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
  • 说文解字

    说文解字

    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。
  • 时方歌括

    时方歌括

    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。
  • 栲栳山人诗集

    栲栳山人诗集

    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。
  • 东汉演义

    东汉演义

    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。
  • 绛云楼俊遇

    绛云楼俊遇

    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
  • 邪妻归来:冷君盛宠无度

    邪妻归来:冷君盛宠无度

    萧向挽前世痴情错付,为换那一人多看一眼,她为他杀尽三大族氏所有人,双手沾满鲜血,落得毒妇之称也不曾后悔。但最后却换得那人背叛,亲手害父兄惨死,家族上下三百零一人被杀,成孤魂野鬼游荡四年。一世愚蠢!幸得好友相助,寻来神物,回溯旧时,魂落异躯,再世重生。只为复仇的她本以为前世痴情错付,今生不会再钟情他人。只是……遇了良人,再落情网。那人问:“你算什么东西,有什么资格跟在我的身边?”萧向挽道:“现在确实没有什么资格,但是我相信不久之后,我会有这个资格。”那人问:“你这么千方百计地想靠近我是为了什么?”萧向挽答:“因为,我心悦你。”所以,今生还是女追男?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 中国共产党统一战线理论与实践形式研究

    中国共产党统一战线理论与实践形式研究

    本书论述了中国共产党的民族民主统一战线理论,说明这是在新民主主义革命时期马克思主义理论中国化过程中形成的一个重大理论原则。同时,本书也论述了在社会主义革命时期,中国共产党依然重视和贯彻统一战线的理论原则,在实践形式上与时俱进,为社会主义改造的完成及社会主义制度的确立奠定了重要基础。在建设有中国特色的社会主义的时期,统一战线仍然是推动建设事业发展,促进祖国和平统一的重要法宝所在。
  • 99度甜:大牌萌妻赖上门

    99度甜:大牌萌妻赖上门

    不好,莫熙彦的青梅回来,挂名妻子单依依立刻收拾好行李打算走人。“你去哪?”她的去路被挡住了。“正宫娘娘回来了,当然是找准自己位置,回冷宫去。”她冷眼,带着自嘲。“乖,别闹了,你是名正言顺的莫太太,别的女人都是路人甲。”他沉声哄着,蹲下,帮她把鞋带绑好。后来他才知道,她不是因为吃醋跟他闹,而是急着离开他,奔赴另一个男人的怀里。
  • 萌系兽妻:公子,我超甜

    萌系兽妻:公子,我超甜

    苏言言穿越了,却变成一条奇丑无比的狗,关键主人霸道还傲娇,对自己各种嫌弃,这日子没法过了。谁知她却咸鱼翻身,成了大明城里面最聪明的狗,还拥有了迷弟迷妹,从此过上舒服的狗生。只是这主人会不会有点奇怪了啊?她吃饭他看着,她睡觉他陪着,就连她上厕所他都跟着……啊喂,她虽然是条狗,也是要面子的好吧。吃瓜群众:“南宫公子,你家狗又在捣乱了”南宫无语:“我宠的!”吃瓜群众:“是在撩汉。”南宫无语:“抓住她!”【此文1v1,苏爽宠,欢迎入坑。】
  • 出麦田记

    出麦田记

    麦田是一座大围城,迈出土门,走出麦田成了麦田人的理想。但经过千辛万苦走出麦田的人却找不到人生的门、心灵的门、爱情的门,迷茫地在农村与城市,高考与成功,爱情与事业、真挚与虚荣的N重门中困顿挣扎。
  • 玄铭传

    玄铭传

    半边海水半边山,一方碧绿一方蓝。漫天细兩漫天雾,不见波来不见船。
  • 只是想爱你

    只是想爱你

    爱与被爱,到底该如何选择,明知道自己爱的人永远都不会有回应,是否该选择放弃,去珍惜那个为自己付出一切的人,把握眼前的幸福,我不知道该如何抉择,
  • 会定位的女人有地位

    会定位的女人有地位

    美国著名的歌手Sophie Tucker曾说过:“女人从出生到十八岁,需要好的家庭;十八到三十五岁,需要好的容貌;三十五到五十五岁,需要好的个性;五十五岁以后,需要好多钞票”。这其中,除了“好的家庭”你不能左右之外,其它都是可以实现的。只要你清楚地了解自己,认真规划,理性选择,就能准确定位,成就完美的人生。本书就是帮你做好定位,定位越早,你会越有地位,人生越精彩。
  • 三毛:选择一种姿态,活成无可取代

    三毛:选择一种姿态,活成无可取代

    本书讲述三毛被守护和独立的两段人生。作者没有将三毛当作一个传奇的女性,她像大部分人一样,想要看不同的风景、爱刚刚好的那个人,是人生选择和生活态度成就了她的传奇和无可取代。读万卷书,行万里路,读三毛的作品,不如直接读她的一生。
  • 相府庶女之吾兄妖孽

    相府庶女之吾兄妖孽

    刚出生时因病弱被师父抱上了尼姑庵六年一过不知人间险恶的小尼姑又被踢下了山*相府内,阴谋诡计,阳奉阴违,处处危险。后母姐姐都出手,好生危险有木有!半月一过,回到相府的小尼姑安然无恙依旧活着。阴谋诡计呢?巧计陷害呢?这不科学!*一只小手,忽的从中截断,一下子抓住了他的手,转头一看,正是一个面目干净可爱的小娃娃,小手轻轻的捏着他的手腕却丝毫动弹不得,他挣脱了半天也挣不开小尼姑笑颜可爱,甜甜的开口:“施主,打打杀杀很没有教养的,君子动口不动手,万事皆休,以和为贵才是君子之道,施主您说对么?”小尼姑露出一排洁白的牙齿大眼眯成月牙状,看起来无害又天真。我佛慈悲,身为佛家弟子,必须心存善念不可杀生,不可害人,切记渡人渡己*小尼姑醒来的时候愣了约莫能有一炷香才从迷茫中回过神来看了看自己纤细修长的五指,她咬着手指努力的回想,才清醒的意识到昨天发生了什么。她的秘密,被发现了…被哥哥发现了!心怀慈悲的小尼姑困扰的想着嗯…灭口吧!*【片段】当小尼姑醒来时,发现自己赤条条的坐在浴桶内抬头,妖孽哥哥笑眯眯的蹲在旁边,将下巴抵在浴桶边缘之上。小尼姑眨了眨眼,妖孽哥哥跟着眨眨眼,笑:“是我救醒你的哦。”小尼姑低头一看,愣住。“啊啊啊啊——”凄惨的叫声响起。门外姐姐和后娘捂脸,娘嘞,作孽哦,被那样的妖孽盯上。*心怀慈悲小尼姑VS妖孽妹控阴险哥哥的故事本应该降妖除魔的小尼姑表示…天下没有比自家哥哥最妖魔的玩意了!!!伪兄妹,不乱伦。群号:85969061