little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第24部分

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had　stood　to　one　another。　'Finching？'

'Finching　oh　yes　isn't　it　a　dreadful　name；　but　as　Mr　F。　said　when　he
proposed　to　me　which　he　did　seven　times　and　handsomely　consented　I　must
say　to　be　what　he　used　to　call　on　liking　twelve　months；　after　all；　he
wasn't　answerable　for　it　and　couldn't　help　it　could　he；　Excellent　man；
not　at　all　like　you　but　excellent　man！'

Flora　had　at　last　talked　herself　out　of　breath　for　one　moment。　One
moment；　for　she　recovered　breath　in　the　act　of　raising　a　minute　corner
of　her　pocket…handkerchief　to　her　eye；　as　a　tribute　to　the　ghost　of　the
departed　Mr　F。；　and　began　again。

'No　one　could　dispute；　Arthur……Mr　Clennam……that　it's　quite　right　you
should　be　formally　friendly　to　me　under　the　altered　circumstances　and
indeed　you　couldn't　be　anything　else；　at　least　I　suppose　not　you　ought
to　know；　but　I　can't　help　recalling　that　there　was　a　time　when　things
were　very　different。'

'My　dear　Mrs　Finching；'　Arthur　began；　struck　by　the　good　tone　again。

'Oh　not　that　nasty　ugly　name；　say　Flora！'

'Flora。　I　assure　you；　Flora；　I　am　happy　in　seeing　you　once　more；　and　in
finding　that；　like　me；　you　have　not　forgotten　the　old　foolish　dreams；
when　we　saw　all　before　us　in　the　light　of　our　youth　and　hope。'

'You　don't　seem　so；'　pouted　Flora；　'you　take　it　very　coolly；　but
however　I　know　you　are　disappointed　in　me；　I　suppose　the　Chinese
ladies……Mandarinesses　if　you　call　them　so……are　the　cause　or　perhaps　I　am
the　cause　myself；　it's　just　as　likely。'

'No；　no；'　Clennam　entreated；　'don't　say　that。'

'Oh　I　must　you　know；'　said　Flora；　in　a　positive　tone；　'what　nonsense　not
to；　I　know　I　am　not　what　you　expected；　I　know　that　very　well。'

In　the　midst　of　her　rapidity；　she　had　found　that　out　with　the　quick
perception　of　a　cleverer　woman。　The　inconsistent　and　profoundly
unreasonable　way　in　which　she　instantly　went　on；　nevertheless；　to
interweave　their　long…abandoned　boy　and　girl　relations　with　their
present　interview；　made　Clennam　feel　as　if　he　were　light…headed。

'One　remark；'　said　Flora；　giving　their　conversation；　without　the
slightest　notice　and　to　the　great　terror　of　Clennam；　the　tone　of　a
love…quarrel；　'I　wish　to　make；　one　explanation　I　wish　to　offer；　when
your　Mama　came　and　made　a　scene　of　it　with　my　Papa　and　when　I　was　called
down　into　the　little　breakfast…room　where　they　were　looking　at　one
another　with　your　Mama's　parasol　between　them　seated　on　two　chairs　like
mad　bulls　what　was　I　to　do？'

'My　dear　Mrs　Finching；'　urged　Clennam……'all　so　long　ago　and　so　long
concluded；　is　it　worth　while　seriously　to……'

'I　can't　Arthur；'　returned　Flora；　'be　denounced　as　heartless　by　the
whole　society　of　China　without　setting　myself　right　when　I　have　the
opportunity　of　doing　so；　and　you　must　be　very　well　aware　that　there
was　Paul　and　Virginia　which　had　to　be　returned　and　which　was　returned
without　note　or　ment；　not　that　I　mean　to　say　you　could　have　written
to　me　watched　as　I　was　but　if　it　had　only　e　back　with　a　red　wafer　on
the　cover　I　should　have　known　that　it　meant　e　to　Pekin　Nankeen　and
What's　the　third　place；　barefoot。'

'My　dear　Mrs　Finching；　you　were　not　to　blame；　and　I　never　blamed　you。
We　were　both　too　young；　too　dependent　and　helpless；　to　do　anything　but
accept　our　separation。……Pray　think　how　long　ago；'　gently　remonstrated
Arthur。　'One　more　remark；'　proceeded　Flora　with　unslackened　volubility；
'I　wish　to　make；　one　more　explanation　I　wish　to　offer；　for　five　days　I
had　a　cold　in　the　head　from　crying　which　I　passed　entirely　in　the　back
drawing…room……there　is　the　back　drawing…room　still　on　the　first　floor
and　still　at　the　back　of　the　house　to　confirm　my　words……when　that　dreary
period　had　passed　a　lull　succeeded　years　rolled　on　and　Mr　F。　became
acquainted　with　us　at　a　mutual　friend's；　he　was　all　attention　he　called
next　day　he　soon　began　to　call　three　evenings　a　week　and　to　send
in　little　things　for　supper　it　was　not　love　on　Mr　F。's　part　it　was
adoration；　Mr　F。　proposed　with　the　full　approval　of　Papa　and　what　could
I　do？'

'Nothing　whatever；'　said　Arthur；　with　the　cheerfulest　readiness；　'but
what　you　did。　Let　an　old　friend　assure　you　of　his　full　conviction　that
you　did　quite　right。'

'One　last　remark；'　proceeded　Flora；　rejecting　monplace　life　with　a
wave　of　her　hand；　'I　wish　to　make；　one　last　explanation　I　wish　to　offer；
there　was　a　time　ere　Mr　F。　first　paid　attentions　incapable　of　being
mistaken；　but　that　is　past　and　was　not　to　be；　dear　Mr　Clennam　you　no
longer　wear　a　golden　chain　you　are　free　I　trust　you　may　be　happy；　here
is　Papa　who　is　always　tiresome　and　putting　in　his　nose　everywhere　where
he　is　not　wanted。'

With　these　words；　and　with　a　hasty　gesture　fraught　with　timid
caution……such　a　gesture　had　Clennam's　eyes　been　familiar　with　in　the　old
time……poor　Flora　left　herself　at　eighteen　years　of　age；　a　long　long　way
behind　again；　and　came　to　a　full　stop　at　last。

Or　rather；　she　left　about　half　of　herself　at　eighteen　years　of　age
behind；　and　grafted　the　rest　on　to　the　relict　of　the　late　Mr　F。；　thus
making　a　moral　mermaid　of　herself；　which　her　once　boy…lover　contemplated
with　feelings　wherein　his　sense　of　the　sorrowful　and　his　sense　of　the
ical　were　curiously　blended。

For　example。　As　if　there　were　a　secret　understanding　between　herself
and　Clennam　of　the　most　thrilling　nature；　as　if　the　first　of　a　train　of
post…chaises　and　four；　extending　all　the　way　to　Scotland；　were　at　that
moment　round　the　corner；　and　as　if　she　couldn't　（and　wouldn't）　have
walked　into　the　Parish　Church　with　him；　under　the　shade　of　the　family
umbrella；　with　the　Patriarchal　blessing　on　her　head；　and　the　perfect
concurrence　of　all　mankind；　Flora　forted　her　soul　with　agonies　of
mysterious　signalling；　expressing　dread　of　discovery。　With　the　sensation
of　being　more　and　more　light…headed　every　minute；　Clennam　saw　the
relict　of　the　late　Mr　F。　enjoying　herself　in　the　most　wonderful　manner；
by　putting　herself　and　him　in　their　old　places；　and　going　through　all
the　old　performances……now；　when　the　stage　was　dusty；　when　the　scenery
was　faded；　when　the　youthful　actors　were　dead；　when　the　orchestra　was
empty；　when　the　lights　were　out。　And　still；　through　all　this　grotesque
revival　of　what　he　remembered　as　having　once　been　prettily　natural　to
her；　he　could　not　but　feel　that　it　revived　at　sight　of　him；　and　that
there　was　a　tender　memory　in　it。

The　Patriarch　insisted　on　his　staying　to　dinner；　and　Flora　signalled
'Yes！'　Clennam　so　wished　he　could　have　done　more　than　stay　to　dinner……so
heartily　wished　he　could　have　found　the　Flora　that　had　been；　or　that
never　had　been……that　he　thought　the　least　atonement　he　could　make　for
the　disappointment　he　almost　felt　ashamed　of；　was　to　give　himself　up　to
the　family　desire。　Therefore；　he　stayed　to　dinner。

Pancks　dined　with　them。　Pancks　steamed　out　of　his　little　dock　at　a
quarter　before　six；　and　bore　straight　down　for　the　Patriarch；　who
happened　to　be　then　driving；　in　an　inane　manner；　through　a　stagnant
account　of　Bleeding　Heart　Yard。　Pancks　instantly　made　fast　to　him　and
hauled　him　out。

'Bleeding　Heart　Yard？'　said　Pancks；　with　a　puff　and　a　snort。　'It's　a
troublesome　property。　Don't　pay　you　badly；　but　rents　are　very　hard　to
get　there。　You　have　more　trouble　with　that　one　place　than　with　all　the
places　belonging　to　you。'

Just　as　the　big　ship　in　tow　gets　the　credit；　with　most　spectators；　of
being　the　powerful　object；　so　the　Patriarch　usually　seemed　to　have　said
himself　whatever　Pancks　said　for　him。

'Indeed？'　returned　Clennam；　upon　whom　this　impression　was　so　efficiently
made　by　a　mere　gleam　of　the　polished　head　that　he　spoke　the　ship　instead
of　the　Tug。　'The　people　are　so　poor　there？'

'You　can't　say；　you　know；'　snorted　Pancks；　taking　one　of　his　dirty　hands
out　of　his　rusty　iron…grey　pockets　to　bite　his　nails；　if　he　could　find
any；　and　turning　his　beads　of　eyes　upon　his　employer；　'whether　they're
poor　or　not。　They　say　they　are；　but　they　all　say　that。　When　a　man　says
he's　rich；　you're　generally　sure　he　isn't。　Besides；　if　they　ARE　poor；
you　can't　help　it。　You'd　be　poor　yourself　if　you　didn't　get　your　rents。'

'True　enough；'　said　Arthur。

'You're　not　going　to　keep　open　house　for　all　the　poor　of　London；'
pursued　Pancks。　'You're　not　going　to　lodge　'em　for　nothing。　You're　not
going　to　open　your　gates　wide　and　let　'em　e　free。　Not　if　you　know　it；
you　ain't。'

Mr　Casby　shook　his　head；　in　Placid　and　benignant　generality。

'If　a　man　takes　a　room　of　you　at　half…a…crown　a　week；　and　when　the　week
es　round　hasn't　got　the　half…crown；　you　say　to　that　man；　Why　have　you
got　the　room；　then？　If　you　haven't　got　the　one　thing；　why　have　you　got
the　other？　What　have　you　been　and　done　with　your　money？　What　do　you　mean
by　it？　What　are　you　up　to？　That's　what　YOU　say　to　a　man　of　that　sort；
and　if　you　didn't　say　it；　more　shame　for　you！'　Mr　Pancks　here　made　a
singular　and　startling　noise；　produced　by　a　strong　blowing　effort　in　the
region　of　the　nose；　unattended　by　any　result　but　that　acoustic　one。

'You　have　some　extent　of　such　property　about　the　east　and　north…east
here；　I　believe？'　said　Clennam；　doubtful　which　of　the　two　to　address。

'Oh；　pretty　well；'　said　Pancks。　'You're　not　particular　to　east　or
north…east；　any　point　of　the　pass　will　do　for　you。　What　you　want　is
a　good　investment　and　a　quick　return。　You　take　it　where　you　can　find　it。
You　ain't　nice　as　to　situation……not　you。'

There　was　a　fourth　and　most　original　figure　in　the　Patriarchal　tent；　who
also　appeared　before　dinner。　This　was　an　amazing　little　old　woman；　with
a　face　like　a　staring　wooden　doll　too　cheap　for　expression；　and　a　stiff
yellow　wig　perched　unevenly　on　the　top　of　her　head；　as　if　the　child　who
owned　the　doll　had　driven　a　tack　through　it　anywhere；　so　that　it　only
got　fastened　on。　Another　remarkable　thing　in　this　little　old　woman　was；
that　the　same　child　seemed　to　have　damaged　her　face　in　two　or　three
places　with　some　blunt　instrument　in　the　nature　of　a　spoon；　her
countenance；　and　particularly　the　tip　of　her　nose；　presenting　the
phenomena　of　several　dints；　generally　answering　to　the　bowl　of　that
article。　A　further　remarkable　thing　in　this　little　old　woman　was；　that
she　had　no　name　but　Mr　F。's　Aunt。

She　broke　upon　the　visitor's　view　under　the　following　circumstances：
Flora　said　when　the　first　dish　was　being　put　on　the　table；　perhaps　Mr
Clennam　might　not　have　heard　that　Mr　F。　had　left　her　a　legacy？　Clennam
in　return　implied　his　hope　that　Mr　F。　had　endowed　the　wife　whom　he
adored；　with　the　greater　part　of　his　worldly　substance；　if　not　with　all。
Flora　said；　oh　yes；　she　didn't　mean　that；　Mr　F。　had　made　a　beautiful
will；　but　he　had　left　her　as　a　separate　legacy；　his　Aunt。　She　then
went　out　of　the　room　to　fetch　the　legacy；　and；　on　her　return；　rather
triumphantly　presented　'Mr　F。's　Aunt。'

The　major　characteristics　discoverable　by　the　stranger　in　Mr　F。's　Aunt；
were　extreme　severity　and　grim　taciturnity；　sometimes　interrupted　by
a　propensity　to　offer　remarks　in　a　deep　warning　voice；　which；　being
totally　uncalled　for　by　anything　said　by　anybody；　and　traceable　to　no
association　of　ideas；　confounded　and　terrified　the　Mind。　Mr　F。's　Aunt
may　have　thrown　in　these　observations　on　some　system　of　her　own；　and　it
may　have　been　ingenious；　or　even　subtle：　but　the　key　to　it　was　wanted。
The　neatly…served　and　well…cooked　dinner　（for　everything　about　the
Patriarchal　household　promoted　quiet　digestion）　began　with　some　soup；
some　fried　soles；　a　butter…boat　of　shrimp　sauce；　and　a　dish　of　potatoes。
The　conversation　still　turned　on　the　receipt　of　rents。　Mr　F。's　Aunt；
after　regarding　the　pany　for　ten　minutes　with　a　malevolent　gaze；
delivered　the　following　fearful　remark：

'When　we　lived　at　Henley；　Barnes's　gander　was　stole　by　tinkers。'　Mr
Pancks　courageously　nodded　his　head　and　said；　'All　right；　ma'am。'　But
the　effect　of　this　mysterious　munication　upon　Clennam　was　absolutely
to　frighten　him。　And　another　circumstance　invested　this　old　lady　with
peculiar　terrors。　Though　she　was　always　staring；　she　never　acknowledged
that　she　saw　any　individual。

The　polite　and　attentive　stranger　would　desire；　say；　to　consult　her
inclinations　on　the　subject　of　potatoes。　His　expressive　action　would　be
hopelessly　lost　upon　her；　and　what　could　he　do？　No　man　could　say；　'Mr
F。's　Aunt；　will　you　permit　me？'　Every　man　retired　from　the　spoon；　as
Clennam　did；　cowed　and　baffled。

There　was　mutton；　a　steak；　and　an　apple…pie……nothing　in　the　remotest
way　connected　with　ganders……and　the　dinner　went　on　like　a　disenchanted
feast；　as　it　truly　was。　Once　upon　a　time　Clennam　had　sat　at　that　table
taking　no　heed　of　anything　but　Flora；　now　the　principal　heed　he　took
of　Flora　was　to　observe；　against　his　will；　that　she　was　very　fond　of
porter；　that　she　bined　a　great　deal　of　sherry　with　sentiment；　and
that　if　she　were　a　little　overgrown；　it　was　upon　substantial　grounds。
The　last　of　the　Patriarchs　had　always　been　a　mighty　eater；　and　he
disposed　of　an　immense　quantity　of　solid　food　with　the　benignity　of　a
good　soul　who　was　feeding　some　one　else。　Mr　Pancks；　who　was　always　in　a
hurry；　and　who　referred　at　intervals　to　a　little　dirty　notebook　which　he
kept　beside　him　（perhaps　containing　the　names　of　the　defaulters　he　meant
to　look　up　by　way　of　dessert）；　took　in　his　victuals　much　as　if　he　were
coaling；　with　a　good　deal　of　noise；　a　good　deal　of　dropping　about；　and　a
puff　and　a　snort　occasionally；　as　if　he　were　nearly　ready　to　steam　away。

All　through　dinner；　Flora　bined　her　present　appetite　for　eating　and
drinking　with　her　past　appetite　for　romantic　love；　in　a　way　that　made
Clennam　afraid　to　lift　his　eyes　from　his　plate；　since　he　could　not
look　towards　her　without　receiving　some　glance　of　mysterious　meaning　or
warning；　as　if　they　were　engaged　in　a　plot。　Mr　F。's　Aunt　sat　silently
defying　him　with　an　aspect　of　the　greatest　bitterness；　until　the　removal
of　the　cloth　and　the　appearance　of　the　decanters；　when　she　originated
another　observation……struck　into　the　conversation　like　a　clock；　without
consulting　anybody。

Flora　had　just　said；　'Mr　Clennam；　will　you　give　me　a　glass　of　port　for
Mr　F。's　Aunt？'

'The　Monument　near　London　Bridge；'　that　lady　instantly　proclaimed；　'was
put　up　arter　the　Great　Fire　of　London；　and　the　Great　Fire　of　London　was
not　the　fire　in　which　your　uncle　George's　workshops　was　burned　down。'

Mr　Pancks；　with　his　former　courage；　said；　'Indeed；　ma'am？　All　right！'
But　appearing　to　be　incensed　by　imaginary　contradiction；　or　other
ill…usage；　Mr　F。's　Aunt；　instead　of　relapsing　into　silence；　made　the
following　additional　proclamation：

'I　hate　a　fool！'

She　imparted　to　this　sentiment；　in　itself　almost　Solomonic；　so　extremely
injurious　and　personal　a　character　by　levelling　it　straight　at　the
visitor's　head；　that　it　became　necessary　to　lead　Mr　F。's　Aunt　from
the　room。　This　was　quietly　done　by　Flora；　Mr　F。's　Aunt　offering　no
resistance；　but　inquiring　on　her　way　out；　'What　he　e　there　for；
then？'　with　implacable　animosity。

When　Flora　returned；　she　explained　that　her　legacy　was　a　clever
old　lady；　but　was　sometimes　a　little　singular；　and　'took
dislikes'……peculiarities　of　which　Flora　seemed　to　be　proud　rather　than
otherwise。　As　Flora's　good　nature　shone　in　the　case；　Clennam　had　no
fault　to　find　with　the　old　lady　for　eliciting　it；　now　that　he　was
relieved　from　the