samuel titmarsh and the great hoggarty diamond-第15部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


steal　the　candles；　from　the　third　we　went　because　Aunt　Hoggarty
came　down　to　breakfast　the　morning　after　our　arrival　with　her　face
shockingly　swelled　and　bitten　bynever　mind　what。　　To　cut　a　long
tale　short；　I　was　half　mad　with　the　continual　choppings　and
changings；　and　the　long　stories　and　scoldings　of　my　aunt。　　As　for
her　great　acquaintances；　none　of　them　were　in　London；　and　she　made
it　a　matter　of　quarrel　with　me　that　I　had　not　introduced　her　to
John　Brough；　Esquire；　M。P。；　and　to　Lord　and　Lady　Tiptoff；　her
relatives。

Mr。　Brough　was　at　Brighton　when　we　arrived　in　town；　and　on　his
return　I　did　not　care　at　first　to　tell　our　Director　that　I　had
brought　my　aunt　with　me；　or　mention　my　embarrassments　for　money。
He　looked　rather　serious　when　perforce　I　spoke　of　the　latter　to　him
and　asked　for　an　advance；　but　when　he　heard　that　my　lack　of　money
had　been　occasioned　by　the　bringing　of　my　aunt　to　London；　his　tone
instantly　changed。　　〃That；　my　dear　boy；　alters　the　question；　Mrs。
Hoggarty　is　of　an　age　when　all　things　must　be　yielded　to　her。　　Here
are　a　hundred　pounds；　and　I　beg　you　to　draw　upon　me　whenever　you
are　in　the　least　in　want　of　money。〃　　This　gave　me　breathing…time
until　she　should　pay　her　share　of　the　household　expenses。　　And　the
very　next　day　Mr。　and　Mrs。　John　Brough；　in　their　splendid　carriage…
and…four；　called　upon　Mrs。　Hoggarty　and　my　wife　at　our　lodgings　in
Lamb's　Conduit　Street。

It　was　on　the　very　day　when　my　poor　aunt　appeared　with　her　face　in
that　sad　condition；　and　she　did　not　fail　to　inform　Mrs。　Brough　of
the　cause；　and　to　state　that　at　Castle　Hoggarty；　or　at　her　country
place　in　Somersetshire；　she　had　never　heard　or　thought　of　such　vile
odious　things。

〃Gracious　heavens！〃　shouted　John　Brough；　Esquire；　〃a　lady　of　your
rank　to　suffer　in　this　way！the　excellent　relative　of　my　dear　boy；
Titmarsh！　　Never；　madamnever　let　it　be　said　that　Mrs。　Hoggarty　of
Castle　Hoggarty　should　be　subject　to　such　horrible　humiliation；
while　John　Brough　has　a　home　to　offer　her；a　humble；　happy；
Christian　home；　madam；　though　unlike；　perhaps；　the　splendour　to
which　you　have　been　accustomed　in　the　course　of　your　distinguished
career。　　Isabella　my　love！Belinda！　speak　to　Mrs。　Hoggarty。　　Tell
her　that　John　Brough's　house　is　hers　from　garret　to　cellar。　　I
repeat　it；　madam；　from　garret　to　cellar。　　I　desireI　insistI
order；　that　Mrs。　Hoggarty　of　Castle　Hoggarty's　trunks　should　be
placed　this　instant　in　my　carriage！　　Have　the　goodness　to　look　to
them　yourself；　Mrs。　Titmarsh；　and　see　that　your　dear　aunt's
comforts　are　better　provided　for　than　they　have　been。〃

Mary　went　away　rather　wondering　at　this　order。　　But；　to　be　sure；
Mr。　Brough　was　a　great　man；　and　her　Samuel's　benefactor；　and　though
the　silly　child　absolutely　began　to　cry　as　she　packed　and　toiled　at
Aunt's　enormous　valises；　yet　she　performed　the　work；　and　came　down
with　a　smiling　face　to　my　aunt；　who　was　entertaining　Mr。　and　Mrs。
Brough　with　a　long　and　particular　account　of　the　balls　at　the
Castle；　in　Dublin；　in　Lord　Charleville's　time。

〃I　have　packed　the　trunks；　Aunt；　but　I　am　not　strong　enough　to
bring　them　down；〃　said　Mary。

〃Certainly　not；　certainly　not；〃　said　John　Brough；　perhaps　a　little
ashamed。　　〃Hallo！　　George；　Frederic；　Augustus；　come　upstairs　this
instant；　and　bring　down　the　trunks　of　Mrs。　Hoggarty　of　Castle
Hoggarty；　which　this　young　lady　will　show　you。〃

Nay；　so　great　was　Mr。　Brough's　condescension；　that　when　some　of　his
fashionable　servants　refused　to　meddle　with　the　trunks；　he　himself
seized　a　pair　of　them　with　both　bands；　carried　them　to　the
carriage；　and　shouted　loud　enough　for　all　Lamb's　Conduit　Street　to
hear；　〃John　Brough　is　not　proudno；　no；　and　if　his　footmen　are　too
high　and　mighty；　he'll　show　them　a　lesson　of　humility。〃

Mrs。　Brough　was　for　running　downstairs　too；　and　taking　the　trunks
from　her　husband；　but　they　were　too　heavy　for　her；　so　she　contented
herself　with　sitting　on　one；　and　asking　all　persons　who　passed　her；
whether　John　Brough　was　not　an　angel　of　a　man？

In　this　way　it　was　that　my　aunt　left　us。　　I　was　not　aware　of　her
departure；　for　I　was　at　the　office　at　the　time；　and　strolling　back
at　five　with　Gus；　saw　my　dear　Mary　smiling　and　bobbing　from　the
window；　and　beckoning　to　us　both　to　come　up。　　This　I　thought　was
very　strange；　because　Mrs。　Hoggarty　could　not　abide　Hoskins；　and
indeed　had　told　me　repeatedly　that　either　she　or　he　must　quit　the
house。　　Well；　we　went　upstairs；　and　there　was　Mary；　who　had　dried
her　tears　and　received　us　with　the　most　smiling　of　faces；　and
laughed　and　clapped　her　hands；　and　danced；　and　shook　Gus's　hand。
And　what　do　you　think　the　little　rogue　proposed？　　I　am　blest　if　she
did　not　say　she　would　like　to　go　to　Vauxhall！

As　dinner　was　laid　for　three　persons　only；　Gus　took　his　seat　with
fear　and　trembling；　and　then　Mrs。　Sam　Titmarsh　related　the
circumstances　which　had　occurred；　and　how　Mrs。　Hoggarty　had　been
whisked　away　to　Fulham　in　Mr。　Brough's　splendid　carriage…and…four。
〃Let　her　go；〃　I　am　sorry　to　say；　said　I；　and　indeed　we　relished　our
veal…cutlets　and　jam…pudding　a　great　deal　more　than　Mrs。　Hoggarty
did　her　dinner　off　plate　at　the　Rookery。

We　had　a　very　merry　party　to　Vauxhall；　Gus　insisting　on　standing
treat；　and　you　may　be　certain　that　my　aunt；　whose　absence　was
prolonged　for　three　weeks；　was　heartily　welcome　to　remain　away；　for
we　were　much　merrier　and　more　comfortable　without　her。　　My　little
Mary　used　to　make　my　breakfast　before　I　went　to　office　of　mornings；
and　on　Sundays　we　had　a　holiday；　and　saw　the　dear　little　children
eat　their　boiled　beef　and　potatoes　at　the　Foundling；　and　heard　the
beautiful　music：　　but；　beautiful　as　it　is；　I　think　the　children
were　a　more　beautiful　sight　still；　and　the　look　of　their　innocent
happy　faces　was　better　than　the　best　sermon。　　On　week…days　Mrs。
Titmarsh　would　take　a　walk　about　five　o'clock　in　the　evening　on　the
LEFT…hand　side　of　Lamb's　Conduit　Street　（as　you　go　to　Holborn）ay；
and　sometimes　pursue　her　walk　as　far　as　Snow　Hill；　when　two　young
gents　from　the　I。　W。　D。　Fire　and　Life　were　pretty　sure　to　meet　her；
and　then　how　happily　we　all　trudged　off　to　dinner！　　Once　we　came　up
as　a　monster　of　a　man；　with　high　heels　and　a　gold…headed　cane；　and
whiskers　all　over　his　face；　was　grinning　under　Mary's　bonnet；　and
chattering　to　her；　close　to　Day　and　Martin's　Blacking　Manufactory
（not　near　such　a　handsome　thing　then　as　it　is　now）there　was　the
man　chattering　and　ogling　his　best；　when　who　should　come　up　but　Gus
and　I？　　And　in　the　twinkling　of　a　pegpost；　as　Lord　Duberley　says；
my　gentleman　was　seized　by　the　collar　of　his　coat　and　found　himself
sprawling　under　a　stand　of　hackney…coaches；　where　all　the　watermen
were　grinning　at　him。　　The　best　of　it　was；　he　left　his　HEAD　OF　HAIR
AND　WHISKERS　in　my　hand：　　but　Mary　said；　〃Don't　be　hard　upon　him；
Samuel；　it's　only　a　Frenchman。〃　　And　so　we　gave　him　his　wig　back；
which　one　of　the　grinning　stable…boys　put　on　and　carried　to　him　as
he　lay　in　the　straw。

He　shrieked　out　something　about　〃arretez；〃　and　〃Francais；〃　and
〃champ…d'honneur；〃　but　we　walked　on；　Gus　putting　his　thumb　to　his
nose　and　stretching　out　his　finger　at　Master　Frenchman。　　This　made
everybody　laugh；　and　so　the　adventure　ended。

About　ten　days　after　my　aunt's　departure　came　a　letter　from　her；　of
which　I　give　a　copy：…


〃My　Dear　Nephew；It　was　my　earnest　whish　e'er　this　to　have
returned　to　London；　where　I　am　sure　you　and　my　niece　Titmarsh　miss
me　very　much；　and　where　she；　poor　thing；　quite　inexperienced　in　the
ways　of　'the　great　metropulus；'　in　aconamy；　and　indeed　in　every
qualaty　requasit　in　a　good　wife　and　the　mistress　of　a　famaly；　can
hardly　manidge；　I　am　sure；　without　me。

〃Tell　her　ON　NO　ACCOUNT　to　pay　more　than　6。5D。　for　the　prime
pieces；　4。75D。　for　soup　meat；　and　that　the　very　best　of　London
butter　is　to　be　had　for　8。5D。；　of　course；　for　pudns　and　the　kitchin
you'll　employ　a　commoner　sort。　　My　trunks　were　sadly　packed　by　Mrs。
Titmarsh；　and　the　hasp　of　the　portmantyou…lock　has　gone　through　my
yellow　satn。　　I　have　darned　it；　and　woar　it　already　twice；　at　two
ellygant　（though　quiat）　evening…parties　given　by　my　HOSPATABLE
host；　and　my　pegreen　velvet　on　Saturday　at　a　grand　dinner；　when
Lord　Scaramouch　handed　me　to　table。　　Everything　was　in　the　most
SUMPTIOUS　STYLE。　　Soup　top　and　bottom　（white　and　brown）；　removed　by
turbit　and　sammon　with　IMMENSE　BOLES　OF　LOBSTER…SAUCE。　　Lobsters
alone　cost　15S。　　Turbit；　three　guineas。　　The　hole　sammon；　weighing；
I'm　sure；　15　lbs。；　and　NEVER　SEEN　at　table　again；　not　a　bitt　of
pickled　sammon　the　hole　weak　afterwards。　　This　kind　of　extravigance
would　JUST　SUIT　Mrs。　Sam　Titmarsh；　who；　as　I　always　say；　burns　THE
CANDLE　AT　BOTH　ENDS。　　Well；　young　people；　it　is　lucky　for　you　you
have　an　old　aunt　who　knows　better；　and　has　a　long　purse；　without
witch；　I　dare　say；　SOME　folks　would　be　glad　to　see　her　out　of
doors。　　I　don't　mean　you；　Samuel；　who　have；　I　must　say；　been　a
dutiful　nephew　to　me。　　Well；　I　dare　say　I　shan't　live　long；　and
some　folks　won't　be　sorry　to　have　me　in　my　grave。

〃Indeed；　on　Sunday　I　was　taken　in　my　stomick　very　ill；　and　thought
it　might　have　been　the　lobster…sauce；　but　Doctor　Blogg；　who　was
called　in；　said　it　was；　he　very　much　feared；　CUMSUMPTIVE；　but　gave
me　some　pills　and　a　draft　wh　made　me　better。　　Please　call　upon　him…
…he　lives　at　Pimlico；　and　you　can　walk　out　there　after　office
hoursand　present　him　with　1L。　lS。；　with　my　compliments。　　I　have
no　money　here　but　a　10L。　note；　the　rest　being　locked　up　in　my　box
at　Lamb's　Cundit　Street。

〃Although　the　flesh　is　not　neglected　in　Mr。　B。's　sumptious
establishment；　I　can　assure　you　the　SPERRIT　is　likewise　cared　for。
Mr。　B。　reads　and　igspounds　every　morning；　and　o　but　his　exorcises
refresh　the　hungry　sole　before　breakfast！　　Everything　is　in　the
handsomest　style；silver　and　goold　plate　at　breakfast；　lunch；　and
dinner；　and　his　crest　and　motty；　a　beehive；　with　the　Latn　word
INDUSTRIA；　meaning　industry；　on　EVERYTHINGeven　on　the　chany　juggs
and　things　in　my　bedd…room。　　On　Sunday　we　were　favoured　by　a
special　outpouring　from　the　Rev。　Grimes　Wapshot；　of　the　Amabaptist
Congrigation　here；　and　who　egshorted　for　3　hours　in　the　afternoon
in　Mr。　B。's　private　chapel。　　As　the　widow