little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第78章

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before　very　long。　Good　night！'

'Good　night。　Thank　you；　thank　you。　Good　night；　my　dear！'

Both　of　them　were　hurried　and　fluttered　as　they　exchanged　this　parting；
and　as　the　visitor　came　out　of　the　door。　She　had　expected　to　meet　the
lady's　husband　approaching　it；　but　the　person　in　the　gallery　was　not
he：　it　was　the　traveller　who　had　wiped　the　wine…drops　from　his　moustache
with　the　piece　of　bread。　When　he　heard　the　step　behind　him；　he　turned
round……for　he　was　walking　away　in　the　dark。　His　politeness；　which
was　extreme；　would　not　allow　of　the　young　lady's　lighting　herself
down…stairs；　or　going　down　alone。　He　took　her　lamp；　held　it　so　as　to
throw　the　best　light　on　the　stone　steps；　and　followed　her　all　the　way
to　the　supper…room。　She　went　down；　not　easily　hiding　how　much　she　was
inclined　to　shrink　and　tremble；　for　the　appearance　of　this　traveller　was
particularly　disagreeable　to　her。　She　had　sat　in　her　quiet　corner　before
supper　imagining　what　he　would　have　been　in　the　scenes　and　places　within
her　experience；　until　he　inspired　her　with　an　aversion　that　made　him
little　less　than　terrific。

He　followed　her　down　with　his　smiling　politeness；　followed　her　in；
and　resumed　his　seat　in　the　best　place　in　the　hearth。　There　with　the
wood…fire；　which　was　beginning　to　burn　low；　rising　and　falling　upon　him
in　the　dark　room；　he　sat　with　his　legs　thrust　out　to　warm；　drinking　the
hot　wine　down　to　the　lees；　with　a　monstrous　shadow　imitating　him　on　the
wall　and　ceiling。

The　tired　pany　had　broken　up；　and　all　the　rest　were　gone　to　bed
except　the　young　lady's　father；　who　dozed　in　his　chair　by　the　fire。

The　traveller　had　been　at　the　pains　of　going　a　long　way　up…stairs　to　his
sleeping…room　to　fetch　his　pocket…flask　of　brandy。　He　told　them　so；　as
he　poured　its　contents　into　what　was　left　of　the　wine；　and　drank　with　a
new　relish。

'May　I　ask；　sir；　if　you　are　on　your　way　to　Italy？'

The　grey…haired　gentleman　had　roused　himself；　and　was　preparing　to
withdraw。　He　answered　in　the　affirmative。

'I　also！'　said　the　traveller。　'I　shall　hope　to　have　the　honour
of　offering　my　pliments　in　fairer　scenes；　and　under　softer
circumstances；　than　on　this　dismal　mountain。'

The　gentleman　bowed；　distantly　enough；　and　said　he　was　obliged　to　him。

'We　poor　gentlemen；　sir；'　said　the　traveller；　pulling　his　moustache　dry
with　his　hand；　for　he　had　dipped　it　in　the　wine　and　brandy；　'we　poor
gentlemen　do　not　travel　like　princes；　but　the　courtesies　and　graces　of
life　are　precious　to　us。　To　your　health；　sir！'

'Sir；　I　thank　you。'

'To　the　health　of　your　distinguished　family……of　the　fair　ladies；　your
daughters！'

'Sir；　I　thank　you　again；　I　wish　you　good　night。　My　dear；　are
our……ha……our　people　in　attendance？'

'They　are　close　by；　father。'

'Permit　me！'　said　the　traveller；　rising　and　holding　the　door　open；　as
the　gentleman　crossed　the　room　towards　it　with　his　arm　drawn　through　his
daughter's。　'Good　repose！　To　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　once　more！　To
to…morrow！'

As　he　kissed　his　hand；　with　his　best　manner　and　his　daintiest　smile；
the　young　lady　drew　a　little　nearer　to　her　father；　and　passed　him　with　a
dread　of　touching　him。

'Humph！'　said　the　insinuating　traveller；　whose　manner　shrunk；　and　whose
voice　dropped　when　he　was　left　alone。　'If　they　all　go　to　bed；　why　I　must
go。　They　are　in　a　devil　of　a　hurry。　One　would　think　the　night　would　be
long　enough；　in　this　freezing　silence　and　solitude；　if　one　went　to　bed
two　hours　hence。'

Throwing　back　his　head　in　emptying　his　glass；　he　cast　his　eyes　upon　the
travellers'　book；　which　lay　on　the　piano；　open；　with　pens　and　ink　beside
it；　as　if　the　night's　names　had　been　registered　when　he　was　absent。
Taking　it　in　his　hand；　he　read　these　entries。


　　　　　William　Dorrit；　Esquire
　　　　　Frederick　Dorrit；　Esquire
　　　　　Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire
　　　　　Miss　Dorrit
　　　　　Miss　Amy　Dorrit
　　　　　Mrs　General
　　　　　and　Suite。
　　　　　From　France　to　Italy。

　　　　　Mr　and　Mrs　Henry　Gowan。
　　　　　From　France　to　Italy。


To　which　he　added；　in　a　small　plicated　hand；　ending　with　a　long　lean
flourish；　not　unlike　a　lasso　thrown　at　all　the　rest　of　the　names：


　　　　　Blandois。　　Paris。
　　　　　From　France　to　Italy。


And　then；　with　his　nose　ing　down　over　his　moustache　and　his　moustache
going　up　and　under　his　nose；　repaired　to　his　allotted　cell。




CHAPTER　2。　Mrs　General


It　is　indispensable　to　present　the　acplished　lady　who　was　of
sufficient　importance　in　the　suite　of　the　Dorrit　Family　to　have　a　line
to　herself　in　the　Travellers'　Book。

Mrs　General　was　the　daughter　of　a　clerical　dignitary　in　a　cathedral
town；　where　she　had　led　the　fashion　until　she　was　as　near　forty…five　as
a　single　lady　can　be。　A　stiff　missariat　officer　of　sixty；　famous　as　a
marti；　had　then　bee　enamoured　of　the　gravity　with　which　she　drove
the　proprieties　four…in…hand　through　the　cathedral　town　society；　and
had　solicited　to　be　taken　beside　her　on　the　box　of　the　cool　coach　of
ceremony　to　which　that　team　was　harnessed。　His　proposal　of　marriage
being　accepted　by　the　lady；　the　missary　took　his　seat　behind
the　proprieties　with　great　decorum；　and　Mrs　General　drove　until　the
missary　died。　In　the　course　of　their　united　journey；　they　ran　over
several　people　who　came　in　the　way　of　the　proprieties；　but　always　in　a
high　style　and　with　posure。

The　missary　having　been　buried　with　all　the　decorations　suitable　to
the　service　（the　whole　team　of　proprieties　were　harnessed　to　his　hearse；
and　they　all　had　feathers　and　black　velvet　housings　with　his　coat　of
arms　in　the　corner）；　Mrs　General　began　to　inquire　what　quantity　of　dust
and　ashes　was　deposited　at　the　bankers'。　It　then　transpired　that　the
missary　had　so　far　stolen　a　march　on　Mrs　General　as　to　have　bought
himself　an　annuity　some　years　before　his　marriage；　and　to　have　reserved
that　circumstance　in　mentioning；　at　the　period　of　his　proposal；　that
his　ine　was　derived　from　the　interest　of　his　money。　Mrs　General
consequently　found　her　means　so　much　diminished；　that；　but　for　the
perfect　regulation　of　her　mind；　she　might　have　felt　disposed　to　question
the　accuracy　of　that　portion　of　the　late　service　which　had　declared　that
the　missary　could　take　nothing　away　with　him。

In　this　state　of　affairs　it　occurred　to　Mrs　General；　that　she　might
'form　the　mind；'　and　eke　the　manners　of　some　young　lady　of　distinction。
Or；　that　she　might　harness　the　proprieties　to　the　carriage　of　some　rich
young　heiress　or　widow；　and　bee　at　once　the　driver　and　guard　of　such
vehicle　through　the　social　mazes。　Mrs　General's　munication　of　this
idea　to　her　clerical　and　missariat　connection　was　so　warmly　applauded
that；　but　for　the　lady's　undoubted　merit；　it　might　have　appeared　as
though　they　wanted　to　get　rid　of　her。　Testimonials　representing　Mrs
General　as　a　prodigy　of　piety；　learning；　virtue；　and　gentility；　were
lavishly　contributed　from　influential　quarters；　and　one　venerable
archdeacon　even　shed　tears　in　recording　his　testimony　to　her　perfections
（described　to　him　by　persons　on　whom　he　could　rely）；　though　he　had　never
had　the　honour　and　moral　gratification　of　setting　eyes　on　Mrs　General　in
all　his　life。

Thus　delegated　on　her　mission；　as　it　were　by　Church　and　State；　Mrs
General；　who　had　always　occupied　high　ground；　felt　in　a　condition　to
keep　it；　and　began　by　putting　herself　up　at　a　very　high　figure。　An
interval　of　some　duration　elapsed；　in　which　there　was　no　bid　for　Mrs
General。　At　length　a　county…widower；　with　a　daughter　of　fourteen；　opened
negotiations　with　the　lady；　and　as　it　was　a　part　either　of　the　native
dignity　or　of　the　artificial　policy　of　Mrs　General　（but　certainly　one
or　the　other）　to　port　herself　as　if　she　were　much　more　sought　than
seeking；　the　widower　pursued　Mrs　General　until　he　prevailed　upon　her　to
form　his　daughter's　mind　and　manners。

The　execution　of　this　trust　occupied　Mrs　General　about　seven　years；　in
the　course　of　which　time　she　made　the　tour　of　Europe；　and　saw　most　of
that　extensive　miscellany　of　objects　which　it　is　essential　that　all
persons　of　polite　cultivation　should　see　with　other　people's　eyes；
and　never　with　their　own。　When　her　charge　was　at　length　formed；　the
marriage；　not　only　of　the　young　lady；　but　likewise　of　her　father；　the
widower；　was　resolved　on。　The　widower　then　finding　Mrs　General　both
inconvenient　and　expensive；　became　of　a　sudden　almost　as　much　affected
by　her　merits　as　the　archdeacon　had　been；　and　circulated　such　praises
of　her　surpassing　worth；　in　all　quarters　where　he　thought　an　opportunity
might　arise　of　transferring　the　blessing　to　somebody　else；　that　Mrs
General　was　a　name　more　honourable　than　ever。

The　phoenix　was　to　let；　on　this　elevated　perch；　when　Mr　Dorrit；　who
had　lately　succeeded　to　his　property；　mentioned　to　his　bankers　that　he
wished　to　discover　a　lady；　well…bred；　acplished；　well　connected；　well
accustomed　to　good　society；　who　was　qualified　at　once　to　plete　the
education　of　his　daughters；　and　to　be　their　matron　or　chaperon。　Mr
Dorrit's　bankers；　as　bankers　of　the　county…widower；　instantly　said；　'Mrs
General。'

Pursuing　the　light　so　fortunately　hit　upon；　and　finding　the　concurrent
testimony　of　the　whole　of　Mrs　General's　acquaintance　to　be　of　the
pathetic　nature　already　recorded；　Mr　Dorrit　took　the　trouble　of　going
down　to　the　county　of　the　county…widower　to　see　Mrs　General；　in　whom　he
found　a　lady　of　a　quality　superior　to　his　highest　expectations。

'Might　I　be　excused；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　'if　I　inquired……ha……what　remune……'

'Why；　indeed；'　returned　Mrs　General；　stopping　the　word；　'it　is　a　subject
on　which　I　prefer　to　avoid　entering。　I　have　never　entered　on　it　with　my
friends　here；　and　I　cannot　overe　the　delicacy；　Mr　Dorrit；　with
which　I　have　always　regarded　it。　I　am　not；　as　I　hope　you　are　aware；　a
governess……'

'O　dear　no！'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'Pray；　madam；　do　not　imagine　for　a　moment
that　I　think　so。'　He　really　blushed　to　be　suspected　of　it。

Mrs　General　gravely　inclined　her　head。　'I　cannot；　therefore；　put　a　price
upon　services　which　it　is　a　pleasure　to　me　to　render　if　I　can　render
them　spontaneously；　but　which　I　could　not　render　in　mere　return　for　any
consideration。　Neither　do　I　know　how；　or　where；　to　find　a　case　parallel
to　my　own。　It　is　peculiar。'

No　doubt。　But　how　then　（Mr　Dorrit　not　unnaturally　hinted）　could　the
subject　be　approached。　'I　cannot　object；'　said　Mrs　General……'though　even
that　is　disagreeable　to　me……to　Mr　Dorrit's　inquiring；　in　confidence　of
my　friends　here；　what　amount　they　have　been　accustomed；　at　quarterly
intervals；　to　pay　to　my　credit　at　my　bankers'。'

Mr　Dorrit　bowed　his　acknowledgements。

'Permit　me　to　add；'　said　Mrs　General；　'that　beyond　this；　I　can　never
resume　the　topic。　Also　that　I　can　accept　no　second　or　inferior　position。
If　the　honour　were　proposed　to　me　of　being　known　to　Mr　Dorrit's
family……I　think　two　daughters　were　mentioned？……'

'Two　daughters。'

'I　could　only　accept　it　on　terms　of　perfect　equality；　as　a　panion；
protector；　Mentor；　and　friend。'

Mr　Dorrit；　in　spite　of　his　sense　of　his　importance；　felt　as　if　it　would
be　quite　a　kindness　in　her　to　accept　it　on　any　conditions。　He　almost
said　as　much。

'I　think；'　repeated　Mrs　General；　'two　daughters　were　mentioned？'

'Two　daughters；'　said　Mr　Dorrit　again。

'It　would　therefore；'　said　Mrs　General；　'be　necessary　to　add　a　third
more　to　the　payment　（whatever　its　amount　may　prove　to　be）；　which　my
friends　here　have　been　accustomed　to　make　to　my　bankers'。'

Mr　Dorrit　lost　no　time　in　referring　the　delicate　question　to　the
county…widower；　and　finding　that　he　had　been　accustomed　to　pay　three
hundred　pounds　a…year　to　the　credit　of　Mrs　General；　arrived；　without　any
severe　strain　on　his　arithmetic；　at　the　conclusion　that　he　himself　must
pay　four。　Mrs　General　being　an　article　of　that　lustrous　surface　which
suggests　that　it　is　worth　any　money；　he　made　a　formal　proposal　to　be
allowed　to　have　the　honour　and　pleasure　of　regarding　her　as　a　member　of
his　family。　Mrs　General　conceded　that　high　privilege；　and　here　she　was。

In　person；　Mrs　General；　including　her　skirts　which　had　much　to　do　with
it；　was　of　a　dignified　and　imposing　appearance；　ample；　rustling；　gravely
voluminous；　always　upright　behind　the　proprieties。　She　might　have
been　taken……had　been　taken……to　the　top　of　the　Alps　and　the　bottom　of
Herculaneum；　without　disarranging　a　fold　in　her　dress；　or　displacing
a　pin。　If　her　countenance　and　hair　had　rather　a　floury　appearance；　as
though　from　living　in　some　transcendently　genteel　Mill；　it　was　rather
because　she　was　a　chalky　creation　altogether；　than　because　she　mended
her　plexion　with　violet　powder；　or　had　turned　grey。　If　her　eyes　had
no　expression；　it　was　probably　because　they　had　nothing　to　express。　If
she　had　few　wrinkles；　it　was　because　her　mind　had　never　traced　its　name
or　any　other　inscription　on　her　face。　A　cool；　waxy；　blown…out　woman；　who
had　never　lighted　well。　Mrs　General　had　no　opinions。　Her　way　of　forming
a　mind　was　to　prevent　it　from　forming　opinions。　She　had　a　little
circular　set　of　mental　grooves　or　rails　on　which　she　started　little
trains　of　other　people's　opinions；　which　never　overtook　one　another；　and
never　got　anywhere。　Even　her　propriety　could　not　dispute　that　there　was
impropriety　in　the　world；　but　Mrs　General's　way　of　getting　rid　of　it　was
to　put　it　out　of　sigh