阅读阁【yueduge.cc】第一时间更新《雾都孤儿（中英文对照）》最新章节。
TREATSONAVERYPOORSUBJECT。BUTISASHORTONE，ANDMAYBEFOUNDOFIMPORTANCEINTHISHISTORY
Itwasnounfitmessengerofdeath，whohaddisturbedthequietofthematron'sroom。Herbodywasbentbyage；herlimbstrembledwithpalsy；herface，distortedintoamumblingleer，resembledmorethegrotesqueshapingofsomewildpencil，thantheworkofNature'shand。
Alas！HowfewofNature'sfacesareleftalonetogladdenuswiththeirbeauty！Thecares，andsorrows，andhungerings，oftheworld，changethemastheychangehearts；anditisonlywhenthosepassionssleep，andhavelosttheirholdforever，thatthetroubledcloudspassoff，andleaveHeaven'ssurfaceclear。Itisacommonthingforthecountenancesofthedead，eveninthatfixedandrigidstate，tosubsideintothelong-forgottenexpressionofsleepinginfancy，andsettleintotheverylookofearlylife；socalm，sopeaceful，dotheygrowagain，thatthosewhoknewthemintheirhappychildhood，kneelbythecoffin'ssideinawe，andseetheAngelevenuponearth。
Theoldcronetotteredalongthepassages，andupthestairs，mutteringsomeindistinctanswerstothechidingsofhercompanion；beingatlengthcompelledtopauseforbreath，shegavethelightintoherhand，andremainedbehindtofollowasshemight：whilethemorenimblesuperiormadeherwaytotheroomwherethesickwomanlay。
Itwasabaregarret-room，withadimlightburningatthefartherend。Therewasanotheroldwomanwatchingbythebed；theparishapothecary'sapprenticewasstandingbythefire，makingatoothpickoutofaquill。
‘Coldnight，Mrs。Corney，’saidthisyounggentleman，asthematronentered。
‘Verycold，indeed，sir，’repliedthemistress，inhermostciviltones，anddroppingacurtseyasshespoke。
‘Youshouldgetbettercoalsoutofyourcontractors，’saidtheapothecary'sdeputy，breakingalumponthetopofthefirewiththerustypoker；‘thesearenotatallthesortofthingforacoldnight。’
‘They'retheboard'schoosing，sir，’returnedthematron。‘Theleasttheycoulddo，wouldbetokeepusprettywarm：forourplacesarehardenough。’
Theconversationwashereinterruptedbyamoanfromthesickwoman。
‘Oh！’saidtheyoungmag，turninghisfacetowardsthebed，asifhehadpreviouslyquiteforgottenthepatient，‘it'sallU。P.there，Mrs。Corney。’
‘Itis，isit，sir？’askedthematron。
‘Ifshelastsacoupleofhours，Ishallbesurprised，’saidtheapothecary'sapprentice，intentuponthetoothpick'spoint。‘It'sabreak-upofthesystemaltogether。Isshedozing，oldlady？’
Theattendantstoopedoverthebed，toascertain；andnoddedintheaffirmative。
‘Thenperhapsshe'llgooffinthatway，ifyoudon'tmakearow，’saidtheyoungman。‘Putthelightonthefloor。Shewon'tseeitthere。’
Theattendantdidasshewastold：shakingherheadmeanwhile，tointimatethatthewomanwouldnotdiesoeasily；havingdoneso，sheresumedherseatbythesideoftheothernurse，whohadbythistimereturned。Themistress，withanexpressionofimpatience，wrappedherselfinhershawl，andsatatthefootofthebed。
Theapothecary'sapprentice，havingcompletedthemanufactureofthetoothpick，plantedhimselfinfrontofthefireandmadegooduseofitfortenminutesorso：whenapparentlygrowingratherdull，hewishedMrs。Corneyjoyofherjob，andtookhimselfoffontiptoe。
Whentheyhadsatinsilenceforsometime，thetwooldwomenrosefromthebed，andcrouchingoverthefire，heldouttheirwitheredhandstocatchtheheat。Theflamethrewaghastlylightontheirshrivelledfaces，andmadetheiruglinessappearterrible，as，inthisposition，theybegantoconverseinalowvoice。
‘Didshesayanymore，Annydear，whileIwasgone？’inquiredthemessenger。
‘Notaword，’repliedtheother。‘Shepluckedandtoreatherarmsforalittletime；butIheldherhands，andshesoondroppedoff。Shehasn'tmuchstrengthinher，soIeasilykeptherquiet。Iain'tsoweakforanoldwoman，althoughIamonparishallowance；no，no！’
‘Didshedrinkthehotwinethedoctorsaidshewastohave？’demandedthefirst。
‘Itriedtogetitdown，’rejoinedtheother。‘Butherteethweretightset，andsheclenchedthemugsohardthatitwasasmuchasIcoulddotogetitbackagain。SoIdrankit；anditdidmegood！’
Lookingcautiouslyround，toascertainthattheywerenotoverheard，thetwohagscowerednearertothefire，andchuckledheartily。
‘Imindthetime，’saidthefirstspeaker，‘whenshewouldhavedonethesame，andmaderarefunofitafterwards。’
‘Ay，thatshewould，’rejoinedtheother；‘shehadamerryheart。’Amany，many，beautifulcorpsesshelaidout，asniceandneataswaxwork。Myoldeyeshaveseenthem--ay，andthoseoldhandstouchedthemtoo；forIhavehelpedher，scoresoftimes。‘
Stretchingforthhertremblingfingersasshespoke，theoldcreatureshookthemexultinglybeforeherface，andfumblinginherpocket，broughtoutanoldtime-discolouredtinsnuff-box，fromwhichsheshookafewgrainsintotheoutstretchedpalmofhercompanion，andafewmoreintoherown。Whiletheywerethusemployed，thematron，whohadbeenimpatientlywatchinguntilthedyingwomanshouldawakenfromherstupor，joinedthembythefire，andsharplyaskedhowlongshewastowait？
‘Notlong，mistress，’repliedthesecondwoman，lookingupintoherface。‘WehavenoneofuslongtowaitforDeath。Patience，patience！He'llbeheresoonenoughforusall。’
‘Holdyourtongue，youdotingidiot！’saidthematronsternly。‘You，Martha，tellme；hasshebeeninthiswaybefore？’
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