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little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第25部分

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Fanny bade her father good night; and whisked off airily。 Tip had
already clattered down…stairs。 'Now; Mr Clennam;' said the uncle;
looking back as he shuffled out after them; 'the lock; sir; the lock。'

Mr Clennam had two things to do before he followed; one; to offer his
testimonial to the Father of the Marshalsea; without giving pain to his
child; the other to say something to that child; though it were but a
word; in explanation of his having e there。

'Allow me;' said the Father; 'to see you down…stairs。'

She had slipped out after the rest; and they were alone。 'Not on any
account;' said the visitor; hurriedly。 'Pray allow me to……' chink;
chink; chink。

'Mr Clennam;' said the Father; 'I am deeply; deeply……' But his visitor
had shut up his hand to stop the clinking; and had gone down…stairs with
great speed。

He saw no Little Dorrit on his way down; or in the yard。 The last two or
three stragglers were hurrying to the lodge; and he was following;
when he caught sight of her in the doorway of the first house from the
entrance。 He turned back hastily。

'Pray forgive me;' he said; 'for speaking to you here; pray forgive me
for ing here at all! I followed you to…night。 I did so; that I might
endeavour to render you and your family some service。 You know the
terms on which I and my mother are; and may not be surprised that I
have preserved our distant relations at her house; lest I should
unintentionally make her jealous; or resentful; or do you any injury in
her estimation。 What I have seen here; in this short time; has greatly
increased my heartfelt wish to be a friend to you。 It would repense
me for much disappointment if I could hope to gain your confidence。'

She was scared at first; but seemed to take courage while he spoke to
her。

'You are very good; sir。 You speak very earnestly to me。 But I……but I
wish you had not watched me。'

He understood the emotion with which she said it; to arise in her
father's behalf; and he respected it; and was silent。

'Mrs Clennam has been of great service to me; I don't know what we
should have done without the employment she has given me; I am afraid
it may not be a good return to bee secret with her; I can say no more
to…night; sir。 I am sure you mean to be kind to us。 Thank you; thank
you。' 'Let me ask you one question before I leave。 Have you known my
mother long?'

'I think two years; sir;……The bell has stopped。'

'How did you know her first? Did she send here for you?'

'No。 She does not even know that I live here。 We have a friend; father
and I……a poor labouring man; but the best of friends……and I wrote out
that I wished to do needlework; and gave his address。 And he got what
I wrote out displayed at a few places where it cost nothing; and Mrs
Clennam found me that way; and sent for me。 The gate will be locked;
sir!'

She was so tremulous and agitated; and he was so moved by passion for
her; and by deep interest in her story as it dawned upon him; that he
could scarcely tear himself away。 But the stoppage of the bell; and the
quiet in the prison; were a warning to depart; and with a few hurried
words of kindness he left her gliding back to her father。

But he remained too late。 The inner gate was locked; and the lodge
closed。 After a little fruitless knocking with his hand; he was standing
there with the disagreeable conviction upon him that he had got to get
through the night; when a voice accosted him from behind。

'Caught; eh?' said the voice。 'You won't go home till morning。 Oh! It's
you; is it; Mr Clennam?'

The voice was Tip's; and they stood looking at one another in the
prison…yard; as it began to rain。


'You've done it;' observed Tip; 'you must be sharper than that next
time。'

'But you are locked in too;' said Arthur。

'I believe I am!' said Tip; sarcastically。 'About! But not in your way。
I belong to the shop; only my sister has a theory that our governor must
never know it。 I don't see why; myself。'

'Can I get any shelter?' asked Arthur。 'What had I better do?'

'We had better get hold of Amy first of all;' said Tip; referring any
difficulty to her as a matter of course。

'I would rather walk about all night……it's not much to do……than give
that trouble。'

'You needn't do that; if you don't mind paying for a bed。 If you don't
mind paying; they'll make you up one on the Snuggery table; under the
circumstances。 If you'll e along; I'll introduce you there。'

As they passed down the yard; Arthur looked up at the window of the room
he had lately left; where the light was still burning。 'Yes; sir;' said
Tip; following his glance。 'That's the governor's。 She'll sit with him
for another hour reading yesterday's paper to him; or something of that
sort; and then she'll e out like a little ghost; and vanish away
without a sound。'

'I don't understand you。'

'The governor sleeps up in the room; and she has a lodging at the
turnkey's。 First house there;' said Tip; pointing out the doorway into
which she had retired。 'First house; sky parlour。 She pays twice as much
for it as she would for one twice as good outside。 But she stands by the
governor; poor dear girl; day and night。'

This brought them to the tavern…establishment at the upper end of the
prison; where the collegians had just vacated their social evening club。
The apartment on the ground…floor in which it was held; was the Snuggery
in question; the presidential tribune of the chairman; the pewter…pots;
glasses; pipes; tobacco…ashes; and general flavour of members; were
still as that convivial institution had left them on its adjournment。
The Snuggery had two of the qualities popularly held to be essential to
grog for ladies; in respect that it was hot and strong; but in the third
point of analogy; requiring plenty of it; the Snuggery was defective;
being but a cooped…up apartment。

The unaccustomed visitor from outside; naturally assumed everybody here
to be prisoners……landlord; waiter; barmaid; potboy; and all。 Whether
they were or not; did not appear; but they all had a weedy look。 The
keeper of a chandler's shop in a front parlour; who took in gentlemen
boarders; lent his assistance in making the bed。 He had been a tailor in
his time; and had kept a phaeton; he said。 He boasted that he stood up
litigiously for the interests of the college; and he had undefined and
undefinable ideas that the marshal intercepted a 'Fund;' which ought to
e to the collegians。 He liked to believe this; and always impressed
the shadowy grievance on new…ers and strangers; though he could not;
for his life; have explained what Fund he meant; or how the notion had
got rooted in his soul。 He had fully convinced himself; notwithstanding;
that his own proper share of the Fund was three and ninepence a week;
and that in this amount he; as an individual collegian; was swindled by
the marshal; regularly every Monday。 Apparently; he helped to make the
bed; that he might not lose an opportunity of stating this case; after
which unloading of his mind; and after announcing (as it seemed he
always did; without anything ing of it) that he was going to write a
letter to the papers and show the marshal up; he fell into miscellaneous
conversation with the rest。 It was evident from the general tone of the
whole party; that they had e to regard insolvency as the normal state
of mankind; and the payment of debts as a disease that occasionally
broke out。 In this strange scene; and with these strange spectres
flitting about him; Arthur Clennam looked on at the preparations as if
they were part of a dream。 Pending which; the long…initiated Tip; with
an awful enjoyment of the Snuggery's resources; pointed out the mon
kitchen fire maintained by subscription of collegians; the boiler for
hot water supported in like manner; and other premises generally tending
to the deduction that the way to be healthy; wealthy; and wise; was to
e to the Marshalsea。

The two tables put together in a corner; were; at length; converted into
a very fair bed; and the stranger was left to the Windsor chairs;
the presidential tribune; the beery atmosphere; sawdust; pipe…lights;
spittoons and repose。 But the last item was long; long; long; 
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