little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第36部分

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looked　in　at　the　little　skittle…ground　in　a　green　Newmarket　coat
（second…hand）；　with　a　shining　collar　and　bright　buttons　（new）；　and　drank
the　beer　of　the　Collegians。

One　solid　stationary　point　in　the　looseness　of　this　gentleman's
character　was；　that　he　respected　and　admired　his　sister　Amy。　The　feeling
had　never　induced　him　to　spare　her　a　moment's　uneasiness；　or　to　put
himself　to　any　restraint　or　inconvenience　on　her　account；　but　with　that
Marshalsea　taint　upon　his　love；　he　loved　her。　The　same　rank　Marshalsea
flavour　was　to　be　recognised　in　his　distinctly　perceiving　that　she
sacrificed　her　life　to　her　father；　and　in　his　having　no　idea　that　she
had　done　anything　for　himself。

When　this　spirited　young　man　and　his　sister　had　begun　systematically
to　produce　the　family　skeleton　for　the　overawing　of　the　College；　this
narrative　cannot　precisely　state。　Probably　at　about　the　period　when
they　began　to　dine　on　the　College　charity。　It　is　certain　that　the　more
reduced　and　necessitous　they　were；　the　more　pompously　the　skeleton
emerged　from　its　tomb；　and　that　when　there　was　anything　particularly
shabby　in　the　wind；　the　skeleton　always　came　out　with　the　ghastliest
flourish。

Little　Dorrit　was　late　on　the　Monday　morning；　for　her　father　slept
late；　and　afterwards　there　was　his　breakfast　to　prepare　and　his　room　to
arrange。　She　had　no　engagement　to　go　out　to　work；　however；　and　therefore
stayed　with　him　until；　with　Maggy's　help；　she　had　put　everything　right
about　him；　and　had　seen　him　off　upon　his　morning　walk　（of　twenty　yards
or　so）　to　the　coffee…house　to　read　the　paper。

She　then　got　on　her　bon　and　went　out；　having　been　anxious　to　get　out
much　sooner。　There　was；　as　usual；　a　cessation　of　the　small…talk　in
the　Lodge　as　she　passed　through　it；　and　a　Collegian　who　had　e　in
on　Saturday　night；　received　the　intimation　from　the　elbow　of　a　more
seasoned　Collegian；　'Look　out。　Here　she　is！'　She　wanted　to　see　her
sister；　but　when　she　got　round　to　Mr　Cripples's；　she　found　that　both　her
sister　and　her　uncle　had　gone　to　the　theatre　where　they　were　engaged。
Having　taken　thought　of　this　probability　by　the　way；　and　having　settled
that　in　such　case　she　would　follow　them；　she　set　off　afresh　for　the
theatre；　which　was　on　that　side　of　the　river；　and　not　very　far　away。

Little　Dorrit　was　almost　as　ignorant　of　the　ways　of　theatres　as　of　the
ways　of　gold　mines；　and　when　she　was　directed　to　a　furtive　sort　of　door；
with　a　curious　up…all…night　air　about　it；　that　appeared　to　be　ashamed　of
itself　and　to　be　hiding　in　an　alley；　she　hesitated　to　approach　it；　being
further　deterred　by　the　sight　of　some　half…dozen　close…shaved　gentlemen
with　their　hats　very　strangely　on；　who　were　lounging　about　the　door；
looking　not　at　all　unlike　Collegians。　On　her　applying　to　them；　reassured
by　this　resemblance；　for　a　direction　to　Miss　Dorrit；　they　made　way　for
her　to　enter　a　dark　hall……it　was　more　like　a　great　grim　lamp　gone　out
than　anything　else……where　she　could　hear　the　distant　playing　of　music
and　the　sound　of　dancing　feet。　A　man　so　much　in　want　of　airing　that　he
had　a　blue　mould　upon　him；　sat　watching　this　dark　place　from　a　hole　in
a　corner；　like　a　spider；　and　he　told　her　that　he　would　send　a　message
up　to　Miss　Dorrit　by　the　first　lady　or　gentleman　who　went　through。　The
first　lady　who　went　through　had　a　roll　of　music；　half　in　her　muff　and
half　out　of　it；　and　was　in　such　a　tumbled　condition　altogether；　that　it
seemed　as　if　it　would　be　an　act　of　kindness　to　iron　her。　But　as　she　was
very　good…natured；　and　said；　'e　with　me；　I'll　soon　find　Miss　Dorrit
for　you；'　Miss　Dorrit's　sister　went　with　her；　drawing　nearer　and　nearer
at　every　step　she　took　in　the　darkness　to　the　sound　of　music　and　the
sound　of　dancing　feet。

At　last　they　came　into　a　maze　of　dust；　where　a　quantity　of　people　were
tumbling　over　one　another；　and　where　there　was　such　a　confusion　of
unaccountable　shapes　of　beams；　bulkheads；　brick　walls；　ropes；　and
rollers；　and　such　a　mixing　of　gaslight　and　daylight；　that　they　seemed
to　have　got　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　pattern　of　the　universe。　Little
Dorrit；　left　to　herself；　and　knocked　against　by　somebody　every　moment；
was　quite　bewildered；　when　she　heard　her　sister's　voice。

'Why；　good　gracious；　Amy；　what　ever　brought　you　here？'

'I　wanted　to　see　you；　Fanny　dear；　and　as　I　am　going　out　all　day
to…morrow；　and　knew　you　might　be　engaged　all　day　to…day；　I　thought……'

'But　the　idea；　Amy；　of　YOU　ing　behind！　I　never　did！'　As　her　sister
said　this　in　no　very　cordial　tone　of　wele；　she　conducted　her　to　a
more　open　part　of　the　maze；　where　various　golden　chairs　and　tables　were
heaped　together；　and　where　a　number　of　young　ladies　were　sitting　on
anything　they　could　find；　chattering。　All　these　young　ladies　wanted
ironing；　and　all　had　a　curious　way　of　looking　everywhere　while　they
chattered。

Just　as　the　sisters　arrived　here；　a　monotonous　boy　in　a　Scotch　cap　put
his　head　round　a　beam　on　the　left；　and　said；　'Less　noise　there；　ladies！'
and　disappeared。　Immediately　after　which；　a　sprightly　gentleman　with　a
quantity　of　long　black　hair　looked　round　a　beam　on　the　right；　and　said；
'Less　noise　there；　darlings！'　and　also　disappeared。

'The　notion　of　you　among　professionals；　Amy；　is　really　the　last　thing
I　could　have　conceived！'　said　her　sister。　'Why；　how　did　you　ever　get
here？'

'I　don't　know。　The　lady　who　told　you　I　was　here；　was　so　good　as　to　bring
me　in。'

'Like　you　quiet　little　things！　You　can　make　your　way　anywhere；　I
believe。　I　couldn't　have　managed　it；　Amy；　though　I　know　so　much　more　of
the　world。'

It　was　the　family　custom　to　lay　it　down　as　family　law；　that　she　was　a
plain　domestic　little　creature；　without　the　great　and　sage　experience　of
the　rest。　This　family　fiction　was　the　family　assertion　of　itself　against
her　services。　Not　to　make　too　much　of　them。

'Well！　And　what　have　you　got　on　your　mind；　Amy？　Of　course　you　have
got　something　on　your　mind　about　me？'　said　Fanny。　She　spoke　as　if　her
sister；　between　two　and　three　years　her　junior；　were　her　prejudiced
grandmother。

'It　is　not　much；　but　since　you　told　me　of　the　lady　who　gave　you　the
bracelet；　Fanny……'

The　monotonous　boy　put　his　head　round　the　beam　on　the　left；　and　said；
'Look　out　there；　ladies！'　and　disappeared。　The　sprightly　gentleman　with
the　black　hair　as　suddenly　put　his　head　round　the　beam　on　the　right；　and
said；　'Look　out　there；　darlings！'　and　also　disappeared。　Thereupon　all
the　young　ladies　rose　and　began　shaking　their　skirts　out　behind。

'Well；　Amy？'　said　Fanny；　doing　as　the　rest　did；　'what　were　you　going　to
say？'

'Since　you　told　me　a　lady　had　given　you　the　bracelet　you　showed　me；
Fanny；　I　have　not　been　quite　easy　on　your　account；　and　indeed　want　to
know　a　little　more　if　you　will　confide　more　to　me。'

'Now；　ladies！'　said　the　boy　in　the　Scotch　cap。　'Now；　darlings！'　said　the
gentleman　with　the　black　hair。　They　were　every　one　gone　in　a　moment；　and
the　music　and　the　dancing　feet　were　heard　again。

Little　Dorrit　sat　down　in　a　golden　chair；　made　quite　giddy　by　these
rapid　interruptions。　Her　sister　and　the　rest　were　a　long　time　gone；　and
during　their　absence　a　voice　（it　appeared　to　be　that　of　the　gentleman
with　the　black　hair）　was　continually　calling　out　through　the　music；
'One；　two；　three；　four；　five；　six……go！　One；　two；　three；　four；　five；
six……go！　Steady；　darlings！　One；　two；　three；　four；　five；　six……go！'
Ultimately　the　voice　stopped；　and　they　all　came　back　again；　more　or　less
out　of　breath；　folding　themselves　in　their　shawls；　and　making　ready
for　the　streets。　'Stop　a　moment；　Amy；　and　let　them　get　away　before
us；'　whispered　Fanny。　They　were　soon　left　alone；　nothing　more　important
happening；　in　the　meantime；　than　the　boy　looking　round　his　old　beam；　and
saying；　'Everybody　at　eleven　to…morrow；　ladies！'　and　the　gentleman　with
the　black　hair　looking　round　his　old　beam；　and　saying；　'Everybody　at
eleven　to…morrow；　darlings！'　each　in　his　own　accustomed　manner。

When　they　were　alone；　something　was　rolled　up　or　by　other　means　got　out
of　the　way；　and　there　was　a　great　empty　well　before　them；　looking　down
into　the　depths　of　which　Fanny　said；　'Now；　uncle！'　Little　Dorrit；　as　her
eyes　became　used　to　the　darkness；　faintly　made　him　out　at　the　bottom　of
the　well；　in　an　obscure　corner　by　himself；　with　his　instrument　in　its
ragged　case　under　his　arm。

The　old　man　looked　as　if　the　remote　high　gallery　windows；　with　their
little　strip　of　sky；　might　have　been　the　point　of　his　better　fortunes；
from　which　he　had　descended；　until　he　had　gradually　sunk　down　below
there　to　the　bottom。　He　had　been　in　that　place　six　nights　a　week　for
many　years；　but　had　never　been　observed　to　raise　his　eyes　above　his
music…book；　and　was　confidently　believed　to　have　never　seen　a　play。
There　were　legends　in　the　place　that　he　did　not　so　much　as　know　the
popular　heroes　and　heroines　by　sight；　and　that　the　low　edian　had
'mugged'　at　him　in　his　richest　manner　fifty　nights　for　a　wager；　and　he
had　shown　no　trace　of　consciousness。　The　carpenters　had　a　joke　to　the
effect　that　he　was　dead　without　being　aware　of　it；　and　the　frequenters
of　the　pit　supposed　him　to　pass　his　whole　life；　night　and　day；　and
Sunday　and　all；　in　the　orchestra。　They　had　tried　him　a　few　times　with
pinches　of　snuff　offered　over　the　rails；　and　he　had　always　responded　to
this　attention　with　a　momentary　waking　up　of　manner　that　had　the　pale
phantom　of　a　gentleman　in　it：　beyond　this　he　never；　on　any　occasion；　had
any　other　part　in　what　was　going　on　than　the　part　written　out　for　the
clario；　in　private　life；　where　there　was　no　part　for　the　clario；
he　had　no　part　at　all。　Some　said　he　was　poor；　some　said　he　was　a　wealthy
miser；　but　he　said　nothing；　never　lifted　up　his　bowed　head；　never　varied
his　shuffling　gait　by　getting　his　springless　foot　from　the　ground。
Though　expecting　now　to　be　summoned　by　his　niece；　he　did　not　hear　her
until　she　had　spoken　to　him　three　or　four　times；　nor　was　he　at　all
surprised　by　the　presence　of　two　nieces　instead　of　one；　but　merely　said
in　his　tremulous　voice；　'I　am　ing；　I　am　ing！'　and　crept　forth　by
some　underground　way　which　emitted　a　cellarous　smell。

'And　so；　Amy；'　said　her　sister；　when　the　three　together　passed　out　at
the　door　that　had　such　a　shame…faced　consciousness　of　being　different
from　other　doors：　the　uncle　instinctively　taking　Amy's　arm　as　the　arm　to
be　relied　on：　'so；　Amy；　you　are　curious　about　me？'

She　was　pretty；　and　conscious；　and　rather　flaunting；　and　the
condescension　with　which　she　put　aside　the　superiority　of　her　charms；
and　of　her　worldly　experience；　and　addressed　her　sister　on　almost　equal
terms；　had　a　vast　deal　of　the　family　in　it。

'I　am　interested；　Fanny；　and　concerned　in　anything　that　concerns　you。'

'So　you　are；　so　you　are；　and　you　are　the　best　of　Amys。　If　I　am　ever　a
little　provoking；　I　am　sure　you'll　consider　what　a　thing　it　is　to
occupy　my　position　and　feel　a　consciousness　of　being　superior　to　it。　I
shouldn't　care；'　said　the　Daughter　of　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea；　'if
the　others　were　not　so　mon。　None　of　them　have　e　down　in　the　world
as　we　have。　They　are　all　on　their　own　level。　mon。'

Little　Dorrit　mildly　looked　at　the　speaker；　but　did　not　interrupt　her。
Fanny　took　out　her　handkerchief；　and　rather　angrily　wiped　her　eyes。　'I
was　not　born　where　you　were；　you　know；　Amy；　and　perhaps　that　makes　a
difference。　My　dear　child；　when　we　get　rid　of　Uncle；　you　shall　know　all
about　it。　We'll　drop　him　at　the　cook's　shop　where　he　is　going　to　dine。'

They　walked　on　with　him　until　they　came　to　a　dirty　shop　window　in　a
dirty　street；　which　　of　hot　meats；
vegetables；　and　puddings。　But　glimpses　were　to　be　caught　of　a　roast　leg
of　pork　bursting　into　tears　of　sage　and　onion　in　a　metal　reservoir　full
of　gravy；　of　an　unctuous　piece　of　roast　beef　and　blisterous　Yorkshire
pudding；　bubbling　hot　in　a　similar　receptacle；　of　a　stuffed　fillet　of
veal　in　rapid　cut；　of　a　ham　in　a　perspiration　with　the　pace　it　was　going
at；　of　a　shallow　tank　of　baked　potatoes　glued　together　by　their　own
richness；　of　a　truss　or　two　of　boiled　greens；　and　other　substantial
delicacies。　Within；　were　a　few　wooden　partitions；　behind　which　such
customers　as　found　it　more　convenient　to　take　away　their　dinners　in
stomachs　than　in　their　hands；　Packed　their　purchases　in　solitude。　Fanny
opening　her　reticule；　as　they　surveyed　these　things；　produced　from　that
repository　a　shilling　and　handed　it　to　Uncle。　Uncle；　after　not　looking
at　it　a　little　while；　divined　its　object；　and　muttering　'Dinner？　Ha！
Yes；　yes；　yes！'　slowly　vanished　from　them　into　the　mist。

'Now；　Amy；'　said　her　sister；　'e　with　me；　if　you　are　not　too　tired　to
walk　to　Harley　Street；　Cavendish　Square。'

The　air　with　which　she　threw　off　this　distinguished　address　and　the　toss
she　gave　to　her　new　bon　（which　was　more　gauzy　than　serviceable）；　made
her　sister　wonder；　however；　she　expressed　her　readiness　to　go　to　Harley
Street；　and　thither　they　directed　their　steps。　Arrived　at　that　grand
destination；　Fanny　singled　out　the　handsomest　house；　and　knocking　at　the
door；　inquired　for　Mrs　Merdle。　The　footman　who　opened　the　door；　although
he　had　powder　on　his　head　and　was　backed　up　by　two　other　footmen
likewise　powdered；　not　only　admitted　Mrs　Merdle　to　be　at　home；　but　asked
Fanny　to　walk　in。　Fanny　walked　in；　taking　her　sister　with　her；　and　they
went　up…stairs　with　powder　going　before　and　powder　stopping　behind；
and　were　left　in　a　spacious　semicircular　drawing…room；　one　of　several
drawing…rooms；　where　there　was　a　parrot　on　the　outside　of　a　golden　cage
holding　on　by　its　beak；　with　its　scaly　legs　in　the　air；　and　putting
itself　into　many　strange　upside…down　postures。　This　peculiarity　has　been
observed　in　birds　of　quite　another　feather；　climbing　upon　golden　wires。

The　room　was　far　more　splendid　than　anything　Little　Dorrit　had　ever
imagined；　and　would　have　been　splendid　and　costly　in　any　eyes。　She
looked　in　amazement　at　her　sister　and　would　have　asked　a　question；
but　that　Fanny　with　a　warning　frown　pointed　to　a　curtained　doorway　of
munication　with　another　room。　The　curtain　shook　next　moment；　and　a
lady；　raising　it　with　a　heavily　ringed　hand；　dropped　it　behind　her　again
as　she　entered。

The　lady　was　not　young　and　fresh　from　the　hand　of　Nature；　but　was　young
and　fresh　from　the　hand　of　her　maid。　She　had　large　unfeeling　handsome
eyes；　and　dark　unfeeling　handsome　hair；　and　a　broad　unfeeling　handsome
bosom；　and　was　made　the　most　of　in　every　particular。　Either　because　she
had　a　cold；　or　because　it　suited　her　face；　she　wore　a　rich　white
fillet　tied　over　her　head　and　under　her　chin。　And　if　ever　there　were
an　unfeeling　handsome　chin　that　looked　as　if；　for　certain；　it　had　never
been；　in　familiar　parlance；　'chucked'　by　the　hand　of　man；　it　was　the
chin　curbed　up　so　tight　and　close　by　that　laced　bridle。

'Mrs　Merdle；'　said　Fanny。　'My　sister；　ma'am。'

'I　am　glad　to　see　your　sister；　Miss　Dorrit。　I　did　not　remember　that　you
had　a　sister。'

'I　did　not　mention　that　I　had；'　said　Fanny。

'Ah！'　Mrs　Merdle　curled　the　little　finger　of　her　left　hand　as　who　should
say；　'I　have　caught　you。　I　know　you　didn't！'　All　her　action　was　usually
with　her　left　hand　because　her　hands　were　not　a　pair；　and　left　being
much　the　whiter　and　plumper　of　the　two。　Then　she　added：　'Sit　down；'　and
posed　herself　voluptuously；　in　a　nest　of　crims