第97章

’Yes，youngman；andasyounowspeaksoftlyandkindly，Iwilltellyoumywholetale。Myfatherwasanofficerofthesea，andwaskilledatseaashewascominghometomarrymymother，IsopelBerners。Hehadbeenacquaintedwithher，andhadlefther；butafterafewmonthshewroteheraletter，tosaythathehadnorest，andthatherepented，andthatassoonashisshipcametoporthewoulddoherallthereparationinhispower。Well，youngman，theverydaybeforetheyreachedporttheymettheenemy，andtherewasafight，andmyfatherwaskilled，afterhehadstruckdownsixoftheenemy’screwontheirowndeck；formyfatherwasabigman，asIhaveheard，andknewtolerablywellhowtousehishands，Andwhenmymotherheardthenews，shebecamehalfdistracted，andranawayintothefieldsandforests，totallyneglectingherbusiness，forshewasasmallmilliner；andsosherandementedaboutthemeadsandforestsforalongtime，nowsittingunderatree，andnowbythesideofariver-atlastsheflungherselfintosomewater，andwouldhavebeendrowned，hadnotsomeonebeenathandandrescuedher，whereuponshewasconveyedtothegreathouse，lestsheshouldattempttodoherselffarthermischief，forshehadneitherfriendsnorparents-andthereshediedthreemonthsafter，havingfirstbroughtmeintotheworld。

Shewasasweetprettycreature，I’mtold，buthardlyfitforthisworld，beingneitherlarge，norfierce，norabletotakeherownpart。SoIwasbornandbredinthegreathouse，whereIlearnttoreadandsew，tofearGod，andtotakemyownpart。WhenIwasfourteenIwasputouttoservicetoasmallfarmerandhiswife，withwhom，however，Ididnotstaylong，forIwashalf-starved，andotherwiseilltreated，especiallybymymistress，whoonedayattemptingtoknockmedownwithabesom，Iknockedherdownwithmyfist，andwentbacktothegreathouse。’

’Andhowdidtheyreceiveyouinthegreathouse？’

’Notverykindly，youngman-onthecontrary，Iwasputintoadarkroom，whereIwaskeptafortnightonbreadandwater；Ididnotmuchcare，however，beinggladtohavegotbacktothegreathouseatanyrate-theplacewhereIwasborn，andwheremypoormotherdied；andinthegreathouseIcontinuedtwoyearslonger，readingandsewing，fearingGod，andtakingmyownpartwhennecessary。AttheendofthetwoyearsIwasagainputouttoservice，butthistimetoarichfarmerandhiswife，withwhom，however，Ididnotlivelong，lesstime，Ibelieve，thanwiththepoorones，beingobligedtoleavefor-’

’Knockingyourmistressdown？’

’No，youngman，knockingmymasterdown，whoconductedhimselfimproperlytowardsme。ThistimeIdidnotgobacktothegreathouse，havingamisgivingthattheywouldnotreceiveme；soI

turnedmybacktothegreathousewhereIwasborn，andwheremypoormotherdied，andwanderedforseveraldaysIknownotwhither，supportingmyselfonafewhalfpencewhichIchancedtohaveinmypocket。Ithappenedoneday，asIsatunderahedgecrying，havingspentmylastfarthing，thatacomfortable-lookingelderlywomancameupinacart，andseeingthestateinwhichIwas，shestoppedandaskedwhatwasthematterwithme；Itoldhersomepartofmystory，whereuponshesaid，’Cheerup，mydear；ifyoulike，youshallgowithme，andwaituponme。’OfcourseIwantedlittlepersuasion，soIgotintothecartandwentwithher。ShetookmetoLondonandvariousotherplaces，andIsoonfoundthatshewasatravellingwoman，whowentaboutthecountrywithsilksandlinen。

Iwasofgreatusetoher，moreespeciallyinthoseplaceswherewemetevilcompany。Once，aswewerecomingfromDover，weweremetbytwosailors，whostoppedourcart，andwouldhaverobbedandstrippedus。’Letmegetdown，’saidI；soIgotdown，andfoughtwiththemboth