little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第4部分

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think　you'll　approve　of。　Let　us　take　one　of　those　same　little　children
to　be　a　little　maid　to　Pet。　We　are　practical　people。　So　if　we　should
find　her　temper　a　little　defective；　or　any　of　her　ways　a　little　wide
of　ours；　we　shall　know　what　we　have　to　take　into　account。　We　shall
know　what　an　immense　deduction　must　be　made　from　all　the　influences　and
experiences　that　have　formed　us……no　parents；　no　child…brother　or　sister；
no　individuality　of　home；　no　Glass　Slipper；　or　Fairy　Godmother。　And
that's　the　way　we　came　by　Tattycoram。'

'And　the　name　itself……'

'By　George！'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'I　was　forgetting　the　name　itself。　Why；
she　was　called　in　the　Institution；　Harriet　Beadle……an　arbitrary　name；
of　course。　Now；　Harriet　we　changed　into　Hattey；　and　then　into　Tatty；
because；　as　practical　people；　we　thought　even　a　playful　name　might　be
a　new　thing　to　her；　and　might　have　a　softening　and　affectionate　kind　of
effect；　don't　you　see？　As　to　Beadle；　that　I　needn't　say　was　wholly　out
of　the　question。　If　there　is　anything　that　is　not　to　be　tolerated　on
any　terms；　anything　that　is　a　type　of　Jack…in…office　insolence　and
absurdity；　anything　that　represents　in　coats；　waistcoats；　and　big　sticks
our　English　holding　on　by　nonsense　after　every　one　has　found　it　out；　it
is　a　beadle。　You　haven't　seen　a　beadle　lately？'

'As　an　Englishman　who　has　been　more　than　twenty　years　in　China；　no。'

'Then；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　laying　his　forefinger　on　his　panion's　breast
with　great　animation；　'don't　you　see　a　beadle；　now；　if　you　can　help　it。
Whenever　I　see　a　beadle　in　full　fig；　ing　down　a　street　on　a　Sunday
at　the　head　of　a　charity　school；　I　am　obliged　to　turn　and　run　away；　or
I　should　hit　him。　The　name　of　Beadle　being　out　of　the　question；　and　the
originator　of　the　Institution　for　these　poor　foundlings　having　been　a
blessed　creature　of　the　name　of　Coram；　we　gave　that　name　to　Pet's　little
maid。　At　one　time　she　was　Tatty；　and　at　one　time　she　was　Coram；　until　we
got　into　a　way　of　mixing　the　two　names　together；　and　now　she　is　always
Tattycoram。'

'Your　daughter；'　said　the　other；　when　they　had　taken　another　silent　turn
to　and　fro；　and；　after　standing　for　a　moment　at　the　wall　glancing　down
at　the　sea；　had　resumed　their　walk；　'is　your　only　child；　I　know；　Mr
Meagles。　May　I　ask　you……in　no　impertinent　curiosity；　but　because　I　have
had　so　much　pleasure　in　your　society；　may　never　in　this　labyrinth　of
a　world　exchange　a　quiet　word　with　you　again；　and　wish　to　preserve　an
accurate　remembrance　of　you　and　yours……may　I　ask　you；　if　I　have　not
gathered　from　your　good　wife　that　you　have　had　other　children？'

'No。　No；'　said　Mr　Meagles。　'Not　exactly　other　children。　One　other
child。'

'I　am　afraid　I　have　inadvertently　touched　upon　a　tender　theme。'

'Never　mind；'　said　Mr　Meagles。　'If　I　am　grave　about　it；　I　am　not　at　all
sorroent；　but　does　not　make　me　unhappy。　Pet
had　a　twin　sister　who　died　when　we　could　just　see　her　eyes……exactly　like
Pet's……above　the　table；　as　she　stood　on　tiptoe　holding　by　it。'

'Ah！　indeed；　indeed！'

'Yes；　and　being　practical　people；　a　result　has　gradually　sprung　up　in
the　minds　of　Mrs　Meagles　and　myself　which　perhaps　you　may……or　perhaps
you　may　not……understand。　Pet　and　her　baby　sister　were　so　exactly　alike；
and　so　pletely　one；　that　in　our　thoughts　we　have　never　been　able
to　separate　them　since。　It　would　be　of　no　use　to　tell　us　that　our　dead
child　was　a　mere　infant。　We　have　changed　that　child　according　to　the
changes　in　the　child　spared　to　us　and　always　with　us。　As　Pet　has　grown；
that　child　has　grown；　as　Pet　has　bee　more　sensible　and　womanly；　her
sister　has　bee　more　sensible　and　womanly　by　just　the　same　degrees。
It　would　be　as　hard　to　convince　me　that　if　I　was　to　pass　into　the　other
world　to…morrow；　I　should　not；　through　the　mercy　of　God；　be　received
there　by　a　daughter；　just　like　Pet；　as　to　persuade　me　that　Pet　herself
is　not　a　reality　at　my　side。'　'I　understand　you；'　said　the　other；
gently。

'As　to　her；'　pursued　her　father；　'the　sudden　loss　of　her　little　picture
and　playfellow；　and　her　early　association　with　that　mystery　in　which　we
all　have　our　equal　share；　but　which　is　not　often　so　forcibly　presented
to　a　child；　has　necessarily　had　some　influence　on　her　character。　Then；
her　mother　and　I　were　not　young　when　we　married；　and　Pet　has　always　had
a　sort　of　grown…up　life　with　us；　though　we　have　tried　to　adapt　ourselves
to　her。　We　have　been　advised　more　than　once　when　she　has　been　a
little　ailing；　to　change　climate　and　air　for　her　as　often　as　we
could……especially　at　about　this　time　of　her　life……and　to　keep　her
amused。　So；　as　I　have　no　need　to　stick　at　a　bank…desk　now　（though　I　have
been　poor　enough　in　my　time　I　assure　you；　or　I　should　have　married　Mrs
Meagles　long　before）；　we　go　trotting　about　the　world。　This　is　how　you
found　us　staring　at　the　Nile；　and　the　Pyramids；　and　the　Sphinxes；　and
the　Desert；　and　all　the　rest　of　it；　and　this　is　how　Tattycoram　will　be　a
greater　traveller　in　course　of　time　than　Captain　Cook。'

'I　thank　you；'　said　the　other；　'very　heartily　for　your　confidence。'

'Don't　mention　it；'　returned　Mr　Meagles；　'I　am　sure　you　are　quite
wele。　And　now；　Mr　Clennam；　perhaps　I　may　ask　you　whether　you　have　yet
e　to　a　decision　where　to　go　next？'

'Indeed；　no。　I　am　such　a　waif　and　stray　everywhere；　that　I　am　liable　to
be　drifted　where　any　current　may　set。'

'It's　extraordinary　to　me……if　you'll　excuse　my　freedom　in　saying
so……that　you　don't　go　straight　to　London；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　in　the　tone
of　a　confidential　adviser。

'Perhaps　I　shall。'

'Ay！　But　I　mean　with　a　will。'

'I　have　no　will。　That　is　to　say；'……he　coloured　a　little；……'next　to　none
that　I　can　put　in　action　now。　Trained　by　main　force；　broken；　not　bent；
heavily　ironed　with　an　object　on　which　I　was　never　consulted　and　which
was　never　mine；　shipped　away　to　the　other　end　of　the　world　before　I
was　of　age；　and　exiled　there　until　my　father's　death　there；　a　year　ago；
always　grinding　in　a　mill　I　always　hated；　what　is　to　be　expected　from　me
in　middle　life？　Will；　purpose；　hope？　All　those　lights　were　extinguished
before　I　could　sound　the　words。'

'Light　'em　up　again！'　said　Mr　Meagles。

'Ah！　Easily　said。　I　am　the　son；　Mr　Meagles；　of　a　hard　father　and
mother。　I　am　the　only　child　of　parents　who　weighed；　measured；　and　priced
everything；　for　whom　what　could　not　be　weighed；　measured；　and　priced；
had　no　existence。　Strict　people　as　the　phrase　is；　professors　of　a　stern
religion；　their　very　religion　was　a　gloomy　sacrifice　of　tastes　and
sympathies　that　were　never　their　own；　offered　up　as　a　part　of　a　bargain
for　the　security　of　their　possessions。　Austere　faces；　inexorable
discipline；　penance　in　this　world　and　terror　in　the　next……nothing
graceful　or　gentle　anywhere；　and　the　void　in　my　cowed　heart
everywhere……this　was　my　childhood；　if　I　may　so　misuse　the　word　as　to
apply　it　to　such　a　beginning　of　life。'

'Really　though？'　said　Mr　Meagles；　made　very　unfortable　by　the　picture
offered　to　his　imagination。　'That　was　a　tough　mencement。　But　e！
You　must　now　study；　and　profit　by；　all　that　lies　beyond　it；　like　a
practical　man。'

'If　the　people　who　are　usually　called　practical；　were　practical　in　your
direction……'

'Why；　so　they　are！'　said　Mr　Meagles。

'Are　they　indeed？'

'Well；　I　suppose　so；'　returned　Mr　Meagles；　thinking　about　it。　'Eh？

One　can　but　be　practical；　and　Mrs　Meagles　and　myself　are　nothing　else。'

'My　unknown　course　is　easier　and　more　helpful　than　I　had　expected　to
find　it；　then；'　said　Clennam；　shaking　his　head　with　his　grave　smile。
'Enough　of　me。　Here　is　the　boat。'

The　boat　was　filled　with　the　cocked　hats　to　which　Mr　Meagles　entertained
a　national　objection；　and　the　wearers　of　those　cocked　hats　landed
and　came　up　the　steps；　and　all　the　impounded　travellers　congregated
together。　There　was　then　a　mighty　production　of　papers　on　the　part　of
the　cocked　hats；　and　a　calling　over　of　names；　and　great　work　of　signing；
sealing；　stamping；　inking；　and　sanding；　with　exceedingly　blurred；
gritty；　and　undecipherable　results。　Finally；　everything　was　done
according　to　rule；　and　the　travellers　were　at　liberty　to　depart
whithersoever　they　would。

They　made　little　account　of　stare　and　glare；　in　the　new　pleasure　of
recovering　their　freedom；　but　flitted　across　the　harbour　in　gay　boats；
and　reassembled　at　a　great　hotel；　whence　the　sun　was　excluded　by　closed
lattices；　and　where　bare　paved　floors；　lofty　ceilings；　and　resounding
corridors　tempered　the　intense　heat。　There；　a　great　table　in　a　great
room　was　soon　profusely　covered　with　a　superb　repast；　and　the　quarantine
quarters　became　bare　indeed；　remembered　among　dainty　dishes；　southern
fruits；　cooled　wines；　flowers　from　Genoa；　snow　from　the　mountain　tops；
and　all　the　colours　of　the　rainbow　flashing　in　the　mirrors。

'But　I　bear　those　monotonous　walls　no　ill…will　now；'　said　Mr　Meagles。
'One　always　begins　to　forgive　a　place　as　soon　as　it's　left　behind；　I
dare　say　a　prisoner　begins　to　relent　towards　his　prison；　after　he　is　let
out。'

They　were　about　thirty　in　pany；　and　all　talking；　but　necessarily　in
groups。　Father　and　Mother　Meagles　sat　with　their　daughter　between　them；
the　last　three　on　one　side　of　the　table：　on　the　opposite　side　sat　Mr
Clennam；　a　tall　French　gentleman　with　raven　hair　and　beard；　of　a　swart
and　terrible；　not　to　say　genteelly　diabolical　aspect；　but　who　had
shown　himself　the　mildest　of　men；　and　a　handsome　young　Englishwoman；
travelling　quite　alone；　who　had　a　proud　observant　face；　and　had　either
withdrawn　herself　from　the　rest　or　been　avoided　by　the　rest……nobody；
herself　excepted　perhaps；　could　have　quite　decided　which。　The　rest
of　the　party　were　of　the　usual　materials：　travellers　on　business；　and
travellers　for　pleasure；　officers　from　India　on　leave；　merchants　in
the　Greek　and　Turkey　trades；　a　clerical　English　husband　in　a　meek
strait…waistcoat；　on　a　wedding　trip　with　his　young　wife；　a　majestic
English　mama　and　papa；　of　the　patrician　order；　with　a　family　of　three
growing…up　daughters；　who　were　keeping　a　journal　for　the　confusion　of
their　fellow…creatures；　and　a　deaf　old　English　mother；　tough　in　travel；
with　a　very　decidedly　grown…up　daughter　indeed；　which　daughter　went
sketching　about　the　universe　in　the　expectation　of　ultimately　toning
herself　off　into　the　married　state。

The　reserved　Englishwoman　took　up　Mr　Meagles　in　his　last　remark。　'Do
you　mean　that　a　prisoner　forgives　his　prison？'　said　she；　slowly　and　with
emphasis。

'That　was　my　speculation；　Miss　Wade。　I　don't　pretend　to　know　positively
how　a　prisoner　might　feel。　I　never　was　one　before。'

'Mademoiselle　doubts；'　said　the　French　gentleman　in　his　own　language；
'it's　being　so　easy　to　forgive？'

'I　do。'

Pet　had　to　translate　this　passage　to　Mr　Meagles；　who　never　by　any
accident　acquired　any　knowledge　whatever　of　the　language　of　any　country
into　which　he　travelled。　'Oh！'　said　he。　'Dear　me！　But　that's　a　pity；
isn't　it？'

'That　I　am　not　credulous？'　said　Miss　Wade。

'Not　exactly　that。　Put　it　another　way。　That　you　can't　believe　it　easy　to
forgive。'

'My　experience；'　she　quietly　returned；　'has　been　correcting　my　belief
in　many　respects；　for　some　years。　It　is　our　natural　progress；　I　have
heard。'

'Well；　well！　But　it's　not　natural　to　bear　malice；　I　hope？'　said　Mr
Meagles；　cheerily。

'If　I　had　been　shut　up　in　any　place　to　pine　and　suffer；　I　should　always
hate　that　place　and　wish　to　burn　it　down；　or　raze　it　to　the　ground。　I
know　no　more。'　'Strong；　sir？'　said　Mr　Meagles　to　the　Frenchman；　it　being
another　of　his　habits　to　address　individuals　of　all　nations　in　idiomatic
English；　with　a　perfect　conviction　that　they　were　bound　to　understand
it　somehow。　'Rather　forcible　in　our　fair　friend；　you'll　agree　with　me；　I
think？'

The　French　gentleman　courteously　replied；　'Plait…il？'　To　which　Mr
Meagles　returned　with　much　satisfaction；　'You　are　right。　My　opinion。'

The　breakfast　beginning　by…and…by　to　languish；　Mr　Meagles　made　the
pany　a　speech。　It　was　short　enough　and　sensible　enough；　considering
that　it　was　a　speech　at　all；　and　hearty。　It　merely　went　to　the　effect
that　as　they　had　all　been　thrown　together　by　chance；　and　had　all
preserved　a　good　understanding　together；　and　were　now　about　to　disperse；
and　were　not　likely　ever　to　find　themselves　all　together　again；　what
could　they　do　better　than　bid　farewell　to　one　another；　and　give　one
another　good…speed　in　a　simultaneous　glass　of　cool　champagne　all　round
the　table？　It　was　done；　and　with　a　general　shaking　of　hands　the　assembly
broke　up　for　ever。

The　solitary　young　lady　all　this　time　had　said　no　more。　She　rose　with
the　rest；　and　silently　withdrew　to　a　remote　corner　of　the　great　room；
where　she　sat　herself　on　a　couch　in　a　window；　seeming　to　watch　the
reflection　of　the　water　as　it　made　a　silver　quivering　on　the　bars　of　the
lattice。　She　sat；　turned　away　from　the　whole　length　of　the　apartment；　as
if　she　were　lonely　of　her　own　haughty　choice。　And　yet　it　would　have　been
as　difficult　as　ever　to　say；　positively；　whether　she　avoided　the　rest；
or　was　avoided。

The　shadow　in　which　she　sat；　falling　like　a　gloomy　veil　across　her
forehead；　accorded　very　well　with　the　character　of　her　beauty。　One　could
hardly　see　the　face；　so　still　and　scornful；　set　off　by　the　arched
dark　eyebrows；　and　the　folds　of　dark　hair；　without　wondering　what　its
expression　would　be　if　a　change　came　over　it。　That　it　could　soften　or
relent；　appeared　next　to　impossible。　That　it　could　deepen　into　anger　or
any　extreme　of　defiance；　and　that　it　must　change　in　that　direction　when
it　changed　at　all；　would　have　been　its　peculiar　impression　upon　most
observers。　It　was　dressed　and　trimmed　into　no　ceremony　of　expression。
Although　not　an　open　face；　there　was　no　pretence　in　it。　'I　am
self…contained　and　self…reliant；　your　opinion　is　nothing　to　me；　I　have
no　interest　in　you；　care　nothing　for　you；　and　see　and　hear　you　with
indifference'……this　it　said　plainly。　It　said　so　in　the　proud　eyes；　in
the　lifted　nostril；　in　the　handsome　but　pressed　and　even　cruel　mouth。
Cover　either　two　of　those　channels　of　expression；　and　the　third　would
have　said　so　still。　Mask　them　all；　and　the　mere　turn　of　the　head　would
have　shown　an　unsubduable　nature。

Pet　had　moved　up　to　her　（she　had　been　the　subject　of　remark　among　her
family　and　Mr　Clennam；　who　were　now　the　only　other　occupants　of　the
room）；　and　was　standing　at　her　side。

'Are　you'……she　turned　her　eyes；　and　Pet　faltered……'expecting　any　one　to
meet　you　here；　Miss　Wade？'

'I？　No。'

'Father　is　sending　to　the　Poste　Restante。　Shall　he　have　the　pleasure　of
directing　the　messenger　to　ask　if　there　are　any　letters　for　you？'

'I　thank　him；　but　I　know　there　can　be　none。'

'We　are　afraid；'　said　Pet；　sitting　down　beside　her；　shyly　and　half
tenderly；　'that　you　will　feel　quite　deserted　when　we　are　all　gone。'

'Indeed！'

'Not；'　said　Pet；　apologetically　and　embarrassed　by　her　eyes；　'not；　of
course；　that　we　are　any　pany　to　you；　or　that　we　have　been　able　to　be
so；　or　that　we　thought　you　wished　it。'

'I　have　not　intended　to　make　it　understood　that　I　did　wish　it。'

'No。　Of　course。　But……in　short；'　said　Pet；　timidly　touching　her　hand　as
it　lay　impassive　on　the　sofa　between　them；　'will　you　not　allow　Father　to
tender　you　any　slight　assistance　or　service？　He　will　be　very　glad。'

'Very　glad；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　ing　forward　with