Chapter 34 Chapter 30 A Kind of Loss

I arrived in Yarmouth in the evening and went to the hotel first.I know that Peggotty's guest room--my room--was probably occupied at that moment (if the great visitor1 was not there, and in the presence of this visitor all living I can only give up my seat); so I went to the hotel first, ate there, and reserved a bed. -------- ① refers to the god of death. I left the hotel at ten o'clock.Many shops have closed and the town has become lifeless.When I came to the Omer-Yoram Company, I found that its shutters were closed, but the door was open.I saw Mr. Omer in the shop smoking near the door, so I went in to greet him.

"Oh, dear!" said Mr. Omer, "how are you? Sit down.—I don't want you to be disgusted by my smoking, I hope?" "Not at all," I said, "I like—seeing people smoking." "What, you don't smoke yourself, eh?" said Mr. Omer, laughing. "That's all right, sir. It's a bad habit among young people. Sit down, please. I'm smoking to catch my breath." Mr. Omer made room for me and put a chair on.He sat down again, out of breath, and puffed on his pipe as if it had something in it that he would die without. "I'm sorry to hear the bad news of Mr. Barkis," I said.

Mr. Omer looked at me calmly, then shook his head. "Do you know what's going on with him tonight?" I asked. "If it hadn't been for taboo, sir," replied Mr. Omer, "I should have put the question to you. That's the evil of us, our profession--when a person of interest is ill, I We can't greet him." I haven't thought of the problem yet, though I was afraid of hearing the old tune when I came in.However, having made it clear, I also admitted it and said so. "Yes, yes, you know," said Mr. Omer, nodding. "We wouldn't dare to do that. Gosh, to say 'Omer-Yoram greets you and asks you how you feel this morning, or how you feel this afternoon?' That would be too shocking to recover."

Mr. Omer and I nodded at each other, and with the help of the pipe, Mr. Omer regained his breathing. "There are things that keep people in our business from expressing their concern freely," said Mr. Omer. "For me, I've known Barkis for a year or so, and I can only nod when he passes by." ;I've known him for forty years, that's all I can do. I can't ask 'How is he?'" I think this is very difficult for Mr. Omer, and I told him this idea. "I'm no more selfish than other people, I hope," said Mr. Omer. "Look at me! I'll die at any moment, and in this case I know myself. I'm not selfish. A man who knows he's dying doesn't know what A person who dies like a bellows being cut open, a person who becomes a grandfather, according to me, is generally not selfish." Mr. Omer said.

I said, "Not at all." "It's not that I blame my business," said Mr. Omer. "No. There are advantages and disadvantages, no doubt. My hope is that people who are connected will become strong." Mr. Omer silently took a few puffs of cigarettes, with a humble expression on his face; then he continued the previous conversation and said: "So, we can only learn about Bagis' situation from Emily's report. She has no more fear and suspicion about us than a group of lambs. She knows what our real purpose is. Minnie and Yoram Just went there, actually (she was there for a few hours to help her aunt a little) to ask her how he was tonight; if you'd like to wait till they come back, they could give you the details. Would you like something to eat? A glass of limoncello? Well? I smoke with limoncello myself." Omer answered, picking up his glass, "because they say limoncello moistens the passages through which my nasty breath flows. But, my God," said Mr. Omer in a hoarse voice, "it's not the passage that's in trouble! 'Let me breathe fully,' I said to my daughter Minnie, 'I'll find the passage myself. ,My dear.'"

In fact, he couldn't breathe at all, and it was worrying to see him laugh.When he recovered enough to talk, I declined his offer of some refreshments, as I had just had supper, and explained that, since he had kindly persuaded me to keep him, I would wait for his daughter and son-in-law to return.Then I asked how little Emily was. "Well, sir," said Mr. Omer, moving his pipe away so he could rub his chin, "I tell you the truth, I'll be happy when she's married." "Why is that?" I asked. "Well, she's restless now," said Mr. Omer. "It's not that she wasn't beautiful, because she's more beautiful--I assure you, she is. It's not that she lives It's not as good as it used to be. It's just as good. In the past, she could stand up to any six people. Now she can stand up to any six people. But somehow, she's not thinking about it. I I hope you understand," said Mr. Omer, rubbing his chin again and taking another puff of cigarette, "what I mean roughly by saying: 'Pull hard, pull hard, pull hard together, everyone works hard, Ho-la-la!' I should tell you, what I found out there was not in Emily--

Generally speaking—it is this one. " Mr. Omer's expression and attitude were so expressive, I nodded understandingly, showing that I understood what he meant.It seemed to please him that I had grasped it so quickly, and he went on: "Well, I think it's mostly because she's in an uneasy situation, you know. Her uncle and I, her fiancé and I, talked a lot after it was over; I think it's mostly because she's uneasy. You should remember." Mr. Omer said, shaking his head slightly, "this little Emily is a very warm little thing. As the saying goes, 'You can't make a brocade bag out of a pig's ear.' Hey, I don't quite understand that. I'd rather Think about it this way, what you were like when you were a child will be what you will be later on. Sir, she has already regarded that old boat as a home, which is incomparable to a house with bluestone walls and marble tiles."

"I'm sure she is!" I said. "To see how attached that pretty little thing is to his uncle," said Mr. Omer, "it's amazing to see how she draws him closer and closer every day. Well, you know, in this case , there must be a struggle going on. Why drag it out unnecessarily? I listened carefully to what this kind old gentleman said, and I agreed with him from the bottom of my heart. "So I told them about it," said Mr. Omer, calmly and easily, "and I said, 'Well, don't think that Emily is bound by time. It's yours. She Her work is more valuable than imagined, and her learning is faster than imagined; Omer-Yoram Company can cancel the time before the expiration; when you want, she is free. If in the future If she likes, arrange to do whatever she wants at home for us, that's fine. If she doesn't like it, that's fine too. We're not at a loss either way.' Because—don't you know," said Mr. Omer Touching me with his pipe, he said, "A man like me, who is dying and a grandfather, wouldn't be so harsh on a little flower with blue eyes like her?"

"Not at all, I'm sure," I said. "Not at all! You're right!" said Mr. Omer. "Hey, sir, her cousin—you know, she's marrying one of her cousins?" "Oh, yes," I answered, "I know him." "Of course you know him," said Mr. Omer. "Well, sir, her cousin, who seems to have a good job and a decent pay, thanked me manly for that (I must say, because he I value him for that attitude), and rented a cozy little house that you and I would love to see. The little house is now fully furnished and furnished, as neat and perfect as a doll's parlour. If it wasn't Burgess' illness worsened, poor fellow, and I think they were married by this time. In fact, it was postponed."

"Where's Emily, Mr. Omer?" I asked. "Has she settled down?" "Well, you know," he replied, rubbing his double chin again, "of course that can't be counted on. We can say that future changes and separations, or both, are all the same. So near and so far from her. Bagis' death wouldn't put their marriage off for very long, but his mortal life might. All in all, it's in limbo, you know." "I know." I said. "As a result," continued Mr. Omer, "Emily is still a little morose and a little dreamy, and perhaps on the whole more so than ever. She seems to love her uncle more and more every day. Katsuichi would not be parted from us any more. A kind word from me could bring tears to her eyes; and if you saw her with my daughter Minnie's little girl, you would never forget it. Oh my! said Mr. Omer thoughtfully, "how she loves that child!"

Now that I have such an opportunity, I thought I'd ask Mr. Omer if he knew anything about Martha before his daughter and son-in-law came back and interrupted our conversation. "Ah!" he replied, shaking his head in dismay. "It's too bad, too bad, sir, no matter how you look at it. I never thought the girl was guilty. I don't want to be in front of my daughter Minnie." Said it—because she'd stop me right away—but I never said it. We never said it." Before I knew anything, Mr. Omer heard his daughter's footsteps.He touched me with his pipe and closed one eye as a warning.She and her husband came in right away. They reported that Mr. Barkis' condition was "as bad as it could possibly be," and that he was completely unconscious; Even if all the people gathered together, they could not save him.Mr. Chillip said that the first two societies would do him no good, and the latter would only poison him. On hearing this, and knowing that Mr. Peggotty was there, I resolved to go there at once.I took leave of Mr. Omer, and of Mr. and Mrs. Yoram, and went thither with a serious feeling which made Mr. Barkis a very different person in my mind. I knocked lightly, and Mr. Peggotty came out and answered.He was not as surprised when he saw me as I expected.It was the same when Peggy came down.I have seen the same afterward; and I think all other changes and surprises vanished in anticipation of the great surprise. After I shook hands with Mr. Peggotty, I went into the kitchen, and he closed the door softly.By the fire sat little Emily, with her face in her hands, and beside her stood Ham. We spoke in low voices, stopping every now and then to listen to the movement upstairs.The absence of Mr. Baggis in the kitchen did not strike me as strange on my previous visit, but now I find it very odd. "You are very kind, Master Wei," said Mr. Peggotty. "Great," Ham said. "Emily, my dear," cried Mr. Peggotty, "look! here comes Master Wei! Why, cheer up, my dear boy! Won't you have a word with Master Wei?" Her body trembled, and that image still appeared in front of me.I can still feel the coldness I felt when I touched her hand.The only movement of her hand was to withdraw it from mine; then she slipped away from the chair and walked quietly across to her uncle's other side, bending over his chest, still silent and trembling. "Such a sentimental heart," said Mr. Peggotty, stroking her thick hair with his large rough hand, "could not bear such sorrow. It is quite natural to young people, Master Wei, they Never seen such misery, so timid as my little bird--it's only natural." She held him tighter, without raising her face, or saying a word. "It's getting late, my dear," said Mr. Peggotty, "and Ham is coming to fetch you. Hey! Go with that other amorous heart! What, Emily, er, good boy? " I could not hear what she said, but he bowed his head as if he had heard something, and said: "Let you stay with your uncle? Why, you wouldn't ask me that! Stay with your uncle, little girl? Isn't your husband's man coming here to fetch you soon? Here, look at the little fellow Who would have thought, with a rough man like me," said Mr. Peggotty, looking at us both with great pride, "but there's not as much salt in the sea as the love he has for her uncle—the fool little Emily!" "Emily was right to do that, Master Wright!" said Ham. "Look! Since Emily is willing to do this, and she seems very anxious and frightened, I can let her stay here for the night, and I will stay too. !" "No, no," said Mr. Peggotty, "a married man—almost a married man—shouldn't lose a day's work as you are. You shouldn't be watching and working, then It can't be done either. You go back to bed. You don't have to worry about Emily being taken care of, I know." Ham obeyed this advice, took his hat and went away.When he kissed her—every time I saw him so near to her, I always felt that nature had gifted him with a civilized soul—she seemed to hold her uncle closer, and even tried to get away from her already Chosen husband.I followed him to close the door so as not to disturb the silence of the whole house. When I came back, I found Mr. Peggotty still talking to her. "Here, I'll go upstairs and tell your aunt that Master Wei is here. It will please her." He said, "You can sit by the fire, my dear, and put these cold Little hands. Don't be so afraid, so sad. What? You want to go with me?—Yes! Come with me—Go! If her uncle is driven out of the house and pushed into a ditch Mr. Wayne," said Mr. Peggotty, still as proudly as before, "I believe she will go with me too, here! But there will be others soon--soon there will be others. It's time, Emily!" later.As I passed the door of my cubicle on my way up, I vaguely felt that she was in there, lying on the floor, though it was dark.However, whether it was her or the messy shadows in the room, I don't know now. Before the kitchen fire, I had leisure to think of pretty little Emily's fear of death--and, besides, remembering what Mr. Before Mr. Ti came down, I even had the leisure to think more tolerantly of the weakness of this mood.As I thought this, I sat there counting the ticks of the clock, which made me feel the solemnity and silence around me even more.Peggotty took me in her arms, and blessed me again and again, and thanked me, whom she considered (so she said) an extraordinary consolation in her distress.Then she beckoned me upstairs, and said, with a choked voice, that Mr. Barkis had always liked and admired me; Then you will be happy to see me. When I met him, I thought that the possibility was very small.The position in which he lay was very uncomfortable--head and shoulders stretched out of the bed, leaning against the box which had given him so much distress and trouble.I heard that when he couldn't climb out of bed to open it, or feel its firmness with a bougie I've seen before, he had the box put on the chair by the bed, and from that time on He held it day and night.Now, his arm rests on it.Time and the world slipped away beneath him, but the box was still there; his last words (in an explanatory tone) were "Old clothes!" "Baggis, my dear!" said Peggotty, leaning over Mr. Peggotty, as he and I stood at the foot of the bed, almost cheerfully, "here comes my dear boy, let us go Here comes my dear boy, Master Wei, Bagis! Your messenger, you know! Won't you talk to Master Wei?" He was as speechless and insensible as the box. "He's going with the tide," said Mr. Peggotty to me, putting his hand over his mouth. My eyes were dimmed, and so was Mr. Peggotty's; but I whispered again: "With the tide?" "People on the coast," said Mr. Peggotty, "don't die until the tide goes out, and don't breed until the tide is full—they don't breed until the tide is high. Low tide at three-thirty, flat tide. It'll be half an hour. If he can drag it until the tide comes up again, he'll survive the high tide and go with the next low tide." We stayed there, watching over him, for a long time—hours.He is in such a state of mind, what my presence has played a mysterious role in him, I don't want to say.But when he started babbling weakly, it was really about sending me to school. "He's awake," said Peggotty. Mr. Peggotty touched me, and murmured in awe, "He's about to go with the tide." "Baggis, my dear!" said Peggotty. "C. P. Baggis," he said weakly. "There is no better woman in the world than her!" "Look! Master Wei is coming!" said Peggotty, for his eyes were now open. When I was about to ask him if he still recognized me, I saw that he was trying to stretch out his arms. With a happy smile on his face, he said to me clearly: "Baggis is willing!" It was low tide time.He went with the tide.