Chapter the
Thirty-First – Chapter the Fortieth: Well, Joe signed up for the military and, according
to p. 261, bought himself a roll. I
guess it was a celebratory one. In
Chapter the Thirty-First he also tried to get some kind of emotion for himself
out of Dolly, who is way too (as Dickens describes it) “coquettish”. That was a really annoying part, because then
she cried after he left. I was like
“Gurrrrl, decide what it is you want.”
Edward Chester and his father by Phiz.
Next comes Edward’s misfortunes, which was so
expertly described:
“Misfortunes, saith the adage,
never come singly. There is little doubt that troubles are exceedingly
gregarious in their nature, and flying in flocks, are apt to perch
capriciously; crowding on the heads of some poor wights until there is not an
inch of room left on their unlucky crowns, and taking no more notice of others
who offer as good resting-places for the soles of their feet, than if they had
no existence. It may have happened that a flight of troubles brooding over
London, and looking out for Joseph Willet, whom they couldn’t find, darted down
haphazard on the first young man that caught their fancy, and settled on him
instead. However this may be, certain it is that on the very day of Joe’s
departure they swarmed about the ears of Edward Chester, and did so buzz and
flap their wings, and persecute him, that he was most profoundly wretched.” –
Barnaby Rudge by
Charles Dickens, p. 266
Mr. Chester kicks Edward out of his house,
after Edward is trying to talk to him about their problems.
Problems also arise at the Maypole, when
Solomon reports hearing a voice at the graveyard – as he said, “It came upon me
all at once that this was the nineteenth of March,” which is apparently the
night someone died long ago (probably Reuben Haredale and Mr. Rudge). John tells everyone to keep this story quiet,
but then tells Mr. Haredale so as to show how wise he is. It's funny how Mr. Haredale mentions that he
doesn’t trust Hugh because it looks like he has an evil eye.
On the way back, Willet and Hugh meet three
men – Lord George Gordon, his secretary Mr. Gashford, and John Grueby – who are
looking for a place to stay. Lord Gordon was a real person in real life (true
story), and had to do with the Gordon Riots that this book portrays (which is
coming up shortly). You can read it
about it here.
We also meet Dennis, another gruff Protestant
who is prejudiced against the Catholics.
I actually didn’t care much for the last few chapters of this section
that dealt with Lord Gordon, although I did find the history about the Gordon
Riots interesting.
Pictures from Google Images.
Pictures from Google Images.
