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1、ADARKNIGHT'SWORKADARKNIGHT'SWORKByElizabethGaskell1ADARKNIGHT'SWORKCHAPTERI.Inthecountytownofacertainshiretherelived(aboutfortyyearsago)oneMr.Wilkins,aconveyancingattorneyofconsiderablestanding.Thecertainshirewasbutasmallcounty,andtheprincipaltowninit
2、containedonlyaboutfourthousandinhabitants;soinsayingthatMr.WilkinswastheprincipallawyerinHamley,Isayverylittle,unlessIaddthathetransactedallthelegalbusinessofthegentryfortwentymilesround.Hisgrandfatherhadestablishedtheconnection;hisfatherhadconsolidat
3、edandstrengthenedit,and,indeed,byhiswiseanduprightconduct,aswellasbyhisprofessionalskill,hadobtainedforhimselfthepositionofconfidentialfriendtomanyofthesurroundingfamiliesofdistinction.Hevisitedamongtheminawaywhichnomerelawyerhadeverdonebefore;dinedat
4、theirtables--healone,notaccompaniedbyhiswife,beitobserved;rodetothemeetoccasionallyasifbyaccident,althoughhewasaswellmountedasanysquireamongthem,andwasoftenpersuaded(afteralittlecoquettingabout"professionalengagements,"and"beingwantedattheoffice")toha
5、vearunwithhisclients;nay,onceortwiceheforgothisusualcaution,wasfirstinatthedeath,androdehomewiththebrush.Butingeneralheknewhisplace;ashisplacewasheldtobeinthataristocraticcounty,andinthosedays.Norletbesupposedthathewasinanywayatoadeater.Herespectedhim
6、selftoomuchforthat.Hewouldgivethemostunpalatableadvice,ifneedwere;wouldcounselanunsparingreductionofexpendituretoanextravagantman;wouldrecommendsuchanabatementoffamilyprideaspavedthewayforoneortwohappymarriagesinsomeinstances;nay,whatwasthemostlikelyp
7、ieceofconductofalltogiveoffencefortyyearsago,hewouldspeakupforanunjustly-usedtenant;andthatwithsomuchtemperateandwell-timedwisdomandgoodfeeling,thathemorethanoncegainedhispoint.Hehadoneson,Edward.Thisboywasthesecretjoyandprideofhisfather'sheart.Forhim
8、selfhewasnotintheleastambitious,butitdidcosthimahardstruggletoacknowledgethathis2ADARKNIGHT'SWORKownbusinesswastoolucrative,andbroughtintoolargeanincome,topassawayintothehandsofastranger,asitwoulddoifheindulgedhisambitionforhissonbygivinghimac
