登陆注册
5160500000022

第22章 Chirp the Third(2)

'So gracefully sweet-tempered; so domestic, joyful, busy, andlight-hearted!' said the Voice.

'Otherwise I never could have loved her as I did,' returned theCarrier.

The Voice, correcting him, said 'do.'

The Carrier repeated 'as I did.' But not firmly.His falteringtongue resisted his control, and would speak in its own way, foritself and him.

The Figure, in an attitude of invocation, raised its hand and said:

'Upon your own hearth - '

'The hearth she has blighted,' interposed the Carrier.

'The hearth she has - how often! - blessed and brightened,' saidthe Cricket; 'the hearth which, but for her, were only a few stonesand bricks and rusty bars, but which has been, through her, theAltar of your Home; on which you have nightly sacrificed some pettypassion, selfishness, or care, and offered up the homage of atranquil mind, a trusting nature, and an overflowing heart; so thatthe smoke from this poor chimney has gone upward with a betterfragrance than the richest incense that is burnt before the richestshrines in all the gaudy temples of this world! - Upon your ownhearth; in its quiet sanctuary; surrounded by its gentle influencesand associations; hear her! Hear me! Hear everything that speaksthe language of your hearth and home!'

'And pleads for her?' inquired the Carrier.

'All things that speak the language of your hearth and home, mustplead for her!' returned the Cricket.'For they speak the truth.'

And while the Carrier, with his head upon his hands, continued tosit meditating in his chair, the Presence stood beside him,suggesting his reflections by its power, and presenting them beforehim, as in a glass or picture.It was not a solitary Presence.

From the hearthstone, from the chimney, from the clock, the pipe,the kettle, and the cradle; from the floor, the walls, the ceiling,and the stairs; from the cart without, and the cupboard within, andthe household implements; from every thing and every place withwhich she had ever been familiar, and with which she had everentwined one recollection of herself in her unhappy husband's mind;Fairies came trooping forth.Not to stand beside him as theCricket did, but to busy and bestir themselves.To do all honourto her image.To pull him by the skirts, and point to it when itappeared.To cluster round it, and embrace it, and strew flowersfor it to tread on.To try to crown its fair head with their tinyhands.To show that they were fond of it and loved it; and thatthere was not one ugly, wicked or accusatory creature to claimknowledge of it - none but their playful and approving selves.

His thoughts were constant to her image.It was always there.

She sat plying her needle, before the fire, and singing to herself.

Such a blithe, thriving, steady little Dot! The fairy figuresturned upon him all at once, by one consent, with one prodigiousconcentrated stare, and seemed to say, 'Is this the light wife youare mourning for!'

There were sounds of gaiety outside, musical instruments, and noisytongues, and laughter.A crowd of young merry-makers came pouringin, among whom were May Fielding and a score of pretty girls.Dotwas the fairest of them all; as young as any of them too.Theycame to summon her to join their party.It was a dance.If everlittle foot were made for dancing, hers was, surely.But shelaughed, and shook her head, and pointed to her cookery on thefire, and her table ready spread: with an exulting defiance thatrendered her more charming than she was before.And so she merrilydismissed them, nodding to her would-be partners, one by one, asthey passed, but with a comical indifference, enough to make themgo and drown themselves immediately if they were her admirers - andthey must have been so, more or less; they couldn't help it.Andyet indifference was not her character.O no! For presently,there came a certain Carrier to the door; and bless her what awelcome she bestowed upon him!

Again the staring figures turned upon him all at once, and seemedto say, 'Is this the wife who has forsaken you!'

A shadow fell upon the mirror or the picture: call it what youwill.A great shadow of the Stranger, as he first stood underneaththeir roof; covering its surface, and blotting out all otherobjects.But the nimble Fairies worked like bees to clear it offagain.And Dot again was there.Still bright and beautiful.

Rocking her little Baby in its cradle, singing to it softly, andresting her head upon a shoulder which had its counterpart in themusing figure by which the Fairy Cricket stood.

The night - I mean the real night: not going by Fairy clocks - waswearing now; and in this stage of the Carrier's thoughts, the moonburst out, and shone brightly in the sky.Perhaps some calm andquiet light had risen also, in his mind; and he could think moresoberly of what had happened.

Although the shadow of the Stranger fell at intervals upon theglass - always distinct, and big, and thoroughly defined - it neverfell so darkly as at first.Whenever it appeared, the Fairiesuttered a general cry of consternation, and plied their little armsand legs, with inconceivable activity, to rub it out.And wheneverthey got at Dot again, and showed her to him once more, bright andbeautiful, they cheered in the most inspiring manner.

They never showed her, otherwise than beautiful and bright, forthey were Household Spirits to whom falsehood is annihilation; andbeing so, what Dot was there for them, but the one active, beaming,pleasant little creature who had been the light and sun of theCarrier's Home!

同类推荐
  • 佛说慧印三昧经

    佛说慧印三昧经

    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。
  • 雷峰宝卷

    雷峰宝卷

    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。
  • REWARDS AND FAIRIES

    REWARDS AND FAIRIES

    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。
  • Sixes and Sevens

    Sixes and Sevens

    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。
  • 憨山老人梦游集

    憨山老人梦游集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 略述金刚顶瑜伽分别圣位修证法门

    略述金刚顶瑜伽分别圣位修证法门

    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。
  • An Essay on the East-India Trade

    An Essay on the East-India Trade

    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。
  • 九重宫闱:王妃太暴力

    九重宫闱:王妃太暴力

    天下之大无奇不有!南楚太子妃温瑜,留下一封血书死在除夕夜宴那日,东周京都,一道圣旨降罪镇国公府,白玉兰从名门贵女成了罪臣之女。一朝重生。她心中只剩仇恨,誓要查明真相,颠覆这天下!白家将三个女儿送入皇宫,她被天子指婚给三皇子,嫁入了恭王府。恭王龙璟宸,天之骄子,姿容绝世,恨不能宠她上天,她却一心只想浪迹江湖无拘无束。龙璟宸表示:夫人太暴力,本王……心悦之!
  • 洪荒古传

    洪荒古传

    子会之时有混沌初劫,却是指盘古开天地。而此时丑会已终。丑会之时却是洪荒初劫之始,乃为飞禽走兽之争。现时却是寅会始,天地复归清明,万物皆有序。白蒙蒙之中露出一个幼小的身影。却是那血海之中的那个全身红色的幼童。他就是那道飞出的红光。只见他全身赤裸,身上毛发全无,一双乌黑的眼珠子转动了下。然后见他往地上一跪,拜了天地四方。起身看了下那四周,和无着片缕的周身,笑着摇了摇头。甩了甩了细小的胳膊,孩子露出遥远的思绪。沈平第一次见到妖怪倒是愣住了“你们是妖怪?”那老虎听了沈平的话也不反感,很自得的点了点头“我们是妖怪,小兄弟你刚化形不久吧?”洪荒永远神奇的天地,承载着我们永远的未知,让我一步步为大家揭开那迷一般的世界本书QQ群:116244155
  • 凡人皆有一死

    凡人皆有一死

    清明将至,每年这个时节关于“死亡”的话题便显得不可回避。一名白事师傅目睹了各式各样的死亡故事。凡人皆有一死,但面对死亡的态度却不尽相同。“凡人皆有一死”,没错!这是《权力的游戏》里面一句经典台词。这句话太深奥不能细想,可能越是简单的道理,我们越是搞不明白吧……在死亡面前说什么都是多余的,日子依旧会推搡着我们往前走。可经常走着走着会发现,这个地方不久之前好像走过了。有的人管这叫“迷路”,而我觉得是“领悟”。如果生命日常的继续是个催眠大师,那死亡他会时不时推醒在尘世间昏睡的人们。“大了”,在天津准确的读音,“了”是三声。是天津人对婚丧嫁娶组织者的一个称呼。
  • 棠倾月

    棠倾月

    “那位少侠,你好像是我喜欢的类型,我能追你吗?”最好不过豆蔻年华遇到一生所爱,司莫邪愿倒追他七年,为他生儿育女,原谅他的一切误会……可他却未感动一点……儿女不喜她,江湖不容她,天地也要灭她……“留你一命,当救赎回报天地吧!”月圆之夜,她生辰。一剑灭邪,他心冷。“尹方天,我恨你……”一剑如心,“我司莫邪不欠任何人。”魔族来犯世人才念司教主的勇猛,一方白棺天地才知尹尊主也会落泪……【本小说采用插叙和倒叙偏多,请注意分清时间。男女主正邪两强,各有各的原则,您不适请原谅。江湖恩怨为主线,牵扯过多剧情,请您耐心等候其他系列。】
  • 皇帝走着瞧:宫女不好惹

    皇帝走着瞧:宫女不好惹

    你当了皇帝就了不起吗?不要动不动就要用亲亲来堵我的口。你们皇帝这职业的真不讲理!我蒙珍上知天文下知地理上得厅堂下得厨房,怎么就非得蜷缩在这个破破破破后宫里!跟你说过什么?男人与牙刷绝不与人共用!喂!我是宫女!别碰我!
  • 盛隋风云

    盛隋风云

    历史进程悠悠,千古多少离愁。不知黑白颠倒,只是一味荒谬……是谁,解危势于倒悬?是谁,拯万民于水火?是谁,舍身家于济世?往事如烟,虽随清风荡尽,但却总有丹青妙笔,将往昔峥嵘岁月.
  • 汉末张家记

    汉末张家记

    这是一个关于成长与冲突的故事。梁旭,一名生于和平年代、痛恨侵略者、厌恶单边霸权主义的新华夏老青年,很不幸地被送去了即将天下大乱的东汉末年。动乱的年代让他亲眼目睹到了本以为是热血挥洒和浪漫的战争的真面目,让他切身体会到战争的可怕与恐怖;后来还因为父亲的离世,使他从旁观者变成了历史的直接参与者。热爱和平的灵魂在他体内觉醒,但和平能在即将到来的乱世通行吗?他能为乱世带来什么?和平与发展?
  • 圣域

    圣域

    圣域之上,地域辽阔,宗门林立,墨枫走下伏阴山,一步步了解了这圣域的大秘密,原来这圣域只是.........