little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第103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！


of　all　the　trying　sisters　a　girl　could　have；　she　did　think　the　most
trying　sister　was　a　flat　sister。　That　she　knew　she　was　at　times　a
wretched　temper；　that　she　knew　she　made　herself　hateful；　that　when　she
made　herself　hateful；　nothing　would　do　her　half　the　good　as　being　told
so；　but　that；　being　afflicted　with　a　flat　sister；　she　never　WAS　told　so；
and　the　consequence　resulted　that　she　was　absolutely　tempted　and
goaded　into　making　herself　disagreeable。　Besides　（she　angrily　told
her　looking…glass）；　she　didn't　want　to　be　forgiven。　It　was　not　a　right
example；　that　she　should　be　constantly　stooping　to　be　forgiven　by　a
younger　sister。　And　this　was　the　Art　of　it……that　she　was　always　being
placed　in　the　position　of　being　forgiven；　whether　she　liked　it　or　not。
Finally　she　burst　into　violent　weeping；　and；　when　her　sister　came　and
sat　close　at　her　side　to　fort　her；　said；　'Amy；　you're　an　Angel！'

'But；　I　tell　you　what；　my　Pet；'　said　Fanny；　when　her　sister's　gentleness
had　calmed　her；　'it　now　es　to　this；　that　things　cannot　and　shall　not
go　on　as　they　are　at　present　going　on；　and　that　there　must　be　an　end　of
this；　one　way　or　another。'

As　the　announcement　was　vague；　though　very　peremptory；　Little　Dorrit
returned；　'Let　us　talk　about　it。'

'Quite　so；　my　dear；'　assented　Fanny；　as　she　dried　her　eyes。　'Let　us　talk
about　it。　I　am　rational　again　now；　and　you　shall　advise　me。　Will　you
advise　me；　my　sweet　child？'

Even　Amy　smiled　at　this　notion；　but　she　said；　'I　will；　Fanny；　as　well　as
I　can。'

'Thank　you；　dearest　Amy；'　returned　Fanny；　kissing　her。　'You　are　my
anchor。'

Having　embraced　her　Anchor　with　great　affection；　Fanny　took　a　bottle　of
sweet　toilette　water　from　the　table；　and　called　to　her　maid　for　a　fine
handkerchief。　She　then　dismissed　that　attendant　for　the　night；　and　went
on　to　be　advised；　dabbing　her　eyes　and　forehead　from　time　to　time　to
cool　them。

'My　love；'　Fanny　began；　'our　characters　and　points　of　view　are
sufficiently　different　（kiss　me　again；　my　darling）；　to　make　it　very
probable　that　I　shall　surprise　you　by　what　I　am　going　to　say。　What　I　am
going　to　say；　my　dear；　is；　that　notwithstanding　our　property；　we　labour；
socially　speaking；　under　disadvantages。　You　don't　quite　understand　what
I　mean；　Amy？'

'I　have　no　doubt　I　shall；'　said　Amy；　mildly；　'after　a　few　words　more。'

'Well；　my　dear；　what　I　mean　is；　that　we　are；　after　all；　newers　into
fashionable　life。'

'I　am　sure；　Fanny；'　Little　Dorrit　interposed　in　her　zealous　admiration；
'no　one　need　find　that　out　in　you。'

'Well；　my　dear　child；　perhaps　not；'　said　Fanny；　'though　it's　most　kind
and　most　affectionate　in　you；　you　precious　girl；　to　say　so。'　Here　she
dabbed　her　sister's　forehead；　and　blew　upon　it　a　little。　'But　you　are；'
resumed　Fanny；　'as　is　well　known；　the　dearest　little　thing　that　ever
was！　To　resume；　my　child。　Pa　is　extremely　gentlemanly　and　extremely　well
informed；　but　he　is；　in　some　trifling　respects；　a　little　different　from
other　gentlemen　of　his　fortune：　partly　on　account　of　what　he　has　gone
through；　poor　dear：　partly；　I　fancy；　on　account　of　its　often　running　in
his　mind　that　other　people　are　thinking　about　that；　while　he　is　talking
to　them。　Uncle；　my　love；　is　altogether　unpresentable。　Though　a　dear
creature　to　whom　I　am　tenderly　attached；　he　is；　socially　speaking；
shocking。　Edward　is　frightfully　expensive　and　dissipated。　I　don't　mean
that　there　is　anything　ungenteel　in　that　itself……far　from　it……but　I
do　mean　that　he　doesn't　do　it　well；　and　that　he　doesn't；　if　I　may
so　express　myself；　get　the　money's…worth　in　the　sort　of　dissipated
reputation　that　attaches　to　him。'

'Poor　Edward！'　sighed　Little　Dorrit；　with　the　whole　family　history　in
the　sigh。

'Yes。　And　poor　you　and　me；　too；'　returned　Fanny；　rather　sharply。

'Very　true！　Then；　my　dear；　we　have　no　mother；　and　we　have　a　Mrs　General。
And　I　tell　you　again；　darling；　that　Mrs　General；　if　I　may　reverse　a
mon　proverb　and　adapt　it　to　her；　is　a　cat　in　gloves　who　WILL
catch　mice。　That　woman；　I　am　quite　sure　and　confident；　will　be　our
mother…in…law。'

'I　can　hardly　think；　Fanny…'　Fanny　stopped　her。

'Now；　don't　argue　with　me　about　it；　Amy；'　said　she；　'because　I　know
better。'　Feeling　that　she　had　been　sharp　again；　she　dabbed　her　sister's
forehead　again；　and　blew　upon　it　again。　'To　resume　once　more；　my　dear。
It　then　bees　a　question　with　me　（I　am　proud　and　spirited；　Amy；　as　you
very　well　know：　too　much　so；　I　dare　say）　whether　I　shall　make　up　my　mind
to　take　it　upon　myself　to　carry　the　family　through。'　'How？'　asked　her
sister；　anxiously。

'I　will　not；'　said　Fanny；　without　ansit　to
be　mother…in…lawed　by　Mrs　General；　and　I　will　not　submit　to　be；　in　any
respect　whatever；　either　patronised　or　tormented　by　Mrs　Merdle。'

Little　Dorrit　laid　her　hand　upon　the　hand　that　held　the　bottle　of　sweet
water；　with　a　still　more　anxious　look。　Fanny；　quite　punishing　her　own
forehead　with　the　vehement　dabs　she　now　began　to　give　it；　fitfully　went
on。

'That　he　has　somehow　or　other；　and　how　is　of　no　consequence；　attained　a
very　good　position；　no　one　can　deny。　That　it　is　a　very　good　connection；
no　one　can　deny。　And　as　to　the　question　of　clever　or　not　clever；　I　doubt
very　much　whether　a　clever　husband　would　be　suitable　to　me。　I　cannot
submit。　I　should　not　be　able　to　defer　to　him　enough。'

'O；　my　dear　Fanny！'　expostulated　Little　Dorrit；　upon　whom　a　kind　of
terror　had　been　stealing　as　she　perceived　what　her　sister　meant。　'If　you
loved　any　one；　all　this　feeling　would　change。　If　you　loved　any　one；　you
would　no　more　be　yourself；　but　you　would　quite　lose　and　forget　yourself
in　your　devotion　to　him。　If　you　loved　him；　Fanny……'　Fanny　had　stopped
the　dabbing　hand；　and　was　looking　at　her　fixedly。

'O；　indeed！'　cried　Fanny。　'Really？　Bless　me；　how　much　some　people　know
of　some　subjects！　They　say　every　one　has　a　subject；　and　I　certainly
seem　to　have　hit　upon　yours；　Amy。　There；　you　little　thing；　I　was　only　in
fun；'　dabbing　her　sister's　forehead；　'but　don't　you　be　a　silly　puss；
and　don't　you　think　flightily　and　eloquently　about　degenerate
impossibilities。　There！　Now；　I'll　go　back　to　myself。'

'Dear　Fanny；　let　me　say　first；　that　I　would　far　rather　we　worked　for
a　scanty　living　again　than　I　would　see　you　rich　and　married　to　Mr
Sparkler。'

'Let　you　say；　my　dear？'　retorted　Fanny。　'Why；　of　course；　I　will　let　you
say　anything。　There　is　no　constraint　upon　you；　I　hope。　We　are　together
to　talk　it　over。　And　as　to　marrying　Mr　Sparkler；　I　have　not　the
slightest　intention　of　doing　so　to…night；　my　dear；　or　to…morrow　morning
either。'

'But　at　some　time？'

'At　no　time；　for　anything　I　know　at　present；'　answered　Fanny；　with
indifference。　Then；　suddenly　changing　her　indifference　into　a　burning
restlessness；　she　added；　'You　talk　about　the　clever　men；　you　little
thing！　It's　all　very　fine　and　easy　to　talk　about　the　clever　men；　but
where　are　they？　I　don't　see　them　anywhere　near　me！'

'My　dear　Fanny；　so　short　a　time……'

'Short　time　or　long　time；'　interrupted　Fanny。　'I　am　impatient　of　our
situation。　I　don't　like　our　situation；　and　very　little　would　induce
me　to　change　it。　Other　girls；　differently　reared　and　differently
circumstanced　altogether；　might　wonder　at　what　I　say　or　may　do。　Let
them。　They　are　driven　by　their　lives　and　characters；　I　am　driven　by
mine。'

'Fanny；　my　dear　Fanny；　you　knoake　you　the
wife　of　one　very　superior　to　Mr　Sparkler。'

'Amy；　my　dear　Amy；'　retorted　Fanny；　parodying　her　words；　'I　know　that　I
wish　to　have　a　more　defined　and　distinct　position；　in　which　I　can　assert
myself　with　greater　effect　against　that　insolent　woman。'

'Would　you　therefore……forgive　my　asking；　Fanny……therefore　marry　her
son？'

'Why；　perhaps；'　said　Fanny；　with　a　triumphant　smile。　'There　may　be　many
less　promising　ways　of　arriving　at　an　end　than　that；　MY　dear。　That　piece
of　insolence　may　think；　now；　that　it　would　be　a　great　success　to　get　her
son　off　upon　me；　and　shelve　me。　But；　perhaps；　she　little　thinks　how　I
would　retort　upon　her　if　I　married　her　son。

I　would　oppose　her　in　everything；　and　pete　with　her。　I　would　make　it
the　business　of　my　life。'

Fanny　set　down　the　bottle　when　she　came　to　this；　and　walked　about　the
room；　always　stopping　and　standing　still　while　she　spoke。

'One　thing　I　could　certainly　do；　my　child：　I　could　make　her　older。　And　I
would！'

This　was　followed　by　another　walk。

'I　would　talk　of　her　as　an　old　woman。　I　would　pretend　to　know……if　I
didn't；　but　I　should　from　her　son……all　about　her　age。　And　she　should
hear　me　say；　Amy：　affectionately；　quite　dutifully　and　affectionately：
how　well　she　looked；　considering　her　time　of　life。　I　could　make　her　seem
older　at　once；　by　being　myself　so　much　younger。　I　may　not　be　as　handsome
as　she　is；　I　am　not　a　fair　judge　of　that　question；　I　suppose；　but　I　know
I　am　handsome　enough　to　be　a　thorn　in　her　side。　And　I　would　be！'

'My　dear　sister；　would　you　condemn　yourself　to　an　unhappy　life　for
this？'

'It　wouldn't　be　an　unhappy　life；　Amy。　It　would　be　the　life　I　am　fitted
for。　Whether　by　disposition；　or　whether　by　circumstances；　is　no　matter；
I　am　better　fitted　for　such　a　life　than　for　almost　any　other。'

There　was　something　of　a　desolate　tone　in　those　words；　but；　with　a
short　proud　laugh　she　took　another　walk；　and　after　passing　a　great
looking…glass　came　to　another　stop。

'Figure！　Figure；　Amy！　Well。　The　woman　has　a　good　figure。　I　will　give　her
her　due；　and　not　deny　it。　But　is　it　so　far　beyond　all　others　that　it　is
altogether　unapproachable？　Upon　my　word；　I　am　not　so　sure　of　it。　Give
some　much　younger　woman　the　latitude　as　to　dress　that　she　has；　being
married；　and　we　would　see　about　that；　my　dear！'

Something　in　the　thought　that　was　agreeable　and　flattering；　brought　her
back　to　her　seat　in　a　gayer　temper。　She　took　her　sister's　hands　in　hers；
and　clapped　all　four　hands　above　her　head　as　she　looked　in　her　sister's
face　laughing：

'And　the　dancer；　Amy；　that　she　has　quite　forgotten……the　dancer　who　bore
no　sort　of　resemblance　to　me；　and　of　whom　I　never　remind　her；　oh　dear
no！……should　dance　through　her　life；　and　dance　in　her　way；　to　such　a　tune
as　would　disturb　her　insolent　placidity　a　little。　Just　a　little；　my　dear
Amy；　just　a　little！'

Meeting　an　earnest　and　imploring　look　in　Amy's　face；　she　brought　the
four　hands　down；　and　laid　only　one　on　Amy's　lips。

'Now；　don't　argue　with　me；　child；'　she　said　in　a　sterner　way；　'because
it　is　of　no　use。　I　understand　these　subjects　much　better　than　you　do。　I
have　not　nearly　made　up　my　mind；　but　it　may　be。　Now　we　have　talked　this
over　fortably；　and　may　go　to　bed。　You　best　and　dearest　little　mouse；
Good　night！'　With　those　words　Fanny　weighed　her　Anchor；　and……having
taken　so　much　advice……left　off　being　advised　for　that　occasion。

Thenceforward；　Amy　observed　Mr　Sparkler's　treatment　by　his　enslaver；
with　new　reasons　for　attaching　importance　to　all　that　passed　between
them。　There　were　times　when　Fanny　appeared　quite　unable　to　endure　his
mental　feebleness；　and　when　she　became　so　sharply　impatient　of　it　that
she　would　all　but　dismiss　him　for　good。　There　were　other　times　when　she
got　on　much　better　with　him；　when　he　amused　her；　and　when　her　sense　of
superiority　seemed　to　counterbalance　that　opposite　side　of　the　scale。　If
Mr　Sparkler　had　been　other　than　the　faithfullest　and　most　submissive　of
swains；　he　was　sufficiently　hard　pressed　to　have　fled　from　the　scene　of
his　trials；　and　have　set　at　least　the　whole　distance　from　Rome　to　London
between　himself　and　his　enchantress。　But　he　had　no　greater　will　of　his
own　than　a　boat　has　when　it　is　towed　by　a　steam…ship；　and　he　followed
his　cruel　mistress　through　rough　and　smooth；　on　equally　strong
pulsion。

Mrs　Merdle；　during　these　passages；　said　little　to　Fanny；　but　said
more　about　her。　She　was；　as　it　were；　forced　to　look　at　her　through　her
eye…glass；　and　in　general　conversation　to　allow　mendations　of　her
beauty　to　be　wrung　from　her　by　its　irresistible　demands。　The　defiant
character　it　assumed　when　Fanny　heard　these　extollings　（as　it　generally
happened　that　she　did）；　was　not　expressive　of　concessions　to　the
impartial　bosom；　but　the　utmost　revenge　the　bosom　took　was；　to　say
audibly；　'A　spoilt　beauty……but　with　that　face　and　shape；　who　could
wonder？'

It　might　have　been　about　a　month　or　six　weeks　after　the　night　of　the
new　advice；　when　Little　Dorrit　began　to　think　she　detected　some　new
understanding　between　Mr　Sparkler　and　Fanny。　Mr　Sparkler；　as　if　in
attendance　to　some　pact；　scarcely　ever　spoke　without　first　looking
towards　Fanny　for　leave。　That　young　lady　was　too　discreet　ever　to　look
back　again；　but；　if　Mr　Sparkler　had　permission　to　speak；　she　remained
silent；　if　he　had　not；　she　herself　spoke。　Moreover；　it　became　plain
whenever　Henry　Gowan　attempted　to　perform　the　friendly　office　of　drawing
him　out；　that　he　was　not　to　be　drawn。　And　not　only　that；　but　Fanny　would
presently；　without　any　pointed　application　in　the　world；　chance　to　say
something　with　such　a　sting　in　it　that　Gowan　would　draw　back　as　if　he
had　put　his　hand　into　a　bee…hive。

There　was　yet　another　circumstance　which　went　a　long　way　to　confirm
Little　Dorrit　in　her　fears；　though　it　was　not　a　great　circumstance
in　itself。　Mr　Sparkler's　demeanour　towards　herself　changed。　It　became
fraternal。　Sometimes；　when　she　was　in　the　outer