english stories-london-第23部分

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！



drop　all　round！〃



Liz　waked　past　them　steadily；　the　conspicuous　curve　of　her　upper　lip

came　into　full　play；　and　her　eyes　flashed　disdainfully；　but　she　said

nothing。　Her　silence　exasperated　a　tangle…haired；　cat…faced　girl　of

seventeen　years；　who；　more　than　half　drunk；　sat　on　the　ground；

clasping　her　knees　with　both　arms　and　rocking　herself　lazily　to　and

fro。



〃Mother　Mawks！〃　cried　she；　〃Mother　Mawks！　You're　wanted！　Here's　Liz

come　back　with　your　babby！〃



As　if　her　words　had　been　a　powerful　incantation　to　summon　forth　an

evil　spirit；　a　door　in　one　of　the　miserable　houses　was　thrown　open；

and　a　stout　woman；　nearly　naked　to　the　waist；　with　a　swollen；

blotched；　and　most　hideous　countenance；　rushed　out　furiously；　and

darting　at　Liz；　shook　her　violently　by　the　arm。



〃Where's　my　shullin'？〃　she　yelled；　〃where's　my　gin？　Out　with　it！　Out

with　my　shullin'　an'　fourpence！　None　of　yer　sneakin'　ways　with　me；　a

bargain's　a　bargain　all　the　world　over！　Yer're　making　a　fortin'　with

my　babbyyer　know　y'　are；　pays　yer　a　good　deal　better　than　yer　old

trade！　Don't　say　it　don'tyer　know　it　do。　Yer'll　not　find　such　a

sickly　kid　anywheres；　an'　it's　the　sickly　kids　wot　pays　an'　moves　the

'arts　of　the　kyind　ladies　an'　good　gentlemen〃this　with　an　imitative

whine　that　excited　the　laughter　and　applause　of　her　hearers。　〃Yer've

got　it　cheap；　I　kin　tell　yer；　an'　if　yer　don't　pay　up　reg'lar；　there's

others　that'll　take　the　chance；　an'　thankful　too！〃



She　stopped　for　lack　of　breath；　and　Liz　spoke　quietly：



〃It's　all　right；　Mother　Mawks；〃　she　said；　with　an　attempt　at　a　smile；

〃here's　your　shilling；　here's　the　four　pennies　for　the　gin。　I　don't

owe　you　anything　for　the　child　now。〃　She　stopped　and　hesitated；

looking　down　tenderly　at　the　frail　creature　in　her　arms；　then　added；

almost　pleadingly；　〃It's　asleep　now。　May　I　take　it　with　me　to…night？〃



Mother　Mawks；　who　had　been　testing　the　coins　Liz　had　given　her　by

biting　them　ferociously　with　her　large　yellow　teeth；　broke　into　a　loud

laugh。



〃Take　it　with　yer！　I　like　that！　Wot　imperence！　Take　it　with　yer！〃

Then；　with　her　huge　red　arms　akimbo；　she　added；　with　a　grin；　〃Tell　yer

wot；　if　yer　likes　to　pay　me　'arf　a　crown；　yer　can　'ave　it　to　cuddle；

an'　welcome！〃



Another　shout　of　approving　merriment　burst　from　the　drink…sodden

spectators　of　the　little　scene；　and　the　girl　crouched　on　the　ground

removed　her　encircling　hands　from　her　knees　to　clap　them　loudly；　as

she　exclaimed：



〃Well　done；　Mother　Mawks！　One　doesn't　let　out　kids　at　night　for

nothing！　'T　ought　to　be　more　expensive　than　daytime！〃



The　face　of　Liz　had　grown　white　and　rigid。



〃You　know　I　can't　give　you　that　money；〃　she　said；　slowly。　〃I　have　not

tasted　bit　or　drop　all　day。　I　must　live；　though　it　doesn't　seem　worth

while。　The　child〃and　her　voice　softened　involuntarily〃is　fast

asleep；　it's　a　pity　to　wake　it；　that's　all。　It　will　cry　and　fret　all

night；　andand　I　will　make　it　warm　and　comfortable　if　you'd　let　me。〃

She　raised　her　eyes　hopefully　and　anxiously。　〃Will　you？〃



Mother　Mawks　was　evidently　a　lady　of　an　excitable　disposition。　The

simple　request　seemed　to　drive　her　nearly　frantic。　She　raised　her

voice　to　an　absolute　scream；　thrusting　her　dirty　hands　through　her

still　dirtier　hair　as　the　proper　accompanying　gesture　to　her

vituperative　oratory。



〃Will　I！　Will　I！〃　she　screeched。　〃Will　I　let　out　my　hown　babby　for　the

night　for　nuthin'？　Will　I？　No；　I　won't！　I'll　see　yer　blowed　into　the

middle　of　next　week　fust！　Lor'　'a'　mussey！　'ow　'igh　an'　mighty　we　are

gittin'；　to　be　sure！　The　babby'll　be　quiet　with　you；　Miss　Liz；　will

it；　hindeed！　An'　it　will　cry　an'　fret　with　its　hown　mother；　will　it；

hindeed！〃　And　at　every　sentence　she　approached　Liz　more　nearly；

increasing　in　fury　as　she　advanced。　〃Yer　low　hussy！　D'ye　think　I'd　let

ye　'ave　my　babby　for　a　hour　unless　yer　paid　for　'it？　As　it　is；　yer

pays　far　too　little。　I'm　an　honest　woman　as　works　for　my　livin'　an'

wot　drinks　reasonable；　better　than　you　by　a　long　sight；　with　yer

stuck…up　airs！　A　pretty　drab　you　are！　Gi'　me　the　babby；　ye　'a'n't　no

business　to　keep　it　a　minit　longer。〃　And　she　made　a　grab　at　Liz's

sheltering　shawl。



〃Oh；　don't　hurt　it！〃　pleaded　Liz；　tremblingly。　〃Such　a　little　thing

don't　hurt　it！〃



Mother　Mawks　stared　so　wildly　that　her　blood…shot　eyes　seemed

protruding　from　her　head。



〃　'Urt　it！　Hain't　I　a　right　to　do　wot　I　likes　with　my　hown　babby？　'Urt

it！　Well；　I　never！　Look　'ere！〃and　she　turned　round　on　the　assembled

neighbours〃hain't　she　a　reg'lar　one？　She　don't　care　for　the　law；　not

she！　She's　keepin'　back　a　child　from　its　hown　mother！〃　And　with　that

she　made　a　fierce　attack　on　the　shawl；　and　succeeded　in　dragging　the

infant　from　Liz's　reluctant　arms。　Wakened　thus　roughly　from　its

slumbers；　the　poor　mite　set　up　a　feeble　wailing；　its　mother；　enraged

at　the　sound；　shook　it　violently　till　it　gasped　for　breath。



〃Drat　the　little　beast！〃　she　cried。　〃Why　don't　it　choke　an'　'ave　done

with　it！〃



And；　without　heeding　the　terrified　remonstrances　of　Liz；　she　flung　the

child　roughly；　as　though　it　were　a　ball；　through　the　open　door　of　her

lodgings；　where　it　fell　on　a　heap　of　dirty　clothes；　and　lay


motionless；　its　wailing　had　ceased。



〃Oh；　baby；　baby！〃　exclaimed　Liz；　in　accents　of　poignant　distress。　〃Oh；

you　have　killed　it；　I　am　sure！　Oh；　you　are　cruel；　cruel！　Oh；　baby；

baby！〃



And　she　broke　into　a　tempestuous　passion　of　sobs　and　tears。　The

bystanders　looked　on　in　unmoved　silence。　Mother　Mawks　gathered　her

torn　garments　round　her　with　a　gesture　of　defiance；　and　sniffed　the

air　as　though　she　said；　〃Any　one　who　wants　to　meddle　with　me　will　get

the　worst　of　it。〃　There　was　a　brief　pause；　suddenly　a　man　staggered

out　of　the　gin…shop；　smearing　the　back　of　his　hand　across　his　mouth　as

he　camea　massively　built；　ill…favoured　brute；　with　a　shock　of

uncombed　red　hair　and　small　ferret…like　eyes。　He　stared　stupidly　at

the　weeping　Liz；　then　at　Mother　Mawks；　finally　from　one　to　the　other

of　the　loafers　who　stood　by。　〃Wot's　the　row？〃　he　demanded；　quickly。

〃Wot's　up？　'Ave　it　out　fair！　Joe　Mawks　'll　stand　by　and　see　fair　game。

Fire　away；　my　hearties！　fire；　fire　away！〃　And；　with　a　chuckling　idiot

laugh；　he　dived　into　the　pocket　of　his　torn　corduroy　trousers　and

produced　a　pipe。　Filling　this　leisurely　from　a　greasy　pouch；　with　such

unsteady　fingers　that　the　tobacco　dropped　all　over　him；　he　lighted　it；

repeating；　with　increased　thickness　of　utterance；　〃Wot's　the　row！　'Ave

it　out　fair！〃



〃It's　about　your　babby；　Joe！〃　cried　the　girl　before　mentioned；　jumping

up　from　her　seat　on　the　ground　with　such　force　that　her　hair　came

tumbling　all　about　her　in　a　dark；　dank　mist；　through　which　her　thin；

eager　face　spitefully　peered。　〃Liz　has　gone　crazy！　She　wants　your

babby　to　cuddle！〃　And　she　screamed　with　sudden　laughter。　〃Eh；　eh；

fancy！　Wants　a　babby　to　cuddle！〃



The　stupefied　Joe　blinked　drowsily　and　sucked　the　stem　of　his　pipe

with　apparent　relish。　Them；　as　if　he　had　been　engaged　in　deep

meditation　on　the　subject；　he　removed　his　smoky　consoler　from　his

mouth；　and　said；　〃W'y　not？　Wants　a　babby　to　cuddle？　All　right！　Let　'er

'ave　itw'y　not？〃



At　these　words　Liz　looked　up　hopefully　through　her　tears；　but　Mother

Mawks　darted　forward　in　raving　indignation。



〃Yer　great　drunken　fool！〃　she　yelled　to　her　besotted　spouse；　〃aren't

yer　ashamed　of　yerself？　Wot！　let　out　babby　for　a　whole　night　for

nuthin'？　It's　lucky　I've　my　wits　about　me；　an'　I　say　Liz　sha'n't　'ave

it！　There；　now！〃



The　man　looked　at　her；　and　a　dogged　resolution　darkened　his　repulsive

countenance。　He　raised　his　big　fist；　clinched　it；　and　hit　straight

out；　giving　his　infuriated　wife　a　black　eye　in　much　less　than　a

minute。　〃An'　I　say　she　shall　'ave　it。　Where　are　ye　now？〃



In　answer　to　the　query　Mother　Mawks　might　have　said　that　she　was　〃all

there；〃　for　she　returned　her　husband's　blow　with　interest　and　force；

and　in　a　couple　of　seconds　the　happy　pair　were　engaged　in　a　〃stand…up〃

fight；　to　the　intense　admiration　and　excitement　of　all　the　inhabitants

of　the　little　alley。　Every　one　in　the　place　thronged　to　watch　the

combatants；　and　to　hear　the　blasphemous　oaths　and　curses　with　which

the　battle　was　accompanied。



In　the　midst　of　the　affray　a　wizened；　bent　old　man；　who　had　been

sitting　at　his　door　sorting　rags　in　a　basket；　and　apparently　taking　no

heed　of　the　clamour　around　him；　made　a　sign　to　Liz。



〃Take　the　kid　now；〃　he　whispered。　〃Nobody'll　notice。　I'll　see　they

don't　cry　arter　ye。〃



Liz　thanked　him　mutely　by　a　look；　and　rushing　to　the　house　where　the

child　still　lay；　seemingly　inanimate；　on　the　floor　among　the　soiled

clothes；　she　caught　it　up　eagerly；　and　hurried　away　to　her　own　poor

garret　in　a　tumble…down　tenement　at　the　farthest　end　of　the　alley。　The

infant　had　been　stunned　by　its　fall；　but　under　her　tender　care；　and

rocked　in　the　warmth　of　her　caressing　arms；　it　soon　recovered；　though

when　its　blue