little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第51章

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constraint　was　greatly　increased　by　Mr　Pancks。　The　demeanour　of　that
gentleman　at　first　suggested　to　her　mind　that　he　might　be　a　taker　of
likenesses；　so　intently　did　he　look　at　her；　and　so　frequently　did　he
glance　at　the　little　note…book　by　his　side。　Observing　that　he　made　no
sketch；　however；　and　that　he　talked　about　business　only；　she　began　to
have　suspicions　that　he　represented　some　creditor　of　her　father's；　the
balance　due　to　whom　was　noted　in　that　pocket　volume。　Regarded　from　this
point　of　view　Mr　Pancks's　puffings　expressed　injury　and　impatience；　and
each　of　his　louder　snorts　became　a　demand　for　payment。

But　here　again　she　was　undeceived　by　anomalous　and　incongruous　conduct
on　the　part　of　Mr　Pancks　himself。　She　had　left　the　table　half　an　hour；
and　was　at　work　alone。　Flora　had　'gone　to　lie　down'　in　the　next　room；
concurrently　with　which　retirement　a　smell　of　something　to　drink
had　broken　out　in　the　house。　The　Patriarch　was　fast　asleep；　with　his
philanthropic　mouth　open　under　a　yellow　pocket…handkerchief　in　the
dining…room。　At　this　quiet　time；　Mr　Pancks　softly　appeared　before　her；
urbanely　nodding。

'Find　it　a　little　dull；　Miss　Dorrit？'　inquired　Pancks　in　a　low　voice。

'No；　thank　you；　sir；'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'Busy；　I　see；'　observed　Mr　Pancks；　stealing　into　the　room　by　inches。
'What　are　those　now；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'Handkerchiefs。'

'Are　they；　though！'　said　Pancks。　'I　shouldn't　have　thought　it。'　Not　in
the　least　looking　at　them；　but　looking　at　Little　Dorrit。　'Perhaps　you
wonder　who　I　am。　Shall　I　tell　you？　I　am　a　fortune…teller。'

Little　Dorrit　now　began　to　think　he　was　mad。

'I　belong　body　and　soul　to　my　proprietor；'　said　Pancks；　'you　saw　my
proprietor　having　his　dinner　below。　But　I　do　a　little　in　the　other　way；
sometimes；　privately；　very　privately；　Miss　Dorrit。'

Little　Dorrit　looked　at　him　doubtfully；　and　not　without　alarm。

'I　wish　you'd　show　me　the　palm　of　your　hand；'　said　Pancks。　'I　should
like　to　have　a　look　at　it。　Don't　let　me　be　troublesome。'　He　was　so　far
troublesome　that　he　was　not　at　all　wanted　there；　but　she　laid　her　work
in　her　lap　for　a　moment；　and　held　out　her　left　hand　with　her　thimble　on
it。

'Years　of　toil；　eh？'　said　Pancks；　softly；　touching　it　with　his　blunt
forefinger。　'But　what　else　are　we　made　for？　Nothing。　Hallo！'　looking
into　the　lines。　'What's　this　with　bars？　It's　a　College！　And　what's　this
with　a　grey　gown　and　a　black　velvet　cap？　it's　a　father！　And　what's　this
with　a　clario？　It's　an　uncle！　And　what's　this　in　dancing…shoes？　It's
a　sister！　And　what's　this　straggling　about　in　an　idle　sort　of　a　way？
It's　a　brother！　And　what's　this　thinking　for　'em　all？　Why；　this　is　you；
Miss　Dorrit！'　Her　eyes　met　his　as　she　looked　up　wonderingly　into　his
face；　and　she　thought　that　although　his　were　sharp　eyes；　he　was　a
brighter　and　gentler…looking　man　than　she　had　supposed　at　dinner。　His
eyes　were　on　her　hand　again　directly；　and　her　opportunity　of　confirming
or　correcting　the　impression　was　gone。

'Now；　the　deuce　is　in　it；'　muttered　Pancks；　tracing　out　a　line　in　her
hand　with　his　clumsy　finger；　'if　this　isn't　me　in　the　corner　here！　What
do　I　want　here？　What's　behind　me？'

He　carried　his　finger　slowly　down　to　the　wrist；　and　round　the　wrist；　and
affected　to　look　at　the　back　of　the　hand　for　what　was　behind　him。

'Is　it　any　harm？'　asked　Little　Dorrit；　smiling。

'Deuce　a　bit！'　said　Pancks。　'What　do　you　think　it's　worth？'

'I　ought　to　ask　you　that。　I　am　not　the　fortune…teller。'

'True；'　said　Pancks。　'What's　it　worth？　You　shall　live　to　see；　Miss
Dorrit。'

Releasing　the　hand　by　slow　degrees；　he　drew　all　his　fingers　through　his
prongs　of　hair；　so　that　they　stood　up　in　their　most　portentous　manner；
and　repeated　slowly；　'Remember　what　I　say；　Miss　Dorrit。　You　shall　live
to　see。'

She　could　not　help　showing　that　she　was　much　surprised；　if　it　were　only
by　his　knowing　so　much　about　her。

'Ah！　That's　it！'　said　Pancks；　pointing　at　her。　'Miss　Dorrit；　not　that；
ever！'

More　surprised　than　before；　and　a　little　more　frightened；　she　looked　to
him　for　an　explanation　of　his　last　words。

'Not　that；'　said　Pancks；　making；　with　great　seriousness；　an　imitation
of　a　surprised　look　and　manner　that　appeared　to　be　unintentionally
grotesque。　'Don't　do　that。　Never　on　seeing　me；　no　matter　when；　no　matter
where。　I　am　nobody。　Don't　take　on　to　mind　me。　Don't　mention　me。　Take　no
notice。　Will　you　agree；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'I　hardly　know　what　to　say；'　returned　Little　Dorrit；　quite　astounded。
'Why？'

'Because　I　am　a　fortune…teller。　Pancks　the　gipsy。　I　haven't　told　you　so
much　of　your　fortune　yet；　Miss　Dorrit；　as　to　tell　you　what's　behind
me　on　that　little　hand。　I　have　told　you　you　shall　live　to　see。　Is　it
agreed；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'Agreed　that　I……am……to……'

'To　take　no　notice　of　me　away　from　here；　unless　I　take　on　first。　Not
to　mind　me　when　I　e　and　go。　It's　very　easy。　I　am　no　loss；　I　am　not
handsome；　I　am　not　good　pany；　I　am　only　my　proprietors　grubber。
You　need　do　no　more　than　think；　〃Ah！　Pancks　the　gipsy　at　his
fortune…telling……he'll　tell　the　rest　of　my　fortune　one　day……I　shall　live
to　know　it。〃　Is　it　agreed；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'Ye…es；'　faltered　Little　Dorrit；　whom　he　greatly　confused；　'I　suppose
so；　while　you　do　no　harm。'

'Good！'　Mr　Pancks　glanced　at　the　wall　of　the　adjoining　room；　and　stooped
forward。　'Honest　creature；　woman　of　capital　points；　but　heedless　and
a　loose　talker；　Miss　Dorrit。'　With　that　he　rubbed　his　hands　as　if　the
interview　had　been　very　satisfactory　to　him；　panted　away　to　the　door；
and　urbanely　nodded　himself　out　again。

If　Little　Dorrit　were　beyond　measure　perplexed　by　this　curious　conduct
on　the　part　of　her　new　acquaintance；　and　by　finding　herself　involved
in　this　singular　treaty；　her　perplexity　was　not　diminished　by　ensuing
circumstances。　Besides　that　Mr　Pancks　took　every　opportunity　afforded
him　in　Mr　Casby's　house　of　significantly　glancing　at　her　and　snorting
at　her……which　was　not　much；　after　what　he　had　done　already……he　began　to
pervade　her　daily　life。　She　saw　him　in　the　street；　constantly。　When　she
went　to　Mr　Casby's；　he　was　always　there。　When　she　went　to　Mrs　Clennam's；
he　came　there　on　any　pretence；　as　if　to　keep　her　in　his　sight。　A　week
had　not　gone　by；　when　she　found　him　to　her　astonishment　in　the　Lodge　one
night；　conversing　with　the　turnkey　on　duty；　and　to　all　appearance　one
of　his　familiar　panions。　Her　next　surprise　was　to　find　him　equally　at
his　ease　within　the　prison；　to　hear　of　his　presenting　himself　among
the　visitors　at　her　father's　Sunday　levee；　to　see　him　arm　in　arm　with
a　Collegiate　friend　about　the　yard；　to　learn；　from　Fame；　that　he　had
greatly　distinguished　himself　one　evening　at　the　social　club　that　held
its　meetings　in　the　Snuggery；　by　addressing　a　speech　to　the　members
of　the　institution；　singing　a　song；　and　treating　the　pany　to　five
gallons　of　ale……report　madly　added　a　bushel　of　shrimps。　The　effect　on
Mr　Plornish　of　such　of　these　phenomena　as　he　became　an　eye…witness　of　in
his　faithful　visits；　made　an　impression　on　Little　Dorrit　only　second　to
that　produced　by　the　phenomena　themselves。　They　seemed　to　gag　and　bind
him。　He　could　only　stare；　and　sometimes　weakly　mutter　that　it　wouldn't
be　believed　down　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　that　this　was　Pancks；　but　he　never
said　a　word　more；　or　made　a　sign　more；　even　to　Little　Dorrit。

Mr　Pancks　crowned　his　mysteries　by　making　himself　acquainted　with　Tip
in　some　unknown　manner；　and　taking　a　Sunday　saunter　into　the　College
on　that　gentleman's　arm。　Throughout　he　never　took　any　notice　of　Little
Dorrit；　save　once　or　twice　when　he　happened　to　e　close　to　her　and
there　was　no　one　very　near；　on　which　occasions；　he　said　in　passing；
with　a　friendly　look　and　a　puff　of　encouragement；　'Pancks　the
gipsy……fortune…telling。'

Little　Dorrit　worked　and　strove　as　usual；　wondering　at　all　this；　but
keeping　her　wonder；　as　she　had　from　her　earliest　years　kept　many　heavier
loads；　in　her　own　breast。　A　change　had　stolen；　and　was　stealing　yet；
over　the　patient　heart。　Every　day　found　her　something　more　retiring
than　the　day　before。　To　pass　in　and　out　of　the　prison　unnoticed；　and
elsewhere　to　be　overlooked　and　forgotten；　were；　for　herself；　her　chief
desires。

To　her　own　room　too；　strangely　assorted　room　for　her　delicate　youth
and　character；　she　was　glad　to　retreat　as　often　as　she　could　without
desertion　of　any　duty。　There　were　afternoon　times　when　she　was
unemployed；　when　visitors　dropped　in　to　play　a　hand　at　cards　with　her
father；　when　she　could　be　spared　and　was　better　away。　Then　she　would
flit　along　the　yard；　climb　the　scores　of　stairs　that　led　to　her　room；
and　take　her　seat　at　the　window。　Many　binations　did　those　spikes
upon　the　wall　assume；　many　light　shapes　did　the　strong　iron　weave　itself
into；　many　golden　touches　fell　upon　the　rust；　while　Little　Dorrit　sat
there　musing。　New　zig…zags　sprung　into　the　cruel　pattern　sometimes；　when
she　saw　it　through　a　burst　of　tears；　but　beautified　or　hardened　still；
always　over　it　and　under　it　and　through　it；　she　was　fain　to　look　in　her
solitude；　seeing　everything　with　that　ineffaceable　brand。

A　garret；　and　a　Marshalsea　garret　without　promise；　was　Little
Dorrit's　room。　Beautifully　kept；　it　was　ugly　in　itself；　and　had　little
but　cleanliness　and　air　to　set　it　off；　for　what　embellishment　she　had
ever　been　able　to　buy；　had　gone　to　her　father's　room。　Howbeit；　for　this
poor　place　she　showed　an　increasing　love；　and　to　sit　in　it　alone　became
her　favourite　rest。

Insomuch；　that　on　a　certain　afternoon　during　the　Pancks　mysteries；　when
she　was　seated　at　her　window；　and　heard　Maggy's　well…known　step　ing
up　the　stairs；　she　was　very　much　disturbed　by　the　apprehension　of　being
summoned　away。　As　Maggy's　step　came　higher　up　and　nearer；　she　trembled
and　faltered；　and　it　was　as　much　as　she　could　do　to　speak；　when　Maggy　at
length　appeared。

'Please；　Little　Mother；'　said　Maggy；　panting　for　breath；　'you　must　e
down　and　see　him。　He's　here。'

'Who；　Maggy？'

'Who；　o'　course　Mr　Clennam。　He's　in　your　father's　room；　and　he　says　to
me；　Maggy；　will　you　be　so　kind　and　go　and　say　it's　only　me。'

'I　am　not　very　well；　Maggy。　I　had　better　not　go。　I　am　going　to　lie　down。
See！　I　lie　down　now；　to　ease　my　head。　Say；　with　my　grateful　regard；　that
you　left　me　so；　or　I　would　have　e。'

'Well；　it　an't　very　polite　though；　Little　Mother；'　said　the　staring
Maggy；　'to　turn　your　face　away；　neither！'

Maggy　was　very　susceptible　to　personal　slights；　and　very　ingenious　in
inventing　them。　'Putting　both　your　hands　afore　your　face　too！'　she　went
on。　'If　you　can't　bear　the　looks　of　a　poor　thing；　it　would　be　better　to
tell　her　so　at　once；　and　not　go　and　shut　her　out　like　that；　hurting　her
feelings　and　breaking　her　heart　at　ten　year　old；　poor　thing！'

'It's　to　ease　my　head；　Maggy。'

'Well；　and　if　you　cry　to　ease　your　head；　Little　Mother；　let　me　cry　too。
Don't　go　and　have　all　the　crying　to　yourself；'　expostulated　Maggy；　'that
an't　not　being　greedy。'　And　immediately　began　to　blubber。

It　was　with　some　difficulty　that　she　could　be　induced　to　go　back　with
the　excuse；　but　the　promise　of　being　told　a　story……of　old　her　great
delight……on　condition　that　she　concentrated　her　faculties　upon　the
errand　and　left　her　little　mistress　to　herself　for　an　hour　longer；
bined　with　a　misgiving　on　Maggy's　part　that　she　had　left　her　good
temper　at　the　bottom　of　the　staircase；　prevailed。　So　away　she　went；
muttering　her　message　all　the　way　to　keep　it　in　her　mind；　and；　at　the
appointed　time；　came　back。

'He　was　very　sorry；　I　can　tell　you；'　she　announced；　'and　wanted　to　send
a　doctor。　And　he's　ing　again　to…morrow　he　is　and　I　don't　think　he'll
have　a　good　sleep　to…night　along　o'　hearing　about　your　head；　Little
Mother。　Oh　my！　Ain't　you　been　a…crying！'

'I　think　I　have；　a　little；　Maggy。'

'A　little！　Oh！'

'But　it's　all　over　now……all　over　for　good；　Maggy。　And　my　head　is　much
better　and　cooler；　and　I　am　quite　fortable。　I　am　very　glad　I　did　not
go　down。'

Her　great　staring　child　tenderly　embraced　her；　and　having　smoothed　her
hair；　and　bathed　her　forehead　and　eyes　with　cold　water　（offices　in　which
her　awkward　hands　became　skilful）；　hugged　her　again；　exulted　in　her
brighter　looks；　and　stationed　her　in　her　chair　by　the　window。　Over
against　this　chair；　Maggy；　with　apoplectic　exertions　that　were　not
at　all　required；　dragged　the　box　which　was　her　seat　on　story…telling
occasions；　sat　down　upon　it；　hugged　her　own　knees；　and　said；　with　a
voracious　appetite　for　stories；　and　with　widely…opened　eyes：

'Now；　Little　Mother；　let's　have　a　good　'un！'

'What　shall　it　be　about；　Maggy？'

'Oh；　let's　have　a　princess；'　said　Maggy；　'and　let　her　be　a　reg'lar　one。
Beyond　all　belief；　you　know！'

Little　Dorrit　considered　for　a　moment；　and　with　a　rather　sad　smile　upon
her　face；　which　was　flushed　by　the　sunset；　began：

'Maggy；　there　was　once　upon　a　time　a　fine　King；　and　he　had　everything　he
could　wish　for；　and　a　great　deal　more。　He　had　gold　and　silver；　diamonds
and　rubies；　riches　of　every　kind。　He　had　palaces；　and　he　had……'

'Hospitals；'　interposed　Maggy；　still　nursing　her　knees。　'Let　him　have
hospitals；　because　they're　so　fortable。　Hospitals　with　lots　of
Chicking。'

'Yes；　he　had　plenty　of　them；　and　he　had　plenty　of　everything。'

'Plenty　of　baked　potatoes；　for　instance