little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第52章

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'Plenty　of　baked　potatoes；　for　instance？'　said　Maggy。

'Plenty　of　everything。'

'Lor！'　chuckled　Maggy；　giving　her　knees　a　hug。　'Wasn't　it　prime！'

'This　King　had　a　daughter；　who　was　the　wisest　and　most　beautiful
Princess　that　ever　was　seen。　When　she　was　a　child　she　understood　all　her
lessons　before　her　masters　taught　them　to　her；　and　when　she　was　grown
up；　she　was　the　wonder　of　the　world。　Now；　near　the　Palace　where　this
Princess　lived；　there　was　a　cottage　in　which　there　was　a　poor　little
tiny　woman；　who　lived　all　alone　by　herself。'

'An　old　woman；'　said　Maggy；　with　an　unctuous　smack　of　her　lips。

'No；　not　an　old　woman。　Quite　a　young　one。'

'I　wonder　she　warn't　afraid；'　said　Maggy。　'Go　on；　please。'

'The　Princess　passed　the　cottage　nearly　every　day；　and　whenever　she　went
by　in　her　beautiful　carriage；　she　saw　the　poor　tiny　woman　spinning　at
her　wheel；　and　she　looked　at　the　tiny　woman；　and　the　tiny　woman　looked
at　her。　So；　one　day　she　stopped　the　coachman　a　little　way　from　the
cottage；　and　got　out　and　walked　on　and　peeped　in　at　the　door；　and　there；
as　usual；　was　the　tiny　woman　spinning　at　her　wheel；　and　she　looked　at
the　Princess；　and　the　Princess　looked　at　her。'

'Like　trying　to　stare　one　another　out；'　said　Maggy。　'Please　go　on；
Little　Mother。'

'The　Princess　was　such　a　wonderful　Princess　that　she　had　the　power　of
knowing　secrets；　and　she　said　to　the　tiny　woman；　Why　do　you　keep　it
there？　This　showed　her　directly　that　the　Princess　knew　why　she　lived
all　alone　by　herself　spinning　at　her　wheel；　and　she　kneeled　down　at
the　Princess's　feet；　and　asked　her　never　to　betray　her。　So　the　Princess
said；　I　never　will　betray　you。　Let　me　see　it。　So　the　tiny　woman　closed
the　shutter　of　the　cottage　window　and　fastened　the　door；　and　trembling
from　head　to　foot　for　fear　that　any　one　should　suspect　her；　opened　a
very　secret　place　and　showed　the　Princess　a　shadow。'

'Lor！'　said　Maggy。　'It　was　the　shadow　of　Some　one　who　had　gone　by　long
before：　of　Some　one　who　had　gone　on　far　away　quite　out　of　reach；　never；
never　to　e　back。　It　was　bright　to　look　at；　and　when　the　tiny　woman
showed　it　to　the　Princess；　she　was　proud　of　it　with　all　her　heart；　as
a　great；　great　treasure。　When　the　Princess　had　considered　it　a　little
while；　she　said　to　the　tiny　woman；　And　you　keep　watch　over　this　every
day？　And　she　cast　down　her　eyes；　and　whispered；　Yes。　Then　the　Princess
said；　Remind　me　why。　To　which　the　other　replied；　that　no　one　so　good　and
kind　had　ever　passed　that　way；　and　that　was　why　in　the　beginning。　She
said；　too；　that　nobody　missed　it；　that　nobody　was　the　worse　for　it；　that
Some　one　had　gone　on；　to　those　who　were　expecting　him……'

'Some　one　was　a　man　then？'　interposed　Maggy。

Little　Dorrit　timidly　said　Yes；　she　believed　so；　and　resumed：

'……Had　gone　on　to　those　who　were　expecting　him；　and　that　this
remembrance　was　stolen　or　kept　back　from　nobody。　The　Princess　made
answer；　Ah！　But　when　the　cottager　died　it　would　be　discovered　there。　The
tiny　woman　told　her　No；　when　that　time　came；　it　would　sink　quietly　into
her　own　grave；　and　would　never　be　found。'

'Well；　to　be　sure！'　said　Maggy。　'Go　on；　please。'

'The　Princess　was　very　much　astonished　to　hear　this；　as　you　may　suppose；
Maggy。'　（'And　well　she　might　be；'　said　Maggy。）

'So　she　resolved　to　watch　the　tiny　woman；　and　see　what　came　of　it。　Every
day　she　drove　in　her　beautiful　carriage　by　the　cottage…door；　and　there
she　saw　the　tiny　woman　always　alone　by　herself　spinning　at　her　wheel；
and　she　looked　at　the　tiny　woman；　and　the　tiny　woman　looked　at　her。　At
last　one　day　the　wheel　was　still；　and　the　tiny　woman　was　not　to　be　seen。
When　the　Princess　made　inquiries　why　the　wheel　had　stopped；　and　where
the　tiny　woman　was；　she　was　informed　that　the　wheel　had　stopped　because
there　was　nobody　to　turn　it；　the　tiny　woman　being　dead。'

（'They　ought　to　have　took　her　to　the　Hospital；'　said　Maggy；　and　then
she'd　have　got　over　it。'）

'The　Princess；　after　crying　a　very　little　for　the　loss　of　the　tiny
woman；　dried　her　eyes　and　got　out　of　her　carriage　at　the　place　where
she　had　stopped　it　before；　and　went　to　the　cottage　and　peeped　in　at　the
door。　There　was　nobody　to　look　at　her　now；　and　nobody　for　her　to　look
at；　so　she　went　in　at　once　to　search　for　the　treasured　shadow。　But　there
was　no　sign　of　it　to　be　found　anywhere；　and　then　she　knew　that　the　tiny
woman　had　told　her　the　truth；　and　that　it　would　never　give　anybody　any
trouble；　and　that　it　had　sunk　quietly　into　her　own　grave；　and　that　she
and　it　were　at　rest　together。

'That's　all；　Maggy。'

The　sunset　flush　was　so　bright　on　Little　Dorrit's　face　when　she　came
thus　to　the　end　of　her　story；　that　she　interposed　her　hand　to　shade　it。

'Had　she　got　to　be　old？'　Maggy　asked。

'The　tiny　woman？'　'Ah！'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'But　it　would　have　been　just　the
same　if　she　had　been　ever　so　old。'

'Would　it　raly！'　said　Maggy。　'Well；　I　suppose　it　would　though。'　And　sat
staring　and　ruminating。

She　sat　so　long　with　her　eyes　wide　open；　that　at　length　Little　Dorrit；
to　entice　her　from　her　box；　rose　and　looked　out　of　window。　As　she
glanced　down　into　the　yard；　she　saw　Pancks　e　in　and　leer　up　with　the
corner　of　his　eye　as　he　went　by。

'Who's　he；　Little　Mother？'　said　Maggy。　She　had　joined　her　at　the　window
and　was　leaning　on　her　shoulder。　'I　see　him　e　in　and　out　often。'

'I　have　heard　him　called　a　fortune…teller；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'But　I
doubt　if　he　could　tell　many　people　even　their　past　or　present　fortunes。'

'Couldn't　have　told　the　Princess　hers？'　said　Maggy。

Little　Dorrit；　looking　musingly　down　into　the　dark　valley　of　the　prison；
shook　her　head。

'Nor　the　tiny　woman　hers？'　said　Maggy。

'No；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　with　the　sunset　very　bright　upon　her。　'But　let
us　e　away　from　the　window。'




CHAPTER　25。　Conspirators　and　Others


The　private　residence　of　Mr　Pancks　was　in　Pentonville；　where　he　lodged
on　the　second…floor　of　a　professional　gentleman　in　an　extremely　small
way；　who　had　an　inner…door　within　the　street　door；　poised　on　a　spring
and　starting　open　with　a　click　like　a　trap；　and　who　wrote　up　in　the
fan…light；　RUGG；　GENERAL　AGENT；　ACCOUNTANT；　DEBTS　RECOVERED。

This　scroll；　majestic　in　its　severe　simplicity；　illuminated　a　little
slip　of　front　garden　abutting　on　the　thirsty　high…road；　where　a　few
of　the　dustiest　of　leaves　hung　their　dismal　heads　and　led　a　life　of
choking。　A　professor　of　writing　occupied　the　first…floor；　and　enlivened
the　garden　railings　with　glass…cases　containing　choice　examples　of　what
his　pupils　had　been　before　six　lessons　and　while　the　whole　of　his　young
family　shook　the　table；　and　what　they　had　bee　after　six　lessons
when　the　young　family　was　under　restraint。　The　tenancy　of　Mr　Pancks　was
limited　to　one　airy　bedroom；　he　covenanting　and　agreeing　with　Mr　Rugg
his　landlord；　that　in　consideration　of　a　certain　scale　of　payments
accurately　defined；　and　on　certain　verbal　notice　duly　given；　he　should
be　at　liberty　to　elect　to　share　the　Sunday　breakfast；　dinner；　tea；　or
supper；　or　each　or　any　or　all　of　those　repasts　or　meals　of　Mr　and　Miss
Rugg　（his　daughter）　in　the　back…parlour。

Miss　Rugg　was　a　lady　of　a　little　property　which　she　had　acquired；
together　with　much　distinction　in　the　neighbourhood；　by　having　her
heart　severely　lacerated　and　her　feelings　mangled　by　a　middle…aged　baker
resident　in　the　vicinity；　against　whom　she　had；　by　the　agency　of　Mr
Rugg；　found　it　necessary　to　proceed　at　law　to　recover　damages　for　a
breach　of　promise　of　marriage。　The　baker　having　been；　by　the　counsel　for
Miss　Rugg；　witheringly　denounced　on　that　occasion　up　to　the　full　amount
of　twenty　guineas；　at　the　rate　of　about　eighteen…pence　an　epithet；　and
having　been　cast　in　corresponding　damages；　still　suffered　occasional
persecution　from　the　youth　of　Pentonville。　But　Miss　Rugg；　environed　by
the　majesty　of　the　law；　and　having　her　damages　invested　in　the　public
securities；　was　regarded　with　consideration。

In　the　society　of　Mr　Rugg；　who　had　a　round　white　visage；　as　if　all　his
blushes　had　been　drawn　out　of　him　long　ago；　and　who　had　a　ragged　yellow
head　like　a　worn…out　hearth　broom；　and　in　the　society　of　Miss　Rugg；　who
had　little　nankeen　spots；　like　shirt　buttons；　all　over　her　face；　and
whose　own　yellow　tresses　were　rather　scrubby　than　luxuriant；　Mr　Pancks
had　usually　dined　on　Sundays　for　some　few　years；　and　had　twice　a　week；
or　so；　enjoyed　an　evening　collation　of　bread；　Dutch　cheese；　and　porter。
Mr　Pancks　was　one　of　the　very　few　marriageable　men　for　whom　Miss　Rugg
had　no　terrors；　the　argument　with　which　he　reassured　himself　being
twofold；　that　is　to　say；　firstly；　'that　it　wouldn't　do　twice；'　and
secondly；　'that　he　wasn't　worth　it。'　Fortified　within　this　double
armour；　Mr　Pancks　snorted　at　Miss　Rugg　on　easy　terms。

Up　to　this　time；　Mr　Pancks　had　transacted　little　or　no　business　at　his
quarters　in　Pentonville；　except　in　the　sleeping　line；　but　now　that　he
had　bee　a　fortune…teller；　he　was　often　closeted　after　midnight
with　Mr　Rugg　in　his　little　front…parlour　office；　and　even　after　those
untimely　hours；　burnt　tallow　in　his　bed…room。　Though　his　duties　as　his
proprietor's　grubber　were　in　no　wise　lessened；　and　though　that　service
bore　no　greater　resemblance　to　a　bed　of　roses　than　was　to　be　discovered
in　its　many　thorns；　some　new　branch　of　industry　made　a　constant　demand
upon　him。　When　he　cast　off　the　Patriarch　at　night；　it　was　only　to　take
an　anonymous　craft　in　tow；　and　labour　away　afresh　in　other　waters。

The　advance　from　a　personal　acquaintance　with　the　elder　Mr　Chivery　to
an　introduction　to　his　amiable　wife　and　disconsolate　son；　may　have　been
easy；　but　easy　or　not；　Mr　Pancks　soon　made　it。　He　nestled　in　the　bosom
of　the　tobacco　business　within　a　week　or　two　after　his　first　appearance
in　the　College；　and　particularly　addressed　himself　to　the　cultivation　of
a　good　understanding　with　Young　John。　In　this　endeavour　he　so　prospered
as　to　lure　that　pining　shepherd　forth　from　the　groves；　and　tempt　him
to　undertake　mysterious　missions；　on　which　he　began　to　disappear　at
uncertain　intervals　for　as　long　a　space　as　two　or　three　days　together。
The　prudent　Mrs　Chivery；　who　wondered　greatly　at　this　change；　would　have
protested　against　it　as　detrimental　to　the　Highland　typification　on　the
doorpost　but　for　two　forcible　reasons；　one；　that　her　John　was　roused　to
take　strong　interest　in　the　business　which　these　starts　were　supposed
to　advance……and　this　she　held　to　be　good　for　his　drooping　spirits；
the　other；　that　Mr　Pancks　confidentially　agreed　to　pay　her；　for　the
occupation　of　her　son's　time；　at　the　handsome　rate　of　seven　and　sixpence
per　day。　The　proposal　originated　with　himself；　and　was　couched　in　the
pithy　terms；　'If　your　John　is　weak　enough；　ma'am；　not　to　take　it；
that　is　no　reason　why　you　should　be；　don't　you　see？　So；　quite　between
ourselves；　ma'am；　business　being　business；　here　it　is！'

What　Mr　Chivery　thought　of　these　things；　or　how　much　or　how　little　he
knew　about　them；　was　never　gathered　from　himself。　It　has　been　already
remarked　that　he　was　a　man　of　few　words；　and　it　may　be　here　observed
that　he　had　imbibed　a　professional　habit　of　locking　everything　up。　He
locked　himself　up　as　carefully　as　he　locked　up　the　Marshalsea　debtors。
Even　his　custom　of　bolting　his　meals　may　have　been　a　part　of　an　uniform
whole；　but　there　is　no　question；　that；　as　to　all　other　purposes；　he　kept
his　mouth　as　he　kept　the　Marshalsea　door。　He　never　opened　it　without
occasion。　When　it　was　necessary　to　let　anything　out；　he　opened　it　a
little　way；　held　it　open　just　as　long　as　sufficed　for　the　purpose；　and
locked　it　again。

Even　as　he　would　be　sparing　of　his　trouble　at　the　Marshalsea　door；　and
would　keep　a　visitor　who　wanted　to　go　out；　waiting　for　a　few　moments　if
he　saw　another　visitor　ing　down　the　yard；　so　that　one　turn　of　the　key
should　suffice　for　both；　similarly　he　would　often　reserve　a　remark　if　he
perceived　another　on　its　way　to　his　lips；　and　would　deliver　himself　of
the　two　together。　As　to　any　key　to　his　inner　knowledge　being　to　be
found　in　his　face；　the　Marshalsea　key　was　as　legible　as　an　index　to　the
individual　characters　and　histories　upon　which　it　was　turned。

That　Mr　Pancks　should　be　moved　to　invite　any　one　to　dinner　at
Pentonville；　was　an　unprecedented　fact　in　his　calendar。　But　he　invited
Young　John　to　dinner；　and　even　brought　him　within　range　of　the　dangerous
（because　expensive）　fascinations　of　Miss　Rugg。　The　banquet　was　appointed
for　a　Sunday；　and　Miss　Rugg　with　her　own　hands　stuffed　a　leg　of　mutton
with　oysters　on　the　occasion；　and　sent　it　to　the　baker's……not　THE
baker's　but　an　opposition　establishment。　Provision　of　oranges；　apples；
and　nuts　was　also　made。　And　rum　was　brought　home　by　Mr　Pancks　on
Saturday　night；　to　gladden　the　visitor's　heart。　The　store　of　creature
forts　was　not　the　chief　part　of　the　visitor's　reception。　Its　special
feature　was　a　foregone　family　confidence　and　sympathy。　When　Young　John
appeared　at　half…past　one　without　the　ivory　hand　and　waistcoat　of　golden
sprigs；　the　sun　shorn　of　his　beams　by　disastrous　clouds；　Mr　Pancks
presented　him　to　the　yellow…haired　Ruggs　as　the　young　man　he　had　so
often　mentioned　who　loved　Miss　Dorrit。　'I　am　glad；'　said　Mr　Rugg；
challenging　him　specially　in　that　character；　'to　have　the　dis