Chapter 584.docx

Chapter 584.docx

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Chapter584

Chapter58

THEtidingsofmyhighfortuneshavinghadaheavyfall,hadgotdowntomynativeplaceanditsneighbourhood,beforeIgotthere.IfoundtheBlueBoarinpossessionoftheintelligence,andIfoundthatitmadeagreatchangeintheBoar'sdemeanour.WhereastheBoarhadcultivatedmygoodopinionwithwarmassiduitywhenIwascomingintoproperty,theBoarwasexceedinglycoolonthesubjectnowthatIwasgoingoutofproperty.ItwaseveningwhenIarrived,muchfatiguedbythejourneyIhadsooftenmadesoeasily.TheBoarcouldnotputmeintomyusualbedroom,whichwasengaged（probablybysomeonewhohadexpectations）,andcouldonlyassignmeaveryindifferentchamberamongthepigeonsandpost-chaisesuptheyard.But,IhadassoundasleepinthatlodgingasinthemostsuperioraccommodationtheBoarcouldhavegivenme,andthequalityofmydreamswasaboutthesameasinthebestbedroom.

Earlyinthemorningwhilemybreakfastwasgettingready,IstrolledroundbySatisHouse.Therewereprintedbillsonthegate,andonbitsofcarpethangingoutofthewindows,announcingasalebyauctionoftheHouseholdFurnitureandEffects,nextweek.TheHouseitselfwastobesoldasoldbuildingmaterialsandpulleddown.LOT1wasmarkedinwhitewashedknock-kneelettersonthebrewhouse;LOT2onthatpartofthemainbuildingwhichhadbeensolongshutup.Otherlotsweremarkedoffonotherpartsofthestructure,andtheivyhadbeentorndowntomakeroomfortheinscriptions,andmuchofittrailedlowinthedustandwaswitheredalready.Steppinginforamomentattheopengateandlookingaroundmewiththeuncomfortableairofastrangerwhohadnobusinessthere,Isawtheauctioneer'sclerkwalkingonthecasksandtellingthemofffortheinformationofacataloguecompiler,peninhand,whomadeatemporarydeskofthewheeledchairIhadsooftenpushedalongtothetuneofOldClem.

WhenIgotbacktomybreakfastintheBoar'scoffee-room,IfoundMrPumblechookconversingwiththelandlord.MrPumblechook（notimprovedinappearancebyhislatenocturnaladventure）waswaitingforme,andaddressedmeinthefollowingterms.

`Youngman,Iamsorrytoseeyoubroughtlow.Butwhatelsecouldbeexpected!

Whatelsecouldbeexpected!

'

Asheextendedhishandwithamagnificentlyforgivingair,andasIwasbrokenbyillnessandunfittoquarrel,Itookit.

`William,'saidMrPumblechooktothewaiter,`putamuffinontable.Andhasitcometothis!

Hasitcometothis!

'

Ifrowninglysatdowntmybreakfast.MrPumblechookstoodovermeandpouredoutmytea-beforeIcouldtouchtheteapot-withtheairofabenefactorwhowasresolvedtobetruetothelast.

`William,'saidMrPumblechook,mournfully,`putthesalton.Inhappiertimes,'addressingme,`Ithinkyoutoosugar.Anddidyoutakemilk?

Youdid.Sugarandmilk.William,bringawatercress.'

`Thankyou,'saidI,shortly,`butIdon'teatwatercresses.'

`Youdon'teat'em,'returnedMrPumblechook,sighingandnoddinghisheadseveraltimes,asifhemighthaveexpectedthat,andasifabstinencefromwatercresseswereconsistentwithmydownfall.`True.Thesimplefruitsoftheearth.No.Youneedn'tbringany,William.'

Iwentonwithmybreakfast,andMrPumblechookcontinuedtostandoverme,staringfishilyandbreathingnoisily,ashealwaysdid.

`Littlemorethanskinandbone!

'musedMrPumblechook,aloud.`Andyetwhenhewentfromhere（Imaysaywithmyblessing）,andIspreadaforehimmyhumblestore,liketheBee,hewasasplumpasaPeach!

'

Thisremindedmeofthewonderfuldifferencebetweentheservilemannerinwhichhehadofferedhishandinmynewprosperity,saying,`MayI?

'andtheostentatiousclemencywithwhichhehadjustnowexhibitedthesamefatfivefingers.

`Hah!

'hewenton,handingmethebread-and-butter.`AndairyouagoingtoJoseph?

'

`Inheaven'sname,'saidI,firinginspiteofmyself,`whatdoesitmattertoyouwhereIamgoing?

Leavethatteapotalone.'

ItwastheworstcourseIcouldhavetaken,becauseitgavePumblechooktheopportunityhewanted.

`Yes,youngman,'saidhe,releasingthehandleofthearticleinquestion,retiringasteportwofrommytable,andspeakingforthebehoofofthelandlordandwaiteratthedoor,`Iwillleavethatteapotalone.Youareright,youngman.Foronce,youareright.IforgitmyselfwhenItakesuchaninterestinyourbreakfast,astowishyourframe,exhaustedbythedebilitatingeffectsofprodigygality,tobestimilatedbythe'olesomenourishmentofyourforefathers.Andyet,'saidPumblechook,turningtothelandlordandwaiter,andpointingmeoutatarm'slength,`thisishimasIeversportedwithinhisdaysofhappyinfancy!

Tellmenotitcannotbe;Itellyouthisishim!

'

Alowmurmurfromthetworeplied.Thewaiterappearedtobeparticularlyaffected.

`Thisishim,'saidPumblechook,`asIhaverodeinmyshaycart.ThisishimasIhaveseenbroughtupbyhand.ThisishimuntoethesisterofwhichIwasunclebymarriage,ashernamewasGeorgianaM'riafromherownmother,lethimdenyitifhecan!

'

ThewaiterseemedconvincedthatIcouldnotdenyit,andthatitgavethecaseablacklook.

`Youngman,'saidPumblechook,screwinghisheadatmeintheoldfashion,`youairagoingtoJoseph.Whatdoesitmattertome,youaskme,whereyouairgoing?

Isaytoyou,Sir,youairagoingtoJoseph.'

Thewaitercoughed,asifhemodestlyinvitedtogetoverthat.

`Now,'saidPumblechook,andallthiswithamostexasperatingairofsayinginthecauseofvirtuewhatwasperfectlyconvincingandconclusive,`IwilltellyouwhattosaytoJoseph.HereisSquiresoftheBoarpresent,knownandrespectedinthistown,andhereisWilliam,whichhisfather'snamewasPotkinsifIdonotdeceivemyself.'

`Youdonot,sir,'saidWilliam.

`Intheirpresence,'pursuedPumblechook,`Iwilltellyou,youngman,whattosaytoJoseph.Saysyou,"Joseph,Ihavethisdayseenmyearliestbenefactorandthefounderofmyfortun's.Iwillnamenonames,Joseph,butsotheyarepleasedtocallhimup-town,andIhaveseenthatman."

`IswearIdon'tseehimhere,'saidI.

`Saythatlikewise,'retortedPumblechook.`Sayyousaidthat,andevenJosephwillprobablybetraysurprise.'

`Thereyouquitemistakehim,'saidI.`Iknowbetter.'

`Saysyou,'Pumblechookwenton,`"Joseph,Ihaveseenthatman,andthatmanbearsyounomaliceandbearsmenomalice.Heknowsyourcharacter,Joseph,andiswellacquaintedwithyourpig-headednessandignorance;andheknowsmycharacter,Joseph,andheknowsmywantofgratitoode.Yes,Joseph,"saysyou,'herePumblechookshookhisheadandhandatme,`"heknowsmytotaldeficiencyofcommonhumangratitoode.Heknowsit,Joseph,asnonecan.Youdonotknowit,Joseph,havingnocalltoknowit,butthatmando."'

Windydonkeyashewas,itreallyamazedmethathecouldhavethefacetotalkthustomine.

`Saysyou,"Joseph,hegavemealittlemessage,whichIwillnowrepeat.Itwas,thatinmybeingbroughtlow,hesawthefingerofProvidence.Heknowedthatfingerwhenhesawit,Joseph,andhesawitplain.Itpintedoutthiswriting,Joseph.Rewardofingratitoodetohisearliestbenefactor,andfounderoffortun's.Butthatmansaidhedidnotrepentofwhathehaddone,Joseph.Notatall.Itwasrighttodoit,itwaskindtodoit,itwasbenevolenttodoit,andhewoulddoitagain."'

`It'spity,'saidI,scornfully,asIfinishedmyinterruptedbreakfast,`thatthemandidnotsaywhathehaddoneandwoulddoagain.'

`SquiresoftheBoar!

'Pumblechookwasnowaddressingthelandlord,`andWilliam!

Ihavenoobjectionstoyourmentioning,eitherup-townordown-town,ifsuchshouldbeyourwishes,thatitwasrighttodoit,kindtodoit,benevolenttodoit,andthatIwoulddoitagain.'

WiththosewordstheImpostorshookthembothbythehand,withanair,andleftthehouse;leavingmemuchmoreastonishedthandelightedbythevirtuesofthatsameindefinite`it.'`Iwasnotlongafterhiminleavingthehousetoo,andwhenIwentdowntheHigh-streetIsawhimholdingforth（nodoubttothesameeffect）athisshopdoortoaselectgroup,whohonouredmewithveryunfavourableglancesasIpassedontheoppositesideoftheway.

But,itwasonlythepleasantertoturntoBiddyandtoJoe,whosegreatforbearanceshonemorebrightlythanbefore,ifthatcouldbe,contrastedwiththisbrazenpretender.Iwenttowardsthemslowly,formylimbswereweak,butwithasenseofincreasingreliefasIdrewnearertothem,andasenseofleavingarroganceanduntruthfulnessfurtherandfurtherbehind.

TheJuneweatherwasdelicious.Theskywasblue,thelarksweresoaringhighoverthegreencorn,Ithoughtallthatcountry-sidemorebeautifulandpeacefulbyfarthanIhadeverknownittobeyet.ManypleasantpicturesofthelifethatIwouldleadthere,andofthechangeforthebetterthatwouldcomeovermycharacterwhenIhadaguidingspiritatmysidewhosesimplefaithandclearhome-wisdomIhadproved,beguiledmyway.Theyawakenedatenderemotioninme;for,myheartwassoftenedbymyreturn,andsuchachangehadcometopass,thatIfeltlikeonewhowastoilinghomebarefootfromdistanttravel,andwhosewanderingshadlastedmanyyears.

TheschoolhousewhereBiddywasmistress,Ihadneverseen;but,thelittleroundaboutlanebywhichIenteredthevillageforquietness'sake,tookmepastit.Iwasdisappointedtofindthatthedaywasaholiday;nochildrenwerethere,andBiddy'shousewasclosed.Somehopefulnotionofseeingherbusilyengagedinherdailyduties,beforeshesawme,hadbeeninmymindand