfully 
put out!” 

“Put out; ma’am!” exclaimed Mr。 Bumble; “who has dared to— 
I know!” said Mr。 Bumble; checking himself; with native majesty; 
“this is them wicious paupers!” 

“It’s dreadful to think of!” said the lady; shuddering。 

“Then don’t think of it; ma’am;” rejoined Mr。 Bumble。 

“I can’t help it;” whimpered the lady。 

“Then take something; ma’am;” said Mr。 Bumble soothingly。 “A 
little of the wine?” 

“Not for the world!” replied Mrs。 Corney。 “I couldn’t—oh! The 
top shelf in the right…hand corner—oh!” Uttering these words; the 
good lady pointed; distractedly; to the cupboard; and underwent a 
convulsion from internal spasms。 Mr。 Bumble rushed to the closet; 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 281 

and; snatching a pint green glass bottle from the shelf thus 
incoherently indicated; filled a tea…cup with its contents; and held 
it to the lady’s lips。 

“I’m better now;” said Mrs。 Corney; falling back; after drinking 
half of it。 

Mr。 Bumble raised his eyes piously to the ceiling in 
thankfulness; and; bringing them down again to the brim of the 
cup; lifted it to his nose。 

“Peppermint;” exclaimed Mrs。 Corney; in a faint voice; smiling 
gently on the beadle as she spoke。 “Try it! There’s a little—a little 
something else in it。” 

Mr。 Bumble tasted the medicine with a doubtful look; smacked 
his lips; took another taste; and put the cup down empty。 

“It’s very comforting;” said Mrs。 Corney。 

“Very much so indeed; ma’am;” said the beadle。 As he spoke; he 
drew a chair beside the matron; and tenderly inquired what had 
happened to distress her。 

“Nothing;” replied Mrs。 Corney。 “I am a foolish; excitable; weak 
creetur。” 

“Not weak; ma’am;” retorted Mr。 Bumble; drawing his chair a 
little closer。 “Are you a weak creetur; Mrs。 Corney?” 

“We are all weak creeturs;” said Mrs。 Corney; laying down a 
general principle。 

“So we are;” said the beadle。 

Nothing was said; on either side; for a minute or two 
afterwards。 By the expiration of that time; Mr。 Bumble had 
illustrated the position by removing his left arm from the back of 
Mrs。 Corney’s chair; where it had previously rested; to Mrs。 
Corney’s apron string; round which it gradually became entwined。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 282 

“We are all weak creeturs;” said Mr。 Bumble。 

Mrs。 Corney sighed。 

“Don’t sigh; Mrs。 Corney;” said Mr。 Bumble。 

“I can’t help it;” said Mrs。 Corney。 And she sighed again。 

“This is a very comfortable room; ma’am;” said Mr。 Bumble; 
looking round。 “Another room; and this; ma’am; would be a 
complete thing。” 

“It would be too much for one;” murmured the lady。 

“But not for two; ma’am;” replied Mr。 Bumble; in soft accents。 
“Eh; Mrs。 Corney?” 

Mrs。 Corney drooped her head when the beadle said this; the 
beadle drooped his; to get a view of Mrs。 Corney’s face。 Mrs。 
Corney; with great propriety; turned her head away; and released 
her hand to get at her pocket…handkerchief; but insensibly 
replaced it in that of Mr。 Bumble。 

“The Board allow you coals; don’t they; Mrs。 Corney?” inquired 
the beadle; affectionately pressing her hand。 

“And candles;” replied Mrs。 Corney; slightly returning the 
pressure。 

“Coals; candle; and house…rent free;” said Mr。 Bumble。 “Oh; 
Mrs。 Corney; what an angel you are!” 

The lady was not proof against this burst of feeling。 She sank 
into Mr。 Bumble’s arms; and that gentleman in his agitation; 
imprinted a passionate kiss upon her chaste nose。 

“Such porochial perfection!” exclaimed Mr。 Bumble 
rapturously。 “You know that Mr。 Slout is worse tonight; my 
fascinator?” 

“Yes;” replied Mrs。 Corney bashfully。 

“He can’t live a week; the doctor says;” pursued Mr。 Bumble。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 283 

“He is the master of this establishment; his death will cause a 
wacancy; that wacancy must be filled up。 Oh; Mrs。 Corney; what a 
prospect this opens! What a opportunity for a jining of hearts and 
housekeepings!” 

Mrs。 Corney sobbed。 

“The little word?” said Mr。 Bumble; bending over the bashful 
beauty。 “The one little; little; little word; my blessed Corney?” 

“Ye—ye—yes!” sighed out the matron。 

“One more;” pursued the beadle; “compose your darling 
feelings for only one more。 When is it to come off?” Mrs。 Corney 
twice essayed to speak: and twice failed。 At length summoning up 
courage; she threw her arms round Mr。 Bumble’s neck; and said; it 
might be as soon as ever he pleased; and that he was “a irresistible 
duck。” 

Matters being thus amicably and satisfactorily arranged; the 
contract was solemnly ratified in another tea…cupful of the 
peppermint mixture; which was rendered the more necessary; by 
the flutter and agitation of the lady’s spirits。 While it was being 
disposed of; she acquainted Mr。 Bumble with the old woman’s 
decease。 

“Very good;” said that gentleman; sipping his peppermint; “I’ll 
call at Sowerberry’s as I go home; and tell him to send tomorrow 
morning。 Was it that as frightened you; love?” 

“It wasn’t anything particular; dear;” said the lady evasively。 

“It must have been something; love;” urged Mr。 Bumble。 
“Won’t you tell your own B。?” 

“Not now;” rejoined the lady; “one of these days。 After we’re 
married; dear。” 

“After we’re married!” exclaimed Mr。 Bumble。 “It wasn’t any 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 284 

impudence from any of them male paupers as—” 

“No; no; love!” interposed the lady hastily。 

“If I thought it was;” continued Mr。 Bumble; “if I thought as 
any of ’em dared to lift his wulgar eyes to that lovely 
countenance—” 

“They wouldn’t have dared to do it; love;” responded the lady。 

“They had better not!” said Mr。 Bumble; clenching his fist。 “Let 
me see any man; porochial or extra…porochial; as would presume 
to do it; and I can tell him that 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的