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！
now there were a pair of delicate hands too。 They had the action of
performing on some musical instrument； and yet it produced no sound that
reached his ears。
〃Mugby Junction must be the maddest place in England；〃 said Barbox
Brothers； pursuing his way down the hill。 〃The first thing I find here is a
Railway Porter who composes comic songs to sing at his bedside。 The
second thing I find here is a face； and a pair of hands playing a musical
instrument that DON'T play！〃
The day was a fine bright day in the early beginning of November； the
air was clear and inspiriting； and the landscape was rich in beautiful
colours。 The prevailing colours in the court off Lombard Street； London
city； had been few and sombre。 Sometimes； when the weather elsewhere
was very bright indeed； the dwellers in those tents enjoyed a pepper…and…
salt…coloured day or two； but their atmosphere's usual wear was slate or
snuff coloured。
He relished his walk so well that he repeated it next day。 He was a
little earlier at the cottage than on the day before； and he could hear the
children upstairs singing to a regular measure； and clapping out the time
with their hands。
〃Still； there is no sound of any musical instrument；〃 he said； listening
at the corner； 〃and yet I saw the performing hands again as I came by。
What are the children singing？ Why； good Lord； they can never be
singing the multiplication table？〃
They were； though； and with infinite enjoyment。 The mysterious face
had a voice attached to it； which occasionally led or set the children right。
Its musical cheerfulness was delightful。 The measure at length stopped；
and was succeeded by a murmuring of young voices； and then by a short
song which he made out to be about the current month of the year； and
about what work it yielded to the labourers in the fields and farmyards。
Then there was a stir of little feet； and the children came trooping and
whooping out； as on the previous day。 And again； as on the previous day；
13
… Page 14…
MUGBY JUNCTION
they all turned at the garden…gate； and kissed their handsevidently to the
face on the window…sill； though Barbox Brothers from his retired post of
disadvantage at the corner could not see it。
But； as the children dispersed； he cut off one small stragglera brown…
faced boy with flaxen hairand said to him：
〃Come here； little one。 Tell me； whose house is that？〃
The child； with one swarthy arm held up across his eyes； half in
shyness； and half ready for defence； said from behind the inside of his
elbow：
〃Phoebe's。〃
〃And who；〃 said Barbox Brothers； quite as much embarrassed by his
part in the dialogue as the child could possibly be by his； 〃is Phoebe？〃
To which the child made answer： 〃Why； Phoebe； of course。〃
The small but sharp observer had eyed his questioner closely； and had
taken his moral measure。 He lowered his guard； and rather assumed a
tone with him： as having discovered him to be an unaccustomed person
in the art of polite conversation。
〃Phoebe；〃 said the child； 〃can't be anybobby else but Phoebe。 Can
she？〃
〃No； I suppose not。〃
〃Well；〃 returned the child； 〃then why did you ask me？〃
Deeming it prudent to shift his ground； Barbox Brothers took up a new
position。
〃What do you do there？ Up there in that room where the open
window is。 What do you do there？〃
〃Cool；〃 said the child。
〃Eh？〃
〃Co…o…ol；〃 the child repeated in a louder voice； lengthening out the
word with a fixed look and great emphasis； as much as to say： 〃What's the
use of your having grown up； if you're such a donkey as not to understand
me？〃
〃Ah！ School； school；〃 said Barbox Brothers。 〃Yes； yes； yes。 And
Phoebe teaches you？〃
14
… Page 15…
MUGBY JUNCTION
The child nodded。
〃Good boy。〃
〃Tound it out； have you？〃 said the child。
〃Yes； I have found it out。 What would you do with twopence； if I
gave it you？〃
〃Pend it。〃
The knock…down promptitude of this reply leaving him not a leg to
stand upon； Barbox Brothers produced the twopence with great lameness；
and withdrew in a state of humiliation。
But； seeing the face on the window…sill as he passed the cottage； he
acknowledged its presence there with a gesture； which was not a nod； not
a bow； not a removal of his hat from his head； but was a diffident
compromise between or struggle with all three。 The eyes in the face
seemed amused； or cheered； or both； and the lips modestly said： 〃Good…
day to you； sir。〃
〃I find I must stick for a time to Mugby Junction；〃 said Barbox
Brothers with much gravity； after once more stopping on his return road to
look at the Lines where they went their several ways so quietly。 〃I can't
make up my mind yet which iron road to take。 In fact； I must get a little
accustomed to the Junction before I can decide。〃
So； he announced at the Inn that he was 〃going to stay on for the
present；〃 and improved his acquaintance with the Junction that night； and
again next morning； and again next night and morning： going down to the
station； mingling with the people there； looking about him down all the
avenues of railway； and beginning to take an interest in the incomings and
outgoings of the trains。 At first； he often put his head into Lamps's little
room； but he never found Lamps there。 A pair or two of velveteen
shoulders he usually found there； stooping over the fire； sometimes in
connection with a clasped knife and a piece of bread and meat； but the
answer to his inquiry； 〃Where's Lamps？〃 was； either that he was 〃t'other
side the line；〃 or； that it was his off…time； or （in the latter case） his own
personal introduction to another Lamps who was not his Lamps。 However；
he was not so desperately set upon seeing Lamps now； but he bore the
15