登陆注册
3554300000019

第19章 BOOK THE SECOND:THE GOLDEN THREAD(2)

The scene was Mr. Cruncher's private lodging in Hanging-sword Alley,Whitefriars:the time,half-past seven of the clock and a windy March morning,Anno Domini seventeen hundred and eighty.(Mr.Cruncher himself always spoke of the year of our Lord as Anna Dominoes:apparently under the impression that the Christian era dated from the invention of a popular game,by a lady who had bestowed her name upon it.)Mr.Cruncher's apartments were not in a savoury neighbourhood,and were but two in number,even if a closet with a single pane of glass in it might be counted as one.But they were very decently kept.Early as it was,on the windy March morning,the room in which he lay a-bed was already scrubbed throughout;and between the cups and saucers arranged for breakfast,and the lumbering deal table,a very clean white cloth was spread.

Mr. Cruncher reposed under a patchwork counterpane,like a Harlequin at home.At first,he slept heavily,but,by degrees,began to roll and surge in bed,until he rose above the surface,with his spiky hair looking as if it must tear the sheets to ribbons.At which juncture,he exclaimed,in a voice of dire exasperation:

'Bust me,if she ain't at it agin!'

A woman of orderly and industrious appearance rose from her knees in a corner,with sufficient haste and trepidation to show that she was the person referred to.

'What!'said Mr. Cruncher,looking out of bed for a boot.'You're at it agin,are you?'

After hailing the morn with this second salutation,he threw a boot at the woman as a third. It was a very muddy boot,and may introduce the odd circumstance connected with Mr.Cruncher's domestic economy,that,whereas he often came home after banking hours with clean boots,he often got up next morning to find the same boots covered with clay.

'What,'said Mr. Cruncher,varying his apostrophe after missing his mark—'what are you up to,Aggerawayter?'

'I was only saying my prayers.'

'Saying your prayers!You're a nice woman!What do you mean by flopping yourself down and praying agin me?'

'I was not praying against you;I was praying for you.'

'You weren't. And if you were,I won't be took the liberty with.Here!your mother's a nice woman,young Jerry,going a praying agin your father's prosperity.You've got a dutiful mother,you have,my son.You've got a religious mother,you have,my boy:going and flopping herself down,and praying that the bread-and-butter may be snatched out of the mouth of her only child.'

Master Cruncher(who was in his shirt)took this very ill,and,turning to his mother,strongly deprecated any praying away of his personal board.

'And what do you suppose,you conceited female,'said Mr. Cruncher,with unconscious inconsistency,'that the worth of your prayers may be?Name the price that you put your prayers at!'

'They only come from the heart,Jerry. They are worth no more than that.'

'Worth no more than that,'repeated Mr. Cruncher.'They ain'tworth much,then.Whether or no,I won't be prayed agin,I tell you.I can't afford it.I'm not a going to be made unlucky by your sneaking.If you must go flopping yourself down,flop in favour of your husband and child,and not in opposition to'em.If I had had any but a unnat'ral wife,and this poor boy had had any but a unnat'ral mother,I might have made some money last week instead of being counterprayed and countermined and religiously circumwented into the worst of luck.B-u-u-ust me!'said Mr.Cruncher,who all this time had been putting on his clothes,'if I ain't,what with piety and one blowed thing and another,been choused this last week into as bad luck as ever a poor devil of a honest tradesman met with!Young Jerry,dress yourself,my boy,and while I clean my boots keep an eye upon your mother now and then,and if you see any signs of more flopping,give me a call.For,I tell you,'here he addressed his wife once more,'I won't be gone agin,in this matter.I am as rickety as a hackney-coach,I'm as sleepy as laudanum,my lines is strained to that degree that I shouldn't know,if it wasn't for the pain in'em,which was me and which somebody else,yet I'm none the better for it in pocket;and it's my suspicion that you've been at it from morning to night to prevent me from being the better for it in pocket,and I won't put up with it,Aggerawayter,and what do you say now!'

Growling,in addition,such phrases as'Ah!yes!You're religious,too. You wouldn't put yourself in opposition to the interests of your husband and child,would you?Not you!'and throwing off other sarcastic sparks from the whirling grindstone of his indignation,Mr.Cruncher betook himself to his boot-cleaning and his general preparation for business.In the meantime,his son,whose head was garnished with tenderer spikes,and whose youngeyes stood close by one another,as his father's did,kept the required watch upon his mother.He greatly disturbed the poor woman at intervals,by darting out of his sleeping closet,where he made his toilet,with a suppressed cry of'You are going to flop,mother.—Halloa,father!'and,after raising this fictitious alarm,darting in again with an undutiful grin.

Mr. Cruncher's temper was not at all improved when he came to his breakfast.He resented Mrs.Cruncher's saying grace with particular animosity.

'Now,Aggerawayter!What are you up to?At it agin?'

His wife explained that she had merely'asked a blessing.'

'Don't do it!'said Mr. Cruncher,looking about,as if he rather expected to see the loaf disappear under the efficacy of his wife's petitions.'I ain't a going to be blest out of house and home.I won't have my wittles blest off my table.Keep still!'

同类推荐
  • 佛说海意菩萨所问净印法门经

    佛说海意菩萨所问净印法门经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • RELIGION

    RELIGION

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汤周山

    汤周山

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 塘医话 馤塘医话

    塘医话 馤塘医话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉箓资度解坛仪

    玉箓资度解坛仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 旋风少女1

    旋风少女1

    刚强坚韧的跆拳道少女戚百草,因为养父&师父旧时的比赛丑闻而一直受排挤,又因为揭穿全胜道馆馆主在表演时作弊的行为而被赶,失去居所的百草在好友的帮助下到了松柏道馆寄居,遇见了三个性格迥异的少年……用勇气淬炼坚强,用纯真磨砺爱情,在青春与梦想的舞台上,百草以最单纯勇敢的心灵一步步成长,一路绽放她独一无二的耀眼光芒……
  • 金屋藏宠

    金屋藏宠

    暮春三月,小舟一叶,共听雨眠!水墨所求,无非倾毕生之力,为灼灼求得一世安宁!一夕如环,夕夕都成玦!是否这世间,有一法,可不负如来不负卿……
  • 梦里见洛神

    梦里见洛神

    已经是从市里调到县分公司,这么长时间,杜浩然仍然纠结于那个丢手机的傍晚。那天的情形,他记得很清楚。细梳细理,前前后后都很清爽。但手机究竟是怎么丢的呢?事情发生在回家的路上,他记得自己先把车停在小区附近的便利店,女儿瑶瑶早晨出门的时候告诉他想喝粉丝汤。家里没有粉丝了,他准备买两包粉丝。从车里下来,他还接了一个电话,有人约他晚上吃饭。他哪有出门吃饭的心思,便以老婆不在家,要给女儿做晚饭为由推脱了。他说的是实话,瑶瑶读高三,正处于关键时刻。更何况,除了这个原因,还有另外一件事搅得他的心情就像雨天的黄土路,泥泞不堪。
  • 腹黑燕王妃

    腹黑燕王妃

    一觉醒来,腹黑的莫淼淼竟然穿越到了古代。成了杜府的小姐杜凌爱。好吧,既来之则安之!本以为来到这古代能过的轻松惬意些,可没想到事事不如她意!家人的算计,姐妹的陷害,父亲的嫌弃,靠,这他妈的还有活路了吗?人家穿越都是什么皇妃呀,公主啊,什么的,她倒好,穿越成了娘不疼舅不爱的杜凌爱身上。是她苦逼?还是陷害杜凌爱的人将要苦逼?这杜凌爱就是个任人宰割的苦逼三小姐。属于谁看她不顺眼都能踹上一脚的主,可是那是以前,现在在她这不好使!敢欺负她的试试?让他们站着来躺着回。可没想到自己一时大意,一场选妃宴上,被人陷害中了媚药,幸亏有美男挺身相救。可她要是知道这货这么阴险腹黑,她就是死了也不让他救啊!本以为是只鸭,没想到他竟然是赫赫有名的燕王爷,此人腹黑无比,又冷酷无情,更巧的是,他就是姐姐杜凌月的心上人?好吧,想着杜凌月气吐血的样她就高兴。精彩片段一:燕云傲躺在她的身下,看着小脸酡红的她,厚颜无耻的说,“我这是在帮你。”杜凌爱手脚并用的爬到了男人的身上,“草,你他妈的倒是好好帮啊,像个死人一样。”燕云傲唇角微扬,“既然你不会的话,那我就不客气了。”说完反压之。只听某女一声怒骂,“王八蛋,刚才装犊子?”“我是在给你机会。”他没给她在说话的机会,狠狠的将她疼爱了一番。次日一早,杜凌爱浑身酸软,看了看还在睡的燕云傲,我草他大爷的,这货的精力还真不是一般的充沛,不过他到底是谁?莫非这古代也有鸭?不管了,杜凌爱快速的套上衣服,将十两银子放在了床上,然后肉疼的看了看,妈的,十两银子啊!精彩片段二:“我说你是不是男人?就不能有点爱心?”杜凌爱气的不轻,这货看见她被人围住竟然无动于衷。“是不是男人,你不都已经验证过了吗?至于爱心吗?你又不是我什么人,我干嘛浪费力气又得罪人?”“草,我是你客户。”“嗯,你已经给过钱了,所以我们没关系了。”某女气的咬牙切齿,行,丫的,你狠!精彩片段三:奶声奶气的女娃跑到燕云爱的书房,然后伸开小手要他抱,“父王,我娘穿的漂漂亮亮的走了,还拿了好多的银票。”燕王爷俊脸一黑,“你娘说去哪了?”“我娘说了,不让我告诉你,不然就不让我看美男了。”某男的脸更加阴云密布,这死女人竟然敢教坏女儿?“宝汐乖,告诉父皇你娘去哪儿,我就让五阿哥他们都来陪你玩怎么样?”
  • 你一念之间,我情深一场

    你一念之间,我情深一场

    一段不为人知的心酸往事,两个同样危险强势的男人,三个游走在黑白边缘的年轻男女;当一心提防的魔鬼最终冲破固守的心房,当倾心所爱的情人转身成为复仇天使,爱和恨的天平,生与死的对决,究竟该如何平衡抉择,谁又是谁生命里最后的救赎阳光?
  • 季羡林自传(典藏本)

    季羡林自传(典藏本)

    《季羡林自传(典藏本)》畅销近10年,是季羡林生前亲自授权、审定的版本。当代中国出版社为了表达对季羡林先生的纪念,隆重推出双色精编典藏本。《季羡林自传(典藏本)》是作者季羡林先生用自己的笔,讲述了他从山东临清县一个贫苦农民家庭的孩子,一步一步成长为学贯中西、享誉海内外的学术大师的人生历程,记述了他九十多年来所遇到的人和事,见证了时代的变迁,展示了他个人的奋斗经历和情感世界。
  • 最速救护车司机传说

    最速救护车司机传说

    书友企鹅群:535765042八分之一的空间。更少的人手。但他们做着与急诊室一样的工作。并且以60公里每小时的速度前进着。多耽误一分钟,病人的危险就多不只一分。在救护车司机的圈子里,流传着这样的一个说法:如果车开得够快,死神便无法追上救护车中生命垂危的病人。“雅湘附二医院编号0110,湘AGZ689,正在前往事发地点!”
  • 毅斋诗文集

    毅斋诗文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 穿越时光天赐良缘

    穿越时光天赐良缘

    命运到底是什么?老天却一次一次的跟我开玩笑,我以为我得到了重生。却不曾想...这才是噩梦的开始.....
  • 重生男神请多关照

    重生男神请多关照

    【女扮男装,强强,1v1】叶潇然此生住过孤儿院,当过影后,被挚爱背叛成过通缉犯,只因一双通灵宝眼最后落得于狗争食惨死下场,夜萧然,夜家唯一的继承人,却是天生懦弱无能甚至被人打死无人问津。再睁眼,叶潇然成了夜萧然,偶得最强(坑爹)不是,是最强通灵系统,废物变天才,学渣变学霸,天生影帝,网文大神,最强编剧,电竞头名第一……一个不小心竟然是混成了国民男神。“国民男神又如何,还不是拜倒在我身下。”“哟,枭爷,你总算承认是你拜倒在我的石榴裙下了。”枭爷闻言,挑了挑眉:“你来试试就知道谁败在谁身下了。”