little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第87章

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'Why？　Good　gracious；　my　love！'　（again　very　much　in　the　tone　of　You
stupid　little　creature）　'how　can　you　ask？　Don't　you　see　that　I　may　have
bee　a　rather　desirable　match　for　a　noddle？　And　don't　you　see　that　she
puts　the　deception　upon　us；　and　makes　a　pretence；　while　she　shifts　it
from　her　own　shoulders　（very　good　shoulders　they　are　too；　I　must　say）；'
observed　Miss　Fanny；　glancing　placently　at　herself；　'of　considering
our　feelings？'

'But　we　can　always　go　back　to　the　plain　truth。'

'Yes；　but　if　you　please　we　won't；'　retorted　Fanny。　'No；　I　am　not　going
to　have　that　done；　Amy。　The　pretext　is　none　of　mine；　it's　hers；　and　she
shall　have　enough　of　it。'

In　the　triumphant　exaltation　of　her　feelings；　Miss　Fanny；　using　her
Spanish　fan　with　one　hand；　squeezed　her　sister's　waist　with　the　other；
as　if　she　were　crushing　Mrs　Merdle。

'No；'　repeated　Fanny。　'She　shall　find　me　go　her　way。　She　took　it；　and
I'll　follow　it。　And；　with　the　blessing　of　fate　and　fortune；　I'll　go　on
improving　that　woman's　acquaintance　until　I　have　given　her　maid；
before　her　eyes；　things　from　my　dressmaker's　ten　times　as　handsome　and
expensive　as　she　once　gave　me　from　hers！'

Little　Dorrit　was　silent；　sensible　that　she　was　not　to　be　heard　on
any　question　affecting　the　family　dignity；　and　unwilling　to　lose　to　no
purpose　her　sister's　newly　and　unexpectedly　restored　favour。　She　could
not　concur；　but　she　was　silent。　Fanny　well　knew　what　she　was　thinking
of；　so　well；　that　she　soon　asked　her。

Her　reply　was；　'Do　you　mean　to　encourage　Mr　Sparkler；　Fanny？'

'Encourage　him；　my　dear？'　said　her　sister；　smiling　contemptuously；　'that
depends　upon　what　you　call　encourage。　No；　I　don't　mean　to　encourage　him。
But　I'll　make　a　slave　of　him。'

Little　Dorrit　glanced　seriously　and　doubtfully　in　her　face；　but　Fanny
was　not　to　be　so　brought　to　a　check。　She　furled　her　fan　of　black　and
gold；　and　used　it　to　tap　her　sister's　nose；　with　the　air　of　a　proud
beauty　and　a　great　spirit；　who　toyed　with　and　playfully　instructed　a
homely　panion。

'I　shall　make　him　fetch　and　carry；　my　dear；　and　I　shall　make　him　subject
to　me。　And　if　I　don't　make　his　mother　subject　to　me；　too；　it　shall　not
be　my　fault。'

'Do　you　think……dear　Fanny；　don't　be　offended；　we　are　so　fortable
together　now……that　you　can　quite　see　the　end　of　that　course？'

'I　can't　say　I　have　so　much　as　looked　for　it　yet；　my　dear；'　answered
Fanny；　with　supreme　indifference；　'all　in　good　time。　Such　are　my
intentions。　And　really　they　have　taken　me　so　long　to　develop；　that　here
we　are　at　home。　And　Young　Sparkler　at　the　door；　inquiring　who　is　within。
By　the　merest　accident；　of　course！'

In　effect；　the　swain　was　standing　up　in　his　gondola；　card…case　in
hand；　affecting　to　put　the　question　to　a　servant。　This　conjunction
of　circumstances　led　to　his　immediately　afterwards　presenting　himself
before　the　young　ladies　in　a　posture；　which　in　ancient　times　would　not
have　been　considered　one　of　favourable　augury　for　his　suit；　since　the
gondoliers　of　the　young　ladies；　having　been　put　to　some　inconvenience
by　the　chase；　so　neatly　brought　their　own　boat　in　the　gentlest　collision
with　the　bark　of　Mr　Sparkler；　as　to　tip　that　gentleman　over　like　a
larger　species　of　ninepin；　and　cause　him　to　exhibit　the　soles　of　his
shoes　to　the　object　of　his　dearest　wishes：　while　the　nobler　portions　of
his　anatomy　struggled　at　the　bottom　of　his　boat　in　the　arms　of　one　of
his　men。

However；　as　Miss　Fanny　called　out　with　much　concern；　Was　the　gentleman
hurt；　Mr　Sparkler　rose　more　restored　than　might　have　been　expected；　and
stammered　for　himself　with　blushes；　'Not　at　all　so。'　Miss　Fanny　had　no
recollection　of　having　ever　seen　him　before；　and　was　passing　on；　with　a
distant　inclination　of　her　head；　when　he　announced　himself　by　name。　Even
then　she　was　in　a　difficulty　from　being　unable　to　call　it　to　mind；　until
he　explained　that　he　had　had　the　honour　of　seeing　her　at　Martigny。　Then
she　remembered　him；　and　hoped　his　lady…mother　was　well。

'Thank　you；'　stammered　Mr　Sparkler；　'she's　unmonly　well……at　least；
poorly。'

'In　Venice？'　said　Miss　Fanny。

'In　Rome；'　Mr　Sparkler　answered。　'I　am　here　by　myself；　myself。　I　came　to
call　upon　Mr　Edward　Dorrit　myself。　Indeed；　upon　Mr　Dorrit　likewise。　In
fact；　upon　the　family。'

Turning　graciously　to　the　attendants；　Miss　Fanny　inquired　whether　her
papa　or　brother　was　within？　The　reply　being　that　they　were　both　within；
Mr　Sparkler　humbly　offered　his　arm。　Miss　Fanny　accepting　it；　was　squired
up　the　great　staircase　by　Mr　Sparkler；　who；　if　he　still　believed　（which
there　is　not　any　reason　to　doubt）　that　she　had　no　nonsense　about　her；
rather　deceived　himself。

Arrived　in　a　mouldering　reception…room；　where　the　faded　hangings；　of　a
sad　sea…green；　had　worn　and　withered　until　they　looked　as　if　they
might　have　claimed　kindred　with　the　waifs　of　seaweed　drifting　under
the　windows；　or　clinging　to　the　walls　and　weeping　for　their　imprisoned
relations；　Miss　Fanny　despatched　emissaries　for　her　father　and　brother。
Pending　whose　appearance；　she　showed　to　great　advantage　on　a　sofa；
pleting　Mr　Sparkler's　conquest　with　some　remarks　upon　Dante……known
to　that　gentleman　as　an　eccentric　man　in　the　nature　of　an　Old　File；
who　used　to　put　leaves　round　his　head；　and　sit　upon　a　stool　for　some
unaccountable　purpose；　outside　the　cathedral　at　Florence。

Mr　Dorrit　weled　the　visitor　with　the　highest　urbanity；　and　most
courtly　manners。　He　inquired　particularly　after　Mrs　Merdle。　He　inquired
particularly　after　Mr　Merdle。　Mr　Sparkler　said；　or　rather　twitched　out
of　himself　in　small　pieces　by　the　shirt…collar；　that　Mrs　Merdle　having
pletely　used　up　her　place　in　the　country；　and　also　her　house　at
Brighton；　and　being；　of　course；　unable；　don't　you　see；　to　remain　in
London　when　there　wasn't　a　soul　there；　and　not　feeling　herself　this　year
quite　up　to　visiting　about　at　people's　places；　had　resolved　to　have
a　touch　at　Rome；　where　a　woman　like　herself；　with　a　proverbially　fine
appearance；　and　with　no　nonsense　about　her；　couldn't　fail　to　be　a　great
acquisition。　As　to　Mr　Merdle；　he　was　so　much　wanted　by　the　men　in　the
City　and　the　rest　of　those　places；　and　was　such　a　doosed　extraordinary
phenomenon　in　Buying　and　Banking　and　that；　that　Mr　Sparkler　doubted　if
the　moary　system　of　the　country　would　be　able　to　spare　him；　though
that　his　work　was　occasionally　one　too　many　for　him；　and　that　he　would
be　all　the　better　for　a　temporary　shy　at　an　entirely　new　scene　and
climate；　Mr　Sparkler　did　not　conceal。　As　to　himself；　Mr　Sparkler
conveyed　to　the　Dorrit　family　that　he　was　going；　on　rather　particular
business；　wherever　they　were　going。

This　immense　conversational　achievement　required　time；　but　was　effected。
Being　effected；　Mr　Dorrit　expressed　his　hope　that　Mr　Sparkler　would
shortly　dine　with　them。　Mr　Sparkler　received　the　idea　so　kindly　that　Mr
Dorrit　asked　what　he　was　going　to　do　that　day；　for　instance？　As　he　was
going　to　do　nothing　that　day　（his　usual　occupation；　and　one　for　which　he
was　particularly　qualified）；　he　was　secured　without　postponement；　being
further　bound　over　to　acpany　the　ladies　to　the　Opera　in　the　evening。

At　dinner…time　Mr　Sparkler　rose　out　of　the　sea；　like　Venus's　son　taking
after　his　mother；　and　made　a　splendid　appearance　ascending　the　great
staircase。　If　Fanny　had　been　charming　in　the　morning；　she　was　now　thrice
charming；　very　beingly　dressed　in　her　most　suitable　colours；　and　with
an　air　of　negligence　upon　her　that　doubled　Mr　Sparkler's　fetters；　and
riveted　them。


'I　hear　you　are　acquainted；　Mr　Sparkler；'　said　his　host　at　dinner；
'with……ha……Mr　Gowan。　Mr　Henry　Gowan？'

'Perfectly；　sir；'　returned　Mr　Sparkler。　'His　mother　and　my　mother　are
cronies　in　fact。'

'If　I　had　thought　of　it；　Amy；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　with　a　patronage　as
magnificent　as　that　of　Lord　Decimus　himself；　'you　should　have　despatched
a　note　to　them；　asking　them　to　dine　to…day。　Some　of　our　people　could
have……ha……fetched　them；　and　taken　them　home。　We　could　have　spared
a……hum……gondola　for　that　purpose。　I　am　sorry　to　have　forgotten　this。
Pray　remind　me　of　them　to…morrow。'

Little　Dorrit　was　not　without　doubts　how　Mr　Henry　Gowan　might　take　their
patronage；　but　she　promised　not　to　fail　in　the　reminder。

'Pray；　does　Mr　Henry　Gowan　paint……ha……Portraits？'　inquired　Mr　Dorrit。

Mr　Sparkler　opined　that　he　painted　anything；　if　he　could　get　the　job。

'He　has　no　particular　walk？'　said　Mr　Dorrit。

Mr　Sparkler；　stimulated　by　Love　to　brilliancy；　replied　that　for　a
particular　walk　a　man　ought　to　have　a　particular　pair　of　shoes；　as；　for
example；　shooting；　shooting…shoes；　cricket；　cricket…shoes。　Whereas；　he
believed　that　Henry　Gowan　had　no　particular　pair　of　shoes。

'No　speciality？'　said　Mr　Dorrit。

This　being　a　very　long　word　for　Mr　Sparkler；　and　his　mind　being
exhausted　by　his　late　effort；　he　replied；　'No；　thank　you。　I　seldom　take
it。'

'Well！'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'It　would　be　very　agreeable　to　me　to　present
a　gentleman　so　connected；　with　some……ha……Testimonial　of　my　desire　to
further　his　interests；　and　develop　the……hum……germs　of　his　genius。　I
think　I　must　engage　Mr　Gowan　to　paint　my　picture。　If　the　result　should
be……ha……mutually　satisfactory；　I　might　afterwards　engage　him　to　try　his
hand　upon　my　family。'

The　exquisitely　bold　and　original　thought　presented　itself　to　Mr
Sparkler；　that　there　was　an　opening　here　for　saying　there　were　some　of
the　family　（emphasising　'some'　in　a　marked　manner）　to　whom　no　painter
could　render　justice。　But；　for　want　of　a　form　of　words　in　which　to
express　the　idea；　it　returned　to　the　skies。

This　was　the　more　to　be　regretted　as　Miss　Fanny　greatly　applauded　the
notion　of　the　portrait；　and　urged　her　papa　to　act　upon　it。　She　surmised；
she　said；　that　Mr　Gowan　had　lost　better　and　higher　opportunities　by
marrying　his　pretty　wife；　and　Love　in　a　cottage；　painting　pictures　for
dinner；　was　so　delightfully　interesting；　that　she　begged　her　papa　to
give　him　the　mission　whether　he　could　paint　a　likeness　or　not：　though
indeed　both　she　and　Amy　knew　he　could；　from　having　seen　a　speaking
likeness　on　his　easel　that　day；　and　having　had　the　opportunity　of
paring　it　with　the　original。　These　remarks　made　Mr　Sparkler　（as
perhaps　they　were　intended　to　do）　nearly　distracted；　for　while　on
the　one　hand　they　expressed　Miss　Fanny's　susceptibility　of　the　tender
passion；　she　herself　showed　such　an　innocent　unconsciousness　of　his
admiration　that　his　eyes　goggled　in　his　head　with　jealousy　of　an　unknown
rival。

Descending　into　the　sea　again　after　dinner；　and　ascending　out　of　it
at　the　Opera　staircase；　preceded　by　one　of　their　gondoliers；　like　an
attendant　Merman；　with　a　great　linen　lantern；　they　entered　their　box；
and　Mr　Sparkler　entered　on　an　evening　of　agony。　The　theatre　being
dark；　and　the　box　light；　several　visitors　lounged　in　during　the
representation；　in　whom　Fanny　was　so　interested；　and　in　conversation
with　whom　she　fell　into　such　charming　attitudes；　as　she　had　little
confidences　with　them；　and　little　disputes　concerning　the　identity　of
people　in　distant　boxes；　that　the　wretched　Sparkler　hated　all　mankind。
But　he　had　two　consolations　at　the　close　of　the　performance。　She　gave
him　her　fan　to　hold　while　she　adjusted　her　cloak；　and　it　was　his
blessed　privilege　to　give　her　his　arm　down…stairs　again。　These　crumbs　of
encouragement；　Mr　Sparkler　thought；　would　just　keep　him　going；　and　it　is
not　impossible　that　Miss　Dorrit　thought　so　too。

The　Merman　with　his　light　was　ready　at　the　box…door；　and　other　Mermen
with　other　lights　were　ready　at　many　of　the　doors。　The　Dorrit　Merman
held　his　lantern　low；　to　show　the　steps；　and　Mr　Sparkler　put　on　another
heavy　set　of　fetters　over　his　former　set；　as　he　watched　her　radiant
feet　twinkling　down　the　stairs　beside　him。　Among　the　loiterers　here；　was
Blandois　of　Paris。　He　spoke；　and　moved　forward　beside　Fanny。

Little　Dorrit　was　in　front　with　her　brother　and　Mrs　General　（Mr　Dorrit
had　remained　at　home）；　but　on　the　brink　of　the　quay　they　all　came
together。　She　started　again　to　find　Blandois　close　to　her；　handing　Fanny
into　the　boat。

'Gowan　has　had　a　loss；'　he　said；　'since　he　was　made　happy　to…day　by　a
visit　from　fair　ladies。'

'A　loss？'　repeated　Fanny；　relinquished　by　the　bereaved　Sparkler；　and
taking　her　seat。

'A　loss；'　said　Blandois。　'His　dog　Lion。'

Little　Dorrit's　hand　was　in　his；　as　he　spoke。

'He　is　dead；'　said　Blandois。

'Dead？'　echoed　Little　Dorrit。　'That　noble　dog？'

'Faith；　dear　ladies！'　said　Blandois；　smiling　and　shrugging　his
shoulders；　'somebody　has　poisoned　that　noble　dog。　He　is　as　dead　as　the
Doges！'




CHAPTER　7。　Mostly；　Prunes　and　Prism


Mrs　General；　always　on　her　coach…box　keeping　the　proprieties　well
together；　took　pains　to　form　a　surface　on　her　very　dear　young　friend；
and　Mrs　General's　very　dear　young　friend　tried　hard　to　receive　it。　Hard
as　she　had　tried　in　her　laborious　life　to　attain　many　ends；　she　had
never　tried　harder　than　she　did　now；　to　be　varnished　by　Mrs　General。　It
made　her　anxious　and　ill　at　ease　to　be　operated　upon　by　that　smoothing
hand；　it　is　true；　but　she　submitted　herself　to　the　family　want　in
its　greatness　as　she　had　submitted　herself　to　the　family　want　in　its
littleness；　and　yielded　to　her　own　inclinations　in　this　thing　no　more
than　she　had　yielded　to　her　hunger　itself；　in