the chimes(教堂钟声)-第2章
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sometimes are； and rained down again； to the great astonishment of the
natives； on some strange corner of the world where ticket… porters are
unknown。
But； windy weather； in spite of its using him so roughly； was； after all；
a sort of holiday for Toby。 That's the fact。 He didn't seem to wait so
long for a sixpence in the wind； as at other times； the having to fight with
that boisterous element took off his attention； and quite freshened him up；
when he was getting hungry and low…spirited。 A hard frost too； or a fall
of snow； was an Event； and it seemed to do him good； somehow or other …
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it would have been hard to say in what respect though； Toby！ So wind
and frost and snow； and perhaps a good stiff storm of hail； were Toby
Veck's red…letter days。
Wet weather was the worst； the cold； damp； clammy wet； that wrapped
him up like a moist great…coat … the only kind of great…coat Toby owned； or
could have added to his comfort by dispensing with。 Wet days； when the
rain came slowly； thickly； obstinately down； when the street's throat； like
his own； was choked with mist； when smoking umbrellas passed and re…
passed； spinning round and round like so many teetotums； as they knocked
against each other on the crowded footway； throwing off a little whirlpool
of uncomfortable sprinklings； when gutters brawled and waterspouts were
full and noisy； when the wet from the projecting stones and ledges of the
church fell drip； drip； drip； on Toby； making the wisp of straw on which he
stood mere mud in no time； those were the days that tried him。 Then；
indeed； you might see Toby looking anxiously out from his shelter in an
angle of the church wall … such a meagre shelter that in summer time it
never cast a shadow thicker than a good… sized walking stick upon the
sunny pavement … with a disconsolate and lengthened face。 But coming
out； a minute afterwards； to warm himself by exercise； and trotting up and
down some dozen times； he would brighten even then； and go back more
brightly to his niche。
They called him Trotty from his pace； which meant speed if it didn't
make it。 He could have walked faster perhaps； most likely； but rob him
of his trot； and Toby would have taken to his bed and died。 It bespattered
him with mud in dirty weather； it cost him a world of trouble； he could
have walked with infinitely greater ease； but that was one reason for his
clinging to it so tenaciously。 A weak； small； spare old man； he was a very
Hercules； this Toby； in his good intentions。 He loved to earn his money。
He delighted to believe … Toby was very poor； and couldn't well afford to
part with a delight … that he was worth his salt。 With a shilling or an
eighteenpenny message or small parcel in hand； his courage always high；
rose higher。 As he trotted on； he would call out to fast Postmen ahead of
him； to get out of the way； devoutly believing that in the natural course of
things he must inevitably overtake and run them down； and he had perfect
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faith … not often tested … in his being able to carry anything that man could
lift。
Thus； even when he came out of his nook to warm himself on a wet
day； Toby trotted。 Making； with his leaky shoes； a crooked line of slushy
footprints in the mire； and blowing on his chilly hands and rubbing them
against each other； poorly defended from the searching cold by threadbare
mufflers of grey worsted； with a private apartment only for the thumb； and
a common room or tap for the rest of the fingers； Toby； with his knees bent
and his cane beneath his arm； still trotted。 Falling out into the road to
look up at the belfry when the Chimes resounded； Toby trotted still。
He made this last excursion several times a day； for they were
company to him； and when he heard their voices； he had an interest in
glancing at their lodging…place； and thinking how they were moved； and
what hammers beat upon them。 Perhaps he was the more curious about
these Bells； because there were points of resemblance between themselves
and him。 They hung there； in all weathers； with the wind and rain
driving in upon them； facing only the outsides of all those houses； never
getting any nearer to the blazing fires that gleamed and shone upon the
windows； or came puffing out of the chimney tops； and incapable of
participation in any of the good things that were constantly being handled；
through the street doors and the area railings； to prodigious cooks。 Faces
came and went at many windows： sometimes pretty faces； youthful faces；
pleasant faces： sometimes the reverse： but Toby knew no more （though
he often speculated on these trifles； standing idle in the streets） whence
they came； or where they went； or whether； when the lips moved； one kind
word was said of him in all the year； than did the Chimes themselves。
Toby was not a casuist … that he knew of； at least … and I don't mean to
say that when he began to take to the Bells； and to knit up his first rough
acquaintance with them into something of a closer and more delicate woof；
he passed through these considerations one by one； or held any formal
review or great field…day in his thoughts。 But what I mean to say； and do
say is； that as the functions of Toby's body； his digestive organs for
example； did of their own cunning； and by a great many operations of
which he was altogether ignorant； and the knowledge of which would have
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astonished him very much； arrive at a certain end； so his mental faculties；
without his privity or concurrence； set all these wheels and springs in
motion； with a thousand others； when they worked to bring about his
liking for the Bells。
And though I had said his love； I would not have recalled the word；
though it would scarcely have expressed his complicated feeling。 For；
being but a simple man； he invested them with a strange and solemn
character。 They were so mysterious； often heard and never seen； so high
up； so far off； so full of such a deep strong melody； that he regarded them
with a species of awe； and sometimes when he looked up at the dark
arched windows in the tower； he half expected to be beckoned to by
something which was not a Bell； and yet was what he had heard so often
sounding in the Chimes。 For all this； Toby scouted with indignation a
certain flying rumour that the Chimes were haunted； as implying the
possibility of their being connected with any Evil thing。 In short； they
were very often in his ears； and very often in his thoughts； but always in
his good opinion； and he very often got such a crick in his neck by staring
with his mouth wide open； at the steeple where they hung； that he was fain
to take an extra trot or two； afterwards； to cure it。
T
