little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第100章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


respects　of　that　which　all　on　us　looked　to；　and　to　bring　us　all　safe
home　as　much　as　we　needed；　mind　you；　fur　toe　be　brought。　Mr　Baptist；
sole　lodger　of　Mr　and　Mrs　Plornish　was　reputed　in　whispers　to　lay　by
the　savings　which　were　the　result　of　his　simple　and　moderate　life；
for　investment　in　one　of　Mr　Merdle's　certain　enterprises。　The　female
Bleeding　Hearts；　when　they　came　for　ounces　of　tea；　and　hundredweights　of
talk；　gave　Mrs　Plornish　to　understand；　That　how；　ma'am；　they　had　heard
from　their　cousin　Mary　Anne；　which　worked　in　the　line；　that　his　lady's
dresses　would　fill　three　waggons。　That　how　she　was　as　handsome　a　lady；
ma'am；　as　lived；　no　matter　wheres；　and　a　busk　like　marble　itself。　That
how；　according　to　what　they　was　told；　ma'am；　it　was　her　son　by　a　former
husband　as　was　took　into　the　Government；　and　a　General　he　had　been；　and
armies　he　had　marched　again　and　victory　crowned；　if　all　you　heard　was　to
be　believed。　That　how　it　was　reported　that　Mr　Merdle's　words　had　been；
that　if　they　could　have　made　it　worth　his　while　to　take　the　whole
Government　he　would　have　took　it　without　a　profit；　but　that　take　it　he
could　not　and　stand　a　loss。　That　how　it　was　not　to　be　expected；　ma'am；
that　he　should　lose　by　it；　his　ways　being；　as　you　might　say　and　utter
no　falsehood；　paved　with　gold；　but　that　how　it　was　much　to　be　regretted
that　something　handsome　hadn't　been　got　up　to　make　it　worth　his　while；
for　it　was　such　and　only　such　that　knowed　the　heighth　to　which　the　bread
and　butchers'　meat　had　rose；　and　it　was　such　and　only　such　that　both
could　and　would　bring　that　heighth　down。

So　rife　and　potent　was　the　fever　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard；　that　Mr
Pancks's　rent…days　caused　no　interval　in　the　patients。　The　disease　took
the　singular　form；　on　those　occasions；　of　causing　the　infected　to　find
an　unfathomable　excuse　and　consolation　in　allusions　to　the　magic　name。

'Now；　then！'　Mr　Pancks　would　say；　to　a　defaulting　lodger。　'Pay　up！

e　on！'

'I　haven't　got　it；　Mr　Pancks；'　Defaulter　would　reply。　'I　tell　you　the
truth；　sir；　when　I　say　I　haven't　got　so　much　as　a　single　sixpence　of　it
to　bless　myself　with。'

'This　won't　do；　you　know；'　Mr　Pancks　would　retort。　'You　don't　expect　it
will　do；　do　you？'　Defaulter　would　admit；　with　a　low…spirited　'No；　sir；'
having　no　such　expectation。

'My　proprietor　isn't　going　to　stand　this；　you　know；'　Mr　Pancks　would
proceed。　'He　don't　send　me　here　for　this。　Pay　up！　e！'

The　Defaulter　would　make　answer；　'Ah；　Mr　Pancks。　If　I　was　the　rich
gentleman　whose　name　is　in　everybody's　mouth……if　my　name　was　Merdle；
sir……I'd　soon　pay　up；　and　be　glad　to　do　it。'

Dialogues　on　the　rent…question　usually　took　place　at　the　house…doors
or　in　the　entries；　and　in　the　presence　of　several　deeply　interested
Bleeding　Hearts。　They　always　received　a　reference　of　this　kind　with　a
low　murmur　of　response；　as　if　it　were　convincing；　and　the　Defaulter；
however　black　and　disfited　before；　always　cheered　up　a　little　in
making　it。

'If　I　was　Mr　Merdle；　sir；　you　wouldn't　have　cause　to　plain　of　me
then。　No；　believe　me！'　the　Defaulter　would　proceed　with　a　shake　of　the
head。　'I'd　pay　up　so　quick　then；　Mr　Pancks；　that　you　shouldn't　have　to
ask　me。'

The　response　would　be　heard　again　here；　implying　that　it　was　impossible
to　say　anything　fairer；　and　that　this　was　the　next　thing　to　paying　the
money　down。

Mr　Pancks　would　be　now　reduced　to　saying　as　he　booked　the　case；　'Well！
You'll　have　the　broker　in；　and　be　turned　out；　that's　what'll　happen　to
you。　It's　no　use　talking　to　me　about　Mr　Merdle。　You　are　not　Mr　Merdle；
any　more　than　I　am。'

'No；　sir；'　the　Defaulter　would　reply。　'I　only　wish　you　were　him；　sir。'

The　response　would　take　this　up　quickly；　replying　with　great　feeling；
'Only　wish　you　were　him；　sir。'

'You'd　be　easier　with　us　if　you　were　Mr　Merdle；　sir；'　the　Defaulter
would　go　on　with　rising　spirits；　'and　it　would　be　better　for　all
parties。　Better　for　our　sakes；　and　better　for　yours；　too。　You　wouldn't
have　to　worry　no　one；　then；　sir。　You　wouldn't　have　to　worry　us；　and　you
wouldn't　have　to　worry　yourself。　You'd　be　easier　in　your　own　mind；　sir；
and　you'd　leave　others　easier；　too；　you　would；　if　you　were　Mr　Merdle。'

Mr　Pancks；　in　whom　these　impersonal　pliments　produced　an　irresistible
sheepishness；　never　rallied　after　such　a　charge。　He　could　only　bite
his　nails　and　puff　away　to　the　next　Defaulter。　The　responsive　Bleeding
Hearts　would　then　gather　round　the　Defaulter　whom　he　had　just　abandoned；
and　the　most　extravagant　rumours　would　circulate　among　them；　to　their
great　fort；　touching　the　amount　of　Mr　Merdle's　ready　money。

From　one　of　the　many　such　defeats　of　one　of　many　rent…days；　Mr　Pancks；
having　finished　his　day's　collection；　repaired　with　his　note…book
under　his　arm　to　Mrs　Plornish's　corner。　Mr　Pancks's　object　was　not
professional；　but　social。　He　had　had　a　trying　day；　and　wanted　a　little
brightening。　By　this　time　he　was　on　friendly　terms　with　the　Plornish
family；　having　often　looked　in　upon　them　at　similar　seasons；　and　borne
his　part　in　recollections　of　Miss　Dorrit。

Mrs　Plornish's　shop…parlour　had　been　decorated　under　her　own　eye；　and
presented；　on　the　side　towards　the　shop；　a　little　fiction　in　which　Mrs
Plornish　unspeakably　rejoiced。　This　poetical　heightening　of　the　parlour
consisted　in　the　wall　being　painted　to　represent　the　exterior　of　a
thatched　cottage；　the　artist　having　introduced　（in　as　effective　a　manner
as　he　found　patible　with　their　highly　disproportionate　dimensions）
the　real　door　and　window。　The　modest　sunflower　and　hollyhock　were
depicted　as　flourishing　with　great　luxuriance　on　this　rustic　dwelling；
oke　issuing　from　the　chimney　indicated　good
cheer　within；　and　also；　perhaps；　that　it　had　not　been　lately　swept。
A　faithful　dog　was　represented　as　flying　at　the　legs　of　the　friendly
visitor；　from　the　threshold；　and　a　circular　pigeon…house；　enveloped　in　a
cloud　of　pigeons；　arose　from　behind　the　garden…paling。　On　the　door　（when
it　was　shut）；　appeared　the　semblance　of　a　brass…plate；　presenting
the　inscription；　Happy　Cottage；　T。　and　M。　Plornish；　the　partnership
expressing　man　and　wife。　No　Poetry　and　no　Art　ever　charmed　the
imagination　more　than　the　union　of　the　two　in　this　counterfeit　cottage
charmed　Mrs　Plornish。　It　was　nothing　to　her　that　Plornish　had　a　habit
of　leaning　against　it　as　he　smoked　his　pipe　after　work；　when　his
hat　blotted　out　the　pigeon…house　and　all　the　pigeons；　when　his　back
swallowed　up　the　dwelling；　when　his　hands　in　his　pockets　uprooted　the
blooming　garden　and　laid　waste　the　adjacent　country。　To　Mrs　Plornish；　it
was　still　a　most　beautiful　cottage；　a　most　wonderful　deception；　and
it　made　no　difference　that　Mr　Plornish's　eye　was　some　inches　above　the
level　of　the　gable　bed…room　in　the　thatch。　To　e　out　into　the　shop
after　it　was　shut；　and　hear　her　father　sing　a　song　inside　this　cottage；
was　a　perfect　Pastoral　to　Mrs　Plornish；　the　Golden　Age　revived。　And
truly　if　that　famous　period　had　been　revived；　or　had　ever　been　at　all；
it　may　be　doubted　whether　it　would　have　produced　many　more　heartily
admiring　daughters　than　the　poor　woman。

Warned　of　a　visitor　by　the　tinkling　bell　at　the　shop…door；　Mrs　Plornish
came　out　of　Happy　Cottage　to　see　who　it　might　be。　'I　guessed　it　was
you；　Mr　Pancks；'　said　she；　'for　it's　quite　your　regular　night；　ain't　it？
Here's　father；　you　see；　e　out　to　serve　at　the　sound　of　the　bell；　like
a　brisk　young　shopman。　Ain't　he　looking　well？　Father's　more　pleased　to
see　you　than　if　you　was　a　customer；　for　he　dearly　loves　a　gossip；　and
when　it　turns　upon　Miss　Dorrit；　he　loves　it　all　the　more。　You　never
heard　father　in　such　voice　as　he　is　at　present；'　said　Mrs　Plornish；　her
own　voice　quavering；　she　was　so　proud　and　pleased。　'He　gave　us　Strephon
last　night　to　that　degree　that　Plornish　gets　up　and　makes　him　this
speech　across　the　table。　〃John　Edward　Nandy；〃　says　Plornish　to　father；
〃I　never　heard　you　e　the　warbles　as　I　have　heard　you　e　the　warbles
this　night。〃　An't　it　gratifying；　Mr　Pancks；　though；　really？'

Mr　Pancks；　who　had　snorted　at　the　old　man　in　his　friendliest　manner；
replied　in　the　affirmative；　and　casually　asked　whether　that　lively　Altro
chap　had　e　in　yet？　Mrs　Plornish　answered　no；　not　yet；　though　he　had
gone　to　the　West…End　with　some　work；　and　had　said　he　should　be　back
by　tea…time。　Mr　Pancks　was　then　hospitably　pressed　into　Happy　Cottage；
where　he　encountered　the　elder　Master　Plornish　just　e　home　from
school。　Examining　that　young　student；　lightly；　on　the　educational
proceedings　of　the　day；　he　found　that　the　more　advanced　pupils　who
were　in　the　large　text　and　the　letter　M；　had　been　set　the　copy　'Merdle；
Millions。'

'And　how　are　you　getting　on；　Mrs　Plornish；'　said　Pancks；　'since　we're
mentioning　millions？'

'Very　steady；　indeed；　sir；'　returned　Mrs　Plornish。　'Father；　dear；　would
you　go　into　the　shop　and　tidy　the　window　a　little　bit　before　tea；　your
taste　being　so　beautiful？'

John　Edward　Nandy　trotted　away；　much　gratified；　to　ply　with　his
daughter's　request。　Mrs　Plornish；　who　was　always　in　mortal　terror
of　mentioning　pecuniary　affairs　before　the　old　gentleman；　lest　any
disclosure　she　made　might　rouse　his　spirit　and　induce　him　to　run　away　to
the　workhouse；　was　thus　left　free　to　be　confidential　with　Mr　Pancks。

'It's　quite　true　that　the　business　is　very　steady　indeed；'　said　Mrs
Plornish；　lowering　her　voice；　'and　has　a　excellent　connection。　The　only
thing　that　stands　in　its　way；　sir；　is　the　Credit。'

This　drawback；　rather　severely　felt　by　most　people　who　engaged　in
mercial　transactions　with　the　inhabitants　of　Bleeding　Heart　Yard；
was　a　large　stumbling…block　in　Mrs　Plornish's　trade。　When　Mr　Dorrit　had
established　her　in　the　business；　the　Bleeding　Hearts　had　shown　an　amount
of　emotion　and　a　determination　to　support　her　in　it；　that　did　honour　to
human　nature。　Recognising　her　claim　upon　their　generous　feelings　as　one
who　had　long　been　a　member　of　their　munity；　they　pledged　themselves；
with　great　feeling；　to　deal　with　Mrs　Plornish；　e　what　would　and
bestow　their　patronage　on　no　other　establishment。　Influenced　by　these
noble　sentiments；　they　had　even　gone　out　of　their　way　to　purchase　little
luxuries　in　the　grocery　and　butter　line　to　which　they　were　unaccustomed；
saying　to　one　another；　that　if　they　did　stretch　a　point；　was　it　not　for
a　neighbour　and　a　friend；　and　for　whom　ought　a　point　to　be　stretched　if
not　for　such？　So　stimulated；　the　business　was　extremely　brisk；　and　the
articles　in　stock　went　off　with　the　greatest　celerity。　In　short；　if　the
Bleeding　Hearts　had　but　paid；　the　undertaking　would　have　been　a　plete
success；　whereas；　by　reason　of　their　exclusively　confining　themselves　to
owing；　the　profits　actually　realised　had　not　yet　begun　to　appear　in　the
books。

Mr　Pancks　was　making　a　very　porcupine　of　himself　by　sticking　his　hair
up　in　the　contemplation　of　this　state　of　accounts；　when　old　Mr　Nandy；
re…entering　the　cottage　with　an　air　of　mystery；　entreated　them　to　e
and　look　at　the　strange　behaviour　of　Mr　Baptist；　who　seemed　to　have　met
with　something　that　had　scared　him。　All　three　going　into　the　shop；　and
watching　through　the　window；　then　saw　Mr　Baptist；　pale　and　agitated；　go
through　the　following　extraordinary　performances。　First；　he　was　observed
hiding　at　the　top　of　the　steps　leading　down　into　the　Yard；　and　peeping
up　and　down　the　street　with　his　head　cautiously　thrust　out　close　to　the
side　of　the　shop…door。　After　very　anxious　scrutiny；　he　came　out　of
his　retreat；　and　went　briskly　down　the　street　as　if　he　were　going　away
altogether；　then；　suddenly　turned　about；　and　went；　at　the　same　pace；　and
with　the　same　feint；　up　the　street。　He　had　gone　no　further　up　the　street
than　he　had　gone　down；　when　he　crossed　the　road　and　disappeared。　The
object　of　this　last　manoeuvre　was　only　apparent；　when　his　entering　the
shop　with　a　sudden　twist；　from　the　steps　again；　explained　that　he
had　made　a　wide　and　obscure　circuit　round　to　the　other；　or　Doyce　and
Clennam；　end　of　the　Yard；　and　had　e　through　the　Yard　and　bolted　in。
He　was　out　of　breath　by　that　time；　as　he　might　well　be；　and　his　heart
seemed　to　jerk　faster　than　the　little　shop…bell；　as　it　quivered　and
jingled　behind　him　with　his　hasty　shutting　of　the　door。

'Hallo；　old　chap！'　said　Mr　Pancks。　'Altro；　old　boy！　What's　the　matter？'

Mr　Baptist；　or　Signor　Cavalletto；　understood　English　now　almost　as　well
as　Mr　Pancks　himself；　and　could　speak　it　very　well　too。　Nevertheless；
Mrs　Plornish；　with　a　pardonable　vanity　in　that　acplishment　of　hers
which　made　her　all　but　Italian；　stepped　in　as　interpreter。

'E　ask　know；'　said　Mrs　Plornish；　'What　go　wrong？'

'e　into　the　happy　little　cottage；　Padrona；'　returned　Mr　Baptist；
imparting　great　stealthiness　to　his　flurried　back…handed　shake　of　his
right　forefinger。　'e　there！'

Mrs　Plornish　was　proud　of　the　title　Padrona；　which　she　regarded　as
signifying：　not　so　much　Mistress　of　the　house；　as　Mistress　of　the
Italian　tongue。　She　immediately　plied　with　Mr　Baptist's　request；　and
they　all　went　into　the　cottage。

'E　ope　you　no　fright；'　said　Mrs　Plornish　then；　interpreting　Mr　Pancks
in　a　new　way　with　her　usual　fertility　of　resource。　'What　appen？　Peaka
Padrona！'

'I　have　seen　some　one；'　returned　Baptist。　'I　have　rincontrato　him。'

'Im？　Oo　him？'　asked　Mrs　Plornish。

'A　bad　man。　A