登陆注册
14818900000004

第4章

But as, though you expel nature with a pitch-fork, she will yet always come back; he could not become, like a true-born English squire, part and parcel of the barley-giving earth; he could not find in game-bagging, poacher-shooting, trespasser-pounding, footpath-stopping, common-enclosing, rack-renting, and all the other liberal pursuits and pastimes which make a country gentleman an ornament to the world and a blessing to the poor: he could not find in these valuable and amiable occupations, and in a corresponding range of ideas, nearly commensurate with that of the great King Nebuchadnezzar when he was turned out to grass; he could not find in this great variety of useful action, and vast field of comprehensive thought, modes of filling up his time that accorded with his Caledonian instinct. The inborn love of disputation, which the excitements and engagements of a life of business had smothered, burst forth through the calmer surface of a rural life.

He grew as fain as Captain Jamy, "to hear some argument betwixt ony tway," and being very hospitable in his establishment, and liberal in his invitations, a numerous detachment from the advanced guard of the "march of intellect," often marched down to Crotchet Castle.

When the fashionable season filled London with exhibitors of all descriptions, lecturers and else, Mr. Crotchet was in his glory; for, in addition to the perennial literati of the metropolis, he had the advantage of the visits of a number of hardy annuals, chiefly from the north, who, as the interval of their metropolitan flowering allowed, occasionally accompanied their London brethren in excursions to Crotchet Castle.

Amongst other things, he took very naturally to political economy, read all the books on the subject which were put forth by his own countrymen, attended all lectures thereon, and boxed the technology of the sublime science as expertly as an able seaman boxes the compass.

With this agreeable mania he had the satisfaction of biting his son, the hope of his name and race, who had borne off from Oxford the highest academical honours; and who, treading in his father's footsteps to honour and fortune, had, by means of a portion of the old gentleman's surplus capital, made himself a junior partner in the eminent loan-jobbing firm of Catchflat and Company. Here, in the days of paper prosperity, he applied his science-illumined genius to the blowing of bubbles, the bursting of which sent many a poor devil to the gaol, the workhouse, or the bottom of the river, but left young Crotchet rolling in riches.

These riches he had been on the point of doubling, by a marriage with the daughter of Mr. Touchandgo, the great banker, when, one foggy morning, Mr. Touchandgo and the contents of his till were suddenly reported absent; and as the fortune which the young gentleman had intended to marry was not forthcoming, this tender affair of the heart was nipped in the bud.

Miss Touchandgo did not meet the shock of separation quite so complacently as the young gentleman: for he lost only the lady, whereas she lost a fortune as well as a lover. Some jewels, which had glittered on her beautiful person as brilliantly as the bubble of her father's wealth had done in the eyes of his gudgeons, furnished her with a small portion of paper-currency; and this, added to the contents of a fairy purse of gold, which she found in her shoe on the eventful morning when Mr. Touchandgo melted into thin air, enabled her to retreat into North Wales, where she took up her lodging in a farm-house in Merionethshire, and boarded very comfortably for a trifling payment, and the additional consideration of teaching English, French, and music, to the little Ap-Llymrys. In the course of this occupation she acquired sufficient knowledge of Welsh to converse with the country people.

She climbed the mountains, and descended the dingles, with a foot which daily habit made by degrees almost as steady as a native's.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 卡什大陆之破碎的翅膀

    卡什大陆之破碎的翅膀

    神话时代,传说时代,亘古时代,部落时代,联盟时代,谁才是真正的王,在混沌中寻求秩序的人,都在哪里?
  • 星辰伴

    星辰伴

    你的懵懂中,或许也有这样一颗星辰,曾让你心系过,相拥过,或曾为之神伤过……每一段青春都会衰老,谨借以此书祝福记忆中那闪耀着的星辰,一切都好!
  • 福尔摩斯喵之二十二街恩仇

    福尔摩斯喵之二十二街恩仇

    本书包含了三个故事:《狗娘养的》、《香奈儿的爱情》、《阁楼上的男孩》。以一位有点肥胖的、曾被《福尔摩斯破案全集》砸中过脑袋、从此自诩为“侦探猫”且人称“福尔摩斯喵”的迪多的视觉,分别探讨忠诚、爱情、理解三个主题。这三个故事彼此独立,又相互关联。在一个不完美的世界,一个不正经的侦探一本正经地讲述不正经的推理故事,告诉你一只猫所理解的忠诚、爱情、牺牲以及生命的困境。
  • 霸燃

    霸燃

    命运袭我于无尽深渊,我亦可于渺茫黑暗中燃起最为璀璨的火焰。把这一生炼为不朽,把这一世化为传说。天地四方,古往今来,天上地下,唯我霸燃!
  • 中国传媒产业效益评价研究

    中国传媒产业效益评价研究

    本书撰写力求从我国传媒产业经济体制改革的实际情况出发,充分考虑各传媒集团产业化进程的差距,系统阐述各传媒集团产业化的重要意义;产业化的现状和问题;各传媒集团加快产业化步伐的对策和措施;产业化经济效益评价的指标体系等。本书的创新点体现在产业经济体制改革的力度;加强传媒产业化进程的对策和措施;建立评价传媒产业综合经济效益的评价指标体系这三个方面。
  • 婚虐

    婚虐

    校园强攻弱受,受暗恋攻。一个渣攻总以为自己是直男——“老子是直的”“你和我结婚了”“老子不喜欢男的”“你和我结婚了”“咱能不说这个吗”“你和我上床了。”“我们还是说说原来那个话题吧”1v1,主受文,渣攻转忠犬。又名《放攻受日常:“我迷路了”“周围有什么标志性东西”“人”“还有呢”0.0“树”“妈的路痴,转身,我在你后面。”有个路痴老婆怎么破
  • 梦与剑道

    梦与剑道

    世俗的新旧交替,时代的变迁,人们的梦想,这些都是挡不住的。只要人继续朝着梦想前进,一切的一切都会悄然而变。“我有个野心就是成为绝世剑豪”看少年慕辰如何独走剑道,迈入人生的梦想。。。
  • 神书:迷踪

    神书:迷踪

    据说,拥有神书的人,可以成为神,掌控迷踪。几千年来的寻找,换来的,只是失败和死亡。有些人认为,神书根本不存在,但也只能去寻找。因为有一个人,他见过神书,并且成为了神。他叫白零。在几千年的失败中,人们换了个角度:复活白零。但是复活的,仅仅是一个平凡的女孩子……
  • 年似水情似石

    年似水情似石

    我们都从那个年纪过来,每个人的过程都是不一样的,也是一样的。
  • 错过——便是一生

    错过——便是一生

    陌生的环境,陌生的人,卑微的心态,使她渐渐封闭......直到那一天,他闯入了她的心里,却又无声无息的离开......