little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第86章

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suppose　I　shall　be　presented　to　her　at　Rome。'

'Indeed？'　returned　Fanny；　with　an　appearance　of　amiably　quenching　her
own　superiority。　'I　think　you'll　like　her。'

'You　know　her　very　well？'

'Why；　you　see；'　said　Fanny；　with　a　frank　action　of　her　pretty　shoulders；
'in　London　one　knows　every　one。　We　met　her　on　our　way　here；　and；　to　say
the　truth；　papa　was　at　first　rather　cross　with　her　for　taking　one　of　the
rooms　that　our　people　had　ordered　for　us。

However；　of　course；　that　soon　blew　over；　and　we　were　all　good　friends
again。'

Although　the　visit　had　as　yet　given　Little　Dorrit　no　opportunity　of
conversing　with　Mrs　Gowan；　there　was　a　silent　understanding　between
them；　which　did　as　well。　She　looked　at　Mrs　Gowan　with　keen　and　unabated
interest；　the　sound　of　her　voice　was　thrilling　to　her；　nothing　that　was
near　her；　or　about　her；　or　at　all　concerned　her；　escaped　Little　Dorrit。
She　was　quicker　to　perceive　the　slightest　matter　here；　than　in　any　other
case……but　one。

'You　have　been　quite　well；'　she　now　said；　'since　that　night？'

'Quite；　my　dear。　And　you？'　'Oh！　I　am　always　well；'　said　Little　Dorrit；
timidly。　'I……yes；　thank　you。'

There　was　no　reason　for　her　faltering　and　breaking　off；　other　than　that
Mrs　Gowan　had　touched　her　hand　in　speaking　to　her；　and　their　looks　had
met。　Something　thoughtfully　apprehensive　in　the　large；　soft　eyes；　had
checked　Little　Dorrit　in　an　instant。

'You　don't　know　that　you　are　a　favourite　of　my　husband's；　and　that　I　am
almost　bound　to　be　jealous　of　you？'　said　Mrs　Gowan。

Little　Dorrit；　blushing；　shook　her　head。

'He　will　tell　you；　if　he　tells　you　what　he　tells　me；　that　you　are
quieter　and　quicker　of　resource　than　any　one　he　ever　saw。'

'He　speaks　far　too　well　of　me；'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'I　doubt　that；　but　I　don't　at　all　doubt　that　I　must　tell　him　you
are　here。　I　should　never　be　forgiven；　if　I　were　to　let　you……and　Miss
Dorrit……go；　without　doing　so。　May　I？　You　can　excuse　the　disorder　and
disfort　of　a　painter's　studio？'

The　inquiries　were　addressed　to　Miss　Fanny；　who　graciously　replied　that
she　would　be　beyond　anything　interested　and　enchanted。　Mrs　Gowan　went　to
a　door；　looked　in　beyond　it；　and　came　back。　'Do　Henry　the　favour　to　e
in；'　said　she；　'I　knew　he　would　be　pleased！'

The　first　object　that　confronted　Little　Dorrit；　entering　first；　was
Blandois　of　Paris　in　a　great　cloak　and　a　furtive　slouched　hat；　standing
on　a　throne　platform　in　a　corner；　as　he　had　stood　on　the　Great　Saint
Bernard；　when　the　warning　arms　seemed　to　be　all　pointing　up　at　him。　She
recoiled　from　this　figure；　as　it　smiled　at　her。

'Don't　be　alarmed；'　said　Gowan；　ing　from　his　easel　behind　the　door。
'It's　only　Blandois。　He　is　doing　duty　as　a　model　to…day。　I　am　making
a　study　of　him。　It　saves　me　money　to　turn　him　to　some　use。　We　poor
painters　have　none　to　spare。'

Blandois　of　Paris　pulled　off　his　slouched　hat；　and　saluted　the　ladies
without　ing　out　of　his　corner。

'A　thousand　pardons！'　said　he。　'But　the　Professore　here　is　so　inexorable
with　me；　that　I　am　afraid　to　stir。'

'Don't　stir；　then；'　said　Gowan　coolly；　as　the　sisters　approached　the
easel。　'Let　the　ladies　at　least　see　the　original　of　the　daub；　that　they
may　know　what　it's　meant　for。　There　he　stands；　you　see。　A　bravo　waiting
for　his　prey；　a　distinguished　noble　waiting　to　save　his　country；　the
mon　enemy　waiting　to　do　somebody　a　bad　turn；　an　angelic　messenger
waiting　to　do　somebody　a　good　turn……whatever　you　think　he　looks　most
like！'　'Say；　Professore　Mio；　a　poor　gentleman　waiting　to　do　homage　to
elegance　and　beauty；'　remarked　Blandois。

'Or　say；　Cattivo　Soggetto　Mio；'　returned　Gowan；　touching　the　painted
face　with　his　brush　in　the　part　where　the　real　face　had　moved；　'a
murderer　after　the　fact。　Show　that　white　hand　of　yours；　Blandois。　Put　it
outside　the　cloak。　Keep　it　still。'

Blandois'　hand　was　unsteady；　but　he　laughed；　and　that　would　naturally
shake　it。

'He　was　formerly　in　some　scuffle　with　another　murderer；　or　with　a
victim；　you　observe；'　said　Gowan；　putting　in　the　markings　of　the　hand
patient；　unskilful　touch；　'and　these　are　the　tokens　of
it。　Outside　the　cloak；　man！……Corpo　di　San　Marco；　what　are　you　thinking
of？'

Blandois　of　Paris　shook　with　a　laugh　again；　so　that　his　hand　shook　more；
now　he　raised　it　to　twist　his　moustache；　which　had　a　damp　appearance；
and　now　he　stood　in　the　required　position；　with　a　little　new　swagger。

His　face　was　so　directed　in　reference　to　the　spot　where　Little　Dorrit
stood　by　the　easel；　that　throughout　he　looked　at　her。　Once　attracted　by
his　peculiar　eyes；　she　could　not　remove　her　own；　and　they　had　looked
at　each　other　all　the　time。　She　trembled　now；　Gowan；　feeling　it；　and
supposing　her　to　be　alarmed　by　the　large　dog　beside　him；　whose　head　she
caressed　in　her　hand；　and　who　had　just　uttered　a　low　growl；　glanced　at
her　to　say；　'He　won't　hurt　you；　Miss　Dorrit。'

'I　am　not　afraid　of　him；'　she　returned　in　the　same　breath；　'but　will　you
look　at　him？'

In　a　moment　Gowan　had　thrown　down　his　brush；　and　seized　the　dog　with
both　hands　by　the　collar。


'Blandois！　How　can　you　be　such　a　fool　as　to　provoke　him！　By　Heaven；　and
the　other　place　too；　he'll　tear　you　to　bits！　Lie　down！

Lion！　Do　you　hear　my　voice；　you　rebel！

'The　great　dog；　regardless　of　being　half…choked　by　his　collar；　was
obdurately　pulling　with　his　dead　weight　against　his　master；　resolved　to
get　across　the　room。　He　had　been　crouching　for　a　spring　at　the　moment
when　his　master　caught　him。

'Lion！　Lion！'　He　was　up　on　his　hind　legs；　and　it　was　a　wrestle　between
master　and　dog。　'Get　back！　Down；　Lion！　Get　out　of　his　sight；　Blandois！
What　devil　have　you　conjured　into　the　dog？'

'I　have　done　nothing　to　him。'

'Get　out　of　his　sight　or　I　can't　hold　the　wild　beast！　Get　out　of　the
room！　By　my　soul；　he'll　kill　you！'

The　dog；　with　a　ferocious　bark；　made　one　other　struggle　as　Blandois
vanished；　then；　in　the　moment　of　the　dog's　submission；　the　master；
little　less　angry　than　the　dog；　felled　him　with　a　blow　on　the　head；　and
standing　over　him；　struck　him　many　times　severely　with　the　heel　of　his
boot；　so　that　his　mouth　was　presently　bloody。

'Now　get　you　into　that　corner　and　lie　down；'　said　Gowan；　'or　I'll　take
you　out　and　shoot　you。'

Lion　did　as　he　was　ordered；　and　lay　down　licking　his　mouth　and　chest。
Lion's　master　stopped　for　a　moment　to　take　breath；　and　then；　recovering
his　usual　coolness　of　manner；　turned　to　speak　to　his　frightened　wife
and　her　visitors。　Probably　the　whole　occurrence　had　not　occupied　two
minutes。

'e；　e；　Minnie！　You　know　he　is　always　good…humoured　and　tractable。
Blandois　must　have　irritated　him；……made　faces　at　him。　The　dog　has　his
likings　and　dislikings；　and　Blandois　is　no　great　favourite　of　his；　but
I　am　sure　you　will　give　him　a　character；　Minnie；　for　never　having　been
like　this　before。'

Minnie　was　too　much　disturbed　to　say　anything　connected　in　reply；　Little
Dorrit　was　already　occupied　in　soothing　her；　Fanny；　who　had　cried　out
twice　or　thrice；　held　Gowan's　arm　for　protection；　Lion；　deeply　ashamed
of　having　caused　them　this　alarm；　came　trailing　himself　along　the　ground
to　the　feet　of　his　mistress。

'You　furious　brute；'　said　Gowan；　striking　him　with　his　foot　again。　'You
shall　do　penance　for　this。'　And　he　struck　him　again；　and　yet　again。

'O；　pray　don't　punish　him　any　more；'　cried　Little　Dorrit。　'Don't　hurt
him。　See　how　gentle　he　is！'　At　her　entreaty；　Gowan　spared　him；　and　he
deserved　her　intercession；　for　truly　he　was　as　submissive；　and　as　sorry；
and　as　wretched　as　a　dog　could　be。

It　was　not　easy　to　recover　this　shock　and　make　the　visit　unrestrained；
even　though　Fanny　had　not　been；　under　the　best　of　circumstances；　the
least　trifle　in　the　way。　In　such　further　munication　as　passed　among
them　before　the　sisters　took　their　departure；　Little　Dorrit　fancied　it
was　revealed　to　her　that　Mr　Gowan　treated　his　wife；　even　in　his　very
fondness；　too　much　like　a　beautiful　child。　He　seemed　so　unsuspicious　of
the　depths　of　feeling　which　she　knew　must　lie　below　that　surface；　that
she　doubted　if　there　could　be　any　such　depths　in　himself。　She　wondered
whether　his　want　of　earnestness　might　be　the　natural　result　of　his　want
of　such　qualities；　and　whether　it　was　with　people　as　with　ships；　that；
in　too　shallow　and　rocky　waters；　their　anchors　had　no　hold；　and　they
drifted　anywhere。

He　attended　them　down　the　staircase；　jocosely　apologising　for　the
poor　quarters　to　which　such　poor　fellows　as　himself　were　limited；　and
remarking　that　when　the　high　and　mighty　Barnacles；　his　relatives；　who
would　be　dreadfully　ashamed　of　them；　presented　him　with　better；　he　would
live　in　better　to　oblige　them。　At　the　water's　edge　they　were　saluted　by
Blandois；　who　looked　white　enough　after　his　late　adventure；　but　who　made
very　light　of　it　notwithstanding；……laughing　at　the　mention　of　Lion。

Leaving　the　two　together　under　the　scrap　of　vine　upon　the　causeway；
Gowan　idly　scattering　the　leaves　from　it　into　the　water；　and　Blandois
lighting　a　cigarette；　the　sisters　were　paddled　away　in　state　as　they　had
e。　They　had　not　glided　on　for　many　minutes；　when　Little　Dorrit　became
aware　that　Fanny　was　more　showy　in　manner　than　the　occasion　appeared　to
require；　and；　looking　about　for　the　cause　through　the　window　and　through
the　open　door；　saw　another　gondola　evidently　in　waiting　on　them。

As　this　gondola　attended　their　progress　in　various　artful　ways；
sometimes　shooting　on　a…head；　and　stopping　to　let　them　pass；　sometimes；
when　the　way　was　broad　enough；　skimming　along　side　by　side　with　them；
and　sometimes　following　close　astern；　and　as　Fanny　gradually　made　no
disguise　that　she　was　playing　off　graces　upon　somebody　within　it；　of
whom　she　at　the　same　time　feigned　to　be　unconscious；　Little　Dorrit　at
length　asked　who　it　was？

To　which　Fanny　made　the　short　answer；　'That　gaby。'

'Who？'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'My　dear　child；'　returned　Fanny　（in　a　tone　suggesting　that　before　her
Uncle's　protest　she　might　have　said；　You　little　fool；　instead）；　'how
slow　you　are！　Young　Sparkler。'

She　lowered　the　window　on　her　side；　and；　leaning　back　and　resting　her
elbow　on　it　negligently；　fanned　herself　with　a　rich　Spanish　fan　of　black
and　gold。　The　attendant　gondola；　having　skimmed　forward　again；　with　some
swift　trace　of　an　eye　in　the　window；　Fanny　laughed　coquettishly　and
said；　'Did　you　ever　see　such　a　fool；　my　love？'

'Do　you　think　he　means　to　follow　you　all　the　way？'　asked　Little　Dorrit。

'My　precious　child；'　returned　Fanny；　'I　can't　possibly　answer　for　what
an　idiot　in　a　state　of　desperation　may　do；　but　I　should　think　it　highly
probable。　It's　not　such　an　enormous　distance。　All　Venice　would　scarcely
be　that；　I　imagine；　if　he's　dying　for　a　glimpse　of　me。'

'And　is　he？'　asked　Little　Dorrit　in　perfect　simplicity。

'Well；　my　love；　that　really　is　an　ae　to　answer；'
said　her　sister。　'I　believe　he　is。　You　had　better　ask　Edward。　He　tells
Edward　he　is；　I　believe。　I　understand　he　makes　a　perfect　spectacle　of
himself　at　the　Casino；　and　that　sort　of　places；　by　going　on　about　me。
But　you　had　better　ask　Edward　if　you　want　to　know。'

'I　wonder　he　doesn't　call；'　said　Little　Dorrit　after　thinking　a　moment。

'My　dear　Amy；　your　wonder　will　soon　cease；　if　I　am　rightly　informed。
I　should　not　be　at　all　surprised　if　he　called　to…day。　The　creature　has
only　been　waiting　to　get　his　courage　up；　I　suspect。'

'Will　you　see　him？'

'Indeed；　my　darling；'　said　Fanny；　'that's　just　as　it　may　happen。　Here　he
is　again。　Look　at　him。　O；　you　simpleton！'

Mr　Sparkler　had；　undeniably；　a　weak　appearance；　with　his　eye　in　the
window　like　a　knot　in　the　glass；　and　no　reason　on　earth　for　stopping　his
bark　suddenly；　except　the　real　reason。

'When　you　asked　me　if　I　will　see　him；　my　dear；'　said　Fanny；　almost　as
well　posed　in　the　graceful　indifference　of　her　attitude　as　Mrs　Merdle
herself；　'what　do　you　mean？'　'I　mean；'　said　Little　Dorrit……'I　think　I
rather　mean　what　do　you　mean；　dear　Fanny？'

Fanny　laughed　again；　in　a　manner　at　once　condescending；　arch；　and
affable；　and　said；　putting　her　arm　round　her　sister　in　a　playfully
affectionate　way：

'Now　tell　me；　my　little　pet。　When　we　saw　that　woman　at　Martigny；　how
did　you　think　she　carried　it　off？　Did　you　see　what　she　decided　on　in　a
moment？'

'No；　Fanny。'

'Then　I'll　tell　you；　Amy。　She　settled　with　herself；　now　I'll　never
refer　to　that　meeting　under　such　different　circumstances；　and　I'll　never
pretend　to　have　any　idea　that　these　are　the　same　girls。　That's　her　way
out　of　a　difficulty。　What　did　I　tell　you　when　we　came　away　from　Harley
Street　that　time？　She　is　as　insolent　and　false　as　any　woman　in　the
world。　But　in　the　first　capacity；　my　love；　she　may　find　people　who　can
match　her。'

A　significant　turn　of　the　Spanish　fan　towards　Fanny's　bosom；　indicated
with　great　expression　where　one　of　these　people　was　to　be　found。

'Not　only　that；'　pursued　Fanny；　'but　she　gives　the　same　charge　to
Young　Sparkler；　and　doesn't　let　him　e　after　me　until　she　has　got　it
thoroughly　into　his　most　ridiculous　of　all　ridiculous　noddles　（for　one
really　can't　call　it　a　head）；　that　he　is　to　pretend　to　have　been　first
struck　with　me　in　that　Inn　Yard。'

'Why？'　asked　Little　Dorrit。

'Why？　Good　gracious；　my　love！'　（again　very　much　in　the　tone　of　You
stupid　little　creature）　'how　can　you　ask