little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第65章

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would　do　if　he　had　a　ship　full　of　gold　ing　home　to　him　（his　plan　was
to　take　a　noble　lodging　for　the　Plornishes　and　himself　at　a　Tea　Gardens；
and　live　there　all　the　rest　of　their　lives；　attended　on　by　the　waiter）；
and　it　was　a　special　birthday　of　the　old　man。　They　were　within　five
minutes　of　their　destination；　when；　at　the　corner　of　her　own　street；
they　came　upon　Fanny　in　her　new　bon　bound　for　the　same　port。

'Why；　good　gracious　me；　Amy！'　cried　that　young　lady　starting。　'You　never
mean　it！'

'Mean　what；　Fanny　dear？'

'Well！　I　could　have　believed　a　great　deal　of　you；'　returned　the　young
lady　with　burning　indignation；　'but　I　don't　think　even　I　could　have
believed　this；　of　even　you！'

'Fanny！'　cried　Little　Dorrit；　wounded　and　astonished。

'Oh！　Don't　Fanny　me；　you　mean　little　thing；　don't！　The　idea　of　ing
along　the　open　streets；　in　the　broad　light　of　day；　with　a　Pauper！'
（firing　off　the　last　word　as　if　it　were　a　ball　from　an　air…gun）。　'O
Fanny！'

'I　tell　you　not　to　Fanny　me；　for　I'll　not　submit　to　it！　I　never　knew
such　a　thing。　The　way　in　which　you　are　resolved　and　determined　to
disgrace　us　on　all　occasions；　is　really　infamous。　You　bad　little　thing！'

'Does　it　disgrace　anybody；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　very　gently；　'to　take
care　of　this　poor　old　man？'

'Yes；　miss；'　returned　her　sister；　'and　you　ought　to　know　it　does。
And　you　do　know　it　does；　and　you　do　it　because　you　know　it　does。　The
principal　pleasure　of　your　life　is　to　remind　your　family　of　their
misfortunes。　And　the　next　great　pleasure　of　your　existence　is　to　keep
low　pany。　But；　however；　if　you　have　no　sense　of　decency；　I
have。　You'll　please　to　allow　me　to　go　on　the　other　side　of　the　way；
unmolested。'

With　this；　she　bounced　across　to　the　opposite　pavement。　The　old
disgrace；　who　had　been　deferentially　bowing　a　pace　or　two　off　（for
Little　Dorrit　had　let　his　arm　go　in　her　wonder；　when　Fanny　began）；　and
who　had　been　hustled　and　cursed　by　impatient　passengers　for　stopping　the
way；　rejoined　his　panion；　rather　giddy；　and　said；　'I　hope　nothing's
wrong　with　your　honoured　father；　Miss？　I　hope　there's　nothing　the　matter
in　the　honoured　family？'

'No；　no；'　returned　Little　Dorrit。　'No；　thank　you。　Give　me　your　arm
again；　Mr　Nandy。　We　shall　soon　be　there　now。'

So　she　talked　to　him　as　she　had　talked　before；　and　they　came　to　the
Lodge　and　found　Mr　Chivery　on　the　lock；　and　went　in。　Now；　it　happened
that　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea　was　sauntering　towards　the　Lodge　at
the　moment　when　they　were　ing　out　of　it；　entering　the　prison　arm　in
arm。　As　the　spectacle　of　their　approach　met　his　view；　he　displayed　the
utmost　agitation　and　despondency　of　mind；　and……altogether　regardless　of
Old　Nandy；　who；　making　his　reverence；　stood　with　his　hat　in　his　hand；　as
he　always　did　in　that　gracious　presence……turned　about；　and　hurried　in　at
his　own　doorway　and　up　the　staircase。

Leaving　the　old　unfortunate；　whom　in　an　evil　hour　she　had　taken　under
her　protection；　with　a　hurried　promise　to　return　to　him　directly；　Little
Dorrit　hastened　after　her　father；　and；　on　the　staircase；　found　Fanny
following　her；　and　flouncing　up　with　offended　dignity。　The　three　came
into　the　room　almost　together；　and　the　Father　sat　down　in　his　chair；
buried　his　face　in　his　hands；　and　uttered　a　groan。

'Of　course；'　said　Fanny。　'Very　proper。　Poor；　afflicted　Pa！　Now；　I　hope
you　believe　me；　Miss？'

'What　is　it；　father？'　cried　Little　Dorrit；　bending　over　him。　'Have　I
made　you　unhappy；　father？　Not　I；　I　hope！'

'You　hope；　indeed！　I　dare　say！　Oh；　you'……Fanny　paused　for　a　sufficiently
strong　expression……'you　mon…minded　little　Amy！　You　plete
prison…child！'

He　stopped　these　angry　reproaches　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　and　sobbed
out；　raising　his　face　and　shaking　his　melancholy　head　at　his　younger
daughter；　'Amy；　I　know　that　you　are　innocent　in　intention。　But　you
have　cut　me　to　the　soul。'　'Innocent　in　intention！'　the　implacable　Fanny
struck　in。　'Stuff　in　intention！　Low　in　intention！　Lowering　of　the　family
in　intention！'

'Father！'　cried　Little　Dorrit；　pale　and　trembling。　'I　am　very　sorry。
Pray　forgive　me。　Tell　me　how　it　is；　that　I　may　not　do　it　again！'

'How　it　is；　you　prevaricating　little　piece　of　goods！'　cried　Fanny。　'You
know　how　it　is。　I　have　told　you　already；　so　don't　fly　in　the　face　of
Providence　by　attempting　to　deny　it！'

'Hush！　Amy；'　said　the　father；　passing　his　pocket…handkerchief　several
times　across　his　face；　and　then　grasping　it　convulsively　in　the　hand
that　dropped　across　his　knee；　'I　have　done　what　I　could　to　keep　you
select　here；　I　have　done　what　I　could　to　retain　you　a　position　here。　I
may　have　succeeded；　I　may　not。　You　may　know　it；　you　may　not。　I　give　no
opinion。　I　have　endured　everything　here　but　humiliation。　That　I　have
happily　been　spared……until　this　day。'

Here　his　convulsive　grasp　unclosed　itself；　and　he　put　his
pocket…handkerchief　to　his　eyes　again。　Little　Dorrit；　on　the　ground
beside　him；　with　her　imploring　hand　upon　his　arm；　watched　him
remorsefully。　ing　out　of　his　fit　of　grief；　he　clenched　his
pocket…handkerchief　once　more。

'Humiliation　I　have　happily　been　spared　until　this　day。　Through　all
my　troubles　there　has　been　that……Spirit　in　myself；　and　that……that
submission　to　it；　if　I　may　use　the　term；　in　those　about　me；　which　has
spared　me……ha……humiliation。　But　this　day；　this　minute；　I　have　keenly
felt　it。'

'Of　course！　How　could　it　be　otherwise？'　exclaimed　the　irrepressible
Fanny。　'Careering　and　prancing　about　with　a　Pauper！'　（air…gun　again）。

'But；　dear　father；'　cried　Little　Dorrit；　'I　don't　justify　myself　for
having　wounded　your　dear　heart……no！　Heaven　knows　I　don't！'　She　clasped
her　hands　in　quite　an　agony　of　distress。　'I　do　nothing　but　beg　and　pray
you　to　be　forted　and　overlook　it。　But　if　I　had　not　known　that　you
were　kind　to　the　old　man　yourself；　and　took　much　notice　of　him；　and　were
always　glad　to　see　him；　I　would　not　have　e　here　with　him；　father；　I
would　not；　indeed。　What　I　have　been　so　unhappy　as　to　do；　I　have　done
in　mistake。　I　would　not　wilfully　bring　a　tear　to　your　eyes；　dear　love！'
said　Little　Dorrit；　her　heart　well…nigh　broken；　'for　anything　the　world
could　give　me；　or　anything　it　could　take　away。'

Fanny；　with　a　partly　angry　and　partly　repentant　sob；　began　to　cry
herself；　and　to　say……as　this　young　lady　always　said　when　she　was　half　in
passion　and　half　out　of　it；　half　spiteful　with　herself　and　half　spiteful
with　everybody　else……that　she　wished　she　were　dead。

The　Father　of　the　Marshalsea　in　the　meantime　took　his　younger　daughter
to　his　breast；　and　patted　her　head。　'There；　there！　Say　no　more；　Amy；
say　no　more；　my　child。　I　will　forget　it　as　soon　as　I　can。　I；'　with
hysterical　cheerfulness；　'I……shall　soon　be　able　to　dismiss　it。　It
is　perfectly　true；　my　dear；　that　I　am　always　glad　to　see　my　old
pensioner……as　such；　as　such……and　that　I　do……ha……extend　as　much
protection　and　kindness　to　the……hum……the　bruised　reed……I　trust　I　may　so
call　him　without　impropriety……as　in　my　circumstances；　I　can。　It　is　quite
true　that　this　is　the　case；　my　dear　child。　At　the　same　time；　I　preserve
in　doing　this；　if　I　may……ha……if　I　may　use　the　expression……Spirit。
Being　Spirit。　And　there　are　some　things　which　are；'　he　stopped　to
sob；　'irreconcilable　with　that；　and　wound　that……wound　it　deeply。

It　is　not　that　I　have　seen　my　good　Amy　attentive；　and……ha……condescending
to　my　old　pensioner……it　is　not　that　that　hurts　me。　It　is；　if　I　am　to
close　the　painful　subject　by　being　explicit；　that　I　have　seen　my　child；
my　own　child；　my　own　daughter；　ing　into　this　College　out　of　the
public　streets……smiling！　smiling！……arm　in　arm　with……O　my　God；　a　livery！'

This　reference　to　the　coat　of　no　cut　and　no　time；　the　unfortunate
gentleman　gasped　forth；　in　a　scarcely　audible　voice；　and　with　his
clenched　pocket…handkerchief　raised　in　the　air。　His　excited　feelings
might　have　found　some　further　painful　utterance；　but　for　a　knock　at　the
door；　which　had　been　already　twice　repeated；　and　to　which　Fanny　（still
wishing　herself　dead；　and　indeed　now　going　so　far　as　to　add；　buried）
cried　'e　in！'

'Ah；　Young　John！'　said　the　Father；　in　an　altered　and　calmed　voice。　'What
is　it；　Young　John？'

'A　letter　for　you；　sir；　being　left　in　the　Lodge　just　this　minute；　and　a
message　with　it；　I　thought；　happening　to　be　there　myself；　sir；　I　would
bring　it　to　your　room。'　The　speaker's　attention　was　much　distracted　by
the　piteous　spectacle　of　Little　Dorrit　at　her　father's　feet；　with　her
head　turned　away。

'Indeed；　John？　Thank　you。'

'The　letter　is　from　Mr　Clennam；　sir……it's　the　answer……and　the　message
was；　sir；　that　Mr　Clennam　also　sent　his　pliments；　and　word　that　he
would　do　himself　the　pleasure　of　calling　this　afternoon；　hoping　to　see
you；　and　likewise；'　attention　more　distracted　than　before；　'Miss　Amy。'

'Oh！'　As　the　Father　glanced　into　the　letter　（there　was　a　bank…note　in
it）；　he　reddened　a　little；　and　patted　Amy　on　the　head　afresh。　'Thank
you；　Young　John。　Quite　right。　Much　obliged　to　you　for　your　attention。　No
one　waiting？'

'No；　sir；　no　one　waiting。'

'Thank　you；　John。　How　is　your　mother；　Young　John？'

'Thank　you；　sir；　she's　not　quite　as　well　as　we　could　wish……in　fact；　we
none　of　us　are；　except　father……but　she's　pretty　well；　sir。'　'Say　we　sent
our　remembrances；　will　you？　Say　kind　remembrances；　if　you　please；　Young
John。'

'Thank　you；　sir；　I　will。'　And　Mr　Chivery　junior　went　his　way；　having
spontaneously　posed　on　the　spot　an　entirely　new　epitaph　for　himself；
to　the　effect　that　Here　lay　the　body　of　John　Chivery；　Who；　Having
at　such　a　date；　Beheld　the　idol　of　his　life；　In　grief　and　tears；　And
feeling　unable　to　bear　the　harrowing　spectacle；　Immediately　repaired　to
the　abode　of　his　inconsolable　parents；　And　terminated　his　existence　by
his　own　rash　act。

'There；　there；　Amy！'　said　the　Father；　when　Young　John　had　closed　the
door；　'let　us　say　no　more　about　it。'　The　last　few　minutes　had　improved
his　spirits　remarkably；　and　he　e。　'Where　is　my　old
pensioner　all　this　while？　We　must　not　leave　him　by　himself　any　longer；
or　he　will　begin　to　suppose　he　is　not　wele；　and　that　would　pain　me。
Will　you　fetch　him；　my　child；　or　shall　I？'

'If　you　wouldn't　mind；　father；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　trying　to　bring　her
sobbing　to　a　close。

'Certainly　I　will　go；　my　dear。　I　forgot；　your　eyes　are　rather　red。

There！　Cheer　up；　Amy。　Don't　be　uneasy　about　me。　I　am　quite　myself　again；
my　love；　quite　myself。　Go　to　your　room；　Amy；　and　make　yourself　look
fortable　and　pleasant　to　receive　Mr　Clennam。'

'I　would　rather　stay　in　my　own　room；　Father；'　returned　Little　Dorrit；
finding　it　more　difficult　than　before　to　regain　her　posure。　'I　would
far　rather　not　see　Mr　Clennam。'

'Oh；　fie；　fie；　my　dear；　that's　folly。　Mr　Clennam　is　a　very　gentlemanly
man……very　gentlemanly。　A　little　reserved　at　times；　but　I　will　say
extremely　gentlemanly。　I　couldn't　think　of　your　not　being　here　to
receive　Mr　Clennam；　my　dear；　especially　this　afternoon。　So　go　and
freshen　yourself　up；　Amy；　go　and　freshen　yourself　up；　like　a　good　girl。'

Thus　directed；　Little　Dorrit　dutifully　rose　and　obeyed：　only　pausing
for　a　moment　as　she　went　out　of　the　room；　to　give　her　sister　a　kiss　of
reconciliation。　Upon　which；　that　young　lady；　feeling　much　harassed
in　her　mind；　and　having　for　the　time　worn　out　the　wish　with　which　she
generally　relieved　it；　conceived　and　executed　the　brilliant　idea　of
wishing　Old　Nandy　dead；　rather　than　that　he　should　e　bothering　there
like　a　disgusting；　tiresome；　wicked　wretch；　and　making　mischief　between
two　sisters。

The　Father　of　the　Marshalsea；　even　humming　a　tune；　and　wearing　his　black
velvet　cap　a　little　on　one　side；　so　much　improved　were　his　spirits；　went
down　into　the　yard；　and　found　his　old　pensioner　standing　there　hat　in
hand　just　within　the　gate；　as　he　had　stood　all　this　time。　'e；　Nandy！'
said　he；　with　great　suavity。　'e　up…stairs；　Nandy；　you　know　the　way；
why　don't　you　e　up…stairs？'　He　went　the　length；　on　this　occasion；
of　giving　him　his　hand　and　saying；　'How　are　you；　Nandy？　Are　you　pretty
well？'　To　which　that　vocalist　returned；　'I　thank　you；　honoured　sir；　I　am
all　the　better　for　seeing　your　honour。'　As　they　went　along　the　yard；　the
Father　of　the　Marshalsea　presented　him　to　a　Collegian　of　recent　date。
'An　old　acquaintance　of　mine；　sir；　an　old　pensioner。'　And　then　said；　'Be
covered；　my　good　Nandy；　put　your　hat　on；'　with　great　consideration。

His　patronage　did　not　stop　here；　for　he　charged　Maggy　to　get　the　tea
ready；　and　instructed　her　to　buy　certain　tea…cakes；　fresh　butter；
eggs；　cold　ham；　and　shrimps：　to　purchase　which　collation　he　gave　her　a
bank…note　for　ten　pounds；　laying　strict　injunctions　on　her　to　be　careful
of　the　change。　These　preparations　were　in　an　advanced　stage　of　progress；
and　his　daughter　Amy　had　e　back　with　her　work；　when　Clennam　presented
himself；　whom　he　most　graciously　received；　and　besought　to　join　their
meal。

'Amy；　my　love；　you　know　Mr　Clennam　even　better　than　I　have　the　happiness
of　doing。　Fanny；　my　dear；　you　are　acquainted　with　Mr　Clennam。'　Fanny
acknowledged　him　haughtily；　the　position　she　tacitly　took　up　in　all　such
cases　being　that　there　was　a　vast　conspiracy　to　insult　the　family　by　not
understanding　it；　or　sufficiently　deferring　to　it；　and　here　was　one　of
the　conspirators。

'This；　Mr　Clennam；　you　must　know；　is　an　old