按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
me to me？〃 She put the letter in her desk； and it rankled in her heart。 _Hoeret lateri lethalis arundo。_ She trembled at herself； she felt a savage passion had been touched in her。 She prayed day and night against jealousy。
But I must now； to justify my heading； skip some months； and relate a remarkable incident that befell her in the said character。 On the first of August in this year； a good Christian woman； one of her patients； asked her to call on Mr。 Barkington； that lodged above。 〃He is a decent body； miss； and between you and me； I think his complaint is； he don't get quite enough to eat。〃
〃Barkington！〃 said Julia； and put her hand to her bosom。 She went and tapped at his door。
〃Come in；〃 said a shrillish voice。
She entered； and found a weazened old man seated； mending his own coat。
He rose； and she told him she was a district visitor。 He said he had heard of her； they called her the beautiful lady in that court。 This was news to her； and made her blush。 She asked leave to read a chapter to him； he listened as to some gentle memory of childhood。 She prescribed him a glass of port wine； and dispensed it on the instant。 Thus physicked； her patient became communicative； and chattered on about his native placebut did not name itand talked about the people there。 Now our district visitor was； if the truth must be told； a compounder。 She would permit her pupils to talk about earthly affairs； on condition they would listen to heavenly ones before she went。 So she let this old man run on； and he told her he had been a banker's clerk all his life； and saved a thousand pounds； and come up to London to make his fortune on the Stock Exchange； and there he was sometimes a bull； and sometimes a bear； and whichever he was； certain foxes called brokers and jobbers got the profit and he the loss。 〃It's all the same as a gambling…table；〃 said he。 〃The jobbers and brokers have got the same odds the bank has at Rouge et Noir； and the little capitalist like me is doomed beforehand。〃 Then he told her that there was a crossing…sweeper near the Exchange who came from his native place； and had started as a speculator； and come down to that。 Only he called it rising； and used to speak with a shudder of when he dabbled in the funds； and often told him to look sharp； and get a crossing。 And lo！ one day when he was cleaned out； and desperate； and hovering with the other ghosts of little capitalists about the tomb of their money； he saw his countryman fall flat； and the broom fly out of his hand。 Instantly he made a rush； and so did a wooden…legged sailor； but he got first to the broom； and began to sweep while others picked up his countryman； who proved dead as a herring； and he succeeded to his broom； and it made money by the Exchange； though he never could。 Still； one day he picked up a pocket…book in that neighbourhood； with a lump of money； which he straightway advertised inno newspapers。 And now； Julia thought it time to interpose the eighth commandment； the golden rule； and such branches of learning。
He became a favourite of hers： he had so much to say： she even thought she had seen his face before： but she could not tell where。 She gave him good books and tracts； and read to him； and ploughed his heart with her sweet voice； and sowed the good seed in the furrowsseed which； like wheat or other grain； often seems to fall flat and die； but comes out green after many days。
One Saturday she invited him to dine with the servants next day。 He came during church time； and went away in the afternoon while she was with her mother。 But she asked Sarah； who proved eager to talk about him。 〃He was a rum customer； kept asking questions all dinner time。 'Well；' says I； 'you're good company you are； be you a lawyer； for you examines us； but you don't tell us nothing。' Ye see； Miss； Jane she is that simple； she was telling him everything； and about Mr。 Alfred's lawsuit with his father and all。〃
Julia said that was indiscreet； but after all what did it matter？
〃Who knows； Miss？〃 Sarah replied： 〃least said is soonest mended。 If you please； Miss； who is he？ Where does he bide？ Where does he come from？ Does he know Hardies？〃
〃I should think not。 Why？〃
〃Because I'm much mistaken if he doesn't。〃 Then putting on a stolid look； she asked； 〃Does he know your papa？〃
〃Oh no； Sarah。 How should he？〃
〃There now；〃 said Sarah； 〃Miss； you are all in the dark about this old man： I'll tell you something； I took him out of the way of Jane's temper when she began a dishing up； and I had him into the parlour for a minute； and in course there he sees the picture of your poor papa hung up。 Miss； if you'll believe me； the moment he claps eyes on that there picture； he halloes out； and out goes his two hands like this here。 'It's him！' says he； 'it's him！' and stares at the picture like a stuck pig。 Forgot I was close behind him； I do believe。 'She's _his_ daughter；' says he； in a whisper； a curious whisper； seemed to come out of his stomack。 'What's the matter now？' says I； just so。 He gave a great start； as if my speaking had wakened him from a dream； and says he； 'nothing；' as quiet as a lamb。 'Nothing isn't much；' says I； just so。 'It usedn't to be anything at all when I was your age；' says he； sneering。 But I paid him a good coin： says I； 'Old man； where you comes from do the folks use to start and hallo out and cry 〃It's him！ she's his daughter！〃 and fling their two arms abroad like a wiumdmill in March； and all fornothing？' So at that he changed as white as my smock； and fell all of a tremble。 However； at dinner he perks up； and drew that poor simple Jane out a good one。 But he didn't look towards me much； which I set opposite to watch my lord。〃
〃Sarah；〃 said Julia； 〃this is really curious； mysterious； you are a good； watchful； faithful girl； and； to tell the truth； I sometimes fancy I have seen Mr。 Barkington's face。 However； I will solve this little mystery to…morrow； for I will ask him： thank you； Sarah。〃
On Monday she called on Mr。 Barkington to solve the mystery。 But； instead of solving； her visit thickened it： for Mr。 Barkington was gone bag and baggage。 When Edward was told of this business； he thought it remarkable； and regretted he had not seen the old man。
So do I； for it is my belief Edward would have recognised him。
DAVID DODD。
The history of a man is the history of his mind。 And that is why you have heard so little of late about the simplest； noblest； and most unfortunate of all my personages。 Insanity is as various as eccentricity。 I have spared the kind…hearted reader some of David's vagaries。 However； when we parted with him； he had settled into that strange phase of lunacy； in which the distant past seems nearly obliterated； and memory exists； but revolves in a narrow round of things present： this was accompanied with a positive illusion； to wit； a fixed idea that he was an able seaman： and； as usual； what mental power he retained came out strongest in support of this idea。 All this was marked by a bodily agility somewhat more than natural in a man of his age。 Owing to the wind astern； he was enabled to run into Portsmouth before the steam…tug came up with him： and he did run into port； not because he fear