About thirty yards from her, on the farther side of the main street, and just opposite the mouth of the lane, a child, apparently6 about six, but in reality about eight, was down on his knees raking with both hands in the grey dirt of the kennel7. At the woman's cry he lifted his head, ceased his search, raised himself, but without getting up, and looked at her. They were notable eyes out of which he looked—of such a deep blue were they, and having such long lashes8; but more notable far from their expression, the nature of which, although a certain witchery of confidence was at once discoverable, was not to be determined9 without the help of the whole face, whose diffused10 meaning seemed in them to deepen almost to speech. Whatever was at the heart of that expression, it was something that enticed11 question and might want investigation12. The face as well as the eyes was lovely—not very clean, and not too regular for hope of a fine development, but chiefly remarkable13 from a general effect of something I can only call luminosity. The hair, which stuck out from his head in every direction, like a round fur cap, would have been of the red-gold kind, had it not been sunburned into a sort of human hay. An odd creature altogether the child appeared, as, shaking the gutter-drops from his little dirty hands, he gazed from his bare knees on the curbstone at the woman of rebuke14. It was but for a moment. The next he was down, raking in the gutter again.
The woman looked angry, and took a step forward; but the sound of a sharp imperative15 little bell behind her, made her turn at once, and re-enter the shop from which she had just issued, following a man whose pushing the door wider had set the bell ringing. Above the door was a small board, nearly square, upon which was painted in lead-colour on a black ground the words, "Licensed16 to sell beer, spirits, and tobacco to be drunk on the premises17." There was no other sign. "Them 'at likes my whusky 'ill no aye be speerin' my name," said Mistress Croale. As the day went on she would have more and more customers, and in the evening on to midnight, her parlour would be well filled. Then she would be always at hand, and the spring of the bell would be turned aside from the impact of the opening door. Now the bell was needful to recall her from house affairs.
"The likin' 'at craturs his for clean dirt! He's been at it this hale half-hoor!" she murmured to herself as she poured from a black bottle into a pewter measure a gill of whisky for the pale-faced toper who stood on the other side of the counter: far gone in consumption, he could not get through the forenoon without his morning. "I wad like," she went on, as she replaced the bottle without having spoken a word to her customer, whose departure was now announced with the same boisterous18 alacrity19 as his arrival by the shrill-toned bell—"I wad like, for's father's sake, honest man! to thraw Gibbie's lug20. That likin' for dirt I canna fathom21 nor bide22."
Meantime the boys attention seemed entirely23 absorbed in the gutter. Whatever vehicle passed before him, whatever footsteps behind, he never lifted his head, but went creeping slowly on his knees along the curb3 still searching down the flow of the sluggish24, nearly motionless current.
It was a grey morning towards the close of autumn. The days began and ended with a fog, but often between, as golden a sunshine glorified25 the streets of the grey city as any that ripened26 purple grapes. To-day the mist had lasted longer than usual—had risen instead of dispersing27; but now it was thinning, and at length, like a slow blossoming of the sky-flower, the sun came melting through the cloud. Between the gables of two houses, a ray fell upon the pavement and the gutter. It lay there a very type of purity, so pure that, rest where it might, it destroyed every shadow of defilement28 that sought to mingle29 with it. Suddenly the boy made a dart30 upon all fours, and pounced31 like a creature of prey32 upon something in the kennel. He had found what he had been looking for so long. He sprang to his feet and bounded with it into the sun, rubbing it as he ran upon what he had for trousers, of which there was nothing below the knees but a few streamers, and nothing above the knees but the body of the garment, which had been—I will not say made for, but last worn by a boy three times his size. His feet, of course, were bare as well as his knees and legs. But though they were dirty, red, and rough, they were nicely shaped little legs, and the feet were dainty.
The sunbeams he sought came down through the smoky air like a Jacob's ladder, and he stood at the foot of it like a little prodigal33 angel that wanted to go home again, but feared it was too much inclined for him to manage the ascent34 in the present condition of his wings. But all he did want was to see in the light of heaven what the gutter had yielded him. He held up his find in the radiance and regarded it admiringly. It was a little earring35 of amethyst-coloured glass, and in the sun looked lovely. The boy was in an ecstasy36 over it. He rubbed it on his sleeve, sucked it to clear it from the last of the gutter, and held it up once more in the sun, where, for a few blissful moments, he contemplated38 it speechless. He then caused it to disappear somewhere about his garments—I will not venture to say in a pocket—and ran off, his little bare feet sounding thud, thud, thud on the pavement, and the collar of his jacket sticking halfway39 up the back of his head, and threatening to rub it bare as he ran. Through street after street he sped—all built of granite40, all with flagged footways, and all paved with granite blocks—a hard, severe city, not beautiful or stately with its thick, grey, sparkling walls, for the houses were not high, and the windows were small, yet in the better parts, nevertheless, handsome as well as massive and strong.
To the boy the great city was but a house of many rooms, all for his use, his sport, his life. He did not know much of what lay within the houses; but that only added the joy of mystery to possession: they were jewel-closets, treasure-caves, indeed, with secret fountains of life; and every street was a channel into which they overflowed41.
It was in one of quite a third-rate sort that the urchin42 at length ceased his trot43, and drew up at the door of a baker's shop—a divided door, opening in the middle by a latch44 of bright brass45. But the child did not lift the latch—only raised himself on tiptoe by the help of its handle, to look through the upper half of the door, which was of glass, into the beautiful shop. The floor was of flags, fresh sanded; the counter was of deal, scrubbed as white almost as flour; on the shelves were heaped the loaves of the morning's baking, along with a large store of scones46 and rolls and baps—the last, the best bread in the world—biscuits hard and soft, and those brown discs of delicate flaky piecrust, known as buns. And the smell that came through the very glass, it seemed to the child, was as that of the tree of life in the Paradise of which he had never heard. But most enticing47 of all to the eyes of the little wanderer of the street were the penny-loaves, hot smoking from the oven—which fact is our first window into the ordered nature of the child. For the main point which made them more attractive than all the rest to him was, that sometimes he did have a penny, and that a penny loaf was the largest thing that could be had for a penny in the shop. So that, lawless as he looked, the desires of the child were moderate, and his imagination wrought48 within the bounds of reason. But no one who has never been blessed with only a penny to spend and a mighty49 hunger behind it, can understand the interest with which he stood there and through the glass watched the bread, having no penny and only the hunger. There is at least one powerful bond, though it may not always awake sympathy, between mudlark and monarch—that of hunger. No one has yet written the poetry of hunger—has built up in verse its stairs of grand ascent—from such hunger as Gibbie's for a penny-loaf up—no, no, not to an alderman's feast; that is the way down the mouldy cellar-stair—but up the white marble scale to the hunger after righteousness whose very longings50 are bliss37.
Behind the counter sat the baker's wife, a stout51, fresh-coloured woman, looking rather dull, but simple and honest. She was knitting, and if not dreaming, at least dozing52 over her work, for she never saw the forehead and eyes which, like a young ascending53 moon, gazed at her over the horizon of the opaque54 half of her door. There was no greed in those eyes—only much quiet interest. He did not want to get in; had to wait, and while waiting beguiled55 the time by beholding56. He knew that Mysie, the baker's daughter, was at school, and that she would be home within half an hour. He had seen her with tear-filled eyes as she went, had learned from her the cause, and had in consequence unwittingly roused Mrs. Croale's anger, and braved it when aroused. But though he was waiting for her, such was the absorbing power of the spectacle before him that he never heard her approaching footsteps.
"Lat me in," said Mysie, with conscious dignity and a touch of indignation at being impeded57 on the very threshold of her father's shop.
The boy started and turned, but instead of moving out of the way, began searching in some mysterious receptacle hid in the recesses58 of his rags. A look of anxiety once appeared, but the same moment it vanished, and he held out in his hand the little drop of amethystine59 splendour. Mysie's face changed, and she clutched it eagerly.
"That's rale guid o' ye, wee Gibbie!" she cried. "Whaur did ye get it?"
"Wha's that ye're colloguin' wi', Mysie?" asked her mother, somewhat severely62, but without lifting her eyes from her wires. "Ye maunna be speykin' to loons i' the street."
"It's only wee Gibbie, mither," answered the girl in a tone of confidence.
"Ou weel!" returned the mother, "he's no like the lave o' loons."
"But what had ye to say till him?" she resumed, as if afraid her leniency63 might be taken advantage of. "He's no fit company for the likes o' you, 'at his a father an' mither, an' a chop (shop). Ye maun hae little to say to sic rintheroot laddies."
"Gibbie has a father, though they say he never hid nae mither," said the child.
"Troth, a fine father!" rejoined the mother, with a small scornful laugh. "Na, but he's something to mak mention o'! Sic a father, lassie, as it wad be tellin' him he had nane! What said ye till 'im?"
"I bit thankit 'im, 'cause I tint64 my drop as I gaed to the schuil i' the mornin', an' he fan't till me, an' was at the chopdoor waitin' to gie me't back. They say he's aye fin'in' things."
"He's a guid-hertit cratur!" said the mother,—"for ane, that is, 'at's been sae ill broucht up."
She rose, took from the shelf a large piece of bread, composed of many adhering penny-loaves, detached one, and went to the door.
"Here, Gibbie!" she cried as she opened it; "here's a fine piece to ye."
But no Gibbie was there. Up and down the street not a child was to be seen. A sandboy with a donkey cart was the sole human arrangement in it. The baker's wife drew back, shut the door and resumed her knitting.
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1
gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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2
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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4
tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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5
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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7
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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8
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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9
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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10
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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11
enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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13
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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14
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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15
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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16
licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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17
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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18
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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19
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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20
lug
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| n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动 | |
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21
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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23
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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24
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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25
glorified
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| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
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26
ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
dispersing
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| adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式 | |
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defilement
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| n.弄脏，污辱，污秽 | |
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29
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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30
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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31
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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32
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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33
prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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34
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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35
earring
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| n.耳环，耳饰 | |
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36
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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37
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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38
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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39
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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40
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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41
overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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42
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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43
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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44
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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45
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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46
scones
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| n.烤饼，烤小圆面包( scone的名词复数 ) | |
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47
enticing
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| adj.迷人的；诱人的 | |
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48
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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49
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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50
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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52
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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53
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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54
opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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55
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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56
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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57
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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59
amethystine
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| adj.紫水晶质的，紫色的；紫晶 | |
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60
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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61
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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62
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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63
leniency
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| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
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64
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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