round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第14部分
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hung in rows over the brass rails； the cheap studs glistening from the white
cards at either side； while in the background were the rows of cloth caps
and the bank of boxes in which the more valuable hats were screened from
the sunlight。 She kept the books and sent out the bills。 No one but she
knew the joys and sorrows which crept into his small life。 She had
shared his exultations when the gentleman who was going to India had
bought ten dozen shirts and an incredible number of collars； and she had
been as stricken as he when； after the goods had gone； the bill was
returned from the hotel address with the intimation that no such person
had lodged there。 For five years they had worked； building up the
business； thrown together all the more closely because their marriage had
been a childless one。 Now； however； there were signs that a change was
at hand； and that speedily。 She was unable to come downstairs； and her
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mother； Mrs。 Peyton； came over from Camberwell to nurse her and to
welcome her grandchild。
Little qualms of anxiety came over Johnson as his wife's time
approached。 However； after all； it was a natural process。 Other men's
wives went through it unharmed； and why should not his？ He was
himself one of a family of fourteen； and yet his mother was alive and
hearty。 It was quite the exception for anything to go wrong。 And yet in
spite of his reasonings the remembrance of his wife's condition was
always like a sombre background to all his other thoughts。
Dr。 Miles of Bridport Place； the best man in the neighbourhood； was
retained five months in advance； and； as time stole on； many little packets
of absurdly small white garments with frill work and ribbons began to
arrive among the big consignments of male necessities。 And then one
evening； as Johnson was ticketing the scarfs in the shop； he heard a bustle
upstairs； and Mrs。 Peyton came running down to say that Lucy was bad
and that she thought the doctor ought to be there without delay。
It was not Robert Johnson's nature to hurry。 He was prim and staid
and liked to do things in an orderly fashion。 It was a quarter of a mile
from the corner of the New North Road where his shop stood to the
doctor's house in Bridport Place。 There were no cabs in sight so he set
off upon foot； leaving the lad to mind the shop。 At Bridport Place he was
told that the doctor had just gone to Harman Street to attend a man in a fit。
Johnson started off for Harman Street； losing a little of his primness as he
became more anxious。 Two full cabs but no empty ones passed him on
the way。 At Harman Street he learned that the doctor had gone on to a
case of measles； fortunately he had left the address69 Dunstan Road； at
the other side of the Regent's Canal。 Robert's primness had vanished
now as he thought of the women waiting at home； and he began to run as
hard as he could down the Kingsland Road。 Some way along he sprang
into a cab which stood by the curb and drove to Dunstan Road。 The
doctor had just left； and Robert Johnson felt inclined to sit down upon the
steps in despair。
Fortunately he had not sent the cab away； and he was soon back at
Bridport Place。 Dr。 Miles had not returned yet； but they were expecting
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him every instant。 Johnson waited； drumming his fingers on his knees； in
a high； dim lit room； the air of which was charged with a faint； sickly
smell of ether。 The furniture was massive； and the books in the shelves
were sombre； and a squat black clock ticked mournfully on the
mantelpiece。 It told him that it was half…past seven； and that he had been
gone an hour and a quarter。 Whatever would the women think of him！
Every time that a distant door slammed he sprang from his chair in a
quiver of eagerness。 His ears strained to catch the deep notes of the
doctor's voice。 And then； suddenly； with a gush of joy he heard a quick
step outside； and the sharp click of the key in the lock。 In an instant he
was out in the hall； before the doctor's foot was over the threshold。
〃If you please； doctor； I've come for you；〃 he cried； 〃the wife was
taken bad at six o'clock。〃
He hardly knew what he expected the doctor to do。 Something very
energetic； certainlyto seize some drugs； perhaps； and rush excitedly with
him through the gaslit streets。 Instead of that Dr。 Miles threw his
umbrella into the rack； jerked off his hat with a somewhat peevish gesture；
and pushed Johnson back into the room。
〃Let's see！ You DID engage me； didn't you？〃 he asked in no very
cordial voice。
〃Oh； yes； doctor； last November。 Johnson the outfitter； you know； in
the New North Road。〃
〃Yes； yes。 It's a bit overdue；〃 said the doctor； glancing at a list of
names in a note…book with a very shiny cover。 〃Well； how is she？〃
〃I don't〃
〃Ah； of course； it's your first。 You'll know more about it next time。〃
〃Mrs。 Peyton said it was time you were there； sir。〃
〃My dear sir； there can be no very pressing hurry in a first case。 We
shall have an all…night affair； I fancy。 You can't get an engine to go
without coals； Mr。 Johnson； and I have had nothing but a light lunch。〃
〃We could have something cooked for you something hot and a cup
of tea。〃
〃Thank you； but I fancy my dinner is actually on the table。 I can do
no good in the earlier stages。 Go home and say that I am coming； and I
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will be round immediately afterwards。〃
A sort of horror filled Robert Johnson as he gazed at this man who
could think about his dinner at such a moment。 He had not imagination
enough to realise that the experience which seemed so appallingly
important to him； was the merest everyday matter of business to the
medical man who could not have lived for a year had he not； amid the rush
of work； remembered what was due to his own health。 To Johnson he
seemed little better than a monster。 His thoughts were bitter as he sped
back to his shop。
〃You've taken your time；〃 said his mother…in…law reproachfully；
looking down the stairs as he entered。
〃I couldn't help it！〃 he gasped。 〃Is it over？〃
〃Over！ She's got to be worse； poor dear； before she can be better。
Where's Dr。 Miles！〃
〃He's coming after he's had dinner。〃 The old woman was about to
make some reply； when； from the half…opened door behind a high
whinnying voice cried out for her。 She ran back and closed the door；
while Johnson； sick at heart； turned into the shop。 There he sent the lad
home and busied himself frantically in putting up shutters and turning out
boxes。 When all was closed and finished he seated himself in the parlour
behind the shop。 But he could not sit still。 He rose incessantly to walk
a few paces and then fell back into a chair once more。 Suddenly the
clatter of china fell upon his ear； and he saw the maid pass the door with a
cup on a tray and a smoking teapot。
〃Who is that for； Jane？〃 he asked。
〃For the mistress； Mr。 Johnson。 She says she would fancy it。〃
There was immeasurable consolation to him in that homely cup of tea。
It wasn't so very bad after all if his wife could think of such things。 So
light… hearted was he that he asked for a cup also。 He had just finished it
when the doctor arrived； with a small black leather bag in his hand。
〃Well； how is she？〃 he asked genially。
〃Oh； she's very much better；〃 said Johnson； with enthusiasm。
〃Dear me； that's bad！〃 said the doctor。 〃Perhaps it will do if I look in
on my morning round？〃
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〃No； no；〃 cried Johnson； clutching at his thick frieze overcoat。 〃We
are so glad that you have come。 And； doctor； please come down soon
and let me know what you think about it。〃
The doctor passed upstairs； his firm； heavy steps resounding through
the house。 Johnson could hear his boots creaking as he walked about the
floor above him； and the sound was a consolation to him。 It was crisp
and decided； the tread of a man who had plenty of self…confidence。
Presently； still st
