CHAPTER 6
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Tending to Refute the Popular Prejudice against the Present of a Pocket-KnifeIN that dark time of December the sale of the household furniture lasted beyond the middle of the sed day. Mr Tulliver, who had begun, in his intervals of sciousness, to <footer></footer>ma an irritability which often appeared to have as a direct effect the recurrence of spasmodic rigidity and insensibility, had lain in this livih throughout the critical hours when the noise of the sale came o his chamber. Mr Turnbull had decided that it would be a less risk to let him remain where he was, than to move him to Lukes cottage, a plan which the good Luke had proposed to Mrs Tulliver, thinking it would be very bad if the master were `to waken up at the noise of the sale; and the wife and children had sat imprisoned in the silent chamber, watg the large prostrate figure on the bed, and tremblihe blank face should suddenly show some respoo the sounds which fell on their own ears with such obstinate, painful repetition. But it was over at last - that time of importunate certainty and eye-straining suspehe sharp sound of a voice almost as metallic as the rap that followed it had ceased; the tramping of footsteps on the gravel had died out. Mrs Tullivers blond face seemed aged ten years by the last thirty hours: the poor womans mind had been busy divining when her favourite things were being knocked down by the terrible hammer, her heart had been fluttering at the thought that first ohing and then another had goo be identified as hers ieful publicity of the Golden Lion; and all the while she had to sit and make no sign of this inward agitation. Such things bring lines in well-rounded faces, and broadereaks of white among the hairs that once looked as if they had been dipped in pure sunshine. Already at three oclock, Kezia, the good-hearted, bad-tempered housemaid, wharded all people that came to the sale as her personal ehe dirt on whose feet was of a peculiarly vile quality, had begun to scrub and swill with an energy much assisted by a tinual low muttering against `folks as came to buy up other folkss things, and made light of `scrazing the tops of mahogany tables over which better folks than themselves had had to - suffer a waste of tissue through evaporation. She was not scrubbing indiscriminately, for there would be further dirt of the same atrocious kind made by people who had still to fetch away their purchases: but she was bent ing the parlour, where that `pipe-smoking pig the bailiff had sat, to su appearance of st fort as could be given to it by liness and the few articles of furniture bought in for the family. Her mistress and the young folks should have their tea in it that night, Kezia was determined.
It was between five and six ocloear the usual teatime, when she came up-stairs and said that Master Tom was wahe person who wanted him was i, and in the first moments, by the imperfect fire and dlelight Tom had not even an indefinite sense of any acquaintah the rather broad-set but active figure, perhaps two years older than himself, that looked at him with a pair of blue eyes set in a disc of freckles, and pulled some curly red locks with a strong iion of respect. A low-ed oilskin-covered hat and a certain shiny deposit of dirt on the rest of the e, as of tables prepared for writing upon, suggested a calling that had to do with boats, but this did not help Toms memory.
`Sarvant, Mr Tom, said he of the red locks, with a smile which seemed to break through a self-imposed air of melancholy. `You don know me again, I doubt, he went on, as Tom tio look at him inquiringly, `but Id like to talk to you by yourself a bit, please.
`Theres a fire i the parlour, Mr Tom, said Kezia, who objected to leaving the kit in the crises of toasting.
`e this way, then, said Tom, w if this young fellow beloo Guest & Co.s Wharf; for his imagination ran tinually towards that particular spot, and uncle Deane might any time be sending for him to say that there was a situation at liberty.
The bright fire in the parlour was the only light that showed the few chairs, the bureau, the carpetless floor and the oable - no, not the oable: there was a sed table in a er, with a larg<kbd>?99lｉｂ?</kbd>e Bible and a few other books upon it. It was this range barehat Tom felt first, before he thought of looking again at the face which was also lit up by the fire, and which stole a half-shy, questioning gla him as the entirely strange voice said--
`Why! you dont remember Bob, then, as you gen the pocket knife, Mr Tom?
The rough-handled pocket knife was taken out in the same moment and the largest blade opened by way of irresistible demonstration.
`What! Bob Jakin? said Tom - not with any cordial delight, for he felt a little ashamed of that early intimacy symbolised by the pocket-knife, and was not at all sure that Bobs motives for recalling it were entirely admirable.
`Ay, ay, Bob Jakin - if Jakin it must be, cause theres so many Bobs as you went arter the squerrils with, that day as I plumped right down from the bough, and bruised my shins a good un - but I got the squerril tight for all that, an a scratter it war. An this littlish blades broke, you see, but I wouldnt hev a new un put in, cause they might be cheatin me an givin me another kid, for there isnt such a blade i the try - its got used to my hand, like. An there was niver nobody else gehin but what I got by my own sharpness, only you, Mr Tom; if it wasnt Bill Fawks as gen <samp>九九藏书</samp>me the terrier pup istid o drowndin it, and I had to jaw him a good un afore hed give it me.
Bob spoke with a sharp and rather treble volubility, and got through his long speech with surprisich, giving the blade of his knife an affeate rub on his sleeve when he had finished.
`Well, Bob, said Tom, with a slight air of patrohe foing reminisces having disposed him to be as friendly as was being, though there was no part of his acquaintah Bob that he remembered better than the cause of their parting quarrel, `is there anything I do for you?
`Why, no, Mr Tom, answered Bob, shutting up his kh a clid returning it to his pocket, where he seemed to be feeling for something else. `I shouldnt ha e back upon you now youre i trouble an folks say as the master, as I used thten the birds for, an he flogged me a bit for fun wheched me eatiurnip, as they say hell niver lift up his yead no more - I shouldnt ha e now to ax you to gi me another knife cause you gen me one afore. If a chap gives me one black eye, thats enough for me: I shant ax him for another afore I sarve him out: an a good turns worth as much as a bad un, anyhow. I shall niver grow downards again, Mr Tom, an you war the little chap as I liked the best when I war a little chap, for all you leathered me, and wouldnt look at me again. Theres Dick Brumby, there, I could leather him as much as Id a mind: but lors! you get tried o leatherin a chap when you iver make him see what you want him to shy at. In seen chaps as ud stand starin at a bough till their eyes shot out, afore theyd see as a birds tail warnt a leaf. Its poor woin wi such raff - but you war allays a rare un at shying, Mr Tom, an I could trusten you for droppin down wi your sti the nie at a runninrot, or a stoat, or that, when I war a-beatin the bushes.
Bob had drawn out a dirty vas bag, and would perhaps not have paused just then, if Maggie had ered the room and darted a look of surprise and curiosity at him, whereupon he pulled his red locks again with due respect. But the moment the sense of the altered room came upon Maggie with a force that overpowered the thought of Bobs presence. Her eyes had immediately glanced from him to the place where the bookcase had hung; there was nothing now but the oblong unfaded spa the wall, and below it the small table with the Bible and the few other books.
`O Tom, she burst out, clasping her hands, `where are the books? I thought my uncle Glegg said he would buy them - didnt he? - are those all theyve left us?
`I suppose so, said Tom, with a sort of desperate indifference. `Why should they buy many books when they bought so little furniture?
`O but, Tom, said Maggie, her eyes filling with tears, as she rushed up to the table to see what books had been rescued. `Our dear old Pilgrims Progress that you coloured with your little paints, and that picture of Pilgrim with a mantle on, looking just like a turtle - O dear! Maggie went on, half sobbing as she turned over the few books. `I thought we should never part with that while we lived - everything is going away from us - the end of our lives will have nothing in it like the beginning!
Maggie turned away from the table and threw herself into a chair with the big tears ready to roll down her cheeks - quite blio the presen<bdo></bdo>ce of Bob, who was looking at her with the pursuant gaze of an intelligent dumb animal, with perceptions more perfect than his prehension.
`Well, Bob, said Tom, feeling that the subject of the books was unseasonable, `I suppose you just came to see me because were in trouble? That was very good natured of you.
`Ill tell you how it is, Master Tom, said Bob, beginning to untwist his vas bag. `You see, In been with a barge this two ear - thats how In beein my livin - if it wasnt when I was tentin the furween whiles at Torrys mill. But a fortnit ago Id a rare bit o luck - I allays thought I was a lucky chap, for I niver set a trap but what I catched sothing - but this wasnt a trap, it was a fire i Torrys mill, an I doused it, else it ud ha set th oil alight, an the genelman geen suvreigns - he gen me em himself last week. An he said first, I errited chap - but I khat afore - but thes wi the ten suvreigns, an that war summat new. Here they are - all but one! Here Bob emptied the vas bag oable. `An when Id got em, my head was all of a boil like a kettle o broth, thinkin what sort o life I should take to - for there war a many trades Id thought on, for as for the barge Im tired out wit, for it pulls the days out till theyre as long as pigs chitterlings. An I thought first Id haferrets an dogs an be a rotketcher an then I thought as I should like a bigger way o life, as I didnt know so well; for Io the bottom o rotketg; an I thought anthought till at last I settled Id be a pa, for theyre knowin fellers, the pa are - an Id carry the lightest things I could i my pack - an thered <strike></strike>be a use for a fellers tongue, as is no use, her wi rots nor barges. An I should go about the try far an wide, an e round the women wi my tongue, a my dinner hot at the public - lors, it ud be a lovely life!
Bob paused, and then said, with defiant decision, as if resolutely turning his ba that paradisaic picture--
`But I dont mind about it, not a chip! An In ged ohe suvreigns to buy my moose for dinner, an In bought a blue plush wescoat an a sealskin cap - for if I meant to be a pa, Id do it respectable. But I dont mind about it - not a chip! My yead isnt turnup, an I shall praps have a ce o dousing another fire before long - Im a lucky chap. So Ill thank you to take the nine suvreigns, Mr Tom, a yoursen up with em somehow, if its true as the masters broke. They maynt go fur enough - but theyll help.
Tom was touched keenly enough tet his pride and suspi.
`Youre a very kind fellow, Bob, he said c, with that little, diffident tremor in his voice which gave a certain charm even to Toms pride and severity, `and I shant fet you again, though I didnt know you this evening. But I t take the nine sns: I should be taking your little fortune from you, and they wouldnt do me much good either.
`Wouldnt they, Mr Tom? said Bretfully. `Now dont say so cause you think I want em. I arent a poor chap: my mets a good pennorth wi pig feathers an things, an if she eats nothin but bread an water it runs to fat: an Im such a lucky chap - an I doubt you arent quite so lucky Mr Tom - th old master isnt, anyhow - anso you might take a sliy luck, an no harm done. Lors! I found a leg o port i the river one day - it had tumbled out o ohem round-sterned Dut, Ill be bound. e, thier on it, Mr Tom, for old quiance sake - else I shall think you bear me a grudge.
Bob pushed the sns forward, but before Tom could speak, Maggie, clasping her hands and lookiently at Bob, said,
`O, Im sorry, Bob - I hought you were so good. Why, I think youre the ki person in the world!
Bob had not been aware of the injurious opinion for which Maggie erf an inward act of penitence, but he smiled with pleasure at this handsome eulogy, especially from a young lass who, as he informed his mother that evening, had `suohey looked somehow as they made him feel nohow.
`No, indeed, Bob, I t take them, said Tom, `but dont think I feel your kindness less because I say no. I dont want to take anything from anybody, but to work my own way. And those sns wouldnt help me much - they wouldnt really - if I were to take them. Let me shake hands with you instead.
Tom put out his pink palm, and Bob was not slow to place his hard, grimy hand within it.
`Let me put the sns in the bag again, said Maggie, `and youll e and see us when youve bought your pack, Bob.
`Its like as if Id e out o make-believe, o purpose to show em you, said Bob, with an air of distent as Maggie gave him the bag again `a-taking em back i this way. I am a bit of a Do, you know, but it isnt that sort o Do: its ony when a fellers a big rogue or a big flat, I like to let him in a bit, thats all.
`Now, dont you be up to any tricks Bob, said Tom, `else youll get transported some day.
`No, no; not me Master Tom, said Bob, with an air of cheerful fideheres no law again flea-bites. If I wasnt to take a fool in now and then, hed niver get any wiser. But, lors! hev a suvreign to buy you and Miss summat, ony for a token - just to match my pocket knife.
While Bob eaking he laid down the sn and resolutely twisted up his bag again. Tom pushed back the gold, and said, `No, indeed, Bob: thank you heartily; but I t take it. And Maggie, taking it between her fingers, held it up to Bob, and said more persuasively,
`Not now - but perhaps aime. If ever Tom or my father wants help that you give, well let you know - woom? Thats what you would like - to have us always depend on you as a friend that we go to - isnt it, Bob?
`Yes, Miss, and thank you, said Bob, relutly taking the money, `thats what Id like - anything as you like. AnI wish you good-by, Miss, and good luck, Master Tom, and thank you for shaking hands wi me, though you wouldnt take the money.
Kezias entrance, with very black looks, to inquire if she shouldnt bring in tea now, or whether the toast was to get hardeo a brick, was a seasonable che Bobs flux of words, and hastened his parting bow.
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