little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第63章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



'Of　a　sentence。　They　have　always　stood；　I　believe；　for　Do　Not　Forget！'

'And　naturally；'　said　Mr　Blandois；　replacing　the　watch　and　stepping
backward　to　his　former　chair；　'you　do　not　forget。'

Mr　Flintwinch；　finishing　his　tea；　not　only　took　a　longer　gulp　than　he
had　taken　yet；　but　made　his　succeeding　pause　under　new　circumstances：
that　is　to　say；　with　his　head　thrown　back　and　his　cup　held　still　at　his
lips；　while　his　eyes　were　still　directed　at　the　invalid。　She　had　that
force　of　face；　and　that　concentrated　air　of　collecting　her　firmness　or
obstinacy；　which　represented　in　her　case　what　would　have　been　gesture
and　action　in　another；　as　she　replied　with　her　deliberate　strength　of
speech：　'No；　sir；　I　do　not　forget。　To　lead　a　life　as　monotonous　as　mine
has　been　during　many　years；　is　not　the　way　to　forget。　To　lead　a　life　of
self…correction　is　not　the　way　to　forget。　To　be　sensible　of　having　（as
we　all　have；　every　one　of　us；　all　the　children　of　Adam！）　offences
to　expiate　and　peace　to　make；　does　not　justify　the　desire　to　forget。
Therefore　I　have　long　dismissed　it；　and　I　neither　forget　nor　wish　to
forget。'

Mr　Flintwinch；　who　had　latterly　been　shaking　the　sediment　at　the　bottom
of　his　tea…cup；　round　and　round；　here　gulped　it　down；　and　putting　the
cup　in　the　tea…tray；　as　done　with；　turned　his　eyes　upon　Mr　Blandois　as
if　to　ask　him　what　he　thought　of　that？

'All　expressed；　madam；'　said　Mr　Blandois；　with　his　smoothest　bow　and　his
white　hand　on　his　breast；　'by　the　word　〃naturally；〃　which　I　am　proud
to　have　had　sufficient　apprehension　and　appreciation　（but　without
appreciation　I　could　not　be　Blandois）　to　employ。'

'Pardon　me；　sir；'　she　returned；　'if　I　doubt　the　likelihood　of　a
gentleman　of　pleasure；　and　change；　and　politeness；　accustomed　to　court
and　to　be　courted……'

'Oh　madam！　By　Heaven！'

'……If　I　doubt　the　likelihood　of　such　a　character　quite　prehending
what　belongs　to　mine　in　my　circumstances。　Not　to　obtrude　doctrine　upon
you；'　she　looked　at　the　rigid　pile　of　hard　pale　books　before　her；　'（for
you　go　your　own　way；　and　the　consequences　are　on　your　own　head）；　I　will
say　this　much：　that　I　shape　my　course　by　pilots；　strictly　by　proved　and
tried　pilots；　under　whom　I　cannot　be　shipwrecked……can　not　be……and　that
if　I　were　unmindful　of　the　admonition　conveyed　in　those　three　letters；　I
should　not　be　half　as　chastened　as　I　am。'

It　was　curious　how　she　seized　the　occasion　to　argue　with　some　invisible
opponent。　Perhaps　with　her　own　better　sense；　always　turning　upon　herself
and　her　own　deception。

'If　I　forgot　my　ignorances　in　my　life　of　health　and　freedom；　I　might
plain　of　the　life　to　which　I　am　now　condemned。　I　never　do；　I　never
have　done。　If　I　forgot　that　this　scene；　the　Earth；　is　expressly　meant　to
be　a　scene　of　gloom；　and　hardship；　and　dark　trial；　for　the　creatures　who
are　made　out　of　its　dust；　I　might　have　some　tenderness　for　its　vanities。
But　I　have　no　such　tenderness。　If　I　did　not　know　that　we　are；　every　one；
the　subject　（most　justly　the　subject）　of　a　wrath　that　must　be　satisfied；
and　against　which　mere　actions　are　nothing；　I　might　repine　at　the
difference　between　me；　imprisoned　here；　and　the　people　who　pass　that
gateway　yonder。　But　I　take　it　as　a　grace　and　favour　to　be　elected　to
make　the　satisfaction　I　am　making　here；　to　know　what　I　know　for　certain
here；　and　to　work　out　what　I　have　worked　out　here。　My　affliction　might
otherwise　have　had　no　meaning　to　me。　Hence　I　would　forget；　and　I　do
forget；　nothing。　Hence　I　am　contented；　and　say　it　is　better　with　me
than　with　millions。'　As　she　spoke　these　words；　she　put　her　hand　upon　the
watch；　and　restored　it　to　the　precise　spot　on　her　little　table　which
it　always　occupied。　With　her　touch　lingering　upon　it；　she　sat　for　some
moments　afterwards；　looking　at　it　steadily　and　half…defiantly。

Mr　Blandois；　during　this　exposition；　had　been　strictly　attentive；
keeping　his　eyes　fastened　on　the　lady；　and　thoughtfully　stroking　his
moustache　with　his　two　hands。　Mr　Flintwinch　had　been　a　little　fidgety；
and　now　struck　in。

'There；　there；　there！'　said　he。　'That　is　quite　understood；　Mrs　Clennam；
and　you　have　spoken　piously　and　well。　Mr　Blandois；　I　suspect；　is　not
of　a　pious　cast。'　'On　the　contrary；　sir！'　that　gentleman　protested；
snapping　his　fingers。　'Your　pardon！　It's　a　part　of　my　character。　I　am
sensitive；　ardent；　conscientious；　and　imaginative。　A　sensitive；　ardent；
conscientious；　and　imaginative　man；　Mr　Flintwinch；　must　be　that；　or
nothing！'

There　was　an　inkling　of　suspicion　in　Mr　Flintwinch's　face　that　he　might
be　nothing；　as　he　swaggered　out　of　his　chair　（it　was　characteristic　of
this　man；　as　it　is　of　all　men　similarly　marked；　that　whatever　he　did；
he　overdid；　though　it　were　sometimes　by　only　a　hairsbreadth）；　and
approached　to　take　his　leave　of　Mrs　Clennam。

'With　what　will　appear　to　you　the　egotism　of　a　sick　old　woman；　sir；'　she
then　said；　'though　really　through　your　accidental　allusion；　I　have
been　led　away　into　the　subject　of　myself　and　my　infirmities。　Being　so
considerate　as　to　visit　me；　I　hope　you　will　be　likewise　so　considerate
as　to　overlook　that。　Don't　pliment　me；　if　you　please。'　For　he　was
evidently　going　to　do　it。　'Mr　Flintwinch　will　be　happy　to　render　you　any
service；　and　I　hope　your　stay　in　this　city　may　prove　agreeable。'

Mr　Blandois　thanked　her；　and　kissed　his　hand　several　times。　'This　is　an
old　room；'　he　remarked；　with　a　sudden　sprightliness　of　manner；　looking
round　when　he　got　near　the　door；　'I　have　been　so　interested　that　I　have
not　observed　it。　But　it's　a　genuine　old　room。'

'It　is　a　genuine　old　house；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　with　her　frozen　smile。　'A
place　of　no　pretensions；　but　a　piece　of　antiquity。'

'Faith！'　cried　the　visitor。　'If　Mr　Flintwinch　would　do　me　the　favour　to
take　me　through　the　rooms　on　my　way　out；　he　could　hardly　oblige　me　more。
An　old　house　is　a　weakness　with　me。　I　have　many　weaknesses；　but　none
greater。　I　love　and　study　the　picturesque　in　all　its　varieties。　I　have
been　called　picturesque　myself。　It　is　no　merit　to　be　picturesque……I
have　greater　merits；　perhaps……but　I　may　be；　by　an　accident。　Sympathy；
sympathy！'

'I　tell　you　beforehand；　Mr　Blandois；　that　you'll　find　it　very　dingy　and
very　bare；'　said　Jeremiah；　taking　up　the　candle。　'It's　not　worth　your
looking　at。'But　Mr　Blandois；　smiting　him　in　a　friendly　manner　on　the
back；　only　laughed；　so　the　said　Blandois　kissed　his　hand　again　to　Mrs
Clennam；　and　they　went　out　of　the　room　together。

'You　don't　care　to　go　up…stairs？'　said　Jeremiah；　on　the　landing。　'On　the
contrary；　Mr　Flintwinch；　if　not　tiresome　to　you；　I　shall　be　ravished！'

Mr　Flintwinch；　therefore；　wormed　himself　up　the　staircase；　and　Mr
Blandois　followed　close。　They　ascended　to　the　great　garret　bed…room
which　Arthur　had　occupied　on　the　night　of　his　return。　'There；　Mr
Blandois！'　said　Jeremiah；　showing　it；　'I　hope　you　may　think　that　worth
ing　so　high　to　see。　I　confess　I　don't。'

Mr　Blandois　being　enraptured；　they　walked　through　other　garrets　and
passages；　and　came　down　the　staircase　again。　By　this　time　Mr　Flintwinch
had　remarked　that　he　never　found　the　visitor　looking　at　any　room；　after
throwing　one　quick　glance　around；　but　always　found　the　visitor　looking
at　him；　Mr　Flintwinch。　With　this　discovery　in　his　thoughts；　he　turned
about　on　the　staircase　for　another　experiment。　He　met　his　eyes　directly；
and　on　the　instant　of　their　fixing　one　another；　the　visitor；　with
that　ugly　play　of　nose　and　moustache；　laughed　（as　he　had　done　at　every
similar　moment　since　they　left　Mrs　Clennam's　chamber）　a　diabolically
silent　laugh。

As　a　much　shorter　man　than　the　visitor；　Mr　Flintwinch　was　at　the
physical　disadvantage　of　being　thus　disagreeably　leered　at　from　a
height；　and　as　he　went　first　down　the　staircase；　and　was　usually　a
step　or　two　lower　than　the　other；　this　disadvantage　was　at　the　time
increased。　He　postponed　looking　at　Mr　Blandois　again　until　this
accidental　inequality　was　removed　by　their　having　entered　the　late　Mr
Clennam's　room。　But；　then　twisting　himself　suddenly　round　upon　him；　he
found　his　look　unchanged。

'A　most　admirable　old　house；'　smiled　Mr　Blandois。　'So　mysterious。　Do　you
never　hear　any　haunted　noises　here？'

'Noises；'　returned　Mr　Flintwinch。　'No。'

'Nor　see　any　devils？'

'Not；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch；　grimly　screwing　himself　at　his　questioner；
'not　any　that　introduce　themselves　under　that　name　and　in　that
capacity。'

'Haha！　A　portrait　here；　I　see。'

（Still　looking　at　Mr　Flintwinch；　as　if　he　were　the　portrait。）

'It's　a　portrait；　sir；　as　you　observe。'

'May　I　ask　the　subject；　Mr　Flintwinch？'

'Mr　Clennam；　deceased。　Her　husband。'　'Former　owner　of　the　remarkable
watch；　perhaps？'　said　the　visitor。

Mr　Flintwinch；　who　had　cast　his　eyes　towards　the　portrait；　twisted
himself　about　again；　and　again　found　himself　the　subject　of　the　same
look　and　smile。　'Yes；　Mr　Blandois；'　he　replied　tartly。　'It　was　his；　and
his　uncle's　before　him；　and　Lord　knows　who　before　him；　and　that's　all　I
can　tell　you　of　its　pedigree。'

'That's　a　strongly　marked　character；　Mr　Flintwinch；　our　friend
up…stairs。'

'Yes；　sir；'　said　Jeremiah；　twisting　himself　at　the　visitor　again；　as　he
did　during　the　whole　of　this　dialogue；　like　some　screw…machine　that
fell　short　of　its　grip；　for　the　other　never　changed；　and　he　always
felt　obliged　to　retreat　a　little。　'She　is　a　remarkable　woman。　Great
fortitude……great　strength　of　mind。'

'They　must　have　been　very　happy；'　said　Blandois。

'Who？'　demanded　Mr　Flintwinch；　with　another　screw　at　him。

Mr　Blandois　shook　his　right　forefinger　towards　the　sick　room；　and　his
left　forefinger　towards　the　portrait；　and　then；　putting　his　arms　akimbo
and　striding　his　legs　wide　apart；　stood　smiling　down　at　Mr　Flintwinch
with　the　advancing　nose　and　the　retreating　moustache。

'As　happy　as　most　other　married　people；　I　suppose；'　returned　Mr
Flintwinch。　'I　can't　say。　I　don't　know。　There　are　secrets　in　all
families。'

'Secrets！'　cried　Mr　Blandois；　quickly。　'Say　it　again；　my　son。'

'I　say；'　replied　Mr　Flintwinch；　upon　whom　he　had　swelled　himself　so
suddenly　that　Mr　Flintwinch　found　his　face　almost　brushed　by　the　dilated
chest。　'I　say　there　are　secrets　in　all　families。'

'So　there　are；'　cried　the　other；　clapping　him　on　both　shoulders；　and
rolling　him　backwards　and　forwards。　'Haha！　you　are　right。　So　there　are！
Secrets！　Holy　Blue！　There　are　the　devil's　own　secrets　in　some　families；
Mr　Flintwinch！'　With　that；　after　clapping　Mr　Flintwinch　on　both
shoulders　several　times；　as　if　in　a　friendly　and　humorous　way　he　were
rallying　him　on　a　joke　he　had　made；　he　threw　up　his　arms；　threw　back
his　head；　hooked　his　hands　together　behind　it；　and　burst　into　a　roar　of
laughter。　It　was　in　vain　for　Mr　Flintwinch　to　try　another　screw　at　him。
He　had　his　laugh　out。

'But；　favour　me　with　the　candle　a　moment；'　he　said；　when　he　had　done。
'Let　us　have　a　look　at　the　husband　of　the　remarkable　lady。　Hah！'　holding
up　the　light　at　arm's　length。　'A　decided　expression　of　face　here　too；
though　not　of　the　same　character。　Looks　as　if　he　were　saying；　what　is
it……Do　Not　Forget……does　he　not；　Mr　Flintwinch？

By　Heaven；　sir；　he　does！'

As　he　returned　the　candle；　he　looked　at　him　once　more；　and　then；
leisurely　strolling　out　with　him　into　the　hall；　declared　it　to　be　a
charming　old　house　indeed；　and　one　which　had　so　greatly　pleased　him　that
he　would　not　have　missed　inspecting　it　for　a　hundred　pounds。　Throughout
these　singular　freedoms　on　the　part　of　Mr　Blandois；　which　involved　a
general　alteration　in　his　demeanour；　making　it　much　coarser　and　rougher；
much　more　violent　and　audacious　than　before；　Mr　Flintwinch；　whose
leathern　face　was　not　liable　to　many　changes；　preserved　its　immobility
intact。　Beyond　now　appearing　perhaps；　to　have　been　left　hanging　a　trifle
too　long　before　that　friendly　operation　of　cutting　down；　he　outwardly
maintained　an　equable　posure。　They　had　brought　their　survey　to　a
close　in　the　little　room　at　the　side　of　the　hall；　and　he　stood　there；
eyeing　Mr　Blandois。

'I　am　glad　you　are　so　well　satisfied；　sir；'　was　his　calm　remark。　'I
didn't　expect　it。　You　seem　to　be　quite　in　good　spirits。'

'In　admirable　spirits；'　returned　Blandois。　'Word　of　honour！　never　more
refreshed　in　spirits。　Do　you　ever　have　presentiments；　Mr　Flintwinch？'

'I　am　not　sure　that　I　know　what　you　mean　by　the　term；　sir；'　replied　that
gentleman。

'Say；　in　this　case；　Mr　Flintwinch；　undefined　anticipations　of　pleasure
to　e。'

'I　can't　say　I'm　sensible　of　such　a　sensation　at　present；'　returned　Mr
Flintwinch　with　the　utmost　gravity。　'If　I　should　find　it　ing　on；　I'll
mention　it。'

'Now　I；'　said　Blandois；　'I；　my　son；　have　a　presentiment　to…night　that　we
shall　be　well　acquainted。　Do　you　find　it　ing　on？'

'N…no；'　returned　Mr　Flintwinch；　deliberately　inquiring　of　himself。　'I
can't　say　I　do。'

'I　have　a　strong　presentiment　that　we　shall　bee　intimately
acquainted。……You　have　no　feeling　of　that　sort　yet？'

'Not　yet；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch。

Mr　Blandois；　taking　him　by　both　shoulders　again；　rolled　him　about　a
little　in　his　former　merry　way；　then　drew　his　arm　through　his　own；　and
invited　him　to　e　off　and　drink　a　bottle　of　wine　like　a　dear　deep　old
dog　as　he　was。

Without　a　moment's　indecision；　Mr　Flintwinch　accepted　the　invitation；
and　they　went　out　to　the　quarters