第30章

Oppositethewharftherewasstuckinthewidegableofatwo-storiedbuildingalanternwhich，flickering，diffusedbutadull，anaemiclightfromitsdirtypanes，whileoverthelongstripofthebrokensignboardofthebuildingtherecouldbeseenstraggling，andexecutedinlargeyellowletters，thewords，“Tavernand-“Nomoreofthelegendthanthiswasvisible。

Lanternswerehangingintwoorthreeotherspotsinthedrowsylittletown；andwherevertheirmurkystainsoflighthungsuspendedintheairtherestoodoutinreliefamedleyofgables，drab-tintedtrees，andfalsewindowsinwhitepaint，onwallsofadullslatecolour。

SomehowIfoundcontemplationofthescenedepressing。

Meanwhilethevesselcontinuedtoemitsteamassherockedtoandfrowithacreakingofwood，aslap-slappingofwater，andascrubbingofhersidesagainstthewharf。Atlengthsomeoneejaculatedsurlily:

“Fool，youmustbeasleep！Thewinch，yousay？Why，thewinchisatthestern，damnyou！“

“Offagain，thanktheLord！“addedtheraspingvoicealreadyheardfrombehindthebales，whiletoitanequallyfamiliarvoicerejoinedwithayawn:

“It’stimeweWEREoff！“

Saidahoarsevoice:

“Lookhere，youngfellow。Whatwasitheshouted？“

Hastilyandinarticulately，withagreatdealofsmackingofthelipsandstuttering，someonereplied:

“Heshouted:’Kinsmen，donotkillme！Havesomemercy，forChrist’ssake，andIwillmakeovertoyoueverything——yes，everythingintoyourgoodhandsforever！Onlyletmegoaway，andexpiatemysins，andsavemysoulthroughprayer。Aye，I

willgoonapilgrimage，andremainhiddenmylifelong，totheveryend。Nevershallyouhearofmeagain，norseeme。’ThenUnclePetercaughthimablowonthehead，andhisbloodsplashedoutuponme。AshefellI——well，Iranaway，andmadeforthetavern，whereIknockedatthedoorandshouted:

’Sister，theyhavekilledourfather！’Uponthat，sheputherheadoutofthewindow，butonlysaid:’Thatmerelymeansthattherascalismakinganexcuseforvodka。’……Aye，aterribletimeitwas——wasthatnight！AndhowfrightenedIfelt！Atfirst，Imadeforthegarret，butpresentlythoughttomyself:’No；

theywouldsoonfindmethere，andputmetoanendaswell，forIamtheheirdirect，andshouldbethefirsttosucceedtotheproperty。’SoIcrawledontotheroof，andtherelayhiddenbehindthechimney-stack，holdingonwitharmsandlegs，whileunabletospeakforsheerterror。“

“Whatwereyouafraidof？“abrusque

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节