ND now my Memory flies on to the Time when, I suppose, I was as happy a Girl as any on the Bridge. I know not whether I were pretty or not,—I rather suppose I was, but my Father praised me too much, and my dear Mother never praised me at all, so that I have no Clue to what was really thought of me. There’s an old Saying, “Even a little Beetle1 is a Beauty in the Eyes of its Mother,”—I am bold to think that if I had been a little Black-beetle, I should still have been a Beauty 18in the Eyes of my Father. My Mother used to tell him “all his Geese were Swans,” which was as much as to say that hers were not: be that as it may, if she praised me less, I always felt she loved me as much as he did; and I loved her to the full as much as I loved him.
I remember coming down Stairs one Sunday Morning, dressed for Church,—(we had no Liturgy2, nor Church of England Clergymen then, such was the Will of Parliament,)—dressed in a primrose3 Petticoat and grass-green Mantua neatly4 bundled up behind; black Mits without a Crease5 in them for Tightness, white Pinners starched6 and crimped, and a small steeple-crowned Hat,—when Mark, meeting me at the Stair-foot, stepped out of my Way with a sliding Bow, said, “Bless me, how pretty we are!” and looked attentively7 after me. I felt ashamed and yet 19elated; and thought somewhat more of myself and of him after that; yet I am not quite sure, now, that his Speech was not ironical8, after all.
Of my Friend and Schoolfellow, Violet Armytage, there could not be two Opinions. She was excessively pretty, and knew it too well: which was partly the Fault of her Father, who was always calling her his “sweet Wi-let;” and yet, even if he had not, I think she would have found it out, for all that. My Father called me his rosy9 Cherry, but I knew it for his Manner of Speaking. But Violet always believed Everything that was said in her Praise. She was fond of me by Fits and Starts; and when the affectionate Fit was on, she would bring her Work and sit with me in the Arbour at the Top of our House, by the Hour together. Sometimes my Father and Mother would join 20us there in the long Summer Evenings, and we would sup in the open Air; no one objecting to it but Dolly, who had to carry the Things up so many Pair of Stairs.
At other Times, when my Father and Mother were otherwise engaged, Mark would come up to us; and sit upon the Roller or Watering-pot, and say ever so many funny Things to us both; which we thought very pleasant. Sometimes Violet would let her Ball of Thread roll through the Rails and drop down into the Street, and send him to fetch it; and when he had brought it she would do the same Thing again; which he said was too bad, but I don’t think he minded it. I never played him such Tricks myself; for, what was singular, though we lived in the same House together, I was shyer of him than she was.
21Our first Floor was let to a very learned and excellent Man, though a very singular one, the Reverend Nathanael Blower, who had been Curate of St. Magnus till the Form of Religion changed. Then he was hard put to it, where to lay his Head without fleeing the Country or getting into Trouble; for the Independents were mighty10 intolerant; and he whom we used to think it a great Honour to get a passing Word and a Smile from, was now thankful to take up his Rest among us. Holy Writ11 tells us that some have entertained Angels unawares: if we entertained an Angel, it was not unawares, though he was a very eccentric and untidy one. He said he would have called my Mother the good Shunammite if it had not been a Shame to provoke Comparison between himself and the Prophet Elijah. Indeed his was somewhat like the “Chamber on 22the Wall,” for the Back-room in which he slept was a Lean-to that stuck against the main Wall like a Swallow’s Nest, and hung perilously12 over the foaming13 River, trembling at every half-ebb Tide; but Use inures14 us to Everything, and he said he slept as well in his Nest as a Sailor in his Hammock. As to his Sitting-chamber, it was soon a perfect Pig-sty (if Pigs ever had Books) of Papers, Parchments, Books, Pamphlets, old Shoes, Hats and Coats, Medicines, Cordials, Snuff-boxes, Pipes, Walking-sticks, and Everything that is untidy. After a Time he began to think whether he might not, by a conscientious15 Conformity16, be a Working-bee rather than a Drone in the Hive; and, having some Acquaintance with Master John Howe, the Whitehall Preacher, who was known to be forward in assisting the Royalists and Episcopalians in Distress17, 23if they were but Men of Merit, he went and took his Advice on the Subject before he presented himself before the Triers, that is to say, those who tried the ejected Ministers whether they might be allowed to officiate again in Public or not. Along with him went Doctor Fuller, so well known by his wise and witty18 Books; who was generally upon the merry Pin, for as pious19 a Man as he was. He, presenting himself before Master Howe, said,
The Back-room in which he slept was a Lean-to that stuck against the Main Wall
“Sir, you may observe I am a pretty corpulent Man, and I am to go through a Passage that is very strait. I beg you would be so kind as to give me a Shove, and help me through!”
Master Howe smiled, and frankly20 debated the Subject with him and Master Blower; and the End of it was, that when the Triers put it to Master Fuller whether he had ever had any Experience of a 24Work of Grace upon his Heart, he made Answer, that he could appeal to the Searcher of Hearts, that he made Conscience of his very Thoughts; and Master Blower said in other Words what amounted to the same Thing; howbeit, like Pharaoh’s Butler and Baker21, one was accepted—the other not.
And the Reason was, that they got upon the Question of particular Faith, which was very prevalent in Oliver Cromwell’s Court, and put it to him whether he did not believe that all who asked for Anything in Faith would have it granted them, as well as have an Assurance on the Spot that it would be so. Which he said, in that large, unqualified Sense, he did not, for that he believed many timid Believers had the Faith of Adherence22 who had not the Faith of Assurance; and that if Prayer were made for some unreasonable23 25Thing, however fervently24, he did not think it would be granted. That would not stand Master Blower; so he had to come back to his Swallow’s Nest.
“But is it not an extraordinary Thing, now,” saith he to my Mother, “that they should, except for the Sake of catching25 a Man in his Talk, so hardly insist on the literal Acceptance of a Dogma which they themselves must know they overstrain? For would one of them dare to pray that his Father or Mother might come to Life again in this present World, however much he might long to see them in the Body? Or that all Jews, Infidels, and Heretics, might be converted this very Moment, however desirable a Thing it might be? We do the Word of God Dishonour26 and make it of none Effect when we interpret by the Letter instead of the Spirit.”
26In this Fashion would the excellent Master Blower vouchsafe27 to converse28 with my Mother in my Hearing, much to her Edification and mine. Meantime Violet Armytage was much more given to Flirting29 than Preaching; and had more Admirers than any Girl on the Bridge; but the Man whom she and her Mother were chiefly desirous she should captivate was no Admirer of hers at all. This was Hugh Braidfoot, the Glover, who lived next Door to us; and who talked the Matter over with my Father very freely when they had the Shop to themselves; I sewing in the Parlour behind.
“I can see quite plainly through the old Lady,” quoth he, as he sate30 on his favourite Seat, the Counter, with his Feet easily reaching the Floor, “I can see what she’s driving at, and don’t respect her for it a bit. Why should she always 27be buying Gloves three or four Sizes too small for her broad red Hand, and then be sending Violet over to change them again and again till they fit? I’ve a dozen Pair wasted that she has stretched. And where is the other Daughter, and why is she always in the Background?”
“Kitty is sickly and a little lame,” says my Father, “and has her Health better in the Country.”
“I don’t believe she’s either sickly or lame,” says Hugh Braidfoot, “only the Mother wants to get this Daughter off first—and stands in her own Light by her Man?uvres, I can tell her. Defend me from a managing Mother!”
About this Time, my Father’s Trade had a short but surprising Impetus31, which, as he said to my Mother, “was but the Flaring32 up of a Candle in the Socket33, just before it goes out.” Cropped Heads 28and long Curls being now the Signs of different Parties, and the Round-heads having the uppermost, numerous Persons that had hitherto been vain enough of their long and graceful34 Tresses, which brought no small Gain to the Hairdressers, were now anxious to be shorn as close as French Poodles, for Fear of getting into Scrapes with the reigning35 Power. And as, like the Sheep after Shearing36, they left their Fleeces behind them, which were in many Cases exceeding valuable, my Father and Mark were busied from Morning to Night, in washing, baking, and weaving beautiful Sets of Hair, which were carefully reserved for future Occasion.
“For you will see,” quoth my Father, “there will sooner or later be a Reaction; I may not live to see it, but you Youngsters will; People will be 29tired of Puritanism and Rebellion some of these Days, and then the old State of Things will come back; and the Croppies will be as ashamed of their Stubble Heads as the Cavaliers are of their Love-locks now; and, as Hair won’t grow as fast as green Peas, they will then be constrained37 to wear Wigs38, and then will come a rare Time for the Barbers!” Every Word of which, like so many other of his Prophesyings and Presages39, in due Season proved strictly40 true!
Meantime, though this Fury for cropping filled the Till as long as there was any long Hair to cut off, yet, this being presently done, a great Stagnation41 of Business ensued; for, whereas the curled Locks had required constant curling, brushing, and trimming, the round Heads were easily kept short, and brought only Pence where 30the others had brought Shillings. My Father kept his Hair long to the last; and, to express his Opinion of the Times so as e’en they who ran might read, he set up two waxen Effigies42 in his Window, not merely Heads, but half Lengths; the one representing an exceeding comely43 and handsome young Man, (very much like my Cousin Mark,) with long, fair Tresses most beautifully crimped, falling over his Vandyke Collar and black Velvet44 Coat: the other, with as red a Nose as old Noll, close cropped, so as to show his large Ears sticking out on each Side. And to make the Satire45 more pungent46, the Round-head made as though pointing to the Cavalier, with a small Label superscribed, “See what I was!”—and the Cavalier, with a Look of silent Disgust, was signing at the Round-head and saying, “See what I shall be!”
31
This Comicality, which had cost my Father and Mark sundry47 Hours of evening Labour,—(I had made the Dresses,) drew Crowds of People to the Window, so as even to obstruct48 the Passage along the 32Bridge; and excited Peals49 of ironical Laughter; till, at length, Mirth proceeding50 to Mischief51, Blows began to ensue among those who favoured opposite Sides. Then the Bridgewardens came with Constables52 and Weapons to quell53 the Disturbance54, and an idle Fellow was set in the Cage, and another, with long Hair, put in the Stocks; and one or two of our Panes55 of Glass were broken; so that what began in Sport ended much too seriously; and my Father, finding he must yield to the Times, changed the Cavalier’s Placard into “See what you had better be,” and finally removed it altogether, saying he was nauseated56 with time-serving. But he persisted in wearing his own long Hair, come what would; which drew from the Reverend Master Blower that Similitude about the Trojan Horse, who, I suppose, persisted in wearing his Mane and long 33Tail after they had become Types of a Party. And when my Father was called in question for it by one of the Bridgewardens, and asked why he persevered57 in troubling Israel, he with his usual Spirit retorted upon him with, “How can a Tonsor be expected to hold with a Party that puts Pence into his Till instead of Shillings?” Whereupon the Bridgewarden called him a self-interested Demas, and said no more to him.
Hugh Braidfoot upheld him through thick and thin, laughing all the while; though he kept his own bushy Head as short as a Blacking-brush. Indeed, this Man, though the Essence of Mirth and Good-humour, strongly built, and six Foot high, had not a Quarter of my Father’s Valour.
As for Master Blower, he made a wry58 Face on it, saying that Magnasheh 34Miksheh (which I afterwards heard was Hebrew for well-set Hair) was now of no Account.
—One Evening,—I have good Reason to remember it,—the Days being sultry and at their longest,—we made a Pleasure-party to Greenwich, and took Water below the Bridge. Coming back just as the Moon was rising, a Boat-full of uproarious and half-intoxicated young Men fell foul59 of us and upset us. I shall never forget my Sensations as I went into the Water!—The next Minute, I was half out of it again, and found Mark’s Arm close round me, while with the other he struck out, and presently brought me ashore60. My dear Father also rescued my Mother; and Hugh Braidfoot’s long Legs helped him more in wading61 out like a Heron, I think, than his Arms in swimming, for he, too, presently came aland, covered with Mud. 35My Mother and I cried, and felt very grateful to Mark, who stood panting and colouring, and looking very much pleased with himself; and presently we were all in another Boat on our Way to the Bridge Stairs, drenched62, quiet, and thankful for our providential Escape.... I, especially, feeling, oh! how happy!—Yet, in after Days, there was a Time when I was ready to wish Mark had left me in the River—.
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1
beetle
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| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
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liturgy
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| n.礼拜仪式 | |
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primrose
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| n.樱草，最佳部分， | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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crease
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| n.折缝，褶痕，皱褶；v.(使)起皱 | |
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6
starched
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| adj.浆硬的，硬挺的，拘泥刻板的v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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perilously
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| adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地 | |
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13
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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14
inures
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| vt.使习惯（inure的第三人称单数形式） | |
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15
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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conformity
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| n.一致，遵从，顺从 | |
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17
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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18
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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20
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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21
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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23
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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24
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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25
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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vouchsafe
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| v.惠予，准许 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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shearing
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| n.剪羊毛，剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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presages
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| v.预示，预兆( presage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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stagnation
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| n. 停滞 | |
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42
effigies
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| n.（人的）雕像，模拟像，肖像( effigy的名词复数 ) | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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44
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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45
satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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46
pungent
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| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
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47
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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52
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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53
quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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56
nauseated
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| adj.作呕的，厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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59
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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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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61
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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