little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第31部分

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'Perfectly　well。'　'And　when　you　gave　me　some　other　good　advice　which　I
needed　at　that　time？'

'I　won't　say　what　it　was　worth；'　answered　Mr　Meagles：　'but　of　course　I
remember　our　being　very　pleasant　and　confidential　together。'

'I　have　acted　on　your　advice；　and　having　disembarrassed　myself　of　an
occupation　that　was　painful　to　me　for　many　reasons；　wish　to　devote
myself　and　what　means　I　have；　to　another　pursuit。'

'Right！　You　can't　do　it　too　soon；'　said　Mr　Meagles。

'Now；　as　I　came　down　to…day；　I　found　that　your　friend；　Mr　Doyce；　is
looking　for　a　partner　in　his　business……not　a　partner　in　his　mechanical
knowledge；　but　in　the　ways　and　means　of　turning　the　business　arising
from　it　to　the　best　account。'

'Just　so；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　and　with
the　old　business　expression　of　face　that　had　belonged　to　the　scales　and
scoop。

'Mr　Doyce　mentioned　incidentally；　in　the　course　of　our　conversation；
that　he　was　going　to　take　your　valuable　advice　on　the　subject　of　finding
such　a　partner。　If　you　should　think　our　views　and　opportunities　at　all
likely　to　coincide；　perhaps　you　will　let　him　know　my　available　position。
I　speak；　of　course；　in　ignorance　of　the　details；　and　they　may　be
unsuitable　on　both　sides。'

'No　doubt；　no　doubt；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　with　the　caution　belonging　to　the
scales　and　scoop。

'But　they　will　be　a　question　of　figures　and　accounts……'

'Just　so；　just　so；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　with　arithmetical　solidity
belonging　to　the　scales　and　scoop。

'……And　I　shall　be　glad　to　enter　into　the　subject；　provided　Mr　Doyce
responds；　and　you　think　well　of　it。　If　you　will　at　present；　therefore；
allow　me　to　place　it　in　your　hands；　you　will　much　oblige　me。'

'Clennam；　I　accept　the　trust　with　readiness；'　said　Mr　Meagles。　'And
without　anticipating　any　of　the　points　which　you；　as　a　man　of　business；
have　of　course　reserved；　I　am　free　to　say　to　you　that　I　think　something
may　e　of　this。　Of　one　thing　you　may　be　perfectly　certain。　Daniel　is
an　honest　man。'

'I　am　so　sure　of　it　that　I　have　promptly　made　up　my　mind　to　speak　to
you。'　'You　must　guide　him；　you　know；　you　must　steer　him；　you　must　direct
him；　he　is　one　of　a　crotchety　sort；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　evidently　meaning
nothing　more　than　that　he　did　new　things　and　went　new　ways；　'but　he　is
as　honest　as　the　sun；　and　so　good　night！'　Clennam　went　back　to　his　room；
sat　down　again　before　his　fire；　and　made　up　his　mind　that　he　was　glad
he　had　resolved　not　to　fall　in　love　with　Pet。　She　was　so　beautiful；
so　amiable；　so　apt　to　receive　any　true　impression　given　to　her　gentle
nature　and　her　innocent　heart；　and　make　the　man　who　should　be　so　happy
as　to　municate　it；　the　most　fortunate　and　enviable　of　all　men；　that
he　was　very　glad　indeed　he　had　e　to　that　conclusion。

But；　as　this　might　have　been　a　reason　for　ing　to　the　opposite
conclusion；　he　followed　out　the　theme　again　a　little　way　in　his　mind；　to
justify　himself；　perhaps。

'Suppose　that　a　man；'　so　his　thoughts　ran；　'who　had　been　of　age　some
twenty　years　or　so；　who　was　a　diffident　man；　from　the　circumstances　of
his　youth；　who　was　rather　a　grave　man；　from　the　tenor　of　his　life；　who
knew　himself　to　be　deficient　in　many　little　engaging　qualities　which
he　admired　in　others；　from　having　been　long　in　a　distant　region；　with
nothing　softening　near　him；　who　had　no　kind　sisters　to　present　to　her；
who　had　no　congenial　home　to　make　her　known　in；　who　was　a　stranger　in
the　land；　who　had　not　a　fortune　to　pensate；　in　any　measure；　for
these　defects；　who　had　nothing　in　his　favour　but　his　honest　love　and　his
general　wish　to　do　right……suppose　such　a　man　were　to　e　to　this　house；
and　were　to　yield　to　the　captivation　of　this　charming　girl；　and　were　to
persuade　himself　that　he　could　hope　to　win　her；　what　a　weakness　it　would
be！'

He　softly　opened　his　window；　and　looked　out　upon　the　serene　river。　Year
after　year　so　much　allowance　for　the　drifting　of　the　ferry…boat；　so
many　miles　an　hour　the　flowing　of　the　stream；　here　the　rushes；　there　the
lilies；　nothing　uncertain　or　unquiet。

Why　should　he　be　vexed　or　sore　at　heart？　It　was　not　his　weakness　that　he
had　imagined。　It　was　nobody's；　nobody's　within　his　knowledge；　why　should
it　trouble　him？　And　yet　it　did　trouble　him。　And　he　thought……who　has　not
thought　for　a　moment；　sometimes？……that　it　might　be　better　to　flow　away
monotonously；　like　the　river；　and　to　pound　for　its　insensibility　to
happiness　with　its　insensibility　to　pain。




CHAPTER　17。　Nobody's　Rival


Before　breakfast　in　the　morning；　Arthur　walked　out　to　look　about　him。
As　the　morning　was　fine　and　he　had　an　hour　on　his　hands；　he　crossed　the
river　by　the　ferry；　and　strolled　along　a　footpath　through　some　meadows。
When　he　came　back　to　the　towing…path；　he　found　the　ferry…boat　on　the
opposite　side；　and　a　gentleman　hailing　it　and　waiting　to　be　taken　over。

This　gentleman　looked　barely　thirty。　He　was　well　dressed；　of　a　sprightly
and　gay　appearance；　a　well…knit　figure；　and　a　rich　dark　plexion。　As
Arthur　came　over　the　stile　and　down　to　the　water's　edge；　the　lounger
glanced　at　him　for　a　moment；　and　then　resumed　his　occupation　of　idly
tossing　stones　into　the　water　with　his　foot。　There　was　something　in　his
way　of　spurning　them　out　of　their　places　with　his　heel；　and　getting　them
into　the　required　position；　that　Clennam　thought　had　an　air　of　cruelty
in　it。　Most　of　us　have　more　or　less　frequently　derived　a　similar
impression　from　a　man's　manner　of　doing　some　very　little　thing：　plucking
a　flower；　clearing　away　an　obstacle；　or　even　destroying　an　insentient
object。

The　gentleman's　thoughts　were　preoccupied；　as　his　face　showed；　and　he
took　no　notice　of　a　fine　Newfoundland　dog；　who　watched　him　attentively；
and　watched　every　stone　too；　in　its　turn；　eager　to　spring　into　the
river　on　receiving　his　master's　sign。　The　ferry…boat　came　over；　however；
without　his　receiving　any　sign；　and　when　it　grounded　his　master　took　him
by　the　collar　and　walked　him　into　it。

'Not　this　morning；'　he　said　to　the　dog。　'You　won't　do　for　ladies'
pany；　dripping　wet。　Lie　down。'

Clennam　followed　the　man　and　the　dog　into　the　boat；　and　took　his　seat。
The　dog　did　as　he　was　ordered。　The　man　remained　standing；　with　his　hands
in　his　pockets；　and　towered　between　Clennam　and　the　prospect。　Man　and
dog　both　jumped　lightly　out　as　soon　as　they　touched　the　other　side；　and
went　away。　Clennam　was　glad　to　be　rid　of　them。

The　church　clock　struck　the　breakfast　hour　as　he　walked　up　the　little
lane　by　which　the　garden…gate　was　approached。　The　moment　he　pulled　the
bell　a　deep　loud　barking　assailed　him　from　within　the　wall。

'I　heard　no　dog　last　night；'　thought　Clennam。　The　gate　was　opened　by
one　of　the　rosy　maids；　and　on　the　lawn　were　the　Newfoundland　dog　and　the
man。

'Miss　Minnie　is　not　down　yet；　gentlemen；'　said　the　blushing　portress；　as
they　all　came　together　in　the　garden。　Then　she　said　to　the　master　of　the
dog；　'Mr　Clennam；　sir；'　and　tripped　away。

'Odd　enough；　Mr　Clennam；　that　we　should　have　met　just　now；'　said
the　man。　Upon　which　the　dog　became　mute。　'Allow　me　to　introduce
myself……Henry　Gowan。　A　pretty　place　this；　and　looks　wonderfully　well
this　morning！'

The　manner　was　easy；　and　the　voice　agreeable；　but　still　Clennam　thought；
that　if　he　had　not　made　that　decided　resolution　to　avoid　falling　in　love
with　Pet；　he　would　have　taken　a　dislike　to　this　Henry　Gowan。

'It's　new　to　you；　I　believe？'　said　this　Gowan；　when　Arthur　had　extolled
the　place。　'Quite　new。　I　made　acquaintance　with　it　only　yesterday
afternoon。'

'Ah！　Of　course　this　is　not　its　best　aspect。　It　used　to　look　charming　in
the　spring；　before　they　went　away　last　time。　I　should　like　you　to　have
seen　it　then。'

But　for　that　resolution　so　often　recalled；　Clennam　might　have　wished　him
in　the　crater　of　Mount　Etna；　in　return　for　this　civility。

'I　have　had　the　pleasure　of　seeing　it　under　many　circumstances　during
the　last　three　years；　and　it's……a　Paradise。'

It　was　（at　least　it　might　have　been；　always　excepting　for　that　wise
resolution）　like　his　dexterous　impudence　to　call　it　a　Paradise。　He　only
called　it　a　Paradise　because　he　first　saw　her　ing；　and　so　made　her
out　within　her　hearing　to　be　an　angel；　Confusion　to　him！　And　ah！　how
beaming　she　looked；　and　how　glad！　How　she　caressed　the　dog；　and　how　the
dog　knew　her！　How　expressive　that　heightened　colour　in　her　face；　that
fluttered　manner；　her　downcast　eyes；　her　irresolute　happiness！　When　had
Clennam　seen　her　look　like　this？　Not　that　there　was　any　reason　why　he
might；　could；　would；　or　should　have　ever　seen　her　look　like　this；
or　that　he　had　ever　hoped　for　himself　to　see　her　look　like　this；　but
still……when　had　he　ever　known　her　do　it！

He　stood　at　a　little　distance　from　them。　This　Gowan　when　he　had　talked
about　a　Paradise；　had　gone　up　to　her　and　taken　her　hand。　The　dog　had　put
his　great　paws　on　her　arm　and　laid　his　head　against　her　dear　bosom。　She
had　laughed　and　weled　them；　and　made　far　too　much　of　the　dog；　far；
far；　too　much……that　is　to　say；　supposing　there　had　been　any　third　person
looking　on　who　loved　her。

She　disengaged　herself　now；　and　came　to　Clennam；　and　put　her　hand　in　his
and　wished　him　good　morning；　and　gracefully　made　as　if　she　would　take
his　arm　and　be　escorted　into　the　house。　To　this　Gowan　had　no　objection。
No；　he　knew　he　was　too　safe。

There　was　a　passing　cloud　on　Mr　Meagles's　good…humoured　face　when　they
all　three　（four；　counting　the　dog；　and　he　was　the　most　objectionable
but　one　of　the　party）　came　in　to　breakfast。　Neither　it；　nor　the　touch
of　uneasiness　on　Mrs　Meagles　as　she　directed　her　eyes　towards　it；　was
unobserved　by　Clennam。

'Well；　Gowan；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　even　suppressing　a　sigh；　'how　goes　the
world　with　you　this　morning？'

'Much　as　usual；　sir。　Lion　and　I　being　determined　not　to　waste　anything
of　our　weekly　visit；　turned　out　early；　and　came　over　from　Kingston；　my
present　headquarters；　where　I　am　making　a　sketch　or　two。'　Then　he　told
how　he　had　met　Mr　Clennam　at　the　ferry；　and　they　had　e　over　together。

'Mrs　Gowan　is　well；　Henry？'　said　Mrs　Meagles。　（Clennam　became
attentive。）

'My　mother　is　quite　well；　thank　you。'　（Clennam　became　inattentive。）　'I
have　taken　the　liberty　of　making　an　addition　to　your　family　dinner…party
to…day；　which　I　hope　will　not　be　inconvenient　to　you　or　to　Mr　Meagles。　I
couldn't　very　well　get　out　of　it；'　he　explained；　turning　to　the　latter。
'The　young　fellow　wrote　to　propose　himself　to　me；　and　as　he　is　well
connected；　I　thought　you　would　not　object　to　my　transferring　him　here。'

'Who　is　the　young　fellow？'　asked　Mr　Meagles　with　peculiar　placency。

'He　is　one　of　the　Barnacles。　Tite　Barnacle's　son；　Clarence　Barnacle；　who
is　in　his　father's　Department。　I　can　at　least　guarantee　that　the　river
shall　not　suffer　from　his　visit。　He　won't　set　it　on　fire。'

'Aye；　aye？'　said　Meagles。　'A　Barnacle　is　he？　We　know　something　of　that
family；　eh；　Dan？　By　George；　they　are　at　the　top　of　the　tree；　though！　Let
me　see。　What　relation　will　this　young　fellow　be　to　Lord　Decimus　now？　His
Lordship　married；　in　seventeen　niy…seven；　Lady　Jemima　Bilberry；　who
was　the　second　daughter　by　the　third　marriage……no！　There　I　am　wrong！
That　was　Lady　Seraphina……Lady　Jemima　was　the　first　daughter　by　the
second　marriage　of　the　fifteenth　Earl　of　Stiltstalking　with　the
Honourable　Clementina　Toozellem。　Very　well。　Now　this　young　fellow's
father　married　a　Stiltstalking　and　his　father　married　his　cousin　who　was
a　Barnacle。

The　father　of　that　father　who　married　a　Barnacle；　married　a　Joddleby。……I
am　getting　a　little　too　far　back；　Gowan；　I　want　to　make　out　what
relation　this　young　fellow　is　to　Lord　Decimus。'

'That's　easily　stated。　His　father　is　nephew　to　Lord　Decimus。'

'Nephew……to……Lord……Decimus；'　Mr　Meagles　luxuriously　repeated　with　his
eyes　shut；　that　he　might　have　nothing　to　distract　him　from　the　full
flavour　of　the　genealogical　tree。　'By　George；　you　are　right；　Gowan。　So
he　is。'

'Consequently；　Lord　Decimus　is　his　great　uncle。'

'But　stop　a　bit！'　said　Mr　Meagles；　opening　his　eyes　with　a　fresh
discovery。　'Then　on　the　mother's　side；　Lady　Stiltstalking　is　his　great
aunt。'

'Of　course　she　is。'

'Aye；　aye；　aye？'　said　Mr　Meagles　with　much　interest。　'Indeed；　indeed？　We
shall　be　glad　to　see　him。　We'll　entertain　him　as　well　as　we　can；　in　our
humble　way；　and　we　shall　not　starve　him；　I　hope；　at　all　events。'

In　the　beginning　of　this　dialogue；　Clennam　had　expected　some　great
harmless　outburst　from　Mr　Meagles；　like　that　which　had　made　him　burst
out　of　the　Circumlocution　Office；　holding　Doyce　by　the　collar。　But　his
good　friend　had　a　weakness　which　none　of　us　need　go　into　the　next　street
to　find；　and　which　no　amount　of　Circumlocution　experience　could　long
subdue　in　him。　Clennam　looked　at　Doyce；　but　Doyce　knew　all　about　it
beforehand；　and　looked　at　his　plate；　and　made　no　sign；　and　said　no　word。

'I　am　much　obliged　to　you；'　said　Gowan；　to　conclude　the　subject。
'Clarence　is　a　great　ass；　but　he　is　one　of　the　dearest　and　best　fellows
that　ever　lived！'

It　appeared；　before　the　breakfast　was　over；　that　everybody　whom　this
Gowan　knew　was　either　more　or　less　of　an　ass；　or　more　or　less　of　a
knave；　but　was；　notwithstanding；　the　most　lovable；　the　most　engaging；
the　simplest；　truest；　kindest；　dearest；　best　fellow　that　ever　lived。
The　process　by　which　this　unvarying　result　was　attained；　whatever　the
premises；　might　have　been　stated　by　Mr　Henry　Gowan　thus：　'I　claim　to　be
always　book…keeping；　with　a　peculiar　nicety；　in　every　man's　case；　and
posting　up　a　careful　little　account　of　Good　and　Evil　with　him。　I　do
this　so　conscientiously；　that　I　am　happy　to　tell　you　I　find　the　most
worthless　of　men　to　be　the　dearest　old　fellow　too：　and　am　in　a　condition
to　make　the　gratifying　report；　that　there　is　much　less　difference　than
you　are　inclined　to　suppose　between　an　honest　man　and　a　scoundrel。'　The
effect　of　this　cheering　discovery　happened　to　be；　that　while　he　seemed
to　be　scrupulously　finding　good　in　most　men；　he　did　in　reality　lower
it　where　it　was；　and　set　it　up　where　it　was　not；　but　that　was　its　only
disagreeable　or　dangerous　feature。

It　scarcely　seemed；　however；　to　afford　Mr　Meagles　as　much　satisfaction
as　the　Barnacle　genealogy　had　done。　The　cloud　that　Clennam　had　never
seen　upon　his　face　before　that　morning；　frequently　overcast　it　again；
and　there　was　the　same　shadow　of　uneasy　observation　of　him　on　the　ely
face　of　his　wife。　More　than　once　or　twice　when　Pet　caressed　the　dog；
it　appeared　to　Clennam　that　her　father　was　unhappy　in　seeing　her　do　it；
and；　in　one　particular　instance　when　Gowan　stood　on　the　other　side　of
the　dog；　and　bent　his　head　at　the　same　time；　Arthur　fancied　that　he　saw
tears　rise　to　Mr　Meagles's　eyes　as　he　hurried　out　of　the　room。　It　was
either　the　fact　too；　or　he　fancied　further；　that　Pet　herself　was　not
insensible　to　these　little　incidents；　that　she　tried；　with　a　more
delicate　affection　than　usual；　to　express　to　her　good　father　how　much
she　loved　him；　that　it　was　on　this　account　that　she　fell　behind　the
rest；　both　as　they　went　to　church　and　as　they　returned　from　it；　and
took　his　arm。　He　could　not　have　sworn　but　that　as　he　walked　alone　in
the　garden　afterwards；　he　had　an　instantaneous　glimpse　of　her　in
her　father's　room；　clinging　to　both　her　parents　with　the　greatest
tenderness；　and　weeping　on　her　father