狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第38章Part4

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第38章Part4  

'Well
mother!' said Rob
dutifully kissing her; 'how are you
mother?'
'There's my boy!' cried Polly
giving him a hug and a pat on the back. 'Secret! Bless you
father
not he!'
This was intended for Mr Toodle's private edification
but Rob the Grinder
whose withers were not unwrung
caught the words as they were spoken.
'What! father's been a saying something more again me
has he?' cried the injured innocent. 'Oh
what a hard thing it is that when a cove has once gone a little wrong
a cove's own father should be always a throwing it in his face behind his back! It's enough
' cried Rob
resorting to his coat-cuff in anguish of spirit
'to make a cove go and do something
out of spite!'
'My poor boy!' cried Polly
'father didn't mean anything.'
'If father didn't mean anything
' blubbered the injured Grinder
'why did he go and say anything
mother? Nobody thinks half so bad of me as my own father does. What a unnatural thing! I wish somebody'd take and chop my head off. Father wouldn't mind doing it
I believe
and I'd much rather he did that than t'other.'
At these desperate words all the young Toodles shrieked; a pathetic effect
which the Grinder improved by ironically adjuring them not to cry for him
for they ought to hate him
they ought
if they was good boys and girls; and this so touched the youngest Toodle but one
who was easily moved
that it touched him not only in his spirit but in his wind too; making him so purple that Mr Toodle in consternation carried him out to the water-butt
and would have put him under the tap
but for his being recovered by the sight of that instrument.
Matters having reached this point
Mr Toodle explained
and the virtuous feelings of his son being thereby calmed
they shook hands
and harmony reigned again.
'Will you do as I do
Biler
my boy?' inquired his father
returning to his tea with new strength.
'No
thank'ee
father. Master and I had tea together.'
'And how is master
Rob?' said Polly.
'Well
I don't know
mother; not much to boast on. There ain't no bis'ness done
you see. He don't know anything about it - the Cap'en don't. There was a man e into the shop this very day
and says
"I want a so-and-so
" he says - some hard name or another. "A which?" says the Cap'en. "A so-and-so
" says the man. "Brother
" says the Cap'en
"will you take a observation round the shop." "Well
" says the man
"I've done" "Do you see wot you want?" says the Cap'en "No
I don't
" says the man. "Do you know it wen you do see it?" says the Cap'en. "No
I don't
" says the man. "Why
then I tell you wot
my lad
" says the Cap'en
"you'd better go back and ask wot it's like
outside
for no more don't I!"'
'That ain't the way to make money
though
is it?' said Polly.
'Money
mother! He'll never make money. He has such ways as I never see. He ain't a bad master though
I'll say that for him. But that ain't much to me
for I don't think I shall stop with him long.'
'Not stop in your place
Rob!' cried his mother; while Mr Toodle opened his eyes.
'Not in that place
p'raps
' returned the Grinder
with a wink. 'I shouldn't wonder - friends at court you know - but never you mind
mother
just now; I'm all right
that's all.'
The indisputable proof afforded in these hints
and in the Grinder's mysterious manner
of his not being subject to that failing which Mr Toodle had
by implication
attributed to him
might have led to a renewal of his wrongs
and of the sensation in the family
but for the opportune arrival of another visitor
who
to Polly's great surprise
appeared at the door
smiling patronage and friendship on all there.
'How do you do
Mrs Richards?' said Miss Tox. 'I have e to see you. May I e in?'