登陆注册
19495000000048

第48章

Often, while they were yet pacing the silent streets of the town on the morning of their departure, the child trembled with a mingled sensation of hope and fear as in some far-off figure imperfectly seen in the clear distance, her fancy traced a likeness to honest Kit.But although she would gladly have given him her hand and thanked him for what he had said at their last meeting, it was always a relief to find, when they came nearer to each other, that the person who approached was not he, but a stranger; for even if she had not dreaded the effect which the sight of him might have wrought upon her fellow-traveller, she felt that to bid farewell to anybody now, and most of all to him who had been so faithful and so true, was more than she could bear.It was enough to leave dumb things behind, and objects that were insensible both to her love and sorrow.To have parted from her only other friend upon the threshold of that wild journey, would have wrung her heart indeed.

Why is it that we can better bear to part in spirit than in body, and while we have the fortitude to act farewell have not the nerve to say it? On the eve of long voyages or an absence of many years, friends who are tenderly attached will separate with the usual look, the usual pressure of the hand, planning one final interview for the morrow, while each well knows that it is but a poor feint to save the pain of uttering that one word, and that the meeting will never be.Should possibilities be worse to bear than certainties? We do not shun our dying friends; the not having distinctly taken leave of one among them, whom we left in all kindness and affection, will often embitter the whole remainder of a life.

The town was glad with morning light; places that had shown ugly and distrustful all night long, now wore a smile; and sparkling sunbeams dancing on chamber windows, and twinkling through blind and curtain before sleepers' eyes, shed light even into dreams, and chased away the shadows of the night.Birds in hot rooms, covered up close and dark, felt it was morning, and chafed and grew restless in their little cells; bright-eyed mice crept back to their tiny homes and nestled timidly together; the sleek house-cat, forgetful of her prey, sat winking at the rays of sun starting through keyhole and cranny in the door, and longed for her stealthy run and warm sleek bask outside.The nobler beasts confined in dens, stood motionless behind their bars and gazed on fluttering boughs, and sunshine peeping through some little window, with eyes in which old forests gleamed--then trod impatiently the track their prisoned feet had worn--and stopped and gazed again.Men in their dungeons stretched their cramp cold limbs and cursed the stone that no bright sky could warm.The flowers that sleep by night, opened their gentle eyes and turned them to the day.The light, creation's mind, was everywhere, and all things owned its power.

The two pilgrims, often pressing each other's hands, or exchanging a smile or cheerful look, pursued their way in silence.Bright and happy as it was, there was something solemn in the long, deserted streets, from which, like bodies without souls, all habitual character and expression had departed, leaving but one dead uniform repose, that made them all alike.All was so still at that early hour, that the few pale people whom they met seemed as much unsuited to the scene, as the sickly lamp which had been here and there left burning, was powerless and faint in the full glory of the sun.

Before they had penetrated very far into the labyrinth of men's abodes which yet lay between them and the outskirts, this aspect began to melt away, and noise and bustle to usurp its place.Some straggling carts and coaches rumbling by, first broke the charm, then others came, then others yet more active, then a crowd.The wonder was, at first, to see a tradesman's window open, but it was a rare thing soon to see one closed; then, smoke rose slowly from the chimneys, and sashes were thrown up to let in air, and doors were opened, and servant girls, looking lazily in all directions but their brooms, scattered brown clouds of dust into the eyes of shrinking passengers, or listened disconsolately to milkmen who spoke of country fairs, and told of waggons in the mews, with awnings and all things complete, and gallant swains to boot, which another hour would see upon their journey.

This quarter passed, they came upon the haunts of commerce and great traffic, where many people were resorting, and business was already rife.The old man looked about him with a startled and bewildered gaze, for these were places that he hoped to shun.He pressed his finger on his lip, and drew the child along by narrow courts and winding ways, nor did he seem at ease until they had left it far behind, often casting a backward look towards it, murmuring that ruin and self-murder were crouching in every street, and would follow if they scented them; and that they could not fly too fast.

Again this quarter passed, they came upon a straggling neighbourhood, where the mean houses parcelled off in rooms, and windows patched with rags and paper, told of the populous poverty that sheltered there.The shops sold goods that only poverty could buy, and sellers and buyers were pinched and griped alike.Here were poor streets where faded gentility essayed with scanty space and shipwrecked means to make its last feeble stand, but tax-gatherer and creditor came there as elsewhere, and the poverty that yet faintly struggled was hardly less squalid and manifest than that which had long ago submitted and given up the game.

同类推荐
  • 无见先睹禅师语录

    无见先睹禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 疡医大全

    疡医大全

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编交谊典师友部

    明伦汇编交谊典师友部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Redheaded Outfield

    The Redheaded Outfield

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 滇略

    滇略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 召唤神兵闯异界

    召唤神兵闯异界

    身带兵主召唤系统,纵横异界,争霸洪荒,终成为一。华夏十大名剑助我争霸人之战场;上古十大神兵随我斩杀异界神明;太古十大神兵为我屠仙;洪荒十大神器伴我成圣。唯一路上,斩魔兽、杀天神、屠金仙、虐圣人、废掌控者。血雨腥风成唯一,情断义绝舍佳人;大爱无疆悲天地,魂牵梦绕终无悔。不一样的异界,不一样的召唤。
  • 历代御医推荐给皇后的养生食谱

    历代御医推荐给皇后的养生食谱

    食典、食经、品宫廷养生文化;益身、益心、传华夏强健秘方。想知道皇后是如何养颜、养气、补血的?书中汇集萧皇后、吕后、慈禧太后等历史上有名的美女皇后的保养秘方,一探皇家养生秘笈。
  • 万道之宰

    万道之宰

    柳尘,自九州大陆走出的至强武者,因意外获得一块神秘断碑,命运与众不同……(新人新书,更新稳定,喜欢本书的朋友收藏个呗?感谢ing)
  • 妃悦倾城:彼岸嫣然

    妃悦倾城:彼岸嫣然

    当神龙之眼将她带到他的身边,她曾想是否去爱?当爱真的到来,她发现自己的心已经全部付出。她想爱就该一心一意,所以,她宁愿选择放弃,也不愿委屈自己。然而,穿越千年,她的出现,不是为了寻找千年爱恋,亦不会拥有坎坷的幸福之路。成为神龙之眼的灵魂,魂飞魄散之时,便是龙神之眼开启之日,龙神帝君终于归位,她却化作无有!他是龙悦国高贵的大祭司,从他含着神龙之眼出生,便注定了他的身份,他冷漠、高傲,无所欲求,只为寻找龙神之眼的灵魂而生。当她突然闯入他的生活,他原来平静、冷傲的心,开始有了温度,他不知道自己为什么和她相遇,但是当他看到她的那一刻起,就已经在他的心里扎了根!
  • 中华人民共和国公路法

    中华人民共和国公路法

    为了加强公路的建设和管理,促进公路事业的发展,适应社会主义现代化建设和人民生活的需要,制定本法。
  • 重生之财富人生

    重生之财富人生

    重生后,孟历程将会怎样凭借自己前世的三十年经验,获取今生的财富,美女,如何帮助家人改变他们前世的命运?走上财富的颠峰,需要的是什么?智慧、运气、手腕、或者是......
  • 云城锦华

    云城锦华

    他,是世间一代帝王,她,是京城有名的神秘商人,她何曾想过遇到天之骄子的他,他何曾想遇见过平淡却又充满神秘的她,他们,却又不曾知道那个四岁的他(她)。
  • 重生之纨绔一生

    重生之纨绔一生

    不知道为什么热爱足球的我穿越了,我恨那只百发百中的章鱼.重生后梅西竟然是我的名字,我立志成为一名标准的纨绔子弟.原来中医经脉知识可以让我轻松做到魔武双修,人品这么好,捡个小狗也是超级魔兽,爱上的美女竟然是异界版的安东内拉.咱心情好了也玩玩争霸,打遍大陆无敌手那是一定的。原来修炼是这么简单,带够小弟就可嚣张无限,小弟也不用太多,够组成一只阿根廷国家队就行.我就是这只队伍的主教练,343阵型是咱的最爱,指向哪里,小弟就打到哪里,我就不信这种魔兽队还赢不了德国。
  • 残王毒妃:逆天四小姐

    残王毒妃:逆天四小姐

    她—是叱咤风云的国际情报组首领,他—傲天大陆人人为尊的霸主,世人只道她废物低贱,将她百般凌辱、践踏脚下,唯独他眸含柔情,生死相随……真相渐渐浮出水面,斗七国、战魔界、杀妖皇、斥退神军……一身素白归来,六界惊惧,她竟是、竟是……
  • 枕上国师耍威风

    枕上国师耍威风

    她为他谋得太子之位,却落得万箭穿心。再次醒来,她要让太子死无葬身之地!一个小小的病弱侯府嫡女,自然要拉虎皮扯大旗。“国师大人,小女愿意付出一切!”她虔诚地说着!“做本国师的宠物就好!陪吃陪喝陪玩带暖床!”几年后,“小东西,本国师娶你可好?”“我们已经解除合约了,国师大人,本小姐的夫婿,你当不起!”