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！
kind of man。 He had a ruddy cheek； a bright eye； a well…knit frame； an
immense hand； a cheery； outspeaking voice； and a straight； bright； broad
look。 He had a drawing…room； too； upstairs； which was worth a visit to
the Cumberland Fells。 （This was Mr。 Francis Goodchild's opinion； in
which Mr。 Thomas Idle did not concur。）
The ceiling of this drawing…room was so crossed and recrossed by
beams of unequal lengths； radiating from a centre； in a corner； that it
looked like a broken star…fish。 The room was comfortably and solidly
furnished with good mahogany and horsehair。 It had a snug fireside； and
a couple of well…curtained windows； looking out upon the wild country
behind the house。 What it most developed was； an unexpected taste for
little ornaments and nick…nacks； of which it contained a most surprising
number。 They were not very various； consisting in great part of waxen
babies with their limbs more or less mutilated； appealing on one leg to the
parental affections from under little cupping glasses； but； Uncle Tom was
there； in crockery； receiving theological instructions from Miss Eva； who
grew out of his side like a wen； in an exceedingly rough state of profile
propagandism。 Engravings of Mr。 Hunt's country boy； before and after
his pie； were on the wall； divided by a highly…coloured nautical piece； the
subject of which had all her colours （and more） flying； and was making
great way through a sea of a regular pattern； like a lady's collar。 A
benevolent； elderly gentleman of the last century； with a powdered head；
kept guard； in oil and varnish； over a most perplexing piece of furniture on
a table； in appearance between a driving seat and an angular knife… box；
but； when opened； a musical instrument of tinkling wires； exactly like
David's harp packed for travelling。 Everything became a nick…nack in
8
… Page 9…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
this curious room。 The copper tea…kettle； burnished up to the highest
point of glory； took his station on a stand of his own at the greatest
possible distance from the fireplace； and said： 'By your leave； not a
kettle； but a bijou。' The Staffordshire…ware butter…dish with the cover on；
got upon a little round occasional table in a window； with a worked top；
and announced itself to the two chairs accidentally placed there； as an aid
to polite conversation； a graceful trifle in china to be chatted over by
callers； as they airily trifled away the visiting moments of a butterfly
existence； in that rugged old village on the Cumberland Fells。 The very
footstool could not keep the floor； but got upon a sofa； and there…from
proclaimed itself； in high relief of white and liver…coloured wool； a
favourite spaniel coiled up for repose。 Though； truly； in spite of its bright
glass eyes； the spaniel was the least successful assumption in the
collection： being perfectly flat； and dismally suggestive of a recent
mistake in sitting down on the part of some corpulent member of the
family。
There were books； too； in this room； books on the table； books on the
chimney…piece； books in an open press in the corner。 Fielding was there；
and Smollett was there； and Steele and Addison were there； in dispersed
volumes； and there were tales of those who go down to the sea in ships；
for windy nights； and there was really a choice of good books for rainy
days or fine。 It was so very pleasant to see these things in such a
lonesome by…place … so very agreeable to find these evidences of a taste；
however homely； that went beyond the beautiful cleanliness and trimness
of the house … so fanciful to imagine what a wonder a room must be to the
little children born in the gloomy village … what grand impressions of it
those of them who became wanderers over the earth would carry away；
and how； at distant ends of the world； some old voyagers would die；
cherishing the belief that the finest apartment known to men was once in
the Hesket…Newmarket Inn； in rare old Cumberland … it was such a
charmingly lazy pursuit to entertain these rambling thoughts over the
choice oatcake and the genial whiskey； that Mr。 Idle and Mr。 Goodchild
never asked themselves how it came to pass that the men in the fields were
never heard of more； how the stalwart landlord replaced them without
9
… Page 10…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
explanation； how his dog…cart came to be waiting at the door； and how
everything was arranged without the least arrangement for climbing to old
Carrock's shoulders； and standing on his head。
Without a word of inquiry； therefore； the Two Idle Apprentices drifted
out resignedly into a fine； soft； close； drowsy； penetrating rain； got into the
landlord's light dog…cart； and rattled off through the village for the foot of
Carrock。 The journey at the outset was not remarkable。 The
Cumberland road went up and down like all other roads； the Cumberland
curs burst out from backs of cottages and barked like other curs； and the
Cumberland peasantry stared after the dog…cart amazedly； as long as it was
in sight； like the rest of their race。 The approach to the foot of the
mountain resembled the approaches to the feet of most other mountains all
over the world。 The cultivation gradually ceased； the trees grew
gradually rare； the road became gradually rougher； and the sides of the
mountain looked gradually more and more lofty； and more and more
difficult to get up。 The dog…cart was left at a lonely farm…house。 The
landlord borrowed a large umbrella； and； assuming in an instant the
character of the most cheerful and adventurous of guides； led the way to
the ascent。 Mr。 Goodchild looked eagerly at the top of the mountain； and；
feeling apparently that he was now going to be very lazy indeed； shone all
over wonderfully to the eye； under the influence of the contentment within
and the moisture without。 Only in the bosom of Mr。 Thomas Idle did
Despondency now hold her gloomy state。 He kept it a secret； but he
would have given a very handsome sum； when the ascent began； to have
been back again at the inn。 The sides of Carrock looked fearfully steep；
and the top of Carrock was hidden in mist。 The rain was falling faster
and faster。 The knees of Mr。 Idle … always weak on walking excursions …
shivered and shook with fear and damp。 The wet was already penetrating
through the young man's outer coat to a brand…new shooting…jacket； for
which he had reluctantly paid the large sum of two guineas on leaving
town； he had no stimulating refreshment about him but a small packet of
clammy gingerbread nuts； he had nobody to give him an arm； nobody to
push him gently behind； nobody to pull him up tenderly in front； nobody
to speak to who really felt the difficulties of the ascent； the dampness of
10
… Page 11…
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
the rain； the denseness of the mist； and the unutterable folly of climbing；
undriven； up any steep place in the world； when there is level ground
within reach to walk on instead。 Was it for this that Thomas had left
London？ London； where there are nice short walks in level public
gardens； with benches of repose set up at convenient distances for weary
travellers … London； where rugged stone is humanely pounded into little
lumps for the road； and intelligently shaped into smooth slabs for the
pavement！ No！ it was not for the laborious ascent of the crags of Carrock
that Idle had left his native ci