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第6章

little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第6章

小说: little dorrit-信丽(英文版) 字数: 每页4000字

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think you'll approve of。 Let us take one of those same little children
to be a little maid to Pet。 We are practical people。 So if we should
find her temper a little defective; or any of her ways a little wide
of ours; we shall know what we have to take into account。 We shall
know what an immense deduction must be made from all the influences and
experiences that have formed us……no parents; no child…brother or sister;
no individuality of home; no Glass Slipper; or Fairy Godmother。 And
that's the way we came by Tattycoram。'

'And the name itself……'

'By George!' said Mr Meagles; 'I was forgetting the name itself。 Why;
she was called in the Institution; Harriet Beadle……an arbitrary name;
of course。 Now; Harriet we changed into Hattey; and then into Tatty;
because; as practical people; we thought even a playful name might be
a new thing to her; and might have a softening and affectionate kind of
effect; don't you see? As to Beadle; that I needn't say was wholly out
of the question。 If there is anything that is not to be tolerated on
any terms; anything that is a type of Jack…in…office insolence and
absurdity; anything that represents in coats; waistcoats; and big sticks
our English holding on by nonsense after every one has found it out; it
is a beadle。 You haven't seen a beadle lately?'

'As an Englishman who has been more than twenty years in China; no。'

'Then;' said Mr Meagles; laying his forefinger on his panion's breast
with great animation; 'don't you see a beadle; now; if you can help it。
Whenever I see a beadle in full fig; ing down a street on a Sunday
at the head of a charity school; I am obliged to turn and run away; or
I should hit him。 The name of Beadle being out of the question; and the
originator of the Institution for these poor foundlings having been a
blessed creature of the name of Coram; we gave that name to Pet's little
maid。 At one time she was Tatty; and at one time she was Coram; until we
got into a way of mixing the two names together; and now she is always
Tattycoram。'

'Your daughter;' said the other; when they had taken another silent turn
to and fro; and; after standing for a moment at the wall glancing down
at the sea; had resumed their walk; 'is your only child; I know; Mr
Meagles。 May I ask you……in no impertinent curiosity; but because I have
had so much pleasure in your society; may never in this labyrinth of
a world exchange a quiet word with you again; and wish to preserve an
accurate remembrance of you and yours……may I ask you; if I have not
gathered from your good wife that you have had other children?'

'No。 No;' said Mr Meagles。 'Not exactly other children。 One other
child。'

'I am afraid I have inadvertently touched upon a tender theme。'

'Never mind;' said Mr Meagles。 'If I am grave about it; I am not at all
sorroent; but does not make me unhappy。 Pet
had a twin sister who died when we could just see her eyes……exactly like
Pet's……above the table; as she stood on tiptoe holding by it。'

'Ah! indeed; indeed!'

'Yes; and being practical people; a result has gradually sprung up in
the minds of Mrs Meagles and myself which perhaps you may……or perhaps
you may not……understand。 Pet and her baby sister were so exactly alike;
and so pletely one; that in our thoughts we have never been able
to separate them since。 It would be of no use to tell us that our dead
child was a mere infant。 We have changed that child according to the
changes in the child spared to us and always with us。 As Pet has grown;
that child has grown; as Pet has bee more sensible and womanly; her
sister has bee more sensible and womanly by just the same degrees。
It would be as hard to convince me that if I was to pass into the other
world to…morrow; I should not; through the mercy of God; be received
there by a daughter; just like Pet; as to persuade me that Pet herself
is not a reality at my side。' 'I understand you;' said the other;
gently。

'As to her;' pursued her father; 'the sudden loss of her little picture
and playfellow; and her early association with that mystery in which we
all have our equal share; but which is not often so forcibly presented
to a child; has necessarily had some influence on her character。 Then;
her mother and I were not young when we married; and Pet has always had
a sort of grown…up life with us; though we have tried to adapt ourselves
to her。 We have been advised more than once when she has been a
little ailing; to change climate and air for her as often as we
could……especially at about this time of her life……and to keep her
amused。 So; as I have no need to stick at a bank…desk now (though I have
been poor enough in my time I assure you; or I should have married Mrs
Meagles long before); we go trotting about the world。 This is how you
found us staring at the Nile; and the Pyramids; and the Sphinxes; and
the Desert; and all the rest of it; and this is how Tattycoram will be a
greater traveller in course of time than Captain Cook。'

'I thank you;' said the other; 'very heartily for your confidence。'

'Don't mention it;' returned Mr Meagles; 'I am sure you are quite
wele。 And now; Mr Clennam; perhaps I may ask you whether you have yet
e to a decision where to go next?'

'Indeed; no。 I am such a waif and stray everywhere; that I am liable to
be drifted where any current may set。'

'It's extraordinary to me……if you'll excuse my freedom in saying
so……that you don't go straight to London;' said Mr Meagles; in the tone
of a confidential adviser。

'Perhaps I shall。'

'Ay! But I mean with a will。'

'I have no will。 That is to say;'……he coloured a little;……'next to none
that I can put in action now。 Trained by main force; broken; not bent;
heavily ironed with an object on which I was never consulted and which
was never mine; shipped away to the other end of the world before I
was of age; and exiled there until my father's death there; a year ago;
always grinding in a mill I always hated; what is to be expected from me
in middle life? Will; purpose; hope? All those lights were extinguished
before I could sound the words。'

'Light 'em up again!' said Mr Meagles。

'Ah! Easily said。 I am the son; Mr Meagles; of a hard father and
mother。 I am the only child of parents who weighed; measured; and priced
everything; for whom what could not be weighed; measured; and priced;
had no existence。 Strict people as the phrase is; professors of a stern
religion; their very religion was a gloomy sacrifice of tastes and
sympathies that were never their own; offered up as a part of a bargain
for the security of their possessions。 Austere faces; inexorable
discipline; penance in this world and terror in the next……nothing
graceful or gentle anywhere; and the void in my cowed heart
everywhere……this was my childhood; if I may so misuse the word as to
apply it to such a beginning of life。'

'Really though?' said Mr Meagles; made very unfortable by the picture
offered to his imagination。 'That was a tough mencement。 But e!
You must now study; and profit by; all that lies beyond it; like a
practical man。'

'If the people who are usually called practical; were practical in your
direction……'

'Why; so they are!' said Mr Meagles。

'Are they indeed?'

'Well; I suppose so;' returned Mr Meagles; thinking about it。 'Eh?

One can but be practical; and Mrs Meagles and myself are nothing else。'

'My unknown course is easier and more helpful than I had expected to
find it; then;' said Clennam; shaking his head with his grave smile。
'Enough of me。 Here is the boat。'

The boat was filled with the cocked hats to which Mr Meagles entertained
a national objection; and the wearers of those cocked hats landed
and came up the steps; and all the impounded travellers congregated
together。 There was then a mighty production of papers on the part of
the cocked hats; and a calling over of names; and great work of signing;
sealing; stamping; inking; and sanding; with exceedingly blurred;
gritty; and undecipherable results。 Finally; everything was done
according to rule; and the travellers were at liberty to depart
whithersoever they would。

They made little account of stare and glare; in the new pleasure of
recovering their freedom; but flitted across the harbour in gay boats;
and reassembled at a great hotel; whence the sun was excluded by closed
lattices; and where bare paved floors; lofty ceilings; and resounding
corridors tempered the intense heat。 There; a great table in a great
room was soon profusely covered with a superb repast; and the quarantine
quarters became bare indeed; remembered among dainty dishes; southern
fruits; cooled wines; flowers from Genoa; snow from the mountain tops;
and all the colours of the rainbow flashing in the mirrors。

'But I bear those monotonous walls no ill…will now;' said Mr Meagles。
'One always begins to forgive a place as soon as it's left behind; I
dare say a prisoner begins to relent towards his prison; after he is let
out。'

They were about thirty in pany; and all talking; but necessarily in
groups。 Father and Mother Meagles sat with their daughter between them;
the last three on one side of the table: on the opposite side sat Mr
Clennam; a tall French gent

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