little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第159章

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think　what　the　Chief　Butler's　opinion　of　him　would　have　been；　if　that
illustrious　personage　could　have　plumbed　with　that　heavy　eye　of　his　the
stream　of　his　meditations。

The　farewell　banquet　was　of　a　gorgeous　nature；　and　wound　up　his　visit
in　a　most　brilliant　manner。　Fanny　bined　with　the　attractions　of　her
youth　and　beauty；　a　certain　weight　of　self…sustainment　as　if　she　had
been　married　twenty　years。　He　felt　that　he　could　leave　her　with　a
quiet　mind　to　tread　the　paths　of　distinction；　and　wished……but　without
abatement　of　patronage；　and　without　prejudice　to　the　retiring　virtues　of
his　favourite　child……that　he　had　such　another　daughter。

'My　dear；'　he　told　her　at　parting；　'our　family　looks　to　you
to……ha……assert　its　dignity　and……hum……maintain　its　importance。　I　know　you
will　never　disappoint　it。'

'No；　papa；'　said　Fanny；　'you　may　rely　upon　that；　I　think。　My　best　love
to　dearest　Amy；　and　I　will　write　to　her　very　soon。'

'Shall　I　convey　any　message　to……ha……anybody　else？'　asked　Mr　Dorrit；　in
an　insinuating　manner。

'Papa；'　said　Fanny；　before　whom　Mrs　General　instantly　loomed；　'no；　I
thank　you。　You　are　very　kind；　Pa；　but　I　must　beg　to　be　excused。　There
is　no　other　message　to　send；　I　thank　you；　dear　papa；　that　it　would　be　at
all　agreeable　to　you　to　take。'

They　parted　in　an　outer　drawing…room；　where　only　Mr　Sparkler　waited
on　his　lady；　and　dutifully　bided　his　time　for　shaking　hands。　When　Mr
Sparkler　was　admitted　to　this　closing　audience；　Mr　Merdle　came　creeping
in　with　not　much　more　appearance　of　arms　in　his　sleeves　than　if　he
had　been　the　twin　brother　of　Miss　Biffin；　and　insisted　on　escorting
Mr　Dorrit　down…stairs。　All　Mr　Dorrit's　protestations　being　in　vain；
he　enjoyed　the　honour　of　being　acpanied　to　the　hall…door　by　this
distinguished　man；　who　（as　Mr　Dorrit　told　him　in　shaking　hands　on　the
step）　had　really　overwhelmed　him　with　attentions　and　services　during
this　memorable　visit。　Thus　they　parted；　Mr　Dorrit　entering　his　carriage
with　a　swelling　breast；　not　at　all　sorry　that　his　Courier；　who　had
e　to　take　leave　in　the　lower　regions；　should　have　an　opportunity　of
beholding　the　grandeur　of　his　departure。

The　aforesaid　grandeur　was　yet　full　upon　Mr　Dorrit　when　he　alighted　at
his　hotel。　Helped　out　by　the　Courier　and　some　half…dozen　of　the　hotel
servants；　he　was　passing　through　the　hall　with　a　serene　magnificence；
when　lo！　a　sight　presented　itself　that　struck　him　dumb　and　motionless。
John　Chivery；　in　his　best　clothes；　with　his　tall　hat　under　his　arm；　his
ivory…handled　cane　genteelly　embarrassing　his　deportment；　and　a　bundle
of　cigars　in　his　hand！

'Now；　young　man；'　said　the　porter。　'This　is　the　gentleman。　This　young
man　has　persisted　in　waiting；　sir；　saying　you　would　be　glad　to　see　him。'

Mr　Dorrit　glared　on　the　young　man；　choked；　and　said；　in　the　mildest　of
tones；　'Ah！　Young　John！　It　is　Young　John；　I　think；　is　it　not？'

'Yes；　sir；'　returned　Young　John。

'I……ha……thought　it　was　Young　john！'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'The　young　man　may
e　up；'　turning　to　the　attendants；　as　he　passed　on：　'oh　yes；　he　may
e　up。　Let　Young　John　follow。　I　will　speak　to　him　above。'

Young　John　followed；　smiling　and　much　gratified。　Mr　Dorrit's　rooms　were
reached。　Candles　were　lighted。　The　attendants　withdrew。

'Now；　sir；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　turning　round　upon　him　and　seizing　him　by
the　collar　when　they　were　safely　alone。　'What　do　you　mean　by　this？'

The　amazement　and　horror　depicted　in　the　unfortunate　john's　face……for
he　had　rather　expected　to　be　embraced　next……were　of　that　powerfully
expressive　nature　that　Mr　Dorrit　withdrew　his　hand　and　merely　glared　at
him。

'How　dare　you　do　this？'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'How　do　you　presume　to　e
here？　How　dare　you　insult　me？'

'I　insult　you；　sir？'　cried　Young　John。　'Oh！'

'Yes；　sir；'　returned　Mr　Dorrit。　'Insult　me。　Your　ing　here　is　an
affront；　an　impertinence；　an　audacity。　You　are　not　wanted　here。

Who　sent　you　here？　What……ha……the　Devil　do　you　do　here？'

'I　thought；　sir；'　said　Young　John；　with　as　pale　and　shocked　a　face　as
ever　had　been　turned　to　Mr　Dorrit's　in　his　life……even　in　his　College
life：　'I　thought；　sir；　you　mightn't　object　to　have　the　goodness　to
accept　a　bundle……'

'Damn　your　bundle；　sir！'　cried　Mr　Dorrit；　in　irrepressible　rage。
'I……hum……don't　smoke。'

'I　humbly　beg　your　pardon；　sir。　You　used　to。'

'Tell　me　that　again；'　cried　Mr　Dorrit；　quite　beside　himself；　'and　I'll
take　the　poker　to　you！'

John　Chivery　backed　to　the　door。

'Stop；　sir！'　cried　Mr　Dorrit。　'Stop！　Sit　down。　Confound　you　sit　down！'

John　Chivery　dropped　into　the　chair　nearest　the　door；　and　Mr　Dorrit
walked　up　and　down　the　room；　rapidly　at　first；　then；　more　slowly。　Once；
he　went　to　the　window；　and　stood　there　with　his　forehead　against　the
glass。　All　of　a　sudden；　he　turned　and　said：

'What　else　did　you　e　for；　Sir？'

'Nothing　else　in　the　world；　sir。　Oh　dear　me！　Only　to　say；　Sir；　that　I
hoped　you　was　well；　and　only　to　ask　if　Miss　Amy　was　Well？'

'What's　that　to　you；　sir？'　retorted　Mr　Dorrit。

'It's　nothing　to　me；　sir；　by　rights。　I　never　thought　of　lessening　the
distance　betwixt　us；　I　am　sure。　I　know　it's　a　liberty；　sir；　but　I　never
thought　you'd　have　taken　it　ill。　Upon　my　word　and　honour；　sir；'　said
Young　John；　with　emotion；　'in　my　poor　way；　I　am　too　proud　to　have　e；
I　assure　you；　if　I　had　thought　so。'

Mr　Dorrit　was　ashamed。　He　went　back　to　the　window；　and　leaned　his
forehead　against　the　glass　for　some　time。　When　he　turned；　he　had　his
handkerchief　in　his　hand；　and　he　had　been　wiping　his　eyes　with　it；　and
he　looked　tired　and　ill。

'Young　John；　I　am　very　sorry　to　have　been　hasty　with　you；　but……ha……some
remembrances　are　not　happy　remembrances；　and……hum……you　shouldn't　have
e。'

'I　feel　that　now；　sir；'　returned　John　Chivery；　'but　I　didn't　before；　and
Heaven　knows　I　meant　no　harm；　sir。'

'No。　No；'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'I　am……hum……sure　of　that。　Ha。　Give　me　your
hand；　Young　John；　give　me　your　hand。'

Young　John　gave　it；　but　Mr　Dorrit　had　driven　his　heart　out　of　it；　and
nothing　could　change　his　face　now；　from　its　white；　shocked　look。

'There！'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　slowly　shaking　hands　with　him。　'Sit　down　again；
Young　John。'

'Thank　you；　sir……but　I'd　rather　stand。'

Mr　Dorrit　sat　down　instead。　After　painfully　holding　his　head　a　little
while；　he　turned　it　to　his　visitor；　and　said；　with　an　effort　to　be　easy：

'And　how　is　your　father；　Young　John？　How……ha……how　are　they　all；　Young
John？'

'Thank　you；　sir；　They're　all　pretty　well；　sir。　They're　not　any　ways
plaining。'

'Hum。　You　are　in　your……ha……old　business　I　see；　John？'　said　Mr　Dorrit；
with　a　glance　at　the　offending　bundle　he　had　anathematised。

'Partly；　sir。　I　am　in　my'……John　hesitated　a　little……'father's　business
likewise。'

'Oh　indeed！'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'Do　you……ha　hum……go　upon　the　ha……'

'Lock；　sir？　Yes；　sir。'

'Much　to　do；　John？'

'Yes；　sir；　we're　pretty　heavy　at　present。　I　don't　know　how　it　is；　but　we
generally　ARE　pretty　heavy。'

'At　this　time　of　the　year；　Young　John？'

'Mostly　at　all　times　of　the　year；　sir。　I　don't　know　the　time　that　makes
much　difference　to　us。　I　wish　you　good　night；　sir。'

'Stay　a　moment；　John……ha……stay　a　moment。　Hum。　Leave　me　the　cigars；　John；
I……ha……beg。'

'Certainly；　sir。'　John　put　them；　with　a　trembling　hand；　on　the　table。

'Stay　a　moment；　Young　John；　stay　another　moment。　It　would　be　a……ha……a
gratification　to　me　to　send　a　little……hum……Testimonial；　by　such　a　trusty
messenger；　to　be　divided　among……ha　hum……them……them……according　to　their
wants。　Would　you　object　to　take　it；　John？'

'Not　in　any　ways；　sir。　There's　many　of　them；　I'm　sure；　that　would　be　the
better　for　it。'

'Thank　you；　John。　I……ha……I'll　write　it；　John。'

His　hand　shook　so　that　he　was　a　long　time　writing　it；　and　wrote　it　in
a　tremulous　scrawl　at　last。　It　was　a　cheque　for　one　hundred　pounds。　He
folded　it　up；　put　it　in　Young　john's　hand；　and　pressed　the　hand　in　his。

'I　hope　you'll……ha……overlook……hum……what　has　passed；　John。'

'Don't　speak　of　it；　sir；　on　any　accounts。　I　don't　in　any　ways　bear
malice；　I'm　sure。'

But　nothing　while　John　was　there　could　change　John's　face　to　its　natural
colour　and　expression；　or　restore　John's　natural　manner。

'And；　John；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　giving　his　hand　a　final　pressure；　and
releasing　it；　'I　hope　we……ha……agree　that　we　have　spoken　together
in　confidence；　and　that　you　will　abstain；　in　going　out；　from　saying
anything　to　any　one　that　might……hum……suggest　that……ha……once　I……'

'Oh！　I　assure　you；　sir；'　returned　John　Chivery；　'in　my　poor　humble　way；
sir；　I'm　too　proud　and　honourable　to　do　it；　sir。'

Mr　Dorrit　was　not　too　proud　and　honourable　to　listen　at　the　door　that
he　might　ascertain　for　himself　whether　John　really　went　straight　out；　or
lingered　to　have　any　talk　with　any　one。　There　was　no　doubt　that　he　went
direct　out　at　the　door；　and　away　down　the　street　with　a　quick　step。
After　remaining　alone　for　an　hour；　Mr　Dorrit　rang　for　the　Courier；
who　found　him　with　his　chair　on　the　hearth…rug；　sitting　with　his　back
towards　him　and　his　face　to　the　fire。　'You　can　take　that　bundle　of
cigars　to　smoke　on　the　journey；　if　you　like；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　with
a　careless　wave　of　his　hand。　'Ha……brought　by……hum……little　offering
from……ha……son　of　old　tenant　of　mine。'

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