little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第71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！


mind　in　Buchan's　Domestic　Medicine；　suffered　greatly　from　low　spirits；
and　from　moving　recollections　of　Minnie's　infancy。　When　the　latter　was
powerful　with　her；　she　usually　sent　up　secret　messages　importing
that　she　was　not　in　parlour　condition　as　to　her　attire；　and　that　she
solicited　a　sight　of　'her　child'　in　the　kitchen；　there；　she　would　bless
her　child's　face；　and　bless　her　child's　heart；　and　hug　her　child；　in　a
medley　of　tears　and　congratulations；　chopping…boards；　rolling…pins；　and
pie…crust；　with　the　tenderness　of　an　old　attached　servant；　which　is　a
very　pretty　tenderness　indeed。

But　all　days　e　that　are　to　be；　and　the　marriage…day　was　to　be；　and　it
came；　and　with　it　came　all　the　Barnacles　who　were　bidden　to　the　feast。
There　was　Mr　Tite　Barnacle；　from　the　Circumlocution　Office；　and　Mews
Street；　Grosvenor　Square；　with　the　expensive　Mrs　Tite　Barnacle　NEE
Stiltstalking；　who　made　the　Quarter　Days　so　long　in　ing；　and　the
three　expensive　Miss　Tite　Barnacles；　double…loaded　with　acplishments
and　ready　to　go　off；　and　yet　not　going　off　with　the　sharpness　of　flash
and　bang　that　might　have　been　expected；　but　rather　hanging　fire。　There
was　Barnacle　junior；　also　from　the　Circumlocution　Office；　leaving　the
Tonnage　of　the　country；　which　he　was　somehow　supposed　to　take　under
his　protection；　to　look　after　itself；　and；　sooth　to　say；　not　at　all
impairing　the　efficiency　of　its　protection　by　leaving　it　alone。　There
was　the　engaging　Young　Barnacle；　deriving　from　the　sprightly　side　of　the
family；　also　from　the　Circumlocution　Office；　gaily　and　agreeably　helping
the　occasion　along；　and　treating　it；　in　his　sparkling　way；　as　one　of　the
official　forms　and　fees　of　the　Church　Department　of　How　not　to　do　it。
There　were　three　other　Young　Barnacles　from　three　other　offices；　insipid
to　all　the　senses；　and　terribly　in　want　of　seasoning；　doing　the　marriage
as　they　would　have　'done'　the　Nile；　Old　Rome；　the　new　singer；　or
Jerusalem。

But　there　was　greater　game　than　this。　There　was　Lord　Decimus　Tite
Barnacle　himself；　in　the　odour　of　Circumlocution……with　the　very　smell　of
Despatch…Boxes　upon　him。　Yes；　there　was　Lord　Decimus　Tite　Barnacle；　who
had　risen　to　official　heights　on　the　wings　of　one　indignant　idea；　and
that　was；　My　Lords；　that　I　am　yet　to　be　told　that　it　behoves　a　Minister
of　this　free　country　to　set　bounds　to　the　philanthropy；　to　cramp　the
charity；　to　fetter　the　public　spirit；　to　contract　the　enterprise；　to
damp　the　independent　self…reliance；　of　its　people。　That　was；　in　other
words；　that　this　great　statesman　was　always　yet　to　be　told　that　it
behoved　the　Pilot　of　the　ship　to　do　anything　but　prosper　in　the　private
loaf　and　fish　trade　ashore；　the　crew　being　able；　by　dint　of　hard
pumping；　to　keep　the　ship　above　water　without　him。　On　this　sublime
discovery　in　the　great　art　How　not　to　do　it；　Lord　Decimus　had　long
sustained　the　highest　glory　of　the　Barnacle　family；　and　let　any
ill…advised　member　of　either　House　but　try　How　to　do　it　by　bringing　in
a　Bill　to　do　it；　that　Bill　was　as　good　as　dead　and　buried　when　Lord
Decimus　Tite　Barnacle　rose　up　in　his　place　and　solemnly　said；　soaring
into　indignant　majesty　as　the　Circumlocution　cheering　soared　around
him；　that　he　was　yet　to　be　told；　My　Lords；　that　it　behoved　him　as　the
Minister　of　this　free　country；　to　set　bounds　to　the　philanthropy；
to　cramp　the　charity；　to　fetter　the　public　spirit；　to　contract　the
enterprise；　to　damp　the　independent　self…reliance；　of　its　people。　The
discovery　of　this　Behoving　Machine　was　the　discovery　of　the　political
perpetual　motion。　It　never　wore　out；　though　it　was　always　going　round
and　round　in　all　the　State　Departments。

And　there；　with　his　noble　friend　and　relative　Lord　Decimus；　was
William　Barnacle；　who　had　made　the　ever…famous　coalition　with　Tudor
Stiltstalking；　and　who　always　kept　ready　his　own　particular　recipe　for
How　not　to　do　it；　sometimes　tapping　the　Speaker；　and　drawing　it　fresh
out　of　him；　with　a　'First；　I　will　beg　you；　sir；　to　inform　the　House　what
Precedent　we　have　for　the　course　into　which　the　honourable　gentleman
would　precipitate　us；'　sometimes　asking　the　honourable　gentleman　to
favour　him　with　his　own　version　of　the　Precedent；　sometimes　telling
the　honourable　gentleman　that　he　（William　Barnacle）　would　search　for　a
Precedent；　and　oftentimes　crushing　the　honourable　gentleman　flat　on
the　spot　by　telling　him　there　was　no　Precedent。　But　Precedent　and
Precipitate　were；　under　all　circumstances；　the　well…matched　pair　of
battle…horses　of　this　able　Circumlocutionist。　No　matter　that　the　unhappy
honourable　gentleman　had　been　trying　in　vain；　for　twenty…five　years；　to
precipitate　William　Barnacle　into　this……William　Barnacle　still　put　it　to
the　House；　and　（at　second…hand　or　so）　to　the　country；　whether　he　was　to
be　precipitated　into　this。　No　matter　that　it　was　utterly　irreconcilable
with　the　nature　of　things　and　course　of　events　that　the　wretched
honourable　gentleman　could　possibly　produce　a　Precedent　for
this……William　Barnacle　would　nevertheless　thank　the　honourable　gentleman
for　that　ironical　cheer；　and　would　close　with　him　upon　that　issue；　and
would　tell　him　to　his　teeth　that　there　Was　NO　Precedent　for　this。　It
might　perhaps　have　been　objected　that　the　William　Barnacle　wisdom　was
not　high　wisdom　or　the　earth　it　bamboozled　would　never　have　been　made；
or；　if　made　in　a　rash　mistake；　would　have　remained　blank　mud。　But
Precedent　and　Precipitate　together　frightened　all　objection　out　of　most
people。

And　there；　too；　was　another　Barnacle；　a　lively　one；　who　had　leaped
through　twenty　places　in　quick　succession；　and　was　always　in　two　or
three　at　once；　and　who　was　the　much…respected　inventor　of　an　art
which　he　practised　with　great　success　and　admiration　in　all　Barnacle
Governments。　This　was；　when　he　was　asked　a　Parliamentary　question　on
any　one　topic；　to　return　an　answer　on　any　other。　It　had　done　immense
service；　and　brought　him　into　high　esteem　with　the　Circumlocution
Office。

And　there；　too；　was　a　sprinkling　of　less　distinguished　Parliamentary
Barnacles；　who　had　not　as　yet　got　anything　snug；　and　were　going　through
their　probation　to　prove　their　worthiness。　These　Barnacles　perched　upon
staircases　and　hid　in　passages；　waiting　their　orders　to　make　houses
or　not　to　make　houses；　and　they　did　all　their　hearing；　and　ohing；　and
cheering；　and　barking；　under　directions　from　the　heads　of　the　family；
and　they　put　dummy　motions　on　the　paper　in　the　way　of　other　men's
motions；　and　they　stalled　disagreeable　subjects　off　until　late　in　the
night　and　late　in　the　session；　and　then　with　virtuous　patriotism　cried
out　that　it　was　too　late；　and　they　went　down　into　the　country；　whenever
they　were　sent；　and　swore　that　Lord　Decimus　had　revived　trade　from　a
swoon；　and　merce　from　a　fit；　and　had　doubled　the　harvest　of　corn；
quadrupled　the　harvest　of　hay；　and　prevented　no　end　of　gold　from　flying
out　of　the　Bank。　Also　these　Barnacles　were　dealt；　by　the　heads　of　the
family；　like　so　many　cards　below　the　court…cards；　to　public　meetings　and
dinners；　where　they　bore　testimony　to　all　sorts　of　services　on　the　part
of　their　noble　and　honourable　relatives；　and　buttered　the　Barnacles　on
all　sorts　of　toasts。　And　they　stood；　under　similar　orders；　at　all　sorts
of　elections；　and　they　turned　out　of　their　own　seats；　on　the　shortest
notice　and　the　most　unreasonable　terms；　to　let　in　other　men；　and　they
fetched　and　carried；　and　toadied　and　jobbed；　and　corrupted；　and　ate
heaps　of　dirt；　and　were　indefatigable　in　the　public　service。　And　there
was　not　a　list；　in　all　the　Circumlocution　Office；　of　places　that　might
fall　vacant　anywhere　within　half　a　century；　from　a　lord　of　the　Treasury
to　a　Chinese　consul；　and　up　again　to　a　governor…general　of　India；　but　as
applicants　for　such　places；　the　names　of　some　or　of　every　one　of　these
hungry　and　adhesive　Barnacles　were　down。

It　was　necessarily　but　a　sprinkling　of　any　class　of　Barnacles　that
attended　the　marriage；　for　there　were　not　two　score　in　all；　and　what
is　that　subtracted　from　Legion！　But　the　sprinkling　was　a　swarm　in　the
Twickenham　cottage；　and　filled　it。　A　Barnacle　（assisted　by　a　Barnacle）
married　the　happy　pair；　and　it　behoved　Lord　Decimus　Tite　Barnacle
himself　to　conduct　Mrs　Meagles　to　breakfast。

The　entertainment　was　not　as　agreeable　and　natural　as　it　might　have
been。　Mr　Meagles；　hove　down　by　his　good　pany　while　he　highly
appreciated　it；　was　not　himself。　Mrs　Gowan　was　herself；　and　that　did　not
improve　him。　The　fiction　that　it　was　not　Mr　Meagles　who　had　stood　in　the
way；　but　that　it　was　the　Family　greatness；　and　that　the　Family　greatness
had　made　a　concession；　and　there　was　now　a　soothing　unanimity；　pervaded
the　affair；　though　it　was　never　openly　expressed。　Then　the　Barnacles
felt　that　they　for　their　parts　would　have　done　with　the　Meagleses　when
the　present　patronising　occasion　was　over；　and　the　Meagleses　felt　the
same　for　their　parts。　Then　Gowan　asserting　his　rights　as　a　disappointed
man　who　had　his　grudge　against　the　family；　and　who；　perhaps；　had　allowed
his　mother　to　have　them　there；　as　much　in　the　hope　it　might　give　them
some　annoyance　as　with　any　other　benevolent　object；　aired　his　pencil　and
his　poverty　ostentatiously　before　them；　and　told　them　he　hoped　in　time
to　settle　a　crust　of　bread　and　cheese　on　his　wife；　and　that　he　begged
such　of　them　as　（more　fortunate　than　himself）　came　in　for　any　good
thing；　and　could　buy　a　picture；　to　please　to　remember　the　poor　painter。
Then　Lord　Decimus；　who　was　a　wonder　on　his　own　Parliamentary　pedestal；
turned　out　to　be　the　windiest　creature　here：　proposing　happiness　to　the
bride　and　bridegroom　in　a　series　of　platitudes　that　would　have　made　the
hair　of　any　sincere　disciple　and　believer　stand　on　end；　and　trotting；
with　the　placency　of　an　idiotic　elephant；　among　howling　labyrinths　of
sentences　which　he　seemed　to　take　for　high　roads；　and　never　so　much
as　wanted　to　get　out　of。　Then　Mr　Tite　Barnacle　could　not　but　feel　that
there　was　a　person　in　pany；　who　would　have　disturbed　his　life…long
sitting　to　Sir　Thomas　Lawrence　in　full　official　character；　if　such
disturbance　had　been　possible：　while　Barnacle　junior　did；　with
indignation；　municate　to　two　vapid　gentlemen；　his　relatives；　that
there　was　a　feller　here；　look　here；　who　had　e　to　our　Department
without　an　appointment　and　said　he　wanted　to　know；　you　know；　and　that；
look　here；　if　he　was　to　break　out　now；　as　he　might　you　know　（for　you
never　could　tell　what　an　ungentlemanly　Radical　of　that　sort　would　be　up
to　next）；　and　was　to　say；　look　here；　that　he　wanted　to　know　this　moment；
you　know；　that　would　be　jolly；　wouldn't　it？

The　pleasantest　part　of　the　occasion　by　far；　to　Clennam；　was　the
painfullest。　When　Mr　and　Mrs　Meagles　at　last　hung　about　Pet　in　the　room
with　the　two　pictures　（where　the　pany　were　not）；　before　going　with
her　to　the　threshold　which　she　could　never　recross　to　be　the　old　Pet　and
the　old　delight；　nothing　could　be　more　natural　and　simple　than　the　three
were。　Gowan　himself　was　touched；　and　answered　Mr　Meagles's　'O　Gowan；
take　care　of　her；　take　care　of　her！'　with　an　earnest　'Don't　be　so
broken…hearted；　sir。　By　Heaven　I　will！'

And　so；　with　the　last　sobs　and　last　loving　words；　and　a　last　look　to
Clennam　of　confidence　in　his　promise；　Pet　fell　back　in　the　carriage；
and　her　husband　waved　his　hand；　and　they　were　away　for　Dover；　though　not
until　the　faithful　Mrs　Tickit；　in　her　silk　gown　and　jet　black　curls；　had
rushed　out　from　some　hiding…place；　and　thrown　both　her　shoes　after
the　carriage：　an　apparition　which　occasioned　great　surprise　to　the
distinguished　pany　at　the　windows。

The　said　pany　being　now　relieved　from　further　attendance；　and　the
chief　Barnacles　being　rather　hurried　（for　they　had　it　in　hand　just
then　to　send　a　mail　or　two　which　was　in　danger　of　going　straight　to　its
destination；　beating　about　the　seas　like　the　Flying　Dutchman；　and　to
arrange　with　plexity　for　the　stoppage　of　a　good　deal　of　important
business　otherwise　in　peril　of　being　done）；　went　their　several　ways；
with　all　affability　conveying　to　Mr　and　Mrs　Meagles　that　general
assurance　that　what　they　had　been　doing　there；　they　had　been　doing　at　a
sacrifice　for　Mr　and　Mrs　Meagles's　good；　which　they　always　conveyed　to
Mr　John　Bull　in　their　official　condescension　to　that　most　unfortunate
creature。

A　miserable　blank　remained　in　the　house　and　in　the　hearts　of　the　father
and　mother　and　Clennam。　Mr　Meagles　called　only　one　remembrance　to　his
aid；　that　really　did　him　good。

'It's　very　gratifying；　Arthur；'　he　said；　'after　all；　to　look　back　upon。'

'The　past？'　said　Clennam。

'Yes……but　I　mean　the　pany。'

It　had　made　him　much　more　low　and　unhappy　at　the　time；　but　now　it　really
did　him　good。　'It's　very　gratifying；'　he　said；　often　repeating　the
remark　in　the　course　of　the　evening。　'Such　high　pany！'




CHAPTER　35。　What　was　behind　Mr　Pancks　on　Little　Dorrit's　Hand


It　was　at　this　time　that　Mr　Pancks；　in　discharge　of　his　pact　with
Clennam；　revealed　to　him　the　whole　of　his　gipsy　story；　and　told　him
Little　Dorrit's　fortune。　Her　father　was　heir…at…law　to　a　great　estate
that　had　long　lain　unknown　of；　unclaimed；　and　accumulating。　His　right
was　now　clear；　nothing　interposed　in　his　way；　the　Marshalsea　gates　stood
open；　the　Marshalsea　walls　were　down；　a　few　flourishes　of　his　pen；　an