little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第40部分

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Little　Dorrit　an　interest　so　peculiar……an　interest　that　removed　her
from；　while　it　grew　out　of；　the　mon　and　coarse　things　surrounding
her……that　he　found　it　disappointing；　disagreeable；　almost　painful；　to
suppose　her　in　love　with　young　Mr　Chivery　in　the　back…yard；　or　any　such
person。　On　the　other　hand；　he　reasoned　with　himself　that　she　was　just
as　good　and　just　as　true　in　love　with　him；　as　not　in　love　with　him；
and　that　to　make　a　kind　of　domesticated　fairy　of　her；　on　the　penalty
of　isolation　at　heart　from　the　only　people　she　knew；　would　be　but　a
weakness　of　his　own　fancy；　and　not　a　kind　one。　Still；　her　youthful　and
ethereal　appearance；　her　timid　manner；　the　charm　of　her　sensitive　voice
and　eyes；　the　very　many　respects　in　which　she　had　interested　him　out
of　her　own　individuality；　and　the　strong　difference　between　herself　and
those　about　her；　were　not　in　unison；　and　were　determined　not　to　be　in
unison；　with　this　newly　presented　idea。

He　told　the　worthy　Mrs　Chivery；　after　turning　these　things　over　in　his
mind……he　did　that；　indeed；　while　she　was　yet　speaking……that　he　might　be
relied　upon　to　do　his　utmost　at　all　times　to　promote　the　happiness　of
Miss　Dorrit；　and　to　further　the　wishes　of　her　heart　if　it　were　in　his
power　to　do　so；　and　if　he　could　discover　what　they　were。　At　the　same
time　he　cautioned　her　against　assumptions　and　appearances；　enjoined
strict　silence　and　secrecy；　lest　Miss　Dorrit　should　be　made　unhappy；　and
particularly　advised　her　to　endeavour　to　win　her　son's　confidence　and　so
to　make　quite　sure　of　the　state　of　the　case。　Mrs　Chivery　considered　the
latter　precaution　superfluous；　but　said　she　would　try。　She　shook　her
head　as　if　she　had　not　derived　all　the　fort　she　had　fondly　expected
from　this　interview；　but　thanked　him　nevertheless　for　the　trouble　he　had
kindly　taken。　They　then　parted　good　friends；　and　Arthur　walked　away。

The　crowd　in　the　street　jostling　the　crowd　in　his　mind；　and　the　two
crowds　making　a　confusion；　he　avoided　London　Bridge；　and　turned　off　in
the　quieter　direction　of　the　Iron　Bridge。　He　had　scarcely　set　foot　upon
it；　when　he　saw　Little　Dorrit　walking　on　before　him。　It　was　a　pleasant
day；　with　a　light　breeze　blowing；　and　she　seemed　to　have　that　minute
e　there　for　air。　He　had　left　her　in　her　father's　room　within　an　hour。

It　was　a　timely　chance；　favourable　to　his　wish　of　observing　her　face
and　manner　when　no　one　else　was　by。　He　quickened　his　pace；　but　before　he
reached　her；　she　turned　her　head。

'Have　I　startled　you？'　he　asked。

'I　thought　I　knew　the　step；'　she　answered；　hesitating。

'And　did　you　know　it；　Little　Dorrit？　You　could　hardly　have　expected
mine。'

'I　did　not　expect　any。　But　when　I　heard　a　step；　I　thought　it……sounded
like　yours。'

'Are　you　going　further？'

'No；　sir；　I　am　only　walking　her　for　a　little　change。'

They　walked　together；　and　she　recovered　her　confiding　manner　with　him；
and　looked　up　in　his　face　as　she　said；　after　glancing　around：

'It　is　so　strange。　Perhaps　you　can　hardly　understand　it。　I　sometimes
have　a　sensation　as　if　it　was　almost　unfeeling　to　walk　here。'

'Unfeeling？'

'To　see　the　river；　and　so　much　sky；　and　so　many　objects；　and　such　change
and　motion。　Then　to　go　back；　you　know；　and　find　him　in　the　same　cramped
place。'

'Ah　yes！　But　going　back；　you　must　remember　that　you　take　with　you　the
spirit　and　influence　of　such　things　to　cheer　him。'

'Do　I？　I　hope　I　may！　I　am　afraid　you　fancy　too　much；　sir；　and　make　me
out　too　powerful。　If　you　were　in　prison；　could　I　bring　such　fort　to
you？'　'Yes；　Little　Dorrit；　I　am　sure　of　it。'

He　gathered　from　a　tremor　on　her　lip；　and　a　passing　shadow　of　great
agitation　on　her　face；　that　her　mind　was　with　her　father。　He　remained
silent　for　a　few　moments；　that　she　might　regain　her　posure。　The
Little　Dorrit；　trembling　on　his　arm；　was　less　in　unison　than　ever　with
Mrs　Chivery's　theory；　and　yet　was　not　irreconcilable　with　a　new　fancy
which　sprung　up　within　him；　that　there　might　be　some　one　else　in　the
hopeless……newer　fancy　still……in　the　hopeless　unattainable　distance。

They　turned；　and　Clennam　said；　Here　was　Maggy　ing！　Little　Dorrit
looked　up；　surprised；　and　they　confronted　Maggy；　who　brought　herself
at　sight　of　them　to　a　dead　stop。　She　had　been　trotting　along；　so
preoccupied　and　busy　that　she　had　not　recognised　them　until　they　turned
upon　her。　She　was　now　in　a　moment　so　conscience…stricken　that　her　very
basket　partook　of　the　change。

'Maggy；　you　promised　me　to　stop　near　father。'

'So　I　would；　Little　Mother；　only　he　wouldn't　let　me。　If　he　takes　and
sends　me　out　I　must　go。　If　he　takes　and　says；　〃Maggy；　you　hurry　away　and
back　with　that　letter；　and　you　shall　have　a　sixpence　if　the　answer's　a
good　'un；〃　I　must　take　it。　Lor；　Little　Mother；　what's　a　poor　thing　of
ten　year　old　to　do？　And　if　Mr　Tip……if　he　happens　to　be　a　ing　in　as
I　e　out；　and　if　he　says　〃Where　are　you　going；　Maggy？〃　and　if　I　says；
〃I'm　a　going　So　and　So；〃　and　if　he　says；　〃I'll　have　a　Try　too；〃　and　if
he　goes　into　the　George　and　writes　a　letter　and　if　he　gives　it　me　and
says；　〃Take　that　one　to　the　same　place；　and　if　the　answer's　a　good　'un
I'll　give　you　a　shilling；〃　it　ain't　my　fault；　mother！'

Arthur　read；　in　Little　Dorrit's　downcast　eyes；　to　whom　she　foresaw　that
the　letters　were　addressed。

'I'm　a　going　So　and　So。　There！　That's　where　I　am　a　going　to；'　said
Maggy。　'I'm　a　going　So　and　So。　It　ain't　you；　Little　Mother；　that's　got
anything　to　do　with　it……it's　you；　you　know；'　said　Maggy；　addressing
Arthur。　'You'd　better　e；　So　and　So；　and　let　me　take　and　give　'em　to
you。'

'We　will　not　be　so　particular　as　that；　Maggy。　Give　them　me　here；'　said
Clennam　in　a　low　voice。

'Well；　then；　e　across　the　road；'　answered　Maggy　in　a　very　loud
whisper。　'Little　Mother　wasn't　to　know　nothing　of　it；　and　she　would
never　have　known　nothing　of　it　if　you　had　only　gone　So　and　So；　instead
of　bothering　and　loitering　about。　It　ain't　my　fault。　I　must　do　what　I　am
told。　They　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　themselves　for　telling　me。'

Clennam　crossed　to　the　other　side；　and　hurriedly　opened　the　letters。
That　from　the　father　mentioned　that　most　unexpectedly　finding　himself　in
the　novel　position　of　having　been　disappointed　of　a　remittance　from
the　City　on　which　he　had　confidently　counted；　he　took　up　his　pen；　being
restrained　by　the　unhappy　circumstance　of　his　incarceration　during
three…and…twenty　years　（doubly　underlined）；　from　ing　himself；　as
he　would　otherwise　certainly　have　done……took　up　his　pen　to　entreat　Mr
Clennam　to　advance　him　the　sum　of　Three　Pounds　Ten　Shillings　upon　his
I。O。U。；　which　he　begged　to　enclose。　That　from　the　son　set　forth　that
Mr　Clennam　would；　he　knew；　be　gratified　to　hear　that　he　had　at
length　obtained　permanent　employment　of　a　highly　satisfactory　nature；
acpanied　with　every　prospect　of　plete　success　in　life；　but　that
the　temporary　inability　of　his　employer　to　pay　him　his　arrears　of　salary
to　that　date　（in　which　condition　said　employer　had　appealed　to　that
generous　forbearance　in　which　he　trusted　he　should　never　be　wanting
towards　a　fellow…creature）；　bined　with　the　fraudulent　conduct　of　a
false　friend　and　the　present　high　price　of　provisions；　had　reduced
him　to　the　verge　of　ruin；　unless　he　could　by　a　quarter　before　six　that
evening　raise　the　sum　of　eight　pounds。　This　sum；　Mr　Clennam　would　be
happy　to　learn；　he　had；　through　the　promptitude　of　several　friends
who　had　a　lively　confidence　in　his　probity；　already　raised；　with　the
exception　of　a　trifling　balance　of　one　pound　seventeen　and　fourpence；
the　loan　of　which　balance；　for　the　period　of　one　month；　would　be　fraught
with　the　usual　beneficent　consequences。

These　letters　Clennam　answered　with　the　aid　of　his　pencil　and
pocket…book；　on　the　spot；　sending　the　father　what　he　asked　for；　and
excusing　himself　from　pliance　with　the　demand　of　the　son。　He　then
missioned　Maggy　to　return　with　his　replies；　and　gave　her　the
shilling　of　which　the　failure　of　her　supplemental　enterprise　would　have
disappointed　her　otherwise。

When　he　rejoined　Little　Dorrit；　and　they　had　begun　walking　as　before；
she　said　all　at　once：

'I　think　I　had　better　go。　I　had　better　go　home。'

'Don't　be　distressed；'　said　Clennam；　'I　have　answered　the　letters。　They
were　nothing。　You　know　what　they　were。　They　were　nothing。'

'But　I　am　afraid；'　she　returned；　'to　leave　him；　I　am　afraid　to　leave
any　of　them。　When　I　am　gone；　they　pervert……but　they　don't　mean　it……even
Maggy。'

'It　was　a　very　innocent　mission　that　she　undertook；　poor　thing。　And
in　keeping　it　secret　from　you；　she　supposed；　no　doubt；　that　she　was　only
saving　you　uneasiness。'

'Yes；　I　hope　so；　I　hope　so。　But　I　had　better　go　home！　It　was　but　the
other　day　that　my　sister　told　me　I　had　bee　so　used　to　the　prison　that
I　had　its　tone　and　character。　It　must　be　so。　I　am　sure　it　must　be　when　I
see　these　things。　My　place　is　there。　I　am　better　there；　it　is　unfeeling
in　me　to　be　here；　when　I　can　do　the　least　thing　there。　Good…bye。　I　had
far　better　stay　at　home！'

The　agonised　way　in　which　she　poured　this　out；　as　if　it　burst　of　itself
from　her　suppressed　heart；　made　it　difficult　for　Clennam　to　keep　the
tears　from　his　eyes　as　he　saw　and　heard　her。

'Don't　call　it　home；　my　child！'　he　entreated。　'It　is　always　painful　to
me　to　hear　you　call　it　home。'

'But　it　is　home！　What　else　can　I　call　home？　Why　should　I　ever　forget　it
for　a　single　moment？'

'You　never　do；　dear　Little　Dorrit；　in　any　good　and　true　service。'

'I　hope　not；　O　I　hope　not！　But　it　is　better　for　me　to　stay　there；　much
better；　much　more　dutiful；　much　happier。　Please　don't　go　with　me；　let　me
go　by　myself。　Good…bye；　God　bless　you。　Thank　you；　thank　you。'

He　felt　that　it　was　better　to　respect　her　entreaty；　and　did　not　move
while　her　slight　form　。　When　it　had　fluttered
out　of　sight；　he　turned　his　face　towards　the　water　and　stood　thinking。

She　would　have　been　distressed　at　any　time　by　this　discovery　of　the
letters；　but　so　much　so；　and　in　that　unrestrainable　way？

No。

When　she　had　seen　her　father　begging　with　his　threadbare　disguise　on；
when　she　had　entreated　him　not　to　give　her　father　money；　she　had
been　distressed；　but　not　like　this。　Something　had　made　her　keenly　and
additionally　sensitive　just　now。　Now；　was　there　some　one　in　the　hopeless
unattainable　distance？　Or　had　the　suspicion　been　brought　into　his　mind；
by　his　own　associations　of　the　troubled　river　running　beneath　the　bridge
with　the　same　river　higher　up；　its　changeless　tune　upon　the　prow　of　the
ferry…boat；　so　many　miles　an　hour　the　peaceful　flowing　of　the　stream；
here　the　rushes；　there　the　lilies；　nothing　uncertain　or　unquiet？

He　thought　of　his　poor　child；　Little　Dorrit；　for　a　long　time　there；　he
thought　of　her　going　home；　he　thought　of　her　in　the　night；　he　thought
of　her　when　the　day　came　round　again。　And　the　poor　child　Little　Dorrit
thought　of　him……too　faithfully；　ah；　too　faithfully！……in　the　shadow　of
the　Marshalsea　wall。




CHAPTER　23。　Machinery　in　Motion


Mr　Meagles　bestirred　himself　with　such　prompt　activity　in　the　matter　of
the　negotiation　with　Daniel　Doyce　which　Clennam　had　entrusted　to　him；
that　he　soon　brought　it　into　business　train；　and　called　on　Clennam　at
nine　o'clock　one　morning　to　make　his　report。　'Doyce　is　highly　gratified
by　your　good　opinion；'　he　opened　the　business　by　saying；　'and　desires
nothing　so　much　as　that　you　should　examine　the　affairs　of　the　Works　for
yourself；　and　entirely　understand　them。　He　has　handed　me　the　keys　of
all　his　books　and　papers……here　they　are　jingling　in　this　pocket……and　the
only　charge　he　has　given　me　is　〃Let　Mr　Clennam　have　the　means　of　putting
himself　on　a　perfect　equality　with　me　as　to　knowing　whatever　I　know。
If　it　should　e　to　nothing　after　all；　he　will　respect　my　confidence。
Unless　I　was　sure　of　that　to　begin　with；　I　should　have　nothing　to　do
with　him。〃　And　there；　you　see；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'you　have　Daniel　Doyce
all　over。'

'A　very　honourable　character。'

'Oh；　yes；　to　be　sure。　Not　a　doubt　of　it。　Odd；　but　very　honourable。　Very
odd　though。　Now；　would　you　believe；　Clennam；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　with
a　hearty　enjoyment　of　his　friend's　eccentricity；　'that　I　had　a　whole
morning　in　What's…his…name　Yard……'

'Bleeding　Heart？'

'A　whole　morning　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard；　before　I　could　induce　him　to
pursue　the　subject　at　all？'

'How　was　that？'

'How　was　that；　my　friend？　I　no　sooner　mentioned　your　name　in　connection
with　it　than　he　declared　off。'

'Declared　off　on　my　account？'

'I　no　sooner　mentioned　your　name；　Clennam；　than　he　said；　〃That　will
never　do！〃　What　did　he　mean　by　that？　I　asked　him。　No　matter；　Meagles；
that　would　never　do。　Why　would　it　never　do？　You'll　hardly　believe　it；
Clennam；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　laughing　within　himself；　'but　it　came　out
that　it　would　never　do；　because　you　and　he；　walking　down　to　Twickenham
together；　had　glided　into　a　friendly　conversation　in　the　course　of　which
he　had　referred　to　his　intention　of　taking　a　partner；　supposing　at　the
time　that　you　were　as　firmly　and　finally　settled　as　St　Paul's　Cathedral。
〃Whereas；〃　says　he；　〃Mr　Clennam　might　now　believe；　if　I　entertained　his
proposition；　that　I　had　a　sinister　and　designing　motive　in　what　was　open
free　speech。　Which　I　can't　bear；〃　says　he；　〃which　I　really　am　too　proud
to　bear。〃'

'I　should　as　soon　suspect……'

'Of　course　you　would；'　interrupted　Mr　Meagles；　'and　so　I　told　him。　But
it　took　a　morning　to　scale　that　wall；　and　I　doubt　if　any　other　man
than　myself　（he　likes　me　of　old）　could　have　got　his　leg　over　it。　Well；
Clennam。　This　business…like　obstacle　surmounted；　he　then　stipulated　that
before　resuming　with　you　I　should　look　over　the　books　and　form　my　own
opinion。　I　looked　over　the　books；　and　formed　my　own　opinion。　〃Is　it；　on
the　whole；　for；　or　against？〃　says　he。　〃For；〃　says　I。　〃Then；〃　says　he；
〃you　may　now；　my　good　friend；　give　Mr　Clennam　the　means　of　forming
his　opinion。　To　enable　him　to　do　which；　without　bias　and　with　perfect
freedom；　I　shall　go　out　of　town　for　a　week。〃　And　he's　gone；'　said　Mr
Meagles；　that's　the　rich　conclusion　of　the　thing。'

'Leaving　me；'　said　Clennam；　'with　a　high　sense；　I　must　say；　of　his
candour　and　his……'

'Oddity；'　Mr　Meagles　struck　in。　'I　should　think　so！'

It　was　not　exactly　the　word　on　Clennam's　lips；　but　he　forbore　to
interrupt　his　good…humoured　friend。

'And　now；'　added　Mr　Meagles；　'you　can　begin　to　look　into　matters　as　soon
as　you　think　proper。　I　have　undertaken　to　explain　where　you　may　want
explanation；　but　to　be　strictly　impartial；　and　to　do　nothing　more。'

They　began　their　perquisitions　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　that　same
forenoon。　Little　peculiarities　were　easily　to　be　detected　by　experienced
eyes　in　Mr　Doyce's　way　of　managing　his　affairs；　but　they　almost　always
involved　some　ingenious　simplification　of　a　difficulty；　and　some　plain
road　to　the　desired　end。　That　his　papers　were　in　arrear；　and　that　he
stood　in　need　of　assistance　to　develop　the　capacity　of　his　business；　was
clear　enough；　but　all　the　results　of　his　undertakings　during　many　years
were　distinctly　set　forth；　and　were　ascertainable　with　ease。　Nothing　had
been　done　for　the　purposes　of　the　pending　investigation；　everything　was
in　its　genuine　working　dress；　and　in　a　certain　honest　rugged　order。　The
calculations　and　entries；　in　his　own　hand；　of　which　there　were　many；
were　bluntly　written；　and　wi