登陆注册
15450100000018

第18章 CHAPTER V Mr Gideon Forsyth and the Gigantic Box (

It has been mentioned that at Bournemouth Julia sometimes made acquaintances; it is true she had but a glimpse of them before the doors of John Street closed again upon its captives, but the glimpse was sometimes exhilarating, and the consequent regret was tempered with hope. Among those whom she had thus met a year before was a young barrister of the name of Gideon Forsyth.

About three o'clock of the eventful day when the magistrate tampered with the labels, a somewhat moody and distempered ramble had carried Mr Forsyth to the corner of John Street; and about the same moment Miss Hazeltine was called to the door of No. 16 by a thundering double knock.

Mr Gideon Forsyth was a happy enough young man; he would have been happier if he had had more money and less uncle. One hundred and twenty pounds a year was all his store; but his uncle, Mr Edward Hugh Bloomfield, supplemented this with a handsome allowance and a great deal of advice, couched in language that would probably have been judged intemperate on board a pirate ship. Mr Bloomfield was indeed a figure quite peculiar to the days of Mr Gladstone; what we may call (for the lack of an accepted expression) a Squirradical. Having acquired years without experience, he carried into the Radical side of politics those noisy, after-dinner-table passions, which we are more accustomed to connect with Toryism in its severe and senile aspects. To the opinions of Mr Bradlaugh, in fact, he added the temper and the sympathies of that extinct animal, the Squire; he admired pugilism, he carried a formidable oaken staff, he was a reverent churchman, and it was hard to know which would have more volcanically stirred his choler--a person who should have defended the established church, or one who should have neglected to attend its celebrations. He had besides some levelling catchwords, justly dreaded in the family circle; and when he could not go so far as to declare a step un-English, he might still (and with hardly less effect) denounce it as unpractical.

It was under the ban of this lesser excommunication that Gideon had fallen. His views on the study of law had been pronounced unpractical; and it had been intimated to him, in a vociferous interview punctuated with the oaken staff, that he must either take a new start and get a brief or two, or prepare to live on his own money.

No wonder if Gideon was moody. He had not the slightest wish to modify his present habits; but he would not stand on that, since the recall of Mr Bloomfield's allowance would revolutionize them still more radically. He had not the least desire to acquaint himself with law; he had looked into it already, and it seemed not to repay attention; but upon this also he was ready to give way. In fact, he would go as far as he could to meet the views of his uncle, the Squirradical. But there was one part of the programme that appeared independent of his will. How to get a brief? there was the question. And there was another and a worse.

Suppose he got one, should he prove the better man?

Suddenly he found his way barred by a crowd. A garishly illuminated van was backed against the kerb; from its open stern, half resting on the street, half supported by some glistening athletes, the end of the largest packing-case in the county of Middlesex might have been seen protruding; while, on the steps of the house, the burly person of the driver and the slim figure of a young girl stood as upon a stage, disputing.

'It is not for us,' the girl was saying. 'I beg you to take it away; it couldn't get into the house, even if you managed to get it out of the van.'

'I shall leave it on the pavement, then, and M. Finsbury can arrange with the Vestry as he likes,' said the vanman.

'But I am not M. Finsbury,' expostulated the girl.

'It doesn't matter who you are,' said the vanman.

'You must allow me to help you, Miss Hazeltine,' said Gideon, putting out his hand.

Julia gave a little cry of pleasure. 'O, Mr Forsyth,' she cried, 'I am so glad to see you; we must get this horrid thing, which can only have come here by mistake, into the house. The man says we'll have to take off the door, or knock two of our windows into one, or be fined by the Vestry or Custom House or something for leaving our parcels on the pavement.'

The men by this time had successfully removed the box from the van, had plumped it down on the pavement, and now stood leaning against it, or gazing at the door of No. 16, in visible physical distress and mental embarrassment. The windows of the whole street had filled, as if by magic, with interested and entertained spectators.

With as thoughtful and scientific an expression as he could assume, Gideon measured the doorway with his cane, while Julia entered his observations in a drawing-book. He then measured the box, and, upon comparing his data, found that there was just enough space for it to enter. Next, throwing off his coat and waistcoat, he assisted the men to take the door from its hinges.

And lastly, all bystanders being pressed into the service, the packing-case mounted the steps upon some fifteen pairs of wavering legs--scraped, loudly grinding, through the doorway--and was deposited at length, with a formidable convulsion, in the far end of the lobby, which it almost blocked. The artisans of this victory smiled upon each other as the dust subsided. It was true they had smashed a bust of Apollo and ploughed the wall into deep ruts; but, at least, they were no longer one of the public spectacles of London.

'Well, sir,' said the vanman, 'I never see such a job.'

Gideon eloquently expressed his concurrence in this sentiment by pressing a couple of sovereigns in the man's hand.

同类推荐
  • Michael

    Michael

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六十种曲春芜记

    六十种曲春芜记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说文殊师利行经

    佛说文殊师利行经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 二续金瓶梅

    二续金瓶梅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • BILLY BUDD

    BILLY BUDD

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 柠檬初夏的味道

    柠檬初夏的味道

    自从遇见了你,我的生活就不一样了呢,有酸涩,有甜蜜,有痛苦,也有微辣,还记得我们第一次一起去看星星,第一次一起去看烟花,第一次去看初雪,也更是我第一次走进你的世界,渐渐地我发现我喜欢你了呢?可是,后来发生了好多好多事情,我害怕,我害怕会失去你,我害怕你不会像以前那样担心我保护我了,我更害怕有一天你成了别人的那个他,我知道我们彼此相爱,可是!我们真的会在一起吗?我想时间会给我们答复吧!朴欣颜&王俊凯
  • 执掌元素

    执掌元素

    在元素大陆上,元素就是一切的根本。元素师是大陆上超然的存在,元素大陆的一切都由他们来主宰。霍羽,一个修炼六系元素的元素师,走自己的元素之路,成就至强神话。执掌元素,纵横天下。既然实力决定一切,那就我横因我强。
  • 捉妖奇谈

    捉妖奇谈

    用我一生修炼,换你一日相恋。捉妖师聂小暖心仪儿时玩伴叶知秋,再次相遇后,本以为两人有机会再续情缘,却不料叶知秋心有所属,更让人诧异的是,叶知秋的钟情对象竟然是只妖……
  • TFBOYS之柠檬点点酸

    TFBOYS之柠檬点点酸

    她回国找学校迷了路,半路碰到了同校的校友。回去找那两个死党,抱怨自己的悲催。却不料因为遇见了他们,也误打误撞进了娱乐圈。看看他们以后会擦出什么样的火花吧?〖说实话我都不知道【呆】〗
  • 大魔士

    大魔士

    大破灭时代的到来,盘古大陆化身万千星辰,远古神灵集众神之力,将人类之种散播于宇宙之中。万万年之后,科技之火不断壮大,燃烧至宇宙各处,人们已经忘记了神灵,把自己看作是造物之祖,对力量狂热地追求。魔晶的出现,使人类走向自身进化的道路,是新生还是毁灭?是黑暗的再次降临,还是黎明前的曙光?天才辈出,谁又将是时代的主角?
  • 洗冤逸事集

    洗冤逸事集

    被视作灾星的宋慈某日打更的时候偶然发现一宗命案,殊不知这宗命案彻底改变了他的人生轨迹,他的法医生涯就此开启了……
  • 蓝瞳妖女玩穿越:一夜倾城

    蓝瞳妖女玩穿越:一夜倾城

    青城穿越了,有点莫名其妙,有点不可思议,一觉醒来面目全非,什么?将军家二小姐?还是一个不受宠的小姐?好吧,能接受,什么?不是人,竟然是鲛人?那个蓝瞳鱼尾,泣泪成珠的鲛人?天呐……怎么会这样?【布布读者群公布:凤凰殿、<书迷游弋地> :71992804 】
  • 誓言青春

    誓言青春

    我不是专业作者,只是青春经历着!为了青春我们一起努力!
  • 乱世非凡

    乱世非凡

    年少翩翩,早已名垂青史;懵懂迁迁,不知心中萌芽。待到十年后,在与妳相伴。妳,可等我否?花落兮,一张一弛,何为情?一段言情,意在情,不在言。岁月荏苒,漫漫长路仅需妳。花落又一岁,非你不共。
  • 神探的复仇

    神探的复仇

    一个帅帅的高中生,因为天生的极强推理能力,成为了警界的秘密助手。然而,出色的能力却让其成为世界最大的横跨黑白两道的神秘组织暗杀的对象。然而,老天似乎对他开了一个玩笑。他深爱的女友离他而去,他也中了某种神奇毒药的毒,只要每破一个案子,他的头就会剧烈的疼痛。最后,惊奇的是,他居然每天会年龄倒退,身高也变得像小学生一样了!为了得到组织的解药,他只有复仇!机缘巧合下,认识了同样中了中了这种毒的一位冷冰冰的某化学女博士,居然还有解药!几次合作之后,居然由同情产生了莫名情愫。他会与女博士一起击败组织?还是打到一切,维护正义,而重新获得女友的爱