little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第79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！


impropriety　in　the　world；　but　Mrs　General's　way　of　getting　rid　of　it　was
to　put　it　out　of　sight；　and　make　believe　that　there　was　no　such　thing。
This　was　another　of　her　ways　of　forming　a　mind……to　cram　all　articles　of
difficulty　into　cupboards；　lock　them　up；　and　say　they　had　no　existence。
It　was　the　easiest　way；　and；　beyond　all　parison；　the　properest。

Mrs　General　was　not　to　be　told　of　anything　shocking。　Accidents；
miseries；　and　offences；　were　never　to　be　mentioned　before　her。　Passion
was　to　go　to　sleep　in　the　presence　of　Mrs　General；　and　blood　was　to
change　to　milk　and　water。　The　little　that　was　left　in　the　world；
when　all　these　deductions　were　made；　it　was　Mrs　General's　province　to
varnish。　In　that　formation　process　of　hers；　she　dipped　the　smallest　of
brushes　into　the　largest　of　pots；　and　varnished　the　surface　of　every
object　that　came　under　consideration。　The　more　cracked　it　was；　the　more
Mrs　General　varnished　it。　There　was　varnish　in　Mrs　General's　voice；
varnish　in　Mrs　General's　touch；　an　atmosphere　of　varnish　round　Mrs
General's　figure。　Mrs　General's　dreams　ought　to　have　been　varnished……if
she　had　any……lying　asleep　in　the　arms　of　the　good　Saint　Bernard；　with
the　feathery　snow　falling　on　his　house…top。




CHAPTER　3。　On　the　Road


The　bright　morning　sun　dazzled　the　eyes；　the　snow　had　ceased；　the　mists
had　vanished；　the　mountain　air　was　so　clear　and　light　that　the
new　sensation　of　breathing　it　was　like　the　having　entered　on　a　new
existence。　To　help　the　delusion；　the　solid　ground　itself　seemed　gone；
and　the　mountain；　a　shining　waste　of　immense　white　heaps　and　masses；　to
be　a　region　of　cloud　floating　between　the　blue　sky　above　and　the　earth
far　below。

Some　dark　specks　in　the　snow；　like　knots　upon　a　little　thread；　beginning
at　the　convent　door　and　winding　away　down　the　descent　in　broken　lengths
which　were　not　yet　pieced　together；　showed　where　the　Brethren　were　at
work　in　several　places　clearing　the　track。　Already　the　snow　had　begun　to
be　foot…thawed　again　about　the　door。　Mules　were　busily　brought　out；　tied
to　the　rings　in　the　wall；　and　laden；　strings　of　bells　were　buckled
on；　burdens　were　adjusted；　the　voices　of　drivers　and　riders　sounded
musically。　Some　of　the　earliest　had　even　already　resumed　their　journey；
and；　both　on　the　level　summit　by　the　dark　water　near　the　convent；　and　on
the　downward　way　of　yesterday's　ascent；　little　moving　figures　of　men　and
mules；　reduced　to　miniatures　by　the　immensity　around；　went　with　a　clear
tinkling　of　bells　and　a　pleasant　harmony　of　tongues。

In　the　supper…room　of　last　night；　a　new　fire；　piled　upon　the　feathery
ashes　of　the　old　one；　shone　upon　a　homely　breakfast　of　loaves；　butter；
and　milk。　It　also　shone　on　the　courier　of　the　Dorrit　family；　making　tea
for　his　party　from　a　supply　he　had　brought　up　with　him；　together　with
several　other　small　stores　which　were　chiefly　laid　in　for　the　use　of　the
strong　body　of　inconvenience。　Mr　Gowan　and　Blandois　of　Paris　had　already
breakfasted；　and　were　walking　up　and　down　by　the　lake；　smoking　their
cigars。　'Gowan；　eh？'　muttered　Tip；　otherwise　Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire；
turning　over　the　leaves　of　the　book；　when　the　courier　had　left　them　to
breakfast。　'Then　Gowan　is　the　name　of　a　puppy；　that's　all　I　have　got　to
say！　If　it　was　worth　my　while；　I'd　pull　his　nose。　But　it　isn't　worth　my
while……fortunately　for　him。　How's　his　wife；　Amy？

I　suppose　you　know。　You　generally　know　things　of　that　sort。'

'She　is　better；　Edward。　But　they　are　not　going　to…day。'

'Oh！　They　are　not　going　to…day！　Fortunately　for　that　fellow　too；'　said
Tip；　'or　he　and　I　might　have　e　into　collision。'

'It　is　thought　better　here　that　she　should　lie　quiet　to…day；　and　not　be
fatigued　and　shaken　by　the　ride　down　until　to…morrow。'

'With　all　my　heart。　But　you　talk　as　if　you　had　been　nursing　her。　You
haven't　been　relapsing　into　（Mrs　General　is　not　here）　into　old　habits；
have　you；　Amy？'

He　asked　her　the　question　with　a　sly　glance　of　observation　at　Miss
Fanny；　and　at　his　father　too。

'I　have　only　been　in　to　ask　her　if　I　could　do　anything　for　her；　Tip；'
said　Little　Dorrit。

'You　needn't　call　me　Tip；　Amy　child；'　returned　that　young　gentleman
with　a　frown；　'because　that's　an　old　habit；　and　one　you　may　as　well　lay
aside。'

'I　didn't　mean　to　say　so；　Edward　dear。　I　forgot。　It　was　so　natural　once；
that　it　seemed　at　the　moment　the　right　word。'

'Oh　yes！'　Miss　Fanny　struck　in。　'Natural；　and　right　word；　and　once；　and
all　the　rest　of　it！　Nonsense；　you　little　thing！　I　know　perfectly　well
why　you　have　been　taking　such　an　interest　in　this　Mrs　Gowan。　You　can't
blind　me。'

'I　will　not　try　to；　Fanny。　Don't　be　angry。'

'Oh！　angry！'　returned　that　young　lady　with　a　flounce。　'I　have　no
patience'　（which　indeed　was　the　truth）。　'Pray；　Fanny；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；
raising　his　eyebrows；　'what　do　you　mean？　Explain　yourself。'

'Oh！　Never　mind；　Pa；'　replied　Miss　Fanny；　'it's　no　great　matter。
Amy　will　understand　me。　She　knew；　or　knew　of；　this　Mrs　Gowan　before
yesterday；　and　she　may　as　well　admit　that　she　did。'

'My　child；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　turning　to　his　younger　daughter；　'has　your
sister……any……ha……authority　for　this　curious　statement？'

'However　meek　we　are；'　Miss　Fanny　struck　in　before　she　could　answer；　'we
don't　go　creeping　into　people's　rooms　on　the　tops　of　cold　mountains；
and　sitting　perishing　in　the　frost　with　people；　unless　we　know　something
about　them　beforehand。　It's　not　very　hard　to　divine　whose　friend　Mrs
Gowan　is。'

'Whose　friend？'　inquired　her　father。

'Pa；　I　am　sorry　to　say；'　returned　Miss　Fanny；　who　had　by　this　time
succeeded　in　goading　herself　into　a　state　of　much　ill…usage　and
grievance；　which　she　was　often　at　great　pains　to　do：　'that　I　believe　her
to　be　a　friend　of　that　very　objectionable　and　unpleasant　person；　who；
with　a　total　absence　of　all　delicacy；　which　our　experience　might　have
led　us　to　expect　from　him；　insulted　us　and　outraged　our　feelings　in
so　public　and　wilful　a　manner　on　an　occasion　to　which　it　is　understood
among　us　that　we　will　not　more　pointedly　allude。'

'Amy；　my　child；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　tempering　a　bland　severity　with　a
dignified　affection；　'is　this　the　case？'

Little　Dorrit　mildly　answered；　yes　it　was。

'Yes　it　is！'　cried　Miss　Fanny。　'Of　course！　I　said　so！　And　now；　Pa；　I　do
declare　once　for　all'……this　young　lady　was　in　the　habit　of　declaring　the
same　thing　once　for　all　every　day　of　her　life；　and　even　several　times　in
a　day……'that　this　is　shameful！　I　do　declare　once　for　all　that　it　ought
to　be　put　a　stop　to。　Is　it　not　enough　that　we　have　gone　through　what
is　only　known　to　ourselves；　but　are　we　to　have　it　thrown　in　our　faces；
perseveringly　and　systematically；　by　the　very　person　who　should　spare
our　feelings　most？　Are　we　to　be　exposed　to　this　unnatural　conduct　every
moment　of　our　lives？　Are　we　never　to　be　permitted　to　forget？　I　say
again；　it　is　absolutely　infamous！'

'Well；　Amy；'　observed　her　brother；　shaking　his　head；　'you　know　I　stand
by　you　whenever　I　can；　and　on　most　occasions。　But　I　must　say；　that；　upon
my　soul；　I　do　consider　it　rather　an　unaccountable　mode　of　showing　your
sisterly　affection；　that　you　should　back　up　a　man　who　treated　me　in　the
most　ungentlemanly　way　in　which　one　man　can　treat　another。　And　who；'　he
added　convincingly；　must　be　a　low…minded　thief；　you　know；　or　he　never
could　have　conducted　himself　as　he　did。'

'And　see；'　said　Miss　Fanny；　'see　what　is　involved　in　this！　Can　we　ever
hope　to　be　respected　by　our　servants？　Never。　Here　are　our　two　women；　and
Pa's　valet；　and　a　footman；　and　a　courier；　and　all　sorts　of　dependents；
and　yet　in　the　midst　of　these；　we　are　to　have　one　of　ourselves　rushing
about　with　tumblers　of　cold　water；　like　a　menial！　Why；　a　policeman；'
said　Miss　Fanny；　'if　a　beggar　had　a　fit　in　the　street；　could　but　go
plunging　about　with　tumblers；　as　this　very　Amy　did　in　this　very　room
before　our　very　eyes　last　night！'

'I　don't　so　much　mind　that；　once　in　a　way；'　remarked　Mr　Edward；　'but
your　Clennam；　as　he　thinks　proper　to　call　himself；　is　another　thing。'
'He　is　part　of　the　same　thing；'　returned　Miss　Fanny；　'and　of　a　piece
with　all　the　rest。　He　obtruded　himself　upon　us　in　the　first　instance。
We　never　wanted　him。　I　always　showed　him；　for　one；　that　I　could　have
dispensed　with　his　pany　with　the　greatest　pleasure。

He　then　mits　that　gross　outrage　upon　our　feelings；　which　he　never
could　or　would　have　mitted　but　for　the　delight　he　took　in　exposing
us；　and　then　we　are　to　be　demeaned　for　the　service　of　his　friends！　Why；
I　don't　wonder　at　this　Mr　Gowan's　conduct　towards　you。　What　else　was
to　be　expected　when　he　was　enjoying　our　past　misfortunes……gloating　over
them　at　the　moment！'　'Father……Edward……no　indeed！'　pleaded　Little　Dorrit。
'Neither　Mr　nor　Mrs　Gowan　had　ever　heard　our　name。　They　were；　and　they
are；　quite　ignorant　of　our　history。'

'So　much　the　worse；'　retorted　Fanny；　determined　not　to　admit　anything　in
extenuation；　'for　then　you　have　no　excuse。　If　they　had　known　about　us；
you　might　have　felt　yourself　called　upon　to　conciliate　them。　That　would
have　been　a　weak　and　ridiculous　mistake；　but　I　can　respect　a　mistake；
whereas　I　can't　respect　a　wilful　and　deliberate　abasing　of　those　who
should　be　nearest　and　dearest　to　us。　No。　I　can't　respect　that。　I　can　do
nothing　but　denounce　that。'

'I　never　offend　you　wilfully；　Fanny；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　'though　you
are　so　hard　with　me。'

'Then　you　should　be　more　careful；　Amy；'　returned　her　sister。　'If　you　do
such　things　by　accident；　you　should　be　more　careful。　If　I　happened　to
have　been　born　in　a　peculiar　place；　and　under　peculiar　circumstances
that　blunted　my　knowledge　of　propriety；　I　fancy　I　should　think　myself
bound　to　consider　at　every　step；　〃Am　I　going；　ignorantly；　to　promise
any　near　and　dear　relations？〃　That　is　what　I　fancy　I　should　do；　if　it
was　my　case。'

Mr　Dorrit　now　interposed；　at　once　to　stop　these　painful　subjects　by　his
authority；　and　to　point　their　moral　by　his　wisdom。

'My　dear；'　said　he　to　his　younger　daughter；　'I　beg　you　to……ha……to　say
no　more。　Your　sister　Fanny　expresses　herself　strongly；　but　not　without
considerable　reason。　You　have　now　a……hum……a　great　position　to　support。
That　great　position　is　not　occupied　by　yourself　alone；　but　by……ha……by
me；　and……ha　hum……by　us。　Us。　Now；　it　is　incumbent　upon　all　people　in　an
exalted　position；　but　it　is　particularly　so　on　this　family；　for　reasons
which　I……ha……will　not　dwell　upon；　to　make　themselves　respected。　To　be
vigilant　in　making　themselves　respected。　Dependants；　to　respect　us；　must
be……ha……kept　at　a　distance　and……hum……kept　down。　Down。　Therefore；　your
not　exposing　yourself　to　the　remarks　of　our　attendants　by　appearing　to
have　at　any　time　dispensed　with　their　services　and　performed　them　for
yourself；　is……ha……highly　important。'

'Why；　who　can　doubt　it？'　cried　Miss　Fanny。　'It's　the　essence　of
everything。'　'Fanny；'　returned　her　father；　grandiloquently；　'give　me
leave；　my　dear。　We　then　e　to……ha……to　Mr　Clennam。　I　am　free　to　say
that　I　do　not；　Amy；　share　your　sister's　sentiments……that　is　to　say
altogether……hum……altogether……in　reference　to　Mr　Clennam。　I　am　content
to　regard　that　individual　in　the　light　of……ha……generally……a　well…behaved
person。　Hum。　A　well…behaved　person。　Nor　r
Clennam　did；　at　any　time；　obtrude　himself　on……ha……my　society。　He　knew　my
society　to　be……hum……sought；　and　his　plea　might　be　that　he　regarded　me　in
the　light　of　a　public　character。　But　there　were　circumstances　attending
my……ha……slight　knowledge　of　Mr　Clennam　（it　was　very　slight）；　which；'
here　Mr　Dorrit　became　extremely　grave　and　impressive；　'would　render　it
highly　indelicate　in　Mr　Clennam　to……ha……to　seek　to　renew　munication
with　me　or　with　any　member　of　my　family　under　existing　circumstances。
If　Mr　Clennam　has　sufficient　delicacy　to　perceive　the　impropriety　of
any　such　attempt；　I　am　bound　as　a　responsible　gentleman　to……ha……defer
to　that　delicacy　on　his　part。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　Mr　Clennam　has　not
that　delicacy；　I　cannot　for　a　moment……ha……hold　any　correspondence　with
so……hum……coarse　a　mind。　In　either　case；　it　would　appear　that　Mr　Clennam
is　put　altogether　out　of　the　question；　and　that　we　have　nothing　to　do
with　him　or　he　with　us。　Ha……Mrs　General！'

The　entrance　of　the　lady　whom　he　announced；　to　take　her　place　at　the
breakfast…table；　terminated　the　discussion。　Shortly　afterwards；　the
courier　announced　that　the　valet；　and　the　footman；　and　the　two　maids；
and　the　four　guides；　and　the　fourteen　mules；　were　in　readiness；　so　the
breakfast　party　went　out　to　the　convent　door　to　join　the　cavalcade。

Mr　Gowan　stood　aloof　with　his　cigar　and　pencil；　but　Mr　Blandois　was　on
the　spot　to　pay　his　respects　to　the　ladies。　When　he　gallantly　pulled
off　his　slouched　hat　to　Little　Dorrit；　she　thought　he　had　even　a　more
sinister　look；　standing　swart　and　cloaked　in　the　snow；　than　he　had
in　the　fire…light　over…night。　But；　as　both　her　father　and　her　sister
received　his　homage　with　some　favour；　she　refrained　from　expressing　any
distrust　of　him；　lest　it　should　prove　to　be　a　new　blemish　derived　from
her　prison　birth。

Nevertheless；　as　they　wound　down　the　rugged　way　while　the　convent　was
yet　in　sight；　she　more　than　once　looked　round；　and　descried　Mr　Blandois；
backed　by　the　convent　smoke　which　rose　straight　and　high　from　the
chimneys　in　a　golden　film；