little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第102部分

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boot；　so　that　his　mouth　was　presently　bloody。

'Now　get　you　into　that　corner　and　lie　down；'　said　Gowan；　'or　I'll　take
you　out　and　shoot　you。'

Lion　did　as　he　was　ordered；　and　lay　down　licking　his　mouth　and　chest。
Lion's　master　stopped　for　a　moment　to　take　breath；　and　then；　recovering
his　usual　coolness　of　manner；　turned　to　speak　to　his　frightened　wife
and　her　visitors。　Probably　the　whole　occurrence　had　not　occupied　two
minutes。

'e；　e；　Minnie！　You　know　he　is　always　good…humoured　and　tractable。
Blandois　must　have　irritated　him；……made　faces　at　him。　The　dog　has　his
likings　and　dislikings；　and　Blandois　is　no　great　favourite　of　his；　but
I　am　sure　you　will　give　him　a　character；　Minnie；　for　never　having　been
like　this　before。'

Minnie　was　too　much　disturbed　to　say　anything　connected　in　reply；　Little
Dorrit　was　already　occupied　in　soothing　her；　Fanny；　who　had　cried　out
twice　or　thrice；　held　Gowan's　arm　for　protection；　Lion；　deeply　ashamed
of　having　caused　them　this　alarm；　came　trailing　himself　along　the　ground
to　the　feet　of　his　mistress。

'You　furious　brute；'　said　Gowan；　striking　him　with　his　foot　again。　'You
shall　do　penance　for　this。'　And　he　struck　him　again；　and　yet　again。

'O；　pray　don't　punish　him　any　more；'　cried　Little　Dorrit。　'Don't　hurt
him。　See　how　gentle　he　is！'　At　her　entreaty；　Gowan　spared　him；　and　he
deserved　her　intercession；　for　truly　he　was　as　submissive；　and　as　sorry；
and　as　wretched　as　a　dog　could　be。

It　was　not　easy　to　recover　this　shock　and　make　the　visit　unrestrained；
even　though　Fanny　had　not　been；　under　the　best　of　circumstances；　the
least　trifle　in　the　way。　In　such　further　munication　as　passed　among
them　before　the　sisters　took　their　departure；　Little　Dorrit　fancied　it
was　revealed　to　her　that　Mr　Gowan　treated　his　wife；　even　in　his　very
fondness；　too　much　like　a　beautiful　child。　He　seemed　so　unsuspicious　of
the　depths　of　feeling　which　she　knew　must　lie　below　that　surface；　that
she　doubted　if　there　could　be　any　such　depths　in　himself。　She　wondered
whether　his　want　of　earnestness　might　be　the　natural　result　of　his　want
of　such　qualities；　and　whether　it　was　with　people　as　with　ships；　that；
in　too　shallow　and　rocky　waters；　their　anchors　had　no　hold；　and　they
drifted　anywhere。

He　attended　them　down　the　staircase；　jocosely　apologising　for　the
poor　quarters　to　which　such　poor　fellows　as　himself　were　limited；　and
remarking　that　when　the　high　and　mighty　Barnacles；　his　relatives；　who
would　be　dreadfully　ashamed　of　them；　presented　him　with　better；　he　would
live　in　better　to　oblige　them。　At　the　water's　edge　they　were　saluted　by
Blandois；　who　looked　white　enough　after　his　late　adventure；　but　who　made
very　light　of　it　notwithstanding；……laughing　at　the　mention　of　Lion。

Leaving　the　two　together　under　the　scrap　of　vine　upon　the　causeway；
Gowan　idly　scattering　the　leaves　from　it　into　the　water；　and　Blandois
lighting　a　cigarette；　the　sisters　were　paddled　away　in　state　as　they　had
e。　They　had　not　glided　on　for　many　minutes；　when　Little　Dorrit　became
aware　that　Fanny　was　more　showy　in　manner　than　the　occasion　appeared　to
require；　and；　looking　about　for　the　cause　through　the　window　and　through
the　open　door；　saw　another　gondola　evidently　in　waiting　on　them。

As　this　gondola　attended　their　progress　in　various　artful　ways；
sometimes　shooting　on　a…head；　and　stopping　to　let　them　pass；　sometimes；
when　the　way　was　broad　enough；　skimming　along　side　by　side　with　them；
and　sometimes　following　close　astern；　and　as　Fanny　gradually　made　no
disguise　that　she　was　playing　off　graces　upon　somebody　within　it；　of
whom　she　at　the　same　time　feigned　to　be　unconscious；　Little　Dorrit　at
length　asked　who　it　was？

To　which　Fanny　made　the　short　answer；　'That　gaby。'

'Who？'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'My　dear　child；'　returned　Fanny　（in　a　tone　suggesting　that　before　her
Uncle's　protest　she　might　have　said；　You　little　fool；　instead）；　'how
slow　you　are！　Young　Sparkler。'

She　lowered　the　window　on　her　side；　and；　leaning　back　and　resting　her
elbow　on　it　negligently；　fanned　herself　with　a　rich　Spanish　fan　of　black
and　gold。　The　attendant　gondola；　having　skimmed　forward　again；　with　some
swift　trace　of　an　eye　in　the　window；　Fanny　laughed　coquettishly　and
said；　'Did　you　ever　see　such　a　fool；　my　love？'

'Do　you　think　he　means　to　follow　you　all　the　way？'　asked　Little　Dorrit。

'My　precious　child；'　returned　Fanny；　'I　can't　possibly　answer　for　what
an　idiot　in　a　state　of　desperation　may　do；　but　I　should　think　it　highly
probable。　It's　not　such　an　enormous　distance。　All　Venice　would　scarcely
be　that；　I　imagine；　if　he's　dying　for　a　glimpse　of　me。'

'And　is　he？'　asked　Little　Dorrit　in　perfect　simplicity。

'Well；　my　love；　that　really　is　an　ae　to　answer；'
said　her　sister。　'I　believe　he　is。　You　had　better　ask　Edward。　He　tells
Edward　he　is；　I　believe。　I　understand　he　makes　a　perfect　spectacle　of
himself　at　the　Casino；　and　that　sort　of　places；　by　going　on　about　me。
But　you　had　better　ask　Edward　if　you　want　to　know。'

'I　wonder　he　doesn't　call；'　said　Little　Dorrit　after　thinking　a　moment。

'My　dear　Amy；　your　wonder　will　soon　cease；　if　I　am　rightly　informed。
I　should　not　be　at　all　surprised　if　he　called　to…day。　The　creature　has
only　been　waiting　to　get　his　courage　up；　I　suspect。'

'Will　you　see　him？'

'Indeed；　my　darling；'　said　Fanny；　'that's　just　as　it　may　happen。　Here　he
is　again。　Look　at　him。　O；　you　simpleton！'

Mr　Sparkler　had；　undeniably；　a　weak　appearance；　with　his　eye　in　the
window　like　a　knot　in　the　glass；　and　no　reason　on　earth　for　stopping　his
bark　suddenly；　except　the　real　reason。

'When　you　asked　me　if　I　will　see　him；　my　dear；'　said　Fanny；　almost　as
well　posed　in　the　graceful　indifference　of　her　attitude　as　Mrs　Merdle
herself；　'what　do　you　mean？'　'I　mean；'　said　Little　Dorrit……'I　think　I
rather　mean　what　do　you　mean；　dear　Fanny？'

Fanny　laughed　again；　in　a　manner　at　once　condescending；　arch；　and
affable；　and　said；　putting　her　arm　round　her　sister　in　a　playfully
affectionate　way：

'Now　tell　me；　my　little　pet。　When　we　saw　that　woman　at　Martigny；　how
did　you　think　she　carried　it　off？　Did　you　see　what　she　decided　on　in　a
moment？'

'No；　Fanny。'

'Then　I'll　tell　you；　Amy。　She　settled　with　herself；　now　I'll　never
refer　to　that　meeting　under　such　different　circumstances；　and　I'll　never
pretend　to　have　any　idea　that　these　are　the　same　girls。　That's　her　way
out　of　a　difficulty。　What　did　I　tell　you　when　we　came　away　from　Harley
Street　that　time？　She　is　as　insolent　and　false　as　any　woman　in　the
world。　But　in　the　first　capacity；　my　love；　she　may　find　people　who　can
match　her。'

A　significant　turn　of　the　Spanish　fan　towards　Fanny's　bosom；　indicated
with　great　expression　where　one　of　these　people　was　to　be　found。

'Not　only　that；'　pursued　Fanny；　'but　she　gives　the　same　charge　to
Young　Sparkler；　and　doesn't　let　him　e　after　me　until　she　has　got　it
thoroughly　into　his　most　ridiculous　of　all　ridiculous　noddles　（for　one
really　can't　call　it　a　head）；　that　he　is　to　pretend　to　have　been　first
struck　with　me　in　that　Inn　Yard。'

'Why？'　asked　Little　Dorrit。

'Why？　Good　gracious；　my　love！'　（again　very　much　in　the　tone　of　You
stupid　little　creature）　'how　can　you　ask？　Don't　you　see　that　I　may　have
bee　a　rather　desirable　match　for　a　noddle？　And　don't　you　see　that　she
puts　the　deception　upon　us；　and　makes　a　pretence；　while　she　shifts　it
from　her　own　shoulders　（very　good　shoulders　they　are　too；　I　must　say）；'
observed　Miss　Fanny；　glancing　placently　at　herself；　'of　considering
our　feelings？'

'But　we　can　always　go　back　to　the　plain　truth。'

'Yes；　but　if　you　please　we　won't；'　retorted　Fanny。　'No；　I　am　not　going
to　have　that　done；　Amy。　The　pretext　is　none　of　mine；　it's　hers；　and　she
shall　have　enough　of　it。'

In　the　triumphant　exaltation　of　her　feelings；　Miss　Fanny；　using　her
Spanish　fan　with　one　hand；　squeezed　her　sister's　waist　with　the　other；
as　if　she　were　crushing　Mrs　Merdle。

'No；'　repeated　Fanny。　'She　shall　find　me　go　her　way。　She　took　it；　and
I'll　follow　it。　And；　with　the　blessing　of　fate　and　fortune；　I'll　go　on
improving　that　woman's　acquaintance　until　I　have　given　her　maid；
before　her　eyes；　things　from　my　dressmaker's　ten　times　as　handsome　and
expensive　as　she　once　gave　me　from　hers！'

Little　Dorrit　was　silent；　sensible　that　she　was　not　to　be　heard　on
any　question　affecting　the　family　dignity；　and　unwilling　to　lose　to　no
purpose　her　sister's　newly　and　unexpectedly　restored　favour。　She　could
not　concur；　but　she　was　silent。　Fanny　well　knew　what　she　was　thinking
of；　so　well；　that　she　soon　asked　her。

Her　reply　was；　'Do　you　mean　to　encourage　Mr　Sparkler；　Fanny？'

'Encourage　him；　my　dear？'　said　her　sister；　smiling　contemptuously；　'that
depends　upon　what　you　call　encourage。　No；　I　don't　mean　to　encourage　him。
But　I'll　make　a　slave　of　him。'

Little　Dorrit　glanced　seriously　and　doubtfully　in　her　face；　but　Fanny
was　not　to　be　so　brought　to　a　check。　She　furled　her　fan　of　black　and
gold；　and　used　it　to　tap　her　sister's　nose；　with　the　air　of　a　proud
beauty　and　a　great　spirit；　who　toyed　with　and　playfully　instructed　a
homely　panion。

'I　shall　make　him　fetch　and　carry；　my　dear；　and　I　shall　make　him　subject
to　me。　And　if　I　don't　make　his　mother　subject　to　me；　too；　it　shall　not
be　my　fault。'

'Do　you　think……dear　Fanny；　don't　be　offended；　we　are　so　fortable
together　now……that　you　can　quite　see　the　end　of　that　course？'

'I　can't　say　I　have　so　much　as　looked　for　it　yet；　my　dear；'　answered
Fanny；　with　supreme　indifference；　'all　in　good　time。　Such　are　my
intentions。　And　really　they　have　taken　me　so　long　to　develop；　that　here
we　are　at　home。　And　Young　Sparkler　at　the　door；　inquiring　who　is　within。
By　the　merest　accident；　of　course！'

In　effect；　the　swain　was　standing　up　in　his　gondola；　card…case　in
hand；　affecting　to　put　the　question　to　a　servant。　This　conjunction
of　circumstances　led　to　his　immediately　afterwards　presenting　himself
before　the　young　ladies　in　a　posture；　which　in　ancient　times　would　not
have　been　considered　one　of　favourable　augury　for　his　suit；　since　the
gondoliers　of　the　young　ladies；　having　been　put　to　some　inconvenience
by　the　chase；　so　neatly　brought　their　own　boat　in　the　gentlest　collision
with　the　bark　of　Mr　Sparkler；　as　to　tip　that　gentleman　over　like　a
larger　species　of　ninepin；　and　cause　him　to　exhibit　the　soles　of　his
shoes　to　the　object　of　his　dearest　wishes：　while　the　nobler　portions　of
his　anatomy　struggled　at　the　bottom　of　his　boat　in　the　arms　of　one　of
his　men。

However；　as　Miss　Fanny　called　out　with　much　concern；　Was　the　gentleman
hurt；　Mr　Sparkler　rose　more　restored　than　might　have　been　expected；　and
stammered　for　himself　with　blushes；　'Not　at　all　so。'　Miss　Fanny　had　no
recollection　of　having　ever　seen　him　before；　and　was　passing　on；　with　a
distant　inclination　of　her　head；　when　he　announced　himself　by　name。　Even
then　she　was　in　a　difficulty　from　being　unable　to　call　it　to　mind；　until
he　explained　that　he　had　had　the　honour　of　seeing　her　at　Martigny。　Then
she　remembered　him；　and　hoped　his　lady…mother　was　well。

'Thank　you；'　stammered　Mr　Sparkler；　'she's　unmonly　well……at　least；
poorly。'

'In　Venice？'　said　Miss　Fanny。

'In　Rome；'　Mr　Sparkler　answered。　'I　am　here　by　myself；　myself。　I　came