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little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第55部分

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protector;' said Doyce; with laughing eyes again。 'He is a sagacious man
in business; and has had a good apprenticeship to it。'

After this; they conversed on different subjects until they arrived at
their journey's end。 A posed and unobtrusive self…sustainment was
noticeable in Daniel Doyce……a calm knowledge that what was true must
remain true; in spite of all the Barnacles in the family ocean; and
would be just the truth; and neither more nor less when even that sea
had run dry……which had a kind of greatness in it; though not of the
official quality。

As he knew the house well; he conducted Arthur to it by the way that
showed it to the best advantage。 It was a charming place (none the worse
for being a little eccentric); on the road by the river; and just what
the residence of the Meagles family ought to be。 It stood in a garden;
no doubt as fresh and beautiful in the May of the Year as Pet now was
in the May of her life; and it was defended by a goodly show of handsome
trees and spreading evergreens; as Pet was by Mr and Mrs Meagles。 It
was made out of an old brick house; of which a part had been altogether
pulled down; and another part had been changed into the present cottage;
so there was a hale elderly portion; to represent Mr and Mrs Meagles;
and a young picturesque; very pretty portion to represent Pet。 There was
even the later addition of a conservatory sheltering itself against it;
uncertain of hue in its deep…stained glass; and in its more transparent
portions flashing to the sun's rays; now like fire and now like harmless
water drops; which might have stood for Tattycoram。 Within view was
the peaceful river and the ferry…boat; to moralise to all the inmates
saying: Young or old; passionate or tranquil; chafing or content; you;
thus runs the current always。 Let the heart swell into what discord it
will; thus plays the rippling water on the prow of the ferry…boat ever
the same tune。 Year after year; so much allowance for the drifting of
the boat; so many miles an hour the flowing of the stream; here the
rushes; there the lilies; nothing uncertain or unquiet; upon this road
that steadily runs away; while you; upon your flowing road of time; are
so capricious and distracted。

The bell at the gate had scarcely sounded when Mr Meagles came out to
receive them。 Mr Meagles had scarcely e out; when Mrs Meagles came
out。 Mrs Meagles had scarcely e out; when Pet came out。 Pet scarcely
had e out; when Tattycoram came out。 Never had visitors a more
hospitable reception。

'Here we are; you see;' said Mr Meagles; 'boxed up; Mr Clennam; within
our own home…limits; as if we were never going to expand……that is;
travel……again。 Not like Marseilles; eh? No allonging and marshonging
here!'

'A different kind of beauty; indeed!' said Clennam; looking about him。

'But; Lord bless me!' cried Mr Meagles; rubbing his hands with a relish;
'it was an unmonly pleasant thing being in quarantine; wasn't it?
Do you know; I have often wished myself back again? We were a capital
party。'

This was Mr Meagles's invariable habit。 Always to object to everything
while he was travelling; and always to want to get back to it when he
was not travelling。

'If it was summer…time;' said Mr Meagles; 'which I wish it was on your
account; and in order that you might see the place at its best; you
would hardly be able to hear yourself speak for birds。 Being practical
people; we never allow anybody to scare the birds; and the birds; being
practical people too; e about us in myriads。 We are delighted to see
you; Clennam (if you'll allow me; I shall drop the Mister); I heartily
assure you; we are delighted。'

'I have not had so pleasant a greeting;' said Clennam……then he recalled
what Little Dorrit had said to him in his own room; and faithfully
added 'except once……since we last walked to and fro; looking down at the
Mediterranean。'

'Ah!' returned Mr Meagles。 'Something like a look out; that was; wasn't
it? I don't want a military government; but I shouldn't mind a little
allonging and marshonging……just a dash of it……in this neighbourhood
sometimes。 It's Devilish still。'

Bestowing this eulogium on the retired character of his retreat with a
dubious shake of the head; Mr Meagles led the way into the house。 It was
just large enough; and no more; was as pretty within as it was without;
and was perfectly well…arranged and fortable。

Some traces of the migratory habits of the family were to be observed
in the covered frames and furniture; and wrapped…up hangings; but it was
easy to see that it was one of Mr Meagles's whims to have the cottage
always kept; in their absence; as if they were always ing back the
day after to…morrow。 Of articles collected on his various expeditions;
there was such a vast miscellany that it was like the dwelling of an
amiable Corsair。 There  Central Italy; made by the
best modern houses in that department of industry; bits of mummy from
Egypt (and perhaps Birmingham); model gondolas from Venice; model
villages from Switzerland; morsels of tesselated pavement from
Herculaneum and Pompeii; like petrified minced veal; ashes out of tombs;
and lava out of Vesuvius; Spanish fans; Spezzian straw hats; Moorish
slippers; Tuscan hairpins; Carrara sculpture; Trastaverini scarves;
Genoese velvets and filigree; Neapolitan coral; Roman cameos; Geneva
jewellery; Arab lanterns; rosaries blest all round by the Pope himself;
and an infinite variety of lumber。 There were views; like and unlike; of
a multitude of places; and there was one little picture…room devoted to
a few of the regular sticky old Saints; with sinews like whipcord; hair
like Neptune's; wrinkles like tattooing; and such coats of varnish
that every holy personage served for a fly…trap; and became what is
now called in the vulgar tongue a Catch…em…alive O。 Of these pictorial
acquisitions Mr Meagles spoke in the usual manner。 He was no judge; he
said; except of what pleased himself; he had picked them up; dirt…cheap;
and people had considered them rather fine。 One man; who at any rate
ought to know something of the subject; had declared that 'Sage;
Reading' (a specially oily old gentleman in a blanket; with a
swan's…down tippet for a beard; and a web of cracks all over him like
rich pie…crust); to be a fine Guercino。 As for Sebastian del Piombo
there; you would judge for yourself; if it were not his later
manner; the question was; Who was it? Titian; that might or might not
be……perhaps he had only touched it。 Daniel Doyce said perhaps he hadn't
touched it; but Mr Meagles rather declined to overhear the remark。

When he had shown all his spoils; Mr Meagles took them into his own
snug room overlooking the lawn; which was fitted up in part like a
dressing…room and in part like an office; and in which; upon a kind of
counter…desk; were a pair of brass scales for weighing gold; and a scoop
for shovelling out money。

'Here they are; you see;' said Mr Meagles。 'I stood behind these two
articles five…and…thirty years running; when I no more thought of
gadding about than I now think of……staying at home。 When I left the Bank
for good; I asked for them; and brought them away with me。

I mention it at once; or you might suppose that I sit in my
counting…house (as Pet says I do); like the king in the poem of the
four…and…twenty blackbirds; counting out my money。'

Clennam's eyes had strayed to a natural picture on the wall; of two
pretty little girls with their arms entwined。 'Yes; Clennam;' said
Mr Meagles; in a lower voice。 'There they both are。 It was taken some
seventeen years ago。 As I often say to Mother; they were babies then。'

'Their names?' said Arthur。

'Ah; to be sure! You have never heard any name but Pet。 Pet's name is
Minnie; her sister's Lillie。'

'Should you have known; Mr Clennam; that one of them was meant for me?'
asked Pet herself; now standing in the doorway。

'I might have thought that both of them were meant for you; both
are still so like you。 Indeed;' said Clennam; glancing from the fair
original to the picture and back; 'I cannot even now say which is not
your portrait。' 'D'ye hear that; Mother?' cried Mr Meagles to his wife;
who had followed her
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