CHAPTER 2
關燈
小
中
大
chance,northeghostofhalfaone.”Thewildyounggrandsonmakesanswertothisandsays,“You’reasrichasrichcanbeyouhavebeenatnouncommonexpenseonmyaccount,you’resavinguppilesofmoneyformylittlesisterthatliveswithyouinasecret,stealthy,hugger-muggeringkindofwayandwithnomannerofenjoyment—whycan’tyoustandatrifleforyourgrown-uprelation?”Thejollyoldgrandfatheruntothis,retorts,notonlythathedeclinestoforkoutwiththatcheerfulreadinesswhichisalwayssoagreeableandpleasantinagentlemanofhistimeoflife,butthathewillbowup,andcallnames,andmakereflectionswhenevertheymeet.Thentheplainquestionis,an’titapitythatthisstateofthingsshouldcontinue,andhowmuchbetterwoulditbeforthegentlemantohandoverareasonableamountoftin,andmakeitallrightandcomfortable?’
Havingdeliveredthisorationwithagreatmanywavesandflourishesofthehand,MrSwivellerabruptlythrusttheheadofhiscaneintohismouthasiftopreventhimselffromimpairingtheeffectofhisspeechbyaddingoneotherword.
‘Whydoyouhuntandpersecuteme,Godhelpme!’saidtheoldmanturningtohisgrandson.‘Whydoyoubringyourprolifigatecompanionshere?HowoftenamItotellyouthatmylifeisoneofcareandself-denial,andthatIampoor?’
‘HowoftenamItotellyou,’returnedtheother,lookingcoldlyathim,‘thatIknowbetter?’
‘Youhavechosenyourownpath,’saidtheoldman.‘Followit.LeaveNellandmetotoilandwork.’
‘Nellwillbeawomansoon,’returnedtheother,‘and,bredinyourfaith,she’llforgetherbrotherunlessheshowshimselfsometimes.’
‘Takecare,’saidtheoldmanwithsparklingeyes,‘thatshedoesnotforgetyouwhenyouwouldhavehermemorykeenest.Takecarethatthedaydon’tcomewhenyouwalkbarefootinthestreets,andsheridesbyinagaycarriageofherown.’
‘Youmeanwhenshehasyourmoney?’retortedtheother.‘Howlikeapoormanhetalks!’
‘Andyet,’saidtheoldmandroppinghisvoiceandspeakinglikeonewhothinksaloud,‘howpoorweare,andwhatalifeitis!Thecauseisayoungchild’sguiltlessofallharmorwrong,butnothinggoeswellwithit!Hopeandpatience,hopeandpatience!’
Thesewordswereutteredintoolowatonetoreachtheearsoftheyoungmen.MrSwivellerappearedtothinkthattheyimpliedsomementalstruggleconsequentuponthepowerfuleffectofhisaddress,forhepokedhisfriendwithhiscaneandwhisperedhisconvictionthathehadadministered‘aclincher,’andthatheexpectedacommissionontheprofits.Discoveringhismistakeafterawhile,heappearedtogrowrathersleepyanddiscontented,andhadmorethanoncesuggestedtheproprietyofanimmediatedeparture,whenthedooropened,andthechildherselfappeared.
