little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第48章

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'But　I　do　deny　it；　Flora。　I　should　soon　have　made　you　a　friendly　visit。'

'Ah！'　said　Flora；　tossing　her　head。　'I　dare　say！'　and　she　gave　him
another　of　the　old　looks。　'However　when　Pancks　told　us　I　made　up　my　mind
that　Mr　F。's　Aunt　and　I　would　e　and　call　because　when　papa……which　was
before　that……happened　to　mention　her　name　to　me　and　to　say　that　you　were
interested　in　her　I　said　at　the　moment　Good　gracious　why　not　have　her
here　then　when　there's　anything　to　do　instead　of　putting　it　out。'

'When　you　say　Her；'　observed　Clennam；　by　this　time　pretty　well
bewildered；　'do　you　mean　Mr　F。's……'

'My　goodness；　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam　really　easier　to　me　with　old
remembrances……who　ever　heard　of　Mr　F。's　Aunt　doing　needlework　and　going
out　by　the　day？'

'Going　out　by　the　day！　Do　you　speak　of　Little　Dorrit？'　'Why　yes　of
course；'　returned　Flora；　'and　of　all　the　strangest　names　I　ever　heard
the　strangest；　like　a　place　down　in　the　country　with　a　turnpike；　or　a
favourite　pony　or　a　puppy　or　a　bird　or　something　from　a　seed…shop　to　be
put　in　a　garden　or　a　flower…pot　and　e　up　speckled。'

'Then；　Flora；'　said　Arthur；　with　a　sudden　interest　in　the　conversation；
'Mr　Casby　was　so　kind　as　to　mention　Little　Dorrit　to　you；　was　he？　What
did　he　say？'

'Oh　you　know　what　papa　is；'　rejoined　Flora；　'and　how　aggravatingly　he
sits　looking　beautiful　and　turning　his　thumbs　over　and　over　one　another
till　he　makes　one　giddy　if　one　keeps　one's　eyes　upon　him；　he　said　when
we　were　talking　of　you……I　don't　know　who　began　the　subject　Arthur　（Doyce
and　Clennam）　but　I　am　sure　it　wasn't　me；　at　least　I　hope　not　but　you
really　must　excuse　my　confessing　more　on　that　point。'

'Certainly；'　said　Arthur。　'By　all　means。'

'You　are　very　ready；'　pouted　Flora；　ing　to　a　sudden　stop　in　a
captivating　bashfulness；　'that　I　must　admit；　Papa　said　you　had　spoken　of
her　in　an　earnest　way　and　I　said　what　I　have　told　you　and　that's　all。'

'That's　all？'　said　Arthur；　a　little　disappointed。

'Except　that　when　Pancks　told　us　of　your　having　embarked　in　this
business　and　with　difficulty　persuaded　us　that　it　was　really　you　I　said
to　Mr　F。's　Aunt　then　we　would　e　and　ask　you　if　it　would　be　agreeable
to　all　parties　that　she　should　be　engaged　at　our　house　when　required
for　I　know　she　often　goes　to　your　mama's　and　I　know　that　your　mama　has
a　very　touchy　temper　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam……or　I　never　might　have
married　Mr　F。　and　might　have　been　at　this　hour　but　I　am　running　into
nonsense。'

'It　was　very　kind　of　you；　Flora；　to　think　of　this。'

Poor　Flora　rejoined　with　a　plain　sincerity　which　became　her　better　than
her　youngest　glances；　that　she　was　glad　he　thought　so。　She　said　it　with
so　much　heart　that　Clennam　would　have　given　a　great　deal　to　buy　his
old　character　of　her　on　the　spot；　and　throw　it　and　the　mermaid　away　for
ever。

'I　think；　Flora；'　he　said；　'that　the　employment　you　can　give　Little
Dorrit；　and　the　kindness　you　can　show　her……'

'Yes　and　I　will；'　said　Flora；　quickly。

'I　am　sure　of　it……will　be　a　great　assistance　and　support　to　her。　I　do
not　feel　that　I　have　the　right　to　tell　you　what　I　know　of　her；　for　I
acquired　the　knowledge　confidentially；　and　under　circumstances　that
bind　me　to　silence。　But　I　have　an　interest　in　the　little　creature；　and
a　respect　for　her　that　I　cannot　express　to　you。　Her　life　has　been　one
of　such　trial　and　devotion；　and　such　quiet　goodness；　as　you　can　scarcely
imagine。　I　can　hardly　think　of　her；　far　less　speak　of　her；　without
feeling　moved。　Let　that　feeling　represent　what　I　could　tell　you；　and
mit　her　to　your　friendliness　with　my　thanks。'

Once　more　he　put　out　his　hand　frankly　to　poor　Flora；　once　more　poor
Flora　couldn't　accept　it　frankly；　found　it　worth　nothing　openly；　must
make　the　old　intrigue　and　mystery　of　it。　As　much　to　her　own　enjoyment　as
to　his　dismay；　she　covered　it　with　a　corner　of　her　shawl　as　she　took　it。
Then；　looking　towards　the　glass　front　of　the　counting…house；　and　seeing
two　figures　approaching；　she　cried　with　infinite　relish；　'Papa！　Hush；
Arthur；　for　Mercy's　sake！'　and　tottered　back　to　her　chair　with　an
amazing　imitation　of　being　in　danger　of　swooning；　in　the　dread　surprise
and　maidenly　flutter　of　her　spirits。

The　Patriarch；　meanwhile；　came　inanely　beaming　towards　the
counting…house　in　the　wake　of　Pancks。　Pancks　opened　the　door　for　him；
towed　him　in；　and　retired　to　his　own　moorings　in　a　corner。

'I　heard　from　Flora；'　said　the　Patriarch　with　his　benevolent　smile；
'that　she　was　ing　to　call；　ing　to　call。　And　being　out；　I　thought
I'd　e　also；　thought　I'd　e　also。'

The　benign　wisdom　he　infused　into　this　declaration　（not　of　itself
profound）；　by　means　of　his　blue　eyes；　his　shining　head；　and　his　long
white　hair；　was　most　impressive。　It　seemed　worth　putting　down　among　the
noblest　sentiments　enunciated　by　the　best　of　men。　Also；　when　he　said　to
Clennam；　seating　himself　in　the　proffered　chair；　'And　you　are　in　a　new
business；　Mr　Clennam？　I　wish　you　well；　sir；　I　wish　you　well！'　he　seemed
to　have　done　benevolent　wonders。

'Mrs　Finching　has　been　telling　me；　sir；'　said　Arthur；　after　making　his
acknowledgments；　the　relict　of　the　late　Mr　F。　meanwhile　protesting；　with
a　gesture；　against　his　use　of　that　respectable　name；　'that　she　hopes
occasionally　to　employ　the　young　needlewoman　you　remended　to　my
mother。　For　which　I　have　been　thanking　her。'

The　Patriarch　turning　his　head　in　a　lumbering　way　towards　Pancks；　that
assistant　put　up　the　note…book　in　which　he　had　been　absorbed；　and　took
him　in　tow。

'You　didn't　remend　her；　you　know；'　said　Pancks；　'how　could　you？　You
knew　nothing　about　her；　you　didn't。　The　name　was　mentioned　to　you；　and
you　passed　it　on。　That's　what　YOU　did。'

'Well！'　said　Clennam。　'As　she　justifies　any　remendation；　it　is　much
the　same　thing。'

'You　are　glad　she　turns　out　well；'　said　Pancks；　'but　it　wouldn't　have
been　your　fault　if　she　had　turned　out　ill。　The　credit's　not　yours　as　it
is；　and　the　blame　wouldn't　have　been　yours　as　it　might　have　been。　You
gave　no　guarantee。　You　knew　nothing　about　her。'　'You　are　not　acquainted；
then；'　said　Arthur；　hazarding　a　random　question；　'with　any　of　her
family？'

'Acquainted　with　any　of　her　family？'　returned　Pancks。　'How　should　you　be
acquainted　with　any　of　her　family？　You　never　heard　of　'em。　You　can't
be　acquainted　with　people　you　never　heard　of；　can　you？　You　should　think
not！'

All　this　time　the　Patriarch　sat　serenely　smiling；　nodding　or　shaking　his
head　benevolently；　as　the　case　required。

'As　to　being　a　reference；'　said　Pancks；　'you　know；　in　a　general　way；
what　being　a　reference　means。　It's　all　your　eye；　that　is！　Look　at　your
tenants　down　the　Yard　here。　They'd　all　be　references　for　one　another；
if　you'd　let　'em。　What　would　be　the　good　of　letting　'em？　It's　no
satisfaction　to　be　done　by　two　men　instead　of　one。　One's　enough。　A
person　who　can't　pay；　gets　another　person　who　can't　pay；　to　guarantee
that　he　can　pay。　Like　a　person　with　two　wooden　legs　getting　another
person　with　two　wooden　legs；　to　guarantee　that　he　has　got　two　natural
legs。　It　don't　make　either　of　them　able　to　do　a　walking　match。　And　four
wooden　legs　are　more　troublesome　to　you　than　two；　when　you　don't　want
any。'　Mr　Pancks　concluded　by　blowing　off　that　steam　of　his。

A　momentary　silence　that　ensued　was　broken　by　Mr　F。's　Aunt；　who　had　been
sitting　upright　in　a　cataleptic　state　since　her　last　public　remark。　She
now　underwent　a　violent　twitch；　calculated　to　produce　a　startling　effect
on　the　nerves　of　the　uninitiated；　and　with　the　deadliest　animosity
observed：

'You　can't　make　a　head　and　brains　out　of　a　brass　knob　with　nothing　in
it。　You　couldn't　do　it　when　your　Uncle　George　was　living；　much　less　when
he's　dead。'

Mr　Pancks　was　not　slow　to　reply；　with　his　usual　calmness；　'Indeed；
ma'am！　Bless　my　soul！　I'm　surprised　to　hear　it。'　Despite　his　presence　of
mind；　however；　the　speech　of　Mr　F。's　Aunt　produced　a　depressing　effect
on　the　little　assembly；　firstly；　because　it　was　impossible　to　disguise
that　Clennam's　unoffending　head　was　the　particular　temple　of　reason
depreciated；　and　secondly；　because　nobody　ever　knew　on　these　occasions
whose　Uncle　George　was　referred　to；　or　what　spectral　presence　might　be
invoked　under　that　appellation。

Therefore　Flora　said；　though　still　not　without　a　certain　boastfulness
and　triumph　in　her　legacy；　that　Mr　F。's　Aunt　was　'very　lively　to…day；
and　she　thought　they　had　better　go。'　But　Mr　F。's　Aunt　proved　so　lively
as　to　take　the　suggestion　in　unexpected　dudgeon　and　declare　that　she
would　not　go；　adding；　with　several　injurious　expressions；　that　if
'He'……too　evidently　meaning　Clennam……wanted　to　get　rid　of　her；　'let
him　chuck　her　out　of　winder；'　and　urgently　expressing　her　desire　to　see
'Him'　perform　that　ceremony。

In　this　dilemma；　Mr　Pancks；　whose　resources　appeared　equal　to　any
emergency　in　the　Patriarchal　waters；　slipped　on　his　hat；　slipped　out　at
the　counting…house　door；　and　slipped　in　again　a　moment　afterwards　with
an　artificial　freshness　upon　him；　as　if　he　had　been　in　the　country　for
some　weeks。　'Why；　bless　my　heart；　ma'am！'　said　Mr　Pancks；　rubbing　up　his
hair　in　great　astonishment；　'is　that　you？

How　do　you　do；　ma'am？　You　are　looking　charming　to…day！　I　am　delighted
to　see　you。　Favour　me　with　your　arm；　ma'am；　we'll　have　a　little　walk
together；　you　and　me；　if　you'll　honour　me　with　your　pany。'　And　so
escorted　Mr　F。's　Aunt　down　the　private　staircase　of　the　counting…house
with　great　gallantry　and　success。　The　patriarchal　Mr　Casby　then　rose
with　the　air　of　having　done　it　himself；　and　blandly　followed：　leaving
his　daughter；　as　she　followed　in　her　turn；　to　remark　to　her　former　lover
in　a　distracted　whisper　（which　she　very　much　enjoyed）；　that　they　had
drained　the　cup　of　life　to　the　dregs；　and　further　to　hint　mysteriously
that　the　late　Mr　F。　was　at　the　bottom　of　it。

Alone　again；　Clennam　became　a　prey　to　his　old　doubts　in　reference　to　his
mother　and　Little　Dorrit；　and　revolved　the　old　thoughts　and　suspicions。
They　were　all　in　his　mind；　blending　themselves　with　the　duties　he　was
mechanically　discharging；　when　a　shadow　on　his　papers　caused　him　to　look
up　for　the　cause。　The　cause　was　Mr　Pancks。　With　his　hat　thrown　back　upon
his　ears　as　if　his　wiry　prongs　of　hair　had　darted　up　like　springs　and
cast　it　off；　with　his　jet…black　beads　of　eyes　inquisitively　sharp；　with
the　fingers　of　his　right　hand　in　his　mouth　that　he　might　bite　the　nails；
and　with　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand　in　reserve　in　his　pocket　for
another　course；　Mr　Pancks　cast　his　shadow　through　the　glass　upon　the
books　and　papers。

Mr　Pancks　asked；　with　a　little　inquiring　twist　of　his　head；　if　he
might　e　in　again？　Clennam　replied　with　a　nod　of　his　head　in　the
affirmative。　Mr　Pancks　worked　his　way　in；　came　alongside　the　desk；　made
himself　fast　by　leaning　his　arms　upon　it；　and　started　conversation　with
a　puff　and　a　snort。

'Mr　F。's　Aunt　is　appeased；　I　hope？'　said　Clennam。

'All　right；　sir；'　said　Pancks。

'I　am　so　unfortunate　as　to　have　awakened　a　strong　animosity　in　the
breast　of　that　lady；'　said　Clennam。　'Do　you　know　why？'

'Does　SHE　know　why？'　said　Pancks。

'I　suppose　not。'

'_I_　suppose　not；'　said　Pancks。

He　took　out　his　note…book；　opened　it；　shut　it；　dropped　it　into　his　hat；
which　was　beside　him　on　the　desk；　and　looked　in　at　it　as　it　lay　at　the
bottom　of　the　hat：　all　with　a　great　appearance　of　consideration。

'Mr　Clennam；'　he　then　began；　'I　am　in　want　of　information；　sir。'

'Connected　with　this　firm？'　asked　Clennam。

'No；'　said　Pancks。

'With　what　then；　Mr　Pancks？　That　is　to　say；　assuming　that　you　want　it　of
me。'

'Yes；　sir；　yes；　I　want　it　of　you；'　said　Pancks；　'if　I　can　persuade　you
to　furnish　it。　A；　B；　C；　D。　DA；　DE；　DI；　DO。　Dictionary　order。

Dorrit。　That's　the　name；　sir？'

Mr　Pancks　blew　off　his　peculiar　noise　again；　and　fell　to　at　his
right…hand　nails。　Arthur　looked　searchingly　at　him；　he　returned　the
look。

'I　don't　understand　you；　Mr　Pancks。'

'That's　the　name　that　I　want　to　know　about。'

'And　what　do　you　want　to　know？'

'Whatever　you　can　and　will　tell　me。'　This　prehensive　summary　of　his
desires　was　not　discharged　without　some　heavy　labouring　on　the　part　of
Mr　Pancks's　machinery。

'This　is　a　singular　visit；　Mr　Pancks。　It　strikes　me　as　rather
extraordinary　that　you　should　e；　with　such　an　object；　to　me。'

'It　may　be　all　extraordinary　together；'　returned　Pancks。　'It　may　be　out
of　the　ordinary　course；　and　yet　be　business。　In　short；　it　is　business。　I
am　a　man　of　business。　What　business　have　I　in　this　present　world；　except
to　stick　to　business？　No　business。'

With　his　former　doubt　whether　this　dry　hard　personage　were　quite　in
earnest；　Clennam　again　turned　his　eyes　attentively　upon　his　face。　It
was　as　scrubby　and　dingy　as　ever；　and　as　eager　and　quick　as　ever；　and　he
could　see　nothing　lurking　in　it　that　was　at　all　expressive　of　a　latent
mockery　that　had　seemed　to　strike　upon　his　ear　in　the　voice。

'Now；'　said　Pancks；　'to　put　this　business　on　its　own　footing；　it's　not
my　proprietor's。'

'Do　you　refer　to　Mr　Casby　as　your　proprietor？'

Pancks　nodded。　'My　proprietor。　Put　a　case。　Say；　at　my　proprietor's　I
hear　name……name　of　young　person　Mr　Clennam　wants　to　serve。　Say；　name
first　mentioned　to　my　proprietor　by　Plornish　in　the　Yard。　Say；　I　go　to
Plornish。　Say；　I　ask　Pl