little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第135章

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business。　Mr　F。's　Aunt　then　moistened　her　ten　fingers　in　slow　succession
at　her　lips；　and　wiped　them　in　exactly　the　same　order　on　the　white
handkerchief；　then　took　the　other　piece　of　toast；　and　fell　to　work
upon　it。　While　pursuing　this　routine；　she　looked　at　Clennam　with　an
expression　of　such　intense　severity　that　he　felt　obliged　to　look　at　her
in　return；　against　his　personal　inclinations。

'She　is　in　Italy；　with　all　her　family；　Flora；'　he　said；　when　the　dreaded
lady　was　occupied　again。

'In　Italy　is　she　really？'　said　Flora；　'with　the　grapes　growing
everywhere　and　lava　necklaces　and　bracelets　too　that　land　of　poetry　with
burning　mountains　picturesque　beyond　belief　though　if　the　organ…boys
e　away　from　the　neighbourhood　not　to　be　scorched　nobody　can　wonder
being　so　young　and　bringing　their　white　mice　with　them　most　humane；　and
is　she　really　in　that　favoured　land　with　nothing　but　blue　about　her　and
dying　gladiators　and　Belvederes　though　Mr　F。　himself　did　not　believe
for　his　objection　when　in　spirits　was　that　the　images　could　not　be　true
there　being　no　medium　between　expensive　quantities　of　linen　badly　got
up　and　all　in　creases　and　none　whatever；　which　certainly　does　not　seem
probable　though　perhaps　in　consequence　of　the　extremes　of　rich　and　poor
which　may　account　for　it。'

Arthur　tried　to　edge　a　word　in；　but　Flora　hurried　on　again。

'Venice　Preserved　too；'　said　she；　'I　think　you　have　been　there　is　it
well　or　ill　preserved　for　people　differ　so　and　Maccaroni　if　they　really
eat　it　like　the　conjurors　why　not　cut　it　shorter；　you　are　acquainted
Arthur……dear　Doyce　and　Clennam　at　least　not　dear　and　most　assuredly
not　Doyce　for　I　have　not　the　pleasure　but　pray　excuse　me……acquainted　I
believe　with　Mantua　what　has　it　got　to　do　with　Mantua…making　for　I　never
have　been　able　to　conceive？'

'I　believe　there　is　no　connection；　Flora；　between　the　two；'　Arthur　was
beginning；　when　she　caught　him　up　again。

'Upon　your　word　no　isn't　there　I　never　did　but　that's　like　me　I　run　away
with　an　idea　and　having　none　to　spare　I　keep　it；　alas　there　was　a　time
dear　Arthur　that　is　to　say　decidedly　not　dear　nor　Arthur　neither　but　you
understand　me　when　one　bright　idea　gilded　the　what's…his…name　horizon　of
et　cetera　but　it　is　darkly　clouded　now　and　all　is　over。'

Arthur's　increasing　wish　to　speak　of　something　very　different　was　by
this　time　so　plainly　written　on　his　face；　that　Flora　stopped　in　a　tender
look；　and　asked　him　what　it　was？

'I　have　the　greatest　desire；　Flora；　to　speak　to　some　one　who　is　now　in
this　house……with　Mr　Casby　no　doubt。　Some　one　whom　I　saw　e　in；　and
who；　in　a　misguided　and　deplorable　way；　has　deserted　the　house　of　a
friend　of　mine。'

'Papa　sees　so　many　and　such　odd　people；'　said　Flora；　rising；　'that　I
shouldn't　venture　to　go　down　for　any　one　but　you　Arthur　but　for　you　I
would　willingly　go　down　in　a　diving…bell　much　more　a　dining…room　and
will　e　back　directly　if　you'll　mind　and　at　the　same　time　not　mind　Mr
F。's　Aunt　while　I'm　gone。'

With　those　words　and　a　parting　glance；　Flora　bustled　out；　leaving
Clennam　under　dreadful　apprehension　of　this　terrible　charge。

The　first　variation　which　manifested　itself　in　Mr　F。's　Aunt's　demeanour
when　she　had　finished　her　piece　of　toast；　was　a　loud　and　prolonged
sniff。　Finding　it　impossible　to　avoid　construing　this　demonstration
into　a　defiance　of　himself；　its　gloomy　significance　being　unmistakable；
Clennam　looked　plaintively　at　the　excellent　though　prejudiced　lady
from　whom　it　emanated；　in　the　hope　that　she　might　be　disarmed　by　a　meek
submission。

'None　of　your　eyes　at　me；'　said　Mr　F。's　Aunt；　shivering　with　hostility。
'Take　that。'

'That'　was　the　crust　of　the　piece　of　toast。　Clennam　accepted　the　boon
with　a　look　of　gratitude；　and　held　it　in　his　hand　under　the　pressure
of　a　little　embarrassment；　which　was　not　relieved　when　Mr　F。's　Aunt；
elevating　her　voice　into　a　cry　of　considerable　power；　exclaimed；　'He
has　a　proud　stomach；　this　chap！　He's　too　proud　a　chap　to　eat　it！'　and；
ing　out　of　her　chair；　shook　her　venerable　fist　so　very　close　to　his
nose　as　to　tickle　the　surface。　But　for　the　timely　return　of　Flora；　to
find　him　in　this　difficult　situation；　further　consequences　might
have　ensued。　Flora；　without　the　least　disposure　or　surprise；　but
congratulating　the　old　lady　in　an　approving　manner　on　being　'very　lively
to…night'；　handed　her　back　to　her　chair。

'He　has　a　proud　stomach；　this　chap；'　said　Mr　F。's　relation；　on　being
reseated。　'Give　him　a　meal　of　chaff！'

'Oh！　I　don't　think　he　would　like　that；　aunt；'　returned　Flora。

'Give　him　a　meal　of　chaff；　I　tell　you；'　said　Mr　F。's　Aunt；　glaring　round
Flora　on　her　enemy。　'It's　the　only　thing　for　a　proud　stomach。　Let　him
eat　up　every　morsel。　Drat　him；　give　him　a　meal　of　chaff！'

Under　a　general　pretence　of　helping　him　to　this　refreshment；　Flora　got
him　out　on　the　staircase；　Mr　F。's　Aunt　even　then　constantly　reiterating；
with　inexpressible　bitterness；　that　he　was　'a　chap；'　and　had　a　'proud
stomach；'　and　over　and　over　again　insisting　on　that　equine　provision
being　made　for　him　which　she　had　already　so　strongly　prescribed。

'Such　an　inconvenient　staircase　and　so　many　corner…stairs　Arthur；'
whispered　Flora；　'would　you　object　to　putting　your　arm　round　me　under　my
pelerine？'

With　a　sense　of　going　down…stairs　in　a　highly…ridiculous　manner；　Clennam
descended　in　the　required　attitude；　and　only　released　his　fair　burden　at
the　dining…room　door；　indeed；　even　there　she　was　rather　difficult　to
be　got　rid　of；　remaining　in　his　embrace　to　murmur；　'Arthur；　for　mercy's
sake；　don't　breathe　it　to　papa！'

She　acpanied　Arthur　into　the　room；　where　the　Patriarch　sat　alone；
with　his　list　shoes　on　the　fender；　twirling　his　thumbs　as　if　he　had
never　left　off。　The　youthful　Patriarch；　aged　ten；　looked　out　of　his
picture…frame　above　him　with　no　calmer　air　than　he。　Both　smooth　heads
were　alike　beaming；　blundering；　and　bumpy。

'Mr　Clennam；　I　am　glad　to　see　you。　I　hope　you　are　well；　sir；　I　hope　you
are　well。　Please　to　sit　down；　please　to　sit　down。'

'I　had　hoped；　sir；'　said　Clennam；　doing　so；　and　looking　round　with　a
face　of　blank　disappointment；　'not　to　find　you　alone。'

'Ah；　indeed？'　said　the　Patriarch；　sweetly。　'Ah；　indeed？'

'I　told　you　so　you　know　papa；'　cried　Flora。

'Ah；　to　be　sure！'　returned　the　Patriarch。　'Yes；　just　so。　Ah；　to　be
sure！'

'Pray；　sir；'demanded　Clennam；　anxiously；　'is　Miss　Wade　gone？'

'Miss……？　Oh；　you　call　her　Wade；'　returned　Mr　Casby。　'Highly　proper。'
Arthur　quickly　returned；　'What　do　you　call　her？'

'Wade；'　said　Mr　Casby。　'Oh；　always　Wade。'

After　looking　at　the　philanthropic　visage　and　the　long　silky　white　hair
for　a　few　seconds；　during　which　Mr　Casby　twirled　his　thumbs；　and　smiled
at　the　fire　as　if　he　were　benevolently　wishing　it　to　burn　him　that　he
might　forgive　it；　Arthur　began：

'I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr　Casby……'

'Not　so；　not　so；'　said　the　Patriarch；　'not　so。'

'……But；　Miss　Wade　had　an　attendant　with　her……a　young　woman　brought　up
by　friends　of　mine；　over　whom　her　influence　is　not　considered　very
salutary；　and　to　whom　I　should　be　glad　to　have　the　opportunity　of　giving
the　assurance　that　she　has　not　yet　forfeited　the　interest　of　those
protectors。'

'Really；　really？'　returned　the　Patriarch。

'Will　you　therefore　be　so　good　as　to　give　me　the　address　of　Miss　Wade？'

'Dear；　dear；　dear！'　said　the　Patriarch；　'how　very　unfortunate！　If　you
had　only　sent　in　to　me　when　they　were　here！　I　observed　the　young　woman；
Mr　Clennam。　A　fine　full…coloured　young　woman；　Mr　Clennam；　with　very　dark
hair　and　very　dark　eyes。　If　I　mistake　not；　if　I　mistake　not？'

Arthur　assented；　and　said　once　more　with　new　expression；　'If　you　would
be　so　good　as　to　give　me　the　address。'

'Dear；　dear；　dear！'　exclaimed　the　Patriarch　in　sweet　regret。　'Tut；　tut；
tut！　what　a　pity；　what　a　pity！　I　have　no　address；　sir。　Miss　Wade　mostly
lives　abroad；　Mr　Clennam。　She　has　done　so　for　some　years；　and　she　is　（if
I　may　say　so　of　a　fellow…creature　and　a　lady）　fitful　and　uncertain　to　a
fault；　Mr　Clennam。　I　may　not　see　her　again　for　a　long；　long　time。　I　may
never　see　her　again。　What　a　pity；　what　a　pity！'

Clennam　saw　now；　that　he　had　as　much　hope　of　getting　assistance　out　of
the　Portrait　as　out　of　the　Patriarch；　but　he　said　nevertheless：

'Mr　Casby；　could　you；　for　the　satisfaction　of　the　friends　I　have
mentioned；　and　under　any　obligation　of　secrecy　that　you　may　consider　it
your　duty　to　impose；　give　me　any　information　at　all　touching　Miss　Wade？
I　have　seen　her　abroad；　and　I　have　seen　her　at　home；　but　I　know　nothing
of　her。　Could　you　give　me　any　account　of　her　whatever？'

'None；'　returned　the　Patriarch；　shaking　his　big　head　with　his　utmost
benevolence。　'None　at　all。　Dear；　dear；　dear！　What　a　real　pity　that
she　stayed　so　short　a　time；　and　you　delayed！　As　confidential　agency
business；　agency　business；　I　have　occasionally　paid　this　lady　money；　but
what　satisfaction　is　it　to　you；　sir；　to　know　that？'

'Truly；　none　at　all；'　said　Clennam。

'Truly；'　assented　the　Patriarch；　with　a　shining　face　as　he
philanthropically　smiled　at　the　fire；　'none　at　all；　sir。　You　hit　the
wise　answer；　Mr　Clennam。　Truly；　none　at　all；　sir。'　His　turning　of
his　smooth　thumbs　over　one　another　as　he　sat　there