little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第8章

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proceeded　to　get　a　pillow　into　its　case。

'How　did　it　happen？'

'Why；　Jeremiah；　o'　course；'　said　Affery；　with　an　end　of　the　pillow…case
between　her　teeth。

'Of　course　he　proposed　it；　but　how　did　it　all　e　about？　I　should　have
thought　that　neither　of　you　would　have　married；　least　of　all　should　I
have　thought　of　your　marrying　each　other。'

'No　more　should　I；'　said　Mrs　Flintwinch；　tying　the　pillow　tightly　in　its
case。

'That's　what　I　mean。　When　did　you　begin　to　think　otherwise？'

'Never　begun　to　think　otherwise　at　all；'　said　Mrs　Flintwinch。

Seeing；　as　she　patted　the　pillow　into　its　place　on　the　bolster；　that　he
was　still　looking　at　her　as　if　waiting　for　the　rest　of　her　reply；
she　gave　it　a　great　poke　in　the　middle；　and　asked；　'How　could　I　help
myself？'

'How　could　you　help　yourself　from　being　married！'

'O'　course；'　said　Mrs　Flintwinch。　'It　was　no　doing　o'　mine。　I'D　never
thought　of　it。　I'd　got　something　to　do；　without　thinking；　indeed！　She
kept　me　to　it　（as　well　as　he）　when　she　could　go　about；　and　she　could　go
about　then。'　'Well？'

'Well？'　echoed　Mrs　Flintwinch。　'That's　what　I　said　myself。　Well！　What's
the　use　of　considering？　If　them　two　clever　ones　have　made　up　their　minds
to　it；　what's　left　for　me　to　do？　Nothing。'

'Was　it　my　mother's　project；　then？'

'The　Lord　bless　you；　Arthur；　and　forgive　me　the　wish！'　cried　Affery；
speaking　always　in　a　low　tone。　'If　they　hadn't　been　both　of　a　mind　in
it；　how　could　it　ever　have　been？　Jeremiah　never　courted　me；　t'ant　likely
that　he　would；　after　living　in　the　house　with　me　and　ordering　me
about　for　as　many　years　as　he'd　done。　He　said　to　me　one　day；　he　said；
〃Affery；〃　he　said；　〃now　I　am　going　to　tell　you　something。　What　do　you
think　of　the　name　of　Flintwinch？〃　〃What　do　I　think　of　it？〃　I　says。
〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃because　you're　going　to　take　it；〃　he　said。　〃Take　it？〃　I
says。　〃Jere…MI…ah？〃　Oh！　he's　a　clever　one！'

Mrs　Flintwinch　went　on　to　spread　the　upper　sheet　over　the　bed；　and　the
blanket　over　that；　and　the　counterpane　over　that；　as　if　she　had　quite
concluded　her　story。　'Well？'　said　Arthur　again。

'Well？'　echoed　Mrs　Flintwinch　again。　'How　could　I　help　myself？　He　said
to　me；　〃Affery；　you　and　me　must　be　married；　and　I'll　tell　you　why。　She's
failing　in　health；　and　she'll　want　pretty　constant　attendance　up　in
her　room；　and　we　shall　have　to　be　much　with　her；　and　there'll　be　nobody
about　now　but　ourselves　when　we're　away　from　her；　and　altogether　it　will
be　more　convenient。　She's　of　my　opinion；〃　he　said；　〃so　if　you'll　put
your　bon　on　next　Monday　morning　at　eight；　we'll　get　it　over。〃'　Mrs
Flintwinch　tucked　up　the　bed。

'Well？'

'Well？'　repeated　Mrs　Flintwinch；　'I　think　so！　I　sits　me　down　and　says
it。　Well！……Jeremiah　then　says　to　me；　〃As　to　banns；　next　Sunday　being　the
third　time　of　asking　（for　I've　put　'em　up　a　fortnight）；　is　my　reason　for
naming　Monday。　She'll　speak　to　you　about　it　herself；　and　now　she'll　find
you　prepared；　Affery。〃　That　same　day　she　spoke　to　me；　and　she　said；　〃So；
Affery；　I　understand　that　you　and　Jeremiah　are　going　to　be　married。　I
am　glad　of　it；　and　so　are　you；　with　reason。　It　is　a　very　good　thing　for
you；　and　very　wele　under　the　circumstances　to　me。　He　is　a　sensible
man；　and　a　trustworthy　man；　and　a　persevering　man；　and　a　pious　man。〃
What　could　I　say　when　it　had　e　to　that？　Why；　if　it　had　been……a
smothering　instead　of　a　wedding；'　Mrs　Flintwinch　cast　about　in　her　mind
with　great　pains　for　this　form　of　expression；　'I　couldn't　have　said　a
word　upon　it；　against　them　two　clever　ones。'

'In　good　faith；　I　believe　so。'　'And　so　you　may；　Arthur。'

'Affery；　what　girl　was　that　in　my　mother's　room　just　now？'

'Girl？'　said　Mrs　Flintwinch　in　a　rather　sharp　key。

'It　was　a　girl；　surely；　whom　I　saw　near　you……almost　hidden　in　the　dark
corner？'

'Oh！　She？　Little　Dorrit？　She's　nothing；　she's　a　whim　of……hers。'　It　was　a
peculiarity　of　Affery　Flintwinch　that　she　never　spoke　of　Mrs　Clennam
by　name。　'But　there's　another　sort　of　girls　than　that　about。　Have　you
forgot　your　old　sweetheart？　Long　and　long　ago；　I'll　be　bound。'

'I　suffered　enough　from　my　mother's　separating　us；　to　remember　her。

I　recollect　her　very　well。'

'Have　you　got　another？'

'No。'

'Here's　news　for　you；　then。　She's　well　to　do　now；　and　a　widow。　And　if
you　like　to　have　her；　why　you　can。'

'And　how　do　you　know　that；　Affery？'

'Them　two　clever　ones　have　been　speaking　about　it。……There's　Jeremiah　on
the　stairs！'　She　was　gone　in　a　moment。

Mrs　Flintwinch　had　introduced　into　the　web　that　his　mind　was　busily
weaving；　in　that　old　workshop　where　the　loom　of　his　youth　had　stood；　the
last　thread　wanting　to　the　pattern。　The　airy　folly　of　a　boy's　love　had
found　its　way　even　into　that　house；　and　he　had　been　as　wretched　under
its　hopelessness　as　if　the　house　had　been　a　castle　of　romance。　Little
more　than　a　week　ago　at　Marseilles；　the　face　of　the　pretty　girl　from
whom　he　had　parted　with　regret；　had　had　an　unusual　interest　for　him；　and
a　tender　hold　upon　him；　because　of　some　resemblance；　real　or　imagined；
to　this　first　face　that　had　soared　out　of　his　gloomy　life　into　the
bright　glories　of　fancy。　He　leaned　upon　the　sill　of　the　long　low　window；
and　looking　out　upon　the　blackened　forest　of　chimneys　again；　began　to
dream；　for　it　had　been　the　uniform　tendency　of　this　man's　life……so　much
was　wanting　in　it　to　think　about；　so　much　that　might　have　been　better
directed　and　happier　to　speculate　upon……to　make　him　a　dreamer；　after
all。




CHAPTER　4。　Mrs　Flintwinch　has　a　Dream


When　Mrs　Flintwinch　dreamed；　she　usually　dreamed；　unlike　the　son　of　her
old　mistress；　with　her　eyes　shut。　She　had　a　curiously　vivid　dream　that
night；　and　before　she　had　left　the　son　of　her　old　mistress　many　hours。
In　fact　it　was　not　at　all　like　a　dream；　it　was　so　very　real　in　every
respect。　It　happened　in　this　wise。

The　bed…chamber　occupied　by　Mr　and　Mrs　Flintwinch　was　within　a　few　paces
of　that　to　which　Mrs　Clennam　had　been　so　long　confined。　It　was　not　on
the　same　floor；　for　it　was　a　room　at　the　side　of　the　house；　which　was
approached　by　a　steep　descent　of　a　few　odd　steps；　diverging　from　the
main　staircase　nearly　opposite　to　Mrs　Clennam's　door。　It　could　scarcely
be　said　to　be　within　call；　the　walls；　doors；　and　panelling　of　the　old
place　were　so　cumbrous；　but　it　was　within　easy　reach；　in　any　undress；
at　any　hour　of　the　night；　in　any　temperature。　At　the　head　of　the　bed
and　within　a　foot　of　Mrs　Flintwinch's　ear；　was　a　bell；　the　line　of　which
hung　ready　to　Mrs　Clennam's　hand。　Whenever　this　bell　rang；　up　started
Affery；　and　was　in　the　sick　room　before　she　was　awake。

Having　got　her　mistress　into　bed；　lighted　her　lamp；　and　given　her　good
night；　Mrs　Flintwinch　went　to　roost　as　usual；　saving　that　her　lord　had
not　yet　appeared。　It　was　her　lord　himself　who　became……unlike　the
last　theme　in　the　mind；　according　to　the　observation　of　most
philosophers……the　subject　of　Mrs　Flintwinch's　dream。　It　seemed　to　her
that　she　awoke　after　sleeping　some　hours；　and　found　Jeremiah　not　yet
abed。　That　she　looked　at　the　candle　she　had　left　burning；　and；　measuring
the　time　like　King　Alfred　the　Great；　was　confirmed　by　its　wasted　state
in　her　belief　that　she　had　been　asleep　for　some　considerable　period。
That　she　arose　thereupon；　muffled　herself　up　in　a　wrapper；　put　on
her　shoes；　and　went　out　on　the　staircase；　much　surprised；　to　look　for
Jeremiah。

The　staircase　was　as　wooden　and　solid　as　need　be；　and　Affery　went
straight　down　it　without　any　of　those　deviations　peculiar　to　dreams。
She　did　not　skim　over　it；　but　walked　down　it；　and　guided　herself　by　the
banisters　on　account　of　her　candle　having　died　out。　In　one　corner　of
the　hall；　behind　the　house…door；　there　was　a　little　waiting…room；　like　a
well…shaft；　with　a　long　narrow　window　in　it　as　if　it　had　been　ripped　up。
In　this　room；　which　was　never　used；　a　light　was　burning。

Mrs　Flintwinch　crossed　the　hall；　feeling　its　pavement　cold　to　her
stockingless　feet；　and　peeped　in　between　the　rusty　hinges　on　the　door；
which　stood　a　little　open。　She　expected　to　see　Jeremiah　fast　asleep　or
in　a　fit；　but　he　was　calmly　seated　in　a　chair；　awake；　and　in　his　usual
health。　But　what……hey？……Lord　forgive　us！……Mrs　Flintwinch　muttered　some
ejaculation　to　this　effect；　and　turned　giddy。

For；　Mr　Flintwinch　awake；　was　watching　Mr　Flintwinch　asleep。　He　sat　on
one　side　of　the　small　table；　looking　keenly　at　himself　on　the　other　side
with　his　chin　sunk　on　his　breast；　snoring。　The　waking　Flintwinch　had　his
full　front　face　presented　to　his　wife；　the　sleeping　Flintwinch　was
in　profile。　The　waking　Flintwinch　was　the　old　original；　the　sleeping
Flintwinch　was　the　double；　just　as　she　might　have　distinguished　between
a　tangible　object　and　its　reflection　in　a　glass；　Affery　made　out　this
difference　with　her　head　going　round　and　round。

If　she　had　had　any　doubt　which　was　her　own　Jeremiah；　it　would　have　been
resolved　by　his　impatience。　He　looked　about　him　for　an　offensive　weapon；
caught　up　the　snuffers；　and；　before　applying　them　to　the　cabbage…headed
candle；　lunged　at　the　sleeper　as　though　he　would　have　run　him　through
the　body。

'Who's　that？　What's　the　matter？'　cried　the　sleeper；　starting。

Mr　Flintwinch　made　a　movement　with　the　snuffers；　as　if　he　would　have
enforced　silence　on　his　panion　by　putting　them　down　his　throat；　the
panion；　ing　to　himself；　said；　rubbing　his　eyes；　'I　forgot　where　I
was。'

'You　have　been　asleep；'　snarled　Jeremiah；　referring　to　his　watch；　'two
hours。　You　said　you　would　be　rested　enough　if　you　had　a　short　nap。'

'I　have　had　a　short　nap；'　said　Double。

'Half…past　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；'　muttered　Jeremiah。　'Where's　your
hat？　Where's　your　coat？　Where's　the　box？'

'All　here；'　said　Double；　tying　up　his　throat　with　sleepy　carefulness　in
a　shawl。　'Stop　a　minute。　Now　give　me　the　sleeve……not　that　sleeve；　the
other　one。　Ha！　I'm　not　as　young　as　I　was。'　Mr　Flintwinch　had　pulled
him　into　his　coat　with　vehement　energy。　'You　promised　me　a　second　glass
after　I　was　rested。'

'Drink　it！'　returned　Jeremiah；　'and……choke　yourself；　I　was　going
to　say……but　go；　I　mean。'At　the　same　time　he　produced　the　identical
port…wine　bottle；　and　filled　a　wine…glass。

'Her　port…wine；　I　believe？'　said　Double；　tasting　it　as　if　he　were　in　the
Docks；　with　hours　to　spare。　'Her　health。'

He　took　a　sip。

'Your　health！'

He　took　another　sip。

'His　health！'

He　took　another　sip。

'And　all　friends　round　St　Paul's。'　He　emptied　and　put　down　the
wine…glass　half…way　through　this　ancient　civic　toast；　and　took　up　the
box。　It　was　an　iron　box　some　two　feet　square；　which　he　carried　under　his
arms　pretty　easily。　Jeremiah　watched　his　manner　of　adjusting　it；　with
jealous　eyes；　tried　it　with　his　hands；　to　be　sure　that　he　had　a　firm
hold　of　it；　bade　him　for　his　life　be　careful　what　he　was　about；　and　then
stole　out　on　tiptoe　to　open　the　door　for　him。　Affery；　anticipating
the　last　movement；　was　on　the　staircase。　The　sequence　of　things　was
so　ordinary　and　natural；　that；　standing　there；　she　could　hear　the　door
open；　feel　the　night　air；　and　see　the　stars　outside。

But　now　came　the　most　remarkable　part　of　the　dream。　She　felt　so　afraid
of　her　husband；　that　being　on　the　staircase；　she　had　not　the　power　to
retreat　to　her　room　（which　she　might　easily　have　done　before　he　had
fastened　the　door）；　but　stood　there　staring。　Consequently　when　he　came
up　the　staircase　to　bed；　candle　in　hand；　he　came　full　upon　her。　He
looked　astonished；　but　said　not　a　word。　He　kept　his　eyes　upon　her；　and
kept　advancing；　and　she；　pletely　under　his　influence；　kept　retiring
before　him。　Thus；　she　walking　backward　and　he　walking　forward；　they
came　into　their　own　room。　They　were　no　sooner　shut　in　there；　than　Mr
Flintwinch　took　her　by　the　throat；　and　shook　her　until　she　was　black　in
the　face。

'Why；　Affery；　woman……Affery！'　said　Mr　Flintwinch。　'What　have　you　been
dreaming　of？　Wake　up；　wake　up！　What's　the　matter？'

'The……the　matter；　Jeremiah？'　gasped　Mrs　Flintwinch；　rolling　her　eyes。

'Why；　Affery；　woman……Affery！　You　have　been　getting　out　of　bed　in　your
sleep；　my　dear！　I　e　up；　after　having　fallen　asleep　myself；　below；　and
find　you　in　your　wrapper　here；　with　the　nightmare。　Affery；　woman；'　said
Mr　Flintwinch；　with　a　friendly　grin　on　his　expressive　countenance；　'if
you　ever　have　a　dream　of　this　sort　again；　it'll　be　a　sign　of　your　being
in　want　of　physic。　And　I'll　give　you　such　a　dose；　old　woman……such　a
dose！'

Mrs　Flintwinch　thanked　him　and　crept　into　bed。




CHAPTER　5。　Family　Affairs


As　the　city　clocks　struck　nine　on　Monday　morning；　Mrs　Clennam　was
wheeled　by　Jeremiah　Flintwinch　of　the　cut…down　aspect　to　her　tall
cabi。　When　she　had　unlocked　and　opened　it；　and　had　settled　herself
at　its　desk；　Jeremiah　withdrew……as　it　might　be；　to　hang　himself　more
effectually……and　her　son　appeared。

'Are　you　any　better　this　morning；　mother？'

She　shook　her　head；　with　the　same　austere　air　of　luxuriousness　that　she
had　shown　over…night　when　speaking　of　the　weather。

'I　shall　never　be　better　any　more。　It　is　well　for　me；　Arthur；　that　I
know　it　and　can　bear　it。'

Sitting　with　her　hands　laid　separately　upon　the　desk；　and　the　tall
cabi　towering　before　her；　she　looked　as　if　she　were　performing　on　a
dumb　church　organ。　Her　son　thought　so　（it　was　an　old　thought　with　him）；
whil