the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第31部分
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relieved from hunger and from temptation； is surely wisely put in our daily
prayer。 Think of it you who are rich； and take heed how you turn a
beggar away。
The child lay there in its wicker cradle； with its sweet fixed smile in its
face （I think the angels in heaven must have been glad to welcome that
pretty innocent smile）； and it was only the next day； after my wife had
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gone to lie down； and I sat keeping watch by it； that I remembered the
condition of its parents； and thought； I can't tell with what a pang； that I
had not money left to bury the little thing； and wept bitter tears of despair。
Now； at last； I thought I must apply to my poor mother； for this was a
sacred necessity； and I took paper； and wrote her a letter at the baby's side；
and told her of our condition。 But； thank Heaven！ I never sent the letter；
for as I went to the desk to get sealing…wax and seal that dismal letter； my
eyes fell upon the diamond pin that I had quite forgotten； and that was
lying in the drawer of the desk。
I looked into the bedroom；my poor wife was asleep； she had been
watching for three nights and days； and had fallen asleep from sheer
fatigue； and I ran out to a pawnbroker's with the diamond； and received
seven guineas for it； and coming back put the money into the landlady's
hand； and told her to get what was needful。 My wife was still asleep
when I came back； and when she woke； we persuaded her to go downstairs
to the landlady's parlour； and meanwhile the necessary preparations were
made； and the poor child consigned to its coffin。
The next day； after all was over； Mrs。 Stokes gave me back three out of
the seven guineas； and then I could not help sobbing out to her my doubts
and wretchedness； telling her that this was the last money I had； and when
that was gone I knew not what was to become of the best wife that ever a
man was blest with。
My wife was downstairs with the woman。 Poor Gus； who was with
me； and quite as much affected as any of the party； took me by the arm；
and led me downstairs； and we quite forgot all about the prison and the
rules； and walked a long long way across Blackfriars Bridge； the kind
fellow striving as much as possible to console me。
When we came back； it was in the evening。 The first person who met
me in the house was my kind mother； who fell into my arms with many
tears； and who rebuked me tenderly for not having told her of my
necessities。 She never should have known of them； she said； but she had
not heard from me since I wrote announcing the birth of the child； and she
felt uneasy about my silence； and meeting Mr。 Smithers in the street； asked
from him news concerning me： whereupon that gentleman； with some
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little show of alarm； told her that he thought her daughter…in…law was
confined in an uncomfortable place； that Mrs。 Hoggarty had left us； finally；
that I was in prison。 This news at once despatched my poor mother on
her travels； and she had only just come from the prison； where she learned
my address。
I asked her whether she had seen my wife； and how she found her。
Rather to my amaze she said that Mary was out with the landlady when
she arrived； and eightnine o'clock came； and she was absent still。
At ten o'clock returnednot my wife； but Mrs。 Stokes； and with her a
gentleman； who shook hands with me on coming into the room； and said；
〃Mr。 Titmarsh！ I don't know whether you will remember me： my name is
Tiptoff。 I have brought you a note from Mrs。 Titmarsh； and a message
from my wife； who sincerely commiserates your loss； and begs you will
not be uneasy at Mrs。 Titmarsh's absence。 She has been good enough to
promise to pass the night with Lady Tiptoff； and I am sure you will not
object to her being away from you； while she is giving happiness to a sick
mother and a sick child。〃 After a few more words； my Lord left us。 My
wife's note only said that Mrs。 Stokes would tell me all。
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CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT A GOOD WIFE IS THE BEST
DIAMOND A MAN CAN WEAR IN HIS BOSOM
〃Mrs。 Titmarsh； ma'am；〃 says Mrs。 Stokes； 〃before I gratify your
curiosity； ma'am； permit me to observe that angels is scarce； and it's rare to
have one； much more two； in a family。 Both your son and your daughter…
in…law； ma'am； are of that uncommon sort； they are； now； reely； ma'am。〃
My mother said she thanked God for both of us； and Mrs。 Stokes
proceeded：…
〃When the fu… when the seminary； ma'am； was concluded this morning；
your poor daughter…in…law was glad to take shelter in my humble parlour；
ma'am； where she wept； and told a thousand stories of the little cherub
that's gone。 Heaven bless us！ it was here but a month； and no one could
have thought it could have done such a many things in that time。 But a
mother's eyes are clear； ma'am； and I had just such another angel； my dear
little Antony； that was born before Jemima； and would have been twenty…
three now were he in this wicked world； ma'am。 However； I won't speak
of him； ma'am； but of what took place。
〃You must know； ma'am； that Mrs。 Titmarsh remained downstairs
while Mr。 Samuel was talking with his friend Mr。 Hoskins； and the poor
thing would not touch a bit of dinner； though we had it made comfortable；
and after dinner； it was with difficulty I could get her to sup a little drop of
wine…and…water； and dip a toast in it。 It was the first morsel that had passed
her lips for many a long hour； ma'am。
〃Well； she would not speak； and I thought it best not to interrupt her；
but she sat and looked at my two youngest that were playing on the rug；
and just as Mr。 Titmarsh and his friend Gus went out； the boy brought the
newspaper； ma'am； …it always comes from three to four； and I began a…
reading of it。 But I couldn't read much； for thinking of poor Mr。 Sam's
sad face as he went out； and the sad story he told me about his money
being so low； and every now and then I stopped reading； and bade Mrs。 T。
not to take on so； and told her some stories about my dear little Antony。
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〃'Ah！' says she； sobbing； and looking at the young ones； 'you have
other children； Mrs。 Stokes； but thatthat was my only one；' and she flung
back in her chair； and cried fit to break her heart： and I knew that the cry
would do her good； and so went back to my paperthe Morning Post；
ma'am； I always read it； for I like to know what's a…going on in the West
End。
〃The very first thing that my eyes lighted upon was this：… 'Wanted；
immediately； a respectable person as wet…nurse。 Apply at No。 …；
Grosvenor Square。' 'Bless us and save us！' says I； 'here's poor Lady
Tiptoff ill；' for I knew her Ladyship's address； and how she was confined
on the very same day with Mrs。 T。： and； for the matter of that； her
Ladyship knows my address； having visited here。
〃A sudden thought came over me。 'My dear Mrs。 Titmarsh；' said I；
'you know how poor and how good your husband is？'
〃'Yes；' says she； rather surprised。
〃'Well； my dear；' says I； looking her hard in the face； 'Lady Tiptoff；
who knows him； wants a nurse for her son； Lord Poynings。 Will you be a
brave woman； and look for the place； and mayhap replace the little one
that God has taken from you？'
〃She began to tremble and blush； and then I told her what you； Mr。
Sam； had told me the other day about your money matters； and no sooner
did she hear it than she sprung to her bonnet； and said； 'Come； come：' and
in five minutes she had me by the arm； and we walked together to
Grosvenor Square。 The air did her no harm； Mr。 Sam； and during the
whole of the walk she never cried but once； and then it was at seeing a
nursery…maid in the Square。
〃A great fellow in livery opens the door； and says； 'You're the forty…
fifth as come about this 'ere place； but； fust； let me ask you a preliminary
question。 Are you a Hirishwoman？'
〃'No； sir；' says Mrs。 T。
〃'That suffishnt； mem；' says the gentleman in plush； 'I see you're not by
your axnt。 Step this way； ladies； if you please。 You'll find some more
candidix for the place upstairs； but I sent away forty…four happlicants；
because they WAS Hirish。'
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〃We
