little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第121章

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with　confidence；　a　peerage　our　had　it
that　Mr　Merdle　had　set　his　golden　face　against　a　barocy；　that　he　had
plainly　intimated　to　Lord　Decimus　that　a　barocy　was　not　enough
for　him；　that　he　had　said；　'No……a　Peerage；　or　plain　Merdle。'　This　was
reported　to　have　plunged　Lord　Decimus　as　nigh　to　his　noble　chin　in　a
slough　of　doubts　as　so　lofty　a　person　could　be　sunk。　For　the　Barnacles；
as　a　group　of　themselves　in　creation；　had　an　idea　that　such　distinctions
belonged　to　them；　and　that　when　a　soldier；　sailor；　or　lawyer　became
ennobled；　they　let　him　in；　as　it　were；　by　an　act　of　condescension；　at
the　family　door；　and　immediately　shut　it　again。　Not　only　（said　Rumour）
had　the　troubled　Decimus　his　own　hereditary　part　in　this　impression；　but
he　also　knew　of　several　Barnacle　claims　already　on　the　file；　which　came
into　collision　with　that　of　the　master　spirit。

Right　or　wrong；　Rumour　was　very　busy；　and　Lord　Decimus；　while　he　was；　or
was　supposed　to　be；　in　stately　excogitation　of　the　difficulty；　lent　her
some　countenance　by　taking；　on　several　public　occasions；　one　of　those
elephantine　trots　of　his　through　a　jungle　of　overgrown　sentences；　waving
Mr　Merdle　about　on　his　trunk　as　Gigantic　Enterprise；　The　Wealth　of
England；　Elasticity；　Credit；　Capital；　Prosperity；　and　all　manner　of
blessings。

So　quietly　did　the　mowing　of　the　old　scythe　go　on；　that　fully　three
months　had　passed　unnoticed　since　the　two　English　brothers　had　been　laid
in　one　tomb　in　the　strangers'　cemetery　at　Rome。　Mr　and　Mrs　Sparkler　were
established　in　their　own　house：　a　little　mansion；　rather　of　the　Tite
Barnacle　class；　quite　a　triumph　of　inconvenience；　with　a　perpetual　smell
in　it　of　the　day　before　yesterday's　soup　and　coach…horses；　but　extremely
dear；　as　being　exactly　in　the　centre　of　the　habitable　globe。　In　this
enviable　abode　（and　envied　it　really　was　by　many　people）；　Mrs　Sparkler
had　intended　to　proceed　at　once　to　the　demolition　of　the　Bosom；　when
active　hostilities　had　been　suspended　by　the　arrival　of　the　Courier　with
his　tidings　of　death。　Mrs　Sparkler；　who　was　not　unfeeling；　had　received
them　with　a　violent　burst　of　grief；　which　had　lasted　twelve　hours；
after　which；　she　had　arisen　to　see　about　her　mourning；　and　to　take　every
precaution　that　could　ensure　its　being　as　being　as　Mrs　Merdle's。　A
gloom　was　then　cast　over　more　than　one　distinguished　family　（according
to　the　politest　sources　of　intelligence）；　and　the　Courier　went　back
again。

Mr　and　Mrs　Sparkler　had　been　dining　alone；　with　their　gloom　cast　over
them；　and　Mrs　Sparkler　reclined　on　a　drawing…room　sofa。　It　was　a　hot
summer　Sunday　evening。　The　residence　in　the　centre　of　the　habitable
globe；　at　all　times　stuffed　and　close　as　if　it　had　an　incurable　cold　in
its　head；　was　that　evening　particularly　stifling。

The　bells　of　the　churches　had　done　their　worst　in　the　way　of　clanging
among　the　unmelodious　echoes　of　the　streets；　and　the　lighted　windows　of
the　churches　had　ceased　to　be　yellow　in　the　grey　dusk；　and　had　died　out
opaque　black。　Mrs　Sparkler；　lying　on　her　sofa；　looking　through　an　open
window　at　the　opposite　side　of　a　narrow　street　over　boxes　of　mignote
and　flowers；　was　tired　of　the　view。　Mrs　Sparkler；　looking　at　another
window　where　her　husband　stood　in　the　balcony；　was　tired　of　that　view。
Mrs　Sparkler；　looking　at　herself　in　her　mourning；　was　even　tired　of　that
view：　though；　naturally；　not　so　tired　of　that　as　of　the　other　two。

'It's　like　lying　in　a　well；'　said　Mrs　Sparkler；　changing　her　position
fretfully。　'Dear　me；　Edmund；　if　you　have　anything　to　say；　why　don't　you
say　it？'

Mr　Sparkler　might　have　replied　with　ingenuousness；　'My　life；　I　have
nothing　to　say。'　But；　as　the　repartee　did　not　occur　to　him；　he　contented
himself　with　ing　in　from　the　balcony　and　standing　at　the　side　of　his
wife's　couch。

'Good　gracious；　Edmund！'　said　Mrs　Sparkler　more　fretfully　still；　you　are
absolutely　putting　mignote　up　your　nose！　Pray　don't！'

Mr　Sparkler；　in　absence　of　mind……perhaps　in　a　more　literal　absence　of
mind　than　is　usually　understood　by　the　phrase……had　smelt　so　hard　at　a
sprig　in　his　hand　as　to　be　on　the　verge　of　the　offence　in　question。　He
smiled；　said；　'I　ask　your　pardon；　my　dear；'　and　threw　it　out　of　window。

'You　make　my　head　ache　by　remaining　in　that　position；　Edmund；'　said　Mrs
Sparkler；　raising　her　eyes　to　him　after　another　minute；　'you　look　so
aggravatingly　large　by　this　light。　Do　sit　down。'

'Certainly；　my　dear；'　said　Mr　Sparkler；　and　took　a　chair　on　the　same
spot。

'If　I　didn't　know　that　the　longest　day　was　past；'　said　Fanny；　yawning　in
a　dreary　manner；　'I　should　have　felt　certain　this　was　the　longest　day。　I
never　did　experience　such　a　day。'

'Is　that　your　fan；　my　love？'　asked　Mr　Sparkler；　picking　up　one　and
presenting　it。

'Edmund；'　returned　his　wife；　more　wearily　yet；　'don't　ask　weak
questions；　I　entreat　you　not。　Whose　can　it　be　but　mine？'

'Yes；　I　thought　it　was　yours；'　said　Mr　Sparkler。

'Then　you　shouldn't　ask；'　retorted　Fanny。　After　a　little　while　she
turned　on　her　sofa　and　exclaimed；　'Dear　me；　dear　me；　there　never　was
such　a　long　day　as　this！'　After　another　little　while；　she　got　up　slowly；
walked　about；　and　came　back　again。

'My　dear；'　said　Mr　Sparkler；　flashing　with　an　original　conception；　'I
think　you　must　have　got　the　fidgets。'

'Oh；　Fidgets！'　repeated　Mrs　Sparkler。　'Don't。'

'My　adorable　girl；'　urged　Mr　Sparkler；　'try　your　aromatic　vinegar。　I
have　often　seen　my　mother　try　it；　and　it　seemingly　refreshed　her。

And　she　is；　as　I　believe　you　are　aware；　a　remarkably　fine　woman；　with　no
non……'

'Good　Gracious！'　exclaimed　Fanny；　starting　up　again。　'It's　beyond　all
patience！　This　is　the　most　wearisome　day　that　ever　did　dawn　upon　the
world；　I　am　certain。'

Mr　Sparkler　looked　meekly　after　her　as　she　lounged　about　the　room；　and
he　appeared　to　be　a　little　frightened。　When　she　had　tossed　a　few　trifles
about；　and　had　looked　down　into　the　darkening　street　out　of　all　the
three　windows；　she　returned　to　her　sofa；　and　threw　herself　among　its
pillows。

'Now　Edmund；　e　here！　e　a　little　nearer；　because　I　want　to　be　able
to　touch　you　with　my　fan；　that　I　may　impress　you　very　much　with　what　I
am　going　to　say。　That　will　do。　Quite　close　enough。　Oh；　you　do　look　so
big！'

Mr　Sparkler　apologised　for　the　circumstance；　pleaded　that　he　couldn't
help　it；　and　said　that　'our　fellows；'　without　more　particularly
indicating　whose　fellows；　used　to　call　him　by　the　name　of　Quinbus
Flestrin；　Junior；　or　the　Young　Man　Mountain。

'You　ought　to　have　told　me　so　before；'　Fanny　plained。

'My　dear；'　returned　Mr　Sparkler；　rather　gratified；　'I　didn't　know
It　would　interest　you；　or　I　would　have　made　a　point　of　telling　you。'
'There！　For　goodness　sake；　don't　talk；'　said　Fanny；　'I　want　to　talk；
myself。　Edmund；　we　must　not　be　alone　any　more。　I　must　take　such
precautions　as　will　prevent　my　being　ever　again　reduced　to　the　state　of
dreadful　depression　in　which　I　am　this　evening。'

'My　dear；'　answered　Mr　Sparkler；　'being　as　you　are　well　known　to　be；　a
remarkably　fine　woman　with　no……'

'Oh；　good　GRACIOUS！'　cried　Fanny。

Mr　Sparkler　was　so　disposed　by　the　energy　of　this　exclamation；
acpanied　with　a　flouncing　up　from　the　sofa　and　a　flouncing　down
again；　that　a　minute　or　two　elapsed　before　he　felt　himself　equal　to
saying　in　explanation：

'I　mean；　my　dear；　that　everybody　knows　you　are　calculated　to　shine　in
society。'

'Calculated　to　shine　in　society；'　retorted　Fanny　with　great
irritability；　'yes；　indeed！　And　then　what　happens？　I　no　sooner　recover；
in　a　visiting　point　of　view；　the　shock　of　poor　dear　papa's　death；　and　my
poor　uncle's……though　I　do　not　disguise　from　myself　that　the　last　was
a　happy　release；　for；　if　you　are　not　presentable　you　had　much　better
die……'

'You　are　not　referring　to　me；　my　love；　I　hope？'　Mr　Sparkler　humbly
interrupted。

'Edmund；　Edmund；　you　would　wear　out　a　Saint。　Am　I　not　expressly　speaking
of　my　poor　uncle？'

'You　looked　with　so　much　expression　at　myself；　my　dear　girl；'　said　Mr
Sparkler；　'that　I　felt　a　little　unfortable。　Thank　you；　my　love。'

'Now　you　have　put　me　out；'　observed　Fanny　with　a　resigned　toss　of　her
fan；　'and　I　had　better　go　to　bed。'

'Don't　do　that；　my　love；'　urged　Mr　Sparkler。　'Take　time。'

Fanny　took　a　good　deal　of　time：　lying　back　with　her　eyes　shut；　and　her
eyebrows　raised　with　a　hopeless　expression　as　if　she　had　utterly　given
up　all　terrestrial　affairs。　At　length；　without　the　slightest　notice；　she
opened　her　eyes　again；　and　remenced　in　a　short；　sharp　manner：

'What　happens　then；　I　ask！　What　happens？　Why；　I　find　myself　at　the　very
period　when　I　might　shine　most　in　society；　and　should　most　like　for
very　momentous　reasons　to　shine　in　society……I　find　myself　in　a　situation
which　to　a　certain　extent　disqualifies　me　for　going　into　society。　It's
too　bad；　really！'

'My　dear；'　said　Mr　Sparkler。　'I　don't　think　it　need　keep　you　at
home。'　'Edmund；　you　ridiculous　creature；'　returned　Fanny；　with　great
indignation；　'do　you　suppose　that　a　woman　in　the　bloom　of　youth　and　not
wholly　devoid　of　personal　attractions；　can　put　herself；　at　such　a
time；　in　petition　as　to　figure　with　a　woman　in　every　other　way　her
inferior？　If　you　do　suppose　such　a　thing；　your　folly　is　boundless。'

Mr　Sparkler　submitted　that　he　had　thought　'it　might　be　got　over。'　'Got
over！'　repeated　Fanny；　with　immeasurable　scorn。

'For　a　time；'　Mr　Sparkler　submitted。

Honouring　the　last　feeble　suggestion　with　no　notice；　Mrs　Sparkler
declared　with　bitterness　that　it　really　was　too　bad；　and　that　positively
it　was　enough　to　make　one　wish　one　was　dead！

'However；'　she　said；　when　she　had　in　some　measure　recovered　from　her
sense　of　personal　ill…usage；　'provoking　as　it　is；　and　cruel　as　it　seems；
I　suppose　it　must　be　submitted　to。'

'Especially　as　it　was　to　be　expected；'　said　Mr　Sparkler。

'Edmund；'　returned　his　wife；　'if　you　have　nothing　more　being　to　do
than　to　attempt　to　insult　the　woman　who　has　honoured　you　with　her　hand；
when　she　finds　herself　in　adversity；　I　think　YOU　had　better　go　to　bed！'

Mr　Sparkler　was　much　afflicted　by　the　charge；　and　offered　a　most
tender　and　earnest　apology。　His　apology　was　accepted；　but　Mrs　Sparkler
requested　him　to　go　round　to　the　other　side　of　the　sofa　and　sit　in　the
window…curtain；　to　tone　himself　down。

'Now；　Edmund；'　she　said；　stretching　out　her　fan；　and　touching　him　with
it　at　arm's　length；　'what　I　was　going　to　say　to　you　when　you　began　as
usual　to　prose　and　worry；　is；　that　I　shall　guard　against　our　being　alone
any　more；　and　that　when　circumstances　prevent　my　going　out　to　my　own
satisfaction；　I　must　arrange　to　have　some　people　or　other　always　here；
for　I　really　cannot；　and　will　not；　have　another　such　day　as　this　has
been。'

Mr　Sparkler's　sentiments　as　to　the　plan　were；　in　brief；　that　it　had　no
nonsense　about　it。　He　added；　'And　besides；　you　know　it's　likely　that
you'll　soon　have　your　sister……'

'Dearest　Amy；　yes！'　cried　Mrs　Sparkler　with　a　sigh　of　affection。
'Darling　little　thing！　Not；　however；　that　Amy　would　do　here　alone。'

Mr　Sparkler　was　going　to　say　'No？'　interrogatively；　but　he　saw　his
danger　and　said　it　assentingly；　'No；　Oh　dear　no；　she　wouldn't　do　here
alone。'

'No；　Edmund。　For　not　only　are　the　virtues　of　the　precious　child　of　that
still　character　that　they　require　a　contrast……require　life　and　movement
around　them　to　bring　them　out　in　their　right　colours　and　make　one　love
them　of　all　things；　but　she　will　require　to　be　roused；　on　more　accounts
than　one。'

'That's　it；'　said　Mr　Sparkler。　'Roused。'

'Pray　don't；　Edmund！　Your　habit　of　interrupting　without　having　the　least
thing　in　the　world　to　say；　distracts　one。　You　must　be　broken　of　it。
Speaking　of　Amy；……my　poor　little　pet　was　devotedly　attached　to　poor
papa；　and　no　doubt　will　have　lamented　his　loss　exceedingly；　and　grieved
very　much。　I　have　done　so　myself。　I　have　felt　it　dreadfully。　But　Amy
will　no　doubt　have　felt　it　even　more；　from　having　been　on　the　spot　the
whole　time；　and　having　been　with　poor　dear　papa　at　the　last；　which　I
unhappily　was　not。'

Here　Fanny　stopped　to　weep；　and　to　say；　'Dear；　dear；　beloved　papa！　How
truly　gentlemanly　he　was！　What　a　contrast　to　poor　uncle！'

'From　the　effects　of　that　trying　time；'　she　pursued；　'my　good　little
Mouse　will　have　to　be　roused。　Also；　from　the　effects　of　this　long
attendance　upon　Edward　in　his　illness；　an　attendance　which　is　not
yet　over；　which　may　even　go　on　for　some　time　longer；　and　which　in　the
meanwhile　unsettles　us　all　by　keeping　poor　dear　papa's　affairs　from
being　wound　up。　Fortunately；　however；　the　papers　with　his　agents
here　being　all　sealed　up　and　locked　up；　as　he　left　them　when　he
providentially　came　to　England；　the　affairs　are　in　that　state　of　order
that　they　can　wait　until　my　brother　Edward　recovers　his　health　in
Sicily；　sufficiently　to　e　over；　and　administer；　or　execute；　or
whatever　it　may　be　that　will　have　to　be　done。'

'He　couldn't　have　a　better　nurse　to　bring　him　round；'　Mr　Sparkler　made
bold　to　opine。

'For　a　wonder；　I　can　agree　with　you；'　returned　his　wife；　languidly
turning　her　eyelids　a　little　in　his　direction　（she　held　forth；　in
general；　as　if　to　the　drawing…room　furniture）；　'and　can　adopt　your
words。　He　couldn't　have　a　better　nurse　to　bring　him　round。　There　are
times　when　my　dear　child　is　a　little　wearing　to　an