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little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第139部分

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with the announcement that two beautiful English ladies were e to see
the mistress。

Mrs Gowan; who was engaged in needlework; put her work aside in a
covered basket; and rose; a little hurriedly。 Miss Fanny was excessively
courteous to her; and said the usual nothings with the skill of a
veteran。

'Papa was extremely sorry;' proceeded Fanny; 'to be engaged to…day (he
is so much engaged here; our acquaintance being so wretchedly large!);
and particularly requested me to bring his card for Mr Gowan。 That I may
be sure to acquit myself of a mission which he impressed upon me at
least a dozen times; allow me to relieve my conscience by placing it on
the table at once。'

Which she did with veteran ease。

'We have been;' said Fanny; 'charmed to understand that you know the
Merdles。 We hope it may be another means of bringing us together。'

'They are friends;' said Mrs Gowan; 'of Mr Gowan's family。 I have not
yet had the pleasure of a personal introduction to Mrs Merdle; but I
suppose I shall be presented to her at Rome。'

'Indeed?' returned Fanny; with an appearance of amiably quenching her
own superiority。 'I think you'll like her。'

'You know her very well?'

'Why; you see;' said Fanny; with a frank action of her pretty shoulders;
'in London one knows every one。 We met her on our way here; and; to say
the truth; papa was at first rather cross with her for taking one of the
rooms that our people had ordered for us。

However; of course; that soon blew over; and we were all good friends
again。'

Although the visit had as yet given Little Dorrit no opportunity of
conversing with Mrs Gowan; there was a silent understanding between
them; which did as well。 She looked at Mrs Gowan with keen and unabated
interest; the sound of her voice was thrilling to her; nothing that was
near her; or about her; or at all concerned her; escaped Little Dorrit。
She was quicker to perceive the slightest matter here; than in any other
case……but one。

'You have been quite well;' she now said; 'since that night?'

'Quite; my dear。 And you?' 'Oh! I am always well;' said Little Dorrit;
timidly。 'I……yes; thank you。'

There was no reason for her faltering and breaking off; other than that
Mrs Gowan had touched her hand in speaking to her; and their looks had
met。 Something thoughtfully apprehensive in the large; soft eyes; had
checked Little Dorrit in an instant。

'You don't know that you are a favourite of my husband's; and that I am
almost bound to be jealous of you?' said Mrs Gowan。

Little Dorrit; blushing; shook her head。

'He will tell you; if he tells you what he tells me; that you are
quieter and quicker of resource than any one he ever saw。'

'He speaks far too well of me;' said Little Dorrit。

'I doubt that; but I don't at all doubt that I must tell him you
are here。 I should never be forgiven; if I were to let you……and Miss
Dorrit……go; without doing so。 May I? You can excuse the disorder and
disfort of a painter's studio?'

The inquiries were addressed to Miss Fanny; who graciously replied that
she would be beyond anything interested and enchanted。 Mrs Gowan went to
a door; looked in beyond it; and came back。 'Do Henry the favour to e
in;' said she; 'I knew he would be pleased!'

The first object that confronted Little Dorrit; entering first; was
Blandois of Paris in a great cloak and a furtive slouched hat; standing
on a throne platform in a corner; as he had stood on the Great Saint
Bernard; when the warning arms seemed to be all pointing up at him。 She
recoiled from this figure; as it smiled at her。

'Don't be alarmed;' said Gowan; ing from his easel behind the door。
'It's only Blandois。 He is doing duty as a model to…day。 I am making
a study of him。 It saves me money to turn him to some use。 We poor
painters have none to spare。'

Blandois of Paris pulled off his slouched hat; and saluted the ladies
without ing out of his corner。

'A thousand pardons!' said he。 'But the Professore here is so inexorable
with me; that I am afraid to stir。'

'Don't stir; then;' said Gowan coolly; as the sisters approached the
easel。 'Let the ladies at least see the original of the daub; that they
may know what it's meant for。 There he stands; you see。 A bravo waiting
for his prey; a distinguished noble waiting to save his country; the
mon enemy waiting to do somebody a bad turn; an angelic messenger
waiting to do somebody a good turn……whatever you think he looks most
like!' 'Say; Professore Mio; a poor gentleman waiting to do homage to
elegance and beauty;' remarked Blandois。

'Or say; Cattivo Soggetto Mio;' returned Gowan; touching the painted
face with his brush in the part where the real face had moved; 'a
murderer after the fact。 Show that white hand of yours; Blandois。 Put it
outside the cloak。 Keep it still。'

Blandois' hand was unsteady; but he laughed; and that would naturally
shake it。

'He was formerly in some scuffle with another murderer; or with a
victim; you observe;' said Gowan; putting in the markings of the hand
patient; unskilful touch; 'and these are the tokens of
it。 Outside the cloak; man!……Corpo di San Marco; what are you thinking
of?'

Blandois of Paris shook with a laugh again; so that his hand shook more;
now he raised it to twist his moustache; which had a damp appearance;
and now he stood in the required position; with a little new swagger。

His face was so directed in reference to the spot where Little Dorrit
stood by the easel; that throughout he looked at her。 Once attracted by
his peculiar eyes; she could not remove her own; and they had looked
at each other all the time。 She trembled now; Gowan; feeling it; and
supposing her to be alarmed by the large dog beside him; whose head she
caressed in her hand; and who had just uttered a low growl; glanced at
her to say; 'He won't hurt you; Miss Dorrit。'

'I am not afraid of him;' she returned in the same breath; 'but will you
look at him?'

In a moment Gowan had thrown down his brush; and seized the dog with
both hands by the collar。


'Blandois! How can you be such a fool as to provoke him! By Heaven; and
the other place too; he'll tear you to bits! Lie down!

Lion! Do you hear my voice; you rebel!

'The great dog; regardless of being half…choked by his collar; was
obdurately pulling with his dead weight against his master; resolved to
get across the room。 He had been crouching for a spring at the moment
when his master caught him。

'Lion! Lion!' He was up on his hind legs; and it was a wrestle between
master and dog。 'Get back! Down; Lion! Get out of his sight; Blandois!
What devil have you conjured into the dog?'

'I have done nothing to him。'

'Get out of his sight or I can't hold the wild beast! Get out of the
room! By my soul; he'll kill you!'

The dog; with a ferocious bark; made one other struggle as Blandois
vanished; then; in the moment of the dog's submission; the master;
little less angry than the dog; felled him with a blow on the head; and
standing over him; struck him many times severely with the heel of his
boot; so that his mouth was presently bloody。

'Now get you into that corner and lie down;' said Gowan; 'or I'll take
you out and shoot you。'

Lion did as he was ordered; and lay down licking his mouth and chest。
Lion's master stopped for a moment to take breath; and then; recovering
his usual coolness of manner; turned to speak to his frightened wife
and her visitors。 Probably the whole occurrence had not occupied two
minutes。

'e; e; Minnie! You know he is always good…humoured and tractable。
Blandois must have irritated him;……made faces at him。 The dog has his
likings and dislikings; and Blandois is no great favourite of his; but
I am sure you will give him a character; Minnie; for never having been
like this before。'

Minnie was too much disturbed to say anything connected in reply; Little
Dorrit was already occupied in soothing her; Fanny; who had cried out
twice or thrice; held Gowan's arm for protection; Lion; deeply ashamed
of having caused them this alarm; came trailing himself along the ground
to the feet of his mistress。

'You furious brute;' said Gowan; striking him with his foot again。 'You
s
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