little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第65部分

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ten　pounds　each；　and　who　were　all　in　attendance。　Mr　Chivery　spoke　to　the
toast；　saying；　What　you　undertake　to　lock　up；　lock　up；　but　remember　that
you　are；　in　the　words　of　the　fettered　African；　a　man　and　a　brother　ever。
The　list　of　toasts　disposed　of；　Mr　Dorrit　urbanely　went　through　the
motions　of　playing　a　game　of　skittles　with　the　Collegian　who　was　the
next　oldest　inhabitant　to　himself；　and　left　the　tenantry　to　their
diversions。

But　all　these　occurrences　preceded　the　final　day。　And　now　the　day
arrived　when　he　and　his　family　were　to　leave　the　prison　for　ever；　and
when　the　stones　of　its　much…trodden　pavement　were　to　know　them　no　more。

Noon　was　the　hour　appointed　for　the　departure。　As　it　approached；　there
was　not　a　Collegian　within　doors；　nor　a　turnkey　absent。　The　latter　class
of　gentlemen　appeared　in　their　Sunday　clothes；　and　the　greater　part　of
the　Collegians　were　brightened　up　as　much　as　circumstances　allowed。　Two
or　three　flags　were　even　displayed；　and　the　children　put　on　odds　and
ends　of　ribbon。　Mr　Dorrit　himself；　at　this　trying　time；　preserved　a
serious　but　graceful　dignity。　Much　of　his　great　attention　was　given　to
his　brother；　as　to　whose　bearing　on　the　great　occasion　he　felt　anxious。

'My　dear　Frederick；'　said　he；　'if　you　will　give　me　your　arm　we　will　pass
among　our　friends　together。　I　think　it　is　right　that　we　should　go　out
arm　in　arm；　my　dear　Frederick。'

'Hah！'　said　Frederick。　'Yes；　yes；　yes；　yes。'

'And　if；　my　dear　Frederick……if　you　could；　without　putting　any　great
constraint　upon　yourself；　throw　a　little　（pray　excuse　me；　Frederick）；　a
little　Polish　into　your　usual　demeanour……'

'William；　William；'　said　the　other；　shaking　his　head；　'it's　for　you　to
do　all　that。　I　don't　know　how。　All　forgotten；　forgotten！'

'But；　my　dear　fellow；'　returned　William；　'for　that　very　reason；　if
for　no　other；　you　must　positively　try　to　rouse　yourself。　What　you
have　forgotten　you　must　now　begin　to　recall；　my　dear　Frederick。　Your
position……'

'Eh？'　said　Frederick。

'Your　position；　my　dear　Frederick。'

'Mine？'　He　looked　first　at　his　own　figure；　and　then　at　his　brother's；
and　then；　drawing　a　long　breath；　cried；　'Hah；　to　be　sure！　Yes；　yes；
yes。'　'Your　position；　my　dear　Frederick；　is　now　a　fine　one。　Your
position；　as　my　brother；　is　a　very　fine　one。　And　I　know　that　it　belongs
to　your　conscientious　nature　to　try　to　bee　worthy　of　it；　my　dear
Frederick；　and　to　try　to　adorn　it。　To　be　no　discredit　to　it；　but　to
adorn　it。'

'William；'　said　the　other　weakly；　and　with　a　sigh；　'I　will　do　anything
you　wish；　my　brother；　provided　it　lies　in　my　power。　Pray　be　so　kind　as
to　recollect　what　a　limited　power　mine　is。　What　would　you　wish　me　to　do
to…day；　brother？　Say　what　it　is；　only　say　what　it　is。'

'My　dearest　Frederick；　nothing。　It　is　not　worth　troubling　so　good　a
heart　as　yours　with。'

'Pray　trouble　it；'　returned　the　other。　'It　finds　it　no　trouble；　William；
to　do　anything　it　can　for　you。'

William　passed　his　hand　across　his　eyes；　and　murmured　with　august
satisfaction；　'Blessings　on　your　attachment；　my　poor　dear　fellow！'　Then
he　said　aloud；　'Well；　my　dear　Frederick；　if　you　will　only　try；　as　we
walk　out；　to　show　that　you　are　alive　to　the　occasion……that　you　think
about　it……'

'What　would　you　advise　me　to　think　about　it？'　returned　his　submissive
brother。

'Oh！　my　dear　Frederick；　how　can　I　answer　you？　I　can　only　say　what；　in
leaving　these　good　people；　I　think　myself。'

'That's　it！'　cried　his　brother。　'That　will　help　me。'

'I　find　that　I　think；　my　dear　Frederick；　and　with　mixed　emotions　in
which　a　softened　passion　predominates；　What　will　they　do　without　me！'

'True；'　returned　his　brother。　'Yes；　yes；　yes；　yes。　I'll　think　that　as　we
go；　What　will　they　do　without　my　brother！　Poor　things！　What　will　they　do
without　him！'

Twelve　o'clock　having　just　struck；　and　the　carriage　being　reported　ready
in　the　outer　court…yard；　the　brothers　proceeded　down…stairs　arm…in…arm。
Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire　（once　Tip）；　and　his　sister　Fanny　followed；
also　arm…in…arm；　Mr　Plornish　and　Maggy；　to　whom　had　been　entrusted　the
removal　of　such　of　the　family　effects　as　were　considered　worth　removing；
followed；　bearing　bundles　and　burdens　to　be　packed　in　a　cart。

In　the　yard；　were　the　Collegians　and　turnkeys。　In　the　yard；　were　Mr
Pancks　and　Mr　Rugg；　e　to　see　the　last　touch　given　to　their　work。
In　the　yard；　was　Young　John　making　a　new　epitaph　for　himself；　on
the　occasion　of　his　dying　of　a　broken　heart。　In　the　yard；　was　the
Patriarchal　Casby；　looking　so　tremendously　benevolent　that　many
enthusiastic　Collegians　grasped　him　fervently　by　the　hand；　and　the　wives
and　female　relatives　of　many　more　Collegians　kissed　his　hand；　nothing
doubting　that　he　had　done　it　all。　In　the　yard；　was　the　man　with　the
shadowy　grievance　respecting　the　Fund　which　the　Marshal　embezzled；　who
had　got　up　at　five　in　the　morning　to　plete　the　copying　of　a　perfectly
unintelligible　history　of　that　transaction；　which　he　had　mitted　to　Mr
Dorrit's　care；　as　a　document　of　the　last　importance；　calculated　to　stun
the　Government　and　effect　the　Marshal's　downfall。　In　the　yard；　was　the
insolvent　whose　utmost　energies　were　always　set　on　getting　into　debt；
who　broke　into　prison　with　as　much　pains　as　other　men　have　broken　out
of　it；　and　who　was　always　being　cleared　and　plimented；　while　the
insolvent　at　his　elbow……a　mere　little；　snivelling；　striving　tradesman；
half　dead　of　anxious　efforts　to　keep　out　of　debt……found　it　a　hard
matter；　indeed；　to　get　a　missioner　to　release　him　with　much　reproof
and　reproach。　In　the　yard；　was　the　man　of　many　children　and　many
burdens；　whose　failure　astonished　everybody；　in　the　yard；　was　the　man　of
no　children　and　large　resources；　whose　failure　astonished　nobody。　There；
were　the　people　who　were　always　going　out　to…morrow；　and　always　putting
it　off；　there；　were　the　people　who　had　e　in　yesterday；　and　who
were　much　more　jealous　and　resentful　of　this　freak　of　fortune　than
the　seasoned　birds。　There；　were　some　who；　in　pure　meanness　of　spirit；
cringed　and　bowed　before　the　enriched　Collegian　and　his　family；　there；
were　others　who　did　so　really　because　their　eyes；　accustomed　to　the
gloom　of　their　imprisonment　and　poverty；　could　not　support　the　light　of
such　bright　sunshine。　There；　were　many　whose　shillings　had　gone　into　his
pocket　to　buy　him　meat　and　drink；　but　none　who　were　now　obtrusively　Hail
fellow　well　met！　with　him；　on　the　strength　of　that　assistance。　It　was
rather　to　be　remarked　of　the　caged　birds；　that　they　were　a　little　shy
of　the　bird　about　to　be　so　grandly　free；　and　that　they　had　a　tendency　to
withdraw　themselves　towards　the　bars；　and　seem　a　little　fluttered　as　he
passed。

Through　these　spectators　the　little　procession；　headed　by　the　two
brothers；　moved　slowly　to　the　gate。　Mr　Dorrit；　yielding　to　the　vast
speculation　how　the　poor　creatures　were　to　get　on　without　him；　was
great；　and　sad；　but　not　absorbed。　He　patted　children　on　the　head
like　Sir　Roger　de　Coverley　going　to　church；　he　spoke　to　people　in　the
background　by　their　Christian　names；　he　condescended　to　all　present；　and
seemed　for　their　consolation　to　walk　encircled　by　the　legend　in　golden
characters；　'Be　forted；　my　people！　Bear　it！'

At　last　three　honest　cheers　announced　that　he　had　passed　the　gate；　and
that　the　Marshalsea　was　an　orphan。　Before　they　had　ceased　to　ring　in　the
echoes　of　the　prison　walls；　the　family　had　got　into　their　carriage；　and
the　attendant　had　the　steps　in　his　hand。

Then；　and　not　before；　'Good　Gracious！'　cried　Miss　Fanny　all　at　once；
'Where's　Amy！'

Her　father　had　thought　she　was　with　her　sister。　Her　sister　had　thought
she　was　'somewhere　or　other。'　They　had　all　trusted　to　finding　her；　as
they　had　always　done；　quietly　in　the　right　place　at　the　right　moment。
This　going　away　was　perhaps　the　very　first　action　of　their　joint　lives
that　they　had　got　through　without　her。

A　minute　might　have　been　consumed　in　the　ascertaining　of　these　points；
when　Miss　Fanny；　who；　from　her　seat　in　the　carriage；　manded　the　long
narrow　passage　leading　to　the　Lodge；　flushed　indignantly。

'Now　I　do　say；　Pa；'　cried　she；　'that　this　is　disgraceful！'

'What　is　disgraceful；　Fanny？'

'I　do　say；'　she　repeated；　'this　is　perfectly　infamous！　Really　almost
enough；　even　at　such　a　time　as　this；　to　make　one　wish　one　was　dead！
Here　is　that　child　Amy；　in　her　ugly　old　shabby　dress；　which　she　was　so
obstinate　about；　Pa；　which　I　over　and　over　again　begged　and　prayed　her
to　change；　and　which　she　over　and　over　again　objected　to；　and　promised
to　change　to…day；　saying　she　wished　to　wear　it　as　long　as　ever　she
remained　in　there　with　you……which　was　absolutely　romantic　nonsense　of
the　lowest　kind……here　is　that　child　Amy　disgracing　us　to　the　last　moment
and　at　the　last　moment；　by　being　carried　out　in　that　dress　after　all。
And　by　that　Mr　Clennam　too！'

The　offence　was　proved；　as　she　delivered　the　indictment。　Clennam
appeared　at　the　carriage…door；　bearing　the　little　insensible　figure　in
his　arms。

'She　has　been　forgotten；'　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　pity　not　free　from
reproach。　'I　ran　up　to　her　room　（which　Mr　Chivery　showed　me）　and　found
the　door　open；　and　that　she　had　fainted　on　the　floor；　dear　child。
She　appeared　to　have　gone　to　change　her　dress；　and　to　have　sunk　down
overpowered。　It　may　have　been　the　cheering；　or　it　may　have　happened
sooner。　Take　care　of　this　poor　cold　hand；　Miss　Dorrit。　Don't　let　it
fall。'

'Thank　you；　sir；'　returned　Miss　Dorrit；　bursting　into　tears。　'I　believe
I　know　what　to　do；　if　you　will　give　me　leave。　Dear　Amy；　open　your　eyes；
that's　a　love！　Oh；　Amy；　Amy；　I　really　am　so　vexed　and　ashamed！　Do　rouse
yourself；　darling！　Oh；　why　are　they　not　driving　on！　Pray；　Pa；　do　drive
on！'

The　attendant；　getting　between　Clennam　and　the　carriage…door；　with　a
sharp　'By　your　leave；　sir！'　bundled　up　the　steps；　and　they　drove　away。





BOOK　THE　SECOND：　RICHES




CHAPTER　1。　Fellow　Travellers


In　the　autumn　of　the　year；　Darkness　and　Night　were　creeping　up　to　the
highest　ridges　of　the　Alps。

It　was　vintage　time　in　the　valleys　on　the　Swiss　side　of　the　Pass　of　the
Great　Saint　Bernard；　and　along　the　banks　of　the　Lake　of　Geneva。

The　air　there　was　charged　with　the　scent　of　gathered　grapes。　Baskets；
troughs；　and　tubs　of　grapes　stood　in　the　dim　village　doorways；　stopped
the　steep　and　narrow　village　streets；　and　had　been　carrying　all　day
along　the　roads　and　lanes。　Grapes；　split　and　crushed　under　foot；　lay
about　everywhere。　The　child　carried　in　a　sling　by　the　laden　peasant
woman　toiling　home；　was　quieted　with　picked…up　grapes；　the　idiot　sunning
his　big　goitre　under　the　leaves　of　the　wooden　chalet　by　the　way　to　the
Waterfall；　sat　Munching　grapes；　the　breath　of　the　cows　and　goats　was
redolent　of　leaves　and　stalks　of　grapes；　the　pany　in　every　little
cabaret　were　eating；　drinking；　talking　grapes。　A　pity　that　no　ripe　touch
of　this　generous　abundance　could　be　given　to　the　thin；　hard；　stony　wine；
which　after　all　was　made　from　the　grapes！

The　air　had　been　warm　and　transparent　through　the　whole　of　the　bright
day。　Shining　metal　spires　and　church…roofs；　distant　and　rarely　seen；　had
sparkled　in　the　view；　and　the　snowy　mountain…tops　had　been　so　clear　that
unaccustomed　eyes；　cancelling　the　intervening　country；　and　slighting
their　rugged　heights　for　something　fabulous；　would　have　measured　them　as
within　a　few　hours　easy　reach。　Mountain…peaks　of　great　celebrity　in　the
valleys；　whence　no　trace　of　their　existence　was　visible　sometimes　for
months　together；　had　been　since　morning　plain　and　near　in　the　blue　sky。
And　now；　when　it　was　dark　below；　though　they　seemed　solemnly　to　recede；
like　spectres　who　were　going　to　vanish；　as　the　red　dye　of　the　sunset
faded　out　of　them　and　left　them　coldly　white；　they　were　yet　distinctly
defined　in　their　loneliness　above　the　mists　and　shadows。　Seen　from　these
solitudes；　and　from　the　Pass　of　the　Great　Saint　Bernard；　which　was　one
of　them；　the　ascending　Night　came　up　the　mountain　like　a　rising　water。
When　it　at　last　rose　to　the　walls　of　the　convent　of　the　Great　Saint
Bernard；　it　was　as　if　that　weather…beaten　structure　were　another　Ark；
and　floated　on　the　shadowy　waves。

Darkness；　outstripping　some　visitors　on　mules；　had　risen　thus　to
the　rough　convent　walls；　when　those　travellers　were　yet　climbing　the
mountain。　As　the　heat　of　the　glowing　day　when　they　had　stopped　to　drink
at　the　streams　of　melted　ice　and　snow；　was　changed　to　the　searching　cold
of　the　frosty　rarefied　night　air　at　a　great　height；　so　the　fresh　beauty
of　the　lower　journey　had　yielded　to　barrenness　and　desolation。　A　craggy
track；　up　which　the　mules　in　single　file　scrambled　and　turned　from
block　to　block；　as　though　they　were　ascending　the　broken　staircase　of
a　gigantic　ruin；　was　their　way　now。　No　trees　were　to　be　seen；　nor　any
vegetable　growth　save　a　poor　brown　scrubby　moss；　freezing　in　the　chinks
of　rock。　Blackened　skeleton　arms　of　wood　by　the　wayside　pointed　upward
to　the　convent　as　if　the　ghosts　of　former　travellers　overwhelmed　by　the
snow　haunted　the　scene　of　their　distress。　Icicle…hung　caves　and　cellars
built　for　refuges　from　sudden　storms；　were　like　so　many　whispers　of　the
perils　of　the　place；　never…resting　wreaths　and　mazes　of　mist　wandered
about；　hunted　by　a　moaning　wind；　and　snow；　the　besetting　danger　of　the
mountain；　against　which　all　its　defences　were　taken；　drifted　sharply
down。

The　file　of　mules；　jaded　by　their　day's　work；　turned　and　wound　slowly
up　the　deep　ascent；　the　foremost　led　by　a　guide　on　foot；　in　his
broad…brimmed　hat　and　round　jacket；　carrying　a　mountain　staff　or　two
upon　his　shoulder；　with　whom　another　guide　conversed。　There　was　no
speaking　among　the　string　of　riders。　The　sharp　cold；　the　fatigue　of　the
journey；　and　a　new　sensation　of　a　catching　in　the　breath；　partly　as　if
they　had　just　emerged　from　very　clear　crisp　water；　and　partly　as　if　they
had　been　sobbing；　kept　them　silent。

At　length；　a　light　on　the　summit　of　the　rocky　staircase　gleamed　through
the　snow　and　mist。　The　guides　called　to　the　mules；　the　mules　pricked　up
their　drooping　heads；　the　travellers'　tongues　were　loosened；　and　in　a
sudden　burst　of　slipping；　climbing；　jingling；　clinking；　and　talking；
they　arrived　at　the　convent　door。

Other　mules　had　arrived　not　long　before；　some　with　peasant　riders　and
some　with　goods；　and　had　trodden　the　snow　about　the　door　into　a　pool
of　mud。　Riding…saddles　and　bridles；　pack…saddles　and　strings　of　bells；
mules　and　men；　lanterns；　torches；　sacks；　provender；　barrels；　cheeses；
kegs　of　honey　and　butter；　straw　bundles　and　packages　of　many　shapes；
were　crowded　confusedly　together　in　this　thaire　and　about　the
steps。　Up　here　in　the　clouds；　everything　was　seen　through　cloud；　and
seemed　dissolving　into　cloud。　The　breath　of　the　men　was　cloud；　the
breath　of　the　mules　was　cloud；　the　lights　were　encircled　by　cloud；
speakers　close　at　hand　were　not　seen　for　cloud；　though　their　voices　and
all　other　sounds　were　surprisingly　clear。　Of　the　cloudy　line　of　mules
hastily　tied　to　rings　in　the　wall；　one　would　bite　another；　or　kick
another；　and　then　the　whole　mist　would　be　disturbed：　with　men　diving
into　it；　and　cries　of　men　and　beasts　ing　out　of　it；　and　no　bystander
discerning　what　was　wrong。　In　the　midst　of　this；　the　great　stable　of　the
convent；　occupying　the　basement　story　and　entered　by　the　basemen