little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第59部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


stood　dingily　smiling；　and　breathing　hard　at　them；　with　a　most　curious
air；　as　if；　instead　of　being　his　proprietor's　grubber；　he　were　the
triumphant　proprietor　of　the　Marshalsea；　the　Marshal；　all　the　turnkeys；
and　all　the　Collegians。　In　his　great　self…satisfaction　he　put　his　cigar
to　his　lips　（being　evidently　no　smoker）；　and　took　such　a　pull　at　it；
with　his　right　eye　shut　up　tight　for　the　purpose；　that　he　underwent
a　convulsion　of　shuddering　and　choking。　But　even　in　the　midst　of　that
paroxysm；　he　still　essayed　to　repeat　his　favourite　introduction　of
himself；　'Pa…ancks　the　gi…ipsy；　fortune…telling。'

'I　am　spending　the　evening　with　the　rest　of　'em；'　said　Pancks。　'I've
been　singing。　I've　been　taking　a　part　in　White　sand　and　grey　sand。
I　don't　know　anything　about　it。　Never　mind。　I'll　take　any　part　in
anything。　It's　all　the　same；　if　you're　loud　enough。'

At　first　Clennam　supposed　him　to　be　intoxicated。　But　he　soon　perceived
that　though　he　might　be　a　little　the　worse　（or　better）　for　ale；　the
staple　of　his　excitement　was　not　brewed　from　malt；　or　distilled　from　any
grain　or　berry。

'How　d'ye　do；　Miss　Dorrit？'　said　Pancks。　'I　thought　you　wouldn't　mind　my
running　round；　and　looking　in　for　a　moment。　Mr　Clennam　I　heard　was　here；
from　Mr　Dorrit。　How　are　you；　Sir？'

Clennam　thanked　him；　and　said　he　was　glad　to　see　him　so　gay。

'Gay！'　said　Pancks。　'I'm　in　wonderful　feather；　sir。　I　can't　stop　a
minute；　or　I　shall　be　missed；　and　I　don't　want　'em　to　miss　me。……Eh；　Miss
Dorrit？'

He　seemed　to　have　an　insatiate　delight　in　appealing　to　her　and　looking
at　her；　excitedly　sticking　his　hair　up　at　the　same　moment；　like　a　dark
species　of　cockatoo。

'I　haven't　been　here　half　an　hour。　I　knew　Mr　Dorrit　was　in　the　chair；
and　I　said；　〃I'll　go　and　support　him！〃　I　ought　to　be　down　in　Bleeding
Heart　Yard　by　rights；　but　I　can　worry　them　to…morrow。……Eh；　Miss　Dorrit？'

His　little　black　eyes　sparkled　electrically。　His　very　hair　seemed　to
sparkle　as　he　roughened　it。　He　was　in　that　highly…charged　state　that　one
might　have　expected　to　draw　sparks　and　snaps　from　him　by　presenting　a
knuckle　to　any　part　of　his　figure。

'Capital　pany　here；'　said　Pancks。……'Eh；　Miss　Dorrit？'


She　was　half　afraid　of　him；　and　irresolute　what　to　say。　He　laughed；　with
a　nod　towards　Clennam。

'Don't　mind　him；　Miss　Dorrit。　He's　one　of　us。　We　agreed　that　you
shouldn't　take　on　to　mind　me　before　people；　but　we　didn't　mean　Mr
Clennam。　He's　one　of　us。　He's　in　it。　An't　you；　Mr　Clennam？……Eh；　Miss
Dorrit？'　The　excitement　of　this　strange　creature　was　fast　municating
itself　to　Clennam。　Little　Dorrit　with　amazement；　saw　this；　and　observed
that　they　exchanged　quick　looks。

'I　was　making　a　remark；'　said　Pancks；　'but　I　declare　I　forget　what
it　was。　Oh；　I　know！　Capital　pany　here。　I've　been　treating　'em　all
round。……Eh；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'Very　generous　of　you；'　she　returned；　noticing　another　of　the　quick
looks　between　the　two。

'Not　at　all；'　said　Pancks。　'Don't　mention　it。　I'm　ing　into　my
property；　that's　the　fact。　I　can　afford　to　be　liberal。　I　think　I'll　give
'em　a　treat　here。　Tables　laid　in　the　yard。　Bread　in　stacks。　Pipes　in
faggots。　Tobacco　in　hayloads。　Roast　beef　and　plum…pudding　for　every　one。
Quart　of　double　stout　a　head。　Pint　of　wine　too；　if　they　like　it；　and　the
authorities　give　permission。……Eh；　Miss　Dorrit？'

She　was　thrown　into　such　a　confusion　by　his　manner；　or　rather　by
Clennam's　growing　understanding　of　his　manner　（for　she　looked　to　him
after　every　fresh　appeal　and　cockatoo　demonstration　on　the　part　of　Mr
Pancks）；　that　she　only　moved　her　lips　in　answer；　without　forming　any
word。

'And　oh；　by…the…bye！'　said　Pancks；　'you　were　to　live　to　know　what　was
behind　us　on　that　little　hand　of　yours。　And　so　you　shall；　you　shall；　my
darling。……Eh；　Miss　Dorrit？'

He　had　suddenly　checked　himself。　Where　he　got　all　the　additional　black
prongs　from；　that　now　flew　up　all　over　his　head　like　the　myriads　of
points　that　break　out　in　the　large　change　of　a　great　firework；　was　a
wonderful　mystery。

'But　I　shall　be　missed；'　he　came　back　to　that；　'and　I　don't　want　'em　to
miss　me。　Mr　Clennam；　you　and　I　made　a　bargain。　I　said　you　should　find　me
stick　to　it。　You　shall　find　me　stick　to　it　now；　sir；　if　you'll　step　out
of　the　room　a　moment。　Miss　Dorrit；　I　wish　you　good　night。　Miss　Dorrit；　I
wish　you　good　fortune。'

He　rapidly　shook　her　by　both　hands；　and　puffed　down　stairs。　Arthur
followed　him　with　such　a　hurried　step；　that　he　had　very　nearly　tumbled
over　him　on　the　last　landing；　and　rolled　him　down　into　the　yard。

'What　is　it；　for　Heaven's　sake！'　Arthur　demanded；　when　they　burst　out
there　both　together。

'Stop　a　moment；　sir。　Mr　Rugg。　Let　me　introduce　him。'　With　those　words
he　presented　another　man　without　a　hat；　and　also　with　a　cigar；　and　also
surrounded　with　a　halo　of　ale　and　tobacco　smoke；　which　man；　though　not
so　excited　as　himself；　was　in　a　state　which　would　have　been　akin　to
lunacy　but　for　its　fading　into　sober　method　when　pared　with　the
rampancy　of　Mr　Pancks。　'Mr　Clennam；　Mr　Rugg；'　said　Pancks。　'Stop　a
moment。　e　to　the　pump。'

They　adjourned　to　the　pump。　Mr　Pancks；　instantly　putting　his　head　under
the　spout；　requested　Mr　Rugg　to　take　a　good　strong　turn　at　the　handle。
Mr　Rugg　plying　to　the　letter；　Mr　Pancks　came　forth　snorting　and
blowing　to　some　purpose；　and　dried　himself　on　his　handkerchief。

'I　am　the　clearer　for　that；'　he　gasped　to　Clennam　standing　astonished。
'But　upon　my　soul；　to　hear　her　father　making　speeches　in　that　chair；
knowing　what　we　know；　and　to　see　her　up　in　that　room　in　that　dress；
knowing　what　we　know；　is　enough　to……give　me　a　back；　Mr　Rugg……a　little
higher；　sir；……that'll　do！'

Then　and　there；　on　that　Marshalsea　pavement；　in　the　shades　of　evening；
did　Mr　Pancks；　of　all　mankind；　fly　over　the　head　and　shoulders　of　Mr
Rugg　of　Pentonville；　General　Agent；　Accountant；　and　Recoverer　of　Debts。
Alighting　on　his　feet；　he　took　Clennam　by　the　button…hole；　led　him
behind　the　pump；　and　pantingly　produced　from　his　pocket　a　bundle　of
papers。　Mr　Rugg；　also；　pantingly　produced　from　his　pocket　a　bundle　of
papers。

'Stay！'　said　Clennam　in　a　whisper。'You　have　made　a　discovery。'

Mr　Pancks　answered；　with　an　unction　which　there　is　no　language　to
convey；　'We　rather　think　so。'

'Does　it　implicate　any　one？'

'How　implicate；　sir？'

'In　any　suppression　or　wrong　dealing　of　any　kind？'

'Not　a　bit　of　it。'

'Thank　God！'　said　Clennam　to　himself。　'Now　show　me。'　'You　are　to
understand'……snorted　Pancks；　feverishly　unfolding　papers；　and　speaking
in　short　high…pressure　blasts　of　sentences；　'Where's　the　Pedigree？
Where's　Schedule　number　four；　Mr　Rugg？　Oh！　all　right！　Here　we　are。……You
are　to　understand　that　we　are　this　very　day　virtually　plete。　We
shan't　be　legally　for　a　day　or　two。　Call　it　at　the　outside　a　week。　We've
been　at　it　night　and　day　for　I　don't　know　how　long。　Mr　Rugg；　you　know
how　long？　Never　mind。　Don't　say。　You'll　only　confuse　me。　You　shall　tell
her；　Mr　Clennam。　Not　till　we　give　you　leave。　Where's　that　rough　total；
Mr　Rugg？　Oh！　Here　we　are！　There　sir！　That's　what　you'll　have　to　break　to
her。　That　man's　your　Father　of　the　Marshalsea！'




CHAPTER　33。　Mrs　Merdle's　plaint

Resigning　herself　to　inevitable　fate　by　making　the　best　of　those　people；
the　Miggleses；　and　submitting　her　philosophy　to　the　draught　upon　it；　of
which　she　had　foreseen　the　likelihood　in　her　interview　with　Arthur；
Mrs　Gowan　handsomely　resolved　not　to　oppose　her　son's　marriage。　In　her
progress　to；　and　happy　arrival　at；　this　resolution；　she　was　possibly
influenced；　not　only　by　her　maternal　affections　but　by　three　politic
considerations。

Of　these；　the　first　may　have　been　that　her　son　had　never　signified　the
smallest　intention　to　ask　her　consent；　or　any　mistrust　of　his　ability
to　dispense　with　it；　the　second；　that　the　pension　bestowed　upon　her　by　a
grateful　country　（and　a　Barnacle）　would　be　freed　from　any　little　filial
inroads；　when　her　Henry　should　be　married　to　the　darling　only　child　of
a　man　in　very　easy　circumstances；　the　third；　that　Henry's　debts　must
clearly　be　paid　down　upon　the　altar…railing　by　his　father…in…law。　When；
to　these　three…fold　points　of　prudence　there　is　added　the　fact　that
Mrs　Gowan　yielded　her　consent　the　moment　she　knew　of　Mr　Meagles　having
yielded　his；　and　that　Mr　Meagles's　objection　to　the　marriage　had
been　the　sole　obstacle　in　its　way　all　along；　it　bees　the　height　of
probability　that　the　relict　of　the　deceased　missioner　of　nothing
particular；　turned　these　ideas　in　her　sagacious　mind。

Among　her　connections　and　acquaintances；　however；　she　maintained　her
individual　dignity　and　the　dignity　of　the　blood　of　the　Barnacles；　by
diligently　nursing　the　pretence　that　it　was　a　most　unfortunate　business；
that　she　was　sadly　cut　up　by　it；　that　this　was　a　perfect　fascination
under　which　Henry　laboured；　that　she　had　opposed　it　for　a　long　time；
but　what　could　a　mother　do；　and　the　like。　She　had　already　called　Arthur
Clennam　to　bear　witness　to　this　fable；　as　a　friend　of　the　Meagles
family；　and　she　followed　up　the　move　by　now　impounding　the　family　itself
for　the　same　purpose。　In　the　first　interview　she　accorded　to　Mr　Meagles；
she　slided　herself　into　the　position　of　disconsolately　but　gracefully
yielding　to　irresistible　pressure。　With　the　utmost　politeness　and
good…breeding；　she　feigned　that　it　was　she……not　he……who　had　made　the
difficulty；　and　who　at　length　gave　way；　and　that　the　sacrifice　was
hers……not　his。　The　same　feint；　with　the　same　polite　dexterity；　she
foisted　on　Mrs　Meagles；　as　a　conjuror　might　have　forced　a　card　on　that
innocent　lady；　and；　when　her　future　daughter…in…law　was　presented　to　her
by　her　son；　she　said　on　embracing　her；　'My　dear；　what　have　you　done　to
Henry　that　has　bewitched　him　so！'　at　the　same　time　allowing　a　few　tears
to　carry　before　them；　in　little　pills；　the　cosmetic　powder　on　her　nose；
as　a　delicate　but　touching　signal　that　she　suffered　much　inwardly　for
the　show　of　posure　with　which　she　bore　her　misfortune。

Among　the　friends　of　Mrs　Gowan　（who　piqued　herself　at　once　on　being
Society；　and　on　maintaining　intimate　and　easy　relations　with　that
Power）；　Mrs　Merdle　occupied　a　front　row。　True；　the　Hampton　Court
Bohemians；　without　exception；　turned　up　their　noses　at　Merdle　as　an
upstart；　but　they　turned　them　down　again；　by　falling　flat　on　their　faces
to　worship　his　wealth。　In　which　pensating　adjustment　of　their　noses；
they　were　pretty　much　like　Treasury；　Bar；　and　Bishop；　and　all　the　rest
of　them。

To　Mrs　Merdle；　Mrs　Gowan　repaired　on　a　visit　of　self…condolence；　after
having　given　the　gracious　consent　aforesaid。　She　drove　into　town　for　the
purpose　in　a　one…horse　carriage　irreverently　called　at　that　period　of
English　history；　a　pill…box。　It　belonged　to　a　job…master　in　a　small　way；
who　drove　it　himself；　and　who　jobbed　it　by　the　day；　or　hour；　to　most　of
the　old　ladies　in　Hampton　Court　Palace；　but　it　was　a　point　of　ceremony；
in　that　encampment；　that　the　whole　equipage　should　be　tacitly　regarded
as　the　private　property　of　the　jobber　for　the　time　being；　and　that　the
job…master　should　betray　personal　knowledge　of　nobody　but　the　jobber
in　possession。　So　the　Circumlocution　Barnacles；　who　were　the　largest
job…masters　in　the　universe；　always　pretended　to　know　of　no　other　job
but　the　job　immediately　in　hand。

Mrs　Merdle　was　at　home；　and　was　in　her　nest　of　crimson　and　gold；　with
the　parrot　on　a　neighbouring　stem　watching　her　with　his　head　on　one
side；　as　if　he　took　her　for　another　splendid　parrot　of　a　larger　species。
To　whom　entered　Mrs　Gowan；　with　her　favourite　green　fan；　which　softened
the　light　on　the　spots　of　bloom。

'My　dear　soul；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　tapping　the　back　of　her　friend's　hand
with　this　fan　after　a　little　indifferent　conversation；　'you　are　my　only
fort。　That　affair　of　Henry's　that　I　told　you　of；　is　to　take　place。
Now；　how　does　it　strike　you？　I　am　dying　to　know；　because　you　represent
and　express　Society　so　well。'

Mrs　Merdle　reviewed　the　bosom　which　Society　was　accustomed　to　review；
and　having　ascertained　that　show…window　of　Mr　Merdle's　and　the　London
jewellers'　to　be　in　good　order；　replied：

'As　to　marriage　on　the　part　of　a　man；　my　dear；　Society　requires　that
he　should　retrieve　his　fortunes　by　marriage。　Society　requires　that
he　should　gain　by　marriage。　Society　requires　that　he　should　found　a
handsome　establishment　by　marriage。　Society　does　not　see；　otherwise；
what　he　has　to　do　with　marriage。　Bird；　be　quiet！'

For　the　parrot　on　his　cage　above　them；　presiding　over　the　conference　as
if　he　were　a　judge　（and　indeed　he　looked　rather　like　one）；　had　wound　up
the　exposition　with　a　shriek。

'Cases　there　are；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　delicately　crooking　the　little
finger　of　her　favourite　hand；　and　making　her　remarks　neater　by　that　neat
action；　'cases　there　are　where　a　man　is　not　young　or　elegant；　and　is
rich；　and　has　a　handsome　establishment　already。　Those　are　of　a　different
kind。　In　such　cases……'

Mrs　Merdle　shrugged　her　snowy　shoulders　and　put　her　hand　upon　the
jewel…stand；　checking　a　little　cough；　as　though　to　add；　'why；　a　man
looks　out　for　this　sort　of　thing；　my　dear。'　Then　the　parrot　shrieked
again；　and　she　put　up　her　glass　to　look　at　him；　and　said；　'Bird！　Do　be
quiet！'　'But；　young　men；'　resumed　Mrs　Merdle；　'and　by　young　men　you　know
what　I　mean；　my　love……I　mean　people's　sons　who　have　the　world　before
them……they　must　place　themselves　in　a　better　position　towards　Society　by
marriage；　or　Society　really　will　not　have　any　patience　with　their　making
fools　of　themselves。　Dreadfully　worldly　all　this　sounds；'　said　Mrs
Merdle；　leaning　back　in　her　nest　and　putting　up　her　glass　again；　'does
it　not？'

'But　it　is　true；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　with　a　highly　moral　air。

'My　dear；　it　is　not　to　be　disputed　for　a　moment；'　returned　Mrs　Merdle；
'because　Society　has　made　up　its　mind　on　the　subject；　and　there　is
nothing　more　to　be　said。　If　we　were　in　a　more　primitive　state；　if　we
lived　under　roofs　of　leaves；　and　kept　cows　and　sheep　and　creatures
instead　of　banker's　accounts　（which　would　be　delicious；　my　dear；　I　am
pastoral　to　a　degree；　by　nature）；　well　and　good。　But　we　don't　live
under　leaves；　and　keep　cows　and　sheep　and　creatures。　I　perfectly　exhaust
myself　sometimes；　in　pointing　out　the　distinction　to　Edmund　Sparkler。'

Mrs　Gowan；　looking　over　her　green　fan　when　this　young　gentleman's　name
was　mentioned；　replied　as　follows：

'My　love；　you　know　the　wretched　state　of　the　country……those　unfortunate
concessions　of　John　Barnacle's！……and　you　therefore　know　the　reasons　for
my　being　as　poor　as　Thingummy。'

'A　church　mouse？'　Mrs　Merdle　suggested　with　a　smile。

'I　was　thinking　of　the　other　proverbial　church　person……Job；'　said　Mrs
Gowan。　'Either　will　do。　It　would　be　idle　to　disguise；　consequently；　that
there　is　a　wide　difference　between　the　position　of　your　son　and　mine。　I
may　add；　too；　that　Henry　has　talent……'

'Which　Edmund　certainly　has　not；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　with　the　greatest
suavity。

'……and　that　his　talent；　bined　with　disappointment；'　Mrs　Gowan　went
on；　'has　led　him　into　a　pursuit　which……ah　dear　me！　You　know；　my　dear。
Such　being　Henry's　different　position；　the　question　is　what　is　the　most
inferior　class　of　marriage　to　which　I　can　reconcile　myself。'

Mrs　Merdle　was　so　much　engaged　with　the　contemplation　of　her　arms
（beautiful…formed　arms；　and　th