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！
in the morning； as he had spoken to himself at the Junction overnight。
And as he had then looked in the darkness； a man who had turned grey too
soon； like a neglected fire： so he now looked in the sun…light； an ashier
grey； like a fire which the brightness of the sun put out。
The firm of Barbox Brothers had been some offshoot or irregular
branch of the Public Notary and bill…broking tree。 It had gained for itself
a griping reputation before the days of Young Jackson； and the reputation
had stuck to it and to him。 As he had imperceptibly come into possession
of the dim den up in the corner of a court off Lombard Street； on whose
grimy windows the inscription Barbox Brothers had for many long years
daily interposed itself between him and the sky； so he had insensibly found
himself a personage held in chronic distrust； whom it was essential to
screw tight to every transaction in which he engaged； whose word was
never to be taken without his attested bond； whom all dealers with openly
set up guards and wards against。 This character had come upon him
through no act of his own。 It was as if the original Barbox had stretched
himself down upon the office floor； and had thither caused to be conveyed
Young Jackson in his sleep； and had there effected a metempsychosis and
exchange of persons with him。 The discovery aided in its turn by the
deceit of the only woman he had ever loved； and the deceit of the only
9
… Page 10…
MUGBY JUNCTION
friend he had ever made： who eloped from him to be married together
the discovery； so followed up； completed what his earliest rearing had
begun。 He shrank； abashed； within the form of Barbox； and lifted up his
head and heart no more。
But he did at last effect one great release in his condition。 He broke
the oar he had plied so long； and he scuttled and sank the galley。 He
prevented the gradual retirement of an old conventional business from him；
by taking the initiative and retiring from it。 With enough to live on （though；
after all； with not too much）； he obliterated the firm of Barbox Brothers
from the pages of the Post… Office Directory and the face of the earth；
leaving nothing of it but its name on two portmanteaus。
〃For one must have some name in going about； for people to pick up；〃
he explained to Mugby High Street； through the Inn window； 〃and that
name at least was real once。 Whereas； Young Jackson！Not to mention
its being a sadly satirical misnomer for Old Jackson。〃
He took up his hat and walked out； just in time to see； passing along on
the opposite side of the way； a velveteen man； carrying his day's dinner in
a small bundle that might have been larger without suspicion of gluttony；
and pelting away towards the Junction at a great pace。
〃There's Lamps！〃 said Barbox Brothers。 〃And by the bye〃
Ridiculous； surely； that a man so serious； so self…contained； and not yet
three days emancipated from a routine of drudgery； should stand rubbing
his chin in the street； in a brown study about Comic Songs。
〃Bedside？〃 said Barbox Brothers testily。 〃Sings them at the bedside？
Why at the bedside； unless he goes to bed drunk？ Does； I shouldn't
wonder。 But it's no business of mine。 Let me see。 Mugby Junction；
Mugby Junction。 Where shall I go next？ As it came into my head last
night when I woke from an uneasy sleep in the carriage and found myself
here； I can go anywhere from here。 Where shall I go？ I'll go and look
at the Junction by daylight。 There's no hurry； and I may like the look of
one Line better than another。〃
But there were so many Lines。 Gazing down upon them from a
bridge at the Junction； it was as if the concentrating Companies formed a
10
… Page 11…
MUGBY JUNCTION
great Industrial Exhibition of the works of extraordinary ground spiders
that spun iron。 And then so many of the Lines went such wonderful ways；
so crossing and curving among one another； that the eye lost them。 And
then some of them appeared to start with the fixed intention of going five
hundred miles； and all of a sudden gave it up at an insignificant barrier； or
turned off into a workshop。 And then others； like intoxicated men； went
a little way very straight； and surprisingly slued round and came back
again。 And then others were so chock…full of trucks of coal； others were so
blocked with trucks of casks； others were so gorged with trucks of ballast；
others were so set apart for wheeled objects like immense iron cotton…reels：
while others were so bright and clear； and others were so delivered over to
rust and ashes and idle wheelbarrows out of work； with their legs in the air
（looking much like their masters on strike）； that there was no beginning；
middle； or end to the bewilderment。
Barbox Brothers stood puzzled on the bridge； passing his right hand
across the lines on his forehead； which multiplied while he looked down；
as if the railway Lines were getting themselves photographed on that
sensitive plate。 Then was heard a distant ringing of bells and blowing of
whistles。 Then； puppet…looking heads of men popped out of boxes in
perspective； and popped in again。 Then； prodigious wooden razors； set
up on end； began shaving the atmosphere。 Then； several locomotive
engines in several directions began to scream and be agitated。 Then；
along one avenue a train came in。 Then； along another two trains
appeared that didn't come in； but stopped without。 Then； bits of trains
broke off。 Then； a struggling horse became involved with them。 Then；
the locomotives shared the bits of trains； and ran away with the whole。
〃I have not made my next move much clearer by this。 No hurry。 No
need to make up my mind to…day； or to…morrow； nor yet the day after。 I'll
take a walk。〃
It fell out somehow （perhaps he meant it should） that the walk tended
to the platform at which he had alighted； and to Lamps's room。 But
Lamps was not in his room。 A pair of velveteen shoulders were adapting
themselves to one of the impressions on the wall by Lamps's fireplace； but
11
… Page 12…
MUGBY JUNCTION
otherwise the room was void。 In passing back to get out of the station
again； he learnt the cause of this vacancy； by catching sight of Lamps on
the opposite line of railway； skipping along the top of a train； from
carriage to carriage； and catching lighted namesakes thrown up to him by
a coadjutor。
〃He is busy。 He has not much time for composing or singing Comic
Songs this morning； I take it。〃
The direction he pursued now was into the country； keeping very near
to the side of one great Line of railway； and within easy view of others。
〃I have half a mind；〃' he said； glancing around； 〃to settle the question from
this point； by saying； 'I'll take this set of rails； or that； or t'other； and stick
to it。' They separate themselves from the confusion； out here； and go
their ways。〃
Ascending a gentle hill of some extent； he came to a few cottages。
There； looking about him as a very reserved man might who had never
looked about him in his life before； he saw some six or eight young
children come merrily trooping and whooping from one of the cottages；
and disperse。 But not until they had all turned at the little garden…gate；
and kissed their hands to a face at the upper window： a low window
enough； although the upper； for the cottage had but a story of one room
above the ground。
Now； that the children should do this was nothing； but that they should
do this to a face lying on the sill of the open window； turned towards them
in a horizontal position； and apparently only a face； was something
noticeable。 He looked