little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第144章

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I　know　what　we　want　to　get　there。'

Little　Dorrit　and　he　went　out　together　soon　afterwards；　and　Mr　Meagles
lingered　behind　to　say　a　word　to　his　friend。

'I　think；　Arthur；　you　will　not　want　Mother　and　me　in　the　morning　and
we　will　keep　away。　It　might　set　Mother　thinking　about　Pet；　she's　a
soft…hearted　woman。　She's　best　at　the　Cottage；　and　I'll　stay　there　and
keep　her　pany。'

With　that　they　parted　for　the　time。　And　the　day　ended；　and　the　night
ended；　and　the　morning　came；　and　Little　Dorrit；　simply　dressed　as　usual
and　having　no　one　with　her　but　Maggy；　came　into　the　prison　with　the
sunshine。　The　poor　room　was　a　happy　room　that　morning。　Where　in　the
world　was　there　a　room　so　full　of　quiet　joy！

'My　dear　love；'　said　Arthur。　'Why　does　Maggy　light　the　fire？　We　shall　be
gone　directly。'

'I　asked　her　to　do　it。　I　have　taken　such　an　odd　fancy。　I　want　you　to
burn　something　for　me。'

'What？'

'Only　this　folded　paper。　If　you　will　put　it　in　the　fire　with　your　own
hand；　just　as　it　is；　my　fancy　will　be　gratified。'

'Superstitious；　darling　Little　Dorrit？　Is　it　a　charm？'

'It　is　anything　you　like　best；　my　own；'　she　answered；　laughing　with
glistening　eyes　and　standing　on　tiptoe　to　kiss　him；　'if　you　will　only
humour　me　when　the　fire　burns　up。'

So　they　stood　before　the　fire；　waiting：　Clennam　with　his　arm　about　her
waist；　and　the　fire　shining；　as　fire　in　that　same　place　had　often　shone；
in　Little　Dorrit's　eyes。　'Is　it　bright　enough　now？'　said　Arthur。　'Quite
bright　enough　now；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'Does　the　charm　want　any　words
to　be　said？'　asked　Arthur；　as　he　held　the　paper　over　the　flame。　'You　can
say　（if　you　don't　mind）　〃I　love　you！〃'　answered　Little　Dorrit。　So　he　said
it；　and　the　paper　burned　away。

They　passed　very　quietly　along　the　yard；　for　no　one　was　there；　though
many　heads　were　stealthily　peeping　from　the　windows。

Only　one　face；　familiar　of　old；　was　in　the　Lodge。　When　they　had　both
accosted　it；　and　spoken　many　kind　words；　Little　Dorrit　turned　back　one
last　time　with　her　hand　stretched　out；　saying；　'Good…bye；　good　John！　I
hope　you　will　live　very　happy；　dear！'

Then　they　went　up　the　steps　of　the　neighbouring　Saint　George's　Church；
and　went　up　to　the　altar；　where　Daniel　Doyce　was　waiting　in　his　paternal
character。　And　there　was　Little　Dorrit's　old　friend　who　had　given　her
the　Burial　Register　for　a　pillow；　full　of　admiration　that　she　should
e　back　to　them　to　be　married；　after　all。

And　they　were　married　with　the　sun　shining　on　them　through　the　painted
figure　of　Our　Saviour　on　the　window。　And　they　went　into　the　very　room
where　Little　Dorrit　had　slumbered　after　her　party；　to　sign　the　Marriage
Register。　And　there；　Mr　Pancks；　（destined　to　be　chief　clerk　to　Doyce　and
Clennam；　and　afterwards　partner　in　the　house）；　sinking　the　Incendiary
in　the　peaceful　friend；　looked　in　at　the　door　to　see　it　done；　with　Flora
gallantly　supported　on　one　arm　and　Maggy　on　the　other；　and　a　back…ground
of　John　Chivery　and　father　and　other　turnkeys　who　had　run　round　for　the
moment；　deserting　the　parent　Marshalsea　for　its　happy　child。　Nor　had
Flora　the　least　signs　of　seclusion　upon　her；　notwithstanding　her　recent
declaration；　but；　on　the　contrary；　was　wonderfully　smart；　and　enjoyed
the　ceremonies　mightily；　though　in　a　fluttered　way。

Little　Dorrit's　old　friend　held　the　inkstand　as　she　signed　her　name；　and
the　clerk　paused　in　taking　off　the　good　clergyman's　surplice；　and　all
the　witnesses　looked　on　with　special　interest。　'For；　you　see；'　said
Little　Dorrit's　old　friend；　'this　young　lady　is　one　of　our　curiosities；
and　has　e　now　to　the　third　volume　of　our　Registers。　Her　birth　is　in
what　I　call　the　first　volume；　she　lay　asleep；　on　this　very　floor；
with　her　pretty　head　on　what　I　call　the　second　volume；　and　she's　now
a…writing　her　little　name　as　a　bride　in　what　I　call　the　third　volume。'

They　all　gave　place　when　the　signing　was　done；　and　Little　Dorrit　and　her
husband　walked　out　of　the　church　alone。　They　paused　for　a　moment　on　the
steps　of　the　portico；　looking　at　the　fresh　perspective　of　the　street　in
the　autumn　morning　sun's　bright　rays；　and　then　went　down。

Went　down　into　a　modest　life　of　usefulness　and　happiness。　Went　down
to　give　a　mother's　care；　in　the　fulness　of　time；　to　Fanny's　neglected
children　no　less　than　to　their　own；　and　to　leave　that　lady　going　into
Society　for　ever　and　a　day。　Went　down　to　give　a　tender　nurse　and　friend
to　Tip　for　some　few　years；　who　was　never　vexed　by　the　great　exactions　he
made　of　her　in　return　for　the　riches　he　might　have　given　her　if　he　had
ever　had　them；　and　who　lovingly　closed　his　eyes　upon　the　Marshalsea
and　all　its　blighted　fruits。　They　went　quietly　down　into　the　roaring
streets；　inseparable　and　blessed；　and　as　they　passed　along　in　sunshine
and　shade；　the　noisy　and　the　eager；　and　the　arrogant　and　the　froward　and
the　vain；　fretted　and　chafed；　and　made　their　usual　uproar。





End　

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