little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第143章

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offered　by　the　hand　of　true　regard　such　visions　have　for　ever　fled
and　all　is　cancelled　but　being　aware　that　tender　relations　are　in
contemplation　beg　to　state　that　I　heartily　wish　well　to　both　and　find
no　fault　with　either　not　the　least；　it　may　be　withering　to　know　that　ere
the　hand　of　Time　had　made　me　much　less　slim　than　formerly　and　dreadfully
red　on　the　slightest　exertion　particularly　after　eating　I　well　know　when
it　takes　the　form　of　a　rash；　it　might　have　been　and　was　not　through　the
interruption　of　parents　and　mental　torpor　succeeded　until　the　mysterious
clue　was　held　by　Mr　F。　still　I　would　not　be　ungenerous　to　either　and　I
heartily　wish　well　to　both。'

Little　Dorrit　took　her　hand；　and　thanked　her　for　all　her　old　kindness。

'Call　it　not　kindness；'　returned　Flora；　giving　her　an　honest　kiss；　'for
you　always　were　the　best　and　dearest　little　thing　that　ever　was　if　I
may　take　the　liberty　and　even　in　a　money　point　of　view　a　saving　being
Conscience　itself　though　I　must　add　much　more　agreeable　than　mine　ever
was　to　me　for　though　not　I　hope　more　burdened　than　other　people's　yet
I　have　always　found　it　far　readier　to　make　one　unfortable　than
fortable　and　evidently　taking　a　greater　pleasure　in　doing　it　but　I　am
wandering；　one　hope　I　wish　to　express　ere　yet　the　closing　scene　draws
in　and　it　is　that　I　do　trust　for　the　sake　of　old　times　and　old　sincerity
that　Arthur　will　know　that　I　didn't　desert　him　in　his　misfortunes　but
that　I　came　backwards　and　forwards　constantly　to　ask　if　I　could　do
anything　for　him　and　that　I　sat　in　the　pie…shop　where　they　very　civilly
fetched　something　warm　in　a　tumbler　from　the　hotel　and　really　very　nice
hours　after　hours　to　keep　him　pany　over　the　way　without　his　knowing
it。'

Flora　really　had　tears　in　her　eyes　now；　and　they　showed　her　to　great
advantage。

'Over　and　above　which；'　said　Flora；　'I　earnestly　beg　you　as　the　dearest
thing　that　ever　was　if　you'll　still　excuse　the　familiarity　from　one　who
moves　in　very　different　circles　to　let　Arthur　understand　that　I　don't
know　after　all　whether　it　wasn't　all　nonsense　between　us　though　pleasant
at　the　time　and　trying　too　and　certainly　Mr　F。　did　work　a　change　and
the　spell　being　broken　nothing　could　be　expected　to　take　place　without
weaving　it　afresh　which　various　circumstances　have　bined　to　prevent
of　which　perhaps　not　the　least　powerful　was　that　it　was　not　to　be；　I
am　not　prepared　to　say　that　if　it　had　been　agreeable　to　Arthur　and　had
brought　itself　about　naturally　in　the　first　instance　I　should　not　have
been　very　glad　being　of　a　lively　disposition　and　moped　at　home　where
papa　undoubtedly　is　the　most　aggravating　of　his　sex　and　not　improved
since　having　been　cut　down　by　the　hand　of　the　Incendiary　into　something
of　which　I　never　saw　the　counterpart　in　all　my　life　but　jealousy　is　not
my　character　nor　ill…will　though　many　faults。'

Without　having　been　able　closely　to　follow　Mrs　Finching　through　this
labyrinth；　Little　Dorrit　understood　its　purpose；　and　cordially　accepted
the　trust。

'The　withered　chaplet　my　dear；'　said　Flora；　with　great　enjoyment；　'is
then　perished　the　column　is　crumbled　and　the　pyramid　is　standing　upside
down　upon　its　what's…his…name　call　it　not　giddiness　call　it　not　weakness
call　it　not　folly　I　must　now　retire　into　privacy　and　look　upon　the　ashes
of　departed　joys　no　more　but　taking　a　further　liberty　of　paying　for　the
pastry　which　has　formed　the　humble　pretext　of　our　interview　will　for
ever　say　Adieu！'

Mr　F。's　Aunt；　who　had　eaten　her　pie　with　great　solemnity；　and　who　had
been　elaborating　some　grievous　scheme　of　injury　in　her　mind　since　her
first　assumption　of　that　public　position　on　the　Marshal's　steps；　took
the　present　opportunity　of　addressing　the　following　Sibyllic　apostrophe
to　the　relict　of　her　late　nephew。

'Bring　him　for'ard；　and　I'll　chuck　him　out　o'　winder！'

Flora　tried　in　vain　to　soothe　the　excellent　woman　by　explaining　that
they　were　going　home　to　dinner。　Mr　F。's　Aunt　persisted　in　replying；
'Bring　him　for'ard　and　I'll　chuck　him　out　o'　winder！'　Having　reiterated
this　demand　an　immense　number　of　times；　with　a　sustained　glare　of
defiance　at　Little　Dorrit；　Mr　F。's　Aunt　folded　her　arms；　and　sat　down　in
the　corner　of　the　pie…shop　parlour；　steadfastly　refusing　to　budge　until
such　time　as　'he'　should　have　been　'brought　for'ard；'　and　the　chucking
portion　of　his　destiny　acplished。

In　this　condition　of　things；　Flora　confided　to　Little　Dorrit　that　she
had　not　seen　Mr　F。's　Aunt　so　full　of　life　and　character　for　weeks；　that
she　would　find　it　necessary　to　remain　there　'hours　perhaps；'　until　the
inexorable　old　lady　could　be　softened；　and　that　she　could　manage　her
best　alone。　They　parted；　therefore；　in　the　friendliest　manner；　and　with
the　kindest　feeling　on　both　sides。

Mr　F。's　Aunt　holding　out　like　a　grim　fortress；　and　Flora　being　in
need　of　refreshment；　a　messenger　was　despatched　to　the　hotel　for　the
tumbler　already　glanced　at；　which　was　afterwards　replenished。　With　the
aid　of　its　content；　a　newspaper；　and　some　skimming　of　the　cream　of　the
pie…stock；　Flora　got　through　the　remainder　of　the　day　in　perfect　good
humour；　though　occasionally　embarrassed　by　the　consequences　of　an
idle　rumour　which　circulated　among　the　credulous　infants　of　the
neighbourhood；　to　the　effect　that　an　old　lady　had　sold　herself　to　the
pie…shop　to　be　made　up；　and　was　then　sitting　in　the　pie…shop　parlour；
declining　to　plete　her　contract。　This　attracted　so　many　young　persons
of　both　sexes；　and；　when　the　shades　of　evening　began　to　fall；　occasioned
so　much　interruption　to　the　business；　that　the　merchant　became　very
pressing　in　his　proposals　that　Mr　F。's　Aunt　should　be　removed。　A
conveyance　was　accordingly　brought　to　the　door；　which；　by　the　joint
efforts　of　the　merchant　and　Flora；　this　remarkable　woman　was　at　last
induced　to　enter；　though　not　without　even　then　putting　her　head　out　of
the　window；　and　demanding　to　have　him　'brought　for'ard'　for　the　purpose
originally　mentioned。　As　she　was　observed　at　this　time　to　direct　baleful
glances　towards　the　Marshalsea；　it　has　been　supposed　that　this　admirably
consistent　female　intended　by　'him；'　Arthur　Clennam。

This；　however；　is　mere　speculation；　who　the　person　was；　who；　for　the
satisfaction　of　Mr　F。's　Aunt's　mind；　ought　to　have　been　brought　forward
and　never　was　brought　forward；　will　never　be　positively　known。


The　autumn　days　went　on；　and　Little　Dorrit　never　came　to　the　Marshalsea
now　and　went　away　without　seeing　him。　No；　no；　no。

One　morning；　as　Arthur　listened　for　the　light　feet　that　every　morning
ascended　winged　to　his　heart；　bringing　the　heavenly　brightness　of　a　new
love　into　the　room　where　the　old　love　had　wrought　so　hard　and　been　so
true；　one　morning；　as　he　listened；　he　heard　her　ing；　not　alone。

'Dear　Arthur；'　said　her　delighted　voice　outside　the　door；　'I　have　some
one　here。　May　I　bring　some　one　in？'

He　had　thought　from　the　tread　there　were　two　with　her。　He　answered
'Yes；'　and　she　came　in　with　Mr　Meagles。　Sun…browned　and　jolly　Mr
Meagles　looked；　and　he　opened　his　arms　and　folded　Arthur　in　them；　like　a
sun…browned　and　jolly　father。

'Now　I　am　all　right；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　after　a　minute　or　so。　'Now　it's
over。　Arthur；　my　dear　fellow；　confess　at　once　that　you　expected　me
before。'　'I　did；'　said　Arthur；　'but　Amy　told　me……'　'Little　Dorrit。　Never
any　other　name。'　（It　was　she　who　whispered　it。）

'……But　my　Little　Dorrit　told　me　that；　without　asking　for　any　further
explanation；　I　was　not　to　expect　you　until　I　saw　you。'

'And　now　you　see　me；　my　boy；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　shaking　him　by　the　hand
stoutly；　'and　now　you　shall　have　any　explanation　and　every　explanation。
The　fact　is；　I　was　here……came　straight　to　you　from　the　Allongers
and　Marshongers；　or　I　should　be　ashamed　to　look　you　in　the　face　this
day；……but　you　were　not　in　pany　trim　at　the　moment；　and　I　had　to　start
off　again　to　catch　Doyce。'

'Poor　Doyce！'　sighed　Arthur。

'Don't　call　him　names　that　he　don't　deserve；'　said　Mr　Meagles。

'He's　not　poor；　he's　doing　well　enough。　Doyce　is　a　wonderful　fellow　over
there。　I　assure　you　he　is　making　out　his　case　like　a　house　a…fire。　He
has　fallen　on　his　legs；　has　Dan。　Where　they　don't　want　things　done　and
find　a　man　to　do　'em；　that　man's　off　his　legs；　but　where　they　do　want
things　done　and　find　a　man　to　do　'em；　that　man's　on　his　legs。　You　won't
have　occasion　to　trouble　the　Circumlocution　Office　any　more。　Let　me　tell
you；　Dan　has　done　without　'em！'

'What　a　load　you　take　from　my　mind！'　cried　Arthur。　'What　happiness　you
give　me！'

'Happiness？'　retorted　Mr　Meagles。　'Don't　talk　about　happiness　till　you
see　Dan。　I　assure　you　Dan　is　directing　works　and　executing　labours　over
yonder；　that　it　would　make　your　hair　stand　on　end　to　look　at。　He's　no
public　offender；　bless　you；　now！　He's　medalled　and　ribboned；　and　starred
and　crossed；　and　I　don't…know…what　all'd；　like　a　born　nobleman。　But　we
mustn't　talk　about　that　over　here。'

'Why　not？'

'Oh；　egad！'　said　Mr　Meagles；　shaking　his　head　very　seriously；　'he　must
hide　all　those　things　under　lock　and　key　when　he　es　over　here。　They
won't　do　over　here。　In　that　particular；　Britannia　is　a　Britannia　in　the
Manger……won't　give　her　children　such　distinctions　herself；　and　won't
allow　them　to　be　seen　when　they　are　given　by　other　countries。　No；　no；
Dan！'　said　Mr　Meagles；　shaking　his　head　again。　'That　won't　do　here！'

'If　you　had　brought　me　（except　for　Doyce's　sake）　twice　what　I　have
lost；'　cried　Arthur；　'you　would　not　have　given　me　the　pleasure　that　you
give　me　in　this　news。'　'Why；　of　course；　of　course；'　assented　Mr　Meagles。
'Of　course　I　know　that；　my　good　fellow；　and　therefore　I　e　out　with
it　in　the　first　burst。　Now；　to　go　back；　about　catching　Doyce。　I　caught
Doyce。　Ran　against　him　among　a　lot　of　those　dirty　brown　dogs　in　women's
nightcaps　a　great　deal　too　big　for　'em；　calling　themselves　Arabs　and　all
sorts　of　incoherent　races。　YOU　know　'em！　Well！　He　was　ing　straight　to
me；　and　I　was　going　to　him；　and　so　we　came　back　together。'

'Doyce　in　England！'　exclaimed　Arthur。

'There！'　said　Mr　Meagles；　throwing　open　his　arms。　'I　am　the　worst　man
in　the　world　to　manage　a　thing　of　this　sort。　I　don't　know　what　I　should
have　done　if　I　had　been　in　the　diplomatic　line……right；　perhaps！　The　long
and　short　of　it　is；　Arthur；　we　have　both　been　in　England　this　fortnight。
And　if　you　go　on　to　ask　where　Doyce　is　at　the　present　moment；　why；　my
plain　answer　is……here　he　is！　And　now　I　can　breathe　again　at　last！'

Doyce　darted　in　from　behind　the　door；　caught　Arthur　by　both　hands；　and
said　the　rest　for　himself。

'There　are　only　three　branches　of　my　subject；　my　dear　Clennam；'　said
Doyce；　proceeding　to　mould　them　severally；　with　his　plastic　thumb；　on
the　palm　of　his　hand；　'and　they're　soon　disposed　of。　First；　not　a　word
more　from　you　about　the　past。　There　was　an　error　in　your　calculations。
I　know　what　that　is。　It　affects　the　whole　machine；　and　failure　is　the
consequence。　You　will　profit　by　the　failure；　and　will　avoid　it　another
time。　I　have　done　a　similar　thing　myself；　in　construction；　often。　Every
failure　teaches　a　man　something；　if　he　will　learn；　and　you　are　too
sensible　a　man　not　to　learn　from　this　failure。　So　much　for　firstly。
Secondly。　I　was　sorry　you　should　have　taken　it　so　heavily　to　heart；　and
reproached　yourself　so　severely；　I　was　travelling　home　night　and　day
to　put　matters　right；　with　the　assistance　of　our　friend；　when　I　fell　in
with　our　friend　as　he　has　informed　you。　Thirdly。　We　two　agreed；　that；
after　what　you　had　undergone；　after　your　distress　of　mind；　and　after
your　illness；　it　would　be　a　pleasant　surprise　if　we　could　so　far　keep
quiet　as　to　get　things　perfectly　arranged　without　your　knowledge；　and
then　e　and　say　that　all　the　affairs　were　smooth；　that　everything　was
right；　that　the　business　stood　in　greater　want　of　you　than　ever　it　did；
and　that　a　new　and　prosperous　career　was　opened　before　you　and　me　as
partners。　That's　thirdly。　But　you　know　we　always　make　an　allowance　for
friction；　and　so　I　have　reserved　space　to　close　in。　My　dear　Clennam；
I　thoroughly　confide　in　you；　you　have　it　in　your　power　to　be　quite　as
useful　to　me　as　I　have；　or　have　had；　it　in　my　power　to　be　useful　to　you；
your　old　place　awaits　you；　and　wants　you　very　much；　there　is　nothing　to
detain　you　here　one　half…hour　longer。'

There　was　silence；　which　was　not　broken　until　Arthur　had　stood　for　some
time　at　the　window　with　his　back　towards　them；　and　until　his　little　wife
that　was　to　be　had　gone　to　him　and　stayed　by　him。

'I　made　a　remark　a　little　while　ago；'　said　Daniel　Doyce　then；　'which　I
am　inclined　to　think　was　an　incorrect　one。　I　said　there　was　nothing
to　detain　you　here；　Clennam；　half　an　hour　longer。　Am　I　mistaken　in
supposing　that　you　would　rather　not　leave　here　till　to…morrow　morning？
Do　I　know；　without　being　very　wise；　where　you　would　like　to　go；　direct
from　these　walls　and　from　this　room？'

'You　do；'　returned　Arthur。　'It　has　been　our　cherished　purpose。'

'Very　well！'　said　Doyce。　'Then；　if　this　young　lady　will　do　me　the　honour
of　regarding　me　for　four…and…twenty　hours　in　the　light　of　a　father；　and
will　take　a　ride　with　me　now　towards　Saint　Paul's　Churchyard；　I　dare　say
I　know　what　we　want　to　get　there。'

Little　Dorrit　and　he　went　out　together　soon　afterwards；　and　Mr　Meagles
lingered