little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第10部分

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gone。

The　affairs　of　this　debtor　were　perplexed　by　a　partnership；　of　which　he
knew　no　more　than　that　he　had　invested　money　in　it；　by　legal　matters
of　assignment　and　settlement；　conveyance　here　and　conveyance　there；
suspicion　of　unlawful　preference　of　creditors　in　this　direction；　and　of
mysterious　spiriting　away　of　property　in　that；　and　as　nobody　on　the　face
of　the　earth　could　be　more　incapable　of　explaining　any　single　item　in
the　heap　of　confusion　than　the　debtor　himself；　nothing　prehensible
could　be　made　of　his　case。　To　question　him　in　detail；　and　endeavour
to　reconcile　his　answers；　to　closet　him　with　accountants　and　sharp
practitioners；　learned　in　the　wiles　of　insolvency　and　bankruptcy；　was
only　to　put　the　case　out　at　pound　interest　and　inprehensibility。
The　irresolute　fingers　fluttered　more　and　more　ineffectually　about　the
trembling　lip　on　every　such　occasion；　and　the　sharpest　practitioners
gave　him　up　as　a　hopeless　job。

'Out？'　said　the　turnkey；　'he'll　never　get　out；　unless　his　creditors　take
him　by　the　shoulders　and　shove　him　out。'

He　had　been　there　five　or　six　months；　when　he　came　running　to　this
turnkey　one　forenoon　to　tell　him；　breathless　and　pale；　that　his　wife　was
ill。

'As　anybody　might　a　known　she　would　be；'　said　the　turnkey。

'We　intended；'　he　returned；　'that　she　should　go　to　a　country　lodging
only　to…morrow。　What　am　I　to　do！　Oh；　good　heaven；　what　am　I　to　do！'

'Don't　waste　your　time　in　clasping　your　hands　and　biting　your　fingers；'
responded　the　practical　turnkey；　taking　him　by　the　elbow；　'but　e
along　with　me。'

The　turnkey　conducted　him……trembling　from　head　to　foot；　and　constantly
crying　under　his　breath；　What　was　he　to　do！　while　his　irresolute　fingers
bedabbled　the　tears　upon　his　face……up　one　of　the　mon　staircases　in
the　prison　to　a　door　on　the　garret　story。　Upon　which　door　the　turnkey
knocked　with　the　handle　of　his　key。

'e　in！'　cried　a　voice　inside。

The　turnkey；　opening　the　door；　disclosed　in　a　wretched；　ill…smelling
little　room；　two　hoarse；　puffy；　red…faced　personages　seated　at　a
rickety　table；　playing　at　all…fours；　smoking　pipes；　and　drinking　brandy。
'Doctor；'　said　the　turnkey；　'here's　a　gentleman's　wife　in　want　of　you
without　a　minute's　loss　of　time！'

The　doctor's　friend　was　in　the　positive　degree　of　hoarseness；　puffiness；
red…facedness；　all…fours；　tobacco；　dirt；　and　brandy；　the　doctor　in
the　parative……hoarser；　puffier；　more　red…faced；　more　all…fourey；
tobaccoer；　dirtier；　and　brandier。　The　doctor　was　amazingly　shabby；　in
a　torn　and　darned　rough…weather　sea…jacket；　out　at　elbows　and　eminently
short　of　buttons　（he　had　been　in　his　time　the　experienced　surgeon
carried　by　a　passenger　ship）；　the　dirtiest　white　trousers　conceivable　by
mortal　man；　carpet　slippers；　and　no　visible　linen。　'Childbed？'　said
the　doctor。　'I'm　the　boy！'　With　that　the　doctor　took　a　b　from　the
chimney…piece　and　stuck　his　hair　upright……which　appeared　to　be　his
way　of　washing　himself……produced　a　professional　chest　or　case；　of　most
abject　appearance；　from　the　cupboard　where　his　cup　and　saucer　and　coals
were；　settled　his　chin　in　the　frowsy　wrapper　round　his　neck；　and　became
a　ghastly　medical　scarecrow。

The　doctor　and　the　debtor　ran　down…stairs；　leaving　the　turnkey　to　return
to　the　lock；　and　made　for　the　debtor's　room。　All　the　ladies　in　the
prison　had　got　hold　of　the　news；　and　were　in　the　yard。　Some　of　them
had　already　taken　possession　of　the　two　children；　and　were　hospitably
carrying　them　off；　others　were　offering　loans　of　little　forts　from
their　own　scanty　store；　others　were　sympathising　with　the　greatest
volubility。　The　gentlemen　prisoners；　feeling　themselves　at　a
disadvantage；　had　for　the　most　part　retired；　not　to　say　sneaked；
to　their　rooms；　from　the　open　windows　of　which　some　of　them　now
plimented　the　doctor　with　whistles　as　he　passed　below；　while　others；
with　several　stories　between　them；　interchanged　sarcastic　references　to
the　prevalent　excitement。

It　was　a　hot　summer　day；　and　the　prison　rooms　were　baking　between　the
high　walls。　In　the　debtor's　confined　chamber；　Mrs　Bangham；　charwoman　and
messenger；　who　was　not　a　prisoner　（though　she　had　been　once）；　but
was　the　popular　medium　of　munication　with　the　outer　world；　had
volunteered　her　services　as　fly…catcher　and　general　attendant。　The　walls
and　ceiling　were　blackened　with　flies。　Mrs　Bangham；　expert　in　sudden
device；　with　one　hand　fanned　the　patient　with　a　cabbage　leaf；　and　with
the　other　set　traps　of　vinegar　and　sugar　in　gallipots；　at　the　same　time
enunciating　sentiments　of　an　encouraging　and　congratulatory　nature；
adapted　to　the　occasion。

'The　flies　trouble　you；　don't　they；　my　dear？'　said　Mrs　Bangham。　'But
p'raps　they'll　take　your　mind　off　of　it；　and　do　you　good。　What　between
the　buryin　ground；　the　grocer's；　the　waggon…stables；　and　the　paunch
trade；　the　Marshalsea　flies　gets　very　large。　P'raps　they're　sent　as　a
consolation；　if　we　only　know'd　it。　How　are　you　now；　my　dear？　No　better？
No；　my　dear；　it　ain't　to　be　expected；　you'll　be　worse　before　you're
better；　and　you　know　it；　don't　you？　Yes。　That's　right！　And　to　think　of
a　sweet　little　cherub　being　born　inside　the　lock！　Now　ain't　it　pretty；
ain't　THAT　something　to　carry　you　through　it　pleasant？　Why；　we　ain't
had　such　a　thing　happen　here；　my　dear；　not　for　I　couldn't　name　the　time
when。　And　you　a　crying　too？'　said　Mrs　Bangham；　to　rally　the　patient　more
and　more。　'You！　Making　yourself　so　famous！　With　the　flies　a　falling　into
the　gallipots　by　fifties！　And　everything　a　going　on　so　well！　And　here　if
there　ain't；'　said　Mrs　Bangham　as　the　door　opened；　'if　there　ain't　your
dear　gentleman　along　with　Dr　Haggage！　And　now　indeed　we　ARE　plete；　I
THINK！'

The　doctor　was　scarcely　the　kind　of　apparition　to　inspire　a　patient
with　a　sense　of　absolute　pleteness；　but　as　he　presently　delivered　the
opinion；　'We　are　as　right　as　we　can　be；　Mrs　Bangham；　and　we　shall
e　out　of　this　like　a　house　afire；'　and　as　he　and　Mrs　Bangham　took
possession　of　the　poor　helpless　pair；　as　everybody　else　and　anybody　else
had　always　done；　the　means　at　hand　were　as　good　on　the　whole　as　better
would　have　been。　The　special　feature　in　Dr　Haggage's　treatment　of　the
case；　was　his　determination　to　keep　Mrs　Bangham　up　to　the　mark。　As　thus：

'Mrs　Bangham；'　said　the　doctor；　before　he　had　been　there　twenty　minutes；
'go　outside　and　fetch　a　little　brandy；　or　we　shall　have　you　giving　in。'

'Thank　you；　sir。　But　none　on　my　accounts；'　said　Mrs　Bangham。

'Mrs　Bangham；'　returned　the　doctor；　'I　am　in　professional　attendance
on　this　lady；　and　don't　choose　to　allow　any　discussion　on　your　part。　Go
outside　and　fetch　a　little　brandy；　or　I　foresee　that　you'll　break　down。'

'You're　to　be　obeyed；　sir；'　said　Mrs　Bangham；　rising。　'If　you　was　to　put
your　own　lips　to　it；　I　think　you　wouldn't　be　the　worse；　for　you　look　but
poorly；　sir。'

'Mrs　Bangham；'　returned　the　doctor；　'I　am　not　your　business；　thank　you；
but　you　are　mine。　Never　you　mind　ME；　if　you　please。　What　you　have　got　to
do；　is；　to　do　as　you　are　told；　and　to　go　and　get　what　I　bid　you。'

Mrs　Bangham　submitted；　and　the　doctor；　having　administered　her
potion；　took　his　own。　He　repeated　the　treatment　every　hour；　being　very
determined　with　Mrs　Bangham。　Three　or　four　hours　passed；　the　flies
fell　into　the　traps　by　hundreds；　and　at　length　one　little　life；　hardly
stronger　than　theirs；　appeared　among　the　multitude　of　lesser　deaths。

'A　very　nice　little　girl　indeed；'　said　the　doctor；　'little；　but
well…formed。　Halloa；　Mrs　Bangham！　You're　looking　queer！　You　be　off；
ma'am；　this　minute；　and　fetch　a　little　more　brandy；　or　we　shall　have　you
in　hysterics。'

By　this　time；　the　rings　had　begun　to　fall　from　the　debtor's　irresolute
hands；　like　leaves　from　a　wintry　tree。　Not　one　was　left　upon　them　that
night；　when　he　put　something　that　chinked　into　the　doctor's　greasy　palm。
In　the　meantime　Mrs　Bangham　had　been　out　on　an　errand　to　a　neighbouring
establishment　decorated　with　three　golden　balls；　where　she　was　very　well
known。

'Thank　you；'　said　the　doctor；　'thank　you。　Your　good　lady　is　quite
posed。　Doing　charmingly。'

'I　am　very　happy　and　very　thankful　to　know　it；'　said　the　debtor；　'though
I　little　thought　once；　that……'

'That　a　child　would　be　born　to　you　in　a　place　like　this？'　said　the
doctor。　'Bah；　bah；　sir；　what　does　it　signify？　A　little　more　elbow…room
is　all　we　want　here。　We　are　quiet　here；　we　don't　get　badgered　here；
there's　no　knocker　here；　sir；　to　be　hammered　at　by　creditors　and　bring　a
man's　heart　into　his　mouth。　Nobody　es　here　to　ask　if　a　man's　at
home；　and　to　say　he'll　stand　on　the　door　mat　till　he　is。　Nobody　writes
threatening　letters　about　money　to　this　place。　It's　freedom；　sir；　it's
freedom！　I　have　had　to…day's　practice　at　home　and　abroad；　on　a　march；
and　aboard　ship；　and　I'll　tell　you　this：　I　don't　know　that　I　have　ever
pursued　it　under　such　quiet　circumstances　as　here　this　day。　Elsewhere；
people　are　restless；　worried；　hurried　about；　anxious　respecting　one
thing；　anxious　respecting　another。　Nothing　of　the　kind　here；　sir。　We
have　done　all　that……we　know　the　worst　of　it；　we　have　got　to　the　bottom；
we　can't　fall；　and　what　have　we　found？　Peace。　That's　the　word　for
it。　Peace。'　With　this　profession　of　faith；　the　doctor；　who　was　an　old
jail…bird；　and　was　more　sodden　than　usual；　and　had　the　additional　and
unusual　stimulus　of　money　in　his　pocket；　returned　to　his　associate　and
chum　in　hoarseness；　puffiness；　red…facedness；　all…fours；　tobacco；　dirt；
and　brandy。

Now；　the　debtor　was　a　very　different　man　from　the　doctor；　but　he　had
already　begun　to　travel；　by　his　opposite　segment　of　the　circle；　to　the
same　point。　Crushed　at　first　by　his　imprisonment；　he　had　soon　found　a
dull　relief　in　it。　He　was　under　lock　and　key；　but　the　lock　and　key　that
kept　him　in；　kept　numbers　of　his　troubles　out。　If　he　had　been　a　man　with
strength　of　purpose　to　face　those　troubles　and　fight　them；　he　might　have
broken　the　　that　held　him；　or　broken　his　heart；　but　being　what　he
was；　he　languidly　slipped　into　this　smooth　descent；　and　never　more　took
one　step　upward。

When　he　was　relieved　of　the　perplexed　affairs　that　nothing　would　make
plain；　through　having　them　returned　upon　his　hands　by　a　dozen　agents　in
succession　who　could　make　neither　beginning；　middle；　nor　end　of　them　or
him；　he　found　his　miserable　place　of　refuge　a　quieter　refuge　than　it
had　been　before。　He　had　unpacked　the　portmanteau　long　ago；　and　his　elder
children　now　played　regularly　about　the　yard；　and　everybody　knew　the
baby；　and　claimed　a　kind　of　proprietorship　in　her。

'Why；　I'm　getting　proud　of　you；'　said　his　friend　the　turnkey；　one　day。
'You'll　be　the　oldest　inhabitant　soon。　The　Marshalsea　wouldn't　be　like
the　Marshalsea　now；　without　you　and　your　family。'

The　turnkey　really　was　proud　of　him。　He　would　mention　him　in　laudatory
terms　to　new…ers；　when　his　back　was　turned。　'You　took　notice　of　him；'
he　would　say；　'that　went　out　of　the　lodge　just　now？'

New…er　would　probably　answer　Yes。

'Brought　up　as　a　gentleman；　he　was；　if　ever　a　man　was。　Ed'cated　at　no
end　of　expense。　Went　into　the　Marshal's　house　once　to　try　a　new　piano
for　him。　Played　it；　I　understand；　like　one　o'clock……beautiful！　As　to
languages……speaks　anything。　We've　had　a　Frenchman　here　in　his　time；　and
it's　my　opinion　he　knowed　more　French　than　the　Frenchman　did。　We've　had
an　Italian　here　in　his　time；　and　he　shut　him　up　in　about　half　a　minute。
You'll　find　some　characters　behind　other　locks；　I　don't　say　you　won't；
but　if　you　want　the　top　sawyer　in　such　respects　as　I've　mentioned；　you
must　e　to　the　Marshalsea。'

When　his　youngest　child　was　eight　years　old；　his　wife；　who　had　long　been
languishing　away……of　her　own　inherent　weakness；　not　that　she　retained
any　greater　sensitiveness　as　to　her　place　of　abode　than　he　did……went
upon　a　visit　to　a　poor　friend　and　old　nurse　in　the　country；　and　died
there。　He　remained　shut　up　in　his　room　for　a　fortnight　afterwards；
and　an　attorney's　clerk；　who　was　going　through　the　Insolvent　Court；
engrossed　an　address　of　condolence　to　him；　which　looked　like　a　Lease；
and　which　all　the　prisoners　signed。

When　he　appeared　again　he　was　greyer　（he　had　soon　begun　to　turn　grey）；
and　the　turnkey　noticed　that　his　hands　went　often　to　his　trembling　lips
again；　as　they　had　used　to　do　when　he　first　came　in。

But　he　got　pretty　well　over　it　in　a　month　or　two；　and　in　the　meantime
the　children　played　about　the　yard　as　regularly　as　ever；　but　in　black。

Then　Mrs　Bangham；　long　popular　medium　of　munication　with　the　outer
world；　began　to　be　infirm；　and　to　be　found　oftener　than　usual　atose
on　pavements；　with　her　basket　of　purchases　spilt；　and　the　change　of　her
clients　ninepence　short。　His　son　began　to　supersede　Mrs　Bangham；　and
to　execute　missions　in　a　knowing　manner；　and　to　be　of　the　prison
prisonous；　of　the　streets　streety。

Time　went　on；　and　the　turnkey　began　to　fail。　His　chest　swelled；　and　his
legs　got　weak；　and　he　was　short　of　breath。　The　well…worn　wooden　stool
was　'beyond　him；'　he　plained。　He　sat　in　an　arm…chair　with　a　cushion；
and　sometimes　wheezed　so；　for　minutes　together；　that　he　couldn't　turn
the　key。　When　he　was　overpowered　by　these　fits；　the　debtor　often　turned
it　for　him。　'You　and　me；'　said　the　turnkey；　one　snowy　winter's　night
when　the　lodge；　with　a　bright　fire　in　it；　was　pretty　full　of　pany；
'is　the　oldest　inhabitants。　I　wasn't　here　myself　above　seven　year　before
you。　I　shan't　last　long。　When　I'm　off　the　lock　for　good　and　all；　you'll
be　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea。'

The　turnkey　went　off　the　lock　of　this　world　next　day。　His　words　were
remembered　and　repeated；　and　tradition　afterwards　handed　down　from
generation　to　generation……a　Marshalsea　generation　might　be　calculated　as
about　three　months……that　the　shabby　old　debtor　with　the　soft　manner　and
the　white　hair；　was　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea。

And　he　grew　to　be　proud　of　the　title。　If　any　impostor　had　arisen　to
claim　it；　he　would　have　shed　tears　in　resentment　of　the　attempt　to
deprive　him　of　his　rights。　A　disposition　began　to　be　perceived　in　him
to　exaggerate　the　number　of　years　he　had　been　there；　it　was　generally
understood　that　you　must　deduct　a　few　from　his　account；　he　was　vain；　the
fleeting　generations　of　debtors　said。

All　new…ers　were　presented　to　him。　He　was　punctilious　in　the　exaction
of　this　ceremony。　The　wits　would　perform　the　office　of　introduction　with
overcharged　pomp　and　politeness；　but　they　could　not　easily　overstep　his
sense　of　its　gravity。　He　received　them　in　his　poor　room　（he　disliked　an
introduction　in　the　mere　yard；　as　informal……a　thing　that　might　happen
to　anybody）；　with　a　kind　of　bowed…down　beneficence。　They　were　wele　to
the　Marshalsea；　he　would　tell　them。　Yes；　he　was　the　Father　of　the　place。
So　the　world　was　kind　enough　to　call　him；　and　so　he　was；　if　more　than
twenty　years　of　residence　gave　him　a　claim　to　the　title。　It　looked
small　at　first；　but　there　was　very　good　pany　there……among　a
mixture……necessarily　a　mixture……and　very　good　air。

It　became　a　not　unusual　circumstance　for　letters　to　be　put　under　his
door　at　night；　enclosing　half…a…crown；　two　half…crowns；　now　and　then　at
long　intervals　even　half…a…sovereign；　for　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea。
'With　the　pliments　of　a　collegian　taking　leave。'　He　received　the
gifts　as　tributes；　from　admirers；　to　a　public　character。　Sometime