english stories-london-第24章

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coachman　of　distinguished　appearance　sat　on　the　box；　a　footman　of

irreproachable　figure　stood　waiting　on　the　pavement；　his　yellow…gloved

hand　resting　elegantly　on　the　polished　silver　knob　of　the　carriage

door。　Both　these　gentlemen　were　resolute　and　inflexible　of　face；　they

looked　as　if　they　had　determined　on　some　great　deed　that　should　move

the　world　to　wild　applause；　but；　truth　to　tell；　they　had　only　just

finished　a　highly　satisfactory　〃meat…tea；〃　and　before　this　grave

silence　had　fallen　upon　them；　they　had　been　discussing　the

advisability　of　broiled　steak　and　onions　for　supper。　The　coachman　had

inclined　to　plain　mutton…chops　as　being　easier　of　digestion；　the

footman　had　earnestly　asseverated　his　belief　in　the　superior

succulence　and　sweetness　of　the　steak　and　onions；　and　in　the　end　he

had　gained　his　point。　This　weighty　question　being　settled；　they　had

gradually　grown　reflective　on　the　past；　present；　and　future　joys　of

eating　at　some　one　else's　expense；　and　in　this　bland　and　pleasing

state　of　meditation　they　were　still　absorbed。　The　horses　were

impatient；　and　pawed　the　muddy　ground　with　many　a　toss　of　their　long

manes　and　tails；　the　steam　from　their　glossy　coats　mingling　with　the

ever…thickening　density　of　the　fog。　On　the　white　stone　steps　of　the

residence　before　which　they　waited　was　an　almost　invisible　bundle；

apparently　shapeless　and　immovable。　Neither　of　the　two　gorgeous

personages　in　livery　observed　it；　it　was　too　far　back　in　a　dim　corner；

too　unobtrusive；　for　the　casual　regard　of　their　lofty　eyes。　Suddenly

the　glass　doors　before　mentioned　were　thrown　apart　with　a　clattering

noise；　a　warmth　and　radiance　from　the　entrance…hall　thus　displayed

streamed　into　the　foggy　street；　and　at　the　same　instant　the　footman；

still　with　grave　and　imperturbable　countenance；　opened　the　brougham。

An　elderly　lady；　richly　dressed；　with　diamonds　sparkling　in　her　gray

hair；　came　rustling　down　the　steps；　bringing　with　her　faint　odours　of

patchouly　and　violet…powder。　She　was　followed　by　a　girl　of　doll…like

prettiness；　with　a　snub　nose　and　petulant　little　mouth；　who　held　up

her　satin…and…lace　skirts　with　a　sort　of　fastidious　disdain；　as　though

she　scorned　to　set　foot　on　earth　that　was　not　carpeted　with　the　best

velvet　pile。　As　they　approached　their　carriage　the　inert　dark　bundle；

crouched　in　the　corner；　started　into　lifea　woman；　with　wild　hair　and

wilder　eyes；　whose　pale　lips　quivered　with　suppressed　weeping　as　her

piteous　voice　broke　into　sudden　clamour：



〃Oh；　lady！〃　she　cried；　〃for　the　love　of　God；　a　trifle！　Oh；　lady；

lady！〃



But　the　〃lady；〃　with　a　contemptuous　sniff　and　a　shake　of　her　scented

garments；　passed　her　before　she　could　continue　her　appeal；　and　she

turned　with　a　sort　of　faint　hope　to　the　softer　face　of　the　girl。



〃Oh；　my　dear；　do　have　pity！　Just　the　smallest　little　thing；　and　God

will　bless　you！　You　are　rich　and　happyand　I　am　starving！　Only　a

penny！　For　the　babythe　poor　little　baby！〃　And　she　made　as　though　she

would　open　her　tattered　shawl　and　reveal　some　treasure　hidden　therein；

but　shrunk　back；　repelled　by　the　cold；　merciless　gaze　that　fell　upon

her　from　those　eyes；　in　which　youth　dwelt　without　tenderness。



〃You　have　no　business　on　our　door　step；〃　said　the　girl；　harshly。　〃Go

away　directly；　or　I　shall　tell　my　servant　to　call　a　policeman。〃



Then；　as　she　entered　the　brougham　after　her　mother；　she　addressed　the

respectable　footman　angrily；　giving　him　the　benefit　of　a　strong　nasal

intonation。



〃Howard；　why　do　you　let　such　dirty　beggars　come　near　the　carriage？

What　are　you　paid　for；　I　should　like　to　know？　It　is　perfectly

disgraceful　to　the　house！〃



〃Very　sorry；　miss！〃　said　the　footman；　gravely。　〃I　didn't　see　thethe

person　before。〃　Then　shutting　the　brougham　door；　he　turned　with　a

dignified　air　to　the　unfortunate　creature；　who　still　lingered　near；

and；　with　a　sweeping　gesture　of　his　gold…embroidered　coat…sleeve；　said

majestically：



〃Do　you　'ear？　Be　hoff！〃



Then；　having　thus　performed　his　duty；　he　mounted　the　box　beside　his

friend　the　coachman；　and　the　equipage　rattled　quickly　away；　its

gleaming　lights　soon　lost　in　the　smoke…laden　vapours　that　drooped

downward　like　funeral　hangings　from　the　invisible　sky　to　the　scarcely

visible　ground。　Left　to　herself；　the　woman　who　had　vainly　sought

charity　from　those　in　whom　no　charity　existed；　looked　up　despairingly；

as　one　distraught；　and　seemed　as　though　she　would　have　given　vent　to

some　fierce　exclamation；　when　a　feeble　wail　came　pitifully　forth　from

the　sheltering　folds　of　her　shawl。　She　restrained　herself　instantly；

and　walked　on　at　a　rapid　pace；　scarcely　heeding　whither　she　went；　till

she　reached　the　Catholic　church　known　as　the　〃Oratory。〃　Its　unfinished

facade　loomed　darkly　out　of　the　fog；　there　was　nothing　picturesque　or

inviting　about　it；　yet　there　were　people　passing　softly　in　and　out；

and　through　the　swinging　to　and　fro　of　the　red　baize…covered　doors

there　came　a　comforting　warm　glimmer　of　light。　The　woman　paused；

hesitated；　and　then；　having　apparently　made　up　her　mind；　ascended　the

broad　steps；　looked　in；　and　finally　entered。　The　place　was　strange　to

her；　she　knew　nothing　of　its　religious　meaning；　and　its　cold；

uncompleted　appearance　oppressed　her。　There　were　only　some　half…dozen

persons　scattered　about；　like　black　specks；　in　its　vast　white

interior；　and　the　fog　hung　heavily　in　the　vaulted　dome　and　dark　little

chapels。　One　corner　alone　blazed　with　brilliancy　and　colour；　this　was

the　altar　of　the　Virgin。　Toward　it　the　tired　vagrant　made　her　way；　and

on　reaching　it　sank　on　the　nearest　chair　as　though　exhausted。　She　did

not　raise　her　eyes　to　the　marble　splendours　of　the　shrineone　of　the

masterpieces　of　old　Italian　art；　she　had　been　merely　attracted　to　the

spot　by　the　glitter　of　the　lamps　and　candles；　and　took　no　thought　as

to　the　reason　of　their　being　lighted；　though　she　was　sensible　of　a

certain　comfort　in　the　soft　lustre　shed　around　her。　She　seemed　still

young；　her　face；　rendered　haggard　by　long　and　bitter　privation；　showed

traces　of　past　beauty；　and　her　eyes；　full　of　feverish　trouble；　were

large；　dark；　and　still　lustrous。　Her　mouth　alonethat　sensitive

betrayer　of　the　life's　good　and　bad　actionsrevealed　that　all　had　not

been　well　with　her；　its　lines　were　hard　and　vicious；　and　the　resentful

curve　of　the　upper　lip　spoke　of　foolish　pride；　not　unmixed　with

reckless　sensuality。　She　sat　for　a　moment　or　two　motionless；　then；

with　exceeding　care　and　tenderness；　she　began　to　unfold　her　thin；　torn

shawl　by　gentle　degrees；　looking　down　with　anxious　solicitude　at　the

object　concealed　within。　Only　a　babyand　withal　a　baby　so　tiny　and

white　and　frail　that　it　seemed　as　though　it　must　melt　like　a　snowflake

beneath　the　lightest　touch。　As　its　wrappings　were　loosened　it　opened　a

pair　of　large；　solemn　blue　eyes；　and　gazed　at　the　woman's　face　with　a

strange；　pitiful　wistfulness。　It　lay　quiet；　without　moan；　a　pinched；

pale　miniature　of　suffering　humanityan　infant　with　sorrow's　mark

painfully　impressed　upon　its　drawn；　small　features。　Presently　it

stretched　forth　a　puny　hand　and　feebly　caressed　its　protectress；　and

this；　too；　with　the　faintest　glimmer　of　a　smile。　The　woman　responded

to　its　affection　with　a　sort　of　rapture；　she　caught　it　fondly　to　her

breast　and　covered　it　with　kisses；　rocking　it　to　and　fro　with　broken

words　of　endearment。　〃My　little　darling！〃　she　whispered；　softly。　〃My

little　pet！　Yes；　yes；　I　know！　So　tired；　so　cold　and　hungry！　Never

mind；　baby；　never　mind！　We　will　rest　here　a　little；　then　we　will　sing

a　song　presently；　and　get　some　money　to　take　us　home。　Sleep　awhile

longer；　deary！　There！　now　we　are　warm　and　cosey　again。〃



So　saying；　she　rearranged　her　shawl　in　closer　and　tighter　folds；　so　as

to　protect　the　child　more　thoroughly。　While　she　was　engaged　in　this

operation　a　lady　in　deep　mourning　passed　close　by　her；　and；　advancing

to　the　very　steps　of　the　altar；　knelt　down；　hiding　her　face　with　her

clasped　hands。　The　tired　wayf