little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第91部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


tendency。'

This　skilful　see…saw　of　Mr　Dorrit　and　Mrs　Merdle；　so　that　each　of　them
sent　the　other　up；　and　each　of　them　sent　the　other　down；　and　neither
had　the　advantage；　acted　as　a　sedative　on　Mr　Dorrit's　cough。　He　remarked
with　his　utmost　politeness；　that　he　must　beg　to　protest　against　its
being　supposed；　even　by　Mrs　Merdle；　the　acplished　and　graceful
（to　which　pliment　she　bent　herself）；　that　such　enterprises　as　Mr
Merdle's；　apart　as　they　were　from　the　puny　undertakings　of　the　rest　of
men；　had　any　lower　tendency　than　to　enlarge　and　expand　the　genius　in
which　they　were　conceived。　'You　are　generosity　itself；'　said　Mrs　Merdle
in　return；　smiling　her　best　smile；　'let　us　hope　so。　But　I　confess　I　am
almost　superstitious　in　my　ideas　about　business。'

Mr　Dorrit　threw　in　another　pliment　here；　to　the　effect　that　business；
like　the　time　which　was　precious　in　it；　was　made　for　slaves；　and　that　it
was　not　for　Mrs　Merdle；　who　ruled　all　hearts　at　her　supreme　pleasure；
to　have　anything　to　do　with　it。　Mrs　Merdle　laughed；　and　conveyed　to
Mr　Dorrit　an　idea　that　the　Bosom　flushed……which　was　one　of　her　best
effects。

'I　say　so　much；'　she　then　explained；　'merely　because　Mr　Merdle　has
always　taken　the　greatest　interest　in　Edmund；　and　has　always　expressed
the　strongest　desire　to　advance　his　prospects。　Edmund's　public　position；
I　think　you　know。　His　private　position　rests　solely　with　Mr　Merdle。　In
my　foolish　incapacity　for　business；　I　assure　you　I　know　no　more。'

Mr　Dorrit　again　expressed；　in　his　own　way；　the　sentiment　that　business
was　below　the　ken　of　enslavers　and　enchantresses。　He　then　mentioned　his
intention；　as　a　gentleman　and　a　parent；　of　writing　to　Mr　Merdle。　Mrs
Merdle　concurred　with　all　her　heart……or　with　all　her　art；　which　was
exactly　the　same　thing……and　herself　despatched　a　preparatory　letter　by
the　next　post　to　the　eighth　wonder　of　the　world。

In　his　epistolary　munication；　as　in　his　dialogues　and　discourses　on
the　great　question　to　which　it　related；　Mr　Dorrit　surrounded　the
subject　with　flourishes；　as　writing…masters　embellish　copy…books　and
ciphering…books：　where　the　titles　of　the　elementary　rules　of
arithmetic　diverge　into　swans；　eagles；　griffins；　and　other　calligraphic
recreations；　and　where　the　capital　letters　go　out　of　their　minds　and
bodies　into　ecstasies　of　pen　and　ink。　Nevertheless；　he　did　render　the
purport　of　his　letter　sufficiently　clear；　to　enable　Mr　Merdle　to　make　a
decent　pretence　of　having　learnt　it　from　that　source。　Mr　Merdle　replied
to　it　accordingly。　Mr　Dorrit　replied　to　Mr　Merdle；　Mr　Merdle　replied　to
Mr　Dorrit；　and　it　was　soon　announced　that　the　corresponding　powers　had
e　to　a　satisfactory　understanding。


Now；　and　not　before；　Miss　Fanny　burst　upon　the　scene；　pletely　arrayed
for　her　new　part。　Now　and　not　before；　she　wholly　absorbed　Mr　Sparkler　in
her　light；　and　shone　for　both；　and　twenty　more。　No　longer　feeling　that
want　of　a　defined　place　and　character　which　had　caused　her　so　much
trouble；　this　fair　ship　began　to　steer　steadily　on　a　shaped　course；　and
to　swim　with　a　weight　and　balance　that　developed　her　sailing　qualities。

'The　preliminaries　being　so　satisfactorily　arranged；　I　think　I　will　now；
my　dear；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　'announce……ha……formally；　to　Mrs　General……'

'Papa；'　returned　Fanny；　taking　him　up　short　upon　that　name；　'I　don't　see
what　Mrs　General　has　got　to　do　with　it。'

'My　dear；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　'it　will　be　an　act　of　courtesy　to……hum……a
lady；　well　bred　and　refined……'

'Oh！　I　am　sick　of　Mrs　General's　good　breeding　and　refinement；　papa；'
said　Fanny。　'I　am　tired　of　Mrs　General。'

'Tired；'　repeated　Mr　Dorrit　in　reproachful　astonishment；　'of……ha……Mrs
General。'

'Quite　disgusted　with　her；　papa；'　said　Fanny。　'I　really　don't　see　what
she　has　to　do　with　my　marriage。　Let　her　keep　to　her　own　matrimonial
projects……if　she　has　any。'

'Fanny；'　returned　Mr　Dorrit；　with　a　grave　and　weighty　slowness　upon　him；
contrasting　strongly　with　his　daughter's　levity：　'I　beg　the　favour　of
your　explaining……ha……what　it　is　you　mean。'　'I　mean；　papa；'　said　Fanny；
'that　if　Mrs　General　should　happen　to　have　any　matrimonial　projects　of
her　own；　I　dare　say　they　are　quite　enough　to　occupy　her　spare　time。　And
that　if　she　has　not；　so　much　the　better；　but　still　I　don't　wish　to　have
the　honour　of　making　announcements　to　her。'

'Permit　me　to　ask　you；　Fanny；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　'why　not？'

'Because　she　can　find　my　engagement　out　for　herself；　papa；'　retorted
Fanny。　'She　is　watchful　enough；　I　dare　say。　I　think　I　have　seen　her
so。　Let　her　find　it　out　for　herself。　If　she　should　not　find　it　out　for
herself；　she　will　know　it　when　I　am　married。　And　I　hope　you　will　not
consider　me　wanting　in　affection　for　you；　papa；　if　I　say　it　strikes　me
that　rs　General。'

'Fanny；'　returned　Mr　Dorrit；　'I　am　amazed；　I　am　displeased　by
this……hum……this　capricious　and　unintelligible　display　of　animosity
towards……ha……Mrs　General。'

'Do　not；　if　you　please；　papa；'　urged　Fanny；　'call　it　animosity；　because
I　assure　you　I　do　not　consider　Mrs　General　worth　my　animosity。'

At　this；　Mr　Dorrit　rose　from　his　chair　with　a　fixed　look　of　severe
reproof；　and　remained　standing　in　his　dignity　before　his　daughter。　His
daughter；　turning　the　bracelet　on　her　arm；　and　now　looking　at　him；　and
now　looking　from　him；　said；　'Very　well；　papa。　I　am　truly　sorry　if　you
don't　like　it；　but　I　can't　help　it。　I　am　not　a　child；　and　I　am　not　Amy；
and　I　must　speak。'

'Fanny；'　gasped　Mr　Dorrit；　after　a　majestic　silence；　'if　I　request
you　to　remain　here；　while　I　formally　announce　to　Mrs　General；　as
an　exemplary　lady；　who　is……hum……a　trusted　member　of　this　family；
the……ha……the　change　that　is　contemplated　among　us；　if　I……ha……not　only
request　it；　but……hum……insist　upon　it……'

'Oh；　papa；'　Fanny　broke　in　with　pointed　significance；　'if　you　make　so
much　of　it　as　that；　I　have　in　duty　nothing　to　do　but　ply。　I　hope　I
may　have　my　thoughts　upon　the　subject；　however；　for　I　really　cannot　help
it　under　the　circumstances。'So；　Fanny　sat　down　with　a　meekness　which；
in　the　junction　of　extremes；　became　defiance；　and　her　father；　either　not
deigning　to　answer；　or　not　knowing　what　to　answer；　summoned　Mr　Tinkler
into　his　presence。

'Mrs　General。'

Mr　Tinkler；　unused　to　receive　such　short　orders　in　connection　with　the
fair　varnisher；　paused。　Mr　Dorrit；　seeing　the　whole　Marshalsea　and　all
its　testimonials　in　the　pause；　instantly　flew　at　him　with；　'How　dare
you；　sir？　What　do　you　mean？'

'I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；'　pleaded　Mr　Tinkler；　'I　was　wishful　to　know……'
'You　wished　to　know　nothing；　sir；'　cried　Mr　Dorrit；　highly　flushed。

'Don't　tell　me　you　did。　Ha。　You　didn't。　You　are　guilty　of　mockery；　sir。'

'I　assure　you；　sir……'　Mr　Tinkler　began。

'Don't　assure　me！'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'I　will　not　be　assured　by　a
domestic。　You　are　guilty　of　mockery。　You　shall　leave　me……hum……the　whole
establishment　shall　leave　me。　What　are　you　waiting　for？'

'Only　for　my　orders；　sir。'

'It's　false；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　'you　have　your　orders。　Ha……hum。　MY
pliments　to　Mrs　General；　and　I　beg　the　favour　of　her　ing　to　me；　if
quite　convenient；　for　a　few　minutes。　Those　are　your　orders。'

In　his　execution　of　this　mission；　Mr　Tinkler　perhaps　expressed　that　Mr
Dorrit　was　in　a　raging　fume。　However　that　was；　Mrs　General's　skirts　were
very　speedily　heard　outside；　ing　along……one　might　almost　have　said
bouncing　along……with　unusual　expedition。　Albeit；　they　settled　down　at
the　door　and　swept　into　the　room　with　their　customary　coolness。

'Mrs　General；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　'take　a　chair。'

Mrs　General；　with　a　graceful　curve　of　acknowledgment；　descended　into　the
chair　which　Mr　Dorrit　offered。

'Madam；'　pursued　that　gentleman；　'as　you　have　had　the　kindness　to
undertake　the……hum……formation　of　my　daughters；　and　as　I　am　persuaded
that　nothing　nearly　affecting　them　can……ha……be　indifferent　to　you……'

'Wholly　impossible；'　said　Mrs　General　in　the　calmest　of　ways。

'……I　therefore　wish　to　announce　to　you；　madam；　that　my　daughter　now
present……'

Mrs　General　made　a　slight　inclination　of　her　head　to　Fanny；　who　made
a　very　low　inclination　of　her　head　to　Mrs　General；　and　came　loftily
upright　again。

'……That　my　daughter　Fanny　is……ha……contracted　to　be　married　to　Mr
Sparkler；　；　you　will　be
relieved　of　half　your　difficult　charge……ha……difficult　charge。'　Mr
Dorrit　repeated　it　with　his　angry　eye　on　Fanny。　'But　not；　I　hope；　to
the……hum……diminution　of　any　other　portion；　direct　or　indirect；　of　the
footing　you　have　at　present　the　kindness　to　occupy　in　my　family。'

'Mr　Dorrit；'　returned　Mrs　General；　with　her　gloved　hands　resting　on
one　another　in　exemplary　repose；　'is　ever　considerate；　and　ever　but　too
appreciative　of　my　friendly　services。'

（Miss　Fanny　coughed；　as　much　as　to　say；　'You　are　right。'）

'Miss　Dorrit　has　no　doubt　exercised　the　soundest　discretion　of　which
the　circumstances　admitted；　and　I　trust　will　allow　me　to　offer　her　my
sincere　congratulations。　When　free　from　the　trammels　of　passion；'　Mrs
General　closed　her　eyes　at　the　word；　as　if　she　could　not　utter　it；　and
see　anybody；　'when　occurring　with　the　approbation　of　near　relatives；
and　when　cementing　the　proud　structure　of　a　family　edifice；　these　are
usually　auspicious　events。

I　trust　Miss　Dorrit　will　allow　me　to　offer　her　my　best　congratulations。'

Here　Mrs　General　stopped；　and　added　internally；　for　the　setting　of　her
face；　'Papa；　potatoes；　poultry；　Prunes；　and　prism。'

'Mr　Dorrit；'　she　superadded　aloud；　'is　ever　most　obliging；　and　for
the　attention；　and　I　will　add　distinction；　of　having　this　confidence
imparted　to　me　by　himself　and　Miss　Dorrit　at　this　early　time；　I　beg　to
offer　the　tribute　of　my　thanks。　My　thanks；　and　my　congratulations；　are
equally　the　meed　of　Mr　Dorrit　and　of　Miss　Dorrit。'

'To　me；'　observed　Miss　Fanny；　'they　are　excessively
gratifying……inexpressibly　so。　The　relief　of　finding　that　you　have　no
objection　to　make；　Mrs　General；　quite　takes　a　load　off　my　mind；　I　am
sure。　I　hardly　know　what　I　should　have　done；'　said　Fanny；　'if　you　had
interposed　any　objection；　Mrs　General。'

Mrs　General　changed　her　gloves；　as　to　the　right　glove　being　uppermost
and　the　left　undermost；　with　a　Prunes　and　Prism　smile。

'To　preserve　your　approbation；　Mrs　General；'　said　Fanny；　returning　the
smile　with　one　in　which　there　was　no　trace　of　those　ingredients；　'will
of　course　be　the　highest　object　of　my　married　life；　to　lose　it；　would　of
course　be　perfect　wretchedness。　I　am　sure　your　great　kindness　will
not　object；　and　I　hope　papa　will　not　object；　to　my　correcting　a
small　mistake　you　have　made；　however。　The　best　of　us　are　so　liable　to
mistakes；　that　even　you；　Mrs　General；　have　fallen　into　a　little　error。
The　attention　and　distinction　you　have　so　impressively　mentioned；　Mrs
General；　as　attaching　to　this　confidence；　are；　I　have　no　doubt；　of　the
most　plimentary　and　gratifying　description；　but　they　don't　at　all
proceed　from　me。　The　merit　of　having　consulted　you　on　the　subject　would
have　been　so　great　in　me；　that　I　feel　I　must　not　lay　claim　to　it　when　it
really　is　not　mine。　It　is　wholly　papa's。　I　am　deeply　obliged　to　you　for
your　encouragement　and　patronage；　but　it　was　papa　who　asked　for　it。
I　have　to　thank　you；　Mrs　General；　for　relieving　my　breast　of　a　great
weight　by　so　handsomely　giving　your　consent　to　my　engagement；　but　you
have　really　nothing　to　thank　me　for。　I　hope　you　will　always　approve　of
my　proceedings　after　I　have　left　home　and　that　my　sister　also　may　long
remain　the　favoured　object　of　your　condescension；　Mrs　General。'


With　this　address；　which　was　delivered　in　her　politest　manner；　Fanny
left　the　room　with　an　elegant　and　cheerful　air……to　tear　up…stairs　with
a　flushed　face　as　soon　as　she　was　out　of　hearing；　pounce　in　upon　her
sister；　call　her　a　little　Dormouse；　shake　her　for　the　better　opening　of
her　eyes；　tell　her　what　had　passed　below；　and　ask　her　what　she　thought
of　Pa　now？

Towards　Mrs　Merdle；　the　young　lady　ported　herself　with　great
independence　and　self…possession；　but　not　as　yet　with　any　more　decided
opening　of　hostilities。　Occasionally　they　had　a　slight　skirmish；　as　when
Fanny　considered　herself　patted　on　the　back　by　that　lady；　or　as　when　Mrs
Merdle　looked　particularly　young　and　well；　but　Mrs　Merdle　always　soon
terminated　those　passages　of　arms　by　sinking　among　her　cushions　with　the
gracefullest　indifference；　and　finding　her　attention　otherwise　engaged。
Society　（for　that　mysterious　creature　sat　upon　the　Seven　Hills　too）
found　Miss　Fanny　vastly　improved　by　her　engagement。　She　was　much　more
accessible；　much　more　free　and　engaging；　much　less　exacting；　insomuch
that　she　now　entertained　a　host　of　followers　and　admirers；　to　the　bitter
indignation　of　ladies　with　daughters　to　marry；　who　were　to　be　regarded
as　Having　revolted　from　Society　on　the　Miss　Dorrit　grievance；　and
erected　a　rebellious　standard。　Enjoying　the　flutter　she　caused。　Miss
Dorrit　not　only　haughtily　moved　through　it　in　her　own　proper　person；　but
haughtily；　even　Ostentatiously；　led　Mr　Sparkler　through　it　too：　seeming
to　say　to　them　all；　'If　I　think　proper　to　march　among　you　in　triumphal
procession　attended　by　this　weak　captive　in　bonds；　rather　than　a
stronger　one；　that　is　my　business。　Enough　that　I　choose　to　do　it！'　Mr
Sparkler　for　his　part；　questioned　nothing；　but　went　wherever　he　was
taken；　did　whatever　he　was　told；　felt　that　for　his　bride…elect　to　be
distinguished　was　for　him　to　be　distinguished　on　the　easiest　terms；　and
was　truly　grateful　for　being　so　openly　acknowledged。

The　winter　passing　on　towards　the　spring　while　this　condition　of　affairs
prevailed；　it　became　necessary　for　Mr　Sparkler　to　repair　to　England；　and
take　his　appointed　part　in　the　expression　and　direction　of　its　genius；
learning；　merce；　spirit；　and　sense。　The　land　of　Shakespeare；　Milton；
Bacon；　Newton；　Watt；　the　land　of　a　host　of　past　and　present　abstract
philosophers；　natural　philosophers；　and　subduers　of　Nature　and　Art　in
their　myriad　forms；　called　to　Mr　Sparkler　to　e　and　take　care　of　it；
lest　it　should　perish。　Mr　Sparkler；　unable　to　resist　the　agonised　cry
from　the　depths　of　his　country's　soul；　declared　that　he　must　go。

It　followed　that　the　question　was　rendered　pressing　when；　where；　and
how　Mr　Sparkler　should　be　married　to　the　foremost　girl　in　all　this　world
with　no　nonsense　about　her。　Its　solution；　after　some　little　mystery　and
secrecy；　Miss　Fanny　herself　announced　to　her　sister。

'Now；　my　child；'　said　she；　seeking　her　out　one　day；　'I　am　going　to　tell
you　something。　It　is　only　this　moment　broached；　and　naturally　I　hurry　to
you　the　moment　it　IS　broached。'


'Your　marriage；　Fanny？'

'My　precious　child；'　said　Fanny；　'don't　anticipate　me。　Let　me　impart　my
confidence　to　you；　you　flurried　little　thing；　in　my　own　way。　As　to　your
guess；　if　I　answered　it　literally；　I　should　answer　no。　For　really　it　is
not　my　marriage　that　is　in　question；　half　as　much　as　it　is　Edmund's。'

Little　Dorrit　looked；　and　perhaps　not　altogether　without　cause；　somewhat
at　a　loss　to　understand　this　fine　distinction。

'I　am　in　no　difficulty；'　exclaimed　Fanny；　'and　in　no　hurry。　I　am　not
wanted　at　any　public　office；　or　to　give　any　vote　anywhere　else。

But　Edmund　is。　And　Edmund　is　deeply　dejected　at　the　idea　of　going　away
by　himself；　and；　indeed；　I　don't　like　that　he　should　be　trusted　by
himself。　For；　if　it's　possible……and　it　generall