put yourself in his place-第10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！


an　on　him　at　once；　in　the　Dash　Dialect；　of　course；　they　knew　no　other。

A　great　burly　forger；　whose　red　matted　hair　was　powdered　with　coal…　dust；　and　his　face　bloated　with　habitual　intemperance；　planted　himself　insolently　before　Henry；　and　said；　in　a　very　loud　voice；　〃How　many　more　trade　meetings　are　we　to　have　for　one　　knobstick？〃

Henry　replied；　in　a　moment；　〃Is　it　my　fault　if　your　shilly…shallying　committees　can't　say　yes　or　no　to　L15？　　You'd　say　yes　to　it；　wouldn't　you；　sooner　than　go　to　bed　sober？〃

This　sally　raised　a　loud　laugh　at　the　notorious　drunkard's　expense；　and　checked　the　storm；　as　a　laugh　generally　does。

But　men　were　gathering　round；　and　a　workman　who　had　heard　the　raised　voices；　and　divined　the　row；　ran　out　of　the　works；　with　his　apron　full　of　blades；　and　his　heart　full　of　mischief。　　It　was　a　grinder　of　a　certain　low　type；　peculiar　to　Hillsborough；　but　quite　common　there；　where　grinders　are　often　the　grandchildren　of　grinders。　　This　degenerate　face　was　more　canine　than　human；　sharp　as　a　hatchet；　and　with　forehead　villainously　low；　hardly　any　chin；　andmost　characteristic　trait　of　allthe　eyes；　pale　in　color；　and　tiny　in　size；　appeared　to　have　come　close　together；　to　consult；　and　then　to　have　run　back　into　the　very　skull；　to　get　away　from　the　sparks；　which　their　owner；　and　his　sire；　and　his　grandsire；　had　been　eternally　creating。

This　greyhound　of　a　grinder　flung　down　a　lot　of　dull　bluish　blades；　warm　from　the　forge；　upon　a　condemned　grindstone　that　was　lying　in　the　yard；　and　they　tinkled。

〃　me；　if　I　grind　cockney　blades！〃　said　he。

This　challenge　fired　a　sympathetic　handle…maker。　　〃Grinders　are　right；〃　said　he。　　〃We　must　be　a　　mean　lot　and　all；　to　handle　his　　work。〃

〃He　has　been　warned　enough；　but　he　heeds　noane。〃

〃Hustle　him　out　o'　works。〃

〃Nay；　hit　him　o'er　th'　head　and　fling　him　into　shore。〃

With　these　menacing　words；　three　or　four　roughs　advanced　on　him；　with　wicked　eyes；　and　the　respectable　workmen　stood；　like　stone　statues；　in　cold　and　terrible　neutrality；　and　Henry；　looking　round；　in　great　anxiety；　found　that　Bayne　had　withdrawn。

He　ground　his　teeth；　and　stepped　back　to　the　wall；　to　have　all　the　assailants　in　the　front。　　He　was　sternly　resolute；　though　very　pale；　and；　by　a　natural　impulse；　put　his　hand　into　his　side…pocket；　to　feel　if　he　had　a　weapon。　　The　knife　was　there；　the　deadly　blade　with　which　his　enemies　themselves　had　armed　him；　and；　to　those　who　could　read　faces；　there　was　death　in　the　pale　cheek　and　gleaming　eye　of　this　young　man；　so　sorely　tried。

At　this　moment；　a　burly　gentleman　walked　into　the　midst　of　them；　as　smartly　as　Van　Amburgh　amongst　his　tigers；　and　said　steadily；　〃What　is　to　do　now；　lads？〃　　It　was　Cheetham　himself；　Bayne　knew　he　was　in　the　office；　and　had　run　for　him　in　mortal　terror；　and　sent　him　to　keep　the　peace。　　〃They　insult　me；　sir；〃　said　Henry；　〃though　I　am　always　civil　to　them；　and　that　grinder　refuses　to　grind　my　blades；　there。〃

〃Is　that　so？　　Step　out；　my　lad。　　Did　you　refuse　to　grind　those　blades？〃

〃Ay；〃　said　the　greyhound…man　sullenly。

〃Then　put　on　your　coat；　and　leave　my　premises　this　minute。〃

〃He　is　entitled　to　a　week's　warning；　Mr。　Cheetham；〃　said　one　of　the　decent　workmen；　respectfully；　but　resolutely；　speaking　now　for　the　first　time。

〃You　are　mistaken；　sir；〃　replied　Mr。　Cheetham；　in　exactly　the　same　tone。　　（No　stranger　could　have　divined　the　speakers　were　master　and　man。）　　〃He　has　vitiated　his　contract　by　publicly　refusing　to　do　his　work。　　He'll　get　nothing　from　me　but　his　wages　up　to　noon　this　day。　But　YOU　can　have　a　week's　warning；　if　you　want　it。〃

〃Nay；　sir。　　I've　naught　against　you；　for　my　part。　　But　they　say　it　will　come　to　that；　if　you　don't　turn　Little　up。〃

〃Why；　what's　his　fault？　　Come　now；　you　are　a　man。　　Speak　up。〃

〃Nay；　I've　no　quarrel　with　the　man。　　But　he　isn't　straight　with　the　trade。〃

〃That　is　the　secretaries'　fault；　not　mine；〃　said　Henry。　　〃They　can't　see　I've　brought　a　new　trade　in；　that　hurts　no　old　trade；　and　will　spread；　and　bring　money　into　the　town。〃

〃We　are　not　so　　soft　as　swallow　that；〃　said　the　bloated　smith。　〃Thou's　just　come　t'　Hillsborough　to　learn　forging；　and　when　thou'st　mastered　that；　off　to　London；　and　take　thy　　trade　with　thee。〃

Henry　colored　to　the　brow　at　the　inferior　workman's　vanity　and　its　concomitant；　detraction。　　But　he　governed　himself；　by　a　mighty　effort；　and　said；　〃Oh；　that's　your　grievance　now；　is　it？　　Mr。　Cheethamsirwill　you　ask　some　respectable　grinder　to　examine　these　blades　of　mine？〃

〃Certainly。　　You　are　right；　Little。　　The　man　to　judge　a　forger's　work　is　a　grinder；　and　not　another　forger。　　Reynolds；　just　take　a　look　at　them；　will　ye？〃

A　wet　grinder　of　a　thoroughly　different　type　and　race　from　the　greyhound；　stepped　forward。　　He　was　thick…set　in　body；　fresh…　colored；　and　of　a　square　manly　countenance。　　He　examined　the　blades　carefully；　and　with　great　interest。

〃Well；〃　said　Henry；　〃were　they　forged　by　a　smith；　or　a　novice　that　is　come　here　to　learn　anvil　work？〃

Reynolds　did　not　reply　to　him；　nor　to　Mr。　Cheetham：　he　turned　to　the　men。　　〃Mates；　I'm　noane　good　at　lying。　　Hand　that　forged　these　has　naught　to　learn　in　Hillsbro'；　nor　any　other　shop。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Reynolds；〃　said　Henry；　in　a　choking　voice。　　〃That　is　the　first　gleam　of　justice　that　I〃　　He　could　say　no　more。

〃Come；　don't　you　turn　soft　for　a　word　or　two；〃　said　Cheetham。　〃You'll　wear　all　this　out　in　time。　　Go　to　the　office。　　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。〃

The　something　was　said。　　It　amounted　to　this〃Stand　by　me　and　I'll　stand　by　you。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Henry；　〃I　think　I　must　leave　you　if　the　committees　refuse　my　offer。　　It　is　hard　for　one　man　to　fight　a　couple　of　trades　in　such　a　place　as　this。　　But　I'm　firm　in　one　thing：　until　those　that　govern　the　unions　say　'no'　to　my　offer；　I　shall　go　on　working；　and　the　scum　of　the　trades　sha'n't　frighten　me　away　from　my　forge。〃

〃That's　right；　let　the　blackguards　bluster。　　Bayne　tells　me　you　have　had　another　anonymous。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Well；　look　here：　you　must　take　care　of　yourself；　outside　the　works；　but；　I'll　take　care　of　you　inside。　　Here；　Bayne；　write　a　notice　that；　if　any　man　molests；　intimidates；　or　affronts　Mr。　Little；　in　my　works；　I'll　take　him　myself　to　the　town…hall；　and　get　him　two　months　directly。　　Have　somebody　at　the　gate　to　put　a　printed　copy　of　that　into　every　man's　hand　as　he　leaves。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir！〃　said　Henry；　warmly。　　〃But　ought　not　the　police　to　afford　me　protection；　outside？〃

〃The　police！　　You　might　as　well　go　to　the　beadle。　　No；　change　your　lodging；　if　you　think　they　know　it。　　Don't　let　them　track　you　home。　Buy　a　brace　of　pistols；　and；　if　they　catch　you　in　a　dark　place；　and　try　to　do　you；　give　them　a　barrel　or　two　before　they　can　strike　a　blow。　　No　one　of　THEM　will　ever　tell　the　police；　not　if　you　shot　his　own　brother　dead　at　that　game。　　The　law　is　a　dead　letter　here；　sir。　You've　nothing　to　expect　from　it；　and　nothing　to　fear。〃

〃Good　heavens！　　Am　I　in　England？〃

〃In　England？　　No。　　You　are　in　Hillsborough。〃

This　epigram　put　Cheetham　in　good　humor　with　himself；　and；　when　Henry　told　him　he　did　not　feel　quite　safe；　even　in　his　own　forge；　nor　in　his　handling…room；　and　gave　his　reasons；　〃Oh；〃　said　cheerful　Cheetham；　〃that　is　nothing。　　Yours　is　a　box…lock；　the　blackguard　will　have　hid　in　the　works　at　night；　and　taken　the　lock　off；　left　his　writing；　and　then　screwed　the　lock　on　again：　that　is　nothing　to　any　Hillsborough　hand。　　But　I'll　soon　stop　that　game。　　Go　you　to　Chestnut　Street；　and　get　two　first…class　Bramah　locks。　　There's　a　pocket　knife　forge　upstairs；　close　to　your　handling…room。　　I'll　send　the　pocket…knife　hand　down…stairs；　and　you　fasten　the　Bramah　locks　on　both　doors；　and　keep　the　keys　yourself。　　See　to　that　now　at　once：　then　your　mind　will　be　easy。　　And　I　shall　be　in　the　works　all　day　now；　and　every　day：　come　to　me　directly；　if　there　is　any　thing　fresh。〃

Henry's　forge　was　cold；　by　this　time；　so　he　struck　work；　and　spent　the　afternoon　in　securing　his　two　rooms　with　the　Bramah　locks。　　He　also　took　Cheetham's　advice　in　another　particular。　　Instead　of　walking　home；　he　took　a　cab；　and　got　the　man　to　drive　rapidly　to　a　certain　alley。　　There　he　left　the　cab；　ran　down　the　alley；　and　turned　a　corner；　and　went　home　round　about。　　He　doubled　like　a　hare；　and　dodged　like　a　criminal　evading　justice。

But　the　next　morning　he　felt　a　pleasing　sense　of　security　when　he　opened　his　forge…room　with　the　Bramah　key；　and　found　no　letters　nor　threats　of　any　kind　had　been　able　to　penetrate。

Moreover；　all　this　time　you　will　understand　he　was　visiting　〃Woodbine　Cottage〃　twice　a　week；　and　carving　Grace　Carden's　bust。

Those　delightful　hours　did　much　to　compensate　him　for　his　troubles　in　the　town；　and　were　even　of　some　service　to　him　in　training　him　to　fence　with　the　trades　of　Hillsborough：　for　at　〃Woodbine　Villa〃　he　had　to　keep　an　ardent　passion　within　the　strict　bounds　of　reverence；　and　in　the　town　he　had　constantly　to　curb　another　passion；　wrath；　and　keep　it　within　the　bounds　of　prudence。　　These　were　kindred　exercises　of　self…restraint；　and　taught　him　self…government　beyond　his　years。　　But　what　he　benefited　most　by；　after　all；　was　the　direct　and　calming　effect　upon　his　agitated　heart；　and　irritated　nerves；　that　preceded；　and　accompanied；　and　followed　these　sweet；　tranquilizing　visits。　　They　were　soft；　solacing；　and　soothing；　they　were　periodical　and　certain；　he　could　count　on　leaving　his　cares　and　worries；　twice　every　week；　at　the　door　of　that　dear　villa；　and；　when　he　took　them　up　again；　they　were　no　longer　the　same；　heavenly　balm　had　been　shed　over　them；　and　over　his　boiling　blood。

One　Saturday　he　heard；　by　a　side…wind；　that　the　Unions　at　a　general　meeting　had　debated　his　case；　and　there　had　been　some　violent　speeches；　and　no　decision　come　to；　but　the　majority　adverse　to　him。　This　discouraged　him　sadly；　and　his　yearning　heart　turned　all　the　more　toward　his　haven　of　rest；　and　the　hours；　few　but　blissful；　that　awaited　him。

About　11　o'clock；　that　same　day；　the　postman　brought　him　a　letter；　so　vilely　addressed；　that　it　had　been　taken　to　two　or　three　places；　on　speculation；　before　it　reached　its　destination。

Little　saw　at　once　it　was　another　anonymous　communication。　　But　he　was　getting　callous　to　these　missi