第 76 节
作者:
旅游巴士 更新:2021-02-20 14:20 字数:9322
into a great variety of shapes and sizes so as to form a tolerable
imitation of bread。
Some are lucky enough to meet with few obstacles; some are plucky
enough to over…ride them; but in the greater number of cases; if
people are saved at all they are saved so as by fire。
While Ernest was with me Ellen was looking out for a shop on the
south side of the Thames near the 〃Elephant and Castle;〃 which was
then almost a new and a very rising neighbourhood。 By one o'clock
she had found several from which a selection was to be made; and
before night the pair had made their choice。
Ernest brought Ellen to me。 I did not want to see her; but could
not well refuse。 He had laid out a few of his shillings upon her
wardrobe; so that she was neatly dressed; and; indeed; she looked
very pretty and so good that I could hardly be surprised at Ernest's
infatuation when the other circumstances of the case were taken into
consideration。 Of course we hated one another instinctively from
the first moment we set eyes on one another; but we each told Ernest
that we had been most favourably impressed。
Then I was taken to see the shop。 An empty house is like a stray
dog or a body from which life has departed。 Decay sets in at once
in every part of it; and what mould and wind and weather would
spare; street boys commonly destroy。 Ernest's shop in its
untenanted state was a dirty unsavoury place enough。 The house was
not old; but it had been run up by a jerry…builder and its
constitution had no stamina whatever。 It was only by being kept
warm and quiet that it would remain in health for many months
together。 Now it had been empty for some weeks and the cats had got
in by night; while the boys had broken the windows by day。 The
parlour floor was covered with stones and dirt; and in the area was
a dead dog which had been killed in the street and been thrown down
into the first unprotected place that could be found。 There was a
strong smell throughout the house; but whether it was bugs; or rats;
or cats; or drains; or a compound of all four; I could not
determine。 The sashes did not fit; the flimsy doors hung badly; the
skirting was gone in several places; and there were not a few holes
in the floor; the locks were loose; and paper was torn and dirty;
the stairs were weak and one felt the treads give as one went up
them。
Over and above these drawbacks the house had an ill name; by reason
of the fact that the wife of the last occupant had hanged herself in
it not very many weeks previously。 She had set down a bloater
before the fire for her husband's tea; and had made him a round of
toast。 She then left the room as though about to return to it
shortly; but instead of doing so she went into the back kitchen and
hanged herself without a word。 It was this which had kept the house
empty so long in spite of its excellent position as a corner shop。
The last tenant had left immediately after the inquest; and if the
owner had had it done up then people would have got over the tragedy
that had been enacted in it; but the combination of bad condition
and bad fame had hindered many from taking it; who like Ellen; could
see that it had great business capabilities。 Almost anything would
have sold there; but it happened also that there was no second…hand
clothes shop in close proximity so that everything combined in its
favour; except its filthy state and its reputation。
When I saw it; I thought I would rather die than live in such an
awful placebut then I had been living in the Temple for the last
five and twenty years。 Ernest was lodging in Laystall Street and
had just come out of prison; before this he had lived in Ashpit
Place so that this house had no terrors for him provided he could
get it done up。 The difficulty was that the landlord was hard to
move in this respect。 It ended in my finding the money to do
everything that was wanted; and taking a lease of the house for five
years at the same rental as that paid by the last occupant。 I then
sublet it to Ernest; of course taking care that it was put more
efficiently into repair than his landlord was at all likely to have
put it。
A week later I called and found everything so completely transformed
that I should hardly have recognised the house。 All the ceilings
had been whitewashed; all the rooms papered; the broken glass hacked
out and reinstated; the defective wood…work renewed; all the sashes;
cupboards and doors had been painted。 The drains had been
thoroughly overhauled; everything in fact; that could be done had
been done; and the rooms now looked as cheerful as they had been
forbidding when I had last seen them。 The people who had done the
repairs were supposed to have cleaned the house down before leaving;
but Ellen had given it another scrub from top to bottom herself
after they were gone; and it was as clean as a new pin。 I almost
felt as though I could have lived in it myself; and as for Ernest;
he was in the seventh heaven。 He said it was all my doing and
Ellen's。
There was already a counter in the shop and a few fittings; so that
nothing now remained but to get some stock and set them out for
sale。 Ernest said he could not begin better than by selling his
clerical wardrobe and his books; for though the shop was intended
especially for the sale of second…hand clothes; yet Ellen said there
was no reason why they should not sell a few books too; so a
beginning was to be made by selling the books he had had at school
and college at about one shilling a volume; taking them all round;
and I have heard him say that he learned more that proved of
practical use to him through stocking his books on a bench in front
of his shop and selling them; than he had done from all the years of
study which he had bestowed upon their contents。
For the enquiries that were made of him whether he had such and such
a book taught him what he could sell and what he could not; how much
he could get for this; and how much for that。 Having made ever such
a little beginning with books; he took to attending book sales as
well as clothes sales; and ere long this branch of his business
became no less important than the tailoring; and would; I have no
doubt; have been the one which he would have settled down to
exclusively; if he had been called upon to remain a tradesman; but
this is anticipating。
I made a contribution and a stipulation。 Ernest wanted to sink the
gentleman completely; until such time as he could work his way up
again。 If he had been left to himself he would have lived with
Ellen in the shop back parlour and kitchen; and have let out both
the upper floors according to his original programme。 I did not
want him; however; to cut himself adrift from music; letters and
polite life; and feared that unless he had some kind of den into
which he could retire he would ere long become the tradesman and
nothing else。 I therefore insisted on taking the first floor front
and back myself; and furnishing them with the things which had been
left at Mrs Jupp's。 I bought these things of him for a small sum
and had them moved into his present abode。
I went to Mrs Jupp's to arrange all this; as Ernest did not like
going to Ashpit Place。 I had half expected to find the furniture
sold and Mrs Jupp gone; but it was not so; with all her faults the
poor old woman was perfectly honest。
I told her that Pryer had taken all Ernest's money and run away with
it。 She hated Pryer。 〃I never knew anyone;〃 she exclaimed; 〃as
white…livered in the face as that Pryer; he hasn't got an upright
vein in his whole body。 Why; all that time when he used to come
breakfasting with Mr Pontifex morning after morning; it took me to a
perfect shadow the way he carried on。 There was no doing anything
to please him right。 First I used to get them eggs and bacon; and
he didn't like that; and then I got him a bit of fish; and he didn't
like that; or else it was too dear; and you know fish is dearer than
ever; and then I got him a bit of German; and he said it rose on
him; then I tried sausages; and he said they hit him in the eye
worse even than German; oh! how I used to wander my room and fret
about it inwardly and cry for hours; and all about them paltry
breakfastsand it wasn't Mr Pontifex; he'd like anything that
anyone chose to give him。
〃And so the piano's to go;〃 she continued。 〃What beautiful tunes Mr
Pontifex did play upon it; to be sure; and there was one I liked
better than any I ever heard。 I was in the room when he played it
once and when I said; 'Oh; Mr Pontifex; that's the kind of woman I
am;' he said; 'No; Mrs Jupp; it isn't; for this tune is old; but no
one can say you are old。' But; bless you; he meant nothing by it;
it was only his mucky flattery。〃
Like myself; she was vexed at his getting married。 She didn't like
his being married; and she didn't like his not being marriedbut;
anyhow; it was Ellen's fault; not his; and she hoped he would be
happy。 〃But after all;〃 she concluded; 〃it ain't you and it ain't
me; and it ain't him and it ain't her。 It's what you must call the
fortunes of matterimony; for there ain't no other word for it。〃
In the course of the aft