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little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第97部分

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Pictures of demolished streets and altered houses; as they formerly were
when the occupant of the chair was familiar with them; images of people
as they too used to be; with little or no allowance made for the lapse
of time since they were seen; of these; there must have been many in the
long routine of gloomy days。 To stop the clock of busy existence at the
hour when  it; to suppose mankind
stricken motionless when we were brought to a stand…still; to be unable
to measure the changes beyond our view by any larger standard than
the shrunken one of our own uniform and contracted existence; is the
infirmity of many invalids; and the mental unhealthiness of almost all
recluses。

What scenes and actors the stern woman most reviewed; as she sat
from season to season in her one dark room; none knew but herself。 Mr
Flintwinch; with his wry presence brought to bear upon her daily like
some eccentric mechanical force; would perhaps have screwed it out of
her; if there had been less resistance in her; but she was too strong
for him。 So far as Mistress Affery was concerned; to regard her
liege…lord and her disabled mistress with a face of blank wonder; to
go about the house after dark with her apron over her head; always to
listen for the strange noises and sometimes to hear them; and never
to emerge from her ghostly; dreamy; sleep…waking state; was occupation
enough for her。

There was a fair stroke of business doing; as Mistress Affery made out;
for her husband had abundant occupation in his little office; and saw
more people than had been used to e there for some years。 This might
easily be; the house having been long deserted; but he did receive
letters; and ers; and keep books; and correspond。 Moreover; he went
about to other counting…houses; and to wharves; and docks; and to the
Custom House;' and to Garraway's Coffee House; and the Jerusalem Coffee
House; and on 'Change; so that he was much in and out。 He began; too;
sometimes of an evening; when Mrs Clennam expressed no particular wish
for his society; to resort to a tavern in the neighbourhood to look at
the shipping news and closing prices in the evening paper; and even to
exchange Small socialities with mercantile Sea Captains who frequented
that establishment。 At some period of every day; he and Mrs Clennam held
a council on matters of business; and it appeared to Affery; who was
always groping about; listening and watching; that the two clever ones
were making money。

The state of mind into which Mr Flintwinch's dazed lady had fallen; had
now begun to be so expressed in all her looks and actions that she was
held in very low account by the two clever ones; as a person; never
of strong intellect; who was being foolish。 Perhaps because her
appearance was not of a mercial cast; or perhaps because it occurred
to him that his having taken her to wife might expose his judgment to
doubt in the minds of customers; Mr Flintwinch laid his mands upon
her that she should hold her peace on the subject of her conjugal
relations; and should no longer call him Jeremiah out of the domestic
trio。 Her frequent forgetfulness of this admonition intensified her
startled manner; since Mr Flintwinch's habit of avenging himself on her
remissness by making springs after her on the staircase; and shaking
her; occasioned her to be always nervously uncertain when she might be
thus waylaid next。

Little Dorrit had finished a long day's work in Mrs Clennam's room; and
was neatly gathering up her shreds and odds and ends before going home。
Mr Pancks; whom Affery had just shown in; was addressing an inquiry to
Mrs Clennam on the subject of her health; coupled with the remark that;
'happening to find himself in that direction;' he had looked in to
inquire; on behalf of his proprietor; how she found herself。 Mrs
Clennam; with a deep contraction of her brows; was looking at him。

'Mr Casby knows;' said she; 'that I am not subject to changes。 The
change that I await here is the great change。'

'Indeed; ma'am?' returned Mr Pancks; with a wandering eye towards the
figure of the little seamstress on her knee picking threads and fraying
of her work from the carpet。 'You look nicely; ma'am。'

'I bear what I have to bear;' she answered。 'Do you what you have to
do。' 'Thank you; ma'am;' said Mr Pancks; 'such is my endeavour。'

'You are often in this direction; are you not?' asked Mrs Clennam。

'Why; yes; ma'am;' said Pancks; 'rather so lately; I have lately been
round this way a good deal; owing to one thing and another。' 'Beg Mr
Casby and his daughter not to trouble themselves; by deputy; about me。
When they wish to see me; they know I am here to see them。 They have no
need to trouble themselves to send。 You have no need to trouble yourself
to e。' 'Not the least trouble; ma'am;' said Mr Pancks。 'You really
are looking unmonly nicely; ma'am。'

'Thank you。 Good evening。'

The dismissal; and its acpanying finger pointed straight at the door;
was so curt and direct that Mr Pancks did not see his way to prolong his
visit。 He stirred up his hair with his sprightliest expression; glanced
at the little figure again; said 'Good evening; ma 'am; don't e down;
Mrs Affery; I know the road to the door;' and steamed out。 Mrs Clennam;
her chin resting on her hand; followed him with attentive and darkly
distrustful eyes; and Affery stood looking at her as if she were
spell…bound。

Slowly and thoughtfully; Mrs Clennam's eyes turned from the door by
which Pancks had gone out; to Little Dorrit; rising from the carpet。
With her chin drooping more heavily on her hand; and her eyes vigilant
and lowering; the sick woman sat looking at her until she attracted her
attention。 Little Dorrit coloured under such a gaze; and looked down。
Mrs Clennam still sat intent。

'Little Dorrit;' she said; when she at last broke silence; 'what do you
know of that man?'

'I don't know anything of him; ma'am; except that I have seen him about;
and that he has spoken to me。'

'What has he said to you?'

'I don't understand what he has said; he is so strange。 But nothing
rough or disagreeable。'

'Why does he e here to see you?'

'I don't know; ma'am;' said Little Dorrit; with perfect frankness。

'You know that he does e here to see you?'

'I have fancied so;' said Little Dorrit。 'But why he should e here or
anywhere for that; ma'am; I can't think。'

Mrs Clennam cast her eyes towards the ground; and with her strong; set
face; as intent upon a subject in her mind as it had lately been upon
the form that seemed to pass out of her view; sat absorbed。 Some minutes
elapsed before she came out of this thoughtfulness; and resumed her hard
posure。

Little Dorrit in the meanwhile had been waiting to go; but afraid to
disturb her by moving。 She now ventured to leave the spot where she
had been standing since she had risen; and to pass gently round by the
wheeled chair。 She stopped at its side to say 'Good night; ma'am。'

Mrs Clennam put out her hand; and laid it on her arm。 Little Dorrit;
confused under the touch; stood faltering。 Perhaps some momentary
recollection of the story of the Princess may have been in her mind。

'Tell me; Little Dorrit;' said Mrs Clennam; 'have you many friends now?'

'Very few; ma'am。 Besides you; only Miss Flora and……one more。'

'Meaning;' said Mrs Clennam; with her unbent finger again pointing to
the door; 'that man?'

'Oh no; ma'am!'

'Some friend of his; perhaps?'

'No ma'am。' Little Dorrit earnestly shook her head。 'Oh no! No one at
all like him; or belonging to him。'

'Well!' said Mrs Clennam; almost smiling。 'It is no affair of mine。 I
ask; because I take an interest in you; and because I believe I was your
friend when you had no other who could serve you。 Is that so?'

'Yes; ma'am; indeed it is。 I have been here many a time when; but for
you and the work you gave me; we should have wanted everything。'

'We;' repeated Mrs Clennam; looking towards the watch; once her dead
husband's; which always lay upon her table。 'Are there many of you?'

'Only father and I; now。 I mean; only father and I to keep regularly out
of what we get。'

'Have you undergone many privations? You and your father 
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