little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第76部分

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At　dinner…time　Mr　Sparkler　rose　out　of　the　sea；　like　Venus's　son　taking
after　his　mother；　and　made　a　splendid　appearance　ascending　the　great
staircase。　If　Fanny　had　been　charming　in　the　morning；　she　was　now　thrice
charming；　very　beingly　dressed　in　her　most　suitable　colours；　and　with
an　air　of　negligence　upon　her　that　doubled　Mr　Sparkler's　fetters；　and
riveted　them。


'I　hear　you　are　acquainted；　Mr　Sparkler；'　said　his　host　at　dinner；
'with……ha……Mr　Gowan。　Mr　Henry　Gowan？'

'Perfectly；　sir；'　returned　Mr　Sparkler。　'His　mother　and　my　mother　are
cronies　in　fact。'

'If　I　had　thought　of　it；　Amy；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　with　a　patronage　as
magnificent　as　that　of　Lord　Decimus　himself；　'you　should　have　despatched
a　note　to　them；　asking　them　to　dine　to…day。　Some　of　our　people　could
have……ha……fetched　them；　and　taken　them　home。　We　could　have　spared
a……hum……gondola　for　that　purpose。　I　am　sorry　to　have　forgotten　this。
Pray　remind　me　of　them　to…morrow。'

Little　Dorrit　was　not　without　doubts　how　Mr　Henry　Gowan　might　take　their
patronage；　but　she　promised　not　to　fail　in　the　reminder。

'Pray；　does　Mr　Henry　Gowan　paint……ha……Portraits？'　inquired　Mr　Dorrit。

Mr　Sparkler　opined　that　he　painted　anything；　if　he　could　get　the　job。

'He　has　no　particular　walk？'　said　Mr　Dorrit。

Mr　Sparkler；　stimulated　by　Love　to　brilliancy；　replied　that　for　a
particular　walk　a　man　ought　to　have　a　particular　pair　of　shoes；　as；　for
example；　shooting；　shooting…shoes；　cricket；　cricket…shoes。　Whereas；　he
believed　that　Henry　Gowan　had　no　particular　pair　of　shoes。

'No　speciality？'　said　Mr　Dorrit。

This　being　a　very　long　word　for　Mr　Sparkler；　and　his　mind　being
exhausted　by　his　late　effort；　he　replied；　'No；　thank　you。　I　seldom　take
it。'

'Well！'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'It　would　be　very　agreeable　to　me　to　present
a　gentleman　so　connected；　with　some……ha……Testimonial　of　my　desire　to
further　his　interests；　and　develop　the……hum……germs　of　his　genius。　I
think　I　must　engage　Mr　Gowan　to　paint　my　picture。　If　the　result　should
be……ha……mutually　satisfactory；　I　might　afterwards　engage　him　to　try　his
hand　upon　my　family。'

The　exquisitely　bold　and　original　thought　presented　itself　to　Mr
Sparkler；　that　there　was　an　opening　here　for　saying　there　were　some　of
the　family　（emphasising　'some'　in　a　marked　manner）　to　whom　no　painter
could　render　justice。　But；　for　want　of　a　form　of　words　in　which　to
express　the　idea；　it　returned　to　the　skies。

This　was　the　more　to　be　regretted　as　Miss　Fanny　greatly　applauded　the
notion　of　the　portrait；　and　urged　her　papa　to　act　upon　it。　She　surmised；
she　said；　that　Mr　Gowan　had　lost　better　and　higher　opportunities　by
marrying　his　pretty　wife；　and　Love　in　a　cottage；　painting　pictures　for
dinner；　was　so　delightfully　interesting；　that　she　begged　her　papa　to
give　him　the　mission　whether　he　could　paint　a　likeness　or　not：　though
indeed　both　she　and　Amy　knew　he　could；　from　having　seen　a　speaking
likeness　on　his　easel　that　day；　and　having　had　the　opportunity　of
paring　it　with　the　original。　These　remarks　made　Mr　Sparkler　（as
perhaps　they　were　intended　to　do）　nearly　distracted；　for　while　on
the　one　hand　they　expressed　Miss　Fanny's　susceptibility　of　the　tender
passion；　she　herself　showed　such　an　innocent　unconsciousness　of　his
admiration　that　his　eyes　goggled　in　his　head　with　jealousy　of　an　unknown
rival。

Descending　into　the　sea　again　after　dinner；　and　ascending　out　of　it
at　the　Opera　staircase；　preceded　by　one　of　their　gondoliers；　like　an
attendant　Merman；　with　a　great　linen　lantern；　they　entered　their　box；
and　Mr　Sparkler　entered　on　an　evening　of　agony。　The　theatre　being
dark；　and　the　box　light；　several　visitors　lounged　in　during　the
representation；　in　whom　Fanny　was　so　interested；　and　in　conversation
with　whom　she　fell　into　such　charming　attitudes；　as　she　had　little
confidences　with　them；　and　little　disputes　concerning　the　identity　of
people　in　distant　boxes；　that　the　wretched　Sparkler　hated　all　mankind。
But　he　had　two　consolations　at　the　close　of　the　performance。　She　gave
him　her　fan　to　hold　while　she　adjusted　her　cloak；　and　it　was　his
blessed　privilege　to　give　her　his　arm　down…stairs　again。　These　crumbs　of
encouragement；　Mr　Sparkler　thought；　would　just　keep　him　going；　and　it　is
not　impossible　that　Miss　Dorrit　thought　so　too。

The　Merman　with　his　light　was　ready　at　the　box…door；　and　other　Mermen
with　other　lights　were　ready　at　many　of　the　doors。　The　Dorrit　Merman
held　his　lantern　low；　to　show　the　steps；　and　Mr　Sparkler　put　on　another
heavy　set　of　fetters　over　his　former　set；　as　he　watched　her　radiant
feet　twinkling　down　the　stairs　beside　him。　Among　the　loiterers　here；　was
Blandois　of　Paris。　He　spoke；　and　moved　forward　beside　Fanny。

Little　Dorrit　was　in　front　with　her　brother　and　Mrs　General　（Mr　Dorrit
had　remained　at　home）；　but　on　the　brink　of　the　quay　they　all　came
together。　She　started　again　to　find　Blandois　close　to　her；　handing　Fanny
into　the　boat。

'Gowan　has　had　a　loss；'　he　said；　'since　he　was　made　happy　to…day　by　a
visit　from　fair　ladies。'

'A　loss？'　repeated　Fanny；　relinquished　by　the　bereaved　Sparkler；　and
taking　her　seat。

'A　loss；'　said　Blandois。　'His　dog　Lion。'

Little　Dorrit's　hand　was　in　his；　as　he　spoke。

'He　is　dead；'　said　Blandois。

'Dead？'　echoed　Little　Dorrit。　'That　noble　dog？'

'Faith；　dear　ladies！'　said　Blandois；　smiling　and　shrugging　his
shoulders；　'somebody　has　poisoned　that　noble　dog。　He　is　as　dead　as　the
Doges！'




CHAPTER　7。　Mostly；　Prunes　and　Prism


Mrs　General；　always　on　her　coach…box　keeping　the　proprieties　well
together；　took　pains　to　form　a　surface　on　her　very　dear　young　friend；
and　Mrs　General's　very　dear　young　friend　tried　hard　to　receive　it。　Hard
as　she　had　tried　in　her　laborious　life　to　attain　many　ends；　she　had
never　tried　harder　than　she　did　now；　to　be　varnished　by　Mrs　General。　It
made　her　anxious　and　ill　at　ease　to　be　operated　upon　by　that　smoothing
hand；　it　is　true；　but　she　submitted　herself　to　the　family　want　in
its　greatness　as　she　had　submitted　herself　to　the　family　want　in　its
littleness；　and　yielded　to　her　own　inclinations　in　this　thing　no　more
than　she　had　yielded　to　her　hunger　itself；　in　the　days　when　she　had
saved　her　dinner　that　her　father　might　have　his　supper。

One　fort　that　she　had　under　the　Ordeal　by　General　was　more
sustaining　to　her；　and　made　her　more　grateful　than　to　a　less　devoted
and　affectionate　spirit；　not　habituated　to　her　struggles　and　sacrifices；
might　appear　quite　reasonable；　and；　indeed；　it　may　often　be　observed　in
life；　that　spirits　like　Little　Dorrit　do　not　appear　to　reason　half
as　carefully　as　the　folks　who　get　the　better　of　them。　The　continued
kindness　of　her　sister　was　this　fort　to　Little　Dorrit。　It　was　nothing
to　her　that　the　kindness　took　the　form　of　tolerant　patronage；　she　was
used　to　that。　It　was　nothing　to　her　that　it　kept　her　in　a　tributary
position；　and　showed　her　in　attendance　on　the　flaming　car　in　which　Miss
Fanny　sat　on　an　elevated　seat；　exacting　homage；　she　sought　no　better
place。　Always　admiring　Fanny's　beauty；　and　grace；　and　readiness；　and　not
now　asking　herself　how　much　of　her　disposition　to　be　strongly　attached
to　Fanny　was　due　to　her　own　heart；　and　how　much　to　Fanny's；　she　gave　her
all　the　sisterly　fondness　her　great　heart　contained。

The　wholesale　amount　of　Prunes　and　Prism　which　Mrs　General　infused　into
the　family　life；　bined　with　the　perpetual　plunges　made　by　Fanny　into
society；　left　but　a　very　small　residue　of　any　natural　deposit　at　the
bottom　of　the　mixture。　This　rendered　confidences　with　Fanny　doubly
precious　to　Little　Dorrit；　and　heightened　the　relief　they　afforded　her。

'Amy；'　said　Fanny　to　her　one　night　when　they　were　alone；　after　a　day　so
tiring　that　Little　Dorrit　was　quite　worn　out；　though　Fanny　would　have
taken　another　dip　into　society　with　the　greatest　pleasure　in　life；　'I
am　going　to　put　something　into　your　little　head。　You　won't　guess　what　it
is；　I　suspect。'

'I　don't　think　that's　likely；　dear；'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'e；　I'll　give　you　a　clue；　child；'　said　Fanny。　'Mrs　General。'

Prunes　and　Prism；　in　a　thousand　binations；　having　been　wearily　in　the
ascendant　all　day……everything　having　been　surface　and　varnish　and　show
without　substance……Little　Dorrit　looked　as　if　she　had　hoped　that　Mrs
General　was　safely　tucked　up　in　bed　for　some　hours。

'Now；　can　you　guess；　Amy？'　said　Fanny。

'No；　dear。　Unless　I　have　done　anything；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　rather
alarmed；　and　meaning　anything　calculated　to　crack　varnish　and　ruffle
surface。

Fanny　was　so　very　much　amused　by　the　misgiving；　that　she　took　up　her
favourite　fan　（being　then　seated　at　her　dressing…table　with　her　armoury
of　cruel　instruments　about　her；　most　of　them　reeking　from　the　heart
of　Sparkler）；　and　tapped　her　sister　frequently　on　the　nose　with　it；
laughing　all　the　time。

'Oh；　our　Amy；　our　Amy！'　said　Fanny。　'What　a　timid　little　goose　our　Amy
is！　But　this　is　nothing　to　laugh　at。　On　the　contrary；　I　am　very　cross；
my　dear。'

'As　it　is　not　with　me；　Fanny；　I　don't　mind；'　returned　her　sister；
smiling。

'Ah！　But　I　do　mind；'　said　Fanny；　'and　so　will　you；　Pet；　when　I　enlighten
you。　Amy；　has　it　never　struck　you　that　somebody　is　monstrously　polite　to
Mrs　General？'

'Everybody　is　polite　to　Mrs　General；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'Because……'

'Because　she　freezes　them　into　it？'　interrupted　Fanny。　'I　don't　mean
that；　quite　different　from　that。　e！　Has　it　never　struck　you；　Amy；
that　Pa　is　monstrously　polite　to　Mrs　General。'

Amy；　murmuring　'No；'　looked　quite　confounded。　'No；　I　dare　say　not。　But
he　is；'　said　Fanny。　'He　is；　Amy。　And　remember　my　words。　Mrs　General　has
designs　on　Pa！'

'Dear　Fanny；　do　you　think　it　possible　that　Mrs　General　has　designs　on
any　one？'

'Do　I　think　it　possible？'　retorted　Fanny。　'My　love；　I　know　it。　I　tell
you　she　has　designs　on　Pa。　And　more　than　that；　I　tell　you　Pa　considers
her　such　a　wonder；　such　a　paragon　of　acplishment；　and　such　an
acquisition　to　our　family；　that　he　is　ready　to　get　himself　into　a　state
of　perfect　infatuation　with　her　at　any　moment。　And　that　opens　a　pretty
picture　of　things；　I　hope？　Think　of　me　with　Mrs　General　for　a　Mama！'

Little　Dorrit　did　not　reply；　'Think　of　me　with　Mrs　General　for　a　Mama；'
but　she　looked　anxious；　and　seriously　inquired　what　had　led　Fanny　to
these　conclusions。

'Lord；　my　darling；'　said　Fanny；　tartly。　'You　might　as　well　ask　me　how
I　know　when　a　man　is　struck　with　myself！　But；　of　course　I　do　know。　It
happens　pretty　often：　but　I　always　know　it。　I　know　this　in　much　the　same
way；　I　suppose。　At　all　events；　I　know　it。'

'You　never　heard　Papa　say　anything？'

'Say　anything？'　repeated　Fanny。　'My　dearest；　darling　child；　what
necessity　has　he　had；　yet　awhile；　to　say　anything？'

'And　you　have　never　heard　Mrs　General　say　anything？'　'My　goodness　me；
Amy；'　returned　Fanny；　'is　she　the　sort　of　woman　to　say　anything？　Isn't
it　perfectly　plain　and　clear　that　she　has　nothing　to　do　at　present　but
to　hold　herself　upright；　keep　her　aggravating　gloves　on；　and　go　sweeping
about？　Say　anything！　If　she　had　the　ace　of　trumps　in　her　hand　at　whist；
she　wouldn't　say　anything；　child。　It　would　e　out　when　she　played　it。'

'At　least；　you　may　be　mistaken；　Fanny。　Now；　may　you　not？'

'O　yes；　I　MAY　be；'　said　Fanny；　'but　I　am　not。　However；　I　am　glad　you
can　contemplate　such　an　escape；　my　dear；　and　I　am　glad　that　you　can　take
this　for　the　present　with　sufficient　coolness　to　think　of　such　a　chance。
It　makes　me　hope　that　you　may　be　able　to　bear　the　connection。　I　should
not　be　able　to　bear　it；　and　I　should　not　try。

I'd　marry　young　Sparkler　first。'

'O；　you　would　never　marry　him；　Fanny；　under　any　circumstances。'

'Upon　my　word；　my　dear；'　rejoined　that　young　lady　with　exceeding
indifference；　'I　wouldn't　positively　answer　even　for　that。　There's
no　knowing　what　might　happen。　Especially　as　I　should　have　many
opportunities；　afterwards；　of　treating　that　woman；　his　mother；　in　her
own　style。　Which　I　most　decidedly　should　not　be　slow　to　avail　myself　of；
Amy。'

No　more　passed　between　the　sisters　then；　but　what　had　passed　gave　the
two　subjects　of　Mrs　General　and　Mr　Sparkler　great　prominence　in　Little
Dorrit's　mind；　and　thenceforth　she　thought　very　much　of　both。

Mrs　General；　having　long　ago　formed　her　own　surface　to　such　perfection
that　it　hid　whatever　was　below　it　（if　anything）；　no　observation　was　to
be　made　in　that　quarter。　Mr　Dorrit　was　undeniably　very　polite　to　her
and　had　a　high　opinion　of　her；　but　Fanny；　impetuous　at　most　times；　might
easily　be　wrong　for　all　that。

Whereas；　the　Sparkler　question　was　on　the　different　footing　that　any　one
could　see　what　was　going　on　there；　and　Little　Dorrit　saw　it　and　pondered
on　it　with　many　doubts　and　wonderings。

The　devotion　of　Mr　Sparkler　was　only　to　be　equalled　by　the　caprice
and　cruelty　of　his　enslaver。　Sometimes　she　would　prefer　him　to　such
distinction　of　notice；　that　he　would　chuckle　aloud　with　joy；　next　day；
or　next　hour；　she　would　overlook　him　so　pletely；　and　drop　him　into
such　an　abyss　of　obscurity；　that　he　would　groan　under　a　weak　pretence　of
coughing。　The　constancy　of　his　attendance　never　touched　Fanny：　though　he
was　so　inseparable　from　Edward；　that；　when　that　gentleman　wished　for
a　change　of　society；　he　was　under　the　irksome　necessity　of　gliding　out
like　a　conspirator　in　disguised　boats　and　by　secret　doors　and　back　ways；
though　he　was　so　solicitous　to　know　how　Mr　Dorrit　was；　that　he　called
every　other　day　to　inquire；　as　if　Mr　Dorrit　were　the　prey　of　an
intermittent　fever；　though　he　was　so　constantly　being　paddled　up　and
down　before　the　principal　windows；　that　he　might　have　been　supposed　to
have　made　a　wager　for　a　large　stake　to　be　paddled　a　thousand　miles　in
a　thousand　hours；　though　whenever　the　gondola　of　his　mistress　left　the
gate；　the　gondola　of　Mr　Sparkler　shot　out　from　some　watery　ambush
and　gave　chase；　as　if　she　were　a　fair　smuggler　and　he　a　custom…house
officer。　It　was　probably　owing　to　this　fortification　of　the　natural
strength　of　his　constitution　with　so　much　exposure　to　the　air；　and　the
salt　sea；　that　Mr　Sparkler　did　not　pine　outwardly；　but；　whatever　the
cause；　he　was　so　far　from　having　any　prospect　of　moving　his　mistress　by
a　languishing　state　of　health；　that　he　grew　bluffer　every　day；　and　that
peculiarity　in　his　appearance　of　seeming　rather　a　swelled　boy　than
a　young　man；　became　developed　to　an　extraordinary　degree　of　ruddy
puffiness。

Blandois　calling　to　pay　his　respects；　Mr　Dorrit　received　him　with
affability　as　the　friend　of　Mr　Gowan；　and　mentioned　to　him　his　idea　of
missioning　Mr　Gowan　to　transmit　him　to　posterity。　Blandois　highly
extolling　it；　it　occurred　to　Mr　Dorrit　that　it　might　be　agreeable　to
Blandois　to　municate　to　his　friend　the　great　opportunity　reserved
for　him。　Blandois　accepted　the　mission　with　his　own　free　elegance　of
manner；　and　swore　he　would　discharge　it　before　he　was　an　hour　older。　On
his　imparting　the　news　to　Gowan；　that　Master　gave　Mr　Dorrit　to　the
Devil　with　great　liberality　some　round　dozen　of　times　（for　he　resented
patronage　almost　as　much　as　he　resented　the　want　of　it）；　and　was
inclined　to　quarrel　with　his　friend　for　bringing　him　the　message。

'It　may　be　a　defect　in　my　mental　vision；　Blandois；'　said　he；　'but　may　I
die　if　I　see　what　you　have　to　do　with　this。'

'Death　of　my　life；'　replied　Blandois；　'n