雾都孤儿(中英文对照)

Chapter 24【1 / 3】

TREATSONAVERYPOORSUBJECT。BUTISASHORTONE,ANDMAYBEFOUNDOFIMPORTANCEINTHISHISTORY

Itwasnounfitmessengerofdeath,whohaddisturbedthequietofthematron'sroom。Herbodywasbentbyage;herlimbstrembledwithpalsy;herface,distortedintoamumblingleer,resembledmorethegrotesqueshapingofsomewildpencil,thantheworkofNature'shand。

Alas!HowfewofNature'sfacesareleftalonetogladdenuswiththeirbeauty!Thecares,andsorrows,andhungerings,oftheworld,changethemastheychangehearts;anditisonlywhenthosepassionssleep,andhavelosttheirholdforever,thatthetroubledcloudspassoff,andleaveHeaven'ssurfaceclear。Itisacommonthingforthecountenancesofthedead,eveninthatfixedandrigidstate,tosubsideintothelong-forgottenexpressionofsleepinginfancy,andsettleintotheverylookofearlylife;socalm,sopeaceful,dotheygrowagain,thatthosewhoknewthemintheirhappychildhood,kneelbythecoffin'ssideinawe,andseetheAngelevenuponearth。

Theoldcronetotteredalongthepassages,andupthestairs,mutteringsomeindistinctanswerstothechidingsofhercompanion;beingatlengthcompelledtopauseforbreath,shegavethelightintoherhand,andremainedbehindtofollowasshemight:whilethemorenimblesuperiormadeherwaytotheroomwherethesickwomanlay。

Itwasabaregarret-room,withadimlightburningatthefartherend。Therewasanotheroldwomanwatchingbythebed;theparishapothecary'sapprenticewasstandingbythefire,makingatoothpickoutofaquill。

‘Coldnight,Mrs。Corney,’saidthisyounggentleman,asthematronentered。

‘Verycold,indeed,sir,’repliedthemistress,inhermostciviltones,anddroppingacurtseyasshespoke。

‘Youshouldgetbettercoalsoutofyourcontractors,’saidtheapothecary'sdeputy,breakingalumponthetopofthefirewiththerustypoker;‘thesearenotatallthesortofthingforacoldnight。’

‘They'retheboard'schoosing,sir,’returnedthematron。‘Theleasttheycoulddo,wouldbetokeepusprettywarm:forourplacesarehardenough。’

Theconversationwashereinterruptedbyamoanfromthesickwoman。

‘Oh!’saidtheyoungmag,turninghisfacetowardsthebed,asifhehadpreviouslyquiteforgottenthepatient,‘it'sallU。P.there,Mrs。Corney。’

‘Itis,isit,sir?’askedthematron。

‘Ifshelastsacoupleofhours,Ishallbesurprised,’saidtheapothecary'sapprentice,intentuponthetoothpick'spoint。‘It'sabreak-upofthesystemaltogether。Isshedozing,oldlady?’

Theattendantstoopedoverthebed,toascertain;andnoddedintheaffirmative。

‘Thenperhapsshe'llgooffinthatway,ifyoudon'tmakearow,’saidtheyoungman。‘Putthelightonthefloor。Shewon'tseeitthere。’

Theattendantdidasshewastold:shakingherheadmeanwhile,tointimatethatthewomanwouldnotdiesoeasily;havingdoneso,sheresumedherseatbythesideoftheothernurse,whohadbythistimereturned。Themistress,withanexpressionofimpatience,wrappedherselfinhershawl,andsatatthefootofthebed。

Theapothecary'sapprentice,havingcompletedthemanufactureofthetoothpick,plantedhimselfinfrontofthefireandmadegooduseofitfortenminutesorso:whenapparentlygrowingratherdull,hewishedMrs。Corneyjoyofherjob,andtookhimselfoffontiptoe。

Whentheyhadsatinsilenceforsometime,thetwooldwomenrosefromthebed,andcrouchingoverthefire,heldouttheirwitheredhandstocatchtheheat。Theflamethrewaghastlylightontheirshrivelledfaces,andmadetheiruglinessappearterrible,as,inthisposition,theybegantoconverseinalowvoice。

‘Didshesayanymore,Annydear,whileIwasgone?’inquiredthemessenger。

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