Aunt Maria came, and Uncle Ascott came with her.
It is not altogether without a reason that I speak of them in this order. Aunt Maria was the active partner of their establishment. She was a clever, vigorous, well-educated, inartistic, kindly3, managing woman. She was not exactly "meddling," but when she thought it her duty to interfere4 in a matter, no delicacy5 of scruples6, and no nervousness baulked the directness of her proceedings7. When she was most sweeping8 or uncompromising, Uncle Ascott would say, "My dear Maria!" But it was generally from a spasm9 of nervous cowardice10, and not from any deliberate wish to interrupt Aunt Maria's course of action. He trusted her entirely11.
Aunt Maria was very shrewd, and that long interview with Nurse Bundle in her own room was hardly needed to acquaint her with the condition of domestic politics in our establishment. She[21] "took in" the Burtons with one glance. The ladies "fell out" the following evening. The Burtons left Dacrefield the next morning, and at lunch Aunt Maria "pulled them to pieces" with as little remorse12 as a cook would pluck a partridge. I never saw Miss Eliza Burton again.
Aunt Maria did not fondle or spoil me. She might perhaps have shown more tenderness to her brother's only and motherless child; but, after Miss Burton, hers was a fault on the right side. She had a kindly interest in me, and she showed it by asking me to pay her a visit in London.
"It will do the child good, Regie," she said to my father. "He will be with other children, and all our London sights will be new to him. I will take every care of him, and you must come up and fetch him back. It will do you good too."
"To be sure!" chimed in Uncle Ascott, patting me good-naturedly on the head; "Master Reginald will fancy himself in Fairy Land. There are the Zoological Gardens, and Madame Tussaud's Waxwork13 Exhibition, and the Pantomime, and no one knows what besides! We shall make him quite at home! He and Helen are just the same age, I think, and Polly's a year or so younger, eh, mamma?"
"Nineteen months," said Aunt Maria, decisively; and she turned once more to my father, upon whom she was urging certain particulars.
It was with unfeigned joy that I heard my father say,
"Well, thank you, Maria. I do think it will do him good. And I'll certainly come and look you and Robert up myself."
There was only one drawback to my pleasure, when the much anticipated time of my first visit[22] to London came. Aunt Maria did not like dogs; Uncle Ascott too said that "they were very rural and nice for the country, but that they didn't do in a town house. Besides which, Regie," he added, "such a pretty dog as Rubens would be sure to be stolen. And you wouldn't like that."
"I will take good care of Rubens, my boy," added my father; and with this promise I was obliged to content myself.
The excitement and pleasure of the various preparations for my visit were in themselves a treat. There had been some domestic discussion as to a suitable box for my clothes, and the matter was not quickly settled. There happened to be no box of exactly the convenient size in the house, and it was proposed to pack my things with Nurse Bundle's in one of the larger cases. This was a disappointment to my dignity; and I ventured to hint that I "should like a trunk all to myself, like a grown-up gentleman," without, however, much hope that my wishes would be fulfilled. The surprise was all the pleasanter when, on the day before our departure, there arrived by the carrier's cart from our nearest town a small, daintily-finished trunk, with a lock and key to it, and my initials in brass15 nails upon the outside. It was a parting gift from my father.
"I like young ladies and gentlemen to have things nice about 'em," Nurse Bundle observed, as we prepared to pack my trunk. "Then they takes a pride in their things, and so it stands to reason they takes more care of 'em."
To this excellent sentiment I gave my heartiest16 assent17, and proceeded to illustrate18 it by the fastidious care with which I selected and folded the clothes I wished to take. As I examined my socks[23] for signs of wear and tear, and then folded them by the ingenious process of grasping the heels and turning them inside out, in imitation of Nurse Bundle, an idea struck me, based upon my late reading and approaching prospects19 of travel.
"Nurse," said I, "I think I should like to learn to darn socks, because, you know, I might want to know how, if I was cast away on a desert island."
"If ever you find yourself on a desolate20 island, Master Reginald," said Nurse Bundle, "just you write straight off to me, and I'll come and do them kind of things for you."
"Well," said I, "only mind you bring Rubens, if I haven't got him."
For I had dim ideas that some Robinson Crusoe adventures might befall me before I returned home from this present expedition.
My father's place was about sixty miles from London. Mr. and Mrs. Ascott had come down in their own carriage, and were to return the same way.
I was to go with them, and Nurse Bundle also. She was to sit in the rumble21 of the carriage behind. Every particular of each new arrangement afforded me great amusement; and I could hardly control my impatience22 for the eventful day to arrive.
It came at last. There was very early breakfast for us all in the dining-room. No appetite, however, had I; and very cruel I thought Aunt Maria for insisting that I should swallow a certain amount of food, as a condition of being allowed to go at all. My enforced breakfast over, I went to look for Rubens. Ever since the day when it was first settled that I should go, the dear dog had kept close, very close at my heels. That depressed23 and aimless wandering about which always afflicts24 the dogs of the household when any of the family[24] are going away from home was strong upon him. After the new trunk came into my room, Rubens took into his head a fancy for lying upon it; and though the brass nails must have been very uncomfortable, and though my bed was always free to him, on the box he was determined25 to be, and on the box he lay for hours together.
It was on the box that I found him, in the portico26, despite the cords which now added a fresh discomfort27 to his self-chosen resting-place. I called to him, but though he wagged his tail he seemed disinclined to move, and lay curled up with one eye shut and one fixed28 on the carriage at the door.
"He's been trying to get into the carriage, sir," said the butler.
He accepted a good breakfast from my hands with gratitude30, and then curled himself up with one eye watchful31 as before. The reason of his proceedings was finally made evident by his determined struggles to accompany us at the last; and it was not till he had been forcibly shut up in the coach-house that we were able to start. My grief at parting with him was lessened32 by the distraction33 of another question.
Of all places about our equipage, I should have preferred riding with the postilion. Short of that, I was most anxious to sit behind in the rumble with my nurse. This favour was at length conceded, and after a long farewell from my father, gilded34 with a sovereign in my pocket, I was, with a mountain of wraps, consigned35 to the care of Nurse Bundle in the back seat.
The dew was still on the ground, the birds sang their loudest, the morning air was fresh and[25] delicious, and before we had driven five miles on our way I could have eaten three such breakfasts as the one I had rejected at six o'clock. In the first two villages through which we drove people seemed to be only just getting up and beginning the day's business. In one or two "genteel" houses the blinds were still down; in reference to which I resolved that when I grew up I would not waste the best part of the day in bed, with the sun shining, the birds singing, the flowers opening, and country people going about their business, all beyond my closed windows.
"Nurse, please, I should like always to have breakfast at six o'clock. Do you hear, Nursey?" I added, for Mrs. Bundle feigned14 to be absorbed in contemplating36 a flock of sheep which were being driven past us.
"Very well, my dear. We'll see."
That "we'll see" of Nurse Bundle's was a sort of moral soothing-syrup which she kept to allay37 inconvenient38 curiosity and over-pertinacious projects in the nursery.
I had soon reason to decide that if I had breakfast at six, luncheon39 would not be unacceptable at half-past ten, at about which time I lost sight of the scenery and confined my attention to a worsted workbag in which Nurse Bundle had a store of most acceptable buns. Halting shortly after this to water the horses, a glass of milk was got for me from a wayside inn, over the door of which hung a small gate, on whose bars the following legend was painted:—
"This gate hangs well
And hinders none.
Refresh and pay,
And travel on."[26]
"Did you put that up?" I inquired of the man who brought my milk.
"No, sir. It's been there long enough," was his reply.
"What does 'hinders none' mean?" I asked.
The man looked back, and considered the question.
"It means as it's not in the way of nothing. It don't hinder nobody," he replied at last.
"It couldn't if it wanted to," said I; "for it doesn't reach across the road. If it did, I suppose it would be a tollbar."
"He's a rum little chap, that!" said the waiter to Nurse Bundle, when he had taken back my empty glass. And he unmistakably nodded at me.
"What is a rum little chap, Nurse?" I inquired when we had fairly started once more.
"It's very low language," said Mrs. Bundle, indignantly; and this fact depressed me for several miles.
At about half-past eleven we rattled40 into Farnham, and stopped to lunch at "The Bush." I was delighted to get down from my perch42, and to stretch my cramped43 legs by running about in the charming garden behind that celebrated44 inn. Dim bright memories are with me still of the long-windowed parlour opening into a garden verdant45 with grass, and stately yew46 hedges, and formal clipped trees; gay, too, with bright flowers, and mysterious with a walk winding47 under an arch of the yew hedge to the more distant bowling-green. On one side of this arch an admirably-carved stone figure in broadcoat and ruffles48 played perpetually upon a stone fiddle49 to an equally spirited shepherdess in hoop50 and high heels, who was for ever posed in dancing posture51 upon her pedestal and[27] never danced away. As I wandered round the garden whilst luncheon was being prepared, I was greatly taken with these figures, and wondered if it might be that they were an enchanted52 prince and princess turned to stone by some wicked witch, envious53 of their happiness in the peaceful garden amid the green alleys54 and fragrant55 flowers. As I ate my luncheon I felt as if I were consuming what was their property, and pondered the supposition that some day the spell might be broken, and the stone-bound couple came down from those high pedestals, and go dancing and fiddling56 into the Farnham streets.
They showed no symptoms of moving whilst we remained, and, duly refreshed, we now proceeded on our way. I rejected the offer of a seat inside the carriage with scorn, and Nurse and I clambered back to our perch. No easy matter for either of us, by the way!—Nurse Bundle being so much too large, and I so much too small, to compass the feat57 with anything approaching to ease.
I was greatly pleased with the dreary58 beauties of Bagshot Heath, and Nurse Bundle (to whom the whole journey was familiar) enlivened this part of our way by such anecdotes of Dick Turpin, the celebrated highwayman, as she deemed suitable for my amusement. With what interest I gazed at the little house by the roadside where Turpin was wont59 to lodge60, and where, arriving late one night, he demanded beef-steak for supper in terms so peremptory61 that, there being none in the house, the old woman who acted as his housekeeper62 was obliged to walk, then and there, to the nearest town to procure63 it! This and various other incidents of the robber's career I learned from Nurse Bundle, who told me that traditions of his exploits and[28] character were still fresh in the neighbouring villages.
At Virginia Water we dined and changed horses. We stayed here longer than was necessary, that I might see the lake and the ship; and Uncle Ascott gave sixpence to an old man with a wooden leg who told us all about it. And still I declined an inside place, and went back with Nurse Bundle to the rumble. Early rising and the long drive began to make me sleepy. The tame beauties of the valley of the Thames drew little attention from my weary eyes; and I do not remember much about the place where we next halted, except that the tea tasted of hay, and that the bread and butter were good.
I gazed dreamily at Hounslow, despite fresh tales of Dick Turpin; and all the successive "jogs" by which Nurse called my incapable64 attention to the lamplighters, the shops, the bottles in the chemists' windows, and Hyde Park, failed to rouse me to any intelligent appreciation65 of the great city, now that I had reached it. After a long weary dream of rattle41 and bustle66, and dim lamps, and houses stretching upwards67 like Jack's beanstalk through the chilly68 and foggy darkness, the carriage stopped with one final jolt69 in a quiet and partially-lighted square; and I was lifted down, and staggered into a house where the light was as abundant and overpowering as it was feeble and inefficient70 without, and, cramped in my limbs, and smothered71 with shawls, I could only beg in my utter weariness to be put to bed.
Aunt Maria was always sensible, and generally kind.
"Bring him at once to his room, Mrs. Bundle," she said, "and get his clothes off, and I will bring[29] him some hot wine and water and a few rusks." As in a dream, I was undressed, my face and hands washed, my prayers said in a somewhat perfunctory fashion, and my evening hymn72 commuted73 in consideration of my fatigues74 for the beautiful verse, "I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest," etc.; and by the time that I sank luxuriously75 between the clean sheets, I was almost sufficiently76 restored to appreciate the dainty appearance of my room. Then Aunt Maria brought me the hot wine and water flavoured with sleep-giving cloves77, and Nurse folded my clothes, and tucked me up, and left me, with the friendly reflection of the lamps without to keep me company.
I do not think I had really been to sleep, but I believe I was dozing78, when I fancied that I heard the familiar sound of Rubens lapping water from the toilette jug79 in my room at home. Just conscious that I was not there, and that Rubens could not be here, the sound began to trouble me. At first I was too sleepy to care to look round. Then as I became more awake and the sound not less distinct, I felt fidgety and frightened, and at last called faintly for Nurse Bundle.
Then the sound stopped. I could hardly breathe, and had just resolved upon making a brave sally for assistance, when—plump! something alighted on my bed, and, wildly impossible as it seemed, Rubens himself waggled up to my pillow, and began licking my face as if his life depended on laying my nose and all other projecting parts of my countenance80 flat with my cheeks.
How he had got to London we never knew. As he made an easy escape from the coach-house at Dacrefield, it was always supposed that he simply followed the carriage, and had the wit to hide[30] himself when we stopped on the road. He was terribly tired. He might well be thirsty!
I levied81 large contributions on the box of rusks which Aunt Maria had left by my bedside, for his benefit, and he supped well.
Then he curled himself up in his own proper place at my feet. He was intensely self-satisfied, and expressed his high idea of his own exploit by self-gratulatory "grumphs," as after describing many mystic circles, and scraping up the fair Marseilles quilt on some plan of his own, he brought his nose and tail together in a satisfactory position in his nest, and we passed our first night in London in dreamless and profound sleep.
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1
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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waxwork
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| n.蜡像 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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heartiest
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| 亲切的( hearty的最高级 )； 热诚的； 健壮的； 精神饱满的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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afflicts
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的名词复数 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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hoop
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| n.（篮球）篮圈，篮 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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fiddling
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| 微小的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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70
inefficient
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| adj.效率低的，无效的 | |
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71
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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72
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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73
commuted
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| 通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 )； 减（刑）； 代偿 | |
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74
fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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75
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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76
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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77
cloves
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| n.丁香（热带树木的干花，形似小钉子，用作调味品，尤用作甜食的香料）( clove的名词复数 )；蒜瓣(a garlic ~|a ~of garlic) | |
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78
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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79
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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80
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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levied
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| 征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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