little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第97章

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I　have　not　grown　out　of　the　little　child　in　thinking　of　it；　and　at　the
self…same　moment　I　have　dreamed　that　I　have　sat　with　the　heart…ache　at
table；　calculating　the　expenses　of　the　dinner；　and　quite　distracting
myself　with　thinking　how　they　were　ever　to　be　made　good。　I　have　never
dreamed　of　the　change　in　our　fortunes　itself；　I　have　never　dreamed　of
your　ing　back　with　me　that　memorable　morning　to　break　it；　I　have
never　even　dreamed　of　you。

Dear　Mr　Clennam；　it　is　possible　that　I　have　thought　of　you……and
others……so　much　by　day；　that　I　have　no　thoughts　left　to　wander　round
you　by　night。　For　I　must　now　confess　to　you　that　I　suffer　from
home…sickness……that　I　long　so　ardently　and　earnestly　for　home；　as
sometimes；　when　no　one　sees　me；　to　pine　for　it。　I　cannot　bear　to　turn　my
face　further　away　from　it。　My　heart　is　a　little　lightened　when　we　turn
towards　it；　even　for　a　few　miles；　and　with　the　knowledge　that　we　are
soon　to　turn　away　again。　So　dearly　do　I　love　the　scene　of　my　poverty　and
your　kindness。　O　so　dearly；　O　so　dearly！

Heaven　knows　when　your　poor　child　will　see　England　again。　We　are　all
fond　of　the　life　here　（except　me）；　and　there　are　no　plans　for　our
return。　My　dear　father　talks　of　a　visit　to　London　late　in　this　next
spring；　on　some　affairs　connected　with　the　property；　but　I　have　no　hope
that　he　will　bring　me　with　him。

I　have　tried　to　get　on　a　little　better　under　Mrs　General's　instruction；
and　I　hope　I　am　not　quite　so　dull　as　I　used　to　be。　I　have　begun　to　speak
and　understand；　almost　easily；　the　hard　languages　I　told　you　about。　I
did　not　remember；　at　the　moment　when　I　wrote　last；　that　you　knew　them
both；　but　I　remembered　it　afterwards；　and　it　helped　me　on。　God　bless
you；　dear　Mr　Clennam。　Do　not　forget　your　ever　grateful　and　affectionate

LITTLE　DORRIT。

P。S。……Particularly　remember　that　Minnie　Gowan　deserves　the　best
remembrance　in　which　you　can　hold　her。　You　cannot　think　too　generously
or　too　highly　of　her。　I　forgot　Mr　Pancks　last　time。　Please；　if　you
should　see　him；　give　him　your　Little　Dorrit's　kind　regard。　He　was　very
good　to　Little　D。




CHAPTER　12。　In　which　a　Great　Patriotic　Conference　is　holden


The　famous　name　of　Merdle　became；　every　day；　more　famous　in　the　land。
Nobody　knew　that　the　Merdle　of　such　high　renown　had　ever　done　any　good
to　any　one；　alive　or　dead；　or　to　any　earthly　thing；　nobody　knew　that　he
had　any　capacity　or　utterance　of　any　sort　in　him；　which　had　ever　thrown；
for　any　creature；　the　feeblest　farthing…candle　ray　of　light　on　any　path
of　duty　or　diversion；　pain　or　pleasure；　toil　or　rest；　fact　or　fancy；
among　the　multiplicity　of　paths　in　the　labyrinth　trodden　by　the　sons
of　Adam；　nobody　had　the　smallest　reason　for　supposing　the　clay　of　which
this　object　of　worship　was　made；　to　be　other　than　the　monest　clay；
with　as　clogged　a　wick　smouldering　inside　of　it　as　ever　kept　an　image　of
humanity　from　tumbling　to　pieces。　All　people　knew　（or　thought　they　knew）
that　he　had　made　himself　immensely　rich；　and；　for　that　reason　alone；
prostrated　themselves　before　him；　more　degradedly　and　less　excusably
than　the　darkest　savage　creeps　out　of　his　hole　in　the　ground　to
propitiate；　in　some　log　or　reptile；　the　Deity　of　his　benighted　soul。

Nay；　the　high　priests　of　this　worship　had　the　man　before　them　as
a　protest　against　their　meanness。　The　multitude　worshipped　on
trust……though　always　distinctly　knowing　why……but　the　officiators　at　the
altar　had　the　man　habitually　in　their　view。　They　sat　at　his　feasts；　and
he　sat　at　theirs。　There　was　a　spectre　always　attendant　on　him；　saying　to
these　high　priests；　'Are　such　the　signs　you　trust；　and　love　to　honour；
this　head；　these　eyes；　this　mode　of　speech；　the　tone　and　manner　of　this
man？　You　are　the　levers　of　the　Circumlocution　Office；　and　the　rulers　of
men。　When　half…a…dozen　of　you　fall　out　by　the　ears；　it　seems　that　mother
earth　can　give　birth　to　no　other　rulers。　Does　your　qualification　lie　in
the　superior　knowledge　of　men　which　accepts；　courts；　and　puffs　this　man？
Or；　if　you　are　petent　to　judge　aright　the　signs　I　never　fail　to
show　you　when　he　appears　among　you；　is　your　superior　honesty　your
qualification？'　Two　rather　ugly　questions　these；　always　going　about
town　with　Mr　Merdle；　and　there　was　a　tacit　agreement　that　they　must　be
stifled。　In　Mrs　Merdle's　absence　abroad；　Mr　Merdle　still　kept　the　great
house　open　for　the　passage　through　it　of　a　stream　Of　visitors。　A　few　of
these　took　affable　possession　of　the　establishment。　Three　or　four　ladies
of　distinction　and　liveliness　used　to　say　to　one　another；　'Let　us　dine
at　our　dear　Merdle's　next　Thursday。　Whom　shall　we　have？'　Our　dear　Merdle
would　then　receive　his　instructions；　and　would　sit　heavily　among
the　pany　at　table　and　wander　lumpishly　about　his　drawing…rooms
afterwards；　only　remarkable　for　appearing　to　have　nothing　to　do　with　the
entertainment　beyond　being　in　its　way。

The　Chief　Butler；　the　Avenging　Spirit　of　this　great　man's　life；　relaxed
nothing　of　his　severity。　He　looked　on　at　these　dinners　when　the　bosom
was　not　there；　as　he　looked　on　at　other　dinners　when　the　bosom　was
there；　and　his　eye　was　a　basilisk　to　Mr　Merdle。　He　was　a　hard　man；　and
would　never　bate　an　ounce　of　plate　or　a　bottle　of　wine。　He　would　not
allow　a　dinner　to　be　given；　unless　it　was　up　to　his　mark。　He　set　forth
the　table　for　his　own　dignity。　If　the　guests　chose　to　partake　of　what
was　served；　he　saw　no　objection；　but　it　was　served　for　the　maintenance
of　his　rank。　As　he　stood　by　the　sideboard　he　seemed　to　announce；　'I　have
accepted　office　to　look　at　this　which　is　now　before　me；　and　to　look　at
nothing　less　than　this。'　If　he　missed　the　presiding　bosom；　it　was　as　a
part　of　his　own　state　of　which　he　was；　from　unavoidable　circumstances；
temporarily　deprived；　just　as　he　might　have　missed　a　centre…piece；　or　a
choice　wine…cooler；　which　had　been　sent　to　the　Banker's。

Mr　Merdle　issued　invitations　for　a　Barnacle　dinner。　Lord　Decimus　was　to
be　there；　Mr　Tite　Barnacle　was　to　be　there；　the　pleasant　young　Barnacle
was　to　be　there；　and　the　Chorus　of　Parliamentary　Barnacles　who　went
about　the　provinces　when　the　House　was　up；　warbling　the　praises　of　their
Chief；　were　to　be　represented　there。　It　was　understood　to　be　a　great
occasion。　Mr　Merdle　was　going　to　take　up　the　Barnacles。　Some　delicate
little　negotiations　had　occurred　between　him　and　the　noble　Decimus……the
young　Barnacle　of　engaging　manners　acting　as　negotiator……and　Mr　Merdle
had　decided　to　cast　the　weight　of　his　great　probity　and　great　riches
into　the　Barnacle　scale。　Jobbery　was　suspected　by　the　malicious；　perhaps
because　it　was　indisputable　that　if　the　adherence　of　the　immortal　Enemy
of　Mankind　could　have　been　secured　by　a　job；　the　Barnacles　would　have
jobbed　him……for　the　good　of　the　country；　for　the　good　of　the　country。

Mrs　Merdle　had　written　to　this　magnificent　spouse　of　hers；　whom　it　was
heresy　to　regard　as　anything　less　than　all　the　British　Merchants　since
the　days　of　Whittington　rolled　into　one；　and　gilded　three　feet　deep　all
over……had　written　to　this　spouse　of　hers；　several　letters　from　Rome；　in
quick　succession；　urging　upon　him　with　importunity　that　now　or　never　was
the　time　to　provide　for　Edmund　Sparkler。　Mrs　Merdle　had　shown　him　that
the　case　of　Edmund　was　urgent；　and　that　infinite　advantages　might　result
from　his　having　some　good　thing　directly。　In　the　grammar　of　Mrs
Merdle's　verbs　on　this　momentous　subject；　there　was　only　one　mood；　the
Imperative；　and　that　Mood　had　only　one　Tense；　the　Present。　Mrs　Merdle's
verbs　were　so　pressingly　presented　to　Mr　Merdle　to　conjugate；　that　his
sluggish　blood　and　his　long　coat…cuffs　became　quite　agitated。

In　which　state　of　agitation；　Mr　Merdle；　evasively　rolling　his　eyes
round　the　Chief　Butler's　shoes　without　raising　them　to　the　index　of　that
stupendous　creature's　thoughts；　had　signified　to　him　his　intention　of
giving　a　special　dinner：　not　a　very　large　dinner；　but　a　very　special
dinner。　The　Chief　Butler　had　signified；　in　return；　that　he　had　no
objection　to　look　on　at　the　most　expensive　thing　in　that　way　that　could
be　done；　and　the　day　of　the　dinner　was　now　e。

Mr　Merdle　stood　in　one　of　his　drawing…rooms；　with　his　back　to　the　fire；
waiting　for　the　arrival　of　his　important　guests。　He　seldom　or　never　took
the　liberty　of　standing　with　his　back　to　the　fire　unless　he　was　quite
alone。　In　the　presence　of　the　Chief　Butler；　he　could　not　have　done　such
a　deed。　He　would　have　clasped　himself　by　the　wrists　in　that　constabulary
manner　of　his；　and　have　paced　up　and　down　the　hearthrug；　or　gone
creeping　about　among　the　rich　objects　of　furniture；　if　his　oppressive
retainer　had　appeared　in　the　room　at　that　very　moment。　The　sly　shadows
which　seemed　to　dart　out　of　hiding　when　the　fire　rose；　and　to　dart　back
into　it　when　the　fire　fell；　were　sufficient　witnesses　of　his　making
himself　so　easy。

They　were　even　more　than　sufficient；　if　his　unfortable　glances　at
them　might　be　taken　to　mean　anything。

Mr　Merdle's　right　hand　was　filled　with　the　evening　paper；　and　the
evening　paper　was　full　of　Mr　Merdle。　His　wonderful　enterprise；　his
wonderful　wealth；　his　wonderful　Bank；　were　the　fattening　food　of　the
evening　paper　that　night。　The　wonderful　Bank；　of　which　he　was　the　chief
projector；　establisher；　and　manager；　was　the　latest　of　the　many　Merdle
wonders。　So　modest　was　Mr　Merdle　withal；　in　the　midst　of　these　splendid
achievements；　that　he　looked　far　more　like　a　man　in　possession　of　his
house　under　a　distraint；　than　a　mercial　Colossus　bestriding　his　own
hearthrug；　while　the　little　ships　were　sailing　into　dinner。

Behold　the　vessels　ing　into　port！　The　engaging　young　Barnacle　was　the
first　arrival；　but　Bar　overtook　him　on　the　staircase。　Bar；　strengthened
as　usual　with　his　double　eye…glass　and　his　little　jury　droop；　was
overjoyed　to　see　the　engaging　young　Barnacle；　and　opined　that　we　were
going　to　sit　in　Banco；　as　we　lawyers　called　it；　to　take　a　special
argument？

'Indeed；'　said　the　sprightly　young　Barnacle；　whose　name　was　Ferdinand；
'how　so？'

'Nay；'　smiled　Bar。　'If　you　don't　know；　how　can　I　know？　You　are　in　the
innermost　sanctuary　of　the　temple；　I　am　one　of　the　admiring　concourse　on
the　plain　without。'

Bar　could　be　light　in　hand；　or　heavy　in　hand；　according　to　the　customer
he　had　to　deal　with。　With　Ferdinand　Barnacle　he　was　gossamer。　Bar　was
likewise　always　modest　and　self…depreciatory……in　his　way。　Bar　was　a　man
of　great　variety；　but　one　leading　thread　ran　through　the　woof　of　all　his
patterns。　Every　man　with　whom　he　had　to　do　was　in　his　eyes　a　jury…man；
and　he　must　get　that　jury…man　over；　if　he　could。

'Our　illustrious　host　and　friend；'　said　Bar；　'our　shining　mercantile
star；……going　into　politics？'

'Going？　He　has　been　in　Parliament　some　time；　you　know；'　returned　the
engaging　young　Barnacle。

'True；'　said　Bar；　with　his　light…edy　laugh　for　special　jury…men；
which　was　a　very　different　thing　from　his　low…edy　laugh　for　ic
tradesmen　on　mon　juries：　'he　has　been　in　Parliament　for　some　time。
Yet　hitherto　our　star　has　been　a　vacillating　and　wavering　star？　Humph？'

An　average　witness　would　have　been　seduced　by　the　Humph？　into　an
affirmative　answer；　But　Ferdinand　Barnacle　looked　knowingly　at　Bar　as　he
strolled　up…stairs；　and　gave　him　no　answer　at　all。

'Just　so；　just　so；'　said　Bar；　nodding　his　head；　for　he　was　not　to　be　put
off　in　that　way；　'and　therefore　I　spoke　of　our　sitting　in　Banco　to　take
a　special　argument……meaning　this　to　be　a　high　and　solemn　occasion；　when；
as　Captain　Macheath　says；　〃the　judges　are　met：　a　terrible　show！〃　We
lawyers　are　sufficiently　liberal；　you　see；　to　quote　the　Captain；　though
the　Captain　is　severe　upon　us。　Nevertheless；　I　think　I　could　put　in
evidence　an　admission　of　the　Captain's；'　said　Bar；　with　a　little　jocose
roll　of　his　head；　for；　in　his　legal　current　of　speech；　he　always　assumed
the　air　of　rallying　himself　with　the　best　grace　in　the　world；　'an
admission　of　the　Captain's　that　Law；　in　the　gross；　is　at　least
intended　to　be　impartial。　For　what　says　the　Captain；　if　I　quote
him　correctly……and　if　not；'　with　a　light…edy　touch　of　his　double
eye…glass　on　his　panion's　shoulder；　'my　learned　friend　will　set　me
right：


　　　　　〃Since　laws　were　made　for　every　degree；
　　　　　To　curb　vice　in　others　as　well　as　in　me；
　　　　　I　wonder　we　ha'n't　better　pany
　　　　　Upon　Tyburn　Tree！〃'


These　words　brought　them　to　the　drawing…room；　where　Mr　Merdle　stood
before　the　fire。　So　immensely　astounded　was　Mr　Merdle　by　the　entrance
of　Bar　with　such　a　reference　in　his　mouth；　that　Bar　explained　himself
to　have　been　quoting　Gay。　'Assuredly　not　one　of　our　Westminster　Hall
authorities；'　said　he；　'but　still　no　despicable　one　to　a　man　possessing
the　largely…practical　Mr　Merdle's　knowledge　of　the　world。'

Mr　Merdle　looked　as　if　he　thought　he　would　say　something；　but
subsequently　looked　as　if　he　thought　he　wouldn't。　The　interval　afforded
time　for　Bishop　to　be　announced。　Bishop　came　in　with　meekness；　and　yet
with　a　strong　and　rapid　step　as　if　he　wanted　to　get　his　seven…league
dress…shoes　on；　and　go　round　the　world　to　see　that　everybody　was　in
a　satisfactory　state。　Bishop　had　no　idea　that　there　was　anything
significant　in　the　occasion。　That　was　the　most　remarkable　trait　in
his　demeanour。　He　was　crisp；　fresh；　cheerful；　affable；　bland；　but　so
surprisingl