little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第109章

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and　floated　on　the　shadowy　waves。

Darkness；　outstripping　some　visitors　on　mules；　had　risen　thus　to
the　rough　convent　walls；　when　those　travellers　were　yet　climbing　the
mountain。　As　the　heat　of　the　glowing　day　when　they　had　stopped　to　drink
at　the　streams　of　melted　ice　and　snow；　was　changed　to　the　searching　cold
of　the　frosty　rarefied　night　air　at　a　great　height；　so　the　fresh　beauty
of　the　lower　journey　had　yielded　to　barrenness　and　desolation。　A　craggy
track；　up　which　the　mules　in　single　file　scrambled　and　turned　from
block　to　block；　as　though　they　were　ascending　the　broken　staircase　of
a　gigantic　ruin；　was　their　way　now。　No　trees　were　to　be　seen；　nor　any
vegetable　growth　save　a　poor　brown　scrubby　moss；　freezing　in　the　chinks
of　rock。　Blackened　skeleton　arms　of　wood　by　the　wayside　pointed　upward
to　the　convent　as　if　the　ghosts　of　former　travellers　overwhelmed　by　the
snow　haunted　the　scene　of　their　distress。　Icicle…hung　caves　and　cellars
built　for　refuges　from　sudden　storms；　were　like　so　many　whispers　of　the
perils　of　the　place；　never…resting　wreaths　and　mazes　of　mist　wandered
about；　hunted　by　a　moaning　wind；　and　snow；　the　besetting　danger　of　the
mountain；　against　which　all　its　defences　were　taken；　drifted　sharply
down。

The　file　of　mules；　jaded　by　their　day's　work；　turned　and　wound　slowly
up　the　deep　ascent；　the　foremost　led　by　a　guide　on　foot；　in　his
broad…brimmed　hat　and　round　jacket；　carrying　a　mountain　staff　or　two
upon　his　shoulder；　with　whom　another　guide　conversed。　There　was　no
speaking　among　the　string　of　riders。　The　sharp　cold；　the　fatigue　of　the
journey；　and　a　new　sensation　of　a　catching　in　the　breath；　partly　as　if
they　had　just　emerged　from　very　clear　crisp　water；　and　partly　as　if　they
had　been　sobbing；　kept　them　silent。

At　length；　a　light　on　the　summit　of　the　rocky　staircase　gleamed　through
the　snow　and　mist。　The　guides　called　to　the　mules；　the　mules　pricked　up
their　drooping　heads；　the　travellers'　tongues　were　loosened；　and　in　a
sudden　burst　of　slipping；　climbing；　jingling；　clinking；　and　talking；
they　arrived　at　the　convent　door。

Other　mules　had　arrived　not　long　before；　some　with　peasant　riders　and
some　with　goods；　and　had　trodden　the　snow　about　the　door　into　a　pool
of　mud。　Riding…saddles　and　bridles；　pack…saddles　and　strings　of　bells；
mules　and　men；　lanterns；　torches；　sacks；　provender；　barrels；　cheeses；
kegs　of　honey　and　butter；　straw　bundles　and　packages　of　many　shapes；
were　crowded　confusedly　together　in　this　thaire　and　about　the
steps。　Up　here　in　the　clouds；　everything　was　seen　through　cloud；　and
seemed　dissolving　into　cloud。　The　breath　of　the　men　was　cloud；　the
breath　of　the　mules　was　cloud；　the　lights　were　encircled　by　cloud；
speakers　close　at　hand　were　not　seen　for　cloud；　though　their　voices　and
all　other　sounds　were　surprisingly　clear。　Of　the　cloudy　line　of　mules
hastily　tied　to　rings　in　the　wall；　one　would　bite　another；　or　kick
another；　and　then　the　whole　mist　would　be　disturbed：　with　men　diving
into　it；　and　cries　of　men　and　beasts　ing　out　of　it；　and　no　bystander
discerning　what　was　wrong。　In　the　midst　of　this；　the　great　stable　of　the
convent；　occupying　the　basement　story　and　entered　by　the　basement　door；
outside　which　all　the　disorder　was；　poured　forth　its　contribution　of
cloud；　as　if　the　whole　rugged　edifice　were　filled　with　nothing　else；
and　would　collapse　as　soon　as　it　had　emptied　itself；　leaving　the　snow　to
fall　upon　the　bare　mountain　summit。

While　all　this　noise　and　hurry　were　rife　among　the　living　travellers；
there；　too；　silently　assembled　in　a　grated　house　half…a…dozen　paces
removed；　with　the　same　cloud　enfolding　them　and　the　same　snow　flakes
drifting　in　upon　them；　were　the　dead　travellers　found　upon　the　mountain。
The　mother；　storm…belated　many　winters　ago；　still　standing　in　the　corner
with　her　baby　at　her　breast；　the　man　who　had　frozen　with　his　arm　raised
to　his　mouth　in　fear　or　hunger；　still　pressing　it　with　his　dry　lips
after　years　and　years。　An　awful　pany；　mysteriously　e　together！　A
wild　destiny　for　that　mother　to　have　foreseen！　'Surrounded　by　so　many
and　such　panions　upon　whom　I　never　looked；　and　never　shall　look；
I　and　my　child　will　dwell　together　inseparable；　on　the　Great　Saint
Bernard；　outlasting　generations　who　will　e　to　see　us；　and　will　never
know　our　name；　or　one　word　of　our　story　but　the　end。'

The　living　travellers　thought　little　or　nothing　of　the　dead　just　then。
They　thought　much　more　of　alighting　at　the　convent　door；　and　warming
themselves　at　the　convent　fire。　Disengaged　from　the　turmoil；　which　was
already　calming　down　as　the　crowd　of　mules　began　to　be　bestowed　in　the
stable；　they　hurried　shivering　up　the　steps　and　into　the　building。　There
was　a　smell　within；　ing　up　from　the　floor；　of　tethered　beasts；　like
the　smell　of　a　menagerie　of　wild　animals。　There　were　strong　arched
galleries　within；　huge　stone　piers；　great　staircases；　and　thick　walls
pierced　with　small　sunken　windows……fortifications　against　the　mountain
storms；　as　if　they　had　been　human　enemies。　There　were　gloomy　vaulted
sleeping…rooms　within；　intensely　cold；　but　clean　and　hospitably　prepared
for　guests。　Finally；　there　was　a　parlour　for　guests　to　sit　in　and　sup
in；　where　a　table　was　already　laid；　and　where　a　blazing　fire　shone　red
and　high。

In　this　room；　after　having　had　their　quarters　for　the　night　allotted
to　them　by　two　young　Fathers；　the　travellers　presently　drew　round　the
hearth。　They　were　in　three　parties；　of　whom　the　first；　as　the　most
numerous　and　important；　was　the　slowest；　and　had　been　overtaken　by
one　of　the　others　on　the　way　up。　It　consisted　of　an　elderly　lady；　two
grey…haired　gentlemen；　two　young　ladies；　and　their　brother。　These　were
attended　（not　to　mention　four　guides）；　by　a　courier；　two　footmen；　and
two　waiting…maids：　which　strong　body　of　inconvenience　was　acmodated
elsewhere　under　the　same　roof。　The　party　that　had　overtaken　them；　and
followed　in　their　train；　consisted　of　only　three　members：　one　lady　and
two　gentlemen。　The　third　party；　which　had　ascended　from　the　valley
on　the　Italian　side　of　the　Pass；　and　had　arrived　first；　were　four　in
number：　a　plethoric；　hungry；　and　silent　German　tutor　in　spectacles；　on
a　tour　with　three　young　men；　his　pupils；　all　plethoric；　hungry；　and
silent；　and　all　in　spectacles。

These　three　groups　sat　round　the　fire　eyeing　each　other　drily；　and
waiting　for　supper。　Only　one　among　them；　one　of　the　gentlemen　belonging
to　the　party　of　three；　made　advances　towards　conversation。　Throwing　out
his　lines　for　the　Chief　of　the　important　tribe；　while　addressing　himself
to　his　own　panions；　he　remarked；　in　a　tone　of　voice　which　included
all　the　pany　if　they　chose　to　be　included；　that　it　had　been　a　long
day；　and　that　he　felt　for　the　ladies。　That　he　feared　one　of　the
young　ladies　was　not　a　strong　or　accustomed　traveller；　and　had　been
over…fatigued　two　or　three　hours　ago。　That　he　had　observed；　from　his
station　in　the　rear；　that　she　sat　her　mule　as　if　she　were　exhausted。
That　he　had；　twice　or　thrice　afterwards；　done　himself　the　honour　of
inquiring　of　one　of　the　guides；　when　he　fell　behind；　how　the　lady　did。
That　he　had　been　enchanted　to　learn　that　she　had　recovered　her　spirits；
and　that　it　had　been　but　a　passing　disfort。　That　he　trusted　（by　this
time　he　had　secured　the　eyes　of　the　Chief；　and　addressed　him）　he　might
be　permitted　to　express　his　hope　that　she　was　now　none　the　worse；　and
that　she　would　not　regret　having　made　the　journey。

'My　daughter；　I　am　obliged　to　you；　sir；'　returned　the　Chief；　'is　quite
restored；　and　has　been　greatly　interested。'

'New　to　mountains；　perhaps？'　said　the　insinuating　traveller。

'New　to……ha……to　mountains；'　said　the　Chief。

'But　you　are　familiar　with　them；　sir？'　the　insinuating　traveller
assumed。

'I　am……hum……tolerably　familiar。　Not　of　late　years。　Not　of　late　years；'
replied　the　Chief；　with　a　flourish　of　his　hand。

The　insinuating　traveller；　acknowledging　the　flourish　with　an
inclination　of　his　head；　passed　from　the　Chief　to　the　second　young　lady；
who　had　not　yet　been　referred　to　otherwise　than　as　one　of　the　ladies　in
whose　behalf　he　felt　so　sensitive　an　interest。

He　hoped　she　was　not　inmoded　by　the　fatigues　of　the　day。

'Inmoded；　certainly；'　returned　the　young　lady；　'but　not　tired。'

The　insinuating　traveller　plimented　her　on　the　justice　of　the
distinction。　It　was　what　he　had　meant　to　say。　Every　lady　must　doubtless
be　inmoded　by　having　to　do　with　that　proverbially　unacmodating
animal；　the　mule。

'We　have　had；　of　course；'　said　the　young　lady；　who　was　rather　reserved
and　haughty；　'to　leave　the　carriages　and　fourgon　at　Martigny。　And　the
impossibility　of　bringing　anything　that　one　wants　to　this　inaccessible
place；　and　the　necessity　of　leaving　every　fort　behind；　is　not
convenient。'

'A　savage　place　indeed；'　said　the　insinuating　traveller。

The　elderly　lady；　who　was　a　model　of　accurate　dressing；　and　whose　manner
was　perfect；　considered　as　a　piece　of　machinery；　here　interposed　a
remark　in　a　low　soft　voice。

'But；　like　other　inconvenient　places；'　she　observed；　'it　must　be　seen。
As　a　place　much　spoken　of；　it　is　necessary　to　see　it。'

'O！　I　have　not　the　least　objection　to　seeing　it；　I　assure　you；　Mrs
General；'　returned　the　oth