下载辰思小说免费APP
\'Mightyoubeacquainted，learnedgovernor，\'saidRiderhood，\'withapersonofaboutyourownheighthandbreadth，andwot\'udpulldowninascaleaboutyourownweight，answeringtoanamesoundingsummatlikeTotherest?\'
Withadesperationinhimthatmadehimperfectlyquiet，thoughhisjawwasheavilysquared；withhiseyesuponRiderhood；andwithtracesofquickenedbreathinginhisnostrils；theschoolmasterreplied，inasuppressedvoice，afterapause:\'IthinkIknowthemanyoumean。\'
\'IthoughtyouknowedthemanImean，learnedgovernor。Iwanttheman。\'
Withahalfglancearoundhimathispupils，Bradleyreturned:
\'Doyousupposeheishere?\'
\'Beggingyourpardon，learnedgovernor，andbyyourleave，\'saidRiderhood，withalaugh，\'howcouldIsupposehe\'shere，whenthere\'snobodyherebutyou，andme，andtheseyounglambswotyou\'realearningon?Butheismostexcellentcompany，thatman，andIwanthimtocomeandseemeatmyLock，uptheriver。\'
\'I\'lltellhimso。\'
\'D\'yethinkhe\'llcome?\'askedRiderhood。
\'Iamsurehewill。\'
\'Havinggotyourwordforhim，\'saidRiderhood，\'Ishallcountuponhim。P\'rapsyou\'dsofurobleegeme，learnedgovernor，astellhimthatifhedon\'tcomeprecioussoon，I\'lllookhimup。\'
\'Heshallknowit。\'
\'Thankee。AsIsaysawhileago，\'pursuedRiderhood，changinghishoarsetoneandleeringroundupontheclassagain，\'thoughnotalearnedcharactermyownself，Idoadmirelearninginothers，tobesure！Beinghereandhavingmetwithyourkindattention，Master，mightI，aforeIgo，askaquestionofthesehereyounglambsofyourn?\'
\'Ifitisinthewayofschool，\'saidBradley，alwayssustaininghisdarklookattheother，andspeakinginhissuppressedvoice，\'youmay。\'
\'Oh！It\'sinthewayofschool！\'criedRiderhood。\'I\'llpoundit，Master，tobeinthewayofschool。Wot\'sthediwisionsofwater，mylambs?Wotsortsofwateristhereontheland?\'
Shrillchorus:\'Seas，rivers，lakes，andponds。\'
\'Seas，rivers，lakes，andponds，\'saidRiderhood。\'They\'vegotallthelot，Master！BlowedifIshouldn\'thaveleftoutlakes，neverhavingclappedeyesuponone，tomyknowledge。Seas，rivers，lakes，andponds。Wotisit，lambs，astheyketchesinseas，rivers，lakes，andponds?\'
Shrillchorus(withsomecontemptfortheeaseofthequestion):
\'Fish！\'
\'Gooda-gin！\'saidRiderhood。\'Butwotelseisit，mylambs，astheysometimesketchesinrivers?\'
Chorusataloss。Oneshrillvoice:\'Weed！\'
\'Goodagin！\'criedRiderhood。\'Butitain\'tweedneither。You\'llneverguess，mydears。Wotisit，besidesfish，astheysometimesketchesinrivers?Well！I\'lltellyou。It\'ssuitso\'clothes。\'
Bradley\'sfacechanged。
\'Leastways，lambs，\'saidRiderhood，observinghimoutofthecornersofhiseyes，\'that\'swotImyownselfsometimesketchesinrivers。Forstrikemeblind，mylambs，ifIdidn\'tketchinariverthewerybundleundermyarm！\'
Theclasslookedatthemaster，asifappealingfromtheirregularentrapmentofthismodeofexamination。Themasterlookedattheexaminer，asifhewouldhavetornhimtopieces。
\'Iaskyourpardon，learnedgovernor，\'saidRiderhood，smearinghissleeveacrosshismouthashelaughedwitharelish，\'tain\'tfairtothelambs，Iknow。Itwosabitoffunofmine。ButuponmysoulI
drawedthisherebundleoutofariver！It\'saBargeman\'ssuitofclothes。Yousee，ithadbeensunktherebythemanasworeit，andIgotitup。\'
\'Howdoyouknowitwassunkbythemanwhoworeit?\'askedBradley。
\'CauseIseehimdoit，\'saidRiderhood。
Theylookedateachother。Bradley，slowlywithdrawinghiseyes，turnedhisfacetotheblackboardandslowlywipedhisnameout。
\'Aheapofthanks，Master，\'saidRiderhood，\'forbestowingsomuchofyourtime，andofthelambses\'time，uponamanashasn\'tgotnootherrecommendationtoyouthanbeingahonestman。WishingtoseeatmyLockuptheriver，thepersonaswe\'vespokeof，andasyou\'veansweredfor，Itakesmyleaveofthelambsandoftheirlearnedgovernorboth。\'
Withthosewords，heslouchedoutoftheschool，leavingthemastertogetthroughhiswearyworkashemight，andleavingthewhisperingpupilstoobservethemaster\'sfaceuntilhefellintothefitwhichhadbeenlongimpending。
ThenextdaybutonewasSaturday，andaholiday。Bradleyroseearly，andsetoutonfootforPlashwaterWeirMillLock。Herosesoearlythatitwasnotyetlightwhenhebeganhisjourney。Beforeextinguishingthecandlebywhichhehaddressedhimself，hemadealittleparcelofhisdecentsilverwatchanditsdecentguard，andwroteinsidethepaper:\'Kindlytakecareoftheseforme。\'HethenaddressedtheparceltoMissPeecher，andleftitonthemostprotectedcornerofthelittleseatinherlittleporch。
Itwasacoldhardeasterlymorningwhenhelatchedthegardengateandturnedaway。ThelightsnowfallwhichhadfeatheredhisschoolroomwindowsontheThursday，stilllingeredintheair，andwasfallingwhite，whilethewindblewblack。Thetardydaydidnotappearuntilhehadbeenonfoottwohours，andhadtraversedagreaterpartofLondonfromeasttowest。Suchbreakfastashehad，hetookatthecomfortlesspublic-housewherehehadpartedfromRiderhoodontheoccasionoftheirnight-walk。Hetookit，standingatthelitteredbar，andlookedloweringlyatamanwhostoodwhereRiderhoodhadstoodthatearlymorning。
Heoutwalkedtheshortday，andwasonthetowing-pathbytheriver，somewhatfootsore，whenthenightclosedin。StilltwoorthreemilesshortoftheLock，heslackenedhispacethen，butwentsteadilyon。Thegroundwasnowcoveredwithsnow，thoughthinly，andtherewerefloatinglumpsoficeinthemoreexposedpartsoftheriver，andbrokensheetsoficeundertheshelterofthebanks。Hetookheedofnothingbuttheice，thesnow，andthedistance，untilhesawalightahead，whichheknewgleamedfromtheLockHousewindow。Itarrestedhissteps，andhelookedallaround。Theice，andthesnow，andhe，andtheonelight，hadabsolutepossessionofthedrearyscene。Inthedistancebeforehim，laytheplacewherehehadstrucktheworsethanuselessblowsthatmockedhimwithLizzie\'spresencethereasEugene\'swife。Inthedistancebehindhim，laytheplacewherethechildrenwithpointingarmshadseemedtodevotehimtothedemonsincryingouthisname。Withinthere，wherethelightwas，wasthemanwhoastobothdistancescouldgivehimuptoruin。Totheselimitshadhisworldshrunk。
Hemendedhispace，keepinghiseyesuponthelightwithastrangeintensity，asifheweretakingaimatit。Whenheapproacheditsonearlyasthatitpartedintorays，theyseemedtofastenthemselvestohimanddrawhimon。Whenhestruckthedoorwithhishand，hisfootfollowedsoquicklyonhishand，thathewasintheroombeforehewasbiddentoenter。
Thelightwasthejointproductofafireandacandle。Betweenthetwo，withhisfeetontheironfender，satRiderhood，pipeinmouth。
Helookedupwithasurlynodwhenhisvisitorcamein。Hisvisitorlookeddownwithasurlynod。Hisouterclothingremoved，thevisitorthentookaseatontheoppositesideofthefire。
\'Notasmoker，Ithink?\'saidRiderhood，pushingabottletohimacrossthetable。
\'No。\'
Theybothlapsedintosilence，withtheireyesuponthefire。
\'Youdon\'tneedtobetoldIamhere，\'saidBradleyatlength。\'Whoistobegin?\'
\'I\'llbegin，\'saidRiderhood，\'whenI\'vesmokedthisherepipeout。\'
Hefinisheditwithgreatdeliberation，knockedouttheashesonthehob，andputitby。
\'I\'llbegin，\'hethenrepeated，\'BradleyHeadstone，Master，ifyouwishit。\'
\'Wishit?Iwishtoknowwhatyouwantwithme。\'
\'Andsoyoushall。\'Riderhoodhadlookedhardathishandsandhispockets，apparentlyasaprecautionarymeasurelestheshouldhaveanyweaponabouthim。But，henowleanedforward，turningthecollarofhiswaistcoatwithaninquisitivefinger，andasked，\'Why，where\'syourwatch?\'
\'Ihaveleftitbehind。\'
\'Iwantit。Butitcanbefetched。I\'vetookafancytoit。\'
Bradleyansweredwithacontemptuouslaugh。
\'Iwantit，\'repeatedRiderhood，inaloudervoice，\'andImeantohaveit。\'
\'Thatiswhatyouwantofme，isit?\'
\'No，\'saidRiderhood，stilllouder；\'it\'son\'ypartofwhatIwantofyou。Iwantmoneyofyou。\'
\'Anythingelse?\'
\'Everythinkelse！\'roaredRiderhood，inaveryloudandfuriousway。\'Answermelikethat，andIwon\'ttalktoyouatall。\'
Bradleylookedathim。
\'Don\'tsomuchaslookatmelikethat，orIwon\'ttalktoyouatall，\'
vociferatedRiderhood。\'But，insteadoftalking，I\'llbringmyhanddownuponyouwithallitsweight，\'heavilysmitingthetablewithgreatforce，\'andsmashyou！\'
\'Goon，\'saidBradley，aftermoisteninghislips。
\'O！I\'magoingon。Don\'tyoufearbutI\'llgoonfull-fastenoughforyou，andfurenoughforyou，withoutyourtelling。Lookhere，BradleyHeadstone，Master。YoumighthavesplittheT\'othergovernortochipsandwedges，withoutmycaring，exceptthatI
mighthavecomeuponyouforaglassorsonowandthen。Elsewhyhavetodowithyouatall?Butwhenyoucopiedmyclothes，andwhenyoucopiedmyneckhankercher，andwhenyoushookblooduponmeafteryouhaddonethetrick，youdidwotI\'llbepaidforandpaidheavyfor。Ifitcometobethrow\'duponyou，youwastobereadytothrowituponme，wasyou?WhereelsebutinPlashwaterWeirMillLockwasthereamandressedaccordingasdescribed?WhereelsebutinPlashwaterWeirMillLockwasthereamanashadhadwordswithhimcomingthroughinhisboat?LookattheLock-keeperinPlashwaterWeirMillLock，inthemsameansweringclothesandwiththatsameansweringredneckhankercher，andseewhetherhisclotheshappenstobebloodyornot。Yes，theydohappentobebloody。Ah，youslydevil！\'
Bradley，verywhite，satlookingathiminsilence。
\'Buttwocouldplayatyourgame，\'saidRiderhood，snappinghisfingersathimhalfadozentimes，\'andIplayeditlongago；longaforeyoutriedyourclumsyhandatit；indayswhenyouhadn\'tbeguncroakingyourlectersorwhatnotinyourschool。Iknowtoafigurehowyoudoneit。Whereyoustoleaway，Icouldstealawayarteryou，anddoitknowingerthanyou。IknowhowyoucomeawayfromLondoninyourownclothes，andwhereyouchangedyourclothes，andhidyourclothes。Iseeyouwithmyowneyestakeyourownclothesfromtheirhiding-placeamongthemfelledtrees，andtakeadipintherivertoaccountforyourdressingyourself，toanyoneasmightcomeby。IseeyouriseupBradleyHeadstone，Master，whereyousatdownBargeman。IseeyoupitchyourBargeman\'sbundleintotheriver。IhookedyourBargeman\'sbundleoutoftheriver。I\'vegotyourBargeman\'sclothes，torethiswayandthatwaywiththescuffle，stainedgreenwiththegrass，andspatteredalloverwithwhatbustfromtheblows。I\'vegotthem，andI\'vegotyou。Idon\'tcareacursefortheT\'othergovernor，aliveordead，butIcareamanycursesformyownself。
Andasyoulaidyourplotsaginmeandwasaslydevilaginme，I\'llbepaidforit——I\'llbepaidforit——I\'llbepaidforit——tillI\'vedrainedyoudry！\'
Bradleylookedatthefire，withaworkingface，andwassilentforawhile。Atlasthesaid，withwhatseemedaninconsistentcomposureofvoiceandfeature:
\'Youcan\'tgetbloodoutofastone，Riderhood。\'
\'Icangetmoneyoutofaschoolmasterthough。\'
\'Youcan\'tgetoutofmewhatisnotinme。Youcan\'twrestfrommewhatIhavenotgot。Mineisbutapoorcalling。Youhavehadmorethantwoguineasfromme，already。Doyouknowhowlongithastakenme(allowingforalongandarduoustraining)toearnsuchasum?\'
\'Idon\'tknow，norIdon\'tcare。Yoursisa\'spectablecalling。Tosaveyour\'spectability，it\'sworthyourwhiletopawneveryarticleofclothesyou\'vegot，selleverystickinyourhouse，andbegandborroweverypennyyoucangettrustedwith。Whenyou\'vedonethatandhandedover，I\'llleaveyou。Notafore。\'
\'Howdoyoumean，you\'llleaveme?\'
\'ImeanasI\'llkeepyoucompany，whereveryougo，whenyougoawayfromhere。LettheLocktakecareofitself。I\'lltakecareofyou，onceI\'vegotyou。\'
Bradleyagainlookedatthefire。Eyeinghimaside，Riderhoodtookuphispipe，refilledit，lightedit，andsatsmoking。Bradleyleanedhiselbowsonhisknees，andhisheaduponhishands，andlookedatthefirewithamostintentabstraction。
\'Riderhood，\'hesaid，raisinghimselfinhischair，afteralongsilence，anddrawingouthispurseandputtingitonthetable。\'SayIpartwiththis，whichisallthemoneyIhave；sayIletyouhavemywatch；saythateveryquarter，whenIdrawmysalary，Ipayyouacertainportionofit。\'
\'Saynothinkofthesort，\'retortedRiderhood，shakinghisheadashesmoked。\'You\'vegotawayonce，andIwon\'trunthechanceagin。I\'vehadtroubleenoughtofindyou，andshouldn\'thavefoundyou，ifIhadn\'tseenyouslippingalongthestreetovernight，andwatchedyoutillyouwassafehoused。I\'llhaveonesettlementwithyouforgoodandall。\'
\'Riderhood，Iamamanwhohaslivedaretiredlife。Ihavenoresourcesbeyondmyself。Ihaveabsolutelynofriends。\'
\'That\'salie，\'saidRiderhood。\'You\'vegotonefriendasIknowsof；
oneasisgoodforaSavings-Bankbook，orI\'mabluemonkey！\'
Bradley\'sfacedarkened，andhishandslowlyclosedonthepurseanddrewitback，ashesatlisteningforwhattheothershouldgoontosay。
\'Iwentintothewrongshop，fust，lastThursday，\'saidRiderhood。
\'Foundmyselfamongtheyoungladies，byGeorge！Overtheyoungladies，IseeaMissis。ThatMissisissweetenoughuponyou，Master，tosellherselfup，slap，togetyououtoftrouble。Makeherdoitthen。\'
BradleystaredathimsoverysuddenlythatRiderhood，notquiteknowinghowtotakeit，affectedtobeoccupiedwiththeencirclingsmokefromhispipe；fanningitawaywithhishand，andblowingitoff。
\'Youspoketothemistress，didyou?\'inquiredBradley，withthatformercomposureofvoiceandfeaturethatseemedinconsistent，andwithavertedeyes。
\'Poof！Yes，\'saidRiderhood，withdrawinghisattentionfromthesmoke。\'Ispoketoher。Ididn\'tsaymuchtoher。Shewasputinaflusterbymydroppinginamongtheyoungladies(Ineverdidsetupforalady\'sman)，andshetookmeintoherparlourtohopeastherewasnothinkwrong。Itellsher，“Ono，nothinkwrong。Themaster\'smywerygoodfriend。”ButIseehowthelandlaid，andthatshewascomfortableoff。\'
Bradleyputthepurseinhispocket，graspedhisleftwristwithhisrighthand，andsatrigidlycontemplatingthefire。
\'Shecouldn\'tlivemorehandytoyouthanshedoes，\'saidRiderhood，\'andwhenIgoeshomewithyou(asofcourseIamagoing)，Irecommendyoutocleanheroutwithoutlossoftime。
Youcanmarryher，arteryouandmehavecometoasettlement。
She\'snice-looking，andIknowyoucan\'tbekeepingcompanywithnooneelse，havingbeensolatelydisapintedinanotherquarter。\'
NotoneotherworddidBradleyutterallthatnight。Notoncedidhechangehisattitude，orloosenhisholduponhiswrist。Rigidbeforethefire，asifitwereacharmedflamethatwasturninghimold，hesat，withthedarklinesdeepeninginhisface，itsstarebecomingmoreandmorehaggard，itssurfaceturningwhiterandwhiterasifitwerebeingoverspreadwithashes，andtheverytextureandcolourofhishairdegenerating。
Notuntilthelatedaylightmadethewindowtransparent，didthisdecayingstatuemove。Thenitslowlyarose，andsatinthewindowlookingout。
Riderhoodhadkepthischairallnight。Intheearlierpartofthenighthehadmutteredtwiceorthricethatitwasbittercold；orthatthefireburntfast，whenhegotuptomendit；but，ashecouldelicitfromhiscompanionneithersoundnormovement，hehadafterwardsheldhispeace。Hewasmakingsomedisorderlypreparationsforcoffee，whenBradleycamefromthewindowandputonhisoutercoatandhat。
\'Hadn\'tusbetterhaveabito\'breakfastaforewestart?\'saidRiderhood。\'Itain\'tgoodtofreezeaemptystomach，Master。\'
Withoutasigntoshowthatheheard，BradleywalkedoutoftheLockHouse。Catchingupfromthetableapieceofbread，andtakinghisBargeman\'sbundleunderhisarm，Riderhoodimmediatelyfollowedhim。BradleyturnedtowardsLondon。
Riderhoodcaughthimup，andwalkedathisside。
Thetwomentrudgedon，sidebyside，insilence，fullthreemiles。
Suddenly，Bradleyturnedtoretracehiscourse。Instantly，Riderhoodturnedlikewise，andtheywentbacksidebyside。
Bradleyre-enteredtheLockHouse。SodidRiderhood。Bradleysatdowninthewindow。Riderhoodwarmedhimselfatthefire。Afteranhourormore，Bradleyabruptlygotupagain，andagainwentout，butthistimeturnedtheotherway。Riderhoodwascloseafterhim，caughthimupinafewpaces，andwalkedathisside。
Thistime，asbefore，whenhefoundhisattendantnottobeshakenoff，Bradleysuddenlyturnedback。Thistime，asbefore，Riderhoodturnedbackalongwithhim。But，notthistime，asbefore，didtheygointotheLockHouse，forBradleycametoastandonthesnow-
coveredturfbytheLock，lookinguptheriveranddowntheriver。
Navigationwasimpededbythefrost，andthescenewasamerewhiteandyellowdesert。
\'Come，come，Master，\'urgedRiderhood，athisside。\'Thisisadrygame。Andwhere\'sthegoodofit?Youcan\'tgetridofme，exceptbycomingtoasettlement。Iamagoingalongwithyouwhereveryougo。\'
Withoutawordofreply，Bradleypassedquicklyfromhimoverthewoodenbridgeonthelockgates。\'Why，there\'sevenlesssenseinthismovethant\'other，\'saidRiderhood，following。\'TheWeir\'sthere，andyou\'llhavetocomeback，youknow。\'
Withouttakingtheleastnotice，Bradleyleanedhisbodyagainstapost，inarestingattitude，andthererestedwithhiseyescastdown。
\'Beingbroughthere，\'saidRiderhood，gruffly，\'I\'llturnittosomeusebychangingmygates。\'Witharattleandarushofwater，hethenswung-tothelockgatesthatwerestandingopen，beforeopeningtheothers。So，bothsetsofgateswere，forthemoment，closed。
\'You\'dbetterbyfarbereasonable，BradleyHeadstone，Master，\'
saidRiderhood，passinghim，\'orI\'lldrainyouallthedryerforit，whenwedosettle——Ah！Wouldyou！\'
Bradleyhadcaughthimroundthebody。Heseemedtobegirdledwithanironring。TheywereonthebrinkoftheLock，aboutmidwaybetweenthetwosetsofgates。
\'Letgo！\'saidRiderhood，\'orI\'llgetmyknifeoutandslashyouwhereverIcancutyou。Letgo！\'
BradleywasdrawingtotheLock-edge。Riderhoodwasdrawingawayfromit。Itwasastronggrapple，andafiercestruggle，armandleg。Bradleygothimround，withhisbacktotheLock，andstillworkedhimbackward。
\'Letgo！\'saidRiderhood。\'Stop！Whatareyoutryingat?Youcan\'tdrownMe。Ain\'tItoldyouthatthemanashascomethroughdrowningcanneverbedrowned?Ican\'tbedrowned。\'
\'Icanbe
