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little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第106部分

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is it; Young John?'

'A letter for you; sir; being left in the Lodge just this minute; and a
message with it; I thought; happening to be there myself; sir; I would
bring it to your room。' The speaker's attention was much distracted by
the piteous spectacle of Little Dorrit at her father's feet; with her
head turned away。

'Indeed; John? Thank you。'

'The letter is from Mr Clennam; sir……it's the answer……and the message
was; sir; that Mr Clennam also sent his pliments; and word that he
would do himself the pleasure of calling this afternoon; hoping to see
you; and likewise;' attention more distracted than before; 'Miss Amy。'

'Oh!' As the Father glanced into the letter (there was a bank…note in
it); he reddened a little; and patted Amy on the head afresh。 'Thank
you; Young John。 Quite right。 Much obliged to you for your attention。 No
one waiting?'

'No; sir; no one waiting。'

'Thank you; John。 How is your mother; Young John?'

'Thank you; sir; she's not quite as well as we could wish……in fact; we
none of us are; except father……but she's pretty well; sir。' 'Say we sent
our remembrances; will you? Say kind remembrances; if you please; Young
John。'

'Thank you; sir; I will。' And Mr Chivery junior went his way; having
spontaneously posed on the spot an entirely new epitaph for himself;
to the effect that Here lay the body of John Chivery; Who; Having
at such a date; Beheld the idol of his life; In grief and tears; And
feeling unable to bear the harrowing spectacle; Immediately repaired to
the abode of his inconsolable parents; And terminated his existence by
his own rash act。

'There; there; Amy!' said the Father; when Young John had closed the
door; 'let us say no more about it。' The last few minutes had improved
his spirits remarkably; and he e。 'Where is my old
pensioner all this while? We must not leave him by himself any longer;
or he will begin to suppose he is not wele; and that would pain me。
Will you fetch him; my child; or shall I?'

'If you wouldn't mind; father;' said Little Dorrit; trying to bring her
sobbing to a close。

'Certainly I will go; my dear。 I forgot; your eyes are rather red。

There! Cheer up; Amy。 Don't be uneasy about me。 I am quite myself again;
my love; quite myself。 Go to your room; Amy; and make yourself look
fortable and pleasant to receive Mr Clennam。'

'I would rather stay in my own room; Father;' returned Little Dorrit;
finding it more difficult than before to regain her posure。 'I would
far rather not see Mr Clennam。'

'Oh; fie; fie; my dear; that's folly。 Mr Clennam is a very gentlemanly
man……very gentlemanly。 A little reserved at times; but I will say
extremely gentlemanly。 I couldn't think of your not being here to
receive Mr Clennam; my dear; especially this afternoon。 So go and
freshen yourself up; Amy; go and freshen yourself up; like a good girl。'

Thus directed; Little Dorrit dutifully rose and obeyed: only pausing
for a moment as she went out of the room; to give her sister a kiss of
reconciliation。 Upon which; that young lady; feeling much harassed
in her mind; and having for the time worn out the wish with which she
generally relieved it; conceived and executed the brilliant idea of
wishing Old Nandy dead; rather than that he should e bothering there
like a disgusting; tiresome; wicked wretch; and making mischief between
two sisters。

The Father of the Marshalsea; even humming a tune; and wearing his black
velvet cap a little on one side; so much improved were his spirits; went
down into the yard; and found his old pensioner standing there hat in
hand just within the gate; as he had stood all this time。 'e; Nandy!'
said he; with great suavity。 'e up…stairs; Nandy; you know the way;
why don't you e up…stairs?' He went the length; on this occasion;
of giving him his hand and saying; 'How are you; Nandy? Are you pretty
well?' To which that vocalist returned; 'I thank you; honoured sir; I am
all the better for seeing your honour。' As they went along the yard; the
Father of the Marshalsea presented him to a Collegian of recent date。
'An old acquaintance of mine; sir; an old pensioner。' And then said; 'Be
covered; my good Nandy; put your hat on;' with great consideration。

His patronage did not stop here; for he charged Maggy to get the tea
ready; and instructed her to buy certain tea…cakes; fresh butter;
eggs; cold ham; and shrimps: to purchase which collation he gave her a
bank…note for ten pounds; laying strict injunctions on her to be careful
of the change。 These preparations were in an advanced stage of progress;
and his daughter Amy had e back with her work; when Clennam presented
himself; whom he most graciously received; and besought to join their
meal。

'Amy; my love; you know Mr Clennam even better than I have the happiness
of doing。 Fanny; my dear; you are acquainted with Mr Clennam。' Fanny
acknowledged him haughtily; the position she tacitly took up in all such
cases being that there was a vast conspiracy to insult the family by not
understanding it; or sufficiently deferring to it; and here was one of
the conspirators。

'This; Mr Clennam; you must know; is an old pensioner of mine; Old
Nandy; a very faithful old man。' (He always spoke of him as an object
of great antiquity; but he was two or three years younger than himself。)
'Let me see。 You know Plornish; I think? I think my daughter Amy has
mentioned to me that you know poor Plornish?'

'O yes!' said Arthur Clennam。

'Well; sir; this is Mrs Plornish's father。'

'Indeed? I am glad to see him。'

'You would be more glad if you kner
Clennam。'

'I hope I shall e to know them through knowing him;' said Arthur;
secretly pitying the bowed and submissive figure。

'It is a holiday with him; and he es to see his old friends; who are
always glad to see him;' observed the Father of the Marshalsea。

Then he added behind his hand; ('Union; poor old fellow。 Out for the
day。')

By this time Maggy; quietly assisted by her Little Mother; had spread
the board; and the repast was ready。 It being hot weather and the prison
very close; the window was as wide open as it could be pushed。 'If Maggy
will spread that newspaper on the window…sill; my dear;' remarked the
Father placently and in a half whisper to Little Dorrit; 'my old
pensioner can have his tea there; while we are having ours。'

So; with a gulf between him and the good pany of about a foot in
width; standard measure; Mrs Plornish's father was handsomely regaled。
Clennam had never seen anything like his magnanimous protection by that
other Father; he of the Marshalsea; and was lost in the contemplation of
its many wonders。

The most striking of these was perhaps the relishing manner in which he
remarked on the pensioner's infirmities and failings; as if he were
a gracious Keeper making a running mentary on the decline of the
harmless animal he exhibited。

'Not ready for more ham yet; Nandy? Why; how slow you are! (His last
teeth;' he explained to the pany; 'are going; poor old boy。')

At another time; he said; 'No shrimps; Nandy?' and on his not instantly
replying; observed; ('His hearing is being very defective。 He'll be
deaf directly。')

At another time he asked him; 'Do you walk much; Nandy; about the yard
within the walls of that place of yours?'

'No; sir; no。 I haven't any great liking for that。'

'No; to be sure;' he assented。 'Very natural。' Then he privately
informed the circle ('Legs going。')

Once he asked the pensioner; in that general clemency which asked him
anything to keep him afloat; how old his younger grandchild was?

'John Edward;' said the pensioner; slowly laying down his knife and fork
to consider。 'How old; sir? Let me think now。'

The Father of the Marshalsea tapped his forehead ('Memory weak。')

'John Edward; sir? Well; I really forget。 I couldn't say at this minute;
sir; whether it's two and two months; or whether it's two and five
months。 It's one or the other。'

'Don't distress yourself by worrying your mind about it;' he returned;
with infinite forbearance。 ('Faculties evidently decaying……old man rusts
in the life he leads!')

The more of these discoveries that he persuaded himself he made in the
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