little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第102章

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threw　off　was　all　the　more　virulent。

'And　you　have　really　invested；'　Clennam　had　already　passed　to　that　word；
'your　thousand　pounds；　Pancks？'

'To　be　sure；　sir！'　replied　Pancks　boldly；　with　a　puff　of　smoke。　'And
only　wish　it　ten！'

Now；　Clennam　had　two　subjects　lying　heavy　on　his　lonely　mind　that　night；
the　one；　his　partner's　long…deferred　hope；　the　other；　what　he　had　seen
and　heard　at　his　mother's。　In　the　relief　of　having　this　panion；
and　of　feeling　that　he　could　trust　him；　he　passed　on　to　both；　and　both
brought　him　round　again；　with　an　increase　and　acceleration　of　force；　to
his　point　of　departure。

It　came　about　in　the　simplest　manner。　Quitting　the　investment　subject；
after　an　interval　of　silent　looking　at　the　fire　through　the　smoke　of　his
pipe；　he　told　Pancks　how　and　why　he　was　occupied　with　the　great　National
Department。　'A　hard　case　it　has　been；　and　a　hard　case　it　is　on　Doyce；'
he　finished　by　saying；　with　all　the　honest　feeling　the　topic　roused　in
him。

'Hard　indeed；'　Pancks　acquiesced。　'But　you　manage　for　him；　Mr　Clennam？'

'How　do　you　mean？'

'Manage　the　money　part　of　the　business？'

'Yes。　As　well　as　I　can。'

'Manage　it　better；　sir；'　said　Pancks。　'Repense　him　for　his　toils　and
disappointments。　Give　him　the　chances　of　the　time。　He'll　never　benefit
himself　in　that　way；　patient　and　preoccupied　workman。　He　looks　to　you；
sir。'

'I　do　my　best；　Pancks；'　returned　Clennam；　uneasily。　'As　to　duly　weighing
and　considering　these　new　enterprises　of　which　I　have　had　no　experience；
I　doubt　if　I　am　fit　for　it；　I　am　growing　old。'

'Growing　old？'　cried　Pancks。　'Ha；　ha！'

There　was　something　so　indubitably　genuine　in　the　wonderful　laugh；　and
series　of　snorts　and　puffs；　engendered　in　Mr　Pancks's　astonishment　at；
and　utter　rejection　of；　the　idea；　that　his　being　quite　in　earnest　could
not　be　questioned。

'Growing　old？'　cried　Pancks。　'Hear；　hear；　hear！　Old？　Hear　him；　hear
him！'

The　positive　refusal　expressed　in　Mr　Pancks's　continued　snorts；　no　less
than　in　these　exclamations；　to　entertain　the　sentiment　for　a　single
instant；　drove　Arthur　away　from　it。　Indeed；　he　was　fearful　of　something
happening　to　Mr　Pancks　in　the　violent　conflict　that　took　place　between
the　breath　he　jerked　out　of　himself　and　the　smoke　he　jerked　into
himself。　This　abandonment　of　the　second　topic　threw　him　on　the　third。

'Young；　old；　or　middle…aged；　Pancks；'　he　said；　when　there　was　a
favourable　pause；　'I　am　in　a　very　anxious　and　uncertain　state；　a　state
that　even　leads　me　to　doubt　whether　anything　now　seeming　to　belong　to
me；　may　be　really　mine。　Shall　I　tell　you　how　this　is？　Shall　I　put　a
great　trust　in　you？'

'You　shall；　sir；'　said　Pancks；　'if　you　believe　me　worthy　of　it。'

'I　do。'

'You　may！'　Mr　Pancks's　short　and　sharp　rejoinder；　confirmed　by　the
sudden　outstretching　of　his　coaly　hand；　was　most　expressive　and
convincing。　Arthur　shook　the　hand　warmly。

He　then；　softening　the　nature　of　his　old　apprehensions　as　much　as　was
possible　consistently　with　their　being　made　intelligible　and　never
alluding　to　his　mother　by　name；　but　speaking　vaguely　of　a　relation
of　his；　confided　to　Mr　Pancks　a　broad　outline　of　the　misgivings　he
entertained；　and　of　the　interview　he　had　witnessed。　Mr　Pancks　listened
with　such　interest　that；　regardless　of　the　charms　of　the　Eastern　pipe；
he　put　it　in　the　grate　among　the　fire…irons；　and　occupied　his　hands
during　the　whole　recital　in　so　erecting　the　loops　and　hooks　of　hair
all　over　his　head；　that　he　looked；　when　it　came　to　a　conclusion；　like　a
journeyman　Hamlet　in　conversation　with　his　father's　spirit。

'Brings　me　back；　sir；'　was　his　exclamation　then；　with　a　startling　touch
on　Clennam's　knee；　'brings　me　back；　sir；　to　the　Investments！　I　don't
say　anything　of　your　making　yourself　poor　to　repair　a　wrong　you　never
mitted。　That's　you。　A　man　must　be　himself。　But　I　say　this；
fearing　you　may　want　money　to　save　your　own　blood　from　exposure　and
disgrace……make　as　much　as　you　can！'


Arthur　shook　his　head；　but　looked　at　him　thoughtfully　too。

'Be　as　rich　as　you　can；　sir；'　Pancks　adjured　him　with　a　powerful
concentration　of　all　his　energies　on　the　advice。　'Be　as　rich　as　you
honestly　can。　It's　your　duty。　Not　for　your　sake；　but　for　the　sake　of
others。　Take　time　by　the　forelock。　Poor　Mr　Doyce　（who　really　is　growing
old）　depends　upon　you。　Your　relative　depends　upon　you。　You　don't　know
what　depends　upon　you。'

'Well；　well；　well！'　returned　Arthur。　'Enough　for　to…night。'

'One　word　more；　Mr　Clennam；'　retorted　Pancks；　'and　then　enough　for
to…night。　Why　should　you　leave　all　the　gains　to　the　gluttons；　knaves；
and　impostors？　Why　should　you　leave　all　the　gains　that　are　to　be　got　to
my　proprietor　and　the　like　of　him？　Yet　you're　always　doing　it。　When　I
say　you；　I　mean　such　men　as　you。　You　know　you　are。　Why；　I　see　it
every　day　of　my　life。　I　see　nothing　else。　It's　my　business　to　see　it。
Therefore　I　say；'　urged　Pancks；　'Go　in　and　win！'

'But　what　of　Go　in　and　lose？'　said　Arthur。

'Can't　be　done；　sir；'　returned　Pancks。　'I　have　looked　into　it。　Name　up
everywhere……immense　resources……enormous　capital……great　position……high
connection……government　influence。　Can't　be　done！'

Gradually；　after　this　closing　exposition；　Mr　Pancks　subsided；　allowed
his　hair　to　droop　as　much　as　it　ever　would　droop　on　the　utmost
persuasion；　reclaimed　the　pipe　from　the　fire…irons；　filled　it　anew；　and
smoked　it　out。　They　said　little　more；　but　were　pany　to　one　another　in
silently　pursuing　the　same　subjects；　and　did　not　part　until　midnight。
On　taking　his　leave；　Mr　Pancks；　when　he　had　shaken　hands　with　Clennam；
worked　pletely　round　him　before　he　steamed　out　at　the　door。　This；
Arthur　received　as　an　assurance　that　he　might　implicitly　rely　on　Pancks；
if　he　ever　should　e　to　need　assistance；　either　in　any　of　the　matters
of　which　they　had　spoken　that　night；　or　any　other　subject　that　could　in
any　way　affect　himself。

At　intervals　all　next　day；　and　even　while　his　attention　was　fixed　on
other　things；　he　thought　of　Mr　Pancks's　investment　of　his　thousand
pounds；　and　of　his　having　'looked　into　it。'　He　thought　of　Mr　Pancks's
being　so　sanguine　in　this　matter；　and　of　his　not　being　usually　of　a
sanguine　character。　He　thought　of　the　great　National　Department；　and　of
the　delight　it　would　be　to　him　to　see　Doyce　better　off。　He　thought
of　the　darkly　threatening　place　that　went　by　the　name　of　Home　in　his
remembrance；　and　of　the　gathering　shadows　which　made　it　yet　more　darkly
threatening　than　of　old。　He　observed　anew　that　wherever　he　went；　he
saw；　or　heard；　or　touched；　the　celebrated　name　of　Merdle；　he　found　it
difficult　even　to　remain　at　his　desk　a　couple　of　hours；　without　having
it　presented　to　one　of　his　bodily　senses　through　some　agency　or　other。
He　began　to　think　it　was　curious　too　that　it　should　be　everywhere；　and
that　nobody　but　he　should　seem　to　have　any　mistrust　of　it。　Though　indeed
he　began　to　remember；　when　he　got　to　this；　even　he　did　not　mistrust　it；
he　had　only　happened　to　keep　aloof　from　it。

Such　symptoms；　when　a　disease　of　the　kind　is　rife；　are　usually　the　signs
of　sickening。




CHAPTER　14。　Taking　Advice


When　it　became　known　to　the　Britons　on　the　shore　of　the　yellow　Tiber
that　their　intelligent　patriot；　Mr　Sparkler；　was　made　one　of　the
Lords　of　their　Circumlocution　Office；　they　took　it　as　a　piece　of　news
with　which　they　had　no　nearer　concern　than　with　any　other　piece　of
news……any　other　Accident　or　Offence……in　the　English　papers。　Some
laughed；　some　said；　by　way　of　plete　excuse；　that　the　post　was
virtually　a　sinecure；　and　any　fool　who　could　spell　his　name　was　good
enough　for　it；　some；　and　these　the　more　solemn　political　oracles；
said　that　Decimus　did　wisely　to　strengthen　himself；　and　that　the　sole
constitutional　purpose　of　all　places　within　the　gift　of　Decimus；　was；
that　Decimus　should　strengthen　himself。　A　few　bilious　Britons　there　were
who　would　not　subscribe　to　this　article　of　faith；　but　their　objection
was　purely　theoretical。　In　a　practical　point　of　view；　they　listlessly
abandoned　the　matter；　as　being　the　business　of　some　other　Britons
unknown；　somewhere；　or　nowhere。　In　like　manner；　at　home；　great　numbers
of　Britons　maintained；　for　as　long　as　four…and…twenty　consecutive　hours；
that　those　invisible　and　anonymous　Britons　'ought　to　take　it　up；'　and
that　if　they　quietly　acquiesced　in　it；　they　deserved　it。　But　of　what
class　the　remiss　Britons　were　posed；　and　where　the　unlucky　creatures
hid　themselves；　and　why　they　hid　themselves；　and　how　it　constantly
happened　that　they　neglected　their　interests；　when　so　many　other　Britons
were　quite　at　a　loss　to　account　for　their　not　looking　after　those
interests；　was　not；　either　upon　the　shore　of　the　yellow　Tiber　or　the
shore　of　the　black　Thames；　made　apparent　to　men。

Mrs　Merdle　circulated　the　news；　as　she　received　congratulations　on　it；
with　a　careless　grace　that　displayed　it　to　advantage；　as　the　setting
displays　the　jewel。　Yes；　she　said；　Edmund　had　taken　the　place。　Mr　Merdle
wished　him　to　take　it；　and　he　had　taken　it。　She　hoped　Edmund　might　like
it；　but　really　she　didn't　know。　It　would　keep　him　in　town　a　good
deal；　and　he　preferred　the　country。　Still；　it　was　not　a　disagreeable
position……and　it　was　a　position。　There　was　no　denying　that　the　thing
was　a　pliment　to　Mr　Merdle；　and　was　not　a　bad　thing　for　Edmund　if　he
liked　it。　It　was　just　as　well　that　he　should　have　something　to　do；　and
it　was　just　as　well　that　he　should　have　something　for　doing　it。　Whether
it　would　be　more　agreeable　to　Edmund　than　the　army；　remained　to　be　seen。

Thus　the　Bosom；　acplished　in　the　art　of　seeming　to　make　things　of
small　account；　and　really　enhancing　them　in　the　process。　While　Henry
Gowan；　whom　Decimus　had　thrown　away；　went　through　the　whole　round　of
his　acquaintance　between　the　Gate　of　the　People　and　the　town　of　Albano；
vowing；　almost　（but　not　quite）　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　that　Sparkler　was
the　sweetest…tempered；　simplest…hearted；　altogether　most　lovable　jackass
that　ever　grazed　on　the　public　mon；　and　that　only　one　circumstance
could　have　delighted　him　（Gowan）　more；　than　his　（the　beloved　jackass's）
getting　this　post；　and　that　would　have　been　his　（Gowan's）　getting　it
himself。　He　said　it　was　the　very　thing　for　Sparkler。　There　was　nothing
to　do；　and　he　would　do　it　charmingly；　there　was　a　handsome　salary　to
draw；　and　he　would　draw　it　charmingly；　it　was　a　delightful；　appropriate；
capital　appointment；　and　he　almost　forgave　the　donor　his　slight　of
himself；　in　his　joy　that　the　dear　donkey　for　whom　he　had　so　great　an
affection　was　so　admirably　stabled。　Nor　did　his　benevolence　stop　here。
He　took　pains；　on　all　social　occasions；　to　draw　Mr　Sparkler　out；　and
make　him　conspicuous　before　the　pany；　and；　although　the　considerate
action　always　resulted　in　that　young　gentleman's　making　a　dreary　and
forlorn　mental　spectacle　of　himself；　the　friendly　intention　was　not　to
be　doubted。

Unless；　indeed；　it　chanced　to　be　doubted　by　the　object　of　Mr　Sparkler's
affections。　Miss　Fanny　was　now　in　the　difficult　situation　of　being
universally　known　in　that　light；　and　of　not　having　dismissed　Mr
Sparkler；　however　capriciously　she　used　him。　Hence；　she　was　sufficiently
identified　with　the　gentleman　to　feel　promised　by　his　being　more　than
usually　ridiculous；　and　hence；　being　by　no　means　deficient　in　quickness；
she　sometimes　came　to　his　rescue　against　Gowan；　and　did　him　very　good
service。　But；　while　doing　this；　she　was　ashamed　of　him；　undetermined
whether　to　get　rid　of　him　or　more　decidedly　encourage　him；　distracted
with　apprehensions　that　she　was　every　day　being　more　and　more
immeshed　in　her　uncertainties；　and　tortured　by　misgivings　that　Mrs
Merdle　triumphed　in　her　distress。　With　this　tumult　in　her　mind；　it　is　no
subject　for　surprise　that　Miss　Fanny　came　home　one　night　in　a　state
of　agitation　from　a　concert　and　ball　at　Mrs　Merdle's　house；　and　on　her
sister　affectionately　trying　to　soothe　her；　pushed　that　sister　away　from
the　toilette…table　at　which　she　sat　angrily　trying　to　cry；　and　declared
with　a　heaving　bosom　that　she　detested　everybody；　and　she　wished　she　was
dead。

'Dear　Fanny；　what　is　the　matter？　Tell　me。'

'Matter；　you　little　Mole；'　said　Fanny。　'If　you　were　not　the　blindest　of
the　blind；　you　would　have　no　occasion　to　ask　me。　The　idea　of　daring　to
pretend　to　assert　that　you　have　eyes　in　your　head；　and　yet　ask　me　what's
the　matter！'

'Is　it　Mr　Sparkler；　dear？'　'Mis…ter　Spark…ler！'　repeated　Fanny；　with
unbounded　scorn；　as　if　he　were　the　last　subject　in　the　Solar　system　that
could　possibly　be　near　her　mind。　'No；　Miss　Bat；　it　is　not。'

Immediately　afterwards；　she　became　remorseful　for　having　called　her
sister　names；　declaring　with　sobs　that　she　knew　she　made　herself
hateful；　but　that　everybody　drove　her　to　it。


'I　don't　think　you　are　well　to…night；　dear　Fanny。'


'Stuff　and　nonsense！'　replied　the　young　lady；　turning　angry　again；　'I　am
as　well　as　you　are。　Perhaps　I　might　say　better；　and　yet　make　no　boast　of
it。'

Poor　Little　Dorrit；　not　seeing　her　way　to　the　offering　of　any　soothing
words　that　would　escape　repudiation；　deemed　it　best　to　remain　quiet。　At
first；　Fanny　took　this　ill；　too；　protesting　to　her　looking…glass；　that
of　all　the　trying　sisters　a　girl　could　have；　she　did　think　the　most
trying　sister　was　a　flat　sister。