He had wondered much as to the fortunes of Nan and her children, but as it has been said, his tenderness of heart kept him as far as possible from what he believed must now be a scene of sheer failure and destitution7: if, indeed, the shop were not abandoned; and he was by no means anxious that his poor relations should discover his new lodgings8. So now he picked his way p. 142with circumspection9, and with careful cogitation10 of a mental map of the streets; because a thoughtless straightforward11 journey would take him much too near to Harbour Lane.
He crossed a swing bridge that gave access to a hundred and fifty yards of roadway ending in another swing bridge. But there was a crook12 in the road, and when he passed it he found that the second bridge was open. Now in Blackwall an “open” bridge did not mean one that the passenger could cross; that was a “shut” bridge. The “open” bridge was one swung aside to let a ship through, as a pair of gates is opened for a carriage. So Uncle Isaac resigned himself to wait, with an increasingly impatient group, till the bridge should swing into place again and give passage. He stood behind the chain that hung across the road to check traffic, and meditatively13 rubbed his nose with the Turk’s-head. Presently he grew conscious of a rusty14 figure on his left, edging unsteadily a little nearer.
“’Ow do, Mr. Mundy?” came a hoarse15 whisper. And Mother Born-drunk, a trifle less drunk than usual, but careful to grasp a post, leered a grimy leer and waved her disengaged hand in his face, as one saluting16 a friend at a great distance. Uncle Isaac emitted a non-committal grunt—one that might be taken for an accidental cough by the bystanders—and sidled a foot or two away. For he, too, had known Emma Pacey in her more decent p. 143days, and, with other acquaintances of that time, was sometimes put to shifts to avoid her.
Mother Born-drunk left the post and followed her victim. “Don’ run ’way,” she ejaculated, unsteadily. “I’m ole pal17. Mish’ Mundy!” She thrust out a foul18 paw, and dropped her voice coaxingly19. “Len’sh twopence!” Uncle Isaac gazed uneasily in another direction, and took more ground to the right. The waiting passengers, glad of a little amusement, grinned one at another.
“J’year, Mr. Mundy!” This in a loud voice, with an imperious gesture. “J’year! Can’tche’ answer when a lady speaks t’ye?”
“Go on, guv’nor!” said a boy encouragingly, sitting on a post. “Where’s yer manners? Take auf yer ’at to the laidy!” And there was a snigger. Uncle Isaac shifted farther still, and put a group of men between himself and his persecutor20. But she was not to be so easily shaken off. Drawing herself up with a scornful majesty21 that was marred22 by an occasional lurch23, and the bobbing of the tangled24 bonnet25 hanging over one ear, she came after Uncle Isaac through the passage readily made by the knot of men.
“Ho! so it’s this, is it,” she declaimed, with a stately backward sweep of the arm. “If a lady asks a triflin’ favour you insult ’er. Ye low, common, scoundrel!” This very slowly, with a deep tragedy hiss26 and a long p. 144pause. Then with a piercing note of appeal: “Mr. Mundy! I demand an answer! Once more! Will you lend me twopence?”
The people (a small crowd by this time) forgot the troublesome bridge, and turned to the new diversion. “Give the laidy twopence!” roared the boy on the post, in a deep bass27. “’Arf a pint28 ’ud save ’er life!”
Uncle Isaac looked desperately29 about him, but he saw no sympathy. Dockmen, workmen, boys—all were agog30 to see as much fun as possible in the time at disposal. The pursuing harpy came a step nearer, and bawled31 again, “Will you lend me twopence?”
“No!” cried Uncle Isaac, driven to bay at last. “No, I won’t! Go away! Go away, you—you infamious creacher!”
“You won’t?”
“No, not by no means. Go away. Y’ought to be ashamed of yerself, you—you—you opstroperous faggit!”
“Calls ’isself a gen’leman,” she said, lifting her gaze to the clouds. “Calls ’isself a gen’leman, an’ uses such language to a lady!”
“Shockin’,” said one in the hilarious32 crowd. “What a wicked ole bloke!”
Uncle Isaac gave another unquiet glance about him, and moved another yard. The woman brought her eyes to earth again, and: “Won’t gimme twopence,” she p. 145proclaimed, “an’ I’m a orficer’s widow! Never mind, len’ me a penny; on’y a penny, Mr. Mundy. Do, there’sh a dear! O you are a ole duck!” And Mother Born-drunk stumbled toward Uncle Isaac with affectionately extended arms.
The crowd shrieked33 with joy, but Uncle Isaac turned and ran, one hand clapped to the crown of his very tall hat. He would wait for no bridge now, but get away as best he could. The boys yelled and whistled, and kept up at an easy trot34 with the quick scuttle35 of his short legs; behind them came Mother Born-drunk, tripping and floundering, spurred to infuriate chase by sight and sound of her unchanging enemies, the boys, and growing at every step more desirous of clawing at one of them than of catching36 Uncle Isaac.
As for him, he dropped his hat once, and nearly fell on it, in looking behind. So he thrust it under his arm as he scurried37 past the bend in the road; and there despair seized him, for now the other bridge was open too. Which escape might he make first? At the end from which he had turned back, a great liner was being towed through at a snail’s pace, funnels38 and masts scarce seeming to move across the street. But at this end a small coaster went out briskly, and her mizzen was more than half over now. The woman was less than twenty yards off, but though she still staggered nearer, she was engaged with boys. Uncle Isaac put p. 146panic aside, and resolved on dignity. He took his hat from under his arm, and began to brush it on his sleeve.
Mother Born-drunk was in the hands of her enemies, though there were fewer than usual. She swore and swiped at them, and they flung and yelled and danced. But they drew nearer Uncle Isaac, for it was a new variation in the sport to involve an old gentleman with his Sunday clothes on. Then shouted the woman breathlessly: “P’lice! p’lice! Mish’ Mundy, I’ll give y’ in charge for annoyin’ me. ’J’ear!” She came very near and made a catch at him, which he dodged39 without regard to dignity. “Mish’ Mundy! Stand a drop—just a little drop for ole times! If ye don’t stand a drop I’ll give y’ in charge!”
The coaster was through, and soon the bridge would shut. Uncle Isaac moved up toward the chain amid shouts and jibes40. “Y’ought to be ashamed o’ yerself,” bawled the woman, “a ole man like you, annoyin’ a lady!”
But the men were at the winch, and the bridge swung. First of all the impatient passengers, Uncle Isaac sprang on the moving iron and got across at peril41 of life and limb ere the sections were still. He heard a louder shout of laughter from behind, where Mother Born-drunk, forgetting the chain as she made for the p. 147bridge, had sprawled42 over it where it hung low in the middle; and he quickened his pace.
Now it chanced that Johnny May had been taken that week to his first out-door job, on a large steamer; and, full of the wonders of the ship, he had made interest with the “shippy” (who was officially called the shipkeeper) to bring Bessy on board on Saturday afternoon. The visit was a pure delight for both, with more than a spice of danger for Bessy in climbing gangways, companions, and greasy43 engine-room steps; indeed, the “shippy” carried her down the lower flights of these last. Johnny explained the prodigious44 engines with all the extreme technicality of a new hand, and with much pride pointed45 out the part whereon he (with the help of three or four journeymen) had been at work. Bessy stared and marvelled46, and her admiration47 for her brother waxed into reverence48. For was he not an engineer, master of these massy, shining immensities, so amazingly greater than any engines she had dreamed of, so awful in their monstrous49 stillness? Bessy peeped along the tunnel of the great shaft50, and then, a minute after, up into the towering complexities51 above, and she was almost afraid—would have been afraid to stay there alone.
They walked home gay and talkative, and Bessy’s face had a light and a colour that it had lacked since Johnny and gran’dad had seen it together. For she had p. 148seen great things, and had walked in passenger saloons more wonderful than all her palaces of romance. It struck Johnny, for the first time in his life, that Bessy was rather pretty; and as to her lameness52 though some would call it a blemish53 (as it certainly was a misfortune), yet she carried it trimly, and he almost thought it suited her.
And so they went till at a corner a hurried little man with a moon-face ran into them, hat first,—for he was brushing it again.
Now both Johnny and Bessy wore their best clothes, and both looked happy and well, so at a glance Uncle Isaac guessed that things had gone aright at Harbour Lane after all. Just as distress54 troubled and repelled55 him, so good fortune pleased his amiable56 genius and attracted his regards. So though he was still a little flushed and uneasy, he was glad of the encounter. He had been unwell, it seemed, and—and busy, and all that. But how was trade at the shop?
Johnny and Bessy told the tale of the new ship-yard gate, and of the cold bacon and the pickles57 and the new prosperity. Uncle Isaac was greatly pleased. He was sorry, very sorry, he said, that he had not been able to call lately, but he would delay no longer—he would be round that very evening. And, indeed, he came, and immensely approved of the bacon. And he came again, and approved immensely of the cheese and p. 149the pickles and whatever else there was for supper, and again after that, and usually carried something home for trial in the calmer mood of the morning. And thus family ties were made whole, and avuncular58 love continued.
“Jest to think,” Uncle Isaac would say with a wave of his fork, “what a quantity o’ blessin’s you owe to my advice, Nan! What was my words o’ counsel to you prefarrotory? ‘Enterprise,’ sez I. ‘Enterprise is what you want,’ I sez; there’s alwis money in Enterprise! An’ what’s the result? Enterprise, representin’ biled ’ock o’ bacon, is done the trick wonderful. But, in regards to enterprise, why not call it ’am?”
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1
shipwright
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| n.造船工人 | |
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rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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destitution
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| n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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circumspection
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| n.细心，慎重 | |
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cogitation
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| n.仔细思考，计划，设计 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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persecutor
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| n. 迫害者 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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agog
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| adj.兴奋的，有强烈兴趣的； adv.渴望地 | |
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bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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scurried
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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funnels
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| 漏斗( funnel的名词复数 )； （轮船，火车等的）烟囱 | |
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dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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jibes
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| n.与…一致( jibe的名词复数 )；（与…）相符；相匹配v.与…一致( jibe的第三人称单数 )；（与…）相符；相匹配 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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51
complexities
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| 复杂性(complexity的名词复数)； 复杂的事物 | |
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lameness
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| n. 跛, 瘸, 残废 | |
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blemish
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| v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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pickles
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| n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱 | |
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avuncular
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| adj.叔伯般的，慈祥的 | |
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