little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第104部分

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hard…headed　mule；　riding　him　into　a　corner；　and　threatening　to　trample
him　to　death。

They　were　a　goodly　pany；　and　the　Innkeepers　all　but　worshipped　them。
Wherever　they　went；　their　importance　preceded　them　in　the　person　of　the
courier　riding　before；　to　see　that　the　rooms　of　state　were　ready。　He　was
the　herald　of　the　family　procession。　The　great　travelling…carriage　came
next：　containing；　inside；　Mr　Dorrit；　Miss　Dorrit；　Miss　Amy　Dorrit；
and　Mrs　General；　outside；　some　of　the　retainers；　and　（in　fine　weather）
Ed　the　box　was　reserved。　Then　came
the　chariot　containing　Frederick　Dorrit；　Esquire；　and　an　empty　place
occupied　by　Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire；　in　wet　weather。　Then　came　the
fourgon　with　the　rest　of　the　retainers；　the　heavy　baggage；　and　as　much
as　it　could　carry　of　the　mud　and　dust　which　the　other　vehicles　left
behind。

These　equipages　adorned　the　yard　of　the　hotel　at　Martigny；　on　the　return
of　the　family　from　their　mountain　excursion。　Other　vehicles　were　there；
much　pany　being　on　the　road；　from　the　patched　Italian　Vettura……like
the　body　of　a　swing　from　an　English　fair　put　upon　a　wooden　tray　on
wheels；　and　having　another　wooden　tray　without　wheels　put　atop　of　it……to
the　trim　English　carriage。　But　there　was　another　adornment　of　the
hotel　which　Mr　Dorrit　had　not　bargained　for。　Two　strange　travellers
embellished　one　of　his　rooms。

The　Innkeeper；　hat　in　hand　in　the　yard；　swore　to　the　courier　that　he　was
blighted；　that　he　was　desolated；　that　he　was　profoundly　afflicted；　that
he　was　the　most　miserable　and　unfortunate　of　beasts；　that　he　had　the
head　of　a　wooden　pig。　He　ought　never　to　have　made　the　concession；　he
said；　but　the　very　genteel　lady　had　so　passionately　prayed　him　for　the
acmodation　of　that　room　to　dine　in；　only　for　a　little　half…hour；　that
he　had　been　vanquished。　The　little　half…hour　was　expired；　the　lady　and
gentleman　were　taking　their　little　dessert　and　half…cup　of　coffee；　the
note　was　paid；　the　horses　were　ordered；　they　would　depart　immediately；
but；　owing　to　an　unhappy　destiny　and　the　curse　of　Heaven；　they　were　not
yet　gone。

Nothing　could　exceed　Mr　Dorrit's　indignation；　as　he　turned　at　the　foot
of　the　staircase　on　hearing　these　apologies。　He　felt　that　the　family
dignity　was　struck　at　by　an　assassin's　hand。　He　had　a　sense　of　his
dignity；　which　was　of　the　most　exquisite　nature。　He　could　detect　a
design　upon　it　when　nobody　else　had　any　perception　of　the　fact。　His
life　was　made　an　agony　by　the　number　of　fine　scalpels　that　he　felt　to　be
incessantly　engaged　in　dissecting　his　dignity。

'Is　it　possible；　sir；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　reddening　excessively；　'that　you
have……ha……had　the　audacity　to　place　one　of　my　rooms　at　the　disposition
of　any　other　person？'

Thousands　of　pardons！　It　was　the　host's　profound　misfortune　to　have　been
overe　by　that　too　genteel　lady。　He　besought　Monseigneur　not　to　enrage
himself。　He　threw　himself　on　Monseigneur　for　clemency。　If　Monseigneur
would　have　the　distinguished　goodness　to　occupy　the　other　salon
especially　reserved　for　him；　for　but　five　minutes；　all　would　go　well。

'No；　sir；'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'I　will　not　occupy　any　salon。　I　will　leave
your　house　without　eating　or　drinking；　or　setting　foot　in　it。

How　do　you　dare　to　act　like　this？　Who　am　I　that　you……ha……separate　me
from　other　gentlemen？'

Alas！　The　host　called　all　the　universe　to　witness　that　Monseigneur　was
the　most　amiable　of　the　whole　body　of　nobility；　the　most　important；
the　most　estimable；　the　most　honoured。　If　he　separated　Monseigneur　from
others；　it　was　only　because　he　was　more　distinguished；　more　cherished；
more　generous；　more　renowned。

'Don't　tell　me　so；　sir；'　returned　Mr　Dorrit；　in　a　mighty　heat。　'You　have
affronted　me。　You　have　heaped　insults　upon　me。　How　dare　you？　Explain
yourself。'

Ah；　just　Heaven；　then；　how　could　the　host　explain　himself　when　he　had
nothing　more　to　explain；　when　he　had　only　to　apologise；　and　confide
himself　to　the　so　well…known　magnanimity　of　Monseigneur！

'I　tell　you；　sir；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　panting　with　anger；　'that　you
separate　me……ha……from　other　gentlemen；　that　you　make　distinctions
between　me　and　other　gentlemen　of　fortune　and　station。　I　demand　of　you；
why？　I　wish　to　know　on……ha……what　authority；　on　whose　authority。　Reply
sir。　Explain。　Answer　why。'

Permit　the　landlord　humbly　to　submit　to　Monsieur　the　Courier　then；　that
Monseigneur；　ordinarily　so　gracious；　enraged　himself　without　cause。
There　was　no　why。　Monsieur　the　Courier　would　represent　to　Monseigneur；
that　he　deceived　himself　in　suspecting　that　there　was　any　why；　but　the
why　his　devoted　servant　had　already　had　the　honour　to　present　to　him。
The　very　genteel　lady……

'Silence！'　cried　Mr　Dorrit。　'Hold　your　tongue！　I　will　hear　no　more
of　the　very　genteel　lady；　I　will　hear　no　more　of　you。　Look　at　this
family……my　family……a　family　more　genteel　than　any　lady。　You　have　treated
this　family　with　disrespect；　you　have　been　insolent　to　this　family。　I'll
ruin　you。　Ha……send　for　the　horses；　pack　the　carriages；　I'll　not　set　foot
in　this　man's　house　again！'

No　one　had　interfered　in　the　dispute；　which　was　beyond　the　French
colloquial　powers　of　Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire；　and　scarcely　within　the
province　of　the　ladies。　Miss　Fanny；　however；　now　supported　her　father
with　great　bitterness；　declaring；　in　her　native　tongue；　that　it　was
quite　clear　there　was　something　special　in　this　man's　impertinence；
and　that　she　considered　it　important　that　he　should　be；　by　some　means；
forced　to　give　up　his　authority　for　making　distinctions　between　that
family　and　other　wealthy　families。　What　the　reasons　of　his　presumption
could　be；　she　was　at　a　loss　to　imagine；　but　reasons　he　must　have；　and
they　ought　to　be　torn　from　him。

All　the　guides；　mule…drivers；　and　idlers　in　the　yard；　had　made
themselves　parties　to　the　angry　conference；　and　were　much　impressed　by
the　courier's　now　bestirring　himself　to　get　the　carriages　out。　With　the
aid　of　some　dozen　people　to　each　wheel；　this　was　done　at　a　great　cost　of
noise；　and　then　the　loading　was　proceeded　with；　pending　the　arrival　of
the　horses　from　the　post…house。

But　the　very　genteel　lady's　English　chariot　being　already　horsed　and　at
the　inn…door；　the　landlord　had　slipped　up…stairs　to　represent　his　hard
case。　This　was　notified　to　the　yard　by　his　now　ing　down　the　staircase
in　attendance　on　the　gentleman　and　the　lady；　and　by　his　pointing　out　the
offended　majesty　of　Mr　Dorrit　to　them　with　a　significant　motion　of　his
hand。

'Beg　your　pardon；'　said　the　gentleman；　detaching　himself　from　the
lady；　and　ing　forward。　'I　am　a　man　of　few　words　and　a　bad　hand　at　an
explanation……but　lady　here　is　extremely　anxious　that　there　should　be　no
Row。　Lady……a　mother　of　mine；　in　point　of　fact……wishes　me　to　say　that　she
hopes　no　Row。'

Mr　Dorrit；　still　panting　under　his　injury；　saluted　the　gentleman；　and
saluted　the　lady；　in　a　distant；　final；　and　invincible　manner。

'No；　but　really……here；　old　feller；　you！'　This　was　the　gentleman's　way　of
appealing　to　Ed　he　pounced　as　a　great　and
providential　relief。　'Let　you　and　I　try　to　make　this　all　right。　Lady　so
very　much　wishes　no　Row。'

Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire；　led　a　little　apart　by　the　button；　assumed　a
diplomatic　expression　of　countenance　in　replying；　'Why　you　must　confess；
that　when　you　bespeak　a　lot　of　rooms　beforehand；　and　they　belong　to　you；
it's　not　pleasant　to　find　other　people　in　'em。'

'No；'　said　the　other；　'I　know　it　isn't。　I　admit　it。　Still；　let　you　and　I
try　to　make　it　all　right；　and　avoid　Row。　The　fault　is　not　this　chap's
at　all；　but　my　mother's。　Being　a　remarkably　fine　woman　with　no　bigodd
nonsense　about　her……well　educated；　too……she　was　too　many　for　this　chap。
Regularly　pocketed　him。'

'If　that's　the　case……'　Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire；　began。

'Assure　you　'pon　my　soul　'tis　the　case。　Consequently；'　said　the　other
gentleman；　retiring　on　his　main　position；　'why　Row？'

'Edmund；'　said　the　lady　from　the　doorway；　'I　hope　you　have　explained；
or　are　explaining；　to　the　satisfaction　of　this　gentleman　and　his　family
that　the　civil　landlord　is　not　to　blame？'

'Assure　you；　ma'am；'　returned　Edmund；　'perfectly　paralysing　myself　with
trying　it　on。'　He　then　looked　steadfastly　at　Edward　Dorrit；　Esquire；　for
some　seconds；　and　suddenly　added；　in　a　burst　of　confidence；　'Old　feller！
Is　it　all　right？'

'I　don't　know；　after　all；'　said　the　lady；　gracefully　advancing　a　step　or
two　towards　Mr　Dorrit；　'but　that　I　had　better　say　myself；　at　once；
that　I　assured　this　good　man　I　took　all　the　consequences　on　myself　of
occupying　one　of　a　stranger's　suite　of　rooms　during　his　absence；　for
just　as　much　（or　as　little）　time　as　I　could　dine　in。　I　had　no　idea　the
rightful　owner　would　e　back　so　soon；　nor　had　I　any　idea　that　he
had　e　back；　or　I　should　have　hastened　to　make　restoration　of　my
ill…gotten　chamber；　and　to　have　offered　my　explanation　and　apology。　I
trust　in　saying　this……'

For　a　moment　the　lady；　with　a　glass　at　her　eye；　stood　transfixed　and
speechless　before　the　two　Miss　Dorrits。　At　the　same　moment；　Miss　Fanny；
in　the　foreground　of　a　grand　pictorial　position；　formed　by　the
family；　the　family　equipages；　and　the　family　servants；　held　her　sister
tight　under　one　arm　to　detain　her　on　the　spot；　and　with　the　other　arm
fanned　herself　with　a　distinguished　air；　and　negligently　surveyed　the
lady　from　head　to　foot。

The　lady；　recovering　herself　quickly……for　it　was　Mrs　Merdle　and　she　was
not　easily　dashed……went　on　to　add　that　she　trusted　in　saying　this；　she
apologised　for　her　boldness；　and　restored　this　well…behaved　landlord　to
the　favour　that　was　so　very　valuable　to　him。　Mr　Dorrit；　on　the　altar　of
whose　dignity　all　this　was　incense；　made　a　gracious　reply；　and　said
that　his　people　should……ha……countermand　his　horses；　and　he
would……hum……overlook　what　he　had　at　first　supposed　to　be　an　affront；
but　now　regarded　as　an　honour。　Upon　this　the　bosom　bent　to　him；　and　its
owner；　with　a　wonderful　mand　of　feature；　addressed　a　winning　smile　of
adieu　to　the　two　sisters；　as　young　ladies　of　fortune　in　whose　favour　she
was　much　prepossessed；　and　whom　she　had　never　had　the　gratification　of
seeing　before。

Not　so；　however；　Mr　Sparkler。　This　gentleman；　being　transfixed　at
the　same　moment　as　his　lady…mother；　could　not　by　any　means　unfix　himself