little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第71部分

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for　his　society；　to　resort　to　a　tavern　in　the　neighbourhood　to　look　at
the　shipping　news　and　closing　prices　in　the　evening　paper；　and　even　to
exchange　Small　socialities　with　mercantile　Sea　Captains　who　frequented
that　establishment。　At　some　period　of　every　day；　he　and　Mrs　Clennam　held
a　council　on　matters　of　business；　and　it　appeared　to　Affery；　who　was
always　groping　about；　listening　and　watching；　that　the　two　clever　ones
were　making　money。

The　state　of　mind　into　which　Mr　Flintwinch's　dazed　lady　had　fallen；　had
now　begun　to　be　so　expressed　in　all　her　looks　and　actions　that　she　was
held　in　very　low　account　by　the　two　clever　ones；　as　a　person；　never
of　strong　intellect；　who　was　being　foolish。　Perhaps　because　her
appearance　was　not　of　a　mercial　cast；　or　perhaps　because　it　occurred
to　him　that　his　having　taken　her　to　wife　might　expose　his　judgment　to
doubt　in　the　minds　of　customers；　Mr　Flintwinch　laid　his　mands　upon
her　that　she　should　hold　her　peace　on　the　subject　of　her　conjugal
relations；　and　should　no　longer　call　him　Jeremiah　out　of　the　domestic
trio。　Her　frequent　forgetfulness　of　this　admonition　intensified　her
startled　manner；　since　Mr　Flintwinch's　habit　of　avenging　himself　on　her
remissness　by　making　springs　after　her　on　the　staircase；　and　shaking
her；　occasioned　her　to　be　always　nervously　uncertain　when　she　might　be
thus　waylaid　next。

Little　Dorrit　had　finished　a　long　day's　work　in　Mrs　Clennam's　room；　and
was　neatly　gathering　up　her　shreds　and　odds　and　ends　before　going　home。
Mr　Pancks；　whom　Affery　had　just　shown　in；　was　addressing　an　inquiry　to
Mrs　Clennam　on　the　subject　of　her　health；　coupled　with　the　remark　that；
'happening　to　find　himself　in　that　direction；'　he　had　looked　in　to
inquire；　on　behalf　of　his　proprietor；　how　she　found　herself。　Mrs
Clennam；　with　a　deep　contraction　of　her　brows；　was　looking　at　him。

'Mr　Casby　knows；'　said　she；　'that　I　am　not　subject　to　changes。　The
change　that　I　await　here　is　the　great　change。'

'Indeed；　ma'am？'　returned　Mr　Pancks；　with　a　wandering　eye　towards　the
figure　of　the　little　seamstress　on　her　knee　picking　threads　and　fraying
of　her　work　from　the　carpet。　'You　look　nicely；　ma'am。'

'I　bear　what　I　have　to　bear；'　she　answered。　'Do　you　what　you　have　to
do。'　'Thank　you；　ma'am；'　said　Mr　Pancks；　'such　is　my　endeavour。'

'You　are　often　in　this　direction；　are　you　not？'　asked　Mrs　Clennam。

'Why；　yes；　ma'am；'　said　Pancks；　'rather　so　lately；　I　have　lately　been
round　this　way　a　good　deal；　owing　to　one　thing　and　another。'　'Beg　Mr
Casby　and　his　daughter　not　to　trouble　themselves；　by　deputy；　about　me。
When　they　wish　to　see　me；　they　know　I　am　here　to　see　them。　They　have　no
need　to　trouble　themselves　to　send。　You　have　no　need　to　trouble　yourself
to　e。'　'Not　the　least　trouble；　ma'am；'　said　Mr　Pancks。　'You　really
are　looking　unmonly　nicely；　ma'am。'

'Thank　you。　Good　evening。'

The　dismissal；　and　its　acpanying　finger　pointed　straight　at　the　door；
was　so　curt　and　direct　that　Mr　Pancks　did　not　see　his　way　to　prolong　his
visit。　He　stirred　up　his　hair　with　his　sprightliest　expression；　glanced
at　the　little　figure　again；　said　'Good　evening；　ma　'am；　don't　e　down；
Mrs　Affery；　I　know　the　road　to　the　door；'　and　steamed　out。　Mrs　Clennam；
her　chin　resting　on　her　hand；　followed　him　with　attentive　and　darkly
distrustful　eyes；　and　Affery　stood　looking　at　her　as　if　she　were
spell…bound。

Slowly　and　thoughtfully；　Mrs　Clennam's　eyes　turned　from　the　door　by
which　Pancks　had　gone　out；　to　Little　Dorrit；　rising　from　the　carpet。
With　her　chin　drooping　more　heavily　on　her　hand；　and　her　eyes　vigilant
and　lowering；　the　sick　woman　sat　looking　at　her　until　she　attracted　her
attention。　Little　Dorrit　coloured　under　such　a　gaze；　and　looked　down。
Mrs　Clennam　still　sat　intent。

'Little　Dorrit；'　she　said；　when　she　at　last　broke　silence；　'what　do　you
know　of　that　man？'

'I　don't　know　anything　of　him；　ma'am；　except　that　I　have　seen　him　about；
and　that　he　has　spoken　to　me。'

'What　has　he　said　to　you？'

'I　don't　understand　what　he　has　said；　he　is　so　strange。　But　nothing
rough　or　disagreeable。'

'Why　does　he　e　here　to　see　you？'

'I　don't　know；　ma'am；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　with　perfect　frankness。

'You　know　that　he　does　e　here　to　see　you？'

'I　have　fancied　so；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'But　why　he　should　e　here　or
anywhere　for　that；　ma'am；　I　can't　think。'

Mrs　Clennam　cast　her　eyes　towards　the　ground；　and　with　her　strong；　set
face；　as　intent　upon　a　subject　in　her　mind　as　it　had　lately　been　upon
the　form　that　seemed　to　pass　out　of　her　view；　sat　absorbed。　Some　minutes
elapsed　before　she　came　out　of　this　thoughtfulness；　and　resumed　her　hard
posure。

Little　Dorrit　in　the　meanwhile　had　been　waiting　to　go；　but　afraid　to
disturb　her　by　moving。　She　now　ventured　to　leave　the　spot　where　she
had　been　standing　since　she　had　risen；　and　to　pass　gently　round　by　the
wheeled　chair。　She　stopped　at　its　side　to　say　'Good　night；　ma'am。'

Mrs　Clennam　put　out　her　hand；　and　laid　it　on　her　arm。　Little　Dorrit；
confused　under　the　touch；　stood　faltering。　Perhaps　some　momentary
recollection　of　the　story　of　the　Princess　may　have　been　in　her　mind。

'Tell　me；　Little　Dorrit；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　'have　you　many　friends　now？'

'Very　few；　ma'am。　Besides　you；　only　Miss　Flora　and……one　more。'

'Meaning；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　with　her　unbent　finger　again　pointing　to
the　door；　'that　man？'

'Oh　no；　ma'am！'

'Some　friend　of　his；　perhaps？'

'No　ma'am。'　Little　Dorrit　earnestly　shook　her　head。　'Oh　no！　No　one　at
all　like　him；　or　belonging　to　him。'

'Well！'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　almost　smiling。　'It　is　no　affair　of　mine。　I
ask；　because　I　take　an　interest　in　you；　and　because　I　believe　I　was　your
friend　when　you　had　no　other　who　could　serve　you。　Is　that　so？'

'Yes；　ma'am；　indeed　it　is。　I　have　been　here　many　a　time　when；　but　for
you　and　the　work　you　gave　me；　we　should　have　wanted　everything。'

'We；'　repeated　Mrs　Clennam；　looking　towards　the　watch；　once　her　dead
husband's；　which　always　lay　upon　her　table。　'Are　there　many　of　you？'

'Only　father　and　I；　now。　I　mean；　only　father　and　I　to　keep　regularly　out
of　what　we　get。'

'Have　you　undergone　many　privations？　You　and　your　father　and　who　else
there　may　be　of　you？'　asked　Mrs　Clennam；　speaking　deliberately；　and
meditatively　turning　the　watch　over　and　over。

'Sometimes　it　has　been　rather　hard　to　live；'　said　Little　Dorrit；　in　her
soft　voice；　and　timid　unplaining　way；　'but　I　think　not　harder……as　to
that……than　many　people　find　it。'

'That's　well　said！'　Mrs　Clennam　quickly　returned。　'That's　the　truth！
You　are　a　good；　thoughtful　girl。　You　are　a　grateful　girl　too；　or　I　much
mistake　you。'

'It　is　only　natural　to　be　that。　There　is　no　merit　in　being　that；'　said
Little　Dorrit。　'I　am　indeed。'　Mrs　Clennam；　with　a　gentleness　of　which
the　dreaming　Affery　had　never　dreamed　her　to　be　capable；　drew　down　the
face　of　her　little　seamstress；　and　kissed　her　on　the　forehead。　'Now　go；
Little　Dorrit；'　said　she；'or　you　will　be　late；　poor　child！'

In　all　the　dreams　Mistress　Affery　had　been　piling　up　since　she　first
became　devoted　to　the　pursuit；　she　had　dreamed　nothing　more　astonishing
than　this。　Her　head　ached　with　the　idea　that　she　would　find　the　other
clever　one　kissing　Little　Dorrit　next；　and　then　the　two　clever　ones
embracing　each　other　and　dissolving　into　tears　of　tenderness　for　all
mankind。　The　idea　quite　stunned　her；　as　she　attended　the　light　footsteps
down　the　stairs；　that　the　house　door　might　be　safely　shut。

On　opening　it　to　let　Little　Dorrit　out；　she　found　Mr　Pancks；　instead
of　having　gone　his　way；　as　in　any　less　wonderful　place　and　among　less
wonderful　phenomena　he　might　have　been　reasonably　expected　to　do；
fluttering　up　and　down　the　court　outside　the　house。

The　moment　he　saw　Little　Dorrit；　he　passed　her　briskly；　said　with　his
finger　to　his　nose　（as　Mrs　Affery　distinctly　heard）；　'Pancks　the　gipsy；
fortune…telling；'　and　went　away。　'Lord　save　us；　here's　a　gipsy　and　a
fortune…teller　in　it　now！'　cried　Mistress　Affery。　'What　next！　She　stood
at　the　open　door；　staggering　herself　with　this　enigma；　on　a　rainy；
thundery　evening。　The　clouds　were　flying　fast；　and　the　wind　was　ing
up　in　gusts；　banging　some　neighbouring　shutters　that　had　broken　loose；
twirling　the　rusty　chimney…cowls　and　weather…cocks；　and　rushing　round
and　round　a　confined　adjacent　churchyard　as　if　it　had　a　mind　to　blow
the　dead　citizens　out　of　their　graves。　The　low　thunder；　muttering　in
all　quarters　of　the　sky　at　once；　seemed　to　threaten　vengeance　for　this
attempted　desecration；　and　to　mutter；　'Let　them　rest！　Let　them　rest！'

Mistress　Affery；　whose　fear　of　thunder　and　lightning　was　only　to
be　equalled　by　her　dread　of　the　haunted　house　with　a　premature　and
preternatural　darkness　in　it；　stood　undecided　whether　to　go　in　or　not；
until　the　question　was　settled　for　her　by　the　door　blowing　upon　her　in
a　violent　gust　of　wind　and　shutting　her　out。　'What's　to　be　done　now；
what's　to　be　done　now！'　cried　Mistress　Affery；　wringing　her　hands　in
this　last　uneasy　dream　of　all；　'when　she's　all　alone　by　herself
inside；　and　can　no　more　e　down　to　open　it　than　the　churchyard　dead
themselves！'

In　this　dilemma；　Mistress　Affery；　with　her　apron　as　a　hood　to　keep　the
rain　off；　ran　crying　up　and　down　the　solitary　paved　enclosure　several
times。　Why　she　should　then　stoop　down　and　look　in　at　the　keyhole　of　the
door　as　if　an　eye　would　open　it；　it　would　be　difficult　to　say；　but　it
is　none　the　less　what　most　people　would　have　done　in　the　same　situation；
and　it　is　what　she　did。

From　this　posture　she　started　up　suddenly；　with　a　half　scream；　feeling
something　on　her　shoulder。　It　was　the　touch　of　a　hand；　of　a　man's　hand。

The　man　was　dressed　like　a　traveller；　in　a　foraging　cap　with　fur　about
it；　and　a　heap　of　cloak。　He　looked　like　a　foreigner。　He　had　a　quantity
of　hair　and　moustache……jet　black；　except　at　the　shaggy　ends；　where
it　had　a　tinge　of　red……and　a　high　hook　nose。　He　laughed　at　Mistress
Affery's　start　and　cry；　and　as　he　laughed；　his　moustache　went　up　under
his　nose；　and　his　nose　came　down　over　his　moustache。

'What's　the　matter？'　he　asked　in　plain　English。　'What　are　you　frightened
at？'

'At　you；'　panted　Affery。

'Me；　madam？'

'And　the　dismal　evening；　and……and　everything；'　said　Affery。　'And　here！
The　wind　has　been　and　blown　the　door　to；　and　I　can't　get　in。'

'Hah！'　said　the　gentleman；　who　took　that　very　coolly。　'Indeed！　Do　you
know　such　a　name　as　Clennam　about　here？'

'Lord　bless　us；　I　should　think　I　did；　I　should　think　I　did！'　cried
Affery；　exasperated　into　a　new　wringing　of　hands　by　the　inquiry。

'Where　about　here？'

'Where！'　cried　Affery；　goaded　into　another　inspection　of　the　keyhole。
'Where　but　here　in　this　house？　And　she's　all　alone　in　her　room；　and　lost
the　use　of　her　limbs　and　can't　stir　to　help　herself　or　me；　and　t'other
clever　one's　out；　and　Lord　forgive　me！'　cried　Affery；　driven　into　a
frantic　dance　by　these　accumulated　considerations；　'if　I　ain't　a…going
headlong　out　of　my　mind！'

Taking　a　warmer　view　of　the　matter　now　that　it　concerned　himself；　the
gentleman　stepped　back　to　glance　at　the　house；　and　his　eye　soon　rested
on　the　long　narrow　window　of　the　little　room　near　the　hall…door。

'Where　may　the　lady　be　who　has　lost　the　use　of　her