little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第15章

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'My　brother；'　said　the　old　man；　pausing　on　the　step　and　slowly　facing
round　again；　'has　been　here　many　years；　and　much　that　happens　even　among
ourselves；　out　of　doors；　is　kept　from　him　for　reasons　that　I　needn't
enter　upon　now。　Be　so　good　as　to　say　nothing　of　my　niece's　working　at
her　needle。　Be　so　good　as　to　say　nothing　that　goes　beyond　what　is　said
among　us。　If　you　keep　within　our　bounds；　you　cannot　well　be　wrong。　Now！
e　and　see。'

Arthur　followed　him　down　a　narrow　entry；　at　the　end　of　which　a　key　was
turned；　and　a　strong　door　was　opened　from　within。　It　admitted　them　into
a　lodge　or　lobby；　across　which　they　passed；　and　so　through　another　door
and　a　grating　into　the　prison。　The　old　man　always　plodding　on　before；
turned　round；　in　his　slow；　stiff；　stooping　manner；　when　they　came　to　the
turnkey　on　duty；　as　if　to　present　his　panion。　The　turnkey　nodded；　and
the　panion　passed　in　without　being　asked　whom　he　wanted。

The　night　was　dark；　and　the　prison　lamps　in　the　yard；　and　the　candles　in
the　prison　windows　faintly　shining　behind　many　sorts　of　wry　old　curtain
and　blind；　had　not　the　air　of　making　it　lighter。　A　few　people　loitered
about；　but　the　greater　part　of　the　population　was　within　doors。　The　old
man；　taking　the　right…hand　side　of　the　yard；　turned　in　at　the　third　or
fourth　doorway；　and　began　to　ascend　the　stairs。　'They　are　rather　dark；
sir；　but　you　will　not　find　anything　in　the　way。'

He　paused　for　a　moment　before　opening　a　door　on　the　second　story。　He　had
no　sooner　turned　the　handle　than　the　visitor　saw　Little　Dorrit；　and　saw
the　reason　of　her　setting　so　much　store　by　dining　alone。

She　had　brought　the　meat　home　that　she　should　have　eaten　herself；　and
was　already　warming　it　on　a　gridiron　over　the　fire　for　her　father；　clad
in　an　old　grey　gown　and　a　black　cap；　awaiting　his　supper　at　the　table。
A　clean　cloth　was　spread　before　him；　with　knife；　fork；　and　spoon；
salt…cellar；　pepper…box；　glass；　and　pewter　ale…pot。　Such　zests　as　his
particular　little　phial　of　cayenne　pepper　and　his　pennyworth　of　pickles
in　a　saucer；　were　not　wanting。

She　started；　coloured　deeply；　and　turned　white。　The　visitor；　more　with
his　eyes　than　by　the　slight　impulsive　motion　of　his　hand；　entreated　her
to　be　reassured　and　to　trust　him。

'I　found　this　gentleman；'　said　the　uncle……'Mr　Clennam；　William；　son　of
Amy's　friend……at　the　outer　gate；　wishful；　as　he　was　going　by；　of　paying
his　respects；　but　hesitating　whether　to　e　in　or　not。　This　is　my
brother　William；　sir。'

'I　hope；'　said　Arthur；　very　doubtful　what　to　say；　'that　my　respect　for
your　daughter　may　explain　and　justify　my　desire　to　be　presented　to　you；
sir。'

'Mr　Clennam；'　returned　the　other；　rising；　taking　his　cap　off　in　the
flat　of　his　hand；　and　so　holding　it；　ready　to　put　on　again；　'you　do　me
honour。　You　are　wele；　sir；'　with　a　low　bow。　'Frederick；　a　chair。　Pray
sit　down；　Mr　Clennam。'

He　put　his　black　cap　on　again　as　he　had　taken　it　off；　and　resumed　his
own　seat。　There　was　a　wonderful　air　of　benignity　and　patronage　in　his
manner。　These　were　the　ceremonies　with　which　he　received　the　collegians。

'You　are　wele　to　the　Marshalsea；　sir。　I　have　weled　many　gentlemen
to　these　walls。　Perhaps　you　are　aware……my　daughter　Amy　may　have
mentioned　that　I　am　the　Father　of　this　place。'

'I……so　I　have　understood；'　said　Arthur；　dashing　at　the　assertion。

'You　know；　I　dare　say；　that　my　daughter　Amy　was　born　here。　A　good　girl；
sir；　a　dear　girl；　and　long　a　fort　and　support　to　me。　Amy；　my　dear；
put　this　dish　on；　Mr　Clennam　will　excuse　the　primitive　customs　to　which
we　are　reduced　here。　Is　it　a　pliment　to　ask　you　if　you　would　do　me
the　honour；　sir；　to……'

'Thank　you；'　returned　Arthur。　'Not　a　morsel。'

He　felt　himself　quite　lost　in　wonder　at　the　manner　of　the　man；　and　that
the　probability　of　his　daughter's　having　had　a　reserve　as　to　her　family
history；　should　be　so　far　out　of　his　mind。

She　filled　his　glass；　put　all　the　little　matters　on　the　table　ready　to
his　hand；　and　then　sat　beside　him　while　he　ate　his　supper。　Evidently　in
observance　of　their　nightly　custom；　she　put　some　bread　before　herself；
and　touched　his　glass　with　her　lips；　but　Arthur　saw　she　was　troubled
and　took　nothing。　Her　look　at　her　father；　half　admiring　him　and　proud
of　him；　half　ashamed　for　him；　all　devoted　and　loving；　went　to　his　inmost
heart。

The　Father　of　the　Marshalsea　condescended　towards　his　brother　as　an
amiable；　well…meaning　man；　a　private　character；　who　had　not　arrived　at
distinction。　'Frederick；'　said　he；　'you　and　Fanny　sup　at　your　lodgings
to…night；　I　know。　What　have　you　done　with　Fanny；　Frederick？'　'She　is
walking　with　Tip。'

'Tip……as　you　may　know……is　my　son；　Mr　Clennam。　He　has　been　a　little
wild；　and　difficult　to　settle；　but　his　introduction　to　the　world　was
rather'……he　shrugged　his　shoulders　with　a　faint　sigh；　and　looked　round
the　room……'a　little　adverse。　Your　first　visit　here；　sir？'

'My　first。'

'You　could　hardly　have　been　here　since　your　boyhood　without　my
knowledge。　It　very　seldom　happens　that　anybody……of　any　pretensions…any
pretensions……es　here　without　being　presented　to　me。'

'As　many　as　forty　or　fifty　in　a　day　have　been　introduced　to　my　brother；'
said　Frederick；　faintly　lighting　up　with　a　ray　of　pride。

'Yes！'　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea　assented。　'We　have　even　exceeded
that　number。　On　a　fine　Sunday　in　term　time；　it　is　quite　a　Levee……quite
a　Levee。　Amy；　my　dear；　I　have　been　trying　half　the　day　to　remember　the
name　of　the　gentleman　from　Camberwell　who　was　introduced　to　me　last
Christmas　week　by　that　agreeable　coal…merchant　who　was　remanded　for　six
months。'

'I　don't　remember　his　name；　father。'

'Frederick；　do　you　remember　his　name？'　Frederick　doubted　if　he　had　ever
heard　it。　No　one　could　doubt　that　Frederick　was　the　last　person　upon
earth　to　put　such　a　question　to；　with　any　hope　of　information。

'I　mean；'　said　his　brother；　'the　gentleman　who　did　that　handsome　action
with　so　much　delicacy。　Ha！　Tush！　The　name　has　quite　escaped　me。　Mr
Clennam；　as　I　have　happened　to　mention　handsome　and　delicate　action；　you
may　like；　perhaps；　to　know　what　it　was。'

'Very　much；'　said　Arthur；　withdrawing　his　eyes　from　the　delicate　head
beginning　to　droop　and　the　pale　face　with　a　new　solicitude　stealing　over
it。

'It　is　so　generous；　and　shows　so　much　fine　feeling；　that　it　is　almost　a
duty　to　mention　it。　I　said　at　the　time　that　I　always　would　mention　it
on　every　suitable　occasion；　without　regard　to　personal　sensitiveness。
A……well……a……it's　of　no　use　to　disguise　the　fact……you　must　know；　Mr
Clennam；　that　it　does　sometimes　occur　that　people　who　e　here　desire
to　offer　some　little……Testimonial……to　the　Father　of　the　place。'

To　see　her　hand　upon　his　arm　in　mute　entreaty　half…repressed；　and　her
timid　little　shrinking　figure　turning　away；　was　to　see　a　sad；　sad　sight。

'Sometimes；'　he　went　on　in　a　low；　soft　voice；　agitated；　and　clearing
his　throat　every　now　and　then；　'sometimes……hem……it　takes　one　shape　and
sometimes　another；　but　it　is　generally……ha……Money。　And　it　is；　I　cannot
but　confess　it；　it　is　too　often……hem……acceptable。　This　gentleman　that　I
refer　to；　was　presented　to　me；　Mr　Clennam；　in　a　manner　highly　gratifying
to　my　feelings；　and　conversed　not　only　with　great　politeness；　but　with
great……ahem……information。'　All　this　time；　though　he　had　finished　his
supper；　he　was　nervously　going　about　his　plate　with　his　knife　and
fork；　as　if　some　of　it　were　still　before　him。　'It　appeared　from　his
conversation　that　he　had　a　garden；　though　he　was　delicate　of　mentioning
it　at　first；　as　gardens　are……hem……are　not　accessible　to　me。　But　it　came
out；　through　my　admiring　a　very　fine　cluster　of　geranium……beautiful
cluster　of　geranium　to　be　sure……which　he　had　brought　from　his
conservatory。　On　my　taking　notice　of　its　rich　colour；　he　showed　me　a
piece　of　paper　round　it；　on　which　was　written；　〃For　the　Father　of　the
Marshalsea；〃　and　presented　it　to　me。　But　this　was……hem……not　all。　He　made
a　particular　request；　on　taking　leave；　that　I　would　remove　the　paper　in
half　an　hour。　I……ha……I　did　so；　and　I　found　that　it　contained……ahem……two
guineas。　I　assure　you；　Mr　Clennam；　I　have　received……hem……Testimonials
in　many　ways；　and　of　many　degrees　of　value；　and　they　have　always
been……ha……unfortunately　acceptable；　but　I　never　was　more　pleased　than
with　this……ahem……this　particular　Testimonial。'　Arthur　was　in　the　act
of　saying　the　little　he　could　say　on　such　a　theme；　when　a　bell　began　to
ring；　and　footsteps　approached　the　door。　A　pretty　girl　of　a　far　better
figure　and　much　more　developed　than　Little　Dorrit；　though　looking　much
younger　in　the　face　when　the　two　were　observed　together；　stopped　in　the
doorway　on　seeing　a　stranger；　and　a　young　man　who　was　with　her；　stopped
too。

'Mr　Clennam；　Fanny。　My　eldest　daughter　and　my　son；　Mr　Clennam。　The　bell
is　a　signal　for　visitors　to　retire；　and　so　they　have　e　to　say　good
night；　but　there　is　plenty　of　time；　plenty　of　time。　Girls；　Mr　Clennam
will　excuse　any　household　business　you　may　have　together。　He　knows；　I
dare　say；　that　I　have　but　one　room　here。'

'I　only　want　my　clean　dress　from　Amy；　father；'　said　the　second　girl。

'And　I　my　clothes；'　said　Tip。

Amy　opened　a　drawer　in　an　old　piece　of　furniture　that　was　a　chest　of
drawers　above　and　a　bedstead　below；　and　produced　two　little　bundles；
which　she　handed　to　her　brother　and　sister。　'Mended　and　made　up？'
Clennam　heard　the　sister　ask　in　a　whisper。　To　which　Amy　answered　'Yes。'
He　had　risen　now；　and　took　the　opportunity　of　glancing　round　the　room。
The　bare　walls　had　been　coloured　green；　evidently　by　an　unskilled　hand；
and　were　poorly　decorated　with　a　few　prints。　The　window　was　curtained；
and　the　floor　carpeted；　and　there　were　shelves　and　pegs；　and　other　such
conveniences；　that　had　accumulated　in　the　course　of　years。　It　was　a
close；　confined　room；　poorly　furnished；　and　the　chimney　smoked　to　boot；
or　the　tin　screen　at　the　top　of　the　fireplace　was　superfluous；　but
constant　pains　and　care　had　made　it　neat；　and　even；　after　its　kind；
fortable。　All　the　while　the　bell　was　ringing；　and　the　uncle　was
anxious　to　go。　'e；　Fanny；　e；　Fanny；'　he　said；　with　his　ragged
clario　case　under　his　arm；　'the　lock；　child；　the　lock！'

Fanny　bade　her　father　good　night；　and　whisked　off　airily。　Tip　had
already　clattered　down…stairs。　'Now；　Mr　Clennam；'　said　the　uncle；
looking　back　as　he　shuffled　out　after　them；　'the　lock；　sir；　the　lock。'

Mr　Clennam　had　two　things　to　do　before　he　followed；　one；　to　offer　his
testimonial　to　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea；　without　giving　pain　to　his
child；　the　other　to　say　something　to　that　child；　though　it　were　but　a
word；　in　explanation　of　his　having　e　there。

'Allow　me；'　said　the　Father；　'to　see　you　down…stairs。'

She　had　slipped　out　after　the　rest；　and　they　were　alone。　'Not　on　any
account；'　said　the　visitor；　hurriedly。　'Pray　allow　me　to……'　chink；
chink；　chink。

'Mr　Clennam；'　said　the　Father；　'I　am　deeply；　deeply……'　But　his　visitor
had　shut　up　his　hand　to　stop　the　clinking；　and　had　gone　down…stairs　with
great　speed。

He　saw　no　Little　Dorrit　on　his　way　down；　or　in　the　yard。　The　last　two　or
three　stragglers　were　hurrying　to　the　lodge；　and　he　was　following；
when　he　caught　sight　of　her　in　the　doorway　of　the　first　house　from　the
entrance。　He　turned　back　hastily。

'Pray　forgive　me；'　he　said；　'for　speaking　to　you　here；　pray　forgive　me
for　ing　here　at　all！　I　followed　you　to…night。　I　did　so；　that　I　might
endeavour　to　render　you　and　your　family　some　service。　You　know　the
terms　on　which　I　and　my　mother　are；　and　may　not　be　surprised　that　I
have　preserved　our　distant　relations　at　her　house；　lest　I　should
unintentionally　make　her　jealous；　or　resentful；　or　do　you　any　injury　in
her　estimation。　What　I　have　seen　here；　in　this　short　time；　has　greatly
increased　my　heartfelt　wish　to　be　a　friend　to　you。　It　would　repense
me　for　much　disappointment　if　I　could　hope　to　gain　your　confidence。'

She　was　scared　at　first；　but　seemed　to　take　courage　while　he　spoke　to
her。

'You　are　very　good；　sir。　You　speak　very　earnestly　to　me。　But　I……but　I
wish　you　had　not　watched　me。'

He　understood　the　emotion　with　which　she　said　it；　to　arise　in　her
father's　behalf；　and　he　respected　it；　and　was　silent。

'Mrs　Clennam　has　been　of　great　service　to　me；　I　don't　know　what　we
should　have　done　without　the　employment　she　has　given　me；　I　am　afraid
it　may　not　be　a　good　return　to　bee　secret　with　her；　I　can　say　no　more
to…night；　sir。　I　am　sure　you　mean　to　be　kind　to　us。　Thank　you；　thank
you。'　'Let　me　ask　you　one　question　before　I　leave。　Have　you　known　my
mother　long？'

'I　think　two　years；　sir；……The　bell　has　stopped。'

'How　did　you　know　her　first？　Did　she　send　here　for　you？'

'No。　She　does　not　even　know　that　I　live　here。　We　have　a　friend；　father
and　I……a　poor　labouring　man；　but　the　best　of　friends……and　I　wrote　out
that　I　wished　to　do　needlework；　and　gave　his　address。　And　he　got　what
I　wrote　out　displayed　at　a　few　places　where　it　cost　nothing；　and　Mrs
Clennam　found　me　that　way；　and　sent　for　me。　The　gate　will　be　locked；
sir！'

She　was　so　tremulous　and　agitated；　and　he　was　so　moved　by　passion　for
her；　and　by　deep　interest　in　her　story　as　it　dawned　upon　him；　that　he
could　scarcely　tear　himself　away。　But　the　stoppage　of　the　bell；　and　the
quiet　in　the　prison；　were　a　warning　to　depart；　a