little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第80部分

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anticipation　in　the　bright　face　of　Mrs　Meagles　（she　must　have　been　very
like　her　daughter；　once）；　'that　you　could　do　better。　And　if　you　ask　me
for　my　advice；　it　is　that　you　set　off　to…morrow。'

'Is　it　really；　though？'　said　Mr　Meagles。　'Mother；　this　is　being　backed
in　an　idea！'

Mother；　with　a　look　which　thanked　Clennam　in　a　manner　very　agreeable　to
him；　answered　that　it　was　indeed。

'The　fact　is；　besides；　Arthur；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　the　old　cloud　ing
over　his　face；　'that　my　son…in…law　is　already　in　debt　again；　and　that　I
suppose　I　must　clear　him　again。　It　may　be　as　well；　even　on　this　account；
that　I　should　step　over　there；　and　look　him　up　in　a　friendly　way。　Then
again；　here's　Mother　foolishly　anxious　（and　yet　naturally　too）　about
Pet's　state　of　health；　and　that　she　should　not　be　left　to　feel　lonesome
at　the　present　time。　It's　undeniably　a　long　way　off；　Arthur；　and　a
strange　place　for　the　poor　love　under　all　the　circumstances。　Let　her　be
as　well　cared　for　as　any　lady　in　that　land；　still　it　is　a　long　way　off。
just　as　Home　is　Home　though　it's　never　so　Homely；　why　you　see；'　said　Mr
Meagles；　adding　a　new　version　to　the　proverb；　'Rome　is　Rome；　though　it's
never　so　Romely。'

'All　perfectly　true；'　observed　Arthur；　'and　all　sufficient　reasons　for
going。'

'I　am　glad　you　think　so；　it　decides　me。　Mother；　my　dear；　you　may　get
ready。　We　have　lost　our　pleasant　interpreter　（she　spoke　three　foreign
languages　beautifully；　Arthur；　you　have　heard　her　many　a　time）；　and　you
must　pull　me　through　it；　Mother；　as　well　as　you　can。

I　require　a　deal　of　pulling　through；　Arthur；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　shaking
his　head；　'a　deal　of　pulling　through。　I　stick　at　everything　beyond　a
noun…substantive……and　I　stick　at　him；　if　he's　at　all　a　tight　one。'

'Now　I　think　of　it；'　returned　Clennam；　'there's　Cavalletto。　He　shall
go　with　you；　if　you　like。　I　could　not　afford　to　lose　him；　but　you　will
bring　him　safe　back。'

'Well！　I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　my　boy；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　turning　it
over；　'but　I　think　not。　No；　I　think　I'll　be　pulled　through　by　Mother。
Cavallooro　（I　stick　at　his　very　name　to　start　with；　and　it　sounds　like
the　chorus　to　a　ic　song）　is　so　necessary　to　you；　that　I　don't　like
the　thought　of　taking　him　away。　More　than　that；　there's　no　saying　when
we　may　e　home　again；　and　it　would　never　do　to　take　him　away　for
an　indefinite　time。　The　cottage　is　not　what　it　was。　It　only　holds　two
little　people　less　than　it　ever　did；　Pet；　and　her　poor　unfortunate　maid
Tattycoram；　but　it　seems　empty　now。　Once　out　of　it；　there's　no　knowing
when　we　may　e　back　to　it。　No；　Arthur；　I'll　be　pulled　through　by
Mother。'

They　would　do　best　by　themselves　perhaps；　after　all；　Clennam　thought；
therefore　did　not　press　his　proposal。

'If　you　would　e　down　and　stay　here　for　a　change；　when　it　wouldn't
trouble　you；'　Mr　Meagles　resumed；　'I　should　be　glad　to　think……and　so
would　Mother　too；　I　know……that　you　were　brightening　up　the　old　place
with　a　bit　of　life　it　was　used　to　when　it　was　full；　and　that　the　Babies
on　the　wall　there　had　a　kind　eye　upon　them　sometimes。　You　so　belong　to
the　spot；　and　to　them；　Arthur；　and　we　should　every　one　of　us　have　been
so　happy　if　it　had　fallen　out……but；　let　us　see……how's　the　weather　for
travelling　now？'　Mr　Meagles　broke　off；　cleared　his　throat；　and　got　up　to
look　out　of　the　window。

They　agreed　that　the　weather　was　of　high　promise；　and　Clennam　kept　the
talk　in　that　safe　direction　until　it　had　bee　easy　again；　when　he
gently　diverted　it　to　Henry　Gowan　and　his　quick　sense　and　agreeable
qualities　when　he　was　delicately　dealt　With；　he　likewise　dwelt　on　the
indisputable　affection　he　entertained　for　his　wife。　Clennam　did　not　fail
of　his　effect　upon　good　Mr　Meagles；　whom　these　mendations　greatly
cheered；　and　who　took　Mother　to　witness　that　the　single　and　cordial
desire　of　his　heart　in　reference　to　their　daughter's　husband；　was
harmoniously　to　exchange　friendship　for　friendship；　and　confidence　for
confidence。　Within　a　few　hours　the　cottage　furniture　began　to　be　wrapped
up　for　preservation　in　the　family　absence……or；　as　Mr　Meagles　expressed
it；　the　house　began　to　put　its　hair　in　papers……and　within　a　few　days
Father　and　Mother　were　gone；　Mrs　Tickit　and　Dr　Buchan　were　posted；　as　of
yore；　behind　the　parlour　blind；　and　Arthur's　solitary　feet　were　rustling
among　the　dry　fallen　leaves　in　the　garden　walks。

As　he　had　a　liking　for　the　spot；　he　seldom　let　a　week　pass　without
paying　a　visit。　Sometimes；　he　went　down　alone　from　Saturday　to　Monday；
sometimes　his　partner　acpanied　him；　sometimes；　he　merely　strolled　for
an　hour　or　two　about　the　house　and　garden；　saw　that　all　was　right；　and
returned　to　London　again。　At　all　times；　and　under　all　circumstances；　Mrs
Tickit；　with　her　dark　row　of　curls；　and　Dr　Buchan；　sat　in　the　parlour
window；　looking　out　for　the　family　return。

On　one　of　his　visits　Mrs　Tickit　received　him　with　the　words；　'I
have　something　to　tell　you；　Mr　Clennam；　that　will　surprise　you。'　So
surprising　was　the　something　in　question；　that　it　actually　brought　Mrs
Tickit　out　of　the　parlour　window　and　produced　her　in　the　garden　walk；
when　Clennam　went　in　at　the　gate　on　its　being　opened　for　him。

'What　is　it；　Mrs　Tickit？'　said　he。

'Sir；'　returned　that　faithful　housekeeper；　having　taken　him　into　the
parlour　and　closed　the　door；　'if　ever　I　saw　the　led　away　and　deluded
child　in　my　life；　I　saw　her　identically　in　the　dusk　of　yesterday
evening。'

'You　don't　mean　Tatty……'

'Coram　yes　I　do！'　quoth　Mrs　Tickit；　clearing　the　disclosure　at　a　leap。

'Where？'

'Mr　Clennam；'　returned　Mrs　Tickit；　'I　was　a　little　heavy　in　my　eyes；
being　that　I　was　waiting　longer　than　customary　for　my　cup　of　tea　which
was　then　preparing　by　Mary　Jane。　I　was　not　sleeping；　nor　what　a　person
would　term　correctly；　dozing。　I　was　more　what　a　person　would　strictly
call　watching　with　my　eyes　closed。'

Without　entering　upon　an　inquiry　into　this　curious　abnormal　condition；
Clennam　said；　'Exactly。　Well？'

'Well；　sir；'　proceeded　Mrs　Tickit；　'I　was　thinking　of　one　thing　and
thinking　of　another；　just　as　you　yourself　might。　Just　as　anybody　might。'
'Precisely　so；'　said　Clennam。　'Well？'

'And　when　I　do　think　of　one　thing　and　do　think　of　another；'　pursued
Mrs　Tickit；　'I　hardly　need　to　tell　you；　Mr　Clennam；　that　I　think　of　the
family。　Because；　dear　me！　a　person's　thoughts；'　Mrs　Tickit　said　this
with　an　argumentative　and　philosophic　air；　'however　they　may　stray；　will
go　more　or　less　on　what　is　uppermost　in　their　minds。　They　will　do　it；
sir；　and　a　person　can't　prevent　them。'

Arthur　subscribed　to　this　discovery　with　a　nod。

'You　find　it　so　yourself；　sir；　I'll　be　bold　to　say；'　said　Mrs　Tickit；
'and　we　all　find　it　so。　It　an't　our　stations　in　life　that　changes　us；　Mr
Clennam；　thoughts　is　free！……As　I　was　saying；　I　was　thinking　of　one　thing
and　thinking　of　another；　and　thinking　very　much　of　the　family。　Not　of
the　family　in　the　present　times　only；　but　in　the　past　times　too。　For
when　a　person　does　begin　thinking　of　one　thing　and　thinking　of　another
in　that　manner；　as　it's　getting　dark；　what　I　say　is；　that　all　times
seem　to　be　present；　and　a　person　must　get　out　of　that　state　and　consider
before　they　can　say　which　is　which。'

He　nodded　again；　afraid　to　utter　a　word；　lest　it　should　present　any　new
opening　to　Mrs　Tickit's　conversational　powers。

'In　consequence　of　which；'　said　Mrs　Tickit；　'y　eyes　and
saw　her　actual　form　and　figure　looking　in　at　the　gate；　I　let　them　close
again　without　so　much　as　starting；　for　that　actual　form　and　figure　came
so　pat　to　the　time　when　it　belonged　to　the　house　as　much　as　mine　or　your
own；　that　I　never　thought　at　the　moment　of　its　having　gone　away。　But；
sir；　y　eyes　again；　and　saw　that　it　wasn't　there；　then
it　all　flooded　upon　me　with　a　fright；　and　I　jumped　up。'

'You　ran　out　directly？'　said　Clennam。

'I　ran　out；'　assented　Mrs　Tickit；　'as　fast　as　ever　my　feet　would　carry
me；　and　if　you'll　credit　it；　Mr　Clennam；　there　wasn't　in　the　whole
shining　Heavens；　no　not　so　much　as　a　finger　of　that　young　woman。'

Passing　over　the　absence　from　the　firmament　of　this　novel　constellation；
Arthur　inquired　of　Mrs　Tickit　if　she　herself　went　beyond　the　gate？

'Went　to　and　fro；　and　high　and　low；'　said　Mrs　Tickit；　'and　saw　no　sign
of　her！'


He　then　asked　Mrs　Tickit　how　long　a　space　of　time　she　supposed　there
might　have　been　between　the　two　sets　of　ocular　quiverings　she　had
experienced？　Mrs　Tickit；　though　minutely　circumstantial　in　her　reply；
had　no　settled　opinion　between　five　seconds　and　ten　minutes。

She　was　so　plainly　at　sea　on　this　part　of　the　case；　and　had　so　clearly
been　startled　out　of　slumber；　that　Clennam　was　much　disposed　to　regard
the　appearance　as　a　dream。　Without　hurting　Mrs　Tickit's　feelings　with
that　infidel　solution　of　her　mystery；　he　took　it　away　from　the　cottage
with　him；　and　probably　would　have　retained　it　ever　afterwards　if　a
circumstance　had　not　soon　happened　to　change　his　opinion。　He　was　passing
at　nightfall　along　the　Strand；　and　the　lamp…lighter　was　going　on　before
him；　under　whose　hand　the　street…lamps；　blurred　by　the　foggy　air；　burst
out　one　after　another；　like　so　many　blazing　sunflowers　ing　into
full…blow　all　at　once；……when　a　stoppage　on　the　pavement；　caused　by　a
train　of　coal…waggons　toiling　up　from　the　wharves　at　the　river…side；
brought　him　to　a　stand…still。　He　had　been　walking　quickly；　and　going
with　some　current　of　thought；　and　the　sudden　check　given　to　both
operations　caused　him　to　look　freshly　about　him；　as　people　under　such
circumstances　usually　do。

Immediately；　he　saw　in　advance……a　few　people　intervening；　but　still
so　near　to　him　that　he　could　have　touched　them　by　stretching　out
his　arm……Tattycoram　and　a　strange　man　of　a　remarkable　appearance：　a
swaggering　man；　with　a　high　nose；　and　a　black　moustache　as　false　in　its
colour　as　his　eyes　were　false　in　their　expression；　who　wore　his　heavy
cloak　with　the　air　of　a　foreigner。　His　dress　and　general　appearance　were
those　of　a　man　on　travel；　and　he　seemed　to　have　very　recently　joined
the　girl。　In　bending　down　（being　much　taller　than　she　was）；　listening
to　whatever　she　said　to　him；　he　looked　over　his　shoulder　with　the
suspicious　glance　of　one　who　was　not　unused　to　be　mistrustful　that　his
footsteps　might　be　dogged。　It　was　then　that　Clennam　saw　his　face；　as
his　eyes　lowered　on　the　people　behind　him　in　the　aggregate；　without
particularly　resting　upon　Clennam's　face　or　any　other。

He　had　scarcely　turned　his　head　about　again；　and　it　was　still　bent　down；
listening　to　the　girl；　when　the　stoppage　ceased；　and　the　obstructed
stream　of　people　flowed　on。　Still　bending　his　head　and　listening　to　the
girl；　he　went　on　at　her　side；　and　Clennam　followed　them；　resolved　to
play　this　unexpected　play　out；　and　see　where　they　went。

He　had　hardly　made　the　determination　（though　he　was　not　long　about　it）；
when　he　was　again　as　suddenly　brought　up　as　he　had　been　by　the　stoppage。
They　turned　short　into　the　Adelphi；……the　girl　evidently　leading；……and
went　straight　on；　as　if　they　were　going　to　the　Terrace　which　overhangs
the　river。

There　is　always；　to　this　day；　a　sudden　pause　in　that　place　to　the　roar
of　the　great　thoroughfare。　The　many　sounds　bee　so　deadened　that　the
change　is　like　putting　cotton　in　the　ears；　or　having　the　head　thickly
muffled。　At　that　time　the　contrast　was　far　greater；　there　being　no　small
steam…boats　on　the　river；　no　landing　places　but　slippery　wooden　stairs
and　foot…causeways；　no　railroad　on　the　opposite　bank；　no　hanging　bridge
or　fish…market　near　at　hand；　no　traffic　on　the　nearest　bridge　of　stone；
nothing　moving　on　the　stream　but　watermen's　wherries　and　coal…lighters。
Long　and　broad　black　tiers　of　the　latter；　moored　fast　in　the　mud　as　if
they　were　never　to　move　again；　made　the　shore　funereal　and　silent　after
dark；　and　kept　what　little　water…movement　there　was；　far　out　towards
mid…stream。　At　any　hour　later　than　sunset；　and　not　least　at　that　hour
when　most　of　the　people　who　have　anything　to　eat　at　home　are　going　home
to　eat　it；　and　when　most　of　those　who　have　nothing　have　hardly　yet　slunk
out　to　beg　or　steal；　it　was　a　deserted　place　and　looked　on　a　deserted
scene。

Such　was　the　hour　when　Clennam　stopped　at　the　corner；　observing　the　girl
and　the　strange　man　as　they　went　down　the　street。　The　man's　footsteps
were　so　noisy　on　the　echoing　stones　that　he　was　unwilling　to　add　the
sound　of　his　own。　But　when　they　had　passed　the　turning　and　were　in　the
darkness　of　the　dark　corner　leading　to　the　terrace；　he　made　after　them
with　such　indifferent　appearance　of　being　a　casual　passenger　on　his　way；
as　he　could　assume。

When　he　rounded　the　dark　corner；　they　were　walking　along　the　terrace
towards　a　figure　which　was　ing　towards　them。　If　he　had　seen　it　by
itself；　under　such　conditions　of　gas…lamp；　mist；　and　distance；　he　might
not　have　known　it　at　first　sight；　but　with　the　figure　of　the　girl　to
prompt　him；　he　at　once　recognised　Miss　Wade。

He　stopped　at　the　corner；　seeming　to　look　back　expectantly　up　the　street
as　if　he　had　made　an　appointment　with　some　one　to　meet　him　there；　but　he
kept　a　careful　eye　on　the　three。　When　they　came　together；　the　man　took
off　his　hat；　and　made　Miss　Wade　a　bow。　The　girl　appeared　to　say　a　few
words　as　though　she　presented　him；　or　accounted　for　his　being　late；　or
early；　or　what　not；　and　then　fell　a　pace　or　so　behind；　by　herself。　Miss
Wade　and　the　man　then　began　to　walk　up　and　down；　the　man　having　the
appearance　of　being　extremely　courteous　and　plimentary　in　manner；
Miss　Wade　having　the　appearance　of　being　extremely　haughty。

When　they　came　down　to　the　corner　and　turned；　she　was　saying；

'If　I　pinch　myself　for　it；　sir；　that　is　my　business。　Confine　yourself　to
yours；　and　ask　me　no　question。'

'By　Heaven；　ma'am！'　he　replied；　making　her　another　bow。　'It　was　my
profound　respect　for　the　strength　of　your　character；　and　my　admiration
of　your　beauty。'

'I　want　neither　the　one　nor　the　other　from　any　one；'　said　she；　'and
certainly　not　from　you　of　all　creatures。　Go　on　with　your　report。'

'Am　I　pardoned？'　he　asked；　with　an　air　of　half　abashed　gallantry。

'You　are　paid；'　she　said；　'and　that　is　all　you　want。'

Whether　the　girl　hung　behind　because　she　was　not　to　hear　the　business；
or　as　already　knowing　enough　about　it；　Clennam　could　not　determine。　They
turned　and　she　turned。　She　looked　away　at　the　river；　as　she　walked
with　her　hands　folded　before　her；　and　that　was　all　he　could　make　of
her　without　showing　his　face。　There　happened；　by　good　fortune；　to　be　a
lounger　really　waiting　for　some　one；　and　he　sometimes　looked　over　the
railing　at　the　water；　and　sometimes　came　to　the　dark　corner　and　looked
up　the　street；　rendering　Arthur　less　conspicuous。

When　Miss　Wade　and　the　man　came　back　again；　she　was　saying；　'You　must
wait　until　to…morrow。'

'A　thousand　pardons？'　he　returned。　'My　faith！　Then　it's　not　convenient
to…night？'

'No。　I　tell　you　I　must　get　it　before　I　can　give　it　to　you。'

She　stopped　in　the　roadway；　as　if　to　put　an　end　to　the　conference。　He　of
course　stopped　too。　And　the　girl　stopped。

'It's　a　little　inconvenient；'　said　the　man。　'A　little。　But；　Holy　Blue！
that's　nothing　in　such　a　service。　I　am　without　money　to…night；　by
chance。　I　have　a　good　banker　in　this　city；　but　I　would　not　wish　to　draw
upon　the　house　until　the　time　when　I　shall　draw　for　a