登陆注册
4606900000156

第156章

'Nay, Gashford,' said Lord George, as Barnaby pulled off his hat again and made him a low bow, 'it's no great matter on a day like this, which every Englishman will remember with delight and pride.

Put on your hat, friend, and follow us, for you lag behind and are late. It's past ten now. Didn't you know that the hour for assembling was ten o'clock?'

Barnaby shook his head and looked vacantly from one to the other.

'You might have known it, friend,' said Gashford, 'it was perfectly understood. How came you to be so ill informed?'

'He cannot tell you, sir,' the widow interposed. 'It's of no use to ask him. We are but this morning come from a long distance in the country, and know nothing of these matters.'

'The cause has taken a deep root, and has spread its branches far and wide,' said Lord George to his secretary. 'This is a pleasant hearing. I thank Heaven for it!'

'Amen!' cried Gashford with a solemn face.

'You do not understand me, my lord,' said the widow. 'Pardon me, but you cruelly mistake my meaning. We know nothing of these matters. We have no desire or right to join in what you are about to do. This is my son, my poor afflicted son, dearer to me than my own life. In mercy's name, my lord, go your way alone, and do not tempt him into danger!'

'My good woman,' said Gashford, 'how can you!--Dear me!--What do you mean by tempting, and by danger? Do you think his lordship is a roaring lion, going about and seeking whom he may devour? God bless me!'

'No, no, my lord, forgive me,' implored the widow, laying both her hands upon his breast, and scarcely knowing what she did, or said, in the earnestness of her supplication, 'but there are reasons why you should hear my earnest, mother's prayer, and leave my son with me. Oh do! He is not in his right senses, he is not, indeed!'

'It is a bad sign of the wickedness of these times,' said Lord George, evading her touch, and colouring deeply, 'that those who cling to the truth and support the right cause, are set down as mad. Have you the heart to say this of your own son, unnatural mother!'

'I am astonished at you!' said Gashford, with a kind of meek severity. 'This is a very sad picture of female depravity.'

'He has surely no appearance,' said Lord George, glancing at Barnaby, and whispering in his secretary's ear, 'of being deranged?

And even if he had, we must not construe any trifling peculiarity into madness. Which of us'--and here he turned red again--'would be safe, if that were made the law!'

'Not one,' replied the secretary; 'in that case, the greater the zeal, the truth, and talent; the more direct the call from above;

the clearer would be the madness. With regard to this young man, my lord,' he added, with a lip that slightly curled as he looked at Barnaby, who stood twirling his hat, and stealthily beckoning them to come away, 'he is as sensible and self-possessed as any one I

ever saw.'

'And you desire to make one of this great body?' said Lord George, addressing him; 'and intended to make one, did you?'

'Yes--yes,' said Barnaby, with sparkling eyes. 'To be sure I did!

I told her so myself.'

'I see,' replied Lord George, with a reproachful glance at the unhappy mother. 'I thought so. Follow me and this gentleman, and you shall have your wish.'

Barnaby kissed his mother tenderly on the cheek, and bidding her be of good cheer, for their fortunes were both made now, did as he was desired. She, poor woman, followed too--with how much fear and grief it would be hard to tell.

They passed quickly through the Bridge Road, where the shops were all shut up (for the passage of the great crowd and the expectation of their return had alarmed the tradesmen for their goods and windows), and where, in the upper stories, all the inhabitants were congregated, looking down into the street below, with faces variously expressive of alarm, of interest, expectancy, and indignation. Some of these applauded, and some hissed; but regardless of these interruptions--for the noise of a vast congregation of people at a little distance, sounded in his ears like the roaring of the sea--Lord George Gordon quickened his pace, and presently arrived before St George's Fields.

They were really fields at that time, and of considerable extent.

Here an immense multitude was collected, bearing flags of various kinds and sizes, but all of the same colour--blue, like the cockades--some sections marching to and fro in military array, and others drawn up in circles, squares, and lines. A large portion, both of the bodies which paraded the ground, and of those which remained stationary, were occupied in singing hymns or psalms.

With whomsoever this originated, it was well done; for the sound of so many thousand voices in the air must have stirred the heart of any man within him, and could not fail to have a wonderful effect upon enthusiasts, however mistaken.

同类推荐
  • 迦丁比丘说当来变经

    迦丁比丘说当来变经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大唐旭日

    大唐旭日

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • BLIX

    BLIX

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Timon of Athens

    Timon of Athens

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 小辨斋偶存

    小辨斋偶存

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 佞相毒女

    佞相毒女

    “妖女,小小年纪就心狠手辣,总有一天会早报应,天打五雷轰。”歇斯底里的诅咒穿透云霄,直入天际。“本小姐一年有半年住在佛堂,手不能提,肩不能挑,见道血腥就会晕,弱到没有缚鸡之力,又怎会有心狠手辣一说?怪哉!”百无聊赖的雍容女子状似不解的自问,双眸中却清明一片。住佛堂,那是因为佛堂清静,干扰不多,便于小姐处理事务;手不能提,肩不能挑,那是因为堂堂的相府千金,又怎会做这等力气活;一生不见血,那是因为她要求做事要干净利落,不能留下痕迹,所以她的周围都被处理的干干净净,即便刚才那地还是一个屠场,可是不出半个时辰,就会被清理成一个闺阁聚会的最佳场所。当然这些话,也只有隐身在暗处的侍卫们敢在心中腹诽,却无人敢于出口。完结经典文:《大良凰后》《笑面罗刹》《随心皇妃》《玉面狐狸》
  • 重生庶女狠嚣张

    重生庶女狠嚣张

    前世她痴心错付,换得满门被灭,胎死腹中;含恨重生,她成了慕容府的庶女,势要为满门冤魂和未能出世的孩子讨回公道。斗渣男,虐渣女,她忍辱负重;可身边总是出现的黑衣男子是什么情况?
  • 说无垢称经疏(本)

    说无垢称经疏(本)

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 英国父母这样教孩子自信

    英国父母这样教孩子自信

    你的孩子会很孤僻不合群吗?你的孩子是在强迫下学习的吗?你的孩子会封闭自己状态会很消极吗?你的孩子会做事情半途而废且缺乏兴趣吗?……自信是孩子战胜困难、挫折,取得成功的重要动力。自信是成功的助燃气,是快乐的导火索。《英国父母这样教孩子自信》,就是告诉你如何让孩子自信。而本书,从学习智慧、品德教育、自尊意识、赞美效应、独立原则、交往法则、实践体验、创造能力等八个方面出发,通过实实在在的例子让我们感受到英国父母的教育之道,也会通过一些负面的例子,让我们认识到我们自己的教育方法的错误之处,从中学习、借鉴,从而培养孩子的自信。
  • 你赠我一场空欢喜

    你赠我一场空欢喜

    被人陷害设计,卷入一场离奇的命案。真相总有揭开的那天。谁说童话故事都是骗人的,当童话照进现实,幸福将从此围绕在他们身边。
  • 付出与收获

    付出与收获

    故事发生在1994年,马克和妻子在迈阿密过着普通中产阶级的生活。他并不知道,那年的11月他的人生和他的家庭就会永远改变,就算最奇怪的梦境也比不上发生的故事。这本书里马克讲述了他被蓄意绑架险些遭人谋杀的经历。本书会让你有身历其境的感觉,给你关于这个事件独一无二的视角,看看他怎么身心抗争挺过了这段经历。看到马克的经历,你会发现,别人可以从一个人身上夺走一切,唯有精神和求生欲是别人拿不走的。起初没有人相信马克,连警察也不例外,但马克坚持不懈,终于在犯罪分子再次向别人下手之前将他们绳之以法。这是本拿在手里就很难放下的书,过去20年最吸引人的故事。
  • 海明

    海明

    从海贼开始,来夺夺天下,建一份基业,过程是残酷的,是热血的,是值得一读的。
  • 母仪天下之风雨夺嫡路

    母仪天下之风雨夺嫡路

    本文一对一,男强女强,谢绝小三小四小N,说的是执了王子殿下你的手啊,我就和一起去夺了太子的皇位,挑了老皇帝的冠冕可好?TMD,贼老天肯定没有长眼睛,竟然狗血地和EX一起被车撞飞,然后…阿嘞,穿越?好不容易有了一个疼爱自己的丞相爹爹,和貌美如花的娘亲,泥煤,怎么就是个私生女?爹爹的正牌夫人嚣张地赐死了自己的娘亲,总有一天,她会把她的四肢剁了,挖出眼睛,用铜注入耳朵,割去舌头,再放在茅房里做成人彘。要努力学制毒和蛊术,这样才能在乱世中存活下来,变强再变强!遇到被自己老爹挑断手筋脚筋灌了了毒的墨蛟国九皇子,好吧,反正她和他同命相连,不如索性就如预言所说的那般,把墨蛟国的王位给夺了吧。凤水問:素素,你嫁衣如火灼伤了天涯,从此残阳烙我心上如朱砂。都说你眼中开倾世桃花,却如何一夕桃花雨下。问谁能借我回眸一眼,去逆流回溯遥迢的流年,循着你为我轻咏的《上邪》,再去见你一面。在那远去的旧年,我笑你轻许了姻缘。是你用尽一生吟咏《上邪》,而我转身轻负你如花美眷。那一年的五蕴城飞花漫天,我听见塞外春风泣血。轻嗅风中血似酒浓烈,耳边兵戈之声吞噬旷野,火光里飞回的雁也呜咽,哭声传去多远。那首你诵的《上邪》,从此我再听不真切。敌不过的哪是似水流年,江山早为你我说定了永别。于是你把名字刻入史笺,换我把你刻在我坟前。飞花又散落在这个季节,而你嫁衣比飞花还要艳烈,你启唇似又要咏遍《上邪》,说的却是:“我愿与君绝。”(选自小曲儿的《上邪》)苏墨卿:三岁识地诘屈磝碻的字,四岁便诵尽了百家之言,六岁能解属文,词情英迈,而那一年,竟能在七步之内出口成诗,满腹经纶才高八斗,才情艳艳,十一岁能够一心六用:左手画圆,右手画方,口诵经史,目数羊群,兼成四十字诗,足书五言一绝,然而天纵才华却比不过你眉间的一抹灼灼桃花雨纷纷,素素,我曾听闻人生在世,如身处荆棘之中,心不动,人不妄动,不动则不伤;如心动则人妄动,伤其身痛其骨,于是体会到世间诸般痛苦。所以,我只要心不动便可以了。可是,为什么,你不在我身边我却心如刀割,倘若你要走,请将我的心一起带走。白素素:殿下,不如与臣妾执手指点江山可好?
  • 永痕游记

    永痕游记

    我,不是为了游历。不想风口浪尖,只想安稳度日。
  • 重生之侠者巅峰

    重生之侠者巅峰

    我的小天地,我闯荡的大江湖,我的浩瀚星辰和璀璨日月,再与你无关;而你的天地,你行走的江湖,你的日月和星辰,我也再不惦念。