little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第42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！


eyes　became　used　to　the　darkness；　faintly　made　him　out　at　the　bottom　of
the　well；　in　an　obscure　corner　by　himself；　with　his　instrument　in　its
ragged　case　under　his　arm。

The　old　man　looked　as　if　the　remote　high　gallery　windows；　with　their
little　strip　of　sky；　might　have　been　the　point　of　his　better　fortunes；
from　which　he　had　descended；　until　he　had　gradually　sunk　down　below
there　to　the　bottom。　He　had　been　in　that　place　six　nights　a　week　for
many　years；　but　had　never　been　observed　to　raise　his　eyes　above　his
music…book；　and　was　confidently　believed　to　have　never　seen　a　play。
There　were　legends　in　the　place　that　he　did　not　so　much　as　know　the
popular　heroes　and　heroines　by　sight；　and　that　the　low　edian　had
'mugged'　at　him　in　his　richest　manner　fifty　nights　for　a　wager；　and　he
had　shown　no　trace　of　consciousness。　The　carpenters　had　a　joke　to　the
effect　that　he　was　dead　without　being　aware　of　it；　and　the　frequenters
of　the　pit　supposed　him　to　pass　his　whole　life；　night　and　day；　and
Sunday　and　all；　in　the　orchestra。　They　had　tried　him　a　few　times　with
pinches　of　snuff　offered　over　the　rails；　and　he　had　always　responded　to
this　attention　with　a　momentary　waking　up　of　manner　that　had　the　pale
phantom　of　a　gentleman　in　it：　beyond　this　he　never；　on　any　occasion；　had
any　other　part　in　what　was　going　on　than　the　part　written　out　for　the
clario；　in　private　life；　where　there　was　no　part　for　the　clario；
he　had　no　part　at　all。　Some　said　he　was　poor；　some　said　he　was　a　wealthy
miser；　but　he　said　nothing；　never　lifted　up　his　bowed　head；　never　varied
his　shuffling　gait　by　getting　his　springless　foot　from　the　ground。
Though　expecting　now　to　be　summoned　by　his　niece；　he　did　not　hear　her
until　she　had　spoken　to　him　three　or　four　times；　nor　was　he　at　all
surprised　by　the　presence　of　two　nieces　instead　of　one；　but　merely　said
in　his　tremulous　voice；　'I　am　ing；　I　am　ing！'　and　crept　forth　by
some　underground　way　which　emitted　a　cellarous　smell。

'And　so；　Amy；'　said　her　sister；　when　the　three　together　passed　out　at
the　door　that　had　such　a　shame…faced　consciousness　of　being　different
from　other　doors：　the　uncle　instinctively　taking　Amy's　arm　as　the　arm　to
be　relied　on：　'so；　Amy；　you　are　curious　about　me？'

She　was　pretty；　and　conscious；　and　rather　flaunting；　and　the
condescension　with　which　she　put　aside　the　superiority　of　her　charms；
and　of　her　worldly　experience；　and　addressed　her　sister　on　almost　equal
terms；　had　a　vast　deal　of　the　family　in　it。

'I　am　interested；　Fanny；　and　concerned　in　anything　that　concerns　you。'

'So　you　are；　so　you　are；　and　you　are　the　best　of　Amys。　If　I　am　ever　a
little　provoking；　I　am　sure　you'll　consider　what　a　thing　it　is　to
occupy　my　position　and　feel　a　consciousness　of　being　superior　to　it。　I
shouldn't　care；'　said　the　Daughter　of　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea；　'if
the　others　were　not　so　mon。　None　of　them　have　e　down　in　the　world
as　we　have。　They　are　all　on　their　own　level。　mon。'

Little　Dorrit　mildly　looked　at　the　speaker；　but　did　not　interrupt　her。
Fanny　took　out　her　handkerchief；　and　rather　angrily　wiped　her　eyes。　'I
was　not　born　where　you　were；　you　know；　Amy；　and　perhaps　that　makes　a
difference。　My　dear　child；　when　we　get　rid　of　Uncle；　you　shall　know　all
about　it。　We'll　drop　him　at　the　cook's　shop　where　he　is　going　to　dine。'

They　walked　on　with　him　until　they　came　to　a　dirty　shop　window　in　a
dirty　street；　which　　of　hot　meats；
vegetables；　and　puddings。　But　glimpses　were　to　be　caught　of　a　roast　leg
of　pork　bursting　into　tears　of　sage　and　onion　in　a　metal　reservoir　full
of　gravy；　of　an　unctuous　piece　of　roast　beef　and　blisterous　Yorkshire
pudding；　bubbling　hot　in　a　similar　receptacle；　of　a　stuffed　fillet　of
veal　in　rapid　cut；　of　a　ham　in　a　perspiration　with　the　pace　it　was　going
at；　of　a　shallow　tank　of　baked　potatoes　glued　together　by　their　own
richness；　of　a　truss　or　two　of　boiled　greens；　and　other　substantial
delicacies。　Within；　were　a　few　wooden　partitions；　behind　which　such
customers　as　found　it　more　convenient　to　take　away　their　dinners　in
stomachs　than　in　their　hands；　Packed　their　purchases　in　solitude。　Fanny
opening　her　reticule；　as　they　surveyed　these　things；　produced　from　that
repository　a　shilling　and　handed　it　to　Uncle。　Uncle；　after　not　looking
at　it　a　little　while；　divined　its　object；　and　muttering　'Dinner？　Ha！
Yes；　yes；　yes！'　slowly　vanished　from　them　into　the　mist。

'Now；　Amy；'　said　her　sister；　'e　with　me；　if　you　are　not　too　tired　to
walk　to　Harley　Street；　Cavendish　Square。'

The　air　with　which　she　threw　off　this　distinguished　address　and　the　toss
she　gave　to　her　new　bon　（which　was　more　gauzy　than　serviceable）；　made
her　sister　wonder；　however；　she　expressed　her　readiness　to　go　to　Harley
Street；　and　thither　they　directed　their　steps。　Arrived　at　that　grand
destination；　Fanny　singled　out　the　handsomest　house；　and　knocking　at　the
door；　inquired　for　Mrs　Merdle。　The　footman　who　opened　the　door；　although
he　had　powder　on　his　head　and　was　backed　up　by　two　other　footmen
likewise　powdered；　not　only　admitted　Mrs　Merdle　to　be　at　home；　but　asked
Fanny　to　walk　in。　Fanny　walked　in；　taking　her　sister　with　her；　and　they
went　up…stairs　with　powder　going　before　and　powder　stopping　behind；
and　were　left　in　a　spacious　semicircular　drawing…room；　one　of　several
drawing…rooms；　where　there　was　a　parrot　on　the　outside　of　a　golden　cage
holding　on　by　its　beak；　with　its　scaly　legs　in　the　air；　and　putting
itself　into　many　strange　upside…down　postures。　This　peculiarity　has　been
observed　in　birds　of　quite　another　feather；　climbing　upon　golden　wires。

The　room　was　far　more　splendid　than　anything　Little　Dorrit　had　ever
imagined；　and　would　have　been　splendid　and　costly　in　any　eyes。　She
looked　in　amazement　at　her　sister　and　would　have　asked　a　question；
but　that　Fanny　with　a　warning　frown　pointed　to　a　curtained　doorway　of
munication　with　another　room。　The　curtain　shook　next　moment；　and　a
lady；　raising　it　with　a　heavily　ringed　hand；　dropped　it　behind　her　again
as　she　entered。

The　lady　was　not　young　and　fresh　from　the　hand　of　Nature；　but　was　young
and　fresh　from　the　hand　of　her　maid。　She　had　large　unfeeling　handsome
eyes；　and　dark　unfeeling　handsome　hair；　and　a　broad　unfeeling　handsome
bosom；　and　was　made　the　most　of　in　every　particular。　Either　because　she
had　a　cold；　or　because　it　suited　her　face；　she　wore　a　rich　white
fillet　tied　over　her　head　and　under　her　chin。　And　if　ever　there　were
an　unfeeling　handsome　chin　that　looked　as　if；　for　certain；　it　had　never
been；　in　familiar　parlance；　'chucked'　by　the　hand　of　man；　it　was　the
chin　curbed　up　so　tight　and　close　by　that　laced　bridle。

'Mrs　Merdle；'　said　Fanny。　'My　sister；　ma'am。'

'I　am　glad　to　see　your　sister；　Miss　Dorrit。　I　did　not　remember　that　you
had　a　sister。'

'I　did　not　mention　that　I　had；'　said　Fanny。

'Ah！'　Mrs　Merdle　curled　the　little　finger　of　her　left　hand　as　who　should
say；　'I　have　caught　you。　I　know　you　didn't！'　All　her　action　was　usually
with　her　left　hand　because　her　hands　were　not　a　pair；　and　left　being
much　the　whiter　and　plumper　of　the　two。　Then　she　added：　'Sit　down；'　and
posed　herself　voluptuously；　in　a　nest　of　crimson　and　gold　cushions；
on　an　ottoman　near　the　parrot。

'Also　professional？'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　looking　at　Little　Dorrit　through
an　eye…glass。

Fanny　answered　No。　'No；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　dropping　her　glass。　'Has　not　a
professional　air。　Very　pleasant；　but　not　professional。'

'My　sister；　ma'am；'　said　Fanny；　in　whom　there　was　a　singular　mixture
of　deference　and　hardihood；　'has　been　asking　me　to　tell　her；　as　between
sisters；　how　I　came　to　have　the　honour　of　knowing　you。　And　as　I　had
engaged　to　call　upon　you　once　more；　I　thought　I　might　take　the　liberty
of　bringing　her　with　me；　when　perhaps　you　would　tell　her。　I　wish　her　to
know；　and　perhaps　you　will　tell　her？'　'Do　you　think；　at　your　sister's
age……'　hinted　Mrs　Merdle。

'She　is　much　older　than　she　looks；'　said　Fanny；　'almost　as　old　as　I　am。'

'Society；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　with　another　curve　of　her　little　finger；
'is　so　difficult　to　explain　to　young　persons　（indeed　is　so　difficult　to
explain　to　most　persons）；　that　I　am　glad　to　hear　that。

I　wish　Society　was　not　so　arbitrary；　I　wish　it　was　not　so
exacting……Bird；　be　quiet！'

The　parrot　had　given　a　most　piercing　shriek；　as　if　its　name　were　Society
and　it　asserted　its　right　to　its　exactions。

'But；'　resumed　Mrs　Merdle；　'we　must　take　it　as　we　find　it。　We　know　it　is
hollow　and　conventional　and　worldly　and　very　shocking；　but　unless　we
are　Savages　in　the　Tropical　seas　（I　should　have　been　charmed　to　be　one
myself……most　delightful　life　and　perfect　climate；　I　am　told）；　we
must　consult　it。　It　is　the　mon　lot。　Mr　Merdle　is　a　most　extensive
merchant；　his　transactions　are　on　the　vastest　scale；　his　wealth　and
influence　are　very　great；　but　even　he……Bird；　be　quiet！'

The　parrot　had　shrieked　another　shriek；　and　it　filled　up　the　sentence　so
expressively　that　Mrs　Merdle　was　under　no　necessity　to　end　it。

'Since　your　sister　begs　that　I　would　terminate　our　personal
acquaintance；'　she　began　again；　addressing　Little　Dorrit；　'by　relating
the　circumstances　that　are　much　to　her　credit；　I　cannot　object　to　ply
　sure。　I　have　a　son　（I　was　first　married　extremely
young）　of　two　or　three…and…twenty。'

Fanny　set　her　lips；　and　her　eyes　looked　half　triumphantly　at　her　sister。

'A　son　of　two　or　three…and…twenty。　He　is　a　little　gay；　a　thing　Society
is　accustomed　to　in　young　men；　and　he　is　very　impressible。　Perhaps　he
inherits　that　misfortune。　I　am　very　impressible　myself；　by　nature。　The
weakest　of　creatures……my　feelings　are　touched　in　a　moment。'

She　said　all　this；　and　everything　else；　as　coldly　as　a　woman　of　snow；
quite　forgetting　the　sisters　except　at　odd　times；　and　apparently
addressing　some　abstraction　of　Society；　for　whose　behoof；　too；　she
occasionally　arranged　her　dress；　or　the　position　of　her　figure　upon
the　ottoman。

'So　he　is　very　impressible。　Not　a　misfortune　in　our　natural　state　I　dare
say；　but　we　are　not　in　a　natural　state。　Much　to　be　lamented；　no　doubt；
particularly　by　myself；　who　am　a　child　of　nature　if　I　could　but　show　it；
but　so　it　is。　Society　suppresses　us　and　dominates　us……Bird；　be　quiet！'
The　parrot　had　broken　into　a　violent　fit　of　laughter；　after　twisting
divers　bars　of　his　cage　with　his　crooked　bill；　and　licking　them　with　his
black　tongue。

'It　is　quite　unnecessary　to　say　to　a　person　of　your　good　sense；　wide
range　of　experience；　and　cultivated　feeling；'　said　Mrs　Merdle　from　her
nest　of　crimson　and　gold……and　there　put　up　her　glass　to　refresh　her
memory　as　to　whom　she　was　addressing；……'that　the　stage　sometimes　has
a　fascination　for　young　men　of　that　class　of　character。　In　saying　the
stage；　I　mean　the　people　on　it　of　the　female　sex。　Therefore；　when　I
heard　that　my　son　was　supposed　to　be　fascinated　by　a　dancer；　I　knew　what
that　usually　meant　in　Society；　and　confided　in　her　being　a　dancer　at　the
Opera；　where　young　men　moving　in　Society　are　usually　fascinated。'

She　passed　her　white　hands　over　one　another；　observant　of　the　sisters
now；　and　the　rings　upon　her　fingers　grated　against　each　other　with　a
hard　sound。

'As　your　sister　will　tell　you；　when　I　found　what　the　theatre　was　I　was
much　surprised　and　much　distressed。　But　when　I　found　that　your　sister；
by　rejecting　my　son's　advances　（I　must　add；　in　an　unexpected　manner）；
had　brought　him　to　the　point　of　proposing　marriage；　my　feelings　were
of　the　profoundest　anguish……acute。'　She　traced　the　outline　of　her　left
eyebrow；　and　put　it　right。

'In　a　distracted　condition；　which　only　a　mother……moving　in　Society……can
be　susceptible　of；　I　determined　to　go　myself　to　the　theatre；　and
represent　my　state　of　mind　to　the　dancer。　I　made　myself　known　to　your
sister。　I　found　her；　to　my　surprise；　in　many　respects　different　from
my　expectations；　and　certainly　in　none　more　so；　than　in　meeting　me
with……what　shall　I　say……a　sort　of　family　assertion　on　her　own　part？'　Mrs
Merdle　smiled。

'I　told　you；　ma'am；'　said　Fanny；　with　a　heightening　colour；　'that
although　you　found　me　in　that　situation；　I　was　so　far　above　the　rest；
that　I　considered　my　family　as　good　as　your　son's；　and　that　I　had　a
brother　who；　knowing　the　circumstances；　would　be　of　the　same　opinion；
and　would　not　consider　such　a　connection　any　honour。'

'Miss　Dorrit；'　said　Mrs　Merdle；　after　frostily　looking　at　her　through
her　glass；　'precisely　what　I　was　on　the　point　of　telling　your　sister；
in　pursuance　of　your　request。　Much　obliged　to　you　for　recalling　it
so　accurately　and　anticipating　me。　I　immediately；'　addressing　Little
Dorrit；　'（for　I　am　the　creature　of　impulse）；　took　a　bracelet　from　my
arm；　and　begged　your　sister　to　let　me　clasp　it　on　hers；　in　token　of
the　delight　I　had　in　our　being　able　to　approach　the　subject　so　far　on
a　mon　footing。'　（This　was　perfectly　true；　the　lady　having　bought　a
cheap　and　showy　article　on　her　way　to　the　interview；　with　a　general　eye
to　bribery。）

'And　I　told　you；　Mrs　Merdle；'　said　Fanny；　'that　we　might　be　unfortunate；
but　we　are　not　mon。'

'I　think；　the　very　words；　Miss　Dorrit；'　assented　Mrs　Merdle。

'And　I　told　you；　Mrs　Merdle；'　said　Fanny；　'that　if　you　spoke　to　me
of　the　superiority　of　your　son's　standing　in　Society；　it　was　barely
possible　that　you　rather　deceived　yourself　in　your　sup