little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第60部分

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Mrs　Merdle　was　so　much　engaged　with　the　contemplation　of　her　arms
（beautiful…formed　arms；　and　the　very　thing　for　bracelets）；　that　she
omitted　to　reply　for　a　while。　Roused　at　length　by　the　silence；　she
folded　the　arms；　and　with　admirable　presence　of　mind　looked　her　friend
full　in　the　face；　and　said　interrogatively；　'Ye…es？　And　then？'

'And　then；　my　dear；'　said　Mrs　Gowan　not　quite　so　sweetly　as　before；　'I
should　be　glad　to　hear　what　you　have　to　say　to　it。'

Here　the　parrot；　who　had　been　standing　on　one　leg　since　he　screamed
last；　burst　into　a　fit　of　laughter；　bobbed　himself　derisively　up　and
down　on　both　legs；　and　finished　by　standing　on　one　leg　again；　and
pausing　for　a　reply；　with　his　head　as　much　awry　as　he　could　possibly
twist　it。

'Sounds　mercenary　to　ask　what　the　gentleman　is　to　get　with　the　lady；'
said　Mrs　Merdle；　'but　Society　is　perhaps　a　little　mercenary；　you　know；
my　dear。'

'From　what　I　can　make　out；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　'I　believe　I　may　say　that
Henry　will　be　relieved　from　debt……'

'Much　in　debt？'　asked　Mrs　Merdle　through　her　eyeglass。

'Why　tolerably；　I　should　think；'　said　Mrs　Gowan。

'Meaning　the　usual　thing；　I　understand；　just　so；'　Mrs　Merdle　observed　in
a　fortable　sort　of　way。

'And　that　the　father　will　make　them　an　allowance　of　three　hundred
a…year；　or　perhaps　altogether　something　more；　which；　in　Italy…'

'Oh！　Going　to　Italy？'　said　Mrs　Merdle。

'For　Henry　to　study。　You　need　be　at　no　loss　to　guess　why；　my　dear。

That　dreadful　Art……'

True。　Mrs　Merdle　hastened　to　spare　the　feelings　of　her　afflicted　friend。
She　understood。　Say　no　more！

'And　that；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　shaking　her　despondent　head；　'that's　all。
That；'　repeated　Mrs　Gowan；　furling　her　green　fan　for　the　moment；　and
tapping　her　chin　with　it　（it　was　on　the　way　to　being　a　double　chin；
might　be　called　a　chin　and　a　half　at　present）；　'that's　all！　On　the　death
of　the　old　people；　I　suppose　there　will　be　more　to　e；　but　how　it　may
be　restricted　or　locked　up；　I　don't　know。　And　as　to　that；　they　may　live
for　ever。　My　dear；　they　are　just　the　kind　of　people　to　do　it。'

Now；　Mrs　Merdle；　who　really　knew　her　friend　Society　pretty　well；　and　who
knew　what　Society's　mothers　were；　and　what　Society's　daughters　were；　and
what　Society's　matrimonial　market　was；　and　how　prices　ruled　in　it；　and
what　scheming　and　counter…scheming　took　place　for　the　high　buyers；　and
what　bargaining　and　huckstering　went　on；　thought　in　the　depths　of
her　capacious　bosom　that　this　was　a　sufficiently　good　catch。　Knowing；
however；　what　was　expected　of　her；　and　perceiving　the　exact　nature　of
the　fiction　to　be　nursed；　she　took　it　delicately　in　her　arms；　and　put
her　required　contribution　of　gloss　upon　it。

'And　that　is　all；　my　dear？'　said　she；　heaving　a　friendly　sigh。　'Well；
well！　The　fault　is　not　yours。　You　have　nothing　to　reproach　yourself
with。　You　must　exercise　the　strength　of　mind　for　which　you　are　renowned；
and　make　the　best　of　it。'　'The　girl's　family　have　made；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；
'of　course；　the　most　strenuous　endeavours　to……as　the　lawyers　say……to
have　and　to　hold　Henry。'

'Of　course　they　have；　my　dear；'　said　Mrs　Merdle。

'I　have　persisted　in　every　possible　objection；　and　have　worried
myself　morning；　noon；　and　night；　for　means　to　detach　Henry　from　the
connection。'

'No　doubt　you　have；　my　dear；'　said　Mrs　Merdle。

'And　all　of　no　use。　All　has　broken　down　beneath　me。　Now　tell　me；　my
love。　Am　I　justified　in　at　last　yielding　my　most　reluctant　consent　to
Henry's　marrying　among　people　not　in　Society；　or；　have　I　acted　with
inexcusable　weakness？'

In　answer　to　this　direct　appeal；　Mrs　Merdle　assured　Mrs　Gowan　（speaking
as　a　Priestess　of　Society）　that　she　was　highly　to　be　mended；　that
she　was　much　to　be　sympathised　with；　that　she　had　taken　the　highest　of
parts；　and　had　e　out　of　the　furnace　refined。　And　Mrs　Gowan；　who　of
course　saw　through　her　own　threadbare　blind　perfectly；　and　who　knew　that
Mrs　Merdle　saw　through　it　perfectly；　and　who　knew　that　Society　would　see
through　it　perfectly；　came　out　of　this　form；　notwithstanding；　as　she　had
gone　into　it；　with　immense　placency　and　gravity。

The　conference　was　held　at　four　or　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　when
all　the　region　of　Harley　Street；　Cavendish　Square；　was　resonant　of
carriage…wheels　and　double…knocks。　It　had　reached　this　point　when　Mr
Merdle　came　home　from　his　daily　occupation　of　causing　the　British
name　to　be　more　and　more　respected　in　all　parts　of　the　civilised　globe
capable　of　the　appreciation　of　world…wide　mercial　enterprise　and
gigantic　binations　of　skill　and　capital。　For；　though　nobody　knew　with
the　least　precision　what　Mr　Merdle's　business　was；　except　that　it　was
to　coin　money；　these　were　the　terms　in　which　everybody　defined　it　on　all
ceremonious　occasions；　and　which　it　was　the　last　new　polite　reading　of
the　parable　of　the　camel　and　the　needle's　eye　to　accept　without　inquiry。

For　a　gentleman　who　had　this　splendid　work　cut　out　for　him；　Mr　Merdle
looked　a　little　mon；　and　rather　as　if；　in　the　course　of　his　vast
transactions；　he　had　accidentally　made　an　interchange　of　heads　with
some　inferior　spirit。　He　presented　himself　before　the　two　ladies　in　the
course　of　a　dismal　stroll　through　his　mansion；　which　had　no　apparent
object　but　escape　from　the　presence　of　the　chief　butler。

'I　beg　your　pardon；'　he　said；　stopping　short　in　confusion；　'I　didn't
know　there　was　anybody　here　but　the　parrot。'

However；　as　Mrs　Merdle　said；　'You　can　e　in！'　and　as　Mrs　Gowan　said
she　was　just　going；　and　had　already　risen　to　take　her　leave；　he　came　in；
and　stood　looking　out　at　a　distant　window；　with　his　hands　crossed　under
his　uneasy　coat…cuffs；　clasping　his　wrists　as　if　he　were　taking　himself
into　custody。　In　this　attitude　he　fell　directly　into　a　reverie　from
which　he　was　only　aroused　by　his　wife's　calling　to　him　from　her　ottoman；
when　they　had　been　for　some　quarter　of　an　hour　alone。

'Eh？　Yes？'　said　Mr　Merdle；　turning　towards　her。　'What　is　it？'

'What　is　it？'　repeated　Mrs　Merdle。　'It　is；　I　suppose；　that　you　have　not
heard　a　word　of　my　plaint。'

'Your　plaint；　Mrs　Merdle？'　said　Mr　Merdle。　'I　didn't　know　that　you
were　suffering　from　a　plaint。　What　plaint？'

'A　plaint　of　you；'　said　Mrs　Merdle。

'Oh！　A　plaint　of　me；'　said　Mr　Merdle。　'What　is　the……what　have　I……what
may　you　have　to　plain　of　in　me；　Mrs　Merdle？'　In　his　withdrawing；
abstracted；　pondering　way；　it　took　him　some　time　to　shape　this　question。
As　a　kind　of　faint　attempt　to　convince　himself　that　he　was　the　master　of
the　house；　he　concluded　by　presenting　his　forefinger　to　the　parrot；　who
expressed　his　opinion　on　that　subject　by　instantly　driving　his　bill　into
it。

'You　were　saying；　Mrs　Merdle；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　with　his　wounded　finger
in　his　mouth；　'that　you　had　a　plaint　against　me？'

'A　plaint　which　I　could　scarcely　show　the　justice　of　more
emphatically；　than　by　having　to　repeat　it；'　said　Mrs　Merdle。　'I　might　as
well　have　stated　it　to　the　wall。　I　had　far　better　have　stated　it　to　the
bird。　He　would　at　least　have　screamed。'

'You　don't　want　me　to　scream；　Mrs　Merdle；　I　suppose；'　said　Mr　Merdle；
taking　a　chair。

'Indeed　I　don't　know；'　retorted　Mrs　Merdle；　'but　that　you　had　better　do
that；　than　be　so　moody　and　distraught。　One　would　at　least　know　that　you
were　sensible　of　what　was　going　on　around　you。'

'A　man　might　scream；　and　yet　not　be　that；　Mrs　Merdle；'　said　Mr　Merdle；
heavily。

'And　might　be　dogged；　as　you　are　at　present；　without　screaming；'
returned　Mrs　Merdle。　'That's　very　true。　If　you　wish　to　know　the
plaint　I　make　against　you；　it　is；　in　so　many　plain　words；　that　you
really　ought　not　to　go　into　Society　unless　you　can　acmodate　yourself
to　Society。'

Mr　Merdle；　so　twisting　his　hands　into　what　hair　he　had　upon　his　head
that　he　seemed　to　lift　himself　up　by　it　as　he　started　out　of　his　chair；
cried：　'Why；　in　the　name　of　all　the　infernal　powers；　Mrs　Merdle；　who
does　more　for　Society　than　I　do？　Do　you　see　these　premises；　Mrs　Merdle？

Do　you　see　this　furniture；　Mrs　Merdle？　Do　you　look　in　the　glass　and　see
yourself；　Mrs　Merdle？　Do　you　know　the　cost　of　all　this；　and　who　it's
all　provided　for？　And　yet　will　you　tell　me　that　I　oughtn't　to　go　into
Society？　I；　who　shower　money　upon　it　in　this　way？　I；　who　might　always　be
said……to……to……to　harness　myself　to　a　watering…cart　full　of　money；　and　go
about　saturating　Society　every　day　of　my　life。'

'Pray；　don't　be　violent；　Mr　Merdle；'　said　Mrs　Merdle。

'Violent？'　said　Mr　Merdle。　'You　are　enough　to　make　me　desperate。　You
don't　know　half　of　what　I　do　to　acmodate　Society。　You　don't　know
anything　of　the　sacrifices　I　make　for　it。'

'I　know；'　returned　Mrs　Merdle；　'that　you　receive　the　best　in　the　land。　I
know　that　you　move　in　the　whole　Society　of　the　country。　And　I　believe
I　know　（indeed；　not　to　make　any　ridiculous　pretence　about　it；　I　know　I
know）　who　sustains　you　in　it；　Mr　Merdle。'

'Mrs　Merdle；'　retorted　that　gentleman；　wiping　his　dull　red　and　yellow
face；　'I　know　that　as　well　as　you　do。　If　you　were　not　an　ornament　to
Society；　and　if　I　was　not　a　benefactor　to　Society；　you　and　I　would　never
have　e　together。　When　I　say　a　benefactor　to　it；　I　mean　a　person　who
provides　it　with　all　sorts　of　expensive　things　to　eat　and　drink　and　look
at。　But；　to　tell　me　that　I　am　not　fit　for　it　after　all　I　have　done
for　it……after　all　I　have　done　for　it；'　repeated　Mr　Merdle；　with　a　wild
emphasis　that　made　his　wife　lift　up　her　eyelids；　'after　all……all！……to
tell　me　I　have　no　right　to　mix　with　it　after　all；　is　a　pretty　reward。'

'I　say；'　answered　Mrs　Merdle　posedly；　'that　you　ought　to　make
yourself　fit　for　it　by　being　more　degage；　and　less　preoccupied。　There　is
a　positive　vulgarity　in　carrying　your　business　affairs　about　with　you　as
you　do。'　'How　do　I　carry　them　about；　Mrs　Merdle？'　asked　Mr　Merdle。

'How　do　you　carry　them　about？'　said　Mrs　Merdle。　'Look　at　yourself　in　the
glass。'

Mr　Merdle　involuntarily　turned　his　eyes　in　the　direction　of　the　nearest
mirror；　and　asked；　with　a　slow　determination　of　his　turbid　blood　to　his
temples；　whether　a　man　was　to　be　called　to　account　for　his　digestion？

'You　have　a　physician；'　said　Mrs　Merdle。

'He　does　me　no　good；'　said　Mr　Merdle。

Mrs　Merdle　changed　her　ground。

'Besides；'　said　she；　'your　digestion　is　nonsense。　I　don't　speak　of　your
digestion。　I　speak　of　your　manner。'　'Mrs　Merdle；'　returned　her　husband；
'I　look　to　you　for　that。　You　supply　manner；　and　I　supply　money。'

'I　don't　expect　you；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　reposing　easily　among　her
cushions；　'to　captivate　people。　I　don't　want　you　to　take　any　trouble
upon　yourself；　or　to　try　to　be　fascinating。　I　simply　request　you　to　care
about　nothing……or　seem　to　care　about　nothing……as　everybody　else　does。'

'Do　I　ever　say　I　care　about　anything？'　asked　Mr　Merdle。

'Say？　No！　Nobody　would　attend　to　you　if　you　did。　But　you　show　it。'

'Show　what？　What　do　I　show？'　demanded　Mr　Merdle　hurriedly。

'I　have　already　told　you。　You　show　that　you　carry　your　business　cares
an　projects　about；　instead　of　leaving　them　in　the　City；　or　wherever　else
they　belong　to；'　said　Mrs　Merdle。　'Or　seeming　to。　Seeming　would　be　quite
enough：　I　ask　no　more。　Whereas　you　couldn't　be　more　occupied　with　your
day's　calculations　and　binations　than　you　habitually　show　yourself　to
be；　if　you　were　a　carpenter。'

'A　carpenter！'　repeated　Mr　Merdle；　checking　something　like　a　groan。

'I　shouldn't　so　much　mind　being　a　carpenter；　Mrs　Merdle。'

'And　my　plaint　is；'　pursued　the　lady；　disregarding　the　low　remark；
'that　it　is　not　the　tone　of　Society；　and　that　you　ought　to　correct
it；　Mr　Merdle。　If　you　have　any　doubt　of　my　judgment；　ask　even　Edmund
Sparkler。'　The　door　of　the　room　had　opened；　and　Mrs　Merdle　now　surveyed
the　head　of　her　son　through　her　glass。　'Edmund；　we　want　you　here。'

Mr　Sparkler；　who　had　merely　put　in　his　head　and　looked　round　the　room
without　entering　（as　if　he　were　searching　the　house　for　that　young　lady
with　no　nonsense　about　her）；　upon　this　followed　up　his　head　with　his
body；　and　stood　before　them。　To　whom；　in　a　few　easy　words　adapted　to　his
capacity；　Mrs　Merdle　stated　the　question　at　issue。

The　young　gentleman；　after　anxiously　feeling　his　shirt…collar　as　if　it
were　his　pulse　and　he　were　hypochondriacal；　observed；　'That　he　had　heard
it　noticed　by　fellers。'

'Edmund　Sparkler　has　heard　it　noticed；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　with　languid
triumph。　'Why；　no　doubt　everybody　has　heard　it　noticed！'　Which　in　truth
was　no　unreasonable　inference；　seeing　that　Mr　Sparkler　would　probably　be
the　last　person；　in　any　assemblage　of　the　human　species；　to　receive　an
impression　from　anything　that　passed　in　his　presence。

'And　Edmund　Sparkler　will　tell　you；　I　dare　say；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　waving
her　favourite　hand　towards　her　husband；　'how　he　has　heard　it　noticed。'
'I　couldn't；'　said　Mr　Sparkler；　after　feeling　his　pulse　as　before；
'couldn't　undertake　to　say　what　led　to　it……'cause　memory　desperate
loose。　But　being　in　pany　with　the　brother　of　a　doosed　fine　gal……well
educated　too……with　no　biggodd　nonsense　about　her……at　the　period　alluded
to……'

'There！　Never　mind　the　sister；'　remarked　Mrs　Merdle；　a　little
impatiently。　'What　did　the　brother　say？'

'Didn't　say　a　word；　ma'am；'　answered　Mr　Sparkler。　'As　silent　a　feller　as
myself。　Equally　hard　up　for　a　remark。'

'Somebody　said　something；'　returned　Mrs　Merdle。　'Never　mind　who　it　was。'

（'Assure　you　I　don't　in　the　least；'　said　Mr　Sparkler。）


'But　tell　us　what　it　was。'

Mr　Sparkler　referred　to　his　pulse　again；　and　put　himself　through　some
severe　mental　discipline　before　he　replied：

'Fellers　referring　to　my　Governor……expression　not　my　own……occasionally
pliment　my　Governor　in　a　very　handsome　way　on　being　immensely　rich
and　knowing……perfect　phenomenon　of　Buyer　and　Banker　and　that……but　say
the　Shop　sits　heavily　on　him。　Say　he　carried　the　Shop　about；　on　his　back
rather……like　Jew　clothesmen　with　too　much　business。'

'Which；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　rising；　with　her　floating　drapery　about　her；
'is　exactly　my　plaint。　Edmund；　give　me　your　arm　up…stairs。'

Mr　Merdle；　left　alone　to　meditate　on　a　better　conformation　of　himself　to
Society；　looked　out　of　nine　windows　in　succession；　and　appeared　to
see　nine　wastes　of　space。　When　he　had　thus　entertained　himself　he　went
down…stairs；　and　looked　intently　at　all　the　carpets　on　the　ground…floor；
and　then　came　up…stairs　again；　and　looked　intently　at　all　the　carpets
on　the　first…floor；　as　if　they　were　gloomy　depths；　in　unison　with　his
oppressed　soul。　Through　all　the　rooms　he　wandered；　as　he　always　did；
like　the　last　person　on　earth　who　had　any　business　to　approach　them。　Let
Mrs　Merdle　announce；　with　all　her　might；　that　she　was　at　Home　ever
so　many　nights　in　a　season；　she　could　not　announce　more　widely　and
unmistakably　than　Mr　Merdle　did　that　he　was　never　at　home。

At　last　he　met　the　chief　butler；　the　sight　of　which　splendid　retainer
always　finished　him。　Extinguished　by　this　great　creature；　he　sneaked
to　his　dressing…room；　and　there　remained　shut　up　until　he　rode　out　to
dinner；　with　Mrs　Merdle；　in　her　own　handsome　chariot。　At　dinner；　he　was
envied　and　flattered　as　a　being　of　might；　was　Treasuried；　Barred；　and
Bishoped；　as　much　as　he　would；　and　an　hour　after　midnight　came　home
alone；　and　being　instantly　put　out　again　in　his　own　hall；　like　a
rushlight；　by　the　chief　butler；　went　sighing　to　bed。




CHAP