little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第79部分

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look；　unconsciously　adopted　a　characteristic　from　them；　it　always　had
now；　through　all　its　changes　of　expression；　a　look　of　loss　in　it。

One　wintry　Saturday　when　Clennam　was　at　the　cottage；　the　Dowager　Mrs
Gowan　drove　up；　in　the　Hampton　Court　equipage　which　pretended　to　be　the
exclusive　equipage　of　so　many　individual　proprietors。　She　descended；　in
her　shady　ambuscade　of　green　fan；　to　favour　Mr　and　Mrs　Meagles　with　a
call。

'And　how　do　you　both　do；　Papa　and　Mama　Meagles？'　said　she；　encouraging
her　humble　connections。　'And　when　did　you　last　hear　from　or　about　my
poor　fellow？'

My　poor　fellow　was　her　son；　and　this　mode　of　speaking　of　him　politely
kept　alive；　without　any　offence　in　the　world；　the　pretence　that　he　had
fallen　a　victim　to　the　Meagles'　wiles。

'And　the　dear　pretty　one？'　said　Mrs　Gowan。　'Have　you　later　news　of　her
than　I　have？'

Which　also　delicately　implied　that　her　son　had　been　captured　by　mere
beauty；　and　under　its　fascination　had　forgone　all　sorts　of　worldly
advantages。

'I　am　sure；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　without　straining　her　attention　on　the
answers　she　received；　'it's　an　unspeakable　fort　to　know　they　continue
happy。　My　poor　fellow　is　of　such　a　restless　disposition；　and　has　been
so　used　to　roving　about；　and　to　being　inconstant　and　popular　among　all
manner　of　people；　that　it's　the　greatest　fort　in　life。　I　suppose
they're　as　poor　as　mice；　Papa　Meagles？'

Mr　Meagles；　fidgety　under　the　question；　replied；　'I　hope　not；　ma'am。　I
hope　they　will　manage　their　little　ine。'

'Oh！　my　dearest　Meagles！'　returned　the　lady；　tapping　him　on　the　arm　with
the　green　fan　and　then　adroitly　interposing　it　between　a　yawn　and
the　pany；　'how　can　you；　as　a　man　of　the　world　and　one　of　the　most
business…like　of　human　beings……for　you　know　you　are　business…like；　and　a
great　deal　too　much　for　us　who　are　not……'

（Which　went　to　the　former　purpose；　by　making　Mr　Meagles　out　to　be　an
artful　schemer。）

'……How　can　you　talk　about　their　managing　their　little　means？　My　poor
dear　fellow！　The　idea　of　his　managing　hundreds！　And　the　sweet　pretty
creature　too。　The　notion　of　her　managing！　Papa　Meagles！　Don't！'

'Well；　ma'am；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　gravely；　'I　am　sorry　to　admit；　then；
that　Henry　certainly　does　anticipate　his　means。'

'My　dear　good　man……I　use　no　ceremony　with　you；　because　we　are　a　kind　of
relations；……positively；　Mama　Meagles；'　exclaimed　Mrs　Gowan　cheerfully；
as　if　the　absurd　coincidence　then　flashed　upon　her　for　the　first　time；
'a　kind　of　relations！　My　dear　good　man；　in　this　world　none　of　us　can
have　everything　our　own　way。'

This　again　went　to　the　former　point；　and　showed　Mr　Meagles　with　all　good
breeding　that；　so　far；　he　had　been　brilliantly　successful　in　his　deep
designs。　Mrs　Gowan　thought　the　hit　so　good　a　one；　that　she　dwelt　upon
it；　repeating　'Not　everything。　No；　no；　in　this　world　we　must　not　expect
everything；　Papa　Meagles。'

'And　may　I　ask；　ma'am；'　retorted　Mr　Meagles；　a　little　heightened　in
colour；　'who　does　expect　everything？'

'Oh；　nobody；　nobody！'　said　Mrs　Gowan。　'I　was　going　to　say……but　you　put
me　out。　You　interrupting　Papa；　what　was　I　going　to　say？'

Drooping　her　large　green　fan；　she　looked　musingly　at　Mr　Meagles　while
she　thought　about　it；　a　performance　not　tending　to　the　cooling　of　that
gentleman's　rather　heated　spirits。

'Ah！　Yes；　to　be　sure！'　said　Mrs　Gowan。　'You　must　remember　that　my　poor
fellow　has　always　been　accustomed　to　expectations。　They　may　have　been
realised；　or　they　may　not　have　been　realised……'

'Let　us　say；　then；　may　not　have　been　realised；'　observed　Mr　Meagles。

The　Dowager　for　a　moment　gave　him　an　angry　look；　but　tossed　it　off　with
her　head　and　her　fan；　and　pursued　the　tenor　of　her　way　in　her　former
manner。

'It　makes　no　difference。　My　poor　fellow　has　been　accustomed　to　that
sort　of　thing；　and　of　course　you　knew　it；　and　were　prepared　for　the
consequences。　I　myself　always　clearly　foresa
not　surprised。　And　you　must　not　be　surprised。

In　fact；　can't　be　surprised。　Must　have　been　prepared　for　it。'

Mr　Meagles　looked　at　his　wife　and　at　Clennam；　bit　his　lip；　and　coughed。

'And　now　here's　my　poor　fellow；'　Mrs　Gowan　pursued；　'receiving　notice
that　he　is　to　hold　himself　in　expectation　of　a　baby；　and　all　the
expenses　attendant　on　such　an　addition　to　his　family！　Poor　Henry！　But
it　can't　be　helped　now；　it's　too　late　to　help　it　now。　Only　don't　talk　of
anticipating　means；　Papa　Meagles；　as　a　discovery；　because　that　would　be
too　much。'

'Too　much；　ma'am？'　said　Mr　Meagles；　as　seeking　an　explanation。

'There；　there！'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　putting　him　in　his　inferior　place　with
an　expressive　action　of　her　hand。　'Too　much　for　my　poor　fellow's
mother　to　bear　at　this　time　of　day。　They　are　fast　married；　and　can't
be　unmarried。　There；　there！　I　know　that！　You　needn't　tell　me　that；　Papa
Meagles。　I　know　it　very　well。　What　was　it　I　said　just　now？　That　it　was
a　great　fort　they　continued　happy。　It　is　to　be　hoped　they　will　still
continue　happy。　It　is　to　be　hoped　Pretty　One　will　do　everything　she
can　to　make　my　poor　fellow　happy；　and　keep　him　contented。　Papa　and　Mama
Meagles；　we　had　better　say　no　more　about　it。　We　never　did　look　at　this
subject　from　the　same　side；　and　we　never　shall。　There；　there！　Now　I　am
good。'

Truly；　having　by　this　time　said　everything　she　could　say　in　maintenance
of　her　wonderfully　mythical　position；　and　in　admonition　to　Mr　Meagles
that　he　must　not　expect　to　bear　his　honours　of　alliance　too　cheaply；　Mrs
Gowan　was　disposed　to　forgo　the　rest。　If　Mr　Meagles　had　submitted　to
a　glance　of　entreaty　from　Mrs　Meagles；　and　an　expressive　gesture　from
Clennam；　he　would　have　left　her　in　the　undisturbed　enjoyment　of　this
state　of　mind。　But　Pet　was　the　darling　and　pride　of　his　heart；　and　if　he
could　ever　have　championed　her　more　devotedly；　or　loved　her　better；　than
in　the　days　when　she　was　the　sunlight　of　his　house；　it　would　have　been
now；　when；　as　its　daily　grace　and　delight；　she　was　lost　to　it。

'Mrs　Gowan；　ma'am；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'I　have　been　a　plain　man　all　my
life。　If　I　was　to　try……no　matter　whether　on　myself；　on　somebody　else；
or　both……any　genteel　mystifications；　I　should　probably　not　succeed　in
them。'

'Papa　Meagles；'　returned　the　Dowager；　with　an　affable　smile；　but　with
the　bloom　on　her　cheeks　standing　out　a　little　more　vividly　than　usual　as
the　neighbouring　surface　became　paler；'probably　not。'

'Therefore；　my　good　madam；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　at　great　pains　to
restrain　himself；　'I　hope　I　may；　without　offence；　ask　to　have　no　such
mystification　played　off　upon　me。'　'Mama　Meagles；'　observed　Mrs　Gowan；
'your　good　man　is　inprehensible。'

Her　turning　to　that　worthy　lady　was　an　artifice　to　bring　her　into　the
discussion；　quarrel　eagles　interposed　to
prevent　that　consummation。

'Mother；'　said　he；　'you　are　inexpert；　my　dear；　and　it　is　not　a　fair
match。　Let　me　beg　of　you　to　remain　quiet。　e；　Mrs　Gowan；　e！　Let
us　try　to　be　sensible；　let　us　try　to　be　good…natured；　let　us　try　to
be　fair。　Don't　you　pity　Henry；　and　I　won't　pity　Pet。　And　don't　be
one…sided；　my　dear　madam；　it's　not　considerate；　it's　not　kind。　Don't
let　us　say　that　we　hope　Pet　will　make　Henry　happy；　or　even　that　we　hope
Henry　will　make　Pet　happy；'　（Mr　Meagles　himself　did　not　look　happy　as　he
spoke　the　words；）　'but　let　us　hope　they　will　make　each　other　happy。'

'Yes；　sure；　and　there　leave　it；　father；'　said　Mrs　Meagles　the
kind…hearted　and　fortable。

'Why；　mother；　no；'　returned　Mr　Meagles；　'not　exactly　there。　I　can't
quite　leave　it　there；　I　must　say　just　half…a…dozen　words　more。　Mrs
Gowan；　I　hope　I　am　not　over…sensitive。　I　believe　I　don't　look　it。'

'Indeed　you　do　not；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　shaking　her　head　and　the　great
green　fan　together；　for　emphasis。

'Thank　you；　ma'am；　that's　well。　Notwithstanding　which；　I　feel　a
little……I　don't　want　to　use　a　strong　word……now　shall　I　say　hurt？'
asked　Mr　Meagles　at　once　with　frankness　and　moderation；　and　with　a
conciliatory　appeal　in　his　tone。

'Say　what　you　like；'　answered　Mrs　Gowan。　'It　is　perfectly　indifferent　to
me。'

'No；　no；　don't　say　that；'　urged　Mr　Meagles；　'because　that's　not
responding　amiably。　I　feel　a　little　hurt　when　I　hear　references　made　to
consequences　having　been　foreseen；　and　to　its　being　too　late　now；　and　so
forth。'

'Do　you；　Papa　Meagles？'　said　Mrs　Gowan。　'I　am　not　surprised。'

'Well；　ma'am；'　reasoned　Mr　Meagles；　'I　was　in　hopes　you　would　have　been
at　least　surprised；　because　to　hurt　me　wilfully　on　so　tender　a　subject
is　surely　not　generous。'　'I　am　not　responsible；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　'for
your　conscience；　you　know。'

Poor　Mr　Meagles　looked　aghast　with　astonishment。

'If　I　am　unluckily　obliged　to　carry　a　cap　about　with　me；　which　is　yours
and　fits　you；'　pursued　Mrs　Gowan；　'don't　blame　me　for　its　pattern；　Papa
Meagles；　I　beg！'　'Why；　good　Lord；　ma'am！'　Mr　Meagles　broke　out；　'that's
as　much　as　to　state……'

'Now；　Papa　Meagles；　Papa　Meagles；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　who　became　extremely
deliberate　and　prepossessing　in　manner　whenever　that　gentleman　became　at
all　warm；　'perhaps　to　prevent　confusion；　I　had　better　speak　for　myself
than　trouble　your　kindness　to　speak　for　me。

It's　as　much　as　to　state；　you　begin。　If　you　please；　I　will　finish　the
sentence。　It　is　as　much　as　to　state……not　that　I　wish　to　press　it　or　even
recall　it；　for　it　is　of　no　use　now；　and　my　only　wish　is　to　make　the
best　of　existing　circumstances……that　from　the　first　to　the　last　I　always
objected　to　this　match　of　yours；　and　at　a　very　late　period　yielded　a
most　unwilling　consent　to　it。'

'Mother！'　cried　Mr　Meagles。　'Do　you　hear　this！　Arthur！　Do　you　hear
this！'

'The　room　being　of　a　convenient　size；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　looking　about
as　she　fanned　herself；　'and　quite　charmingly　adapted　in　all　respects　to
conversation；　I　should　imagine　I　am　audible　in　any　part　of　it。'

Some　moments　passed　in　silence；　before　Mr　Meagles　could　hold　himself　in
his　chair　with　sufficient　security　to　prevent　his　breaking　out　of　it　at
the　next　word　he　spoke。　At　last　he　said：　'Ma'am；　I　am　very　unwilling　to
revive　them；　but　I　must　remind　you　what　my　opinions　and　my　course　were；
all　along；　on　that　unfortunate　subject。'

'O；　my　dear　sir！'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　smiling　and　shaking　her　head　with
accusatory　intelligence；　'they　were　well　understood　by　me；　I　assure
you。'

'I　never；　ma'am；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'knew　unhappiness　before　that　time；
I　never　knew　anxiety　before　that　time。　It　was　a　time　of　such　distress　to
me　that……'　That　Mr　Meagles　could　really　say　no　more　about　it；　in　short；
but　passed　his　handkerchief　before　his　Face。

'I　understood　the　whole　affair；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　posedly　looking
over　her　fan。　'As　you　have　appealed　to　Mr　Clennam；　I　may　appeal　to　Mr
Clennam；　too。　He　knows　whether　I　did　or　not。'

'I　am　very　unwilling；'　said　Clennam；　looked　to　by　all　parties；　'to　take
any　share　in　this　discussion；　more　especially　because　I　wish　to　preserve
the　best　understanding　and　the　clearest　relations　with　Mr　Henry　Gowan。
I　have　very　strong　reasons　indeed；　for　entertaining　that　wish。　Mrs　Gowan
attributed　certain　views　of　furthering　the　marriage　to　my　friend　here；
in　conversation　with　me　before　it　took　place；　and　I　endeavoured　to
undeceive　her。　I　represented　that　I　knew　him　（as　I　did　and　do）　to　be
strenuously　opposed　to　it；　both　in　opinion　and　action。'

'You　see？'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　turning　the　palms　of　her　hands　towards　Mr
Meagles；　as　if　she　were　Justice　herself；　representing　to　him　that　he　had
better　confess；　for　he　had　not　a　leg　to　stand　on。　'You　see？　Very　good！
Now　Papa　and　Mama　Meagles　both！'　here　she　rose；　'allow　me　to　take　the
liberty　of　putting　an　end　to　this　rather　formidable　controversy。　I　will
not　say　another　word　upon　its　merits。　I　will　only　say　that　it　is　an
additional　proof　of　what　one　knows　from　all　experience；　that　this　kind
of　thing　never　answers……as　my　poor　fellow　himself　would　say；　that　it
never　pays……in　one　word；　that　it　never　does。'

Mr　Meagles　asked；　What　kind　of　thing？

'It　is　in　vain；'　said　Mrs　Gowan；　'for　people　to　attempt　to　get　on
together　who　have　such　extremely　different　antecedents；　who　are　jumbled
against　each　other　in　this　accidental；　matrimonial　sort　of　way；　and　who
cannot　look　at　the　untoward　circumstance　which　has　shaken　them　together
in　the　same　light。　It　never　does。'

Mr　Meagles　was　beginning；　'Permit　me　to　say；　ma'am……'

'No；　don't；'　returned　Mrs　Gowan。　'Why　should　you！　It　is　an　ascertained
fact。　It　never　does。　I　will　therefore；　if　you　please；　go　my　way；　leaving
you　to　yours。　I　shall　at　all　times　be　happy　to　receive　my　poor　fellow's
pretty　wife；　and　I　shall　always　make　a　point　of　being　on　the　most
affectionate　terms　with　her。　But　as　to　these　terms；　semi…family　and
semi…stranger；　semi…goring　and　semi…boring；　they　form　a　state　of　things
quite　amusing　in　its　impracticability。　I　assure　you　it　never　does。'

The　Dowager　here　made　a　smiling　obeisance；　rather　to　the　room　than　to
any　one　in　it；　and　therewith　took　a　final　farewell　of　Papa　and　Mama
Meagles。　Clennam　stepped　forward　to　hand　her　to　the　Pill…Box　which　was
at　the　service　of　all　the　Pills　in　Hampton　Court　Palace；　and　she　got
into　that　vehicle　with　distinguished　serenity；　and　was　driven　away。

Thenceforth　the　Dowager；　with　a　light　and　careless　humour；　often
recounted　to　her　particular　acquaintance　how；　after　a　hard　trial；　she
had　found　it　impossible　to　know　those　people　who　belonged　to　Henry's
wife；　and　who　had　made　that　desperate　set　to　catch　him。　Whether　she　had
e　to　the　conclusion　beforehand；　that　to　get　rid　of　them　would　give
her　favourite　pretence　a　better　air；　might　save　her　some　occasional
inconvenience；　and　could　risk　no　loss　（the　pretty　creature　being　fast
married；　and　her　father　devoted　to　her）；　was　best　known　to　herself。
Though　this　history　has　its　opinion　on　that　point　too；　and　decidedly　in
the　affirmative。




CHAPTER　9。　Appearance　and　Disappearance


'Arthur；　my　dear　boy；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　on　the　evening　of　the　following
day；　'Mother　and　I　have　been　talking　this　over；　and　we　don't　feel
fortable　in　remaining　as　we　are。　That　elegant　connection　of
ours……that　dear　lady　who　was　here　yesterday……'

'I　understand；'　said　Arthur。

'Even　that　affable　and　condescending　ornament　of　society；'　pursued　Mr
Meagles；　'may　misrepresent　us；　we　are　afraid。　We　could　bear　a　great
deal；　Arthur；　for　her　sake；　but　we　think　we　would　rather　not　bear　that；
if　it　was　all　the　same　to　her。'

'Good；'　said　Arthur。　'Go　on。'

'You　see；'　proceeded　Mr　Meagles　'it　might　put　us　wrong　with　our
son…in…law；　it　might　even　put　us　wrong　with　our　daughter；　and　it　might
lead　to　a　great　deal　of　domestic　trouble。　You　see；　don't　you？'

'Yes；　indeed；'　returned　Arthur；　'there　is　much　reason　in　what　you　say。'
He　had　glanced　at　Mrs　Meagles；　who　was　always　on　the　good　and　sensible
side；　and　a　petition　had　shone　out　of　her　honest　face　that　he　would
support　Mr　Meagles　in　his　present　inclinings。

'So　we　are　very　much　disposed；　are　Mother　and　I；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'to
pack　up　bags　and　baggage　and　go　among　the　Allongers　and　Marshongers　once
more。　I　mean；　we　are　very　much　disposed　to　be　off；　strike　right　through
France　into　Italy；　and　see　our　Pet。'

'And　I　don't　think；'　replied　Arthur；　touched　by　the　motherly
anticipation　in　the　bright　face　of　Mrs　Meagles　（she　must　have　been　very
like　her　daughter；　once）；　'that　you　could　do　better。　And　if　you　ask　me