little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第114章

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It　did　her；　for　the　time；　the　good　of　having　him　to　think　of　and　to
succour。

'Uncle；　dear　uncle；　spare　yourself；　spare　me！'

The　old　man　was　not　deaf　to　the　last　words。　When　he　did　begin　to
restrain　himself；　it　was　that　he　might　spare　her。　He　had　no　care　for
himself；　but；　with　all　the　remaining　power　of　the　honest　heart；　stunned
so　long　and　now　awaking　to　be　broken；　he　honoured　and　blessed　her。

'O　God；'　he　cried；　before　they　left　the　room；　with　his　wrinkled　hands
clasped　over　her。　'Thou　seest　this　daughter　of　my　dear　dead　brother！　All
that　I　have　looked　upon；　with　my　half…blind　and　sinful　eyes；　Thou　hast
discerned　clearly；　brightly。　Not　a　hair　of　her　head　shall　be　harmed
before　Thee。　Thou　wilt　uphold　her　here　to　her　last　hour。　And　I　know　Thou
wilt　reward　her　hereafter！'

They　remained　in　a　dim　room　near；　until　it　was　almost　midnight；　quiet
and　sad　together。　At　times　his　grief　would　seek　relief　in　a　burst　like
that　in　which　it　had　found　its　earliest　expression；　but；　besides　that
his　little　strength　would　soon　have　been　unequal　to　such　strains；　he
never　failed　to　recall　her　words；　and　to　reproach　himself　and　calm
himself。　The　only　utterance　with　which　he　indulged　his　sorrow；　was　the
frequent　exclamation　that　his　brother　was　gone；　alone；　that　they　had
been　together　in　the　outset　of　their　lives；　that　they　had　fallen　into
misfortune　together；　that　they　had　kept　together　through　their　many
years　of　poverty；　that　they　had　remained　together　to　that　day；　and　that
his　brother　was　gone　alone；　alone！

They　parted；　heavy　and　sorrowful。　She　would　not　consent　to　leave　him
anywhere　but　in　his　own　room；　and　she　saw　him　lie　down　in　his　clothes
upon　his　bed；　and　covered　him　with　her　own　hands。　Then　she　sank　upon　her
own　bed；　and　fell　into　a　deep　sleep：　the　sleep　of　exhaustion　and
rest；　though　not　of　plete　release　from　a　pervading　consciousness　of
affliction。　Sleep；　good　Little　Dorrit。　Sleep　through　the　night！

It　was　a　moonlight　night；　but　the　moon　rose　late；　being　long　past　the
full。　When　it　was　high　in　the　peaceful　firmament；　it　shone　through
half…closed　lattice　blinds　into　the　solemn　room　where　the　stumblings　and
wanderings　of　a　life　had　so　lately　ended。　Two　quiet　figures　were　within
the　room；　tpassive；　equally　removed
by　an　untraversable　distance　from　the　teeming　earth　and　all　that　it
contains；　though　soon　to　lie　in　it。

One　figure　reposed　upon　the　bed。　The　other；　kneeling　on　the　floor；
drooped　over　it；　the　arms　easily　and　peacefully　resting　on　the　coverlet；
the　face　bowed　down；　so　that　the　lips　touched　the　hand　over　which　with
its　last　breath　it　had　bent。　The　two　brothers　were　before　their　Father；
far　beyond　the　twilight　judgment　of　this　world；　high　above　its　mists　and
obscurities。




CHAPTER　20。　Introduces　the　next


The　passengers　were　landing　from　the　packet　on　the　pier　at　Calais。
A　low…lying　place　and　a　low…spirited　place　Calais　was；　with　the　tide
ebbing　out　towards　low　water…mark。　There　had　been　no　more　water　on　the
bar　than　had　sufficed　to　float　the　packet　in；　and　now　the　bar　itself；
with　a　shallow　break　of　sea　over　it；　looked　like　a　lazy　marine　monster
just　risen　to　the　surface；　whose　form　was　indistinctly　shown　as　it　lay
asleep。　The　meagre　lighthouse　all　in　white；　haunting　the　seaboard　as　if
it　were　the　ghost　of　an　edifice　that　had　once　had　colour　and　rotundity；
dropped　melancholy　tears　after　its　late　buffeting　by　the　waves。　The　long
rows　of　gaunt　black　piles；　slimy　and　wet　and　weather…worn；　with　funeral
garlands　of　seaweed　twisted　about　them　by　the　late　tide；　might
have　represented　an　unsightly　marine　cemetery。　Every　wave…dashed；
storm…beaten　object；　was　so　low　and　so　little；　under　the　broad　grey　sky；
in　the　noise　of　the　wind　and　sea；　and　before　the　curling　lines　of　surf；
making　at　it　ferociously；　that　the　wonder　was　there　was　any　Calais　left；
and　that　its　low　gates　and　low　wall　and　low　roofs　and　low　ditches　and
low　sand…hills　and　low　ramparts　and　flat　streets；　had　not　yielded
long　ago　to　the　undermining　and　besieging　sea；　like　the　fortifications
children　make　on　the　sea…shore。

After　slipping　among　oozy　piles　and　planks；　stumbling　up　wet　steps　and
encountering　many　salt　difficulties；　the　passengers　entered　on　their
fortless　peregrination　along　the　pier；　where　all　the　French　vagabonds
and　English　outlaws　in　the　town　（half　the　population）　attended　to
prevent　their　recovery　from　bewilderment。　After　being　minutely　inspected
by　all　the　English；　and　claimed　and　reclaimed　and　counter…claimed　as
prizes　by　all　the　French　in　a　hand…to…hand　scuffle　three　quarters　of　a
mile　long；　they　were　at　last　free　to　enter　the　streets；　and　to　make　off
in　their　various　directions；　hotly　pursued。

Clennam；　harassed　by　more　anxieties　than　one；　was　among　this　devoted
band。　Having　rescued　the　most　defenceless　of　his　patriots　from
situations　of　great　extremity；　he　now　went　his　way　alone；　or　as　nearly
alone　as　he　could　be；　with　a　native　gentleman　in　a　suit　of　grease　and
a　cap　of　the　same　material；　giving　chase　at　a　distance　of　some　fifty
yards；　and　continually　calling　after　him；　'Hi！　Ice…say！　You！　Seer！
Ice…say！　Nice　Oatel！'

Even　this　hospitable　person；　however；　was　left　behind　at　last；　and
Clennam　pursued　his　way；　unmolested。　There　was　a　tranquil　air　in　the
town　after　the　turbulence　of　the　Channel　and　the　beach；　and　its　dulness
in　that　parison　was　agreeable。　He　met　new　groups　of　his　countrymen；
who　had　all　a　straggling　air　of　having　at　one　time　overblown　themselves；
like　certain　unfortable　kinds　of　flowers；　and　of　being　now　mere
weeds。　They　had　all　an　air；　too；　of　lounging　out　a　limited　round；　day
after　day；　which　strongly　reminded　him　of　the　Marshalsea。　But；　taking
no　further　note　of　them　than　was　sufficient　to　give　birth　to　the
reflection；　he　sought　out　a　certain　street　and　number　which　he　kept　in
his　mind。

'So　Pancks　said；'　he　murmured　to　himself；　as　he　stopped　before　a　dull
house　answering　to　the　address。　'I　suppose　his　information　to　be　correct
and　his　discovery；　among　Mr　Casby's　loose　papers；　indisputable；　but；
without　it；　I　should　hardly　have　supposed　this　to　be　a　likely　place。'

A　dead　sort　of　house；　with　a　dead　wall　over　the　way　and　a　dead　gateway
at　the　side；　where　a　pendant　bell…handle　produced　two　dead　tinkles；　and
a　knocker　produced　a　dead；　flat；　surface…tapping；　that　seemed　not　to
have　depth　enough　in　it　to　perate　even　the　cracked　door。　However；　the
door　jarred　open　on　a　dead　sort　of　spring；　and　he　closed　it　behind　him
as　he　entered　a　dull　yard；　soon　brought　to　a　close　by　another　dead　wall；
where　an　attempt　had　been　made　to　train　some　creeping　shrubs；　which　were
dead；　and　to　make　a　little　fountain　in　a　grotto；　which　was　dry；　and　to
decorate　that　with　a　little　statue；　which　was　gone。

The　entry　to　the　house　was　on　the　left；　and　it　was　garnished　as　the
outer　gateway　was；　with　two　printed　bills　in　French　and　English；
announcing　Furnished　Apartments　to　let；　with　immediate　possession。　A
strong　cheerful　peasant　woman；　all　stocking；　petticoat；　white　cap；　and
ear…ring；　stood　here　in　a　dark　doorway；　and　said　with　a　pleasant　show　of
teeth；　'Ice…say！　Seer！　Who？'

Clennam；　replying　in　French；　said　the　English　lady；　he　wished　to　see
the　English　lady。　'Enter　then　and　ascend；　if　you　please；'　returned　the
peasant　woman；　in　French　likewise。　He　did　both；　and　followed　her　up　a
dark　bare　staircase　to　a　back　room　on　the　first…floor。　Hence；　there　was
a　gloomy　view　of　the　yard　that　was　dull；　and　of　the　shrubs　that　were
dead；　and　of　the　fountain　that　was　dry；　and　of　the　pedestal　of　the
statue　that　was　gone。

'Monsieur　Blandois；'　said　Clennam。

'With　pleasure；　Monsieur。'

Thereupon　the　woman　withdrew　and　left　him　to　look　at　the　room。　It　was
the　pattern　of　room　always　to　be　found　in　such　a　house。　Cool；　dull；　and
dark。　Waxed　floor　very　slippery。　A　room　not　large　enough　to　skate　in；
nor　adapted　to　the　easy　pursuit　of　any　other　occupation。　Red　and
white　curtained　windows；　little　straw　mat；　little　round　table　with　a
tumultuous　assemblage　of　legs　underneath；　clumsy　rush…bottomed　chairs；
two　great　red　velvet　arm…chairs　affording　plenty　of　space　to　be
unfortable　in；　bureau；　chimney…glass　in　several　pieces　pretending　to
be　in　one　piece；　pair　of　gaudy　vases　of　very　artificial　flowers；　between
them　a　Greek　warrior　with　his　helmet　off；　sacrificing　a　clock　to　the
Genius　of　France。

After　some　pause；　a　door　of　munication　with　another　room　was　opened；
and　a　lady　entered。　She　manifested　great　surprise　on　seeing　Clennam；　and
her　glance　went　round　the　room　in　search　of　some　one　else。

'Pardon　me；　Miss　Wade。　I　am　alone。'

'It　was　not　your　name　that　was　brought　to　me。'

'No；　I　know　that。　Excuse　me。　I　have　already　had　experience　that　my　name
does　not　predispose　you　to　an　interview；　and　I　ventured　to　mention　the
name　of　one　I　am　in　search　of。'

'Pray；'　she　returned；　motioning　him　to　a　chair　so　coldly　that　he
remained　standing；　'what　name　was　it　that　you　gave？'

'I　mentioned　the　name　of　Blandois。'

'Blandois？'

'A　name　you　are　acquainted　with。'

'It　is　strange；'　she　said；　frowning；　'that　you　should　still　press　an
undesired　interest　in　me　and　my　acquaintances；　in　me　and　my　affairs；　Mr
Clennam。　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。'

'Pardon　me。　You　know　the　name？'

'What　can　you　have　to　do　with　the　name？　What　can　I　have　to　do　with　the
name？　What　can　you　have　to　do　with　my　knowing　or　not　knowing　any　name？
I　know　many　names　and　I　have　forgotten　many　more。　This　may　be　in　the
one　class；　or　it　may　be　in　the　other；　or　I　may　never　have　heard　it。　I　am
acquainted　with　no　reason　for　examining　myself；　or　for　being　examined；
about　it。'

'If　you　will　allow　me；'　said　Clennam；　'I　will　tell　you　my　reason　for
pressing　the　subject。　I　admit　that　I　do　press　it；　and　I　must　beg　you　to
forgive　me　if　I　do　so；　very　earnestly。　The　reason　is　all　mine；　I　do　not
insinuate　that　it　is　in　any　way　yours。'

'Well；　sir；'　she　returned；　repeating　a　little　less　haughtily　than　before
her　former　invitation　to　him　to　be　seated：　to　which　he　now　deferred；　as
she　seated　herself。　'I　am　at　least　glad　to　know　that　this　is　not　another
bondswoman　of　some　friend　of　yours；　who　is　bereft　of　free　choice；　and
whom　I　have　spirited　away。　I　will　hear　your　reason；　if　you　please。'

'First；　to　identify　the　person　of　whom　we　speak；'　said　Clennam；　'let　me
observe　that　it　is　the　person　you　met　in　London　some　time　back。　You　will
remember　meeting　him　near　the　river……in　the　Adelphi！'

'You　mix　yourself　most　unaccountably　with　my　business；'　she　replied；
looking　full　at　him　with　stern　displeasure。　'How　do　you　know　that？'

'I　entreat　you　not　to　take　it　ill。　By　mere　accident。'　'What　accident？'

'Solely　the　accident　of　ing　upon　you　in　the　street　and　seeing　the
meeting。'

'Do　you　speak　of　yourself；　or　of　some　one　else？'

'Of　myself。　I　saw　it。'

'To　be　sure　it　was　in　the　open　street；'　she　observed；　after　a　few
moments　of　less　and　less　angry　reflection。　'Fifty　people　might　have　seen
it。　It　would　have　signified　nothing　if　they　had。'

'Nor　do　I　make　my　having　seen　it　of　any　moment；　nor　（otherwise　than　as
an　explanation　of　my　ing　here）　do　I　connect　my　visit　with　it　or　the
favour　that　I　have　to　ask。'

'Oh！　You　have　to　ask　a　favour！　It　occurred　to　me；'　and　the　handsome　face
looked　bitterly　at　him；　'that　your　manner　was　softened；　Mr　Clennam。'

He　was　content　to　protest　against　this　by　a　slight　action　without
contesting　it　in　words。　He　then　referred　to　Blandois'　disappearance；　of
which　it　was　probable　she　had　heard？　However　probable　it　was　to　him；　she
had　heard　of　no　such　thing。　Let　him　look　round　him　（she　said）　and　judge
for　himself　what　general　intelligence　was　likely　to　reach　the　ears　of
a　woman　who　had　been　shut　up　there　while　it　was　rife；　devouring　her　own
heart。　When　she　had　uttered　this　denial；　which　he　believed　to　be　true；
she　asked　him　what　he　meant　by　disappearance？　That　led　to　his　narrating
the　circumstances　in　detail；　and　expressing　something　of　his　anxiety
to　discover　what　had　really　bee　of　the　man；　and　to　repel　the　dark
suspicions　that　clouded　about　his　mother's　house。　She　heard　him　with
evident　surprise；　and　with　more　marks　of　suppressed　interest　than　he
had　seen　in　her；　still　they　did　not　overe　her　distant；　proud；　and
self…secluded　manner。　When　he　had　finished；　she　said　nothing　but　these
words：

'You　have　not　yet　told　me；　sir；　what　I　have　to　do　with　it；　or　what　the
favour　is？　Will　you　be　so　good　as　e　to　that？'

'I　assume；'　said　Arthur；　persevering；　in　his　endeavour　to　soften
her　scornful　demeanour；　'that　being　in　munication……may　I　say；
confidential　munication？……with　this　person……'

'You　may　say；　of　course；　whatever　you　like；'　she　remarked；　'but　I　do　not
subscribe　to　your　assumptions；　Mr　Clennam；　or　to　any　one's。'

'……that　being；　at　least　in　personal　munication　with　him；'　said
Clennam；　changing　the　form　of　his　position　in　the　hope　of　making
it　unobjectionable；　'you　can　tell　me　something　of　his　antecedents；
pursuits；　habits；　usual　place　of　residence。　Can　give　me　some　little　clue
by　which　to　seek　him　out　in　the　likeliest　manner；　and　either　produce
him；　or　establish　what　has　bee　of　him。　This　is　the　favour　I　ask；
and　I　ask　it　in　a　distress　of　mind　for　which　I　hope　you　will　feel　some
consideration。　If　you　should　have　any　reason　for　imposing