little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第148部分

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despatched。　Upon　that；　Mr　Rugg　fell　to　work；　and　Arthur；　retaining　no
property　to　himself　but　his　clothes　and　books；　and　a　little　loose
money；　placed　his　small　private　banker's…account　with　the　papers　of　the
business。

The　disclosure　was　made；　and　the　storm　raged　fearfully。　Thousands　of
people　were　wildly　staring　about　for　somebody　alive　to　heap　reproaches
on；　and　this　notable　case；　courting　publicity；　set　the　living　somebody
so　much　wanted；　on　a　scaffold。　When　people　who　had　nothing　to　do　with
the　case　were　so　sensible　of　its　flagrancy；　people　who　lost　money　by　it
could　scarcely　be　expected　to　deal　mildly　with　it。　Letters　of　reproach
and　invective　showered　in　from　the　creditors；　and　Mr　Rugg；　who　sat　upon
the　high　stool　every　day　and　read　them　all；　informed　his　client　within　a
week　that　he　feared　there　were　writs　out。

'I　must　take　the　consequences　of　what　I　have　done；'　said　Clennam。　'The
writs　will　find　me　here。'

On　the　very　next　morning；　as　he　was　turning　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　by
Mrs　Plornish's　corner；　Mrs　Plornish　stood　at　the　door　waiting　for　him；
and　mysteriously　besought　him　to　step　into　Happy　Cottage。　There　he　found
Mr　Rugg。

'I　thought　I'd　wait　for　you　here。　I　wouldn't　go　on　to　the　Counting…house
this　morning　if　I　was　you；　sir。'

'Why　not；　Mr　Rugg？'

'There　are　as　many　as　five　out；　to　my　knowledge。'

'It　cannot　be　too　soon　over；'　said　Clennam。　'Let　them　take　me　at　once。'

'Yes；　but；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　getting　between　him　and　the　door；　'hear
reason；　hear　reason。　They'll　take　you　soon　enough；　Mr　Clennam；　I　don't
doubt；　but；　hear　reason。　It　almost　always　happens；　in　these　cases；
that　some　insignificant　matter　pushes　itself　in　front　and　makes　much
of　itself。　Now；　I　find　there's　a　little　one　out……a　mere　Palace　Court
jurisdiction……and　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　a　caption　may　be　made
upon　that。　I　wouldn't　be　taken　upon　that。'

'Why　not？'　asked　Clennam。

'I'd　be　taken　on　a　full…grown　one；　sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg。　'It's　as　well　to
keep　up　appearances。　As　your　professional　adviser；　I　should　prefer　your
being　taken　on　a　writ　from　one　of　the　Superior　Courts；　if　you　have　no
objection　to　do　me　that　favour。　It　looks　better。'

'Mr　Rugg；'　said　Arthur；　in　his　dejection；　'my　only　wish　is；　that　it
should　be　over。　I　will　go　on；　and　take　my　chance。'

'Another　word　of　reason；　sir！'　cried　Mr　Rugg。　'Now；　this　is　reason。
The　other　may　be　taste；　but　this　is　reason。　If　you　should　be　taken　on　a
little　one；　sir；　you　would　go　to　the　Marshalsea。　Now；　you　know　what　the
Marshalsea　is。　Very　close。　Excessively　confined。　Whereas　in　the　King's
Bench……'　Mr　Rugg　waved　his　right　hand　freely；　as　expressing　abundance　of
space。　'I　would　rather；'　said　Clennam；　'be　taken　to　the　Marshalsea　than
to　any　other　prison。'

'Do　you　say　so　indeed；　sir？'　returned　Mr　Rugg。　'Then　this　is　taste；　too；
and　we　may　be　walking。'

He　was　a　little　offended　at　first；　but　he　soon　overlooked　it。　They
walked　through　the　Yard　to　the　other　end。　The　Bleeding　Hearts　were　more
interested　in　Arthur　since　his　reverses　than　formerly；　now　regarding　him
as　one　who　was　true　to　the　place　and　had　taken　up　his　freedom。　Many　of
them　came　out　to　look　after　him；　and　to　observe　to　one　another；　with
great　unctuousness；　that　he　was　'pulled　down　by　it。'　Mrs　Plornish
and　her　father　stood　at　the　top　of　the　steps　at　their　own　end；　much
depressed　and　shaking　their　heads。

There　was　nobody　visibly　in　waiting　when　Arthur　and　Mr　Rugg　arrived
at　the　Counting…house。　But　an　elderly　member　of　the　Jewish　persuasion；
preserved　in　rum；　followed　them　close；　and　looked　in　at　the　glass　before
Mr　Rugg　had　opened　one　of　the　day's　letters。

'Oh！'　said　Mr　Rugg；　looking　up。　'How　do　you　do？　Step　in……Mr　Clennam；　I
think　this　is　the　gentleman　I　was　mentioning。'

This　gentleman　explained　the　object　of　his　visit　to　be　'a　tyfling　madder
ob　bithznithz；'　and　executed　his　legal　function。

'Shall　I　acpany　you；　Mr　Clennam？'　asked　Mr　Rugg　politely；　rubbing　his
hands。

'I　would　rather　go　alone；　thank　you。　Be　so　good　as　send　me　my　clothes。'
Mr　Rugg　in　a　light　airy　way　replied　in　the　affirmative；　and　shook　hands
with　him。　He　and　his　attendant　then　went　down…stairs；　got　into　the　first
conveyance　they　found；　and　drove　to　the　old　gates。

'Where　I　little　thought；　Heaven　forgive　me；'　said　Clennam　to　himself；
'that　I　should　ever　enter　thus！'

Mr　Chivery　was　on　the　Lock；　and　Young　John　was　in　the　Lodge：　either
newly　released　from　it；　or　waiting　to　take　his　own　spell　of　duty。　Both
were　more　astonished　on　seeing　who　the　prisoner　was；　than　one　might　have
thought　turnkeys　would　have　been。　The　elder　Mr　Chivery　shook　hands　with
him　in　a　shame…faced　kind　of　way；　and　said；　'I　don't　call　to　mind；
sir；　as　I　was　ever　less　glad　to　see　you。'　The　younger　Mr　Chivery；　more
distant；　did　not　shake　hands　with　him　at　all；　he　stood　looking　at　him
in　a　state　of　indecision　so　observable　that　it　even　came　within　the
observation　of　Clennam　with　his　heavy　eyes　and　heavy　heart。　Presently
afterwards；　Young　John　disappeared　into　the　jail。

As　Clennam　knew　enough　of　the　place　to　know　that　he　was　required　to
remain　in　the　Lodge　a　certain　time；　he　took　a　seat　in　a　corner；　and
feigned　to　be　occupied　with　the　perusal　of　letters　from　his　pocket。

They　did　not　so　engross　his　attention；　but　that　he　saw；　with　gratitude；
how　the　elder　Mr　Chivery　kept　the　Lodge　clear　of　prisoners；　how　he
signed　to　some；　with　his　keys；　not　to　e　in；　how　he　nudged　others　with
his　elbows　to　go　out；　and　how　he　made　his　misery　as　easy　to　him　as　he
could。

Arthur　was　sitting　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　floor；　recalling　the　past；
brooding　over　the　present；　and　not　attending　to　either；　when　he　felt
himself　touched　upon　the　shoulder。　It　was　by　Young　John；　and　he　said；
'You　can　e　now。'

He　got　up　and　followed　Young　John。　When　they　had　gone　a　step　or　two
within　the　inner　iron…gate；　Young　John　turned　and　said　to　him：

'You　want　a　room。　I　have　got　you　one。'

'I　thank　you　heartily。'

Young　John　turned　again；　and　took　him　in　at　the　old　doorway；　up　the　old
staircase；　into　the　old　room。　Arthur　stretched　out　his　hand。　Young　John
looked　at　it；　looked　at　him……sternly……swelled；　choked；　and　said：

'I　don't　know　as　I　can。　No；　I　find　I　can't。　But　I　thought　you'd　like　the
room；　and　here　it　is　for　you。'

Surprise　at　this　inconsistent　behaviour　yielded　when　he　was　gone　（he
went　away　directly）　to　the　feelings　which　the　empty　room　awakened　in
Clennam's　wounded　breast；　and　to　the　crowding　associations　with　the
one　good　and　gentle　creature　who　had　sanctified　it。　Her　absence　in　his
altered　fortunes　made　it；　and　him　in　it；　so　very　desolate　and　so　much　in
need　of　such　a　face　of　love　and　truth；　that　he　turned　against　the
wall　to　weep；　sobbing　out；　as　his　heart　relieved　itself；　'O　my　Little
Dorrit！'




CHAPTER　27。　The　Pupil　of　the　Marshalsea


The　day　was　sunny；　and　the　Marshalsea；　with　the　hot　noon　striking
upon　it；　　dropped　into　a　solitary
arm…chair；　itself　as　faded　as　any　debtor　in　the　jail；　and　yielded
himself　to　his　thoughts。

In　the　unnatural　peace　of　having　gone　through　the　dreaded　arrest；　and
got　there；……the　first　change　of　feeling　which　the　prison　most　monly
induced；　and　from　which　dangerous　resting…place　so　many　men　had　slipped
down　to　the　depths　of　degradation　and　disgrace　by　so　many　ways；……he
could　think　of　some　passages　in　his　life；　almost　as　if　he　were　removed
from　them　into　another　state　of　existence。　Taking　into　account　where　he
was；　the　interest　that　had　first　brought　him　there　when　he　had　been　free
to　keep　away；　and　the　gentle　presence　that　was　equally　inseparable　from
the　walls　and　bars　about　him　and　from　the　impalpable　remembrances　of　his
later　life　which　no　walls　or　bars　could　imprison；　it　was　not　remarkable
that　everything　his　memory　turned　upon　should　bring　him　round　again　to
Little　Dorrit。　Yet　it　was　remarkable　to　him；　not　because　of　the　fact
itself；　but　because　of　the　reminder　it　brought　with　it；　how　much　the
dear　little　creature　had　influenced　his　better　resolutions。

None　of　us　clearly　know　to　whom　or　to　what　we　are　indebted　in　this　wise；
until　some　marked　stop　in　the　whirling　wheel　of　life　brings　the　right
perception　with　it。　It　es　with　sickness；　it　es　with　sorrow；　it
es　with　the　loss　of　the　dearly　loved；　it　is　one　of　the　most　frequent
uses　of　adversity。　It　came　to　Clennam　in　his　adversity；　strongly　and
tenderly。　'When　I　first　gathered　myself　together；'　he　thought；　'and
set　something　like　purpose　before　my　jaded　eyes；　whom　had　I　before　me；
toiling　on；　for　a　good　object's　sake；　without　encouragement；　without
notice；　against　ignoble　obstacles　that　would　have　turned　an　army　of
received　heroes　and　heroines？　One　weak　girl！　When　I　tried　to　conquer
my　misplaced　love；　and　to　be　generous　to　the　man　who　was　more　fortunate
than　I；　though　he　should　never　know　it　or　repay　me　with　a　gracious　word；
in　whom　had　I　watched　patience；　self…denial；　self…subdual；　charitable
construction；　the　noblest　generosity　of　the　affections？　In　the　same　poor
girl！　If　I；　a　man；　with　a　man's　advantages　and　means　and　energies；　had
slighted　the　whisper　in　my　heart；　that　if　my　father　had　erred；　it　was　my
first　duty　to　conceal　the　fault　and　to　repair　it；　what　youthful　figure
with　tender　feet　going　almost　bare　on　the　damp　ground；　with　spare　hands
ever　working；　with　its　slight　shape　but　half　protected　from　the
sharp　weather；　would　have　stood　before　me　to　put　me　to　shame？　Little
Dorrit's。'　So　always　as　he　sat　alone　in　the　faded　chair；　thinking。
Always；　Little　Dorrit。　Until　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　he　met　the　reward　of
having　wandered　away　from　her；　and　suffered　anything　to　pass　between　him
and　his　remembrance　of　her　virtues。

His　door　was　opened；　and　the　head　of　the　elder　Chivery　was　put　in　a　very
little　way；　without　being　turned　towards　him。

'I　am　off　the　Lock；　Mr　Clennam；　and　going　out。　Can　I　do　anything　for
you？'

'Many　thanks。　Nothing。'

'You'll　excuse　me　opening　the　door；'　said　Mr　Chivery；　'but　I　couldn't
make　you　hear。'

'Did　you　knock？'　'Half…a…dozen　times。'

Rousing　himself；　Clennam　observed　that　the　prison　had　awakened　from　its
noontide　doze；　that　the　inmates　were　loitering　about　the　shady　yard；　and
that　it　was　late　in　the　afternoon。　He　had　been　thinking　for　hours。　'Your
things　is　e；'　said　Mr　Chivery；　'and　my　son　is　going　to　carry　'em
up。　I　should　have　sent　'em　up　but　for　his　wishing　to　carry　'em　himself。
Indeed　he　would　have　'em　himself；　and　so　I　couldn't　send　'em　up。　Mr
Clennam；　could　I　say　a　word　to　you？'

'Pray　e　in；'　said　Arthur；　for　Mr　Chivery's　head　was　still　put　in　at
the　door　a　very　little　way；　and　Mr　Chivery　had　but　one　ear　upon　him；
instead　of　both　eyes。　This　was　native　delicacy　in　Mr　Chivery……true
politeness；　though　his　exterior　had　very　much　of　a　turnkey　about　it；　and
not　the　least　of　a　gentleman。

'Thank　you；　sir；'　said　Mr　Chivery；　without　advancing；　'it's　no　odds　me
ing　in。　Mr　Clennam；　don't　you　take　no　notice　of　my　son　（if　you'll
be　so　good）　in　case　you　find　him　cut　up　anyways　difficult。　My　son　has　a
'art；　and　my　son's　'art　is　in　the　right　place。　Me　and　his　mother　knows
where　to　find　it；　and　we　find　it　sitiwated　correct。'

With　this　mysterious　speech；　Mr　Chivery　took　his　ear　away　and　shut　the
door。　He　might　have　been　gone　ten　minutes；　wh