little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第109部分

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interested　in　Arthur　since　his　reverses　than　formerly；　now　regarding　him
as　one　who　was　true　to　the　place　and　had　taken　up　his　freedom。　Many　of
them　came　out　to　look　after　him；　and　to　observe　to　one　another；　with
great　unctuousness；　that　he　was　'pulled　down　by　it。'　Mrs　Plornish
and　her　father　stood　at　the　top　of　the　steps　at　their　own　end；　much
depressed　and　shaking　their　heads。

There　was　nobody　visibly　in　waiting　when　Arthur　and　Mr　Rugg　arrived
at　the　Counting…house。　But　an　elderly　member　of　the　Jewish　persuasion；
preserved　in　rum；　followed　them　close；　and　looked　in　at　the　glass　before
Mr　Rugg　had　opened　one　of　the　day's　letters。

'Oh！'　said　Mr　Rugg；　looking　up。　'How　do　you　do？　Step　in……Mr　Clennam；　I
think　this　is　the　gentleman　I　was　mentioning。'

This　gentleman　explained　the　object　of　his　visit　to　be　'a　tyfling　madder
ob　bithznithz；'　and　executed　his　legal　function。

'Shall　I　acpany　you；　Mr　Clennam？'　asked　Mr　Rugg　politely；　rubbing　his
hands。

'I　would　rather　go　alone；　thank　you。　Be　so　good　as　send　me　my　clothes。'
Mr　Rugg　in　a　light　airy　way　replied　in　the　affirmative；　and　shook　hands
with　him。　He　and　his　attendant　then　went　down…stairs；　got　into　the　first
conveyance　they　found；　and　drove　to　the　old　gates。

'Where　I　little　thought；　Heaven　forgive　me；'　said　Clennam　to　himself；
'that　I　should　ever　enter　thus！'

Mr　Chivery　was　on　the　Lock；　and　Young　John　was　in　the　Lodge：　either
newly　released　from　it；　or　waiting　to　take　his　own　spell　of　duty。　Both
were　more　astonished　on　seeing　who　the　prisoner　was；　than　one　might　have
thought　turnkeys　would　have　been。　The　elder　Mr　Chivery　shook　hands　with
him　in　a　shame…faced　kind　of　way；　and　said；　'I　don't　call　to　mind；
sir；　as　I　was　ever　less　glad　to　see　you。'　The　younger　Mr　Chivery；　more
distant；　did　not　shake　hands　with　him　at　all；　he　stood　looking　at　him
in　a　state　of　indecision　so　observable　that　it　even　came　within　the
observation　of　Clennam　with　his　heavy　eyes　and　heavy　heart。　Presently
afterwards；　Young　John　disappeared　into　the　jail。

As　Clennam　knew　enough　of　the　place　to　know　that　he　was　required　to
remain　in　the　Lodge　a　certain　time；　he　took　a　seat　in　a　corner；　and
feigned　to　be　occupied　with　the　perusal　of　letters　from　his　pocket。

They　did　not　so　engross　his　attention；　but　that　he　saw；　with　gratitude；
how　the　elder　Mr　Chivery　kept　the　Lodge　clear　of　prisoners；　how　he
signed　to　some；　with　his　keys；　not　to　e　in；　how　he　nudged　others　with
his　elbows　to　go　out；　and　how　he　made　his　misery　as　easy　to　him　as　he
could。

Arthur　was　sitting　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　floor；　recalling　the　past；
brooding　over　the　present；　and　not　attending　to　either；　when　he　felt
himself　touched　upon　the　shoulder。　It　was　by　Young　John；　and　he　said；
'You　can　e　now。'

He　got　up　and　followed　Young　John。　When　they　had　gone　a　step　or　two
within　the　inner　iron…gate；　Young　John　turned　and　said　to　him：

'You　want　a　room。　I　have　got　you　one。'

'I　thank　you　heartily。'

Young　John　turned　again；　and　took　him　in　at　the　old　doorway；　up　the　old
staircase；　into　the　old　room。　Arthur　stretched　out　his　hand。　Young　John
looked　at　it；　looked　at　him……sternly……swelled；　choked；　and　said：

'I　don't　know　as　I　can。　No；　I　find　I　can't。　But　I　thought　you'd　like　the
room；　and　here　it　is　for　you。'

Surprise　at　this　inconsistent　behaviour　yielded　when　he　was　gone　（he
went　away　directly）　to　the　feelings　which　the　empty　room　awakened　in
Clennam's　wounded　breast；　and　to　the　crowding　associations　with　the
one　good　and　gentle　creature　who　had　sanctified　it。　Her　absence　in　his
altered　fortunes　made　it；　and　him　in　it；　so　very　desolate　and　so　much　in
need　of　such　a　face　of　love　and　truth；　that　he　turned　against　the
wall　to　weep；　sobbing　out；　as　his　heart　relieved　itself；　'O　my　Little
Dorrit！'




CHAPTER　27。　The　Pupil　of　the　Marshalsea


The　day　was　sunny；　and　the　Marshalsea；　with　the　hot　noon　striking
upon　it；　　dropped　into　a　solitary
arm…chair；　itself　as　faded　as　any　debtor　in　the　jail；　and　yielded
himself　to　his　thoughts。

In　the　unnatural　peace　of　having　gone　through　the　dreaded　arrest；　and
got　there；……the　first　change　of　feeling　which　the　prison　most　monly
induced；　and　from　which　dangerous　resting…place　so　many　men　had　slipped
down　to　the　depths　of　degradation　and　disgrace　by　so　many　ways；……he
could　think　of　some　passages　in　his　life；　almost　as　if　he　were　removed
from　them　into　another　state　of　existence。　Taking　into　account　where　he
was；　the　interest　that　had　first　brought　him　there　when　he　had　been　free
to　keep　away；　and　the　gentle　presence　that　was　equally　inseparable　from
the　walls　and　bars　about　him　and　from　the　impalpable　remembrances　of　his
later　life　which　no　walls　or　bars　could　imprison；　it　was　not　remarkable
that　everything　his　memory　turned　upon　should　bring　him　round　again　to
Little　Dorrit。　Yet　it　was　remarkable　to　him；　not　because　of　the　fact
itself；　but　because　of　the　reminder　it　brought　with　it；　how　much　the
dear　little　creature　had　influenced　his　better　resolutions。

None　of　us　clearly　know　to　whom　or　to　what　we　are　indebted　in　this　wise；
until　some　marked　stop　in　the　whirling　wheel　of　life　brings　the　right
perception　with　it。　It　es　with　sickness；　it　es　with　sorrow；　it
es　with　the　loss　of　the　dearly　loved；　it　is　one　of　the　most　frequent
uses　of　adversity。　It　came　to　Clennam　in　his　adversity；　strongly　and
tenderly。　'When　I　first　gathered　myself　together；'　he　thought；　'and
set　something　like　purpose　before　my　jaded　eyes；　whom　had　I　before　me；
toiling　on；　for　a　good　object's　sake；　without　encouragement；　without
notice；　against　ignoble　obstacles　that　would　have　turned　an　army　of
received　heroes　and　heroines？　One　weak　girl！　When　I　tried　to　conquer
my　misplaced　love；　and　to　be　generous　to　the　man　who　was　more　fortunate
than　I；　though　he　should　never　know　it　or　repay　me　with　a　gracious　word；
in　whom　had　I　watched　patience；　self…denial；　self…subdual；　charitable
construction；　the　noblest　generosity　of　the　affections？　In　the　same　poor
girl！　If　I；　a　man；　with　a　man's　advantages　and　means　and　energies；　had
slighted　the　whisper　in　my　heart；　that　if　my　father　had　erred；　it　was　my
first　duty　to　conceal　the　fault　and　to　repair　it；　what　youthful　figure
with　tender　feet　going　almost　bare　on　the　damp　ground；　with　spare　hands
ever　working；　with　its　slight　shape　but　half　protected　from　the
sharp　weather；　would　have　stood　before　me　to　put　me　to　shame？　Little
Dorrit's。'　So　always　as　he　sat　alone　in　the　faded　chair；　thinking。
Always；　Little　Dorrit。　Until　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　he　met　the　reward　of
having　wandered　away　from　her；　and　suffered　anything　to　pass　between　him
and　his　remembrance　of　her　virtues。

His　door　was　opened；　and　the　head　of　the　elder　Chivery　was　put　in　a　very
little　way；　without　being　turned　towards　him。

'I　am　off　the　Lock；　Mr　Clennam；　and　going　out。　Can　I　do　anything　for
you？'

'Many　thanks。　Nothing。'

'You'll　excuse　me　opening　the　door；'　said　Mr　Chivery；　'but　I　couldn't
make　you　hear。'

'Did　you　knock？'　'Half…a…dozen　times。'

Rousing　himself；　Clennam　observed　that　the　prison　had　awakened　from　its
noontide　doze；　that　the　inmates　were　loitering　about　the　shady　yard；　and
that　it　was　late　in　the　afternoon。　He　had　been　thinking　for　hours。　'Your
things　is　e；'　said　Mr　Chivery；　'and　my　son　is　going　to　carry　'em
up。　I　should　have　sent　'em　up　but　for　his　wishing　to　carry　'em　himself。
Indeed　he　would　have　'em　himself；　and　so　I　couldn't　send　'em　up。　Mr
Clennam；　could　I　say　a　word　to　you？'

'Pray　e　in；'　said　Arthur；　for　Mr　Chivery's　head　was　still　put　in　at
the　door　a　very　little　way；　and　Mr　Chivery　had　but　one　ear　upon　him；
instead　of　both　eyes。　This　was　native　delicacy　in　Mr　Chivery……true
politeness；　though　his　exterior　had　very　much　of　a　turnkey　about　it；　and
not　the　least　of　a　gentleman。

'Thank　you；　sir；'　said　Mr　Chivery；　without　advancing；　'it's　no　odds　me
ing　in。　Mr　Clennam；　don't　you　take　no　notice　of　my　son　（if　you'll
be　so　good）　in　case　you　find　him　cut　up　anyways　difficult。　My　son　has　a
'art；　and　my　son's　'art　is　in　the　right　place。　Me　and　his　mother　knows
where　to　find　it；　and　we　find　it　sitiwated　correct。'

With　this　mysterious　speech；　Mr　Chivery　took　his　ear　away　and　shut　the
door。　He　might　have　been　gone　ten　minutes；　when　his　son　succeeded　him。

'Here's　your　portmanteau；'　he　said　to　Arthur；　putting　it　carefully　down。

'It's　very　kind　of　you。　I　am　ashamed　that　you　should　have　the　trouble。'

He　was　gone　before　it　came　to　that；　but　soon　returned；　saying　exactly　as
before；　'Here's　your　black　box：'　which　he　also　put　down　with　care。

'I　am　very　sensible　of　this　attention。　I　hope　we　may　shake　hands　now；　Mr
John。'

Young　John；　however；　drew　back；　turning　his　right　wrist　in　a　socket　made
of　his　left　thumb　and　middle…finger　and　said　as　he　had　said　at　first；
'I　don't　know　as　I　can。　No；　I　find　I　can't！'　He　then　stood　regarding　the
prisoner　sternly；　though　with　a　swelling　humour　in　his　eyes　that　looked
like　pity。

'Why　are　you　angry　with　me；'　said　Clennam；　'and　yet　so　ready　to　do　me
these　kind　services？　There　must　be　some　mistake　between　us。　If　I　have
done　anything　to　occasion　it　I　am　sorry。'

'No　mistake；　sir；'　returned　John；　turning　the　wrist　backwards　and
forwards　in　the　socket；　for　which　it　was　rather　tight。　'No　mistake；　sir；
in　the　feelings　with　which　my　eyes　behold　you　at　the　present　moment！　If
I　r　Clennam……which　I　am　not；
and　if　you　weren't　under　a　cloud……which　you　are；　and　if　it　wasn't
against　all　rules　of　the　Marshalsea……which　it　is；　those　feelings　are
such；　that　they　would　stimulate　me；　more　to　having　it　out　with　you　in
a　Round　on　the　present　spot　than　to　anything　else　I　could　name。'　Arthur
looked　at　him　for　a　moment　in　some　wonder；　and　some　little　anger。　'Well；
well！'　he　said。　'A　mistake；　a　mistake！'　Turning　away；　he　sat　down　with　a
heavy　sigh　in　the　faded　chair　again。

Young　John　followed　him　with　his　eyes；　and；　after　a　short　pause；　cried
out；　'I　beg　your　pardon！'

'Freely　granted；'　said　Clennam；　waving　his　hand　without　raising　his
sunken　head。　'Say　no　more。　I　am　not　worth　it。'

'This　furniture；　sir；'　said　Young　John　in　a　voice　of　mild　and　soft
explanation；　'belongs　to　me。　I　am　in　the　habit　of　letting　it　out　to
parties　without　furniture；　that　have　the　room。　It　an't　much；　but　it's　at
your　service。　Free；　I　mean。　I　could　not　think　of　letting　you　have　it　on
any　other　terms。　You're　wele　to　it　for　nothing。'

Arthur　raised　his　head　again　to　thank　him；　and　to　say　he　could
not　accept　the　favour。　John　was　still　turning　his　wrist；　and　still
contending　with　himself　in　his　former　divided　manner。


'What　is　the　matter　between　us？'　said　Arthur。

'I　decline　to　name　it；　sir；'　returned　Young　John；　suddenly　turning　loud
and　sharp。　'Nothing's　the　matter。'

Arthur　looked　at　him　again；　in　vain；　for　an　explanation　of　his
behaviour。　After　a　while；　Arthur　turned　away　his　head　again。　Young　John
said；　presently　afterwards；　with　the　utmost　mildness：

'The　little　round　table；　sir；　that's　nigh　your　elbow；　was……you　know
whose……I　needn't　mention　him……he　died　a　great　gentleman。　I　bought　it　of
an　individual　that　he　gave　it　to；　and　that　lived　here　after　him。　But　the
individual　ost　individuals　would　find　it
hard　to　e　up　to　his　level。'

Arthur　drew　the　little　table　nearer；　rested　his　arm　upon　it；　and　kept　it
there。

'Perhaps　you　may　not　be　aware；　sir；'　said　Young　John；　'that　I　intruded
upon　him　when　he　was　over　here　in　London。　On　the　whole　he　was　of　opinion
that　it　WAS　an　intrusion；　though　he　was　so　good　as　to　ask　me　to　sit
down　and　to　inquire　after　father　and　all　other　old　friends。　Leastways
humblest　acquaintances。　He　looked；　to　me；　a　good　deal　changed；　and　I
said　so　when　I　came　back。　I　asked　him　if　Miss　Amy　was　well……'

'And　she　was？'

'I　should　have　thought　you　would　have　known　without　putting　the　question
to　such　as　me；'　returned　Young　John；　after　appearing　to　take　a　large
invisible　pill。　'Since　you　do　put　me　the　question；　I　am　sorry　I　can't
answer　it。　But　the　truth　is；　he　looked　upon　the　inquiry　as　a　liberty；
and　said；　〃What　was　that　to　me？〃　It　was　then　I　became　quite　aware　I　was
intruding：　of　which　I　had　been　fearful　before。　However；　he　spoke　very
handsome　afterwards；　very　handsome。'

They　were　both　silent　for　several　minutes：　except　that　Young　John
remarked；　at　about　the　middle　of　the　pause；　'He　both　spoke　and　acted
very　handsome。'

It　was　again　Young　John　who　broke　the　silence　by　inquiring：

'If　it's　not　a　liberty；　how　long　may　it　be　your　intentions；　sir；　to　go
without　eating　and　drinking？'

'I　have　not　felt　the　want　of　anything　yet；'　returned　Clennam。　'I　have　no
appetite　just　now。'

'The　more　reason　why　you　should　take　some　support；　sir；'　urged　Young
John。　'If　you　find　yourself　going　on　sitting　here　for　hours　and　hours
partaking　of　no　refreshment　because　you　have　no　appetite；　why　then　you
should　and　must　partake　of　refreshment　without　an　appetite。　I'm　going　to
have　tea　in　my　own　apartment。　If　it's　not　a　liberty；　please　to　e　and
take　a　cup。　Or　I　can　bring　a　tray　here　in　two　minutes。'

Feeling　that　Young　John　would　impose　that　trouble　on　himself　if　he
refused；　and　also　feeling　anxious　to　show　that　he　bore　in　mind　both
the　elder　Mr　Chivery's　entreaty；　and　the　younger　Mr　Chivery's　apology；
Arthur　rose　and　expressed　his　willingness　to　take　a　cup　of　tea　in　Mr
john's　apartment。　Young　John　locked　his　door　for　him　as　they　went　out；
slided　the　key　into　his　pocket　with　great　dexterity；　and　led　the　way　to
his　own　residence。

It　was　at　the　top　of　the　house　nearest　to　the　gateway。　It　was　the　room
to　which　Clennam　had　hurried　on　the　day　when　the　enriched　family　had
left　the　prison　for　ever；　and　where　he　had　lifted　her　insensible　from
the　floor。　He　foresaw　where　they　were　going　as　soon　as　their　feet
touched　the　staircase。　The　room　was　so　far　changed　that　it　was　papered
now；　and　had　been　repainted；　and　was　far　more　fortably　furnished；　but
he　could　recall　it　just　as　he　had　seen　it　in　that　single　glance；　when　he
raised　her　from　the　ground　and　carried　her　down　to　the　carriage。

Young　John　looked　hard　at　him；　biting　his　fingers。

'I　see　you　recollect　the　room；　Mr　Clennam？'　'I　recollect　it　well；　Heaven
bless　her！'

Oblivious　of　the　tea；　Young　John　continued　to　bite　his　fingers　and　to
look　at　his　visitor；　as　long　as　his　visitor　continued　to　glance　about
the　room。　Finally；　he　made　a　start　at　the　teapot；　gustily　rattled　a
quantity　of　tea　into　it　from　a　canister；　and　set　off　for　the　mon
kitchen　to　fill　it　with　hot　water。

The　room　　in　the　changed　circumstances　of　his
return　to　the　miserable　Marshalsea；　it　spoke　to　him　so　mournfully　of
her；　and　of　his　loss　of　her；　that　it　would　have　gone　hard　with　him　to
resist　it；　even　though　he　had　not　been　alone。　Alone；　he　did　not　try。
He　had　his　hand　on　the　insensible　wall　as　tenderly　as　if　it　had　been
herself　that　he　touched；　and　pronounced　her　name　in　a　low　voice。　He
stood　at　the　window；　looking　over　the　prison…parapet　with　its　grim
spiked　border；　and　breathed　a　benediction　through　the　summer　haze
towards　the　distant　land　where　she　was　rich　and　prosperous。

Young　John　was　some　time　absent；　and；　when　he　came　back；　showed　that　he
had　been　outside　by　bringing　with　him　fresh　butter　in　a　cabbage　leaf；
some　thin　slices　of　boiled　ham　in　another　cabbage　leaf；　and　a　little
basket　o