little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第43部分

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Throughout　the　remainder　of　the　day；　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　was　in
consternation；　as　the　grim　Pancks　cruised　in　it；　haranguing　the
inhabitants　on　their　backslidings　in　respect　of　payment；　demanding　his
bond；　breathing　notices　to　quit　and　executions；　running　down　defaulters；
sending　a　swell　of　terror　on　before　him；　and　leaving　it　in　his　wake。
Knots　of　people；　impelled　by　a　fatal　attraction；　lurked　outside　any
house　in　which　he　was　known　to　be；　listening　for　fragments　of　his
discourses　to　the　inmates；　and；　when　he　was　rumoured　to　be　ing　down
the　stairs；　often　could　not　disperse　so　quickly　but　that　he　would　be
prematurely　in　among　them；　demanding　their　own　arrears；　and　rooting　them
to　the　spot。　Throughout　the　remainder　of　the　day；　Mr　Pancks's　What　were
they　up　to？　and　What　did　they　mean　by　it？　sounded　all　over　the　Yard。　Mr
Pancks　wouldn't　hear　of　excuses；　wouldn't　hear　of　plaints；　wouldn't
hear　of　repairs；　wouldn't　hear　of　anything　but　unconditional　money　down。
Perspiring　and　puffing　and　darting　about　in　eccentric　directions；　and
being　hotter　and　dingier　every　moment；　he　lashed　the　tide　of　the　yard
into　a　most　agitated　and　turbid　state。　It　had　not　settled　down　into　calm
water　again　full　two　hours　after　he　had　been　seen　fuming　away　on　the
horizon　at　the　top　of　the　steps。

There　were　several　small　assemblages　of　the　Bleeding　Hearts　at　the
popular　points　of　meeting　in　the　Yard　that　night；　among　whom　it　was
universally　agreed　that　Mr　Pancks　was　a　hard　man　to　have　to　do　with；　and
that　it　was　much　to　be　regretted；　so　it　was；　that　a　gentleman　like　Mr
Casby　should　put　his　rents　in　his　hands；　and　never　know　him　in　his　true
light。　For　（said　the　Bleeding　Hearts）；　if　a　gentleman　with　that　head　of
hair　and　them　eyes　took　his　rents　into　his　own　hands；　ma'am；　there
would　be　none　of　this　worriting　and　wearing；　and　things　would　be　very
different。

At　which　identical　evening　hour　and　minute；　the　Patriarch……who　had
floated　serenely　through　the　Yard　in　the　forenoon　before　the　harrying
began；　with　the　express　design　of　getting　up　this　trustfulness　in　his
shining　bumps　and　silken　locks……at　which　identical　hour　and　minute；
that　first…rate　humbug　of　a　thousand　guns　was　heavily　floundering　in　the
little　Dock　of　his　exhausted　Tug　at　home；　and　was　saying；　as　he　turned
his　thumbs：

'A　very　bad　day's　work；　Pancks；　very　bad　day's　work。　It　seems　to　me；
sir；　and　I　must　insist　on　making　this　observation　forcibly　in　justice　to
myself；　that　you　ought　to　have　got　much　more　money；　much　more　money。'




CHAPTER　24。　Fortune…Telling


Little　Dorrit　received　a　call　that　same　evening　from　Mr　Plornish；　who；
having　intimated　that　he　wished　to　speak　to　her　privately；　in　a　series
of　coughs　so　very　noticeable　as　to　favour　the　idea　that　her　father；　as
regarded　her　seamstress　occupation；　was　an　illustration　of　the　axiom
that　there　are　no　such　stone…blind　men　as　those　who　will　not　see；
obtained　an　audience　with　her　on　the　mon　staircase　outside　the　door。

'There's　been　a　lady　at　our　place　to…day；　Miss　Dorrit；'　Plornish
growled；　'and　another　one　along　with　her　as　is　a　old　wixen　if　ever　I　met
with　such。　The　way　she　snapped　a　person's　head　off；　dear　me！'

The　mild　Plornish　was　at　first　quite　unable　to　get　his　mind　away　from　Mr
F。's　Aunt。　'For；'　said　he；　to　excuse　himself；　'she　is；　I　do　assure　you；
the　winegariest　party。'

At　length；　by　a　great　effort；　he　detached　himself　from　the　subject
sufficiently　to　observe：

'But　she's　neither　here　nor　there　just　at　present。　The　other　lady；　she's
Mr　Casby's　daughter；　and　if　Mr　Casby　an't　well　off；　none　better；　it　an't
through　any　fault　of　Pancks。　For；　as　to　Pancks；　he　does；　he　really　does；
he　does　indeed！'

Mr　Plornish；　after　his　usual　manner；　was　a　little　obscure；　but
conscientiously　emphatic。

'And　what　she　e　to　our　place　for；'　he　pursued；　'was　to　leave　word
that　if　Miss　Dorrit　would　step　up　to　that　card……which　it's　Mr　Casby's
house　that　is；　and　Pancks　he　has　a　office　at　the　back；　where　he　really
does；　beyond　belief……she　would　be　glad　for　to　engage　her。　She　was　a　old
and　a　dear　friend；　she　said　particular；　of　Mr　Clennam；　and　hoped　for　to
prove　herself　a　useful　friend　to　his　friend。　Them　was　her　words。　Wishing
to　know　whether　Miss　Dorrit　could　e　to…morrow　morning；　I　said　I　would
see　you；　Miss；　and　inquire；　and　look　round　there　to…night；　to　say　yes；
or；　if　you　was　engaged　to…morrow；　when？'

'I　can　go　to…morrow；　thank　you；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'This　is　very　kind
of　you；　but　you　are　always　kind。'

Mr　Plornish；　with　a　modest　disavowal　of　his　merits；　opened　the　room　door
for　her　readmission；　and　followed　her　in　with　such　an　exceedingly　bald
pretence　of　not　having　been　out　at　all；　that　her　father　might
have　observed　it　without　being　very　suspicious。　In　his　affable
unconsciousness；　however；　he　took　no　heed。　Plornish；　after　a　little
conversation；　in　which　he　blended　his　former　duty　as　a　Collegian　with
his　present　privilege　as　a　humble　outside　friend；　qualified　again　by　his
low　estate　as　a　plasterer；　took　his　leave；　making　the　tour　of　the　prison
before　he　left；　and　looking　on　at　a　game　of　skittles　with　the　mixed
feelings　of　an　old　inhabitant　who　had　his　private　reasons　for　believing
that　it　might　be　his　destiny　to　e　back　again。

Early　in　the　morning；　Little　Dorrit；　leaving　Maggy　in　high　domestic
trust；　set　off　for　the　Patriarchal　tent。　She　went　by　the　Iron　Bridge；
though　it　cost　her　a　penny；　and　walked　more　slowly　in　that　part　of　her
journey　than　in　any　other。　At　five　minutes　before　eight　her　hand　was　on
the　Patriarchal　knocker；　which　was　quite　as　high　as　she　could　reach。

She　gave　Mrs　Finching's　card　to　the　young　woman　who　opened　the　door；　and
the　young　woman　told　her　that　'Miss　Flora'……Flora　having；　on　her　return
to　the　parental　roof；　reinvested　herself　with　the　title　under　which　she
had　lived　there……was　not　yet　out　of　her　bedroom；　but　she　was　to　please
to　walk　up　into　Miss　Flora's　sitting…room。　She　walked　up　into
Miss　Flora's　sitting…room；　as　in　duty　bound；　and　there　found　a
breakfast…table　fortably　laid　for　two；　with　a　supplementary　tray
upon　it　laid　for　one。　The　young　woman；　disappearing　for　a　few　moments；
returned　to　say　that　she　was　to　please　to　take　a　chair　by　the　fire；
and　to　take　off　her　bon　and　make　herself　at　home。　But　Little　Dorrit；
being　bashful；　and　not　used　to　make　herself　at　home　on　such　occasions；
felt　at　a　loss　how　to　do　it；　so　she　was　still　sitting　near　the　door　with
her　bon　on；　when　Flora　came　in　in　a　hurry　half　an　hour　afterwards。

Flora　was　so　sorry　to　have　kept　her　waiting；　and　good　gracious　why　did
she　sit　out　there　in　the　cold　when　she　had　expected　to　find　her　by　the
fire　reading　the　paper；　and　hadn't　that　heedless　girl　given　her　the
message　then；　and　had　she　really　been　in　her　bon　all　this　time；　and
pray　for　goodness　sake　let　Flora　take　it　off！　Flora　taking　it　off　in　the
best…natured　manner　in　the　world；　was　so　struck　with　the　face　disclosed；
that　she　said；　'Why；　what　a　good　little　thing　you　are；　my　dear！'　and
pressed　her　face　between　her　hands　like　the　gentlest　of　women。

It　was　the　word　and　the　action　of　a　moment。　Little　Dorrit　had　hardly
time　to　think　how　kind　it　was；　when　Flora　dashed　at　the　breakfast…table
full　of　business；　and　plunged　over　head　and　ears　into　loquacity。

'Really　so　sorry　that　I　should　happen　to　be　late　on　this　morning　of　all
mornings　because　my　intention　and　my　wish　was　to　be　ready　to　meet　you
when　you　came　in　and　to　say　that　any　one　that　interested　Arthur　Clennam
half　so　much　must　interest　me　and　that　I　gave　you　the　heartiest　wele
and　was　so　glad；　instead　of　which　they　never　called　me　and　there　I
still　am　snoring　I　dare　say　if　the　truth　was　known　and　if　you　don't　like
either　cold　fowl　or　hot　boiled　ham　which　many　people　don't　I　dare　say
besides　Jews　and　theirs　are　scruples　of　conscience　which　we　must　all
respect　though　I　must　say　I　wish　they　had　them　equally　strong　when　they
sell　us　false　articles　for　real　that　certainly　ain't　worth　the　money　I
shall　be　quite　vexed；'　said　Flora。

Little　Dorrit　thanked　her；　and　said；　shyly；　bread…and…butter　and　tea　was
all　she　usually……

'Oh　nonsense　my　dear　child　I　can　never　hear　of　that；'　said　Flora；
turning　on　the　urn　in　the　most　reckless　manner；　and　making　herself　wink
by　splashing　hot　water　into　her　eyes　as　she　bent　down　to　look　into　the
teapot。　'You　are　ing　here　on　the　footing　of　a　friend　and　panion
you　know　if　you　will　let　me　take　that　liberty　and　I　should　be　ashamed
of　myself　indeed　if　you　could　e　here　upon　any　other；　besides　which
Arthur　Clennam　spoke　in　such　terms……you　are　tired　my　dear。'

'No；　ma'am。'


'You　turn　so　pale　you　have　walked　too　far　before　breakfast　and　I　dare
say　live　a　great　way　off　and　ought　to　have　had　a　ride；'　said　Flora；
'dear　dear　is　there　anything　that　would　do　you　good？'

'Indeed　I　am　quite　well；　ma'am。　I　thank　you　again　and　again；　but　I　am
quite　well。'

'Then　take　your　tea　at　once　I　beg；'　said　Flora；　'and　this　wing　of　fowl
and　bit　of　ham；　don't　mind　me　or　wait　for　me；　because　I　always　carry　in
this　tray　myself　to　Mr　F。's　Aunt　who　breakfasts　in　bed　and　a　charming
old　lady　too　and　very　clever；　Portrait　of　Mr　F。　behind　the　door　and　very
like　though　too　much　forehead　and　as　to　a　pillar　with　a　marble　pavement
and　balustrades　and　a　mountain；　I　never　saw　him　near　it　nor　not　likely
in　the　wine　trade；　excellent　man　but　not　at　all　in　that　way。'

Little　Dorrit　glanced　at　the　portrait；　very　imperfectly　following　the
references　to　that　work　of　art。

'Mr　F。　was　so　devoted　to　me　that　he　never　could　bear　me　out　of　his
sight；'　said　Flora；　'though　of　course　I　am　unable　to　say　how　long　that
might　have　lasted　if　he　hadn't　been　cut　short　while　I　was　a　new　broom；
worthy　man　but　not　poetical　manly　prose　but　not　romance。'

Little　Dorrit　glanced　at　the　portrait　again。　The　artist　had　given　it　a
head　that　would　have　been；　in　an　intellectual　point　of　view；　top…heavy
for　Shakespeare。　'Romance；　however；'　Flora　went　on；　busily　arranging　Mr
F。's　Aunt's　toast；　'as　I　openly　said　to　Mr　F。　when　he　proposed　to　me
and　you　will　be　surprised　to　hear　that　he　proposed　seven　times　once　in　a
hackney…coach　once　in　a　boat　once　in　a　pew　once　on　a　donkey　at　Tunbridge
Wells　and　the　rest　on　his　knees；　Romance　was　fled　with　the　early　days　of
Arthur　Clennam；　our　parents　tore　us　asunder　we　became　marble　and　stern
reality　usurped　the　throne；　Mr　F。　said　very　much　to　his　credit　that
he　was　perfectly　aware　of　it　and　even　preferred　that　state　of　things
accordingly　the　word　was　spoken　the　fiat　went　forth　and　such　is　life　you
see　my　dear　and　yet　we　do　not　break　but　bend；　pray　make　a　good　breakfast
while　I　go　in　with　the　tray。'

She　disappeared；　leaving　Little　Dorrit　to　ponder　over　the　meaning　of　her
scattered　words。　She　soon　came　back　again；　and　at　last　began　to　take　her
own　breakfast；　talking　all　the　while。

'You　see；　my　dear；'　said　Flora；　measuring　out　a　spoonful　or　two　of　some
broelt　like　brandy；　and　putting　it　into　her　tea；　'I　am
obliged　to　be　careful　to　follow　the　directions　of　my　medical　man　though
the　flavour　is　anything　but　agreeable　being　a　poor　creature　and　it　may
be　have　never　recovered　the　shock　received　in　youth　from　too　much　giving
way　to　crying　in　the　next　room　when　separated　from　Arthur；　have　you
known　him　long？'

As　soon　as　Little　Dorrit　prehended　that　she　had　been　asked　this
question……for　which　time　was　necessary；　the　galloping　pace　of　her　new
patroness　having　left　her　far　behind……she　answered　that　she　had　known　Mr
Clennam　ever　since　his　return。

'To　be　sure　you　couldn't　have　known　him　before　unless　you　had　been　in
China　or　had　corresponded　neither　of　which　is　likely；'　returned　Flora；
'for　travelling…people　usually　get　more　or　less　mahogany　and　you　are　not
at　all　so　and　as　to　corresponding　what　about？　that's　very　true　unless
tea；　so　it　was　at　his　mother's　was　it　really　that　you　knew　him　first；
highly　sensible　and　firm　but　dreadfully　severe……ought　to　be　the　mother
of　the　man　in　the　iron　mask。'

'Mrs　Clennam　has　been　kind　to　me；'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'Really？　I　am　sure　I　am　glad　to　hear　it　because　as　Arthur's　mother　it's
naturally　pleasant　to　my　feelings　to　have　a　better　opinion　of　her　than
I　had　before；　though　what　she　thinks　of　me　when　I　run　on　as　I　am　certain
to　do　and　she　sits　glowering　at　me　like　Fate　in　a　go…cart……shocking
parison　really……invalid　and　not　her　fault……I　never　know　or　can
imagine。'

'Shall　I　find　my　work　anywhere；　ma'am？'　asked　Little　Dorrit；　looking
timidly　about；　'can　I　get　it？'

'You　industrious　little　fairy；'　returned　Flora；　taking；　in　another　cup
of　tea；　another　of　the　doses　prescribed　by　her　medical　man；　'there's
not　the　slightest　hurry　and　it's　better　that　we　should　begin　by　being
confidential　about　our　mutual　friend……too　cold　a　word　for　me　at　least
I　don't　mean　that；　very　proper　expression　mutual　friend……than　bee
through　mere　formalities　not　you　but　me　like　the　Spartan　boy　with　the
fox　biting　him；　which　I　hope　you'll　excuse　my　bringing　up　for　of　all
the　tiresome　boys　that　will　go　tumbling　into　every　sort　of　pany　that
boy's　the　tiresomest。'

Little　Dorrit；　her　face　very　pale；　sat　down　again　to　listen。　'Hadn't　I
better　work　the　while？'　she　asked。　'I　can　work　and　attend　too。　I　would
rather；　if　I　may。'

Her　earnestness　was　so　expressive　of　her　being　uneasy　without　her　work；
that　Flora　answered；　'Well　my　dear　whatever　you　like　best；'　and　produced
a　basket　of　white　handkerchiefs。　Little　Dorrit　gladly　put　it　by　her
side；　took　out　her　little　pocket…housewife；　threaded　the　needle；　and
began　to　hem。

'What　nimble　fingers　you　have；'　said　Flora；　'but　are　you　sure　you　are
well？'

'Oh　yes；　indeed！'

Flora　put　her　feet　upon　the　fender；　and　settled　herself　for　a　thorough
good　romantic　disclosure。　She　started　off　at　score；　tossing　her　head；
sighing　in　the　most　demonstrative　manner；　making　a　great　deal　of　use
of　her　eyebrows；　and　occasionally；　but　not　often；　glancing　at　the　quiet
face　that　bent　over　the　work。

'You　must　know　my　dear；'　said　Flora；　'but　that　I　have　no　doubt　you　know
already　not　only　because　I　have　already　thrown　it　out　in　a　general　way
but　because　I　feel　I　carry　it　stamped　in　burning　what's　his　names
upon　my　brow　that　before　I　was　introduced　to　the　late　Mr　F。　I　had
been　engaged　to　Arthur　Clennam……Mr　Clennam　in　public　where　reserve　is
necessary　Arthur　here……we　were　all　in　all　to　one　another　it　was　the
morning　of　life　it　was　bliss　it　was　frenzy　it　was　everything　else　of
that　sort　in　the　highest　degree；　when　rent　asunder　we　turned　to　stone　in
which　capacity　Arthur　went　to　China　and　I　became　the　statue　bride　of　the
late　Mr　F。'

Flora；　uttering　these　words　in　a　deep　voice；　enjoyed　herself　immensely。

'To　paint；'　said　she；　'the　emotions　of　that　morning　when　all　was　marble
within　and　Mr　F。's　Aunt　followed　in　a　glass…coach　which　it　stands　to
reason　must　have　been　in　shameful　repair　or　it　never　could　have　broken
down　two　streets　from　the　house　and　Mr　F。's　Aunt　brought　home　like　the
fifth　of　November　in　a　rush…bottomed　chair　I　will　not　attempt；
suffice　it　to　say　that　the　hollow　form　of　breakfast　took　place　in　the
dining…room　downstairs　that　papa　partaking　too　freely　of　pickled　salmon
was　ill　for　weeks　and　that　Mr　F。　and　myself　went　upon　a　continental
tour　to　Calais　where　the　people　fought　for　us　on　the　pier　until　they
separate