little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第141章

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entered　into　loud　explanations　of　the　most　plicated　sort；　and　utterly
renounced　replies　in　the　native　language　of　the　respondents；　on　the
ground　that　they　were　'all　bosh。'　Sometimes　interpreters　were　called
in；　whom　Mr　Meagles　addressed　in　such　idiomatic　terms　of　speech；　as
instantly　to　extinguish　and　shut　up……which　made　the　matter　worse。　On　a
balance　of　the　account；　however；　it　may　be　doubted　whether　he　lost　much；
for；　although　he　found　no　property；　he　found　so　many　debts　and　various
associations　of　discredit　with　the　proper　name；　which　was　the　only　word
he　made　intelligible；　that　he　was　almost　everywhere　overwhelmed　with
injurious　accusations。　On　no　fewer　than　four　occasions　the　police
were　called　in　to　receive　denunciations　of　Mr　Meagles　as　a　Knight　of
Industry；　a　good…for…nothing；　and　a　thief；　all　of　which　opprobrious
language　he　bore　with　the　best　temper　（having　no　idea　what　it　meant）；
and　was　in　the　most　ignominious　manner　escorted　to　steam…boats　and
public　carriages；　to　be　got　rid　of；　talking　all　the　while；　like　a
cheerful　and　fluent　Briton　as　he　was；　with　Mother　under　his　arm。

But；　in　his　own　tongue；　and　in　his　own　head；　Mr　Meagles　was　a　clear；
shrewd；　persevering　man。　When　he　had　'worked　round；'　as　he　called　it；　to
Paris　in　his　pilgrimage；　and　had　wholly　failed　in　it　so　far；　he　was　not
disheartened。　'The　nearer　to　England　I　follow　him；　you　see；　Mother；'
argued　Mr　Meagles；　'the　nearer　I　am　likely　to　e　to　the　papers；
whether　they　turn　up　or　no。　Because　it　is　only　reasonable　to　conclude
that　he　would　deposit　them　somewhere　where　they　would　be　safe　from
people　over　in　England；　and　where　they　would　yet　be　accessible　to
himself；　don't　you　see？'

At　Paris　Mr　Meagles　found　a　letter　from　Little　Dorrit；　lying　waiting　for
him；　in　which　she　mentioned　that　she　had　been　able　to　talk　for　a　minute
or　two　with　Mr　Clennam　about　this　man　who　was　no　more；　and　that　when　she
told　Mr　Clennam　that　his　friend　Mr　Meagles；　who　was　on　his　way　to　see
him；　had　an　interest　in　ascertaining　something　about　the　man　if　he
could；　he　had　asked　her　to　tell　Mr　Meagles　that　he　had　been　known
to　Miss　Wade；　then　living　in　such　a　street　at　Calais。　'Oho！'　said　Mr
Meagles。

As　soon　afterwards　as　might　be　in　those　Diligence　days；　Mr　Meagles
rang　the　cracked　bell　at　the　cracked　gate；　and　it　jarred　open；　and　the
peasant…woman　stood　in　the　dark　doorway；　saying；　'Ice…say！　Seer！　Who？'
In　acknowledgment　of　whose　address；　Mr　Meagles　murmured　to　himself　that
there　was　some　sense　about　these　Calais　people；　who　really　did　know
something　of　what　you　and　themselves　were　up　to；　and　returned；　'Miss
Wade；　my　dear。'　He　was　then　shown　into　the　presence　of　Miss　Wade。

'It's　some　time　since　we　met；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　clearing　his　throat；　'I
hope　you　have　been　pretty　well；　Miss　Wade？'

Without　hoping　that　he　or　anybody　else　had　been　pretty　well；　Miss　Wade
asked　him　to　what　she　was　indebted　for　the　honour　of　seeing　him　again？
Mr　Meagles；　in　the　meanwhile；　glanced　all　round　the　room　without
observing　anything　in　the　shape　of　a　box。

'Why；　the　truth　is；　Miss　Wade；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　in　a　fortable；
managing；　not　to　say　coaxing　voice；　'it　is　possible　that　you　may　be　able
to　throw　a　light　upon　a　little　something　that　is　at　present　dark。　Any
unpleasant　bygones　between　us　are　bygones；　I　hope。　Can't　be　helped　now。
You　recollect　my　daughter？　Time　changes　so！　A　mother！'

In　his　innocence；　Mr　Meagles　could　not　have　struck　a　worse　key…note。　He
paused　for　any　expression　of　interest；　but　paused　in　vain。

'That　is　not　the　subject　you　wished　to　enter　on？'　she　said；　after　a　cold
silence。

'No；　no；'　returned　Mr　Meagles。　'No。　I　thought　your　good　nature　might……'

'I　thought　you　knew；'　she　interrupted；　with　a　smile；　'that　my　good
nature　is　not　to　be　calculated　upon？'

'Don't　say　so；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'you　do　yourself　an　injustice。　However；
to　e　to　the　point。'　For　he　was　sensible　of　having　gained　nothing
by　approaching　it　in　a　roundabout　way。　'I　have　heard　from　my　friend
Clennam；　who；　you　will　be　sorry　to　hear；　has　been　and　still　is　very
ill……'

He　paused　again；　and　again　she　was　silent。

'……that　you　had　some　knowledge　of　one　Blandois；　lately　killed　in　London
by　a　violent　accident。　Now；　don't　mistake　me！　I　know　it　was　a　slight
knowledge；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　dexterously　forestalling　an　angry
interruption　which　he　saw　about　to　break。　'I　am　fully　aware　of　that。　It
was　a　slight　knowledge；　I　knoeagles's　voice
here　became　fortable　again；　'did　he；　on　his　way　to　England　last　time；
leave　a　box　of　papers；　or　a　bundle　of　papers；　or　some　papers　or　other　in
some　receptacle　or　other……any　papers……with　you：　begging　you　to　allow　him
to　leave　them　here　for　a　short　time；　until　he　wanted　them？'

'The　question　is？'　she　repeated。　'Whose　question　is？'

'Mine；'　said　Mr　Meagles。　'And　not　only　mine　but　Clennam's　question；　and
other　people's　question。　Now；　I　am　sure；'　continued　Mr　Meagles；　whose
heart　was　overflowing　with　Pet；　'that　you　can't　have　any　unkind　feeling
towards　my　daughter；　it's　impossible。　Well！　It's　her　question；　too；
being　one　in　which　a　particular　friend　of　hers　is　nearly　interested。
So　here　I　am；　frankly　to　say　that　is　the　question；　and　to　ask；　Now；　did
he？'

'Upon　my　word；'　she　returned；　'I　seem　to　be　a　mark　for　everybody　who
knew　anything　of　a　man　I　once　in　my　life　hired；　and　paid；　and　dismissed；
to　aim　their　questions　at！'

'Now；　don't；'　remonstrated　Mr　Meagles；　'don't！　Don't　take　offence；
because　it's　the　plainest　question　in　the　world；　and　might　be　asked
of　any　one。　The　documents　I　refer　to　were　not　his　own；　were　wrongfully
obtained；　might　at　some　time　or　other　be　troublesome　to　an　innocent
person　to　have　in　keeping；　and　are　sought　by　the　people　to　whom　they
really　belong。　He　passed　through　Calais　going　to　London；　and　there　were
reasons　why　he　should　not　take　them　with　him　then；　why　he　should　wish
to　be　able　to　put　his　hand　upon　them　readily；　and　why　he　should　distrust
leaving　them　with　people　of　his　own　sort。　Did　he　leave　them　here？　I
declare　if　I　knew　how　to　avoid　giving　you　offence；　I　would　take　any
pains　to　do　it。　I　put　the　question　personally；　but　there's　nothing
personal　in　it。　I　might　put　it　to　any　one；　I　have　put　it　already　to　many
people。　Did　he　leave　them　here？　Did　he　leave　anything　here？'

'No。'

'Then　unfortunately；　Miss　Wade；　you　know　nothing　about　them？'

'I　know　nothing　about　them。　I　have　now　answered　your　unaccountable
question。　He　did　not　leave　them　here；　and　I　know　nothing　about　them。'

'There！'　said　Mr　Meagles　rising。　'I　am　sorry　for　it；　that's　over；　and　I
hope　there　is　not　much　harm　done。……Tattycoram　well；　Miss　Wade？'

'Harriet　well？　O　yes！'

'I　have　put　my　foot　in　it　again；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　thus　corrected。　'I
can't　keep　my　foot　out　of　it　here；　it　seems。　Perhaps；　if　I　had　thought
twice　about　it；　I　might　never　have　given　her　the　jingling　name。　But；
when　one　means　to　be　good…natured　and　sportive　with　young　people；　one
doesn't　think　twice。　Her　old　friend　leaves　a　kind　word　for　her；　Miss
Wade；　if　you　should　think　proper　to　deliver　it。'

She　said　nothing　as　to　that；　and　Mr　Meagles；　taking　his　honest　face　out
of　the　dull　room；　where　it　shone　like　a　sun；　took　it　to　the　Hotel　where
he　had　left　Mrs　Meagles；　and　where　he　made　the　Report：　'Beaten；　Mother；
no　effects！'　He　took　it　next　to　the　London　Steam　Packet；　which　sailed　in
the　night；　and　next　to　the　Marshalsea。

The　faithful　John　was　on　duty　when　Father　and　Mother　Meagles　presented
themselves　at　the　wicket　towards　nightfall。　Miss　Dorrit　was　not　there
then；　he　said；　but　she　had　been　there　in　the　morning；　and　invariably
came　in　the　evening。　Mr　Clennam　was　slowly　mending；　and　Maggy　and　Mrs
Plornish　and　Mr　Baptist　took　care　of　him　by　turns。　Miss　Dorrit　was　sure
to　e　back　that　evening　before　the　bell　rang。　There　was　the　room　the
Marshal　had　lent　her；　up…stairs；　in　which　they　could　wait　for　her；　if
they　pleased。　Mistrustful　that　it　might　be　hazardous　to　Arthur　to　see
him　without　preparation；　Mr　Meagles　accepted　the　offer；　and　they　were
left　shut　up　in　the　room；　looking　down　through　its　barred　window　into
the　jail。

The　cramped　area　of　the　prison　had　such　an　effect　on　Mrs　Meagles　that
she　began　to　weep；　and　such　an　effect　on　Mr　Meagles　that　he　began　to
gasp　for　air。　He　was　walking　up　and　down　the　room；　panting；　and　making
himself　worse　by　laboriously　fanning　himself　with　her　handkerchief；　when
he　turned　towards　the　opening　door。

'Eh？　Good　gracious！'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'this　is　not　Miss　Dorrit！　Why；
Mother；　look！　Tattycoram！'

No　other。　And　in　Tattycoram's　arms　was　an　iron　box　some　two　feet　square。
Such　a　box　had　Affery　Flintwinch　seen；　in　the　first　of　her　dreams；　going
out　of　the　old　house　in　the　dead　of　the　night　under　Double's　arm。　This；
Tattycoram　put　on　the　ground　at　her　old　master's　feet：　this；　Tattycoram
fell　on　her　knees　by；　and　beat　her　hands　upon；　crying　half　in　exultation
and　half　in　despair；　half　in　laughter　and　half　in　tears；　'Pardon；　dear
Master；　take　me　back；　dear　Mistress；　here　it　is！'

'Tatty！'　exclaimed　Mr　Meagles。

'What　you　wanted！'　said　Tattycoram。　'Here　it　is！　I　was　put　in　the　next
room　not　to　see　you。　I　heard　you　ask　her　about　it；　I　heard　her　say　she
hadn't　got　it；　I　was　there　when　he　left　it；　and　I　took　it　at　bedtime　and
brought　it　away。　Here　it　is！'

'Why；　my　girl；'　cried　Mr　Meagles；　more　breathless　than　before；　'how　did
you　e　over？'

'I　came　in　the　boat　with　you。　I　was　sitting　wrapped　up　at　the　other　end。
When　you　took　a　coach　at　the　wharf；　I　took　another　coach　and　followed
you　here。　She　never　would　have　given　it　up　after　what　you　had　said　to
her　about　its　being　wanted；　she　would　sooner　have　sunk　it　in　the　sea；　or
burnt　it。　But；　here　it　is！'

The　glow　and　rapture　that　the　girl　was　in；　with　her　'Here　it　is！'

'She　never　wanted　it　to　be　left；　I　must　say　that　for　her；　but　he　left
it；　and　I　knew　well　that　after　what　you　said；　and　after　her　denying
it；　she　never　would　have　given　it　up。　But　here　it　is！　Dear　Master；　dear
Mistress；　take　me　back　again；　and　give　me　back　the　dear　old　name！　Let
this　intercede　for　me。　Here　it　is！'

Father　and　Mother　Meagles　never　deserved　their　names　better　than　when
they　took　the　headstrong　foundling…girl　into　their　protection　again。

'Oh！　I　have　been　so　wretched；'　cried　Tattycoram；　weeping　much　more；
'always　so　unhappy；　and　so　repentant！　I　was　afraid　of　her　from　the　first
time　I　saw　her。　I　knew　she　had　got　a　power　over　me　through　understanding
what　was　bad　in　me　so　well。　It　was　a　madness　in　me；　and　she　could　raise
it　whenever　she　liked。　I　used　to　think；　when　I　got　into　that　state；　that
people　were　all　against　me　because　of　my　first　beginning；　and　the　kinder
they　were　to　me；　the　worse　fault　I　found　in　them。　I　made　it　out　that
they　triumphed　above　me；　and　that　they　wanted　to　make　me　envy　them；　when
I　know……when　I　even　knew　then……that　they　never　thought　of　such　a　thing。
And　my　beautiful　young　mistress　not　so　happy　as　she　ought　to　have　been；
and　I　gone　away　from　her！　Such　a　brute　and　a　wretch　as　she　must　think
me！　But　you'll　say　a　word　to　her　for　me；　and　ask　her　to　be　as　forgiving
as　you　two　are？　For　I　am　not　so　bad　as　I　was；'　pleaded　Tattycoram；　'I　am
bad　enough；　but　not　so　bad　as　I　was；　indeed。　I　have　had　Miss　Wade
before　me　all　this　time；　as　if　it　was　my　own　self　grown　ripe……turning
everything　the　wrong　way；　and　twisting　all　good　into　evil。　I　have　had
her　before　me　all　this　time；　finding　no　pleasure　in　anything　but　keeping
me　as　miserable；　suspicious；　and　tormenting　as　herself。　Not　that　she　had
much　to　do；　to　do　that；'　cried　Tattycoram；　in　a　closing　great　burst　of
distress；　'for　I　was　as　bad　as　bad　could　be。　I　only　mean　to　say；　that；
after　what　I　have　gone　through；　I　hope　I　shall　never　be　quite　so　bad
again；　and　that　I　shall　get　better　by　very　slow　degrees。　I'll　try　very
hard。　I　won't　stop　at　five…and…twenty；　sir；　I'll　count　five…and…twenty
hundred；　five…and…twenty　thousand！'

Another　opening　of　the　door；　and　Tattycoram　subsided；　and　Little　Dorrit
came　in；　and　Mr　Meagles　with　pride　and　joy　produced　the　box；　and　her
gentle　face　was　lighted　up　with　grateful　happiness　and　joy。

The　secret　was　safe　now！　She　could　keep　her　own　part　of　it　from　him；　he
should　never　know　of　her　loss；　in　time　to　e　he　should　know　all　that
was　of　import　to　himself；　but　he　should　never　know　what　concerned　her
only。　That　was　all　passed；　all　forgiven；　all　forgotten。

'Now；　my　dear　Miss　Dorrit；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'I　am　a　man　of　business……or
at　least　was……and　I　am　going　to　take　my　measures　promptly；　in　that
character。　Had　I　better　see　Arthur　to…night？'

'I　think　not　to…night。　I　will　go　to　his　room　and　ascertain　how　he　is。
But　I　think　it　will　be　better　not　to　see　him　to…night。'

'I　am　much　of　your　opinion；　my　dear；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'and　therefore
I　have　not　been　any　nearer　to　him　than　this　dismal　room。　Then　I　shall
probably　not　see　him　for　some　little　time　to　e。　But　I'll　explain　what
I　mean　when　you　e　back。'

She　left　the　room。　Mr　Meagles；　looking　through　the　bars　of　the　window；
saw　her　pass　out　of　the　Lodge　below　him　into　the　prison…yard。　He　said
gently；　'Tattycoram；　e　to　me　a　moment；　my　good　girl。'

She　went　up　to　the　window。

'You　see　that　young　lady　who　was　here　just　now……that　little；　quiet；
fragile　figure　passing　along　th