13. One of the Populace

  13.OhePopulace

  ThewinterwasawretchedohereweredaysonwhichSaratrampedthroughsnowwheonhererrands;therewereworsedayswhenthesedandbiselfwithmudtoformslush;therewereotherswhenthefogwassothickthatthelampsireetwerelightedalldayandLondonlookedasithadlookedtheafternoon,severalyearsago,whenthecabhaddriventhroughthethhfareswithSaratuckeduponitsseat,leaningagaihersshoulder.OnsuchdaysthewindowsofthehouseoftheLargeFamilyalwayslookeddelightfullycozyandalluring,audyinwhichtheIndialemansatgloarmthandrichcolor.Buttheatticwasdismalbeyondwords.Therewerenolongersusorsuolookat,andscarcelyeveranystars,itseemedtoSara.Thecloudshunglowovertheskylightandwereeithergrayormud-color,ordroppingheavyrain.Atfouroclotheafternoon,eveherewasnospecialfog,thedaylightwasatanend.Ifitwasnecessarytogotoheratticforanything,Sarawasobligedtolightadle.Thewomeniweredepressed,andthatmadethemmoreill-temperedthanever.Beckywasdrivetleslave.

  "Twarntforyou,miss,"shesaidhoarselytoSaraonenightwhenshehadcreptintotheattic--"twarntforyou,aille,aheprisohecell,Ishoulddie.Thattheredoesseemrealnow,doesntit?Themissusismoreliketheheadjailereverydayshelives.Ijestseethembigkeysyousayshecarries.Thecooksheslikeoheunder-jailers.Tellmesomemore,please,miss--tellmeaboutthesubtraneanpassageweveduguhewalls."

  "Illtellyousomethingwarmer,"shiveredSara."Getyourcoverletanditroundyou,andIllgetmine,andwewillhuddleclosetogetheronthebed,andIlltellyouaboutthetropicalforestwheretheIndialemansmonkeyusedtolive.WhenIseehimsittingoablehewindowandlookingoutintothestreetwiththatmournfulexpression,Ialwaysfeelsureheisthinkingaboutthetropicalforestwhereheusedtoswingbyhistailfromuttrees.Iwonderwhocaughthim,andifheleftafamilybehindendedonhimforuts."

  "Thatiswarmer,miss,"saidBecky,gratefully;"but,someways,eveilleissortofheatinwhenyougetstotellinaboutit."

  "Thatisbecauseitmakesyouthinkofsomethingelse,"saidSara,ingthecoverletrouilonlyhersmalldarkfacewastobeseenlookingoutofit."Ivenoticedthis.Whatyouhavetodowithyourmind,whenyourbodyismiserable,istomakeitthinkofsomethingelse."

  "youdoit,miss?"falteredBecky,regardihadmiringeyes.

  Saraknittedherbrowsamoment.

  "SometimesIdsometimesIt,"shesaidstoutly."ButwhenIImallright.AndwhatIbelieveisthatwealwayscould--ifwepractiough.Ivebeenpractigagooddeallately,anditsbeginningtobeeasierthanitusedtobe.Whenthingsarehorrible--justhorrible--IthinkashardaseverIofbeingaprincess.Isaytomyself,`Iamaprincess,andIamafairyone,andbecauseIamafairynothinghurtmeormakemeunfortable.Youdontknowhowitmakesyet"--withalaugh.

  Shehadmanyopportunitiesofmakinghermindthinkofsomethingelse,andmanyopportunitiesofprovingtoherselfwhetherornotsherincess.Butohestroestsshewaseverputtocameoaindreadfuldaywhich,sheoftenthoughtafterward,wouldneverquitefadeoutofhermemoryevenintheyearstoe.

  Forseveraldaysithadrainedtinuously;thestreetswerechillyandsloppyandfullofdreary,ist;therewasmudeverywhere--stickyLondonmud--andovereverythingthepallofdrizzleandfog.Ofcoursetherewereseverallongandtiresomeerrandstobedoherealwayswereondayslikethis--andSarawassentoutagainandagain,untilhershabbyclothesweredampthrough.Theabsurdoldfeathersonherforlornhatweremledandabsurdthanever,andherdowntroddenshoesweresowetthattheycouldnotholdanymorewater.Addedtothis,shehadbeendeprivedofherdinner,becauseMissMinhadchosentopunishher.Shewassocoldandhungryandtiredthatherfacebegantohaveapinchedlook,andnowandthensomekiedpersonpassihestreetglaherwithsuddensympathy.Butshedidnotknowthat.Shehurriedtomakehermindthinkofsomethingelse.Itwasreallyverynecessary.Herwayofdoingitwasto"pretend"and"suppose"withallthestrengththatwasleftinher.Butreallythistimeitwasharderthanshehadeverfoundit,andowiceshethoughtitalmostmadehermorecoldandhungryinsteadoflessso.Butsheperseveredobstinately,andasthemuddywatersquelchedthroughherbrokenshoesandthewiryingtherthinjacketfromher,shetalkedtoherselfasshewalked,thoughshedidnotspeakaloudorevenmoveherlips.

  "SupposeIhaddryclotheson,"shethought."SupposeIhadgoodshoesandalong,thickcoatandmerinostogsandawholeumbrella.Andsuppose--suppose--justwhenIwasnearabakerswheretheysoldhotbuns,Ishouldfindsixpence--whichbeloonobody.SupposeifIdid,Ishouldgointotheshopandbuysixofthehottestbunsahemallwithoutstopping."

  Someveryoddthingshappeninthisworldsometimes.

  ItcertainlywasanoddthingthathappeoSara.Shehadtocrossthestreetjustwhenshewassayingthistoherself.Themudwasdreadful--shealmosthadtowade.Shepickedherwayascarefullyasshecould,butshecouldnotsaveherselfmuly,inpigherway,shehadtolookdownatherfeetandthemud,andinlookingdown--justasshereachedthepavement--shesawsomethingshiningier.Itwasactuallyapieceofsilver--atiroddenuponbyma,butstillwithspiritenoughlefttoshitle.Notquiteasixpethehingtoit--afourpennypiece.

  Inoneseditwasinhercoldlittlered-and-bluehand.

  "Oh,"shegasped,"itistrue!Itistrue!"

  Andthen,ifyouwillbelieveme,shelookedstraightattheshopdirectlyfagher.Anditwasabakersshop,andacheerful,stout,motherlywomanwithrosycheeksuttingintothewindowatrayofdeliciousnewlybakedhotbuns,freshfromtheoven--large,plump,shinybuns,withcurrantsinthem.

  ItalmostmadeSarafeelfaintforafewseds--theshodthesightofthebuns,andthedelightfulodorsofwarmbreadfloatingupthroughthebakerscellarwindow.

  Sheknewshehesitatetousethelittlepieohadevidentlybeenlyinginthemudforsometime,anditsownerwaspletelylostireamofpassingpeoplewhocrowdedandjostledeachotheralldaylong.

  "ButIllgoandaskthebakerwomanifshehaslostanything,"shesaidtoherself,ratherfaintly.Soshecrossedthepavementandputherwetfootoep.Asshedidsoshesawsomethingthatmadeherstop.

  Itwasalittlefiguremoreforlorhanherself--alittlefigurewhichwasnotmuchmorethanabundles,fromwhichsmall,bare,redmuddyfeetpeepedout,onlybecausetheragswithwhichtheirownerwastryingtocoverthemwerenotlongenough.Abovetheragsappearedashockheadoftangledhair,andadirtyfacewithbig,hollow,hungryeyes.

  Sarakheywerehuhemomehem,aasuddensympathy.

  "This,"shesaidtoherself,withalittlesigh,"isohepopulace--andsheishuhanIam."

  Thechild--this"ohepopulace"--staredupatSara,andshuffledherselfasidealittle,soastogiveherroomtopass.Shewasusedtobeingmadetogiveroomtoeverybody.Shekhatifapolicedtoseeherhewouldtellherto"moveon."

  Saraclutchedherlittlefourpennypiedhesitatedforafewseds.Thenshespoketoher.

  "Areyouhungry?"sheasked.

  Thechildshuffledherselfandherragsalittlemore.

  "AintIjist?"shesaidinahoarsevoice."JistaintI?"

  "Haventyouhadanydinner?"saidSara.

  "Nodinner,"morehoarselystillandwithmoreshuffling."--nosupper.Nonothin.

  "Sincewhen?"askedSara.

  "Dunno.nothintoday--nowhere.Iveaxedanaxed."

  JusttolookathermadeSaramorehungryandfaint.Butthosequeerlittlethoughtswereatworkinherbrain,aalkingtoherself,thoughshewassickatheart.

  "IfImaprincess,"shewassaying,"ifImaprincess--whentheywerepooranddrivenfromtheirthroheyalwaysshared--withthepopulace--iftheymetonepoorerandhuhanthemselves.Theyalwaysshared.Bunsareapennyeach.IfithadbeensixpenceIcouldhaveeatensix.Itwontbeenoughforeitherofus.Butitwillbebetterthannothing."

  "Waitaminute,"shesaidtothebeggarchild.

  Shewentintotheshop.Itwaswarmandsmelleddeliciously.Thewomanwasjustgoingtoputsomemorehotbunsintothewindow.

  "Ifyouplease,"saidSara,"haveyoulostfourpence--asilverfourpence?"Andsheheldtheforlornlittlepieotoher.

  Thewomanlookedatitaher--atherintelefaddraggled,oneclothes.

  "Blessus,no,"sheanswered."Didyoufindit?"

  "Yes,"saidSara."Ier."

  "Keepit,then,"saidthewoman."Itmayhavebeenthereforaweek,andgoodnessknowswholostit.Youcouldneverfindout."

  "Iknowthat,"saidSara,"butIthoughtIwouldaskyou."

  "Notmanywould,"saidthewoman,lookingpuzzledandiedandgood-naturedallatonce.

  "Doyouwanttobuysomething?"sheadded,asshesawSaraglahebuns.

  "Fourbuns,ifyouplease,"saidSara."Thoseatapennyeach."

  Thewomaothewindoutsomeinapaperbag.

  Saranoticedthatsheputinsix.

  "Isaidfour,ifyouplease,"sheexplained."Ihaveonlyfourpence."

  "Illthrowintwoformakeweight,"saidthewomanwithhergood-naturedlook."Idaresayyoueatthemsometime.Arentyouhungry?"

  AmistrosebeforeSaraseyes.

  "Yes,"sheanswered."Iamveryhungry,andIammuchobligedtoyouforyourkindness;and"--shewasgoingtoadd--"thereisachildoutsidewhoishuhanIam."Butjustatthatmomenttwoorthreeerscameinatondeaeseemedinahurry,soshecouldonlythankthewomanagainandgoout.

  Thebeggargirlwasstillhuddledupintheerofthestep.Shelookedfrightfulianddirtyrags.Shewasstaringstraightbeforeheridlookofsuffering,andSarasawhersuddenlydrawthebackhenedbladacrosshereyestorubawaythetearswhichseemedtohavesurprisedherbyftheirwayfromunderherlids.Shewasmutteringtoherself.

  Saraopehepaperbagandtookoutohehotbuns,whichhadalreadywarmedherowncoldhandsalittle.

  "See,"shesaid,puttingthebunintheraggedlap,"thisisnidhot.Eatit,andyouwillnotfeelsohungry."

  Thechildstartedandstaredupather,asifsuchsudden,amazinggoodluckalmhtehechedupthebunaocramitintohermouthwithgreatwolfishbites.

  "Oh,my!Oh,my!"Saraheardhersayhoarsely,inwilddelight."Ohmy!"

  Saratookoutthreemorebunsandputthemdown.

  Thesoundinthehoarse,ravenousvoicewasawful.

  "SheishuhanIam,"shesaidtoherself."Shesstarving."Butherhandtrembledwhedownthefourthbun."Imnotstarving,"shesaid--adowh.

  ThelittleraveningLondonsavagewasstillsnatganddevwheurnedaway.Shewastooravenoustogiveanythanks,evenifshehadeverbeentaughtpoliteness--whichshehadnot.Shewasonlyapoorlittlewildanimal.

  "Good-bye,"saidSara.

  Whenshereachedtheothersideofthestreetshelookedback.Thechildhadabunineadandhadstoppedinthemiddleofabitetowatchher.Saragaveheralittlenod,andthechild,afteraare--acuriouslingeringstare--jerkedhershaggyheadinresponse,anduntilSarawasoutofsightshedidnottakeaeorevenfinishtheoneshehadbegun.

  Atthatmomentthebaker-womanlookedoutofhershopwindow.

  "Well,Inever!"sheexclaimed."Ifthatyoungunhasntgivenherbunstoabeggarchild!Itwasntbecauseshedidntwantthem,either.Well,well,shelookedhungryenough.Idgivesomethingtoknowwhatshediditfor."

  Shestoodbehindherwindowforafewmomentsandpohenhercuriositygotthebetterofher.Shewenttothedoorandspoketothebeggarchild.

  "Whogaveyouthosebuns?"sheaskedher.ThechildnoddedherheadtowardSarasvanishingfigure.

  "Whatdidshesay?"inquiredthewoman.

  "AxedmeifIwasungry,"repliedthehoarsevoice.

  "Whatdidyousay?"

  "SaidIwasjist."

  "Andthenshecameinandgotthebuns,andgavethemtoyou,didshe?"

  Thechildnodded.

  "Howmany?"

  "Five."

  Thewomanthoughtitover.

  "Leftjustoneforherself,"shesaidinalowvoice."Andshecouldhaveeatenthewholesix--Isawitinhereyes."

  Shelookedafterthelittledraggledfar-awayfigureamoredisturbedinherusuallyfortablemindthanshehadfeltformanyaday.

  "Iwishshehadntgonesoquick,"shesaid."Imblestifsheshouldnthavehadadozen."Theurhechild.

  "Areyouhungryyet?"shesaid.

  "Imallushungry,"wastheanswer,"buttaintasbadasitwas."

  "einhere,"saidthewoman,andsheheldopentheshopdoor.

  Thechildgotupandshuffledin.Tobeioalacefullofbreadseemedanincrediblething.Shedidnotknoasgoingtohappen.Shedidnotcare,even.

  "Getyourselfwarm,"saidtheointingtoafireiinyba."Andlookhere;whenyouarehardupforabitofbread,youeinhereandaskforit.ImblestifIwontgiveittoyouforthatyoungonessake."***

  Sarafoundsomefortinherremainingbun.Atallevents,itwasveryhot,anditwasbetterthannothing.Asshewalkedalongshebrokeoffsmallpiedatethemslowlytomakethemlastlonger.

  "Supposeitwasamagi,"shesaid,"andabitewasasmuchasawholedinner.IshouldbeovereatingmyselfifIwentohis."

  ItwasdarkwhenshereachedthesquarewheretheSelectSeminarywassituated.Thelightsinthehouseswerealllighted.TheblindsweredrawninthewindowsoftheroomwhereshenearlyalwayscaughtglimpsesofmembersoftheLargeFamily.FrequentlyatthishourshecouldseethegentlemanshecalledMr.Montmorencysittinginabigchair,withasmallswarmroundhim,talking,laughing,pergonthearmsofhisseatoronhiskneesorleaningagainstthem.Thiseveningtheswarmwasabouthim,buthewased.Orary,therewasagooddealofexcitementgoingon.Itwasevidentthatajourneywastobetaken,anditwasMr.Montmorencywhowastotakeit.Abroughamstoodbeforethedoor,andabigportmanteauhadbeenstrappeduponit.Thechildrenweredangabout,chatteringandhangingontotheirfather.Theprettyrosymotherwasstandingnearhim,talkingasifshewasaskingfinalquestions.Sarapausedamomenttoseethelittleonesliftedupandkissedandthebiggerooverandkissedalso.

  "Iwonderifhewillstayawaylong,"shethought."Theportmanteauisratherbig.Oh,dear,howtheywillmisshim!Ishallmisshimmyself--eventhoughhedoesntknowIamalive."

  Whenthedooropenedshemovedaway--rememberingthesixpence--butshesawthetravelereoutandstandagainstthebackgroundofthewarmly-lightedhall,theolderchildrenstillhabouthim.

  "WillMoscowbecoveredwithsnow?"saidthelittlegirlJa."Willtherebeiceeverywhere?"

  "Shallyoudriveinadrosky?"criedanother."ShallyouseetheCzar?"

  "Iwillwriteandtellyouallaboutit,"heanswered,laughing."AndIwillsendyoupicturesofmuzhiksandthings.Runintothehouse.Itisahideousdampnight.IwouldratherstaywithyouthangotoMoscow.Goodnight!Goodnight,duckies!Godblessyou!"Andherandowepsandjumpedintothebrougham.

  "Ifyoufilegirl,giveherourlove,"shoutedGuyClarence,jumpingupanddownonthedoormat.

  Thentheywentinandshutthedoor.

  "Didyousee,"saidJaoNora,astheywentbacktotheroom--"thelittle-girl-who-is-not-a-beggarassing?Shelookedallcolda,andIsawherturnherheadoverhershoulderandlookatus.Mammasaysherclothesalwayslookasiftheyhadbeengivenherbysomeonewhowasquiterich--someonewhooherhavethembecausetheyweretooshabbytowear.Thepeopleattheschoolalwaysseonerrandsonthehorridestdaysandnightsthereare."

  SaracrossedthesquaretoMissMinsareasteps,feelingfaintandshaky.

  "Iwonderwhothelittlegirlis,"shethought--"thelittlegirlheisgoingtolookfor."

  Adowntheareasteps,luggingherbasketandfindingitveryheavyindeed,asthefatheroftheLargeFamilydrovequicklyonhiswaytothestationtotakethetrainwhichwastocarryhimtoMoscow,wherehewastomakehisbesteffortstosearchforthelostlittledaughterofCaptainCrewe.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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