little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第9部分

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and　sent　them　down　again……placing　the　act　to　her　credit；　no　doubt；　in
her　Eternal　Day…Book。

This　refection　of　oysters　was　not　presided　over　by　Affery；　but　by　the
girl　who　had　appeared　when　the　bell　was　rung；　the　same　who　had　been　in
the　dimly…lighted　room　last　night。　Now　that　he　had　an　opportunity　of
observing　her；　Arthur　found　that　her　diminutive　figure；　small　features；
and　slight　spare　dress；　gave　her　the　appearance　of　being　much　younger
than　she　was。　A　woman；　probably　of　not　less　than　two…and…twenty；　she
might　have　been　passed　in　the　street　for　little　more　than　half　that
age。　Not　that　her　face　was　very　youthful；　for　in　truth　there　was　more
consideration　and　care　in　it　than　naturally　belonged　to　her　utmost
years；　but　she　was　so　little　and　light；　so　noiseless　and　shy；　and
appeared　so　conscious　of　being　out　of　place　among　the　three　hard　elders；
that　she　had　all　the　manner　and　much　of　the　appearance　of　a　subdued
child。

In　a　hard　way；　and　in　an　uncertain　way　that　fluctuated　between　patronage
and　putting　down；　the　sprinkling　from　a　watering…pot　and　hydraulic
pressure；　Mrs　Clennam　showed　an　interest　in　this　dependent。　Even　in　the
moment　of　her　entrance；　upon　the　violent　ringing　of　the　bell；　when　the
mother　shielded　herself　with　that　singular　action　from　the　son；　Mrs
Clennam's　eyes　had　had　some　individual　recognition　in　them；　which　seemed
reserved　for　her。　As　there　are　degrees　of　hardness　in　the　hardest　metal；
and　shades　of　colour　in　black　itself；　so；　even　in　the　asperity　of　Mrs
Clennam's　demeanour　towards　all　the　rest　of　humanity　and　towards　Little
Dorrit；　there　was　a　fine　gradation。

Little　Dorrit　let　herself　out　to　do　needlework。　At　so　much　a　day……or　at
so　little……from　eight　to　eight；　Little　Dorrit　was　to　be　hired。　Punctual
to　the　moment；　Little　Dorrit　appeared；　punctual　to　the　moment；　Little
Dorrit　vanished。　What　became　of　Little　Dorrit　between　the　two　eights　was
a　mystery。

Another　of　the　moral　phenomena　of　Little　Dorrit。　Besides　her
consideration　money；　her　daily　contract　included　meals。　She　had　an
extraordinary　repugnance　to　dining　in　pany；　would　never　do　so；　if
it　were　possible　to　escape。　Would　always　plead　that　she　had　this　bit　of
work　to　begin　first；　or　that　bit　of　work　to　finish　first；　and　would；　of
a　certainty；　scheme　and　plan……not　very　cunningly；　it　would　seem；　for　she
deceived　no　one……to　dine　alone。　Successful　in　this；　happy　in　carrying
off　her　plate　anywhere；　to　make　a　table　of　her　lap；　or　a　box；　or　the
ground；　or　even　as　was　supposed；　to　stand　on　tip…toe；　dining　moderately
at　a　mantel…shelf；　the　great　anxiety　of　Little　Dorrit's　day　was　set　at
rest。

It　was　not　easy　to　make　out　Little　Dorrit's　face；　she　was　so　retiring；
plied　her　needle　in　such　removed　corners；　and　started　away　so　scared　if
encountered　on　the　stairs。　But　it　seemed　to　be　a　pale　transparent　face；
quick　in　expression；　though　not　beautiful　in　feature；　its　soft　hazel
eyes　excepted。　A　delicately　bent　head；　a　tiny　form；　a　quick　little　pair
of　busy　hands；　and　a　shabby　dress……it　must　needs　have　been　very　shabby
to　look　at　all　so；　being　so　neat……were　Little　Dorrit　as　she　sat　at　work。

For　these　particulars　or　generalities　concerning　Little　Dorrit；　Mr
Arthur　was　indebted　in　the　course　of　the　day　to　his　own　eyes　and　to　Mrs
Affery's　tongue。　If　Mrs　Affery　had　had　any　will　or　way　of　her　own；　it
would　probably　have　been　unfavourable　to　Little　Dorrit。　But　as　'them　two
clever　ones'……Mrs　Affery's　perpetual　reference；　in　whom　her　personality
was　swallowed　up……were　agreed　to　accept　Little　Dorrit　as　a　matter　of
course；　she　had　nothing　for　it　but　to　follow　suit。　Similarly；　if　the
two　clever　ones　had　agreed　to　murder　Little　Dorrit　by　candlelight；　Mrs
Affery；　being　required　to　hold　the　candle；　would　no　doubt　have　done　it。

In　the　intervals　of　roasting　the　partridge　for　the　invalid　chamber；　and
preparing　a　baking…dish　of　beef　and　pudding　for　the　dining…room；　Mrs
Affery　made　the　munications　above　set　forth；　invariably　putting
her　head　in　at　the　door　again　after　she　had　taken　it　out；　to　enforce
resistance　to　the　two　clever　ones。　It　appeared　to　have　bee　a　perfect
passion　with　Mrs　Flintwinch；　that　the　only　son　should　be　pitted　against
them。

In　the　course　of　the　day；　too；　Arthur　looked　through　the　whole　house。
Dull　and　dark　he　found　it。　The　gaunt　rooms；　deserted　for　years　upon
years；　seemed　to　have　settled　down　into　a　gloomy　lethargy　from　which
nothing　could　rouse　them　again。　The　furniture；　at　once　spare　and
lumbering；　hid　in　the　rooms　rather　than　furnished　them；　and　there　was
no　colour　in　all　the　house；　such　colour　as　had　ever　been　there；　had　long
ago　started　away　on　lost　sunbeams……got　itself　absorbed；　perhaps；　into
flowers；　butterflies；　plumage　of　birds；　precious　stones；　what　not。　There
was　not　one　straight　floor　from　the　foundation　to　the　roof；　the　ceilings
were　so　fantastically　clouded　by　smoke　and　dust；　that　old　women　might
have　told　fortunes　in　them　better　than　in　grouts　of　tea；　the　dead…cold
hearths　showed　no　traces　of　having　ever　been　warmed　but　in　heaps　of　soot
that　had　tumbled　down　the　chimneys；　and　eddied　about　in　little
dusky　whirlwinds　when　the　doors　were　opened。　In　what　had　once　been
a　drawing…room；　there　were　a　pair　of　meagre　mirrors；　with　dismal
processions　of　black　figures　carrying　black　garlands；　walking　round
the　frames；　but　even　these　were　short　of　heads　and　legs；　and　one
undertaker…like　Cupid　had　swung　round　on　its　own　axis　and　got　upside
down；　and　another　had　fallen　off　altogether。　The　room　Arthur　Clennam's
deceased　father　had　occupied　for　business　purposes；　when　he　first
remembered　him；　was　so　unaltered　that　he　might　have　been　imagined　still
to　keep　it　invisibly；　as　his　visible　relict　kept　her　room　up…stairs；
Jeremiah　Flintwinch　still　going　between　them　negotiating。　His　picture；
dark　and　gloomy；　earnestly　speechless　on　the　wall；　with　the　eyes
intently　looking　at　his　son　as　they　had　looked　when　life　departed　from
them；　seemed　to　urge　him　awfully　to　the　task　he　had　attempted；　but　as
to　any　yielding　on　the　part　of　his　mother；　he　had　now　no　hope；　and　as　to
any　other　means　of　setting　his　distrust　at　rest；　he　had　abandoned　hope　a
long　time。

Down　in　the　cellars；　as　up　in　the　bed…chambers；　old　objects　that　he　well
remembered　were　changed　by　age　and　decay；　but　were　still　in　their
old　places；　even　to　empty　beer…casks　hoary　with　cobwebs；　and　empty
wine…bottles　with　fur　and　fungus　choking　up　their　throats。　There；　too；
among　unusual　bottle…racks　and　pale　slants　of　light　from　the　yard　above；
was　the　strong　room　stored　with　old　ledgers；　which　had　as　musty　and
corrupt　a　smell　as　if　they　were　regularly　balanced；　in　the　dead　small
hours；　by　a　nightly　resurrection　of　old　book…keepers。

The　baking…dish　was　served　up　in　a　penitential　manner　on　a　shrunken
cloth　at　an　end　of　the　dining…table；　at　two　o'clock；　when　he　dined　with
Mr　Flintwinch；　the　new　partner。　Mr　Flintwinch　informed　him　that　his
mother　had　recovered　her　equanimity　now；　and　that　he　need　not　fear　her
again　alluding　to　what　had　passed　in　the　morning。　'And　don't　you　lay
offences　at　your　father's　door；　Mr　Arthur；'　added　Jeremiah；　'once　for
all；　don't　do　it！　Now；　we　have　done　with　the　subject。'

Mr　Flintwinch　had　been　already　rearranging　and　dusting　his　own
particular　little　office；　as　if　to　do　honour　to　his　accession　to　new
dignity。　He　resumed　this　occupation　when　he　was　replete　with　beef；　had
sucked　up　all　the　gravy　in　the　baking…dish　with　the　flat　of　his　knife；
and　had　drawn　liberally　on　a　barrel　of　small　beer　in　the　scullery。　Thus
refreshed；　he　tucked　up　his　shirt…sleeves　and　went　to　work　again；　and　Mr
Arthur；　watching　him　as　he　set　about　it；　plainly　saw　that　his　father's
picture；　or　his　father's　grave；　would　be　as　municative　with　him　as
this　old　man。

'Now；　Affery；　woman；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch；　as　she　crossed　the　hall。　'You
hadn't　made　Mr　Arthur's　bed　when　I　was　up　there　last。　Stir　yourself。
Bustle。'

But　Mr　Arthur　found　the　house　so　blank　and　dreary；　and　was　so　unwilling
to　assist　at　another　implacable　consignment　of　his　mother's　enemies
（perhaps　himself　among　them）　to　mortal　disfigurement　and　immortal　ruin；
that　he　announced　his　intention　of　lodging　at　the　coffee…house　where　he
had　left　his　luggage。　Mr　Flintwinch　taking　kindly　to　the　idea　of　getting
rid　of　him；　and　his　mother　being　indifferent；　beyond　considerations　of
saving；　to　most　domestic　arrangements　that　were　not　bounded　by　the　walls
of　her　own　chamber；　he　easily　carried　this　point　without　new　offence。
Daily　business　hours　were　agreed　upon；　which　his　mother；　Mr　Flintwinch；
and　he；　were　to　devote　together　to　a　necessary　checking　of　books　and
papers；　and　he　left　the　home　he　had　so　lately　found；　with　depressed
heart。

But　Little　Dorrit？

The　business　hours；　allowing　for　intervals　of　invalid　regimen　of　oysters
and　partridges；　during　which　Clennam　refreshed　himself　with　a　walk；
were　from　ten　to　six　for　about　a　fortnight。　Sometimes　Little　Dorrit　was
employed　at　her　needle；　sometimes　not；　sometimes　appeared　as　a　humble
visitor：　which　must　have　been　her　character　on　the　occasion　of　his
arrival。　His　original　curiosity　augmented　every　day；　as　he　watched　for
her；　saw　or　did　not　see　her；　and　speculated　about　her。　Influenced　by　his
predominant　idea；　he　even　fell　into　a　habit　of　discussing　with　himself
the　possibility　of　her　being　in　some　way　associated　with　it。　At　last　he
resolved　to　watch　Little　Dorrit　and　know　more　of　her　story。




CHAPTER　6。　The　Father　of　the　Marshalsea


Thirty　years　ago　there　stood；　a　few　doors　short　of　the　church　of　Saint
George；　in　the　borough　of　Southwark；　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　way
going　southward；　the　Marshalsea　Prison。　It　had　stood　there　many　years
before；　and　it　remained　there　some　years　afterwards；　but　it　is　gone　now；
and　the　world　is　none　the　worse　without　it。

It　was　an　oblong　pile　of　barrack　building；　partitioned　into　squalid
houses　standing　back　to　back；　so　that　there　were　no　back　rooms；
environed　by　a　narrow　paved　yard；　hemmed　in　by　high　walls　duly　spiked　at
top。　Itself　a　close　and　confined　prison　for　debtors；　it　contained　within
it　a　much　closer　and　more　confined　jail　for　smugglers。　Offenders　against
the　revenue　laws；　and　defaulters　to　excise　or　customs　who　had　incurred
fines　which　they　were　unable　to　pay；　were　supposed　to　be　incarcerated
behind　an　iron…plated　door　closing　up　a　second　prison；　consisting　of　a
strong　cell　or　two；　and　a　blind　alley　some　yard　and　a　half　wide；　which
formed　the　mysterious　termination　of　the　very　limited　skittle…ground　in
which　the　Marshalsea　debtors　bowled　down　their　troubles。

Supposed　to　be　incarcerated　there；　because　the　time　had　rather　outgrown
the　strong　cells　and　the　blind　alley。　In　practice　they　had　e　to　be
considered　a　little　too　bad；　though　in　theory　they　were　quite　as　good　as
ever；　which　may　be　observed　to　be　the　case　at　the　present　day　with　other
cells　that　are　not　at　all　strong；　and　with　other　blind　alleys　that　are
stone…blind。　Hence　the　smugglers　habitually　consorted　with　the　debtors
（who　received　them　with　open　arms）；　except　at　certain　constitutional
moments　when　somebody　came　from　some　Office；　to　go　through　some　form　of
overlooking　something　which　neither　he　nor　anybody　else　knew　anything
about。　On　these　truly　British　occasions；　the　smugglers；　if　any；　made　a
feint　of　walking　into　the　strong　cells　and　the　blind　alley；　while　this
somebody　pretended　to　do　his　something：　and　made　a　reality　of　walking
out　again　as　soon　as　he　hadn't　done　it……neatly　epitomising　the
administration　of　most　of　the　public　affairs　in　our　right　little；　tight
little；　island。

There　had　been　taken　to　the　Marshalsea　Prison；　long　before　the　day　when
the　sun　shone　on　Marseilles　and　on　the　opening　of　this　narrative；　a
debtor　with　whom　this　narrative　has　some　concern。

He　was；　at　that　time；　a　very　amiable　and　very　helpless　middle…aged
gentleman；　who　was　going　out　again　directly。　Necessarily；　he　was　going
out　again　directly；　because　the　Marshalsea　lock　never　turned　upon　a
debtor　who　was　not。　He　brought　in　a　portmanteau　with　him；　which　he
doubted　its　being　worth　while　to　unpack；　he　was　so　perfectly　clear……like
all　the　rest　of　them；　the　turnkey　on　the　lock　said……that　he　was　going
out　again　directly。

He　was　a　shy；　retiring　man；　well…looking；　though　in　an　effeminate　style；
with　a　mild　voice；　curling　hair；　and　irresolute　hands……rings　upon　the
fingers　in　those　days……which　nervously　wandered　to　his　trembling　lip　a
hundred　times　in　the　first　half…hour　of　his　acquaintance　with　the　jail。
His　principal　anxiety　was　about　his　wife。

'Do　you　think；　sir；'　he　asked　the　turnkey；　'that　she　will　be　very　much
shocked；　if　she　should　e　to　the　gate　to…morrow　morning？'

The　turnkey　gave　it　as　the　result　of　his　experience　that　some　of　'em　was
and　some　of　'em　wasn't。　In　general；　more　no　than　yes。　'What　like　is　she；
you　see？'　he　philosophically　asked：　'that's　what　it　hinges　on。'

'She　is　very　delicate　and　inexperienced　indeed。'

'That；'　said　the　turnkey；　'is　agen　her。'

'She　is　so　little　used　to　go　out　alone；'　said　the　debtor；　'that　I　am　at
a　loss　to　think　how　she　will　ever　make　her　way　here；　if　she　walks。'

'P'raps；'　quoth　the　turnkey；　'she'll　take　a　ackney　coach。'

'Perhaps。'　The　irresolute　fingers　went　to　the　trembling　lip。　'I　hope　she
will。　She　may　not　think　of　it。'

'Or　p'raps；'　said　the　turnkey；　offering　his　suggestions　from　the　the　top
of　his　well…worn　wooden　stool；　as　he　might　have　offered　them　to　a　child
for　whose　weakness　he　felt　a　passion；　'p'raps　she'll　get　her　brother；
or　her　sister；　to　e　along　with　her。'

'She　has　no　brother　or　sister。'

'Niece；　nevy；　cousin；　serwant；　young　'ooman；　greengrocer。……Dash　it！

One　or　another　on　'em；'　said　the　turnkey；　repudiating　beforehand　the
refusal　of　all　his　suggestions。

'I　fear……I　hope　it　is　not　against　the　rules……that　she　will　bring　the
children。'

'The　children？'　said　the　turnkey。　'And　the　rules？　Why；　lord　set　you
up　like　a　corner　pin；　we've　a　reg'lar　playground　o'　children　here。
Children！　Why　we　swarm　with　'em。　How　many　a　you　got？'

'Two；'　said　the　debtor；　lifting　his　irresolute　hand　to　his　lip　again；
and　turning　into　the　prison。

The　turnkey　followed　him　with　his　eyes。　'And　you　another；'　he　observed
to　himself；　'which　makes　three　on　you。　And　your　wife　another；　I'll　lay
a　crown。　Which　makes　four　on　you。　And　another　ing；　I'll　lay
half…a…crown。　Which'll　make　five　on　you。　And　I'll　go　another　seven　and
sixpence　to　name　which　is　the　helplessest；　the　unborn　baby　or　you！'

He　was　right　in　all　his　particulars。　She　came　next　day　with　a　little
boy　of　three　years　old；　and　a　little　girl　of　two；　and　he　stood　entirely
corroborated。

'Got　a　room　now；　haven't　you？'　the　turnkey　asked　the　debtor　after　a　week
or　two。

'Yes；　I　have　got　a　very　good　room。'

'Any　little　sticks　a　ing　to　furnish　it？'　said　the　turnkey。

'I　expect　a　few　necessary　articles　of　furniture　to　be　delivered　by　the
carrier；　this　afternoon。'

'Missis　and　little　'uns　a　ing　to　keep　you　pany？'　asked　the
turnkey。

'Why；　yes；　we　think　it　better　that　we　should　not　be　scattered；　even　for
a　few　weeks。'

'Even　for　a　few　weeks；　OF　course；'　replied　the　turnkey。　And　he　followed
him　again　with　his　eyes；　and　nodded　his　head　seven　times　when　he　was
gone。

The　affairs　of　this　debtor　were　perplexed　by　a　partnership；