an inland voyage-第6部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　the　average　pedlar。　　Indeed　we　had　　some　grounds　for　reflection　while　the　steak　was　getting　ready；　to　　see　how　perfectly　they　accepted　us　at　their　own　valuation；　and　how　　our　best　politeness　and　best　efforts　at　entertainment　seemed　to　fit　　quite　suitably　with　the　character　of　packmen。　　At　least　it　seemed　a　　good　account　of　the　profession　in　France；　that　even　before　such　　judges　we　could　not　beat　them　at　our　own　weapons。

At　last　we　were　called　to　table。　　The　two　hinds　（and　one　of　them　　looked　sadly　worn　and　white　in　the　face；　as　though　sick　with　over…　work　and　under…feeding）　supped　off　a　single　plate　of　some　sort　of　　bread…berry；　some　potatoes　in　their　jackets；　a　small　cup　of　coffee　　sweetened　with　sugar…candy；　and　one　tumbler　of　swipes。　　The　　landlady；　her　son；　and　the　lass　aforesaid；　took　the　same。　　Our　meal　　was　quite　a　banquet　by　comparison。　　We　had　some　beefsteak；　not　so　　tender　as　it　might　have　been；　some　of　the　potatoes；　some　cheese；　an　　extra　glass　of　the　swipes；　and　white　sugar　in　our　coffee。

You　see　what　it　is　to　be　a　gentleman　…　I　beg　your　pardon；　what　it　　is　to　be　a　pedlar。　　It　had　not　before　occurred　to　me　that　a　pedlar　　was　a　great　man　in　a　labourer's　ale…house；　but　now　that　I　had　to　　enact　the　part　for　an　evening；　I　found　that　so　it　was。　　He　has　in　　his　hedge　quarters　somewhat　the　same　pre…eminency　as　the　man　who　　takes　a　private　parlour　in　an　hotel。　　The　more　you　look　into　it；　　the　more　infinite　are　the　class　distinctions　among　men；　and　　possibly；　by　a　happy　dispensation；　there　is　no　one　at　all　at　the　　bottom　of　the　scale；　no　one　but　can　find　some　superiority　over　　somebody　else；　to　keep　up　his　pride　withal。

We　were　displeased　enough　with　our　fare。　　Particularly　the　　CIGARETTE；　for　I　tried　to　make　believe　that　I　was　amused　with　the　　adventure；　tough　beefsteak　and　all。　　According　to　the　Lucretian　　maxim；　our　steak　should　have　been　flavoured　by　the　look　of　the　　other　people's　bread…berry。　　But　we　did　not　find　it　so　in　practice。　　　You　may　have　a　head…knowledge　that　other　people　live　more　poorly　　than　yourself；　but　it　is　not　agreeable　…　I　was　going　to　say；　it　is　　against　the　etiquette　of　the　universe　…　to　sit　at　the　same　table　　and　pick　your　own　superior　diet　from　among　their　crusts。　　I　had　not　　seen　such　a　thing　done　since　the　greedy　boy　at　school　with　his　　birthday　cake。　　It　was　odious　enough　to　witness；　I　could　remember；　　and　I　had　never　thought　to　play　the　part　myself。　　But　there　again　　you　see　what　it　is　to　be　a　pedlar。

There　is　no　doubt　that　the　poorer　classes　in　our　country　are　much　　more　charitably　disposed　than　their　superiors　in　wealth。　　And　I　　fancy　it　must　arise　a　great　deal　from　the　comparative　indistinction　　of　the　easy　and　the　not　so　easy　in　these　ranks。　　A　workman　or　a　　pedlar　cannot　shutter　himself　off　from　his　less　comfortable　　neighbours。　　If　he　treats　himself　to　a　luxury；　he　must　do　it　in　the　　face　of　a　dozen　who　cannot。　　And　what　should　more　directly　lead　to　　charitable　thoughts？　。　。　。　Thus　the　poor　man；　camping　out　in　life；　　sees　it　as　it　is；　and　knows　that　every　mouthful　he　puts　in　his　　belly　has　been　wrenched　out　of　the　fingers　of　the　hungry。

But　at　a　certain　stage　of　prosperity；　as　in　a　balloon　ascent；　the　　fortunate　person　passes　through　a　zone　of　clouds；　and　sublunary　　matters　are　thenceforward　hidden　from　his　view。　　He　sees　nothing　　but　the　heavenly　bodies；　all　in　admirable　order；　and　positively　as　　good　as　new。　　He　finds　himself　surrounded　in　the　most　touching　　manner　by　the　attentions　of　Providence；　and　compares　himself　　involuntarily　with　the　lilies　and　the　skylarks。　　He　does　not　　precisely　sing；　of　course；　but　then　he　looks　so　unassuming　in　his　　open　landau！　　If　all　the　world　dined　at　one　table；　this　philosophy　　would　meet　with　some　rude　knocks。



PONT…SUR…SAMBRE



THE　TRAVELLING　MERCHANT


LIKE　the　lackeys　in　Moliere's　farce；　when　the　true　nobleman　broke　　in　on　their　high　life　below　stairs；　we　were　destined　to　be　　confronted　with　a　real　pedlar。　　To　make　the　lesson　still　more　　poignant　for　fallen　gentlemen　like　us；　he　was　a　pedlar　of　　infinitely　more　consideration　than　the　sort　of　scurvy　fellows　we　　were　taken　for：　　like　a　lion　among　mice；　or　a　ship　of　war　bearing　　down　upon　two　cock…boats。　　Indeed；　he　did　not　deserve　the　name　of　　pedlar　at　all：　　he　was　a　travelling　merchant。

I　suppose　it　was　about　half…past　eight　when　this　worthy；　Monsieur　　Hector　Gilliard　of　Maubeuge；　turned　up　at　the　ale…house　door　in　a　　tilt　cart　drawn　by　a　donkey；　and　cried　cheerily　on　the　inhabitants。　　　He　was　a　lean；　nervous　flibbertigibbet　of　a　man；　with　something　the　　look　of　an　actor；　and　something　the　look　of　a　horse…jockey。　　He　had　　evidently　prospered　without　any　of　the　favours　of　education；　for　he　　adhered　with　stern　simplicity　to　the　masculine　gender；　and　in　the　　course　of　the　evening　passed　off　some　fancy　futures　in　a　very　　florid　style　of　architecture。　　With　him　came　his　wife；　a　comely　　young　woman　with　her　hair　tied　in　a　yellow　kerchief；　and　their　son；　　a　little　fellow　of　four；　in　a　blouse　and　military　KEPI。　　It　was　　notable　that　the　child　was　many　degrees　better　dressed　than　either　　of　the　parents。　　We　were　informed　he　was　already　at　a　boarding…　school；　but　the　holidays　having　just　commenced；　he　was　off　to　spend　　them　with　his　parents　on　a　cruise。　　An　enchanting　holiday　　occupation；　was　it　not？　to　travel　all　day　with　father　and　mother　in　　the　tilt　cart　full　of　countless　treasures；　the　green　country　　rattling　by　on　either　side；　and　the　children　in　all　the　villages　　contemplating　him　with　envy　and　wonder？　　It　is　better　fun；　during　　the　holidays；　to　be　the　son　of　a　travelling　merchant；　than　son　and　　heir　to　the　greatest　cotton…spinner　in　creation。　　And　as　for　being　　a　reigning　prince　…　indeed　I　never　saw　one　if　it　was　not　Master　　Gilliard！

While　M。　Hector　and　the　son　of　the　house　were　putting　up　the　　donkey；　and　getting　all　the　valuables　under　lock　and　key；　the　　landlady　warmed　up　the　remains　of　our　beefsteak；　and　fried　the　cold　　potatoes　in　slices；　and　Madame　Gilliard　set　herself　to　waken　the　　boy；　who　had　come　far　that　day；　and　was　peevish　and　dazzled　by　the　　light。　　He　was　no　sooner　awake　than　he　began　to　prepare　himself　for　　supper　by　eating　galette；　unripe　pears；　and　cold　potatoes　…　with；　　so　far　as　I　could　judge；　positive　benefit　to　his　appetite。

The　landlady；　fired　with　motherly　emulation；　awoke　her　own　little　　girl；　and　the　two　children　were　confronted。　　Master　Gilliard　looked　　at　her　for　a　moment；　very　much　as　a　dog　looks　at　his　own　reflection　　in　a　mirror　before　he　turns　away。　　He　was　at　that　time　absorbed　in　　the　galette。　　His　mother　seemed　crestfallen　that　he　should　display　　so　little　inclination　towards　the　other　sex；　and　expressed　her　　disappointment　with　some　candour　and　a　very　proper　reference　to　the　　influence　of　years。

Sure　enough　a　time　will　come　when　he　will　pay　more　attention　to　the　　girls；　and　think　a　great　deal　less　of　his　mother：　　let　us　hope　she　　will　like　it　as　well　as　she　seemed　to　fancy。　　But　it　is　odd　enough；　　the　very　women　who　profess　most　contempt　for　mankind　as　a　sex；　seem　　to　find　even　its　ugliest　particulars　rather　lively　and　high…minded　　in　their　own　sons。

The　little　girl　looked　longer　and　with　more　interest；　probably　　because　she　was　in　her　own　house；　while　he　was　a　traveller　and　　accustomed　to　strange　sights。　　And　besides　there　was　no　galette　in　　the　case　with　her。

All　the　time　of　supper；　there　was　nothing　spoken　of　but　my　young　　lord。　　The　two　parents　were　both　absurdly　fond　of　their　child。　　　Monsieur　kept　insisting　on　his　sagacity：　　how　he　knew　all　the　　children　at　school　by　name；　and　when　this　utterly　failed　on　trial；　　how　he　was　cautious　and　exact　to　a　strange　degree；　and　if　asked　　anything；　he　would　sit　and　think　…　and　think；　and　if　he　did　not　　know　it；　'my　faith；　he　wouldn't　tell　you　at　all　…　FOI；　IL　NE　VOUS　　LE　DIRA　PAS'：　　which　is　certainly　a　very　high　degree　of　caution。　　　At　intervals；　M。　Hector　would　appeal　to　his　wife；　with　his　mouth　　full　of　beefsteak；　as　to　the　little　fellow's　age　at　such　or　such　a　　time　when　he　had　said　or　done　something　memorable；　and　I　noticed　　that　Madame　usually　pooh…poohed　these　inquiries。　　She　herself　was　　not　boastful　in　her　vein；　but　she　never　had　her　fill　of　caressing　　the　child；　and　she　seemed　to　take　a　gentle　pleasure　in　recalling　　all　that　was　fortunate　in　his　little　existence。　　No　schoolboy　could　　have　talked　more　of　the　holidays　which　were　just　beginning　and　less　　of　the　black　school…time　which　must　inevitably　follow　after。　　She　　showed；　with　a　pride　perhaps　partly　mercantile　in　origin；　his　　pockets　preposterously　swollen　with　tops　and　whistles　and　string。　　　When　she　called　at　a　house　in　the　way　of　business；　it　appeared　he　　kept　her　company；　and　whenever　a　sale　was　made；　received　a　sou　out　　of　the　profit。　　Indeed　they　spoiled　him　vastly；　these　two　good　　people。　　But　they　had　an　eye　to　his　manners　for　all　that；　and　　reproved　him　for　some　little　faults　in　breeding；　which　occurred　　from　time　to　time　during　supper。

On　the　whole；　I　was　not　much　hurt　at　being　taken　for　a　pedlar。　　I　　might　think　that　I　ate　with　greater　delicacy；　or　that　my　mistakes　　in　French　belonged　to　a　different　order；　but　it　was　plain　that　　these　distinctions　would　be　thrown　away　upon　the　landlady　and　the　　two　labourers。　　In　all　essential　things　we　and　the　Gilliards　cut　　very　much　the　same　figure　in　the　ale…house　kitchen。　　M。　Hector　was　　more　at　home；　indeed；　and　took　a　higher　tone　with　the　world；　but　　that　was　explicable　on　the　ground　of　his　driving　a　donkey…cart；　　while　we　poor　bodies　tramped　afoot。　　I　daresay；　the　rest　of　the　　company　thought　us　dying　with　envy；　though　in　no　ill　sense；　to　be　　as　far　up　in　the　profession　as　the　new　arrival。

And　of　one　thing　I　am　sure：　　that　every　one　thawed　and　became　more　　humanised　and　conversible　as　soon　as　these　innocent　people　appeared　　upon　the　scene。　　I　would　not　very　readily　trust　the　travelling　　merchant　with　any　extravagant　sum　of　money；　but　I　am　sure　his　heart　　was　in　the　right　place。　　In　this　mixed　world；　if　you　can　find　one　　or　two　sensible　places　in　a　man　…　above　all；　if　you　should　find　a　　whole　family　living　together　on　such　pleasant　terms　…　you　may　　surely　be　satisfied；　and　take　the　rest　for　granted；　or；　what　is　a　　great　deal　better；　boldly　make　up　your　mind　that　you　c