little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第10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！

health。　But　what……hey？……Lord　forgive　us！……Mrs　Flintwinch　muttered　some
ejaculation　to　this　effect；　and　turned　giddy。

For；　Mr　Flintwinch　awake；　was　watching　Mr　Flintwinch　asleep。　He　sat　on
one　side　of　the　small　table；　looking　keenly　at　himself　on　the　other　side
with　his　chin　sunk　on　his　breast；　snoring。　The　waking　Flintwinch　had　his
full　front　face　presented　to　his　wife；　the　sleeping　Flintwinch　was
in　profile。　The　waking　Flintwinch　was　the　old　original；　the　sleeping
Flintwinch　was　the　double；　just　as　she　might　have　distinguished　between
a　tangible　object　and　its　reflection　in　a　glass；　Affery　made　out　this
difference　with　her　head　going　round　and　round。

If　she　had　had　any　doubt　which　was　her　own　Jeremiah；　it　would　have　been
resolved　by　his　impatience。　He　looked　about　him　for　an　offensive　weapon；
caught　up　the　snuffers；　and；　before　applying　them　to　the　cabbage…headed
candle；　lunged　at　the　sleeper　as　though　he　would　have　run　him　through
the　body。

'Who's　that？　What's　the　matter？'　cried　the　sleeper；　starting。

Mr　Flintwinch　made　a　movement　with　the　snuffers；　as　if　he　would　have
enforced　silence　on　his　panion　by　putting　them　down　his　throat；　the
panion；　ing　to　himself；　said；　rubbing　his　eyes；　'I　forgot　where　I
was。'

'You　have　been　asleep；'　snarled　Jeremiah；　referring　to　his　watch；　'two
hours。　You　said　you　would　be　rested　enough　if　you　had　a　short　nap。'

'I　have　had　a　short　nap；'　said　Double。

'Half…past　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；'　muttered　Jeremiah。　'Where's　your
hat？　Where's　your　coat？　Where's　the　box？'

'All　here；'　said　Double；　tying　up　his　throat　with　sleepy　carefulness　in
a　shawl。　'Stop　a　minute。　Now　give　me　the　sleeve……not　that　sleeve；　the
other　one。　Ha！　I'm　not　as　young　as　I　was。'　Mr　Flintwinch　had　pulled
him　into　his　coat　with　vehement　energy。　'You　promised　me　a　second　glass
after　I　was　rested。'

'Drink　it！'　returned　Jeremiah；　'and……choke　yourself；　I　was　going
to　say……but　go；　I　mean。'At　the　same　time　he　produced　the　identical
port…wine　bottle；　and　filled　a　wine…glass。

'Her　port…wine；　I　believe？'　said　Double；　tasting　it　as　if　he　were　in　the
Docks；　with　hours　to　spare。　'Her　health。'

He　took　a　sip。

'Your　health！'

He　took　another　sip。

'His　health！'

He　took　another　sip。

'And　all　friends　round　St　Paul's。'　He　emptied　and　put　down　the
wine…glass　half…way　through　this　ancient　civic　toast；　and　took　up　the
box。　It　was　an　iron　box　some　two　feet　square；　which　he　carried　under　his
arms　pretty　easily。　Jeremiah　watched　his　manner　of　adjusting　it；　with
jealous　eyes；　tried　it　with　his　hands；　to　be　sure　that　he　had　a　firm
hold　of　it；　bade　him　for　his　life　be　careful　what　he　was　about；　and　then
stole　out　on　tiptoe　to　open　the　door　for　him。　Affery；　anticipating
the　last　movement；　was　on　the　staircase。　The　sequence　of　things　was
so　ordinary　and　natural；　that；　standing　there；　she　could　hear　the　door
open；　feel　the　night　air；　and　see　the　stars　outside。

But　now　came　the　most　remarkable　part　of　the　dream。　She　felt　so　afraid
of　her　husband；　that　being　on　the　staircase；　she　had　not　the　power　to
retreat　to　her　room　（which　she　might　easily　have　done　before　he　had
fastened　the　door）；　but　stood　there　staring。　Consequently　when　he　came
up　the　staircase　to　bed；　candle　in　hand；　he　came　full　upon　her。　He
looked　astonished；　but　said　not　a　word。　He　kept　his　eyes　upon　her；　and
kept　advancing；　and　she；　pletely　under　his　influence；　kept　retiring
before　him。　Thus；　she　walking　backward　and　he　walking　forward；　they
came　into　their　own　room。　They　were　no　sooner　shut　in　there；　than　Mr
Flintwinch　took　her　by　the　throat；　and　shook　her　until　she　was　black　in
the　face。

'Why；　Affery；　woman……Affery！'　said　Mr　Flintwinch。　'What　have　you　been
dreaming　of？　Wake　up；　wake　up！　What's　the　matter？'

'The……the　matter；　Jeremiah？'　gasped　Mrs　Flintwinch；　rolling　her　eyes。

'Why；　Affery；　woman……Affery！　You　have　been　getting　out　of　bed　in　your
sleep；　my　dear！　I　e　up；　after　having　fallen　asleep　myself；　below；　and
find　you　in　your　wrapper　here；　with　the　nightmare。　Affery；　woman；'　said
Mr　Flintwinch；　with　a　friendly　grin　on　his　expressive　countenance；　'if
you　ever　have　a　dream　of　this　sort　again；　it'll　be　a　sign　of　your　being
in　want　of　physic。　And　I'll　give　you　such　a　dose；　old　woman……such　a
dose！'

Mrs　Flintwinch　thanked　him　and　crept　into　bed。




CHAPTER　5。　Family　Affairs


As　the　city　clocks　struck　nine　on　Monday　morning；　Mrs　Clennam　was
wheeled　by　Jeremiah　Flintwinch　of　the　cut…down　aspect　to　her　tall
cabi。　When　she　had　unlocked　and　opened　it；　and　had　settled　herself
at　its　desk；　Jeremiah　withdrew……as　it　might　be；　to　hang　himself　more
effectually……and　her　son　appeared。

'Are　you　any　better　this　morning；　mother？'

She　shook　her　head；　with　the　same　austere　air　of　luxuriousness　that　she
had　shown　over…night　when　speaking　of　the　weather。

'I　shall　never　be　better　any　more。　It　is　well　for　me；　Arthur；　that　I
know　it　and　can　bear　it。'

Sitting　with　her　hands　laid　separately　upon　the　desk；　and　the　tall
cabi　towering　before　her；　she　looked　as　if　she　were　performing　on　a
dumb　church　organ。　Her　son　thought　so　（it　was　an　old　thought　with　him）；
while　he　took　his　seat　beside　it。

She　opened　a　drawer　or　two；　looked　over　some　business　papers；　and　put
them　back　again。　Her　severe　face　had　no　thread　of　relaxation　in　it；　by
which　any　explorer　could　have　been　guided　to　the　gloomy　labyrinth　of　her
thoughts。

'Shall　I　speak　of　our　affairs；　mother？　Are　you　inclined　to　enter　upon
business？'

'Am　I　inclined；　Arthur？　Rather；　are　you？　Your　father　has　been　dead　a
year　and　more。　I　have　been　at　your　disposal；　and　waiting　your　pleasure；
ever　since。'

'There　was　much　to　arrange　before　I　could　leave；　and　when　I　did　leave；　I
travelled　a　little　for　rest　and　relief。'

She　turned　her　face　towards　him；　as　not　having　heard　or　understood　his
last　words。　'For　rest　and　relief。'

She　glanced　round　the　sombre　room；　and　appeared　from　the　motion　of　her
lips　to　repeat　the　words　to　herself；　as　calling　it　to　witness　how　little
of　either　it　afforded　her。

'Besides；　mother；　you　being　sole　executrix；　and　having　the　direction　and
management　of　the　estate；　there　remained　little　business；　or　I　might　say
none；　that　I　could　transact；　until　you　had　had　time　to　arrange　matters
to　your　satisfaction。'

'The　accounts　are　made　out；'　she　returned。　'I　have　them　here。　The
vouchers　have　all　been　examined　and　passed。　You　can　inspect　them　when
you　like；　Arthur；　now；　if　you　please。'

'It　is　quite　enough；　mother；　to　know　that　the　business　is　pleted。
Shall　I　proceed　then？'

'Why　not？'　she　said；　in　her　frozen　way。

'Mother；　our　House　has　done　less　and　less　for　some　years　past；　and　our
dealings　have　been　progressively　on　the　decline。　We　have　never　shown
much　confidence；　or　invited　much；　we　have　attached　no　people　to　us；　the
track　we　have　kept　is　not　the　track　of　the　time；　and　we　have　been
left　far　behind。　I　need　not　dwell　on　this　to　you；　mother。　You　know　it
necessarily。'

'I　know　what　you　mean；'　she　answered；　in　a　qualified　tone。　'Even　this
old　house　in　which　we　speak；'　pursued　her　son；　'is　an　instance　of　what　I
say。　In　my　father's　earlier　time；　and　in　his　uncle's　time　before　him；
it　was　a　place　of　business……really　a　place　of　business；　and　business
resort。　Now；　it　is　a　mere　anomaly　and　incongruity　here；　out　of　date　and
out　of　purpose。　All　our　consignments　have　long　been　made　to　Rovinghams'
the　mission…merchants；　and　although；　as　a　check　upon　them；　and　in
the　stewardship　of　my　father's　resources；　your　judgment　and　watchfulness
have　been　actively　exerted；　still　those　qualities　would　have　influenced
my　father's　fortunes　equally；　if　you　had　lived　in　any　private　dwelling：
would　they　not？'

'Do　you　consider；'　she　returned；　without　answering　his　question；　'that
a　house　serves　no　purpose；　Arthur；　in　sheltering　your　infirm　and
afflicted……justly　infirm　and　righteously　afflicted……mother？'

'I　was　speaking　only　of　business　purposes。'

'With　what　object？'

'I　am　ing　to　it。'

'I　foresee；'　she　returned；　fixing　her　eyes　upon　him；　'what　it　is。
But　the　Lord　forbid　that　I　should　repine　under　any　visitation。　In　my
sinfulness　I　merit　bitter　disappointment；　and　I　accept　it。'

'Mother；　I　grieve　to　hear　you　speak　like　this；　though　I　have　had　my
apprehensions　that　you　would……'

'You　knew　I　would。　You　knew　ME；'　she　interrupted。

Her　son　paused　for　a　moment。　He　had　struck　fire　out　of　her；　and　was
surprised。

'Well！'　she　said；　relapsing　into　stone。　'Go　on。　Let　me　hear。'

'You　have　anticipated；　mother；　that　I　decide　for　my　part；　to　abandon
the　business。　I　have　done　with　it。　I　will　not　take　upon　myself　to　advise
you；　you　will　continue　it；　I　see。　If　I　had　any　influence　with　you；　I
would　simply　use　it　to　soften　your　judgment　of　me　in　causing　you　this
disappointment：　to　represent　to　you　that　I　have　lived　the　half　of　a　long
term　of　life；　and　have　never　before　set　my　own　will　against　yours。　I
cannot　say　that　I　have　been　able　to　conform　myself；　in　heart　and　spirit；
to　your　rules；　I　cannot　say　that　I　believe　my　forty　years　have　been
profitable　or　pleasant　to　myself；　or　any　one；　but　I　have　habitually
submitted；　and　I　only　ask　you　to　remember　it。'

Woe　to　the　suppliant；　if　such　a　one　there　were　or　ever　had　been；　who　had
any　concession　to　look　for　in　the　inexorable　face　at　the　cabi。　Woe　to
the　defaulter　whose　appeal　lay　to　the　tribunal　where　those　severe　eyes
presided。　Great　need　had　the　rigid　woman　of　her　mystical　religion；
veiled　in　gloom　and　darkness；　with　lightnings　of　cursing；　vengeance；　and
destruction；　flashing　through　the　sable　clouds。　Forgive　us　our　debts　as
we　forgive　our　debtors；　was　a　prayer　too　poor　in　spirit　for　her。　Smite
Thou　my　debtors；　Lord；　wither　them；　crush　them；　do　Thou　as　I　would　do；
and　Thou　shalt　have　my　worship：　this　was　the　impious　tower　of　stone　she
built　up　to　scale　Heaven。

'Have　you　finished；　Arthur；　or　have　you　anything　more　to　say　to　me？

I　think　there　can　be　nothing　else。　You　have　been　short；　but　full　of
matter！'

'Mother；　I　have　yet　something　more　to　say。　It　has　been　upon　my　mind；
night　and　day；　this　long　time。　It　is　far　more　difficult　to　say　than　what
I　have　said。　That　concerned　myself；　this　concerns　us　all。'

'Us　all！　Who　are　us　all？'

'Yourself；　myself；　my　dead　father。'

She　took　her　hands　from　the　desk；　folded　them　in　her　lap；　and　sat
looking　towards　the　fire；　with　the　imperability　of　an　old　Egyptian
sculpture。

'You　knew　my　father　infinitely　better　than　I　ever　knew　him；　and　his
reserve　with　me　yielded　to　you。　You　were　much　the　stronger；　mother；　and
directed　him。　As　a　child；　I　knew　it　as　well　as　I　know　it　now。　I　knew
that　your　ascendancy　over　him　was　the　cause　of　his　going　to　China　to
take　care　of　the　business　there；　while　you　took　care　of　it　here　（though
I　do　not　even　now　know　whether　these　were　really　terms　of　separation
that　you　agreed　upon）；　and　that　it　was　your　will　that　I　should　remain
with　you　until　I　was　twenty；　and　then　go　to　him　as　I　did。　You　will　not
be　offended　by　my　recalling　this；　after　twenty　years？'

'I　am　waiting　to　hear　why　you　recall　it。'

He　lowered　his　voice；　and　said；　with　manifest　reluctance；　and　against
his　will：

'I　want　to　ask　you；　mother；　whether　it　ever　occurred　to　you　to
suspect……'

At　the　w