登陆注册
5382100000001

第1章 CHAPTER I(1)

THE DRESSMAKER'S APPRENTICE AT WORK

There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor Sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and protection, attained a degree of importance that surprises the modern traveller. A hundred years ago its appearance was that of picturesque grandeur. The old houses, which were the temporary residences of such of the county families as contented themselves with the gaieties of a provincial town, crowded the streets, and gave them the irregular but noble appearance yet to be seen in the cities of Belgium. The sides of the streets had a quaint richness, from the effect of the gables, and the stacks of chimneys which cut against the blue sky above; while, if the eye fell lower down, the attention was arrested by all kinds of projections in the shape of balcony and oriel;and it was amusing to see the infinite variety of windows that had been crammed into the walls long before Mr. Pitt's days of taxation. The streets below suffered from all these projections and advanced stories above; they were dark, and ill-paved with large, round, jolting pebbles, and with no side-path protected by kerb-stones; there were no lamp-posts for long winter nights; and no regard was paid to the wants of the middle class, who neither drove about in coaches of their own, nor were carried by their own men in their own sedans into the very halls of their friends. The professional men and their wives, the shopkeepers and their spouses, and all such people, walked about at considerable peril both night and day. The broad, unwieldy carriages hemmed them up against the houses in the narrow streets. The inhospitable houses projected their flights of steps almost into the carriage-way, forcing pedestrians again into the danger they had avoided for twenty or thirty paces. Then, at night, the only light was derived from the glaring, flaring oil-lamps, hung above the doors of the more aristocratic mansions;just allowing space for the passers-by to become visible, before they again disappeared into the darkness, where it was no uncommon thing for robbers to be in waiting for their prey. The traditions of those bygone times, even to the smallest social particular, enable one to understand more clearly the circumstances which contributed to the formation of character. The daily life into which people are born, and into which they are absorbed before they are well aware, forms chains which only one in a hundred has moral strength enough to despise, and to break when the right time comes--when an inward necessity for independent individual action arises, which is superior to all outward conventionalities.

Therefore, it is well to know what were the chains of dally domestic habit, which were the natural leading strings of our forefathers before they learnt to go alone. The picturesqueness of those ancient streets has departed now. The Astleys, the Dunstans, the Waverhams--names of power in that district--go up duly to London in the season, and have Sold their residences in the county town fifty years ago, or more. And when the county town lost its attraction for the Astleys, the Dunstans, the Waverhams, how could it be supposed that the Domvilles, the Bextons, and the Wildes would continue to go and winter there in their second-rate houses, and with their increased expenditure?

So the grand old houses stood empty awhile; and then speculators ventured to purchase, and to turn the deserted mansions into many smaller dwellings, fitted for professional men, or even (bend your ear lower, lest the shade of Marmaduke, first Baron Waverham, hear) into shops! Even that was not so very bad, compared with the next innovation on the old glories. The shopkeepers found out that the once fashionable street was dark, and that the dingy light did not show off their goods to advantage;the surgeon could not see to draw his patients' teeth; the lawyer had to ring for candles an hour earlier than he was accustomed to do when living in a more plebeian street. In short, by mutual consent, the whole front of one side of the street was pulled down, and rebuilt in the flat, mean, unrelieved style of George the Third. The body of the houses was too solidly grand to submit to alteration; so people were occasionally surprised, after passing through a commonplace-looking shop, to find themselves at the foot of a grand carved oaken staircase, lighted by a window of stained glass, storied all over with armorial bearings. Up such a stair--past such a window (through which the moonlight fell on her with a glory of many colours)--Ruth Hilton passed wearily one January night, now many years ago. I call it night; but, strictly speaking, it was morning. Two o'clock in the morning chimed forth the old bells of St.

Saviour's. And yet, more than a dozen girls still sat in the room into which Ruth entered, stitching away as if for very life, not daring to gape, or show any outward manifestation of sleepiness. They only sighed a little when Ruth told Mrs. Mason the hour of the night, as the result of her errand;for they knew that, stay up as late as they might, the work-hours of the next day must begin at eight, and their young limbs were very weary. Mrs. Mason worked away as hard as any of them; but she was older and tougher;and, besides, the gains were hers. But even she perceived that some rest was needed. "Young ladies! there will be an interval allowed of half-an-hour.

同类推荐
  • Jeanne d'Arc

    Jeanne d'Arc

    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。
  • 钦定词谱

    钦定词谱

    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。
  • 四分律行事钞资持记

    四分律行事钞资持记

    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。
  • 在家律要广集

    在家律要广集

    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。
  • Looking Backward From 2000 to 1887

    Looking Backward From 2000 to 1887

    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
  • 美哉,中国女人

    美哉,中国女人

    小说以社会学教授江枫寻找幼年失踪的妹妹、老画家楚山为自己的传世之作《中国女人》寻觅理想的女模特为主线,展开了一个悬念叠起、波澜起伏、充满戏剧性的神奇而瑰丽的故事。
  • 我曾以为留住光就可以留住你

    我曾以为留住光就可以留住你

    寂静阑珊处,听一首老情歌。年华似水,信仰的圣光依然照耀着我,让我眼睛湿润,心静如水,只是在水中埋葬了思念的涟漪。
  • 柠檬加点糖

    柠檬加点糖

    宁檬和唐霄的初相遇是以女方起了爱慕心,男方灰常不爽收的场。这场暗恋转为明恋,肆意追逐,在不知不觉中,已经得到了对方的回应却不自知。柠檬加点糖,不再酸涩,反而转为了清甜。这个夏天甜一点,一起来谈场恋爱吧!(更新不定时,写完就会马上发布!)
  • 保宁仁勇禅师语录

    保宁仁勇禅师语录

    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。
  • 电影世界大融合

    电影世界大融合

    【这是一个从警察,到神盾局特工的故事】穿越到一个由无数电影融合而成的奇异世界。香港有个会功夫的大鼻子警察,还有个搞笑的赌圣和帅气的赌侠。纽约有个富家公子哥叫托尼,英国有个身材火辣的冒险家叫劳拉。而我们的主角……却是那个刚刚放走了飙车党老大,被罢免在家的可怜洛杉矶警察……故事就从这里开始……PS:由于本书是多个电影世界融合,所以世界构架、时间线、人物和部分剧情都与电影里有些出入,请以本书为主,切勿较真,切勿对号入座。
  • 玄武天下(5)

    玄武天下(5)

    千世的轮回消磨不了他(刀)内在的杀气。万年的魔咒尘封不住他(剑)体内的战意。他们的出世使平静的乐士烽烟四起!他们的重逢将武界引入神魔之境!四帝的传说,神祇的传奇,导致大冥乐土万世伟业分崩离析。一位自认能战胜传说的惊世强者在战火中崛起,他以不屈的战意与传说之剑融为一体,并以玄道意境与火帝之女展开千世的恋情。神祇的荣辱,乐土的存亡,武道的兴衰与他的命运息息相连。
  • 琥珀之剑

    琥珀之剑

    命运在我眼前分开成两条互不相关笔直的线,一条通向火焰中熊熊燃烧的宫殿与城池,王国倾覆,大地承载苦难,生灵在这火中忍受煎熬,永世暗无天日。而另一条通向先古诸王之巅,神祗在云端亲自为我加冕,我带上桂冠,沐浴山呼。我的目光看穿历史的迷雾,我的骑士为我开疆扩土,我的剑披荆而行,带领我的子民走向胜利。我接过这权杖,将属于世界的权柄掌握在手中,我俯瞰芸芸众生,改变历史的进程。我是布兰多,沃恩德之王,这是属于我的传奇。.............分隔线.............通俗版简介:这是一个带着资深战士的重生记忆,穿越到自己曾经奋斗过的世界中扭转历史的脉络、叱咤风云的故事
  • 萌妃撩人:摄政王爷欺上门

    萌妃撩人:摄政王爷欺上门

    21世纪,她是娱乐圈潜力无限的新晋小花。一朝穿越,成为了相府最悲催的嫡女,中元节出生,自小痴傻,爹不疼,娘不爱,姨娘和姐妹各个是戏精,最让人郁闷的是未婚夫居然是个女的。为了幸福生活,某女抓住机会,原本想依附慕容太后翻身,却不小心抱上了那个权倾天下摄政王的大腿,自此某个摄政王缠上了她。“王爷,不好了,王妃当众打了长公主一巴掌。”护卫胆颤心惊来报。“旁人不得阻拦,让她继续打。”正在看公文的摄政王连头都没有抬说道。“王爷,不好了,王妃把吴王府给拆了。”“带一帮人帮着王妃一起拆。”“王爷,不好了,王妃和慕容公子一起离京了。”摄政王再也无法淡定,这还得了,这丫...--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 无尽相思意

    无尽相思意

    “赵伯琮,你是什么时候识破我的?”“从你爱上我的那一刻起。”赵伯琮轻轻地将秋火尘揽入怀中,用下巴揉着秋火尘的脑袋。秋火尘依偎在这位“流氓”的怀中,轻轻掐了一下他的腰。“……你真是不知羞耻!”“张羡初,这是我最后一次告诉你,我要你娶我!”这位站在桃花树下的儒雅书生面对少女的甜蜜攻击似乎无动于衷,其实心里早已乐开了花儿。“小生家中并不富足,这枝桃花送给姑娘,书上称其为‘定情信物’姑娘可是要收好,待我金榜题名时,便来迎娶姑娘。”
  • 拿破仑大传

    拿破仑大传

    拿破仑的一生,对于整个历史长河来说是短暂的,但是,他的生命历程如同史诗一般;那深刻的底蕴,肤浅的人根本不可能体会,只有崇尚真实的人才能走到他的内心深处。他称得上前无古人,后无来者,用一生写就了生命的悲歌。在他身上,我们会看到自信和勇气,激情与幻想,勤奋与斗志,而他也凭借这些,使自己的人生达到辉煌。今天,世界充满着变化,无数的机遇,只有那些有卓越才能的人才能得到。全欧洲的热血青年们,没有谁比拿破仑更适合做你们的榜样了!他在所有的西方人中,独一无二,在历史的舞台上呼风唤雨,掀起狂风巨浪,并为之付出了毕生的代价。