little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第41部分

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calculations　and　entries；　in　his　own　hand；　of　which　there　were　many；
were　bluntly　written；　and　with　no　very　neat　precision；　but　were　always
plain　and　directed　straight　to　the　purpose。　It　occurred　to　Arthur　that
a　far　more　elaborate　and　taking　show　of　business……such　as　the　records　of
the　Circumlocution　Office　made　perhaps……might　be　far　less　serviceable；
as　being　meant　to　be　far　less　intelligible。

Three　or　four　days　of　steady　application　tendered　him　master　of　all　the
facts　it　was　essential　to　bee　acquainted　with。　Mr　Meagles　was　at　hand
the　whole　time；　always　ready　to　illuminate　any　dim　place　with　the　bright
little　safety…lamp　belonging　to　the　scales　and　scoop。　Between　them　they
agreed　upon　the　sum　it　would　be　fair　to　offer　for　the　purchase　of　a
half…share　in　the　business；　and　then　Mr　Meagles　unsealed　a　paper　in
which　Daniel　Doyce　had　noted　the　amount　at　which　he　valued　it；　which　was
even　something　less。　Thus；　when　Daniel　came　back；　he　found　the　affair　as
good　as　concluded。

'And　I　may　now　avow；　Mr　Clennam；'　said　he；　with　a　cordial　shake　of　the
hand；　'that　if　I　had　looked　high　and　low　for　a　partner；　I　believe　I
could　not　have　found　one　more　to　my　mind。'

'I　say　the　same；'　said　Clennam。

'And　I　say　of　both　of　you；'　added　Mr　Meagles；　'that　you　are　well
matched。　You　keep　him　in　check；　Clennam；　with　your　mon　sense；　and　you
stick　to　the　Works；　Dan；　with　your……'

'Unmon　sense？'　suggested　Daniel；　ile。

'You　may　call　it　so；　if　you　like……and　each　of　you　will　be　a　right　hand
to　the　other。　Here's　my　own　right　hand　upon　it；　as　a　practical　man；　to
both　of　you。'

The　purchase　was　pleted　within　a　month。　It　left　Arthur　in　possession
of　private　personal　means　not　exceeding　a　few　hundred　pounds；　but　it
opened　to　him　an　active　and　promising　career。　The　three　friends　dined
together　on　the　auspicious　occasion；　the　factory　and　the　factory　wives
and　children　made　holiday　and　dined　too；　even　Bleeding　Heart　Yard
dined　and　was　full　of　meat。　Two　months　had　barely　gone　by　in　all；　when
Bleeding　Heart　Yard　had　bee　so　familiar　with　short…mons　again；
that　the　treat　was　forgotten　there；　when　nothing　seemed　new　in　the
partnership　but　the　paint　of　the　inscription　on　the　door…posts；　DOYCE
AND　CLENNAM；　when　it　appeared　even　to　Clennam　himself；　that　he　had　had
the　affairs　of　the　firm　in　his　mind　for　years。

The　little　counting…house　reserved　for　his　own　occupation；　was　a　room　of
wood　and　glass　at　the　end　of　a　long　low　workshop；　filled　with　benches；
and　vices；　and　tools；　and　straps；　and　wheels；　which；　when　they　were
in　gear　with　the　steam…engine；　went　tearing　round　as　though　they　had　a
suicidal　mission　to　grind　the　business　to　dust　and　tear　the　factory　to
pieces。　A　munication　of　great　trap…doors　in　the　floor　and　roof　with
the　workshop　above　and　the　workshop　below；　made　a　shaft　of　light　in
this　perspective；　which　brought　to　Clennam's　mind　the　child's　old
picture…book；　where　similar　rays　were　the　witnesses　of　Abel's
murder。　The　noises　were　sufficiently　removed　and　shut　out　from　the
counting…house　to　blend　into　a　busy　hum；　interspersed　with　periodical
clinks　and　thumps。　The　patient　figures　at　work　were　swarthy　with　the
filings　of　iron　and　steel　that　danced　on　every　bench　and　bubbled　up
through　every　chink　in　the　planking。　The　workshop　was　arrived　at　by　a
step…ladder　from　the　outer　yard　below；　where　it　served　as　a　shelter　for
the　large　grindstone　where　tools　were　sharpened。　The　whole　had　at　once
a　fanciful　and　practical　air　in　Clennam's　eyes；　which　was　a　wele
change；　and；　as　often　as　he　raised　them　from　his　first　work　of　getting
the　array　of　business　documents　into　perfect　order；　he　glanced　at　these
things　with　a　feeling　of　pleasure　in　his　pursuit　that　was　new　to　him。

Raising　his　eyes　thus　one　day；　he　was　surprised　to　see　a　bon
labouring　up　the　step…ladder。　The　unusual　apparition　was　followed　by
another　bon。　He　then　perceived　that　the　first　bon　was　on　the　head
of　Mr　F。's　Aunt；　and　that　the　second　bon　was　on　the　head　of　Flora；
who　seemed　to　have　propelled　her　legacy　up　the　steep　ascent　with
considerable　difficulty。　Though　not　altogether　enraptured　at　the　sight
of　these　visitors；　Clennam　lost　no　time　in　opening　the　counting…house
door；　and　extricating　them　from　the　workshop；　a　rescue　which　was
rendered　the　more　necessary　by　Mr　F。's　Aunt　already　stumbling　over　some
impediment；　and　menacing　steam　power　as　an　Institution　with　a　stony
reticule　she　carried。

'Good　gracious；　Arthur；……I　should　say　Mr　Clennam；　far　more　proper……the
climb　we　have　had　to　get　up　here　and　how　ever　to　get　down　again　without
a　fire…escape　and　Mr　F。's　Aunt　slipping　through　the　steps　and　bruised
all　over　and　you　in　the　machinery　and　foundry　way　too　only　think；　and
never　told　us！'

Thus；　Flora；　out　of　breath。　Meanwhile；　Mr　F。's　Aunt　rubbed　her　esteemed
insteps　with　her　umbrella；　and　vindictively　glared。

'Most　unkind　never　to　have　e　back　to　see　us　since　that　day；　though
naturally　it　was　not　to　be　expected　that　there　should　be　any　attraction
at　our　house　and　you　were　much　more　pleasantly　engaged；　that's　pretty
certain；　and　is　she　fair　or　dark　blue　eyes　or　black　I　wonder；　not　that
I　expect　that　she　should　be　anything　but　a　perfect　contrast　to　me　in　all
particulars　for　I　am　a　disappointment　as　I　very　well　know　and　you　are
quite　right　to　be　devoted　no　doubt　though　what　I　am　saying　Arthur　never
mind　I　hardly　know　myself　Good　gracious！'

By　this　time　he　had　placed　chairs　for　them　in　the　counting…house。　As
Flora　dropped　into　hers；　she　bestowed　the　old　look　upon　him。

'And　to　think　of　Doyce　and　Clennam；　and　who　Doyce　can　be；'　said　Flora；
'delightful　man　no　doubt　and　married　perhaps　or　perhaps　a　daughter；　now
has　he　really？　then　one　understands　the　partnership　and　sees　it　all；
don't　tell　me　anything　about　it　for　I　know　I　have　no　claim　to　ask　the
question　the　golden　chain　that　once　was　forged　being　snapped　and　very
proper。'

Flora　put　her　hand　tenderly　on　his；　and　gave　him　another　of　the　youthful
glances。

'Dear　Arthur……force　of　habit；　Mr　Clennam　every　way　more　delicate　and
adapted　to　existing　circumstances……I　must　beg　to　be　excused　for　taking
the　liberty　of　this　intrusion　but　I　thought　I　might　so　far　presume　upon
old　times　for　ever　faded　never　more　to　bloom　as　to　call　with　Mr　F。's
Aunt　to　congratulate　and　offer　best　wishes；　A　great　deal　superior　to
China　not　to　be　denied　and　much　nearer　though　higher　up！'

'I　am　very　happy　to　see　you；'　said　Clennam；　'and　I　thank　you；　Flora；
very　much　for　your　kind　remembrance。'

'More　than　I　can　say　myself　at　any　rate；'　returned　Flora；　'for　I　might
have　been　dead　and　buried　twenty　distinct　times　over　and　no　doubt
whatever　should　have　been　before　you　had　genuinely　remembered　Me　or
anything　like　it　in　spite　of　which　one　last　remark　I　wish　to　make；　one
last　explanation　I　wish　to　offer……'

'My　dear　Mrs　Finching；'　Arthur　remonstrated　in　alarm。

'Oh　not　that　disagreeable　name；　say　Flora！'

'Flora；　is　it　worth　troubling　yourself　afresh　to　enter　into
explanations？　I　assure　you　none　are　needed。　I　am　satisfied……I　am
perfectly　satisfied。'

A　diversion　was　occasioned　here；　by　Mr　F。's　Aunt　making　the　following
inexorable　and　awful　statement：

'There's　mile…stones　on　the　Dover　road！'

With　such　mortal　hostility　towards　the　human　race　did　she　discharge　this
missile；　that　Clennam　was　quite　at　a　loss　how　to　defend　himself；　the
rather　as　he　had　been　already　perplexed　in　his　mind　by　the　honour　of　a
visit　from　this　venerable　lady；　when　it　was　plain　she　held　him　in　the
utmost　abhorrence。　He　could　not　but　look　at　her　with　disconcertment；　as
she　sat　breathing　bitterness　and　scorn；　and　staring　leagues　away。　Flora；
however；　received　the　remark　as　if　it　had　been　of　a　most　apposite　and
agreeable　nature；　approvingly　observing　aloud　that　Mr　F。's　Aunt　had　a
great　deal　of　spirit。　Stimulated　either　by　this　pliment；　or　by　her
burning　indignation；　that　illustrious　woman　then　added；　'Let　him　meet
it　if　he　can！'　And；　with　a　rigid　movement　of　her　stony　reticule　（an
appendage　of　great　size　and　of　a　fossil　appearance）；　indicated　that
Clennam　was　the　unfortunate　person　at　whom　the　challenge　was　hurled。

'One　last　remark；'　resumed　Flora；　'I　was　going　to　say　I　wish　to　make　one
last　explanation　I　wish　to　offer；　Mr　F。's　Aunt　and　myself　would　not　have
intruded　on　business　hours　Mr　F。　having　been　in　business　and　though　the
wine　trade　still　business　is　equally　business　call　it　what　you　will　and
business　habits　are　just　the　same　as　witness　Mr　F。　himself　who　had　his
slippers　always　on　the　mat　at　ten　minutes　before　six　in　the　afternoon
and　his　boots　inside　the　fender　at　ten　minutes　before　eight　in　the
morning　to　the　moment　in　all　weathers　light　or　dark……would　not　therefore
have　intruded　without　a　motive　which　being　kindly　meant　it　may　be　hoped
will　be　kindly　taken　Arthur；　Mr　Clennam　far　more　proper；　even　Doyce　and
Clennam　probably　more　business…like。'

'Pray　say　nothing　in　the　way　of　apology；'　Arthur　entreated。　'You　are
always　wele。'

'Very　polite　of　you　to　say　so　Arthur……cannot　remember　Mr　Clennam　until
the　word　is　out；　such　is　the　habit　of　times　for　ever　fled；　and　so　true
it　is　that　oft　in　the　stilly　night　ere　slumber's　chain　has　bound　people；
fond　memory　brings　the　light　of　other　days　around　people……very　polite
but　more　polite　than　true　I　am　afraid；　for　to　go　into　the　machinery
business　without　so　much　as　sending　a　line　or　a　card　to　papa……I　don't
say　me　though　there　was　a　time　but　that　is　past　and　stern　reality　has
now　my　gracious　never　mind……does　not　look　like　it　you　must　confess。'

Even　Flora's　mas　seemed　to　have　fled　on　this　occasion；　she　was　so
much　more　disjointed　and　voluble　than　in　the　preceding　interview。

'Though　indeed；'　she　hurried　on；　'nothing　else　is　to　be　expected　and　why
should　it　be　expected　and　if　it's　not　to　be　expected　why　should　it　be；
and　I　am　far　from　blaming　you　or　any　one；　When　your　mama　and　my　papa
worried　us　to　death　and　severed　the　golden　bowl……I　mean　bond　but　I　dare
say　you　know　what　I　mean　and　if　you　don't　you　don't　lose　much　and　care
just　as　little　I　will　venture　to　add……when　they　severed　the　golden　bond
that　bound　us　and　threw　us　into　fits　of　crying　on　the　sofa　nearly　choked
at　least　myself　everything　was　changed　and　in　giving　my　hand　to　Mr　F。　I
know　I　did　so　with　my　eyes　open　but　he　was　so　very　unsettled　and　in　such
low　spirits　that　he　had　distractedly　alluded　to　the　river　if　not　oil　of
something　from　the　chemist's　and　I　did　it　for　the　best。'

'My　good　Flora；　we　settled　that　before。　It　was　all　quite　right。'

'It's　perfectly　clear　you　think　so；'　returned　Flora；　'for　you　take　it
very　coolly；　if　I　hadn't　known　it　to　be　China　I　should　have　guessed
myself　the　Polar　regions；　dear　Mr　Clennam　you　are　right　however　and　I
cannot　blame　you　but　as　to　Doyce　and　Clennam　papa's　property　being　about
here　we　heard　it　from　Pancks　and　but　for　him　we　never　should　have　heard
one　word　about　it　I　am　satisfied。'

'No；　no；　don't　say　that。'

'What　nonsense　not　to　say　it　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam……easier　and　less
trying　to　me　than　Mr　Clennam……when　I　know　it　and　you　know　it　too　and
can't　deny　it。'

'But　I　do　deny　it；　Flora。　I　should　soon　have　made　you　a　friendly　visit。'

'Ah！'　said　Flora；　tossing　her　head。　'I　dare　say！'　and　she　gave　him
another　of　the　old　looks。　'However　when　Pancks　told　us　I　made　up　my　mind
that　Mr　F。's　Aunt　and　I　would　e　and　call　because　when　papa……which　was
before　that……happened　to　mention　her　name　to　me　and　to　say　that　you　were
interested　in　her　I　said　at　the　moment　Good　gracious　why　not　have　her
here　then　when　there's　anything　to　do　instead　of　putting　it　out。'

'When　you　say　Her；'　observed　Clennam；　by　this　time　pretty　well
bewildered；　'do　you　mean　Mr　F。's……'

'My　goodness；　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam　really　easier　to　me　with　old
remembrances……who　ever　heard　of　Mr　F。's　Aunt　doing　needlework　and　going
out　by　the　day？'

'Going　out　by　the　day！　Do　you　speak　of　Little　Dorrit？'　'Why　yes　of
course；'　returned　Flora；　'and　of　all　the　strangest　names　I　ever　heard
the　strangest；　like　a　place　down　in　the　country　with　a　turnpike；　or　a
favourite　pony　or　a　puppy　or　a　bird　or　something　from　a　seed…shop　to　be
put　in　a　garden　or　a　flower…pot　and　e　up　speckled。'

'Then；　Flora；'　said　Arthur；　with　a　sudden　interest　in　the　conversation；
'Mr　Casby　was　so　kind　as　to　mention　Little　Dorrit　to　you；　was　he？　What
did　he　say？'

'Oh　you　know　what　papa　is；'　rejoined　Flora；　'and　how　aggravatingly　he
sits　looking　beautiful　and　turning　his　thumbs　over　and　over　one　another
till　he　makes　one　giddy　if　one　keeps　one's　eyes　upon　him；　he　said　when
we　were　talking　of　you……I　don't　know　who　began　the　subject　Arthur　（Doyce
and　Clennam）　but　I　am　sure　it　wasn't　me；　at　least　I　hope　not　but　you
really　must　excuse　my　confessing　more　on　that　point。'

'Certainly；'　said　Arthur。　'By　all　means。'

'You　are　very　ready；'　pouted　Flora；　ing　to　a　sudden　stop　in　a
captivating　bashfulness；　'that　I　must　admit；　Papa　said　you　had　spoken　of
her　in　an　earnest　way　and　I　said　what　I　have　told　you　and　that's　all。'

'That's　all？'　said　Arthur；　a　little　disappointed。

'Except　that　when　Pancks　told　us　of　your　having　embarked　in　this
business　and　with　difficulty　persuaded　us　that　it　was　really　you　I　said
to　Mr　F。's　Aunt　then　we　would　e　and　ask　you　if　it　would　be　agreeable
to　all　parties　that　she　should　be　engaged　at　our　house　when　required
for　I　know　she　often　goes　to　your　mama's　and　I　know　that　your　mama　has
a　very　touchy　temper　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam……or　I　never　might　have
married　Mr　F。　and　might　have　been　at　this　hour　but　I　am　running　into
nonsense。'

'It　was　very　kind　of　you；　Flora；　to　think　of　this。'

Poor　Flora　rejoined　with　a　plain　sincerity　which　became　her　better　than
her　youngest　glances；　that　she　was　glad　he　thought　so。　She　said　it　with
so　much　heart　that　Clennam　would　have　given　a　great　deal　to　buy　his
old　character　of　her　on　the　spot；　and　throw　it　and　the　mermaid　away　for
ever。

'I　think；　Flora；'　he　said；　'that　the　employment　you　can　give　Little
Dorrit；　and　the　kindness　you　can　show　her……'

'Yes　and　I　will；'　said　Flora；　quickly。

'I　am　sure　of　it……will　be　a　great　assistance　and　support　to　her。　I　do
not　feel　that　I　have　the　right　to　tell　you　what　I　know　of　her；　for　I
acquired　the　knowledge　confidentially；　and　under　circumstances　that
bind　me　to　silence。　But　I　have　an　interest　in　the　little　creature；　and
a　respect　for　her　that　I　cannot　express　to　you。　Her　life　has　been　one
of　such　trial　and　devotion；　and　such　quiet　goodness；　as　you　can　scarcely
imagine。　I　can　hardly　think　of　her；　far　less　speak　of　her；　without
feeling　moved。　Let　that　feeling　represent　what　I　could　tell　you；　and
mit　her　to　your　friendliness　with　my　thanks。'

Once　more　he　put　out　his　hand　frankly　to　poor　Flora；　once　more　poor
Flora　couldn't　accept　it　frankly；　found　it　worth　nothing　openly；　must
make　the　old　intrigue　and　mystery　of　it。　As　much　to　her　own　enjoyment　as
to　his　dismay；　she　covered　it　with　a　corner　of　her　shawl　as　she　took　it。
Then；　looking　towards　the　glass　front　of　the　counting…house；　and　seeing
two　figures　approaching；　she　cried　with　infinite　relish；　'Papa！　Hush；
Arthur；　for　Mercy's　sake！'　and　tottered　back　to　her　chair　with　an
amazing　imitation　of　being　in　danger　of　swooning；　in　the　dread　surprise
and　maidenly　flutter　of　her　spirits。

The