按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
make room for me beside you here？〃
He sat down on the sofa as he said the words； cherishing the plump
peachey cheek that lay uppermost on his shoulder。
〃I have a fancy； Tresham （I am getting quite an old fellow now； you
know； and old fellows may take fancies into their heads sometimes）； to
give up Polly； having found her； to no one but you。 Will you take her
from me？〃
As the father held out his arms for the child； each of the two men
looked steadily at the other。
〃She is very dear to you； Tresham？〃
〃Unutterably dear。〃
〃God bless her！ It is not much； Polly；〃 he continued； turning his eyes
upon her peaceful face as he apostrophized her； 〃it is not much； Polly； for a
blind and sinful man to invoke a blessing on something so far better than
himself as a little child is； but it would be muchmuch upon his cruel head；
and much upon his guilty soulif he could be so wicked as to invoke a
curse。 He had better have a millstone round his neck； and be cast into the
deepest sea。 Live and thrive； my pretty baby！〃 Here he kissed her。
〃Live and prosper； and become in time the mother of other little children；
like the Angels who behold The Father's face！〃
He kissed her again； gave her up gently to both her parents； and went
out。
But he went not to Wales。 No； he never went to Wales。 He went
straightway for another stroll about the town； and he looked in upon the
people at their work； and at their play； here； there； every… there； and where
44
… Page 45…
MUGBY JUNCTION
not。 For he was Barbox Brothers and Co。 now； and had taken thousands
of partners into the solitary firm。
He had at length got back to his hotel room； and was standing before
his fire refreshing himself with a glass of hot drink which he had stood
upon the chimney…piece； when he heard the town clocks striking； and；
referring to his watch； found the evening to have so slipped away； that
they were striking twelve。 As he put up his watch again； his eyes met
those of his reflection in the chimney… glass。
〃Why； it's your birthday already；〃 he said； smiling。 〃You are looking
very well。 I wish you many happy returns of the day。〃
He had never before bestowed that wish upon himself。 〃By Jupiter！〃
he discovered； 〃it alters the whole case of running away from one's
birthday！ It's a thing to explain to Phoebe。 Besides； here is quite a long
story to tell her； that has sprung out of the road with no story。 I'll go back；
instead of going on。 I'll go back by my friend Lamps's Up X presently。〃
He went back to Mugby Junction； and； in point of fact； he established
himself at Mugby Junction。 It was the convenient place to live in； for
brightening Phoebe's life。 It was the convenient place to live in； for
having her taught music by Beatrice。 It was the convenient place to live
in； for occasionally borrowing Polly。 It was the convenient place to live in；
for being joined at will to all sorts of agreeable places and persons。 So；
he became settled there； and； his house standing in an elevated situation； it
is noteworthy of him in conclusion； as Polly herself might （not irreverently）
have put it：
〃There was an Old Barbox who lived on a hill； And if he ain't gone；
he lives there still。〃
Here follows the substance of what was seen； heard； or otherwise
picked up； by the gentleman for Nowhere； in his careful study of the
Junction。
45
… Page 46…
MUGBY JUNCTION
CHAPTER IIITHE BOY AT
MUGBY
I am the boy at Mugby。 That's about what I am。
You don't know what I mean？ What a pity！ But I think you do。 I
think you must。 Look here。 I am the boy at what is called The
Refreshment Room at Mugby Junction； and what's proudest boast is； that
it never yet refreshed a mortal being。
Up in a corner of the Down Refreshment Room at Mugby Junction； in
the height of twenty…seven cross draughts （I've often counted 'em while
they brush the First…Class hair twenty…seven ways）； behind the bottles；
among the glasses； bounded on the nor'west by the beer； stood pretty far to
the right of a metallic object that's at times the tea…urn and at times the
soup…tureen； according to the nature of the last twang imparted to its
contents which are the same groundwork； fended off from the traveller by
a barrier of stale sponge…cakes erected atop of the counter； and lastly
exposed sideways to the glare of Our Missis's eyeyou ask a Boy so
sitiwated； next time you stop in a hurry at Mugby； for anything to drink；
you take particular notice that he'll try to seem not to hear you； that he'll
appear in a absent manner to survey the Line through a transparent
medium composed of your head and body； and that he won't serve you as
long as you can possibly bear it。 That's me。
What a lark it is！ We are the Model Establishment； we are； at Mugby。
Other Refreshment Rooms send their imperfect young ladies up to be
finished off by our Missis。 For some of the young ladies； when they're
new to the business； come into it mild！ Ah！ Our Missis； she soon takes
that out of 'em。 Why； I originally come into the business meek myself。
But Our Missis； she soon took that out of ME。
What a delightful lark it is！ I look upon us Refreshmenters as
ockipying the only proudly independent footing on the Line。 There's
46
… Page 47…
MUGBY JUNCTION
Papers； for instance；my honourable friend； if he will allow me to call
him so；him as belongs to Smith's bookstall。 Why； he no more dares to
be up to our Refreshmenting games than he dares to jump a top of a
locomotive with her steam at full pressure； and cut away upon her alone；
driving himself； at limited…mail speed。 Papers； he'd get his head punched
at every compartment； first； second； and third； the