little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第120部分

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it。　Let　me　never　feel；　while　I　am　still　alive；　that　I　die　before　his
face；　and　utterly　perish　away　from　him；　like　one　consumed　by　lightning
and　swallowed　by　an　earthquake。'

Her　pride　was　very　strong　in　her；　the　pain　of　it　and　of　her　old　passions
was　very　sharp　with　her；　when　she　thus　expressed　herself。　Not　less　so；
when　she　added：

'Even　now；　I　see　YOU　shrink　from　me；　as　if　I　had　been　cruel。'

Little　Dorrit　could　not　gainsay　it。　She　tried　not　to　show　it；　but　she
recoiled　with　dread　from　the　state　of　mind　that　had　burnt　so　fiercely
and　lasted　so　long。　It　presented　itself　to　her；　with　no　sophistry　upon
it；　in　its　own　plain　nature。

'I　have　done；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；'what　it　was　given　to　me　to　do。　I　have
set　myself　against　evil；　not　against　good。　I　have　been　an　instrument
of　severity　against　sin。　Have　not　mere　sinners　like　myself　been
missioned　to　lay　it　low　in　all　time？'

'In　all　time？'　repeated　Little　Dorrit。

'Even　if　my　own　wrong　had　prevailed　with　me；　and　my　own　vengeance　had
moved　me；　could　I　have　found　no　justification？　None　in　the　old　days
when　the　innocent　perished　with　the　guilty　2　a　thousand　to　one？　When　the
wrath　of　the　hater　of　the　unrighteous　was　not　slaked　even　in　blood；　and
yet　found　favour？'

'O；　Mrs　Clennam；　Mrs　Clennam；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　'angry　feelings　and
unforgiving　deeds　are　no　fort　and　no　guide　to　you　and　me。　My　life
has　been　passed　in　this　poor　prison；　and　my　teaching　has　been　very
defective；　but　let　me　implore　you　to　remember　later　and　better　days。
Be　guided　only　by　the　healer　of　the　sick；　the　raiser　of　the　dead；　the
friend　of　all　who　were　afflicted　and　forlorn；　the　patient　Master　who
shed　tears　of　passion　for　our　infirmities。　We　cannot　but　be　right　if
we　put　all　the　rest　away；　and　do　everything　in　remembrance　of　Him。　There
is　no　vengeance　and　no　infliction　of　suffering　in　His　life；　I　am　sure。
There　can　be　no　confusion　in　following　Him；　and　seeking　for　no　other
footsteps；　I　am　certain。'

In　the　softened　light　of　the　window；　looking　from　the　scene　of　her　early
trials　to　the　shining　sky；　she　was　not　in　stronger　opposition　to　the
black　figure　in　the　shade　than　the　life　and　doctrine　on　which　she　rested
were　to　that　figure's　history。　It　bent　its　head　low　again；　and　said　not
a　word。　It　remained　thus；　until　the　first　warning　bell　began　to　ring。

'Hark！'　cried　Mrs　Clennam　starting；　'I　said　I　had　another　petition。

It　is　one　that　does　not　admit　of　delay。　The　man　who　brought　you　this
packet　and　possesses　these　proofs；　is　now　waiting　at　my　house　to　be
bought　off。　I　can　keep　this　from　Arthur；　only　by　buying　him　off。　He
asks　a　large　sum；　more　than　I　can　get　together　to　pay　him　without　having
time。　He　refuses　to　make　any　abatement；　because　his　threat　is；　that　if
he　fails　with　me；　he　will　e　to　you。　Will　you　return　with　me　and　show
him　that　you　already　know　it？　Will　you　return　with　me　and　try　to　prevail
with　him？　Will　you　e　and　help　me　with　him？　Do　not　refuse　what　I　ask
in　Arthur's　name；　though　I　dare　not　ask　it　for　Arthur's　sake！'

Little　Dorrit　yielded　willingly。　She　glided　away　into　the　prison　for　a
few　moments；　returned；　and　said　she　was　ready　to　go。　They　went　out
by　another　staircase；　avoiding　the　lodge；　and　ing　into　the　front
court…yard；　now　all　quiet　and　deserted；　gained　the　street。

It　was　one　of　those　summer　evenings　when　there　is　no　greater　darkness
than　a　long　twilight。　The　vista　of　street　and　bridge　was　plain　to　see；
and　the　sky　was　serene　and　beautiful。　People　stood　and　sat　at　their
doors；　playing　with　children　and　enjoying　the　evening；　numbers　were
walking　for　air；　the　worry　of　the　day　had　almost　worried　itself　out；　and
few　but　themselves　were　hurried。　As　they　crossed　the　bridge；　the　clear
steeples　of　the　many　churches　looked　as　if　they　had　advanced　out　of　the
murk　that　usually　enshrouded　them；　and　e　much　nearer。　The　smoke　that
rose　into　the　sky　had　lost　its　dingy　hue　and　taken　a　brightness　upon　it。
The　beauties　of　the　sunset　had　not　faded　from　the　long　light　films　of
cloud　that　lay　at　peace　in　the　horizon。　From　a　radiant　centre；　over
the　whole　length　and　breadth　of　the　tranquil　firmament；　great　shoots　of
light　streamed　among　the　early　stars；　like　signs　of　the　blessed　later
covenant　of　peace　and　hope　that　changed　the　crown　of　thorns　into　a
glory。

Less　remarkable；　now　that　she　was　not　alone　and　it　was　darker；　Mrs
Clennam　hurried　on　at　Little　Dorrit's　side；　unmolested。　They　left　the
great　thoroughfare　at　the　turning　by　which　she　had　entered　it；　and　wound
their　way　down　among　the　silent；　empty；　cross…streets。　Their　feet　were
at　the　gateway；　when　there　was　a　sudden　noise　like　thunder。

'What　was　that！　Let　us　make　haste　in；'　cried　Mrs　Clennam。

They　were　in　the　gateway。　Little　Dorrit；　with　a　piercing　cry；　held　her
back。

In　one　swift　instant　the　old　house　was　before　them；　with　the　man　lying
smoking　in　the　window；　another　thundering　sound；　and　it　heaved；　surged
outward；　opened　asunder　in　fifty　places；　collapsed；　and　fell。　Deafened
by　the　noise；　stifled；　choked；　and　blinded　by　the　dust；　they　hid　their
faces　and　stood　rooted　to　the　spot。　The　dust　storm；　driving　between　them
and　the　placid　sky；　parted　for　a　moment　and　showed　them　the　stars。　As
they　looked　up；　wildly　crying　for　help；　the　great　pile　of　chimneys；
which　was　then　alone　left　standing　like　a　tower　in　a　whirlwind；　rocked；
broke；　and　hailed　itself　down　upon　the　heap　of　ruin；　as　if　every
tumbling　fragment　were　intent　on　burying　the　crushed　wretch　deeper。

So　blackened　by　the　flying　particles　of　rubbish　as　to　be　unrecognisable；
they　ran　back　from　the　gateway　into　the　street；　crying　and　shrieking。
There；　Mrs　Clennam　dropped　upon　the　stones；　and　she　never　from　that　hour
moved　so　much　as　a　finger　again；　or　had　the　power　to　speak　one　word。
For　upwards　of　three　years　she　reclined　in　a　wheeled　chair；　looking
attentively　at　those　about　her　and　appearing　to　understand　what　they
said；　but　the　rigid　silence　she　had　so　long　held　was　evermore　enforced
upon　her；　and　except　that　she　could　move　her　eyes　and　faintly　express　a
negative　and　affirmative　with　her　head；　she　lived　and　died　a　statue。

Affery　had　been　looking　for　them　at　the　prison；　and　had　caught　sight
of　them　at　a　distance　on　the　bridge。　She　came　up　to　receive　her　old
mistress　in　her　arms；　to　help　to　carry　her　into　a　neighbouring　house；
and　to　be　faithful　to　her。　The　mystery　of　the　noises　was　out　now；
Affery；　like　greater　people；　had　always　been　right　in　her　facts；　and
always　wrong　in　the　theories　she　deduced　from　them。

When　the　storm　of　dust　had　cleared　away　and　the　summer　night　was　calm
again；　numbers　of　people　choked　up　every　avenue　of　access；　and　parties
of　diggers　were　formed　to　relieve　one　another　in　digging　among　the
ruins。　There　had　been　a　hundred　people　in　the　house　at　the　time　of　its
fall；　there　had　been　fifty；　there　had　been　fifteen；　there　had　been
two。　Rumour　finally　settled　the　number　at　two；　the　foreigner　and　Mr
Flintwinch。　The　diggers　dug　all　through　the　short　night　by　flaring　pipes
of　gas；　and　on　a　level　with　the　early　sun；　and　deeper　and　deeper　below
it　as　it　rose　into　its　zenith；　and　aslant　of　it　as　it　declined；　and　on　a
level　with　it　again　as　it　departed。　Sturdy　digging；　and　shovelling；
and　carrying　away；　in　carts；　barrows；　and　baskets；　went　on　without
intermission；　by　night　and　by　day；　but　it　was　night　for　the　second　time
when　they　found　the　dirty　heap　of　rubbish　that　had　been　the　foreigner
before　his　head　had　been　shivered　to　atoms；　like　so　much　glass；　by　the
great　beam　that　lay　upon　him；　crushing　him。

Still；　they　had　not　e　upon　Flintwinch　yet；　so　the　sturdy　digging　and
shovelling　and　carrying　away　went　on　without　intermission　by　night　and
by　day。　It　got　about　that　the　old　house　had　had　famous　cellarage　（which
indeed　was　true）；　and　that　Flintwinch　had　been　in　a　cellar　at　the
moment；　or　had　had　time　to　escape　into　one；　and　that　he　was　safe　under
its　strong　arch；　and　even　that　he　had　been　heard　to　cry；　in　hollow；
subterranean；　suffocated　notes；　'Here　I　am！'　At　the　opposite　extremity
of　the　town　it　was　even　known　that　the　excavators　had　been　able　to　open
a　munication　with　him　through　a　pipe；　and　that　he　had　received　both
soup　and　brandy　by　that　channel；　and　that　he　had　said　with　admirable
fortitude　that　he　was　All　right；　my　lads；　with　the　exception　of　his
collar…bone。　But　the　digging　and　shovelling　and　carrying　away　went　on
without　intermission；　until　the　ruins　were　all　dug　out；　and　the　cellars
opened　to　the　light；　and　still　no　Flintwinch；　living　or　dead；　all　right
or　all　wrong；　had　been　turned　up　by　pick　or　spade。

It　began　then　to　be　perceived　that　Flintwinch　had　not　been　there　at　the
time　of　the　fall；　and　it　began　then　to　be　perceived　that　he　had　been
rather　busy　elsewhere；　converting　securities　into　as　much　money　as　could
be　got　for　them　on　the　shortest　notice；　and　turning　to　his　own　exclusive
account　his　authority　to　act　for　the　Firm。　Affery；　remembering　that　the
clever　one　had　said　he　would　explain　himself　further　in　four…and…twenty
hours'　time；　determined　for　her　part　that　his　taking　himself　off　within
that　period　with　all　he　could　get；　was　the　final　satisfactory　sum　and
substance　of　his　promised　explanation；　but　she　held　her　peace；　devoutly
thankful　to　be　quit　of　him。　As　it　seemed　reasonable　to　conclude　that　a
man　who　had　never　been　buried　could　not　be　unburied；　the　diggers　gave
him　up　when　their　task　was　done；　and　did　not　dig　down　for　him　into　the
depths　of　the　earth。

This　was　taken　in　ill　part　by　a　great　many　people；　who　persisted
in　believing　that　Flintwinch　was　lying　somewhere　among　the　London
geological　formation。　Nor　was　their　belief　much　shaken　by　repeated
intelligence　which　came　over　in　course　of　time；　that　an　old　man　who　wore
the　tie　of　his　neckcloth　under　one　ear；　and　who　was　very　well　known　to
be　an　Englishman；　consorted　with　the　Dutchmen　on　the　quaint　banks　of　the
canals　of　the　Hague　and　in　the　drinking…shops　of　Amsterdam；　under　the
style　and　designation　of　Mynheer　von　Flyntevynge。


CHAPTER　32。　Going


Arthur　continuing　to　lie　very　ill　in　the　Marshalsea；　and　Mr　Rugg
descrying　no　break　in　the　legal　sky　affording　a　hope　of　his　enlargement；
Mr　Pancks　suffered　desperately　from　self…reproaches。　If　it　had　not　been
for　those　infallible　figures　which　proved　that　Arthur；　instead　of　pining
in　imprisonment；　ought　to　be　promenading　in　a　carriage　and　pair；　and
that　Mr　Pancks；　instead　of　being　restricted　to　his　clerkly　wages；　ought
to　have　from　three　to　five　thousand　pounds　of　his　own　at　his　immediate
disposal；　that　unhappy　arithmetician　would　probably　have　taken　to　his
bed；　and　there　have　made　one　of　the　many　obscure　persons　who　turned
their　faces　to　the　wall　and　died；　as　a　last　sacrifice　to　the　late　Mr
Merdle's　greatness。　Solely　supported　by　his　unimpugnable　calculations；
Mr　Pancks　led　an　unhappy　and　restless　life；　constantly　carrying　his
figures　about　with　him　in　his　hat；　and　not　only　going　over　them　himself
on　every　possible　occasion；　but　entreating　every　human　being　he　could
lay　hold　of　to　go　over　them　with　him；　and　observe　what　a　clear　case　it
was。　Down　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　there　was　scarcely　an　inhabitant　of
note　to　whom　Mr　Pancks　had　not　imparted　his　demonstration；　and；　as
figures　are　catching；　a　kind　of　cyphering　measles　broke　out　in　that
locality；　under　the　influence　of　which　the　whole　Yard　was　light…headed。

The　more　restless　Mr　Pancks　grew　in　his　mind；　the　more　impatient　he
became　of　the　Patriarch。　In　their　later　conferences　his　snorting　assumed
an　irritable　sound　which　boded　the　Patriarch　no　good；　likewise；　Mr
Pancks　had　on　several　occasions　looked　harder　at　the　Patriarchal　bumps
than　was　quite　reconcilable　with　the　fact　of　his　not　being　a　painter；　or
a　peruke…maker　in　search　of　the　living　model。

However；　he　steamed　in　and　out　of　his　little　back　Dock　according　as　he
was　wanted　or　not　wanted　in　the　Patriarchal　presence；　and　business　had
gone　on　in　its　customary　course。　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　had　been　harrowed
by　Mr　Pancks；　and　cropped　by　Mr　Casby；　at　the　regular　seasons；　Mr　Pancks
had　taken　all　the　drudgery　and　all　the　dirt　of　the　business　as　his
share；　Mr　Casby　had　taken　all　the　profits；　all　the　ethereal　vapour；　and
all　the　moonshine；　as　his　share；　and；　in　the　form　of　words　which　that
benevolent　beamer　generally　employed　on　Saturday　evenings；　when　he
twirled　his　fat　thumbs　after　striking　the　week's　balance；　'everything
had　been　satisfactory　to　all　parties……all　parties……satisfactory；　sir；　to
all　parties。'

The　Dock　of　the　Steam…Tug；　Pancks；　had　a　leaden　roof；　which；　frying　in
the　very　hot　sunshine；　may　have　heated　the　vessel。　Be　that　as　it
may；　one　glowing　Saturday　evening；　on　being　hailed　by　the　lumbering
bottle…green　ship；　the　Tug　instantly　came　working　out　of　the　Dock　in　a
highly　heated　condition。　'Mr　Pancks；'　was　the　Patriarchal　remark；　'you
have　been　remiss；　you　have　been　remiss；　sir。'

'What　do　you　mean　by　that？'　was　the　short　rejoinder。

The　Patriarchal　state；　always　a　state　of　calmness　and　posure；　was
so　particularly　serene　that　evening　as　to　be　provoking。　Everybody　else
within　the　bills　of　mortality　was　hot；　but　the　Patriarch　was　perfectly
cool。　Everybody　was　thirsty；　and　the　Patriarch　was　drinking。　There　was
a　fragrance　of　limes　or　lemons　about　him；　and　he　made　a　drink　of　golden
sherry；　which　shone　in　a　large　tumbler　as　if　he　were　drinking　the
evening　sunshine。　This　was　bad；　but　not　the　worst。　The　worst　was；　that
with　his　big　blue　eyes；　and　his　polished　head；　and　his　long　white　hair；
and　his　bottle…green　legs　stretched　out　before　him；　terminating　in　his
easy　shoes　easily　crossed　at　the　instep；　he　had　a　radiant　appearance
of　having　in　his　extensive　benevolence　made　the　drink　for　the　human
species；　while　he　himself　wanted　nothing　but　his　own　milk　of　human
kindness。

Wherefore；　Mr　Pancks　said；　'What　do　you　mean　by　that？'　and　put　his　hair
up　with　both　hands；　in　a　highly　portentous　manner。

'I　mean；　Mr　Pancks；　that　you　must　be　sharper　with　the　people；　sharper
with　the　people；　much　sharper　with　the　people；　sir。　You　don't　squeeze
them。　You　don't　squeeze　them。　Your　receipts　are　not　up　to　the　mark。　You
must　squeeze　them；　sir；　or　our　connection　will　not　continue　to　be　as
satisfactory　as　I　could　wish　it　to　be　to　all　parties。　All　parties。'

'Don't　I　squeeze　'em？'　retorted　Mr　Pancks。　'What　else　am　I　made　for？'

'You　are　made　for　nothing　else；　Mr　Pancks。　You　are　made　to　do　your
duty；　but　you　don't　do　your　duty。　You　are　paid　to　squeeze；　and　you
must　squeeze　to　pay。'　The　Patriarch　so　much　surprised　himself　by　this
brilliant　turn；　after　Dr　Johnson；　which　he　had　not　in　the　least
expected　or　intended；　that　he　laughed　aloud；　and　repeated　with　great
satisfaction；　as　he　twirled　his　thumbs　and　nodded　at　his　youthful
portrait；　'Paid　to　squeeze；　sir；　and　must　squeeze　to　pay。'

'Oh；'　said　Pancks。　'Anything　more？'

'Yes；　sir；　yes；　sir。　Something　more。　You　will　please；　Mr　Pancks；　to
squeeze　the　Yard　again；　the　first　thing　on　Monday　morning。'

'Oh！'　said　Pancks。　'Ain't　that　too　soon？　I　squeezed　it　dry　to…day。'

'Nonsense；　sir。　Not　near　the　mark；　not　near　the　mark。'

'Oh！'　said　Pancks；　watching　him　as　he　benevolently　gulped　down　a　good
draught　of　his　mixture。　'Anything　more？'

'Yes；　sir；　yes；　sir；　something　more。　I　am　not　at　all　pleased；　Mr　Pancks；
with　my　daug