little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第74章

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himself。　On　Arthur's　speaking　to　her　of　his　going　to　inform　Pancks　that
he　might　now　appear　as　soon　as　he　would；　and　pursue　the　joyful　business
to　its　close；　she　entreated　him　in　a　whisper　to　stay　with　her　until　her
father　should　be　quite　calm　and　at　rest。　He　needed　no　second　entreaty；
and　she　prepared　her　father's　bed；　and　begged　him　to　lie　down。　For
another　half…hour　or　more　he　would　be　persuaded　to　do　nothing　but
go　about　the　room；　discussing　with　himself　the　probabilities　for　and
against　the　Marshal's　allowing　the　whole　of　the　prisoners　to　go　to　the
windows　of　the　official　residence　which　manded　the　street；　to　see
himself　and　family　depart　for　ever　in　a　carriage……which；　he　said；　he
thought　would　be　a　Sight　for　them。　But　gradually　he　began　to　droop　and
tire；　and　at　last　stretched　himself　upon　the　bed。

She　took　her　faithful　place　beside　him；　fanning　him　and　cooling　his
forehead；　and　he　seemed　to　be　falling　asleep　（always　with　the　money　in
his　hand）；　when　he　unexpectedly　sat　up　and　said：

'Mr　Clennam；　I　beg　your　pardon。　Am　I　to　understand；　my　dear　sir；　that　I
could……ha……could　pass　through　the　Lodge　at　this　moment；　and……hum……take　a
walk？'

'I　think　not；　Mr　Dorrit；'　was　the　unwilling　reply。　'There　are　certain
forms　to　be　pleted；　and　although　your　detention　here　is　now　in　itself
a　form；　I　fear　it　is　one　that　for　a　little　longer　has　to　be　observed
too。'

At　this　he　shed　tears　again。

'It　is　but　a　few　hours；　sir；'　Clennam　cheerfully　urged　upon　him。

'A　few　hours；　sir；'　he　returned　in　a　sudden　passion。　'You　talk　very
easily　of　hours；　sir！　How　long　do　you　suppose；　sir；　that　an　hour　is　to　a
man　who　is　choking　for　want　of　air？'

It　was　his　last　demonstration　for　that　time；　as；　after　shedding　some
more　tears　and　querulously　plaining　that　he　couldn't　breathe；　he
slowly　fell　into　a　slumber。　Clennam　had　abundant　occupation　for　his
thoughts；　as　he　sat　in　the　quiet　room　watching　the　father　on　his　bed；
and　the　daughter　fanning　his　face。　Little　Dorrit　had　been　thinking　too。
After　softly　putting　his　grey　hair　aside；　and　touching　his　forehead　with
her　lips；　she　looked　towards　Arthur；　who　came　nearer　to　her；　and　pursued
in　a　low　whisper　the　subject　of　her　thoughts。

'Mr　Clennam；　will　he　pay　all　his　debts　before　he　leaves　here？'

'No　doubt。　All。'

'All　the　debts　for　which　he　had　been　imprisoned　here；　all　my　life　and
longer？'

'No　doubt。'

There　was　something　of　uncertainty　and　remonstrance　in　her　look；
something　that　was　not　all　satisfaction。　He　wondered　to　detect　it；　and
said：

'You　are　glad　that　he　should　do　so？'

'Are　you？'　asked　Little　Dorrit；　wistfully。

'Am　I？　Most　heartily　glad！'

'Then　I　know　I　ought　to　be。'

'And　are　you　not？'

'It　seems　to　me　hard；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　'that　he　should　have　lost　so
many　years　and　suffered　so　much；　and　at　last　pay　all　the　debts　as　well。
It　seems　to　me　hard　that　he　should　pay　in　life　and　money　both。'

'My　dear　child……'　Clennam　was　beginning。

'Yes；　I　know　I　am　wrong；'　she　pleaded　timidly；　'don't　think　any　worse　of
me；　it　has　grown　up　with　me　here。'

The　prison；　which　could　spoil　so　many　things；　had　tainted　Little
Dorrit's　mind　no　more　than　this。　Engendered　as　the　confusion　was；　in
passion　for　the　poor　prisoner；　her　father；　it　was　the　first　speck
Clennam　had　ever　seen；　it　was　the　last　speck　Clennam　ever　saw；　of　the
prison　atmosphere　upon　her。

He　thought　this；　and　forebore　to　say　another　word。　With　the　thought；　her
purity　and　goodness　came　before　him　in　their　brightest　light。　The　little
spot　made　them　the　more　beautiful。

Worn　out　with　her　own　emotions；　and　yielding　to　the　silence　of　the　room；
her　hand　slowly　slackened　and　failed　in　its　fanning　movement；　and　her
head　dropped　down　on　the　pillow　at　her　father's　side。　Clennam　rose
softly；　opened　and　closed　the　door　without　a　sound；　and　passed　from　the
prison；　carrying　the　quiet　with　him　into　the　turbulent　streets。




CHAPTER　36。　The　Marshalsea　bees　an　Orphan


And　now　the　day　arrived　when　Mr　Dorrit　and　his　family　were　to　leave　the
prison　for　ever；　and　the　stones　of　its　much…trodden　pavement　were　to
know　them　no　more。

The　interval　had　been　short；　but　he　had　greatly　plained　of　its
length；　and　had　been　imperious　with　Mr　Rugg　touching　the　delay。　He　had
been　high　with　Mr　Rugg；　and　had　threatened　to　employ　some　one　else。　He
had　requested　Mr　Rugg　not　to　presume　upon　the　place　in　which　he　found
him；　but　to　do　his　duty；　sir；　and　to　do　it　with　promptitude。　He　had　told
Mr　Rugg　that　he　knew　what　lawyers　and　agents　were；　and　that　he　would　not
submit　to　imposition。　On　that　gentleman's　humbly　representing　that
he　exerted　himself　to　the　utmost；　Miss　Fanny　was　very　short　with　him；
desiring　to　know　what　less　he　could　do；　when　he　had　been　told　a　dozen
times　that　money　was　no　object；　and　expressing　her　suspicion　that　he
forgot　whom　he　talked　to。

Towards　the　Marshal；　who　was　a　Marshal　of　many　years'　standing；　and
with　whom　he　had　never　had　any　previous　difference；　Mr　Dorrit　ported
himself　with　severity。　That　officer；　on　personally　tendering　his
congratulations；　offered　the　free　use　of　two　rooms　in　his　house　for　Mr
Dorrit's　occupation　until　his　departure。　Mr　Dorrit　thanked　him　at　the
moment；　and　replied　that　he　would　think　of　it；　but　the　Marshal　was　no
sooner　gone　than　he　sat　down　and　wrote　him　a　cutting　note；　in　which
he　remarked　that　he　had　never　on　any　former　occasion　had　the　honour　of
receiving　his　congratulations　（which　was　true；　though　indeed　there　had
not　been　anything　particular　to　congratulate　him　upon）；　and　that　he
begged；　on　behalf　of　himself　and　family；　to　repudiate　the　Marshal's
offer；　with　all　those　thanks　which　its　disinterested　character　and　its
perfect　independence　of　all　worldly　considerations　demanded。

Although　his　brother　showed　so　dim　a　glimmering　of　interest　in　their
altered　fortunes　that　it　was　very　doubtful　whether　he　understood　them；
Mr　Dorrit　caused　him　to　be　measured　for　new　raiment　by　the　hosiers；
tailors；　hatters；　and　bootmakers　whom　he　called　in　for　himself；　and
ordered　that　his　old　clothes　should　be　taken　from　him　and　burned。　Miss
Fanny　and　Mr　Tip　required　no　direction　in　making　an　appearance　of　great
fashion　and　elegance；　and　the　three　passed　this　interval　together　at　the
best　hotel　in　the　neighbourhood……though　truly；　as　Miss　Fanny　said；　the
best　was　very　indifferent。　In　connection　with　that　establishment；　Mr
Tip　hired　a　cabriolet；　horse；　and　groom；　a　very　neat　turn　out；　which
was　usually　to　be　observed　for　two　or　three　hours　at　a　time　gracing　the
Borough　High　Street；　outside　the　Marshalsea　court…yard。　A　modest
little　hired　chariot　and　pair　was　also　frequently　to　be　seen　there；
in　alighting　from　and　entering　which　vehicle；　Miss　Fanny　fluttered　the
Marshal's　daughters　by　the　display　of　inaccessible　bons。

A　great　deal　of　business　was　transacted　in　this　short　period。　Among
other　items；　Messrs　Peddle　and　Pool；　solicitors；　of　Monument　Yard；　were
instructed　by　their　client　Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire；　to　address　a　letter
to　Mr　Arthur　Clennam；　enclosing　the　sum　of　twenty…four　pounds　nine
shillings　and　eightpence；　being　the　amount　of　principal　and　interest
puted　at　the　rate　of　five　per　cent。　per　annum；　in　which　their
client　believed　himself　to　be　indebted　to　Mr　Clennam。　In　making　this
munication　and　remittance；　Messrs　Peddle　and　Pool　were　further
instructed　by　their　client　to　remind　Mr　Clennam　that　the　favour　of　the
advance　now　repaid　（including　gate…fees）　had　not　been　asked　of　him；　and
to　inform　him　that　it　would　not　have　been　accepted　if　it　had　been　openly
proffered　in　his　name。　ped　receipt；　and
remained　his　obedient　servants。　A　great　deal　of　business　had　likewise　to
be　done；　within　the　so…soon…to…be…orphaned　Marshalsea；　by　Mr　Dorrit
so　long　its　Father；　chiefly　arising　out　of　applications　made　to　him
by　Collegians　for　small　sums　of　money。　To　these　he　responded　with　the
greatest　liberality；　and　with　no　lack　of　formality；　always　first　writing
to　appoint　a　time　at　which　the　applicant　might　wait　upon　him　in　his
room；　and　then　receiving　him　in　the　midst　of　a　vast　accumulation　of
documents；　and　acpanying　his　donation　（for　he　said　in　every　such
case；　'it　is　a　donation；　not　a　loan'）　with　a　great　deal　of　good　counsel：
to　the　effect　that　he；　the　expiring　Father　of　the　Marshalsea；　hoped　to
be　long　remembered；　as　an　example　that　a　man　might　preserve　his　own　and
the　general　respect　even　there。

The　Collegians　were　not　envious。　Besides　that　they　had　a　personal　and
traditional　regard　for　a　Collegian　of　so　many　years'　standing；　the　event
was　creditable　to　the　College；　and　made　it　famous　in　the　newspapers。
Perhaps　more　of　them　thought；　too；　than　were　quite　aware　of　it；　that　the
thing　might　in　the　lottery　of　chances　have　happened　to　themselves；　or
that　something　of　the　sort　might　yet　happen　to　themselves　some　day　or
other。　They　took　it　very　well。　A　few　were　low　at　the　thought　of　being
left　behind；　and　being　left　poor；　but　even　these　did　not　grudge　the
family　their　brilliant　reverse。　There　might　have　been　much　more　envy　in
politer　places。　It　seems　probable　that　mediocrity　of　fortune　would　have
been　disposed　to　be　less　magnanimous　than　the　Collegians；　who　lived　from
hand　to　mouth……from　the　pawnbroker's　hand　to　the　day's　dinner。

They　got　up　an　address　to　him；　which　they　presented　in　a　neat　frame　and
glass　（though　it　was　not　afterwards　displayed　in　the　family　mansion　or
preserved　among　the　family　papers）；　and　to　which　he　returned　a　gracious
answer。　In　that　document　he　assured　them；　in　a　Royal　manner；　that　he
received　the　profession　of　their　attachment　with　a　full　conviction
of　its　sincerity；　and　again　generally　exhorted　them　to　follow　his
example……which；　at　least　in　so　far　as　ing　into　a　great　property　was
concerned；　there　is　no　doubt　they　would　have　gladly　imitated。　He　took
the　same　occasion　of　inviting　them　to　a　prehensive　entertainment；　to
be　given　to　the　whole　College　in　the　yard；　and　at　which　he　signified
he　would　have　the　honour　of　taking　a　parting　glass　to　the　health　and
happiness　of　all　those　whom　he　was　about　to　leave　behind。

He　did　not　in　person　dine　at　this　public　repast　（it　took　place　at　two　in
the　afternoon；　and　his　dinners　now　came　in　from　the　hotel　at　six）；　but
his　son　was　so　good　as　to　take　the　head　of　the　principal　table；　and　to
be　very　free　and　engaging。　He　himself　went　about　among　the　pany；　and
took　notice　of　individuals；　and　saw　that　the　viands　were　of　the　quality
he　had　ordered；　and　that　all　were　served。　On　the　whole；　he　was　like　a
baron　of　the　olden　time　in　a　rare　good　humour。　At　the　conclusion　of　the
repast；　he　pledged　his　guests　in　a　bumper　of　old　Madeira；　and　told　them
that　he　hoped　they　had　enjoyed　themselves；　and　what　was　more；　that　they
would　enjoy　themselves　for　the　rest　of　the　evening；　that　he　wished　them
well；　and　that　he　bade　them　wele。

His　health　being　drunk　with　acclamations；　he　was　not　so　baronial　after
all　but　that　in　trying　to　return　thanks　he　broke　down；　in　the　manner　of
a　mere　serf　with　a　heart　in　his　breast；　and　wept　before　them　all。　After
this　great　success；　which　he　supposed　to　be　a　failure；　he　gave　them　'Mr
Chivery　and　his　brother　officers；'　whom　he　had　beforehand　presented　with
ten　pounds　each；　and　who　were　all　in　attendance。　Mr　Chivery　spoke　to　the
toast；　saying；　What　you　undertake　to　lock　up；　lock　up；　but　remember　that
you　are；　in　the　words　of　the　fettered　African；　a　man　and　a　brother　ever。
The　list　of　toasts　disposed　of；　Mr　Dorrit　urbanely　went　through　the
motions　of　playing　a　game　of　skittles　with　the　Collegian　who　was　the
next　oldest　inhabitant　to　himself；　and　left　the　tenantry　to　their
diversions。

But　all　these　occurrences　preceded　the　final　day。　And　now　the　day
arrived　when　he　and　his　family　were　to　leave　the　prison　for　ever；　and
when　the　stones　of　its　much…trodden　pavement　were　to　know　them　no　more。

Noon　was　the　hour　appointed　for　the　departure。　As　it　approached；　there
was　not　a　Collegian　within　doors；　nor　a　turnkey　absent。　The　latter　class
of　gentlemen　appeared　in　their　Sunday　clothes；　and　the　greater　part　of
the　Collegians　were　brightened　up　as　much　as　circumstances　allowed。　Two
or　three　flags　were　even　displayed；　and　the　children　put　on　odds　and
ends　of　ribbon。　Mr　Dorrit　himself；　at　this　trying　time；　preserved　a
serious　but　graceful　dignity。　Much　of　his　great　attention　was　given　to
his　brother；　as　to　whose　bearing　on　the　great　occasion　he　felt　anxious。

'My　dear　Frederick；'　said　he；　'if　you　will　give　me　your　arm　we　will　pass
among　our　friends　together。　I　think　it　is　right　that　we　should　go　out
arm　in　arm；　my　dear　Frederick。'

'Hah！'　said　Frederick。　'Yes；　yes；　yes；　yes。'

'And　if；　my　dear　Frederick……if　you　could；　without　putting　any　great
constraint　upon　yourself；　throw　a　little　（pray　excuse　me；　Frederick）；　a
little　Polish　into　your　usual　demeanour……'

'William；　William；'　said　the　other；　shaking　his　head；　'it's　for　you　to
do　all　that。　I　don't　know　how。　All　forgotten；　forgotten！'

'But；　my　dear　fellow；'　returned　William；　'for　that　very　reason；　if
for　no　other；　you　must　positively　try　to　rouse　yourself。　What　you
have　forgotten　you　must　now　begin　to　recall；　my　dear　Frederick。　Your
position……'

'Eh？'　said　Frederick。

'Your　position；　my　dear　Frederick。'

'Mine？'　He　looked　first　at　his　own　figure；　and　th