Mr Dennis having despatched this piece of business without any personal hurt or inconvenience, and having now retired1 into the tranquil2 respectability of private life, resolved to solace3 himself with half an hour or so of female society. With this amiable4 purpose in his mind, he bent5 his steps towards the house where Dolly and Miss Haredale were still confined, and whither Miss Miggs had also been removed by order of Mr Simon Tappertit.
As he walked along the streets with his leather gloves clasped behind him, and his face indicative of cheerful thought and pleasant calculation, Mr Dennis might have been likened unto a farmer ruminating6 among his crops, and enjoying by anticipation7 the bountiful gifts of Providence8. Look where he would, some heap of ruins afforded him rich promise of a working off; the whole town appeared to have been ploughed and sown, and nurtured9 by most genial10 weather; and a goodly harvest was at hand.
Having taken up arms and resorted to deeds of violence, with the great main object of preserving the Old Bailey in all its purity, and the gallows11 in all its pristine12 usefulness and moral grandeur13, it would perhaps be going too far to assert that Mr Dennis had ever distinctly contemplated14 and foreseen this happy state of things. He rather looked upon it as one of those beautiful dispensations which are inscrutably brought about for the behoof and advantage of good men. He felt, as it were, personally referred to, in this prosperous ripening15 for the gibbet; and had never considered himself so much the pet and favourite child of Destiny, or loved that lady so well or with such a calm and virtuous16 reliance, in all his life.
As to being taken up, himself, for a rioter, and punished with the rest, Mr Dennis dismissed that possibility from his thoughts as an idle chimera17; arguing that the line of conduct he had adopted at Newgate, and the service he had rendered that day, would be more than a set-off against any evidence which might identify him as a member of the crowd. That any charge of companionship which might be made against him by those who were themselves in danger, would certainly go for nought18. And that if any trivial indiscretion on his part should unluckily come out, the uncommon20 usefulness of his office, at present, and the great demand for the exercise of its functions, would certainly cause it to be winked21 at, and passed over. In a word, he had played his cards throughout, with great care; had changed sides at the very nick of time; had delivered up two of the most notorious rioters, and a distinguished22 felon23 to boot; and was quite at his ease.
Saving — for there is a reservation; and even Mr Dennis was not perfectly24 happy — saving for one circumstance; to wit, the forcible detention25 of Dolly and Miss Haredale, in a house almost adjoining his own. This was a stumbling-block; for if they were discovered and released, they could, by the testimony26 they had it in their power to give, place him in a situation of great jeopardy27; and to set them at liberty, first extorting28 from them an oath of secrecy29 and silence, was a thing not to be thought of. It was more, perhaps, with an eye to the danger which lurked30 in this quarter, than from his abstract love of conversation with the sex, that the hangman, quickening his steps, now hastened into their society, cursing the amorous31 natures of Hugh and Mr Tappertit with great heartiness32, at every step he took.
When be entered the miserable33 room in which they were confined, Dolly and Miss Haredale withdrew in silence to the remotest corner. But Miss Miggs, who was particularly tender of her reputation, immediately fell upon her knees and began to scream very loud, crying, ‘What will become of me!’—‘Where is my Simmuns!’—‘Have mercy, good gentlemen, on my sex’s weaknesses!’— with other doleful lamentations of that nature, which she delivered with great propriety34 and decorum.
‘Miss, miss,’ whispered Dennis, beckoning35 to her with his forefinger36, ‘come here — I won’t hurt you. Come here, my lamb, will you?’
On hearing this tender epithet37, Miss Miggs, who had left off screaming when he opened his lips, and had listened to him attentively38, began again, crying: ‘Oh I’m his lamb! He says I’m his lamb! Oh gracious, why wasn’t I born old and ugly! Why was I ever made to be the youngest of six, and all of ’em dead and in their blessed graves, excepting one married sister, which is settled in Golden Lion Court, number twenty-sivin, second bell-handle on the —!’
‘Don’t I say I an’t a-going to hurt you?’ said Dennis, pointing to a chair. ‘Why miss, what’s the matter?’
‘I don’t know what mayn’t be the matter!’ cried Miss Miggs, clasping her hands distractedly. ‘Anything may be the matter!’
‘But nothing is, I tell you,’ said the hangman. ‘First stop that noise and come and sit down here, will you, chuckey?’
The coaxing39 tone in which he said these latter words might have failed in its object, if he had not accompanied them with sundry40 sharp jerks of his thumb over one shoulder, and with divers41 winks42 and thrustings of his tongue into his cheek, from which signals the damsel gathered that he sought to speak to her apart, concerning Miss Haredale and Dolly. Her curiosity being very powerful, and her jealousy43 by no means inactive, she arose, and with a great deal of shivering and starting back, and much muscular action among all the small bones in her throat, gradually approached him.
‘Sit down,’ said the hangman.
Suiting the action to the word, he thrust her rather suddenly and prematurely44 into a chair, and designing to reassure45 her by a little harmless jocularity, such as is adapted to please and fascinate the sex, converted his right forefinger into an ideal bradawl or gimlet, and made as though he would screw the same into her side — whereat Miss Miggs shrieked46 again, and evinced symptoms of faintness.
‘Lovey, my dear,’ whispered Dennis, drawing his chair close to hers. ‘When was your young man here last, eh?’
‘MY young man, good gentleman!’ answered Miggs in a tone of exquisite47 distress48.
‘Ah! Simmuns, you know — him?’ said Dennis.
‘Mine indeed!’ cried Miggs, with a burst of bitterness — and as she said it, she glanced towards Dolly. ‘MINE, good gentleman!’
This was just what Mr Dennis wanted, and expected.
‘Ah!’ he said, looking so soothingly49, not to say amorously50 on Miggs, that she sat, as she afterwards remarked, on pins and needles of the sharpest Whitechapel kind, not knowing what intentions might be suggesting that expression to his features: ‘I was afraid of that. I saw as much myself. It’s her fault. She WILL entice51 ’em.’
‘I wouldn’t,’ cried Miggs, folding her hands and looking upwards52 with a kind of devout53 blankness, ‘I wouldn’t lay myself out as she does; I wouldn’t be as bold as her; I wouldn’t seem to say to all male creeturs “Come and kiss me”’— and here a shudder54 quite convulsed her frame —‘for any earthly crowns as might be offered. Worlds,’ Miggs added solemnly, ‘should not reduce me. No. Not if I was Wenis.’
‘Well, but you ARE Wenus, you know,’ said Mr Dennis, confidentially55.
‘No, I am not, good gentleman,’ answered Miggs, shaking her head with an air of self-denial which seemed to imply that she might be if she chose, but she hoped she knew better. ‘No, I am not, good gentleman. Don’t charge me with it.’
Up to this time she had turned round, every now and then, to where Dolly and Miss Haredale had retired and uttered a scream, or groan56, or laid her hand upon her heart and trembled excessively, with a view of keeping up appearances, and giving them to understand that she conversed57 with the visitor, under protest and on compulsion, and at a great personal sacrifice, for their common good. But at this point, Mr Dennis looked so very full of meaning, and gave such a singularly expressive58 twitch59 to his face as a request to her to come still nearer to him, that she abandoned these little arts, and gave him her whole and undivided attention.
‘When was Simmuns here, I say?’ quoth Dennis, in her ear.
‘Not since yesterday morning; and then only for a few minutes. Not all day, the day before.’
‘You know he meant all along to carry off that one!’ said Dennis, indicating Dolly by the slightest possible jerk of his head:—‘And to hand you over to somebody else.’
Miss Miggs, who had fallen into a terrible state of grief when the first part of this sentence was spoken, recovered a little at the second, and seemed by the sudden check she put upon her tears, to intimate that possibly this arrangement might meet her views; and that it might, perhaps, remain an open question.
‘— But unfort’nately,’ pursued Dennis, who observed this: ‘somebody else was fond of her too, you see; and even if he wasn’t, somebody else is took for a rioter, and it’s all over with him.’
Miss Miggs relapsed.
‘Now I want,’ said Dennis, ‘to clear this house, and to see you righted. What if I was to get her off, out of the way, eh?’
Miss Miggs, brightening again, rejoined, with many breaks and pauses from excess of feeling, that temptations had been Simmuns’s bane. That it was not his faults, but hers (meaning Dolly’s). That men did not see through these dreadful arts as women did, and therefore was caged and trapped, as Simmun had been. That she had no personal motives60 to serve — far from it — on the contrary, her intentions was good towards all parties. But forasmuch as she knowed that Simmun, if united to any designing and artful minxes (she would name no names, for that was not her dispositions61)— to ANY designing and artful minxes — must be made miserable and unhappy for life, she DID incline towards prewentions. Such, she added, was her free confessions62. But as this was private feelings, and might perhaps be looked upon as wengeance, she begged the gentleman would say no more. Whatever he said, wishing to do her duty by all mankind, even by them as had ever been her bitterest enemies, she would not listen to him. With that she stopped her ears, and shook her head from side to side, to intimate to Mr Dennis that though he talked until he had no breath left, she was as deaf as any adder63.
‘Lookee here, my sugar-stick,’ said Mr Dennis, ‘if your view’s the same as mine, and you’ll only be quiet and slip away at the right time, I can have the house clear to-morrow, and be out of this trouble.— Stop though! there’s the other.’
‘Which other, sir?’ asked Miggs — still with her fingers in her ears and her head shaking obstinately64.
‘Why, the tallest one, yonder,’ said Dennis, as he stroked his chin, and added, in an undertone to himself, something about not crossing Muster65 Gashford.
Miss Miggs replied (still being profoundly deaf) that if Miss Haredale stood in the way at all, he might make himself quite easy on that score; as she had gathered, from what passed between Hugh and Mr Tappertit when they were last there, that she was to be removed alone (not by them, but by somebody else), to-morrow night.
Mr Dennis opened his eyes very wide at this piece of information, whistled once, considered once, and finally slapped his head once and nodded once, as if he had got the clue to this mysterious removal, and so dismissed it. Then he imparted his design concerning Dolly to Miss Miggs, who was taken more deaf than before, when he began; and so remained, all through.
The notable scheme was this. Mr Dennis was immediately to seek out from among the rioters, some daring young fellow (and he had one in his eye, he said), who, terrified by the threats he could hold out to him, and alarmed by the capture of so many who were no better and no worse than he, would gladly avail himself of any help to get abroad, and out of harm’s way, with his plunder66, even though his journey were incumbered by an unwilling67 companion; indeed, the unwilling companion being a beautiful girl, would probably be an additional inducement and temptation. Such a person found, he proposed to bring him there on the ensuing night, when the tall one was taken off, and Miss Miggs had purposely retired; and then that Dolly should be gagged, muffled68 in a cloak, and carried in any handy conveyance69 down to the river’s side; where there were abundant means of getting her smuggled70 snugly71 off in any small craft of doubtful character, and no questions asked. With regard to the expense of this removal, he would say, at a rough calculation, that two or three silver tea or coffee-pots, with something additional for drink (such as a muffineer, or toast-rack), would more than cover it. Articles of plate of every kind having been buried by the rioters in several lonely parts of London, and particularly, as he knew, in St James’s Square, which, though easy of access, was little frequented after dark, and had a convenient piece of water in the midst, the needful funds were close at hand, and could be had upon the shortest notice. With regard to Dolly, the gentleman would exercise his own discretion19. He would be bound to do nothing but to take her away, and keep her away. All other arrangements and dispositions would rest entirely72 with himself.
If Miss Miggs had had her hearing, no doubt she would have been greatly shocked by the indelicacy of a young female’s going away with a stranger by night (for her moral feelings, as we have said, were of the tenderest kind); but directly Mr Dennis ceased to speak, she reminded him that he had only wasted breath. She then went on to say (still with her fingers in her ears) that nothing less than a severe practical lesson would save the locksmith’s daughter from utter ruin; and that she felt it, as it were, a moral obligation and a sacred duty to the family, to wish that some one would devise one for her reformation. Miss Miggs remarked, and very justly, as an abstract sentiment which happened to occur to her at the moment, that she dared to say the locksmith and his wife would murmur73, and repine, if they were ever, by forcible abduction, or otherwise, to lose their child; but that we seldom knew, in this world, what was best for us: such being our sinful and imperfect natures, that very few arrived at that clear understanding.
Having brought their conversation to this satisfactory end, they parted: Dennis, to pursue his design, and take another walk about his farm; Miss Miggs, to launch, when he left her, into such a burst of mental anguish74 (which she gave them to understand was occasioned by certain tender things he had had the presumption75 and audacity76 to say), that little Dolly’s heart was quite melted. Indeed, she said and did so much to soothe77 the outraged78 feelings of Miss Miggs, and looked so beautiful while doing so, that if that young maid had not had ample vent79 for her surpassing spite, in a knowledge of the mischief80 that was brewing81, she must have scratched her features, on the spot.
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1
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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ruminating
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| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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pristine
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| adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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ripening
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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chimera
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| n.神话怪物；梦幻 | |
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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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extorting
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| v.敲诈( extort的现在分词 )；曲解 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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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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coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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46
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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amorously
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| adv.好色地，妖艳地；脉；脉脉；眽眽 | |
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entice
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| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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54
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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56
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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confessions
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| n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔 | |
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adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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66
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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69
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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70
smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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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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73
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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74
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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75
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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76
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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77
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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78
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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79
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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80
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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81
brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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