little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第88章

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than　she　had　yielded　to　her　hunger　itself；　in　the　days　when　she　had
saved　her　dinner　that　her　father　might　have　his　supper。

One　fort　that　she　had　under　the　Ordeal　by　General　was　more
sustaining　to　her；　and　made　her　more　grateful　than　to　a　less　devoted
and　affectionate　spirit；　not　habituated　to　her　struggles　and　sacrifices；
might　appear　quite　reasonable；　and；　indeed；　it　may　often　be　observed　in
life；　that　spirits　like　Little　Dorrit　do　not　appear　to　reason　half
as　carefully　as　the　folks　who　get　the　better　of　them。　The　continued
kindness　of　her　sister　was　this　fort　to　Little　Dorrit。　It　was　nothing
to　her　that　the　kindness　took　the　form　of　tolerant　patronage；　she　was
used　to　that。　It　was　nothing　to　her　that　it　kept　her　in　a　tributary
position；　and　showed　her　in　attendance　on　the　flaming　car　in　which　Miss
Fanny　sat　on　an　elevated　seat；　exacting　homage；　she　sought　no　better
place。　Always　admiring　Fanny's　beauty；　and　grace；　and　readiness；　and　not
now　asking　herself　how　much　of　her　disposition　to　be　strongly　attached
to　Fanny　was　due　to　her　own　heart；　and　how　much　to　Fanny's；　she　gave　her
all　the　sisterly　fondness　her　great　heart　contained。

The　wholesale　amount　of　Prunes　and　Prism　which　Mrs　General　infused　into
the　family　life；　bined　with　the　perpetual　plunges　made　by　Fanny　into
society；　left　but　a　very　small　residue　of　any　natural　deposit　at　the
bottom　of　the　mixture。　This　rendered　confidences　with　Fanny　doubly
precious　to　Little　Dorrit；　and　heightened　the　relief　they　afforded　her。

'Amy；'　said　Fanny　to　her　one　night　when　they　were　alone；　after　a　day　so
tiring　that　Little　Dorrit　was　quite　worn　out；　though　Fanny　would　have
taken　another　dip　into　society　with　the　greatest　pleasure　in　life；　'I
am　going　to　put　something　into　your　little　head。　You　won't　guess　what　it
is；　I　suspect。'

'I　don't　think　that's　likely；　dear；'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'e；　I'll　give　you　a　clue；　child；'　said　Fanny。　'Mrs　General。'

Prunes　and　Prism；　in　a　thousand　binations；　having　been　wearily　in　the
ascendant　all　day……everything　having　been　surface　and　varnish　and　show
without　substance……Little　Dorrit　looked　as　if　she　had　hoped　that　Mrs
General　was　safely　tucked　up　in　bed　for　some　hours。

'Now；　can　you　guess；　Amy？'　said　Fanny。

'No；　dear。　Unless　I　have　done　anything；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　rather
alarmed；　and　meaning　anything　calculated　to　crack　varnish　and　ruffle
surface。

Fanny　was　so　very　much　amused　by　the　misgiving；　that　she　took　up　her
favourite　fan　（being　then　seated　at　her　dressing…table　with　her　armoury
of　cruel　instruments　about　her；　most　of　them　reeking　from　the　heart
of　Sparkler）；　and　tapped　her　sister　frequently　on　the　nose　with　it；
laughing　all　the　time。

'Oh；　our　Amy；　our　Amy！'　said　Fanny。　'What　a　timid　little　goose　our　Amy
is！　But　this　is　nothing　to　laugh　at。　On　the　contrary；　I　am　very　cross；
my　dear。'

'As　it　is　not　with　me；　Fanny；　I　don't　mind；'　returned　her　sister；
smiling。

'Ah！　But　I　do　mind；'　said　Fanny；　'and　so　will　you；　Pet；　when　I　enlighten
you。　Amy；　has　it　never　struck　you　that　somebody　is　monstrously　polite　to
Mrs　General？'

'Everybody　is　polite　to　Mrs　General；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'Because……'

'Because　she　freezes　them　into　it？'　interrupted　Fanny。　'I　don't　mean
that；　quite　different　from　that。　e！　Has　it　never　struck　you；　Amy；
that　Pa　is　monstrously　polite　to　Mrs　General。'

Amy；　murmuring　'No；'　looked　quite　confounded。　'No；　I　dare　say　not。　But
he　is；'　said　Fanny。　'He　is；　Amy。　And　remember　my　words。　Mrs　General　has
designs　on　Pa！'

'Dear　Fanny；　do　you　think　it　possible　that　Mrs　General　has　designs　on
any　one？'

'Do　I　think　it　possible？'　retorted　Fanny。　'My　love；　I　know　it。　I　tell
you　she　has　designs　on　Pa。　And　more　than　that；　I　tell　you　Pa　considers
her　such　a　wonder；　such　a　paragon　of　acplishment；　and　such　an
acquisition　to　our　family；　that　he　is　ready　to　get　himself　into　a　state
of　perfect　infatuation　with　her　at　any　moment。　And　that　opens　a　pretty
picture　of　things；　I　hope？　Think　of　me　with　Mrs　General　for　a　Mama！'

Little　Dorrit　did　not　reply；　'Think　of　me　with　Mrs　General　for　a　Mama；'
but　she　looked　anxious；　and　seriously　inquired　what　had　led　Fanny　to
these　conclusions。

'Lord；　my　darling；'　said　Fanny；　tartly。　'You　might　as　well　ask　me　how
I　know　when　a　man　is　struck　with　myself！　But；　of　course　I　do　know。　It
happens　pretty　often：　but　I　always　know　it。　I　know　this　in　much　the　same
way；　I　suppose。　At　all　events；　I　know　it。'

'You　never　heard　Papa　say　anything？'

'Say　anything？'　repeated　Fanny。　'My　dearest；　darling　child；　what
necessity　has　he　had；　yet　awhile；　to　say　anything？'

'And　you　have　never　heard　Mrs　General　say　anything？'　'My　goodness　me；
Amy；'　returned　Fanny；　'is　she　the　sort　of　woman　to　say　anything？　Isn't
it　perfectly　plain　and　clear　that　she　has　nothing　to　do　at　present　but
to　hold　herself　upright；　keep　her　aggravating　gloves　on；　and　go　sweeping
about？　Say　anything！　If　she　had　the　ace　of　trumps　in　her　hand　at　whist；
she　wouldn't　say　anything；　child。　It　would　e　out　when　she　played　it。'

'At　least；　you　may　be　mistaken；　Fanny。　Now；　may　you　not？'

'O　yes；　I　MAY　be；'　said　Fanny；　'but　I　am　not。　However；　I　am　glad　you
can　contemplate　such　an　escape；　my　dear；　and　I　am　glad　that　you　can　take
this　for　the　present　with　sufficient　coolness　to　think　of　such　a　chance。
It　makes　me　hope　that　you　may　be　able　to　bear　the　connection。　I　should
not　be　able　to　bear　it；　and　I　should　not　try。

I'd　marry　young　Sparkler　first。'

'O；　you　would　never　marry　him；　Fanny；　under　any　circumstances。'

'Upon　my　word；　my　dear；'　rejoined　that　young　lady　with　exceeding
indifference；　'I　wouldn't　positively　answer　even　for　that。　There's
no　knowing　what　might　happen。　Especially　as　I　should　have　many
opportunities；　afterwards；　of　treating　that　woman；　his　mother；　in　her
own　style。　Which　I　most　decidedly　should　not　be　slow　to　avail　myself　of；
Amy。'

No　more　passed　between　the　sisters　then；　but　what　had　passed　gave　the
two　subjects　of　Mrs　General　and　Mr　Sparkler　great　prominence　in　Little
Dorrit's　mind；　and　thenceforth　she　thought　very　much　of　both。

Mrs　General；　having　long　ago　formed　her　own　surface　to　such　perfection
that　it　hid　whatever　was　below　it　（if　anything）；　no　observation　was　to
be　made　in　that　quarter。　Mr　Dorrit　was　undeniably　very　polite　to　her
and　had　a　high　opinion　of　her；　but　Fanny；　impetuous　at　most　times；　might
easily　be　wrong　for　all　that。

Whereas；　the　Sparkler　question　was　on　the　different　footing　that　any　one
could　see　what　was　going　on　there；　and　Little　Dorrit　saw　it　and　pondered
on　it　with　many　doubts　and　wonderings。

The　devotion　of　Mr　Sparkler　was　only　to　be　equalled　by　the　caprice
and　cruelty　of　his　enslaver。　Sometimes　she　would　prefer　him　to　such
distinction　of　notice；　that　he　would　chuckle　aloud　with　joy；　next　day；
or　next　hour；　she　would　overlook　him　so　pletely；　and　drop　him　into
such　an　abyss　of　obscurity；　that　he　would　groan　under　a　weak　pretence　of
coughing。　The　constancy　of　his　attendance　never　touched　Fanny：　though　he
was　so　inseparable　from　Edward；　that；　when　that　gentleman　wished　for
a　change　of　society；　he　was　under　the　irksome　necessity　of　gliding　out
like　a　conspirator　in　disguised　boats　and　by　secret　doors　and　back　ways；
though　he　was　so　solicitous　to　know　how　Mr　Dorrit　was；　that　he　called
every　other　day　to　inquire；　as　if　Mr　Dorrit　were　the　prey　of　an
intermittent　fever；　though　he　was　so　constantly　being　paddled　up　and
down　before　the　principal　windows；　that　he　might　have　been　supposed　to
have　made　a　wager　for　a　large　stake　to　be　paddled　a　thousand　miles　in
a　thousand　hours；　though　whenever　the　gondola　of　his　mistress　left　the
gate；　the　gondola　of　Mr　Sparkler　shot　out　from　some　watery　ambush
and　gave　chase；　as　if　she　were　a　fair　smuggler　and　he　a　custom…house
officer。　It　was　probably　owing　to　this　fortification　of　the　natural
strength　of　his　constitution　with　so　much　exposure　to　the　air；　and　the
salt　sea；　that　Mr　Sparkler　did　not　pine　outwardly；　but；　whatever　the
cause；　he　was　so　far　from　having　any　prospect　of　moving　his　mistress　by
a　languishing　state　of　health；　that　he　grew　bluffer　every　day；　and　that
peculiarity　in　his　appearance　of　seeming　rather　a　swelled　boy　than
a　young　man；　became　developed　to　an　extraordinary　degree　of　ruddy
puffiness。

Blandois　calling　to　pay　his　respects；　Mr　Dorrit　received　him　with
affability　as　the　friend　of　Mr　Gowan；　and　mentioned　to　him　his　idea　of
missioning　Mr　Gowan　to　transmit　him　to　posterity。　Blandois　highly
extolling　it；　it　occurred　to　Mr　Dorrit　that　it　might　be　agreeable　to
Blandois　to　municate　to　his　friend　the　great　opportunity　reserved
for　him。　Blandois　accepted　the　mission　with　his　own　free　elegance　of
manner；　and　swore　he　would　discharge　it　before　he　was　an　hour　older。　On
his　imparting　the　news　to　Gowan；　that　Master　gave　Mr　Dorrit　to　the
Devil　with　great　liberality　some　round　dozen　of　times　（for　he　resented
patronage　almost　as　much　as　he　resented　the　want　of　it）；　and　was
inclined　to　quarrel　with　his　friend　for　bringing　him　the　message。

'It　may　be　a　defect　in　my　mental　vision；　Blandois；'　said　he；　'but　may　I
die　if　I　see　what　you　have　to　do　with　this。'

'Death　of　my　life；'　replied　Blandois；　'nor　I　neither；　except　that　I
thought　I　was　serving　my　friend。'

'By　putting　an　upstart's　hire　in　his　pocket？'　said　Gowan；　frowning。

'Do　you　mean　that？　Tell　your　other　friend　to　get　his　head　painted　for
the　sign　of　some　public…house；　and　to　get　it　done　by　a　sign…painter。　Who
am　I；　and　who　is　he？'

'Professore；'　returned　the　ambassador；　'and　who　is　Blandois？'

Without　appearing　at　all　interested　in　the　latter　question；　Gowan
angrily　whistled　Mr　Dorrit　away。　But；　next　day；　he　resumed　the　subject
by　saying　in　his　off…hand　manner　and　with　a　slighting　laugh；　'Well；
Blandois；　when　shall　we　go　to　this　Maecenas　of　yours？

We　journeymen　must　take　jobs　when　we　can　get　them。　When　shall　we　go　and
look　after　this　job？'　'When　you　will；'　said　the　injured　Blandois；　'as
you　please。　What　have　I　to　do　with　it？　What　is　it　to　me？'

'I　can　tell　you　what　it　is　to　me；'　said　Gowan。　'Bread　and　cheese。　One
must　eat！　So　e　along；　my　Blandois。'

Mr　Dorrit　received　them　in　the　presence　of　his　daughters　and　of　Mr
Sparkler；　who　happened；　by　some　surprising　accident；　to　be　calling
there。　'How　are　you；　Sparkler？'　said　Gowan　carelessly。　'When　you　have
to　live　by　your　mother　wit；　old　boy；　I　hope　you　may　get　on　better　than　I
do。'

Mr　Dorrit　then　mentioned　his　proposal。　'Sir；'　said　Gowan；　laughing；
after　receiving　it　gracefully　enough；　'I　am　new　to　the　trade；　and　not
expert　at　its　mysteries。　I　believe　I　ought　to　look　at　you　in　various
lights；　tell　you　you　are　a　capital　subject；　and　consider　when　I　shall　be
sufficiently　disengaged　to　devote　myself　with　the　necessary　enthusiasm
to　the　fine　picture　I　mean　to　make　of　you。　I　assure　you；'　and　he　laughed
again；　'I　feel　quite　a　traitor　in　the　camp　of　those　dear；　gifted；　good；
noble　fellows；　my　brother　artists；　by　not　doing　the　hocus…pocus　better。
But　I　have　not　been　brought　up　to　it；　and　it's　too　late　to　learn　it。
Now；　the　fact　is；　I　am　a　very　bad　painter；　but　not　much　worse　than　the
generality。　If　you　are　going　to　throw　away　a　hundred　guineas　or　so；　I
am　as　poor　as　a　poor　relation　of　great　people　usually　is；　and　I　shall　be
very　much　obliged　to　you；　if　you'll　throw　them　away　upon　me。　I'll　do　the
best　I　can　for　the　money；　and　if　the　best　should　be　bad；　why　even　then；
you　may　probably　have　a　bad　picture　with　a　small　name　to　it；　instead　of
a　bad　picture　with　a　large　name　to　it。'

This　tone；　though　not　what　he　had　expected；　on　the　whole　suited　Mr
Dorrit　remarkably　well。　It　showed　that　the　gentleman；　highly　connected；
and　not　a　mere　workman；　would　be　under　an　obligation　to　him。　He
expressed　his　satisfaction　in　placing　himself　in　Mr　Gowan's　hands；　and
trusted　that　he　would　have　the　pleasure；　in　their　characters　of　private
gentlemen；　of　improving　his　acquaintance。

'You　are　very　good；'　said　Gowan。　'I　have　not　forsworn　society　since　I
joined　the　brotherhood　of　the　brush　（the　most　delightful　fellows　on　the
face　of　the　earth）；　and　am　glad　enough　to　smell　the　old　fine　gunpowder
now　and　then；　though　it　did　blow　me　into　mid…air　and　my　present　calling。
You'll　not　think；　Mr　Dorrit；'　and　here　he　laughed　again　in　the　easiest
way；　'that　I　am　lapsing　into　the　freemasonry　of　the　craft……for　it's　not
so；　upon　my　life　I　can't　help　betraying　it　wherever　I　go；　though；　by
Jupiter；　I　love　and　honour　the　craft　with　all　my　might……if　I　propose　a
stipulation　as　to　time　and　place？'

Ha！　Mr　Dorrit　could　erect　no……hum……suspicion　of　that　kind　on　Mr　Gowan's
frankness。

'Again　you　are　very　good；'　said　Gowan。　'Mr　Dorrit；　I　hear　you　are　going
to　Rome。　I　am　going　to　Rome；　having　friends　there。　Let　me　begin　to　do
you　the　injustice　I　have　conspired　to　do　you；　there……not　here。　We　shall
all　be　hurried　during　the　rest　of　our　stay　here；　and　though　there's　not
a　poorer　man　with　whole　elbows　in　Venice；　than　myself；　I　have　not　quite
got　all　the　Amateur　out　of　me　yet……prising　the　trade　again；　you
see！……and　can't　fall　on　to　order；　in　a　hurry；　for　the　mere　sake　of　the
sixpences。'　These　remarks　were　not　less　favourably　received　by　Mr　Dorrit
than　their　predecessors。　They　were　the　prelude　to　the　first　reception　of
Mr　and　Mrs　Gowa