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burlesques-第128部分
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himself by his horsemanship; and had knocked down (and very justly)
Mr。 Nabb; the bailiff; and Mr。 Stubbs; his man; who came to lay
hands upon him。 My sweet Jemmy seemed to be very low in spirits
after his departure; and a sad thing it is to see her in low
spirits: on days of illness she no more minds giving Jemimarann a
box on the ear; or sending a plate of muffins across a table at
poor me; than she does taking her tea。
Jemmy; I say; was very low in spirits; but; one day (I remember it
was the day after Captain Higgins called; and said he had seen the
Baron at Boulogne); she vowed that nothing but change of air would
do her good; and declared that she should die unless she went to
the seaside in France。 I knew what this meant; and that I might as
well attempt to resist her as to resist her Gracious Majesty in
Parliament assembled; so I told the people to pack up the things;
and took four places on board the 〃Grand Turk〃 steamer for Boulogne。
The travelling…carriage; which; with Jemmy's thirty…seven boxes and
my carpet…bag; was pretty well loaded; was sent on board the night
before; and we; after breakfasting in Portland Place (little did I
think it was thebut; poh! never mind); went down to the Custom
House in the other carriage; followed by a hackney…coach and a cab;
with the servants; and fourteen bandboxes and trunks more; which
were to be wanted by my dear girl in the journey。
The road down Cheapside and Thames Street need not be described: we
saw the Monument; a memento of the wicked Popish massacre of St。
Bartholomew;why erected here I can't think; as St。 Bartholomew is
in Smithfield;we had a glimpse of Billingsgate; and of the
Mansion House; where we saw the two…and…twenty…shilling…coal smoke
coming out of the chimneys; and were landed at the Custom House in
safety。 I felt melancholy; for we were going among a people of
swindlers; as all Frenchmen are thought to be; and; besides not
being able to speak the language; leaving our own dear country and
honest countrymen。
Fourteen porters came out; and each took a package with the
greatest civility; calling Jemmy her ladyship; and me your honor;
ay; and your honoring and my ladyshipping even my man and the maid
in the cab。 I somehow felt all over quite melancholy at going
away。 〃Here; my fine fellow;〃 says I to the coachman; who was
standing very respectful; holding his hat in one hand and Jemmy's
jewel…case in the other〃Here; my fine chap;〃 says I; 〃here's six
shillings for you;〃 for I did not care for the money。
〃Six what?〃 says he。
〃Six shillings; fellow;〃 shrieks Jemmy; 〃and twice as much as your
fare。〃
〃Feller; marm!〃 says this insolent coachman。 〃Feller yourself;
marm: do you think I'm a…going to kill my horses; and break my
precious back; and bust my carriage; and carry you; and your kids;
and your traps for six hog?〃 And with this the monster dropped his
hat; with my money in it; and doubling his fist put it so very near
my nose that I really thought he would have made it bleed。 〃My
fare's heighteen shillings;〃 says he; 〃hain't it?hask hany of
these gentlemen。〃
〃Why; it ain't more than seventeen…and…six;〃 says one of the
fourteen porters; 〃but if the gen'l'man IS a gen'l'man; he can't
give no less than a suffering anyhow。〃
I wanted to resist; and Jemmy screamed like a Turk; but; 〃Holloa!〃
says one。 〃What's the row?〃 says another。 〃Come; dub up!〃 roars a
third。 And I don't mind telling you; in confidence; that I was so
frightened that I took out the sovereign and gave it。 My man and
Jemmy's maid had disappeared by this time: they always do when
there's a robbery or a row going on。
I was going after them。 〃Stop; Mr。 Ferguson;〃 pipes a young
gentleman of about thirteen; with a red livery waistcoat that
reached to his ankles; and every variety of button; pin; string; to
keep it together。 〃Stop; Mr。 Heff;〃 says he; taking a small pipe
out of his mouth; 〃and don't forgit the cabman。〃
〃What's your fare; my lad?〃 says I。
〃Why; let's seeyesho!my fare's seven…and…thirty and eightpence
eggsacly。〃
The fourteen gentlemen holding the luggage; here burst out and
laughed very rudely indeed; and the only person who seemed
disappointed was; I thought; the hackney…coachman。 〃Why; YOU
rascal!〃 says Jemmy; laying hold of the boy; 〃do you want more than
the coachman?〃
〃Don't rascal ME; marm!〃 shrieks the little chap in return。
〃What's the coach to me? Vy; you may go in an omlibus for sixpence
if you like; vy don't you go and buss it; marm? Vy did you call my
cab; marm? Vy am I to come forty mile; from Scarlot Street;
Po'tl'nd Street; Po'tl'nd Place; and not git my fare; marm? Come;
give me a suffering and a half; and don't keep my hoss avaiting all
day。〃 This speech; which takes some time to write down; was made
in about the fifth part of a second; and; at the end of it; the
young gentleman hurled down his pipe; and; advancing towards Jemmy;
doubled his fist; and seemed to challenge her to fight。
My dearest girl now turned from red to be as pale as white Windsor;
and fell into my arms。 What was I to do? I called 〃Policeman!〃
but a policeman won't interfere in Thames Street; robbery is
licensed there。 What was I to do? Oh! my heart beats with
paternal gratitude when I think of what my Tug did!
As soon as this young cab…chap put himself into a fighting
attitude; Master Tuggeridge Coxewho had been standing by laughing
very rudely; I thoughtMaster Tuggeridge Coxe; I say; flung his
jacket suddenly into his mamma's face (the brass buttons made her
start and recovered her a little); and; before we could say a word
was in the ring in which we stood (formed by the porters; nine
orangemen and women; I don't know how many newspaper…boys; hotel…
cads; and old…clothesmen); and; whirling about two little white
fists in the face of the gentleman in the red waistcoat; who
brought up a great pair of black ones to bear on the enemy; was
engaged in an instant。
But la bless you! Tug hadn't been at Richmond School for nothing;
and MILLED away one; two; right and leftlike a little hero as he
is; with all his dear mother's spirit in him。 First came a crack
which sent a long dusky white hatthat looked damp and deep like a
well; and had a long black crape…rag twisted round itfirst came a
crack which sent this white hat spinning over the gentleman's cab
and scattered among the crowd a vast number of things which the
cabman kept in it;such as a ball of string; a piece of candle; a
comb; a whip…lash; a little warbler; a slice of bacon; &c。 &c。
The cabman seemed sadly ashamed of this display; but Tug gave him
no time: another blow was planted on his cheekbone; and a third;
which hit him straight on the nose; sent this rude cabman straight
down to the ground。
〃Brayvo; my lord!〃 shouted all the people around。
〃I won't have no more; thank yer;〃 said the little cabman;
gathering hi
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