samuel titmarsh and the great hoggarty diamond-第14部分

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I　felt　that　I　never　should　go　back　to　Salisbury　Square　again；　and
had　made　my　little　present　to　the　landlady's　family　accordingly。
She　said　I　was　the　respectablest　gentleman　she　had　ever　had　in　her
house：　　nor　was　that　saying　much；　for　Bell　Lane　is　in　the　Rules　of
the　Fleet；　and　her　lodgers　used　commonly　to　be　prisoners　on　Rule
from　that　place。　　As　for　Gus；　the　poor　fellow　cried　and　blubbered
so　that　he　could　not　eat　a　morsel　of　the　muffins　and　grilled　ham
with　which　I　treated　him　for　breakfast　in　the　〃Bolt…in…Tun〃　coffee…
house；　and　when　I　went　away　was　waving　his　hat　and　his　handkerchief
so　in　the　archway　of　the　coach…office　that　I　do　believe　the　wheels
of　the　〃True　Blue〃　went　over　his　toes；　for　I　heard　him　roaring　as
we　passed　through　the　arch。　　Ah！　how　different　were　my　feelings　as
I　sat　proudly　there　on　the　box　by　the　side　of　Jim　Ward；　the
coachman；　to　those　I　had　the　last　time　I　mounted　that　coach；
parting　from　my　dear　Mary　and　coming　to　London　with　my　DIAMOND　PIN！

When　arrived　near　home　（at　Grumpley；　three　miles　from　our　village；
where　the　〃True　Blue〃　generally　stops　to　take　a　glass　of　ale　at　the
Poppleton　Arms）　it　was　as　if　our　Member；　Mr。　Poppleton　himself；　was
come　into　the　country；　so　great　was　the　concourse　of　people
assembled　round　the　inn。　　And　there　was　the　landlord　of　the　inn　and
all　the　people　of　the　village。　　Then　there　was　Tom　Wheeler；　the
post…boy；　from　Mrs。　Rincer's　posting…hotel　in　our　town；　he　was
riding　on　the　old　bay　posters；　and　they；　Heaven　bless　us！　were
drawing　my　aunt's　yellow　chariot；　in　which　she　never　went　out　but
thrice　in　a　year；　and　in　which　she　now　sat　in　her　splendid　cashmere
shawl　and　a　new　hat　and　feather。　　She　waved　a　white　handkerchief
out　of　the　window；　and　Tom　Wheeler　shouted　out　〃Huzza！〃　as　did　a
number　of　the　little　blackguard　boys　of　Grumpley：　　who；　to　be　sure；
would　huzza　for　anything。　　What　a　change　on　Tom　Wheeler's　part；
however！　　I　remembered　only　a　few　years　before　how　he　had　whipped
me　from　the　box　of　the　chaise；　as　I　was　hanging　on　for　a　ride
behind。

Next　to　my　aunt's　carriage　came　the　four…wheeled　chaise　of
Lieutenant　Smith；　R。N。；　who　was　driving　his　old　fat　pony　with　his
lady　by　his　side。　　I　looked　in　the　back　seat　of　the　chaise；　and
felt　a　little　sad　at　seeing　that　SOMEBODY　was　not　there。　　But；　O
silly　fellow！　there　was　Somebody　in　the　yellow　chariot　with　my
aunt；　blushing　like　a　peony；　I　declare；　and　looking　so　happy！oh；
so　happy　and　pretty！　　She　had　a　white　dress；　and　a　light　blue　and
yellow　scarf；　which　my　aunt　said　were　the　Hoggarty　colours；　though
what　the　Hoggartys　had　to　do　with　light　blue　and　yellow；　I　don't
know　to　this　day。

Well；　the　〃True　Blue〃　guard　made　a　great　bellowing　on　his　horn　as
his　four　horses　dashed　away；　the　boys　shouted　again；　I　was　placed
bodkin　between　Mrs。　Hoggarty　and　Mary；　Tom　Wheeler　cut　into　his
bays；　the　Lieutenant　（who　had　shaken　me　cordially　by　the　hand；　and
whose　big　dog　did　not　make　the　slightest　attempt　at　biting　me　this
time）　beat　his　pony　till　its　fat　sides　lathered　again；　and　thus　in
this；　I　may　say；　unexampled　procession；　I　arrived　in　triumph　at　our
village。

My　dear　mother　and　the　girls；Heaven　bless　them！nine　of　them　in
their　nankeen　spencers　（I　had　something　pretty　in　my　trunk　for　each
of　them）could　not　afford　a　carriage；　but　had　posted　themselves　on
the　road　near　the　village；　and　there　was　such　a　waving　of　hands　and
handkerchiefs：　　and　though　my　aunt　did　not　much　notice　them；　except
by　a　majestic　toss　of　the　head；　which　is　pardonable　in　a　woman　of
her　property；　yet　Mary　Smith　did　even　more　than　I；　and　waved　her
hands　as　much　as　the　whole　nine。　　Ah！　how　my　dear　mother　cried　and
blessed　me　when　we　met；　and　called　me　her　soul's　comfort　and　her
darling　boy；　and　looked　at　me　as　if　I　were　a　paragon　of　virtue　and
genius：　　whereas　I　was　only　a　very　lucky　young　fellow；　that　by　the
aid　of　kind　friends　had　stepped　rapidly　into　a　very　pretty
property。

I　was　not　to　stay　with　my　mother；that　had　been　arranged
beforehand；　for　though　she　and　Mrs。　Hoggarty　were　not　remarkably
good　friends；　yet　Mother　said　it　was　for　my　benefit　that　I　should
stay　with　my　aunt；　and　so　give　up　the　pleasure　of　having　me　with
her：　　and　though　hers　was　much　the　humbler　house　of　the　two；　I　need
not　say　I　preferred　it　far　to　Mrs。　Hoggarty's　more　splendid　one；
let　alone　the　horrible　Rosolio；　of　which　I　was　obliged　now　to　drink
gallons。

It　was　to　Mrs。　H。's　then　we　were　driven：　　she　had　prepared　a　great
dinner　that　evening；　and　hired　an　extra　waiter；　and　on　getting　out
of　the　carriage；　she　gave　a　sixpence　to　Tom　Wheeler；　saying　that
was　for　himself；　and　that　she　would　settle　with　Mrs。　Rincer　for　the
horses　afterwards。　　At　which　Tom　flung　the　sixpence　upon　the
ground；　swore　most　violently；　and　was　very　justly　called　by　my　aunt
an　〃impertinent　fellow。〃

She　had　taken　such　a　liking　to　me　that　she　would　hardly　bear　me　out
of　her　sight。　　We　used　to　sit　for　morning　after　morning　over　her
accounts；　debating　for　hours　together　the　propriety　of　selling　the
Slopperton　property；　but　no　arrangement　was　come　to　yet　about　it；
for　Hodge　and　Smithers　could　not　get　the　price　she　wanted。　　And；
moreover；　she　vowed　that　at　her　decease　she　would　leave　every
shilling　to　me。

Hodge　and　Smithers；　too；　gave　a　grand　party；　and　treated　me　with
marked　consideration；　as　did　every　single　person　of　the　village。
Those　who　could　not　afford　to　give　dinners　gave　teas；　and　all　drank
the　health　of　the　young　couple；　and　many　a　time　after　dinner　or
supper　was　my　Mary　made　to　blush　by　the　allusions　to　the　change　in
her　condition。

The　happy　day　for　that　ceremony　was　now　fixed；　and　the　24th　July；
1823；　saw　me　the　happiest　husband　of　the　prettiest　girl　in
Somersetshire。　　We　were　married　from　my　mother's　house；　who　would
insist　upon　that　at　any　rate；　and　the　nine　girls　acted　as
bridesmaids；　ay！　and　Gus　Hoskins　came　from　town　express　to　be　my
groomsman；　and　had　my　old　room　at　my　mother's；　and　stayed　with　her
for　a　week；　and　cast　a　sheep's…eye　upon　Miss　Winny　Titmarsh　too；　my
dear　fourth　sister；　as　I　afterwards　learned。

My　aunt　was　very　kind　upon　the　marriage　ceremony；　indeed。　　She　had
desired　me　some　weeks　previous　to　order　three　magnificent　dresses
for　Mary　from　the　celebrated　Madame　Mantalini　of　London；　and　some
elegant　trinkets　and　embroidered　pocket…handkerchiefs　from　Howell
and　James's。　　These　were　sent　down　to　me；　and　were　to　be　MY　present
to　the　bride；　but　Mrs。　Hoggarty　gave　me　to　understand　that　I　need
never　trouble　myself　about　the　payment　of　the　bill；　and　I　thought
her　conduct　very　generous。　　Also　she　lent　us　her　chariot　for　the
wedding　journey；　and　made　with　her　own　hands　a　beautiful　crimson
satin　reticule　for　Mrs。　Samuel　Titmarsh；　her　dear　niece。　　It
contained　a　huswife　completely　furnished　with　needles；　&c。；　for　she
hoped　Mrs。　Titmarsh　would　never　neglect　her　needle；　and　a　purse
containing　some　silver　pennies；　and　a　very　curious　pocket…piece。
〃As　long　as　you　keep　these；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Hoggarty；　〃you　will
never　want；　and　ferventlyfervently　do　I　pray　that　you　will　keep
them。〃　　In　the　carriage…pocket　we　found　a　paper　of　biscuits　and　a
bottle　of　Rosolio。　　We　laughed　at　this；　and　made　it　over　to　Tom
Wheelerwho；　however；　did　not　seem　to　like　it　much　better　than　we。

I　need　not　say　I　was　married　in　Mr。　Von　Stiltz's　coat　（the　third
and　fourth　coats；　Heaven　help　us！　in　a　year）；　and　that　I　wore
sparkling　in　my　bosom　the　GREAT　HOGGARTY　DIAMOND。



CHAPTER　IX



BRINGS　BACK　SAM；　HIS　WIFE；　AUNT；　AND　DIAMOND；　TO　LONDON

We　pleased　ourselves　during　the　honeymoon　with　forming　plans　for
our　life　in　London；　and　a　pretty　paradise　did　we　build　for
ourselves！　　Well；　we　were　but　forty　years　old　between　us；　and；　for
my　part；　I　never　found　any　harm　come　of　castle…building；　but　a
great　deal　of　pleasure。

Before　I　left　London　I　had；　to　say　the　truth；　looked　round　me　for　a
proper　place；　befitting　persons　of　our　small　income；　and　Gus
Hoskins　and　I；　who　hunted　after　office…hours　in　couples；　bad　fixed
on　a　very　snug　little　cottage　in　Camden　Town；　where　there　was　a
garden　that　certain　SMALL　PEOPLE　might　play　in　when　they　came：　　a
horse　and　gig…house；　if　ever　we　kept　one；and　why　not；　in　a　few
years？and　a　fine　healthy　air；　at　a　reasonable　distance　from
'Change；　all　for　30L。　a　year。　　I　had　described　this　little　spot　to
Mary　as　enthusiastically　as　Sancho　describes　Lizias　to　Don　Quixote；
and　my　dear　wife　was　delighted　with　the　prospect　of　housekeeping
there；　vowed　she　would　cook　all　the　best　dishes　herself　（especially
jam…pudding；　of　which　I　confess　I　am　very　fond）；　and　promised　Gus
that　he　should　dine　with　us　at　Clematis　Bower　every　Sunday：　　only
he　must　not　smoke　those　horrid　cigars。　　As　for　Gus；　he　vowed　he
would　have　a　room　in　the　neighbourhood　too；　for　he　could　not　bear
to　go　back　to　Bell　Lane；　where　we　two　had　been　so　happy　together；
and　so　good…natured　Mary　said　she　would　ask　my　sister　Winny　to　come
and　keep　her　company。　　At　which　Hoskins　blushed；　and　said；　〃Pooh！
nonsense　now。〃

But　all　our　hopes　of　a　happy　snug　Clematis　Lodge　were　dashed　to　the
ground　on　our　return　from　our　little　honeymoon　excursion；　when　Mrs。
Hoggarty　informed　us　that　she　was　sick　of　the　country；　and　was
determined　to　go　to　London　with　her　dear　nephew　and　niece；　and　keep
house　for　them；　and　introduce　them　to　her　friends　in　the
metropolis。

What　could　we　do？　　We　wished　her　atBath：　　certainly　not　in
London。　　But　there　was　no　help　for　it；　and　we　were　obliged　to　bring
her：　　for；　as　my　mother　said；　if　we　offended　her；　her　fortune　would
go　out　of　our　family；　and　were　we　two　young　people　not　likely　to
want　it？

So　we　came　to　town　rather　dismally　in　the　carriage；　posting　the
whole　way；　for　the　carriage　must　be　brought；　and　a　person　of　my
aunt's　rank　in　life　could　not　travel　by　the　stage。　　And　I　had　to
pay　14L。　for　the　posters；　which　pretty　nearly　exhausted　all　my
little　hoard　of　cash。

First　we　went　into　lodgings；into　three　sets　in　three　weeks。　　We
quarrelled　with　the　first　landlady；　because　my　aunt　vowed　that　she
cut　a　slice　off　the　leg　of　mutton　which　was　served　for　our　dinner；
from　the　second　lodgings　we　went　because　aunt　vowed　the　maid　would
steal　the　candles；　from　the　third　we　went　b