George's Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, andGeorge himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in hisrides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertainhand with which he guides his horse. But not to-day is George sooccupied. He is journeying to-day into the iron country farthernorth to look about him.
As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh greenwoods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits andashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted1 verdure, scorchingfires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become thefeatures of the scenery. Among such objects rides the trooper,looking about him and always looking for something he has come tofind.
At last, on the black canal bridge of a busy town, with a clang ofiron in it, and more fires and more smoke than he has seen yet, thetrooper, swart with the dust of the coal roads, checks his horseand asks a workman does he know the name of Rouncewell thereabouts.
"Why, master," quoth the workman, "do I know my own name?""'Tis so well known here, is it, comrade?" asks the trooper.
"Rouncewell's? Ah! You're right.""And where might it be now?" asks the trooper with a glance beforehim.
"The bank, the factory, or the house?" the workman wants to know.
"Hum! Rouncewell's is so great apparently," mutters the trooper,stroking his chin, "that I have as good as half a mind to go backagain. Why, I don't know which I want. Should I find Mr.
Rouncewell at the factory, do you think?""Tain't easy to say where you'd find him--at this time of the dayyou might find either him or his son there, if he's in town; buthis contracts take him away."And which is the factory? Why, he sees those chimneys--the tallestones! Yes, he sees THEM. Well! Let him keep his eye on thosechimneys, going on as straight as ever he can, and presently he'llsee 'em down a turning on the left, shut in by a great brick wallwhich forms one side of the street. That's Rouncewell's.
The trooper thanks his informant and rides slowly on, looking abouthim. He does not turn back, but puts up his horse (and is muchdisposed to groom2 him too) at a public-house where some ofRouncewell's hands are dining, as the ostler tells him. Some ofRouncewell's hands have just knocked off for dinner-time and seemto be invading the whole town. They are very sinewy3 and strong,are Rouncewell's hands--a little sooty too.
He comes to a gateway4 in the brick wall, looks in, and sees a greatperplexity of iron lying about in every stage and in a vast varietyof shapes--in bars, in wedges, in sheets; in tanks, in boilers5, inaxles, in wheels, in cogs, in cranks, in rails; twisted andwrenched into eccentric and perverse6 forms as separate parts ofmachinery; mountains of it broken up, and rusty7 in its age; distantfurnaces of it glowing and bubbling in its youth; bright fireworksof it showering about under the blows of the steam-hammer; red-hotiron, white-hot iron, cold-black iron; an iron taste, an ironsmell, and a Babel of iron sounds.
"This is a place to make a man's head ache too!" says the trooper,looking about him for a counting-house. "Who comes here? This isvery like me before I was set up. This ought to be my nephew, iflikenesses run in families. Your servant, sir.""Yours, sir. Are you looking for any one?""Excuse me. Young Mr. Rouncewell, I believe?""Yes.""I was looking for your father, sir. I wish to have a word withhim."The young man, telling him he is fortunate in his choice of a time,for his father is there, leads the way to the office where he is tobe found. "Very like me before I was set up--devilish like me!"thinks the trooper as he follows. They come to a building in theyard with an office on an upper floor. At sight of the gentlemanin the office, Mr. George turns very red.
"What name shall I say to my father?" asks the young man.
George, full of the idea of iron, in desperation answers "Steel,"and is so presented. He is left alone with the gentleman in theoffice, who sits at a table with account-books before him and somesheets of paper blotted8 with hosts of figures and drawings ofcunning shapes. It is a bare office, with bare windows, looking onthe iron view below. Tumbled together on the table are some piecesof iron, purposely broken to be tested at various periods of theirservice, in various capacities. There is iron-dust on everything;and the smoke is seen through the windows rolling heavily out ofthe tall chimneys to mingle9 with the smoke from a vaporous Babylonof other chimneys.
"I am at your service, Mr. Steel," says the gentleman when hisvisitor has taken a rusty chair.
"Well, Mr. Rouncewell," George replies, leaning forward with hisleft arm on his knee and his hat in his hand, and very chary10 ofmeeting his brother's eye, "I am not without my expectations thatin the present visit I may prove to be more free than welcome. Ihave served as a dragoon in my day, and a comrade of mine that Iwas once rather partial to was, if I don't deceive myself, abrother of yours. I believe you had a brother who gave his familysome trouble, and ran away, and never did any good but in keepingaway?""Are you quite sure," returns the ironmaster in an altered voice,"that your name is Steel?"The trooper falters11 and looks at him. His brother starts up, callshim by his name, and grasps him by both hands.
"You are too quick for me!" cries the trooper with the tearsspringing out of his eyes. "How do you do, my dear old fellow? Inever could have thought you would have been half so glad to see meas all this. How do you do, my dear old fellow, how do you do!"They shake hands and embrace each other over and over again, thetrooper still coupling his "How do you do, my dear old fellow!"with his protestation that he never thought his brother would havebeen half so glad to see him as all this!
"So far from it," he declares at the end of a full account of whathas preceded his arrival there, "I had very little idea of makingmyself known. I thought if you took by any means forgivingly to myname I might gradually get myself up to the point of writing aletter. But I should not have been surprised, brother, if you hadconsidered it anything but welcome news to hear of me.""We will show you at home what kind of news we think it, George,"returns his brother. "This is a great day at home, and you couldnot have arrived, you bronzed old soldier, on a better. I make anagreement with my son Watt12 to-day that on this day twelvemonth heshall marry as pretty and as good a girl as you have seen in allyour travels. She goes to Germany to-morrow with one of yournieces for a little polishing up in her education. We make a feastof the event, and you will be made the hero of it."Mr. George is so entirely13 overcome at first by this prospect14 thathe resists the proposed honour with great earnestness. Beingoverborne, however, by his brother and his nephew--concerning whomhe renews his protestations that he never could have thought theywould have been half so glad to see him--he is taken home to anelegant house in all the arrangements of which there is to beobserved a pleasant mixture of the originally simple habits of thefather and mother with such as are suited to their altered stationand the higher fortunes of their children. Here Mr. George is muchdismayed by the graces and accomplishments15 of his nieces that areand by the beauty of Rosa, his niece that is to be, and by theaffectionate salutations of these young ladies, which he receivesin a sort of dream. He is sorely taken aback, too, by the dutifulbehaviour of his nephew and has a woeful consciousness upon him ofbeing a scapegrace. However, there is great rejoicing and a veryhearty company and infinite enjoyment16, and Mr. George comes bluffand martial17 through it all, and his pledge to be present at themarriage and give away the bride is received with universal favour.
A whirling head has Mr. George that night when he lies down in thestate-bed of his brother's house to think of all these things andto see the images of his nieces (awful all the evening in theirfloating muslins) waltzing, after the German manner, over hiscounterpane.
The brothers are closeted next morning in the ironmaster's room,where the elder is proceeding18, in his clear sensible way, to showhow he thinks he may best dispose of George in his business, whenGeorge squeezes his hand and stops him.
"Brother, I thank you a million times for your more than brotherlywelcome, and a million times more to that for your more thanbrotherly intentions. But my plans are made. Before I say a wordas to them, I wish to consult you upon one family point. How,"says the trooper, folding his arms and looking with indomitablefirmness at his brother, "how is my mother to be got to scratchme?""I am not sure that I understand you, George," replies theironmaster.
"I say, brother, how is my mother to be got to scratch me? Shemust be got to do it somehow.""Scratch you out of her will, I think you mean?""Of course I do. In short," says the trooper, folding his armsmore resolutely19 yet, "I mean--TO--scratch me!""My dear George," returns his brother, "is it so indispensable thatyou should undergo that process?""Quite! Absolutely! I couldn't be guilty of the meanness ofcoming back without it. I should never be safe not to be offagain. I have not sneaked20 home to rob your children, if notyourself, brother, of your rights. I, who forfeited21 mine long ago!
If I am to remain and hold up my head, I must be scratched. Come.
You are a man of celebrated22 penetration23 and intelligence, and youcan tell me how it's to be brought about.""I can tell you, George," replies the ironmaster deliberately24, "howit is not to be brought about, which I hope may answer the purposeas well. Look at our mother, think of her, recall her emotion whenshe recovered you. Do you believe there is a consideration in theworld that would induce her to take such a step against herfavourite son? Do you believe there is any chance of her consent,to balance against the outrage25 it would be to her (loving dear oldlady!) to propose it? If you do, you are wrong. No, George! Youmust make up your mind to remain UNscratched, I think." There isan amused smile on the ironmaster's face as he watches his brother,who is pondering, deeply disappointed. "I think you may managealmost as well as if the thing were done, though.""How, brother?""Being bent26 upon it, you can dispose by will of anything you havethe misfortune to inherit in any way you like, you know.""That's true!" says the trooper, pondering again. Then hewistfully asks, with his hand on his brother's, "Would you mindmentioning that, brother, to your wife and family?""Not at all.""Thank you. You wouldn't object to say, perhaps, that although anundoubted vagabond, I am a vagabond of the harum-scarum order, andnot of the mean sort?"The ironmaster, repressing his amused smile, assents27.
"Thank you. Thank you. It's a weight off my mind," says thetrooper with a heave of his chest as he unfolds his arms and puts ahand on each leg, "though I had set my heart on being scratched,too!"The brothers are very like each other, sitting face to face; but acertain massive simplicity28 and absence of usage in the ways of theworld is all on the trooper's side.
"Well," he proceeds, throwing off his disappointment, "next andlast, those plans of mine. You have been so brotherly as topropose to me to fall in here and take my place among the productsof your perseverance29 and sense. I thank you heartily30. It's morethan brotherly, as I said before, and I thank you heartily for it,"shaking him a long time by the hand. "But the truth is, brother, Iam a--I am a kind of a weed, and it's too late to plant me in aregular garden.""My dear George," returns the elder, concentrating his strongsteady brow upon him and smiling confidently, "leave that to me,and let me try."George shakes his head. "You could do it, I have not a doubt, ifanybody could; but it's not to be done. Not to be done, sir!
Whereas it so falls out, on the other hand, that I am able to be ofsome trifle of use to Sir Leicester Dedlock since his illness--brought on by family sorrows--and that he would rather have thathelp from our mother's son than from anybody else.""Well, my dear George," returns the other with a very slight shadeupon his open face, "if you prefer to serve in Sir LeicesterDedlock's household brigade--""There it is, brother," cries the trooper, checking him, with hishand upon his knee again; "there it is! You don't take kindly31 tothat idea; I don't mind it. You are not used to being officered; Iam. Everything about you is in perfect order and discipline;everything about me requires to be kept so. We are not accustomedto carry things with the same hand or to look at 'em from the samepoint. I don't say much about my garrison32 manners because I foundmyself pretty well at my ease last night, and they wouldn't benoticed here, I dare say, once and away. But I shall get on bestat Chesney Wold, where there's more room for a weed than there ishere; and the dear old lady will be made happy besides. ThereforeI accept of Sir Leicester Dedlock's proposals. When I come overnext year to give away the bride, or whenever I come, I shall havethe sense to keep the household brigade in ambuscade and not tomanoeuvre it on your ground. I thank you heartily again and amproud to think of the Rouncewells as they'll be founded by you.""You know yourself, George," says the elder brother, returning thegrip of his hand, "and perhaps you know me better than I knowmyself. Take your way. So that we don't quite lose one anotheragain, take your way.""No fear of that!" returns the trooper. "Now, before I turn myhorse's head homewards, brother, I will ask you--if you'll be sogood--to look over a letter for me. I brought it with me to sendfrom these parts, as Chesney Wold might be a painful name just nowto the person it's written to. I am not much accustomed tocorrespondence myself, and I am particular respecting this presentletter because I want it to be both straightforward33 and delicate."Herewith he hands a letter, closely written in somewhat pale inkbut in a neat round hand, to the ironmaster, who reads as follows:
Miss Esther Summerson,A communication having been made to me by Inspector34 Bucket of aletter to myself being found among the papers of a certain person,I take the liberty to make known to you that it was but a few linesof instruction from abroad, when, where, and how to deliver anenclosed letter to a young and beautiful lady, then unmarried, inEngland. I duly observed the same.
I further take the liberty to make known to you that it was gotfrom me as a proof of handwriting only and that otherwise I wouldnot have given it up, as appearing to be the most harmless in mypossession, without being previously35 shot through the heart.
I further take the liberty to mention that if I could have supposeda certain unfortunate gentleman to have been in existence, I nevercould and never would have rested until I had discovered hisretreat and shared my last farthing with him, as my duty and myinclination would have equally been. But he was (officially)reported drowned, and assuredly went over the side of a transport-ship at night in an Irish harbour within a few hours of her arrivalfrom the West Indies, as I have myself heard both from officers andmen on board, and know to have been (officially) confirmed.
I further take the liberty to state that in my humble36 quality asone of the rank and file, I am, and shall ever continue to be, yourthoroughly devoted37 and admiring servant and that I esteem38 thequalities you possess above all others far beyond the limits of thepresent dispatch.
I have the honour to be,GEORGE"A little formal," observes the elder brother, refolding it with apuzzled face.
"But nothing that might not be sent to a pattern young lady?" asksthe younger.
"Nothing at all."Therefore it is sealed and deposited for posting among the ironcorrespondence of the day. This done, Mr. George takes a heartyfarewell of the family party and prepares to saddle and mount. Hisbrother, however, unwilling39 to part with him so soon, proposes toride with him in a light open carriage to the place where he willbait for the night, and there remain with him until morning, aservant riding for so much of the journey on the thoroughbred oldgrey from Chesney Wold. The offer, being gladly accepted, isfollowed by a pleasant ride, a pleasant dinner, and a pleasantbreakfast, all in brotherly communion. Then they once more shakehands long and heartily and part, the ironmaster turning his faceto the smoke and fires, and the trooper to the green country.
Early in the afternoon the subdued40 sound of his heavy military trotis heard on the turf in the avenue as he rides on with imaginaryclank and jingle41 of accoutrements under the old elm-trees.
收听单词发音 |
1
blighted
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| adj.枯萎的，摧毁的 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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boilers
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| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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chary
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| adj.谨慎的，细心的 | |
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falters
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的第三人称单数 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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watt
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| n.瓦，瓦特 | |
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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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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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assents
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| 同意，赞同( assent的名词复数 ) | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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30
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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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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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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33
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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40
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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jingle
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| n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵 | |
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