little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第38部分

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patient　on　the　shoulder；　and　said；　'He　won't　hurt。　He'll　do　very　well。
It's　difficult　enough；　but　we　shall　not　want　him　to　part　with　his　leg
this　time。'　Which　Clennam　interpreted　to　the　patient；　who　was　full　of
gratitude；　and；　in　his　demonstrative　way；　kissed　both　the　interpreter's
hand　and　the　surgeon's　several　times。

'It's　a　serious　injury；　I　suppose？'　said　Clennam。

'Ye…es；'　replied　the　surgeon；　with　the　thoughtful　pleasure　of　an　artist
contemplating　the　work　upon　his　easel。　'Yes；　it's　enough。　There's　a
pound　fracture　above　the　knee；　and　a　dislocation　below。　They　are
both　of　a　beautiful　kind。'　He　gave　the　patient　a　friendly　clap　on　the
shoulder　again；　as　if　he　really　felt　that　he　was　a　very　good　fellow
indeed；　and　worthy　of　all　mendation　for　having　broken　his　leg　in　a
manner　interesting　to　science。

'He　speaks　French？'　said　the　surgeon。

'Oh　yes；　he　speaks　French。'

'He'll　be　at　no　loss　here；　then。……You　have　only　to　bear　a　little　pain
like　a　brave　fellow；　my　friend；　and　to　be　thankful　that　all　goes　as
well　as　it　does；'　he　added；　in　that　tongue；　'and　you'll　walk　again　to
a　marvel。　Now；　let　us　see　whether　there's　anything　else　the　matter；　and
how　our　ribs　are？'

There　was　nothing　else　the　matter；　and　our　ribs　were　sound。　Clennam
remained　until　everything　possible　to　be　done　had　been　skilfully　and
promptly　done……the　poor　belated　wanderer　in　a　strange　land　movingly
besought　that　favour　of　him……and　lingered　by　the　bed　to　which　he　was　in
due　time　removed；　until　he　had　fallen　into　a　doze。　Even　then　he　wrote　a
few　words　for　him　on　his　card；　with　a　promise　to　return　to…morrow；　and
left　it　to　be　given　to　him　when　he　should　awake。　All　these　proceedings
occupied　so　long　that　it　struck　eleven　o'clock　at　night　as　he　came　out
at　the　Hospital　Gate。　He　had　hired　a　lodging　for　the　present　in　Covent
Garden；　and　he　took　the　nearest　way　to　that　quarter；　by　Snow　Hill　and
Holborn。

Left　to　himself　again；　after　the　solicitude　and　passion　of　his　last
adventure；　he　was　naturally　in　a　thoughtful　mood。　As　naturally；　he
could　not　walk　on　thinking　for　ten　minutes　without　recalling　Flora。
She　necessarily　recalled　to　him　his　life；　with　all　its　misdirection　and
little　happiness。

When　he　got　to　his　lodging；　he　sat　down　before　the　dying　fire；　as　he
had　stood　at　the　window　of　his　old　room　looking　out　upon　the　blackened
forest　of　chimneys；　and　turned　his　gaze　back　upon　the　gloomy　vista　by
which　he　had　e　to　that　stage　in　his　existence。　So　long；　so　bare；
so　blank。　No　childhood；　no　youth；　except　for　one　remembrance；　that　one
remembrance　proved；　only　that　day；　to　be　a　piece　of　folly。

It　was　a　misfortune　to　him；　trifle　as　it　might　have　been　to　another。
For；　while　all　that　was　hard　and　stern　in　his　recollection；　remained
Reality　on　being　proved……was　obdurate　to　the　sight　and　touch；　and
relaxed　nothing　of　its　old　indomitable　grimness……the　one　tender
recollection　of　his　experience　would　not　bear　the　same　test；　and　melted
away。　He　had　foreseen　this；　on　the　former　night；　when　he　had　dreamed
with　waking　eyes；　but　he　had　not　felt　it　then；　and　he　had　now。

He　was　a　dreamer　in　such　wise；　because　he　was　a　man　who　had；　deep…rooted
in　his　nature；　a　belief　in　all　the　gentle　and　good　things　his　life　had
been　without。　Bred　in　meanness　and　hard　dealing；　this　had　rescued　him
to　be　a　man　of　honourable　mind　and　open　hand。　Bred　in　coldness　and
severity；　this　had　rescued　him　to　have　a　warm　and　sympathetic　heart。
Bred　in　a　creed　too　darkly　audacious　to　pursue；　through　its　process　of
reserving　the　making　of　man　in　the　image　of　his　Creator　to　the　making　of
his　Creator　in　the　image　of　an　erring　man；　this　had　rescued　him　to　judge
not；　and　in　humility　to　be　merciful；　and　have　hope　and　charity。

And　this　saved　him　still　from　the　whimpering　weakness　and　cruel
selfishness　of　holding　that　because　such　a　happiness　or　such　a　virtue
had　not　e　into　his　little　path；　or　worked　well　for　him；　therefore
it　was　not　in　the　great　scheme；　but　was　reducible；　when　found　in
appearance；　to　the　basest　elements。　A　disappointed　mind　he　had；　but　a
mind　too　firm　and　healthy　for　such　unwholesome　air。　Leaving　himself　in
the　dark；　it　could　rise　into　the　light；　seeing　it　shine　on　others　and
hailing　it。

Therefore；　he　sat　before　his　dying　fire；　sorrowful　to　think　upon　the　way
by　which　he　had　e　to　that　night；　yet　not　strewing　poison　on　the　way
by　which　other　men　had　e　to　it。　That　he　should　have　missed　so　much；
and　at　his　time　of　life　should　look　so　far　about　him　for　any　staff　to
bear　him　pany　upon　his　downward　journey　and　cheer　it；　was　a　just
regret。　He　looked　at　the　fire　from　which　the　blaze　departed；　from　which
the　afterglow　subsided；　in　which　the　ashes　turned　grey；　from　which　they
dropped　to　dust；　and　thought；　'How　soon　I　too　shall　pass　through　such
changes；　and　be　gone！'

To　review　his　life　was　like　descending　a　green　tree　in　fruit　and　flower；
and　seeing　all　the　branches　wither　and　drop　off；　one　by　one；　as　he　came
down　towards　them。

'From　the　unhappy　suppression　of　my　youngest　days；　through　the　rigid　and
unloving　home　that　followed　them；　through　my　departure；　my　long　exile；
my　return；　my　mother's　wele；　my　intercourse　with　her　since；　down　to
the　afternoon　of　this　day　with　poor　Flora；'　said　Arthur　Clennam；　'what
have　I　found！'

His　door　was　softly　opened；　and　these　spoken　words　startled　him；　and
came　as　if　they　were　an　answer：

'Little　Dorrit。'




CHAPTER　14。　Little　Dorrit's　Party


Arthur　Clennam　rose　hastily；　and　saw　her　standing　at　the　door。　This
history　must　sometimes　see　with　Little　Dorrit's　eyes；　and　shall　begin
that　course　by　seeing　him。

Little　Dorrit　looked　into　a　dim　room；　which　seemed　a　spacious　one　to
her；　and　grandly　furnished。　Courtly　ideas　of　Covent　Garden；　as　a　place
with　famous　coffee…houses；　where　gentlemen　wearing　gold…laced　coats　and
swords　had　quarrelled　and　fought　duels；　costly　ideas　of　Covent　Garden；
as　a　place　where　there　were　flowers　in　winter　at　guineas　a…piece；
pine…apples　at　guineas　a　pound；　and　peas　at　guineas　a　pint；　picturesque
ideas　of　Covent　Garden；　as　a　place　where　there　was　a　mighty　theatre；
showing　wonderful　and　beautiful　sights　to　richly…dressed　ladies　and
gentlemen；　and　which　was　for　ever　far　beyond　the　reach　of　poor　Fanny　or
poor　uncle；　desolate　ideas　of　Covent　Garden；　as　having　all　those　arches
in　it；　where　the　miserable　children　in　rags　among　whom　she　had　just　now
passed；　like　young　rats；　slunk　and　hid；　fed　on　offal；　huddled　together
for　warmth；　and　were　hunted　about　（look　to　the　rats　young　and　old；　all
ye　Barnacles；　for　before　God　they　are　eating　away　our　foundations；　and
will　bring　the　roofs　on　our　heads！）；　teeming　ideas　of　Covent　Garden；　as
a　place　of　past　and　present　mystery；　romance；　abundance；　want；　beauty；
ugliness；　fair　country　gardens；　and　foul　street　gutters；　all　confused
together；……made　the　room　dimmer　than　it　was　in　Little　Dorrit's　eyes；　as
they　timidly　saw　it　from　the　door。

At　first　in　the　chair　before　the　gone…out　fire；　and　then　turned　round
wondering　to　see　her；　was　the　gentleman　whom　she　sought。　The　brown；
grave　gentleman；　who　smiled　so　pleasantly；　who　was　so　frank　and
considerate　in　his　manner；　and　yet　in　whose　earnestness　there　was
something　that　reminded　her　of　his　mother；　with　the　great　difference
that　she　was　earnest　in　asperity　and　he　in　gentleness。　Now　he　regarded
her　with　that　attentive　and　inquiring　look　before　which　Little　Dorrit's
eyes　had　always　fallen；　and　before　which　they　fell　still。

'My　poor　child！　Here　at　midnight？'

'I　said　Little　Dorrit；　sir；　on　purpose　to　prepare　you。　I　knew　you　must
be　very　much　surprised。'

'Are　you　alone？'

'No　sir；　I　have　got　Maggy　with　me。'

Considering　her　entrance　sufficiently　prepared　for　by　this　mention　of
her　name；　Maggy　appeared　from　the　landing　outside；　on　the　broad　grin。
She　instantly　suppressed　that　manifestation；　however；　and　became　fixedly
solemn。

'And　I　have　no　fire；'　said　Clennam。　'And　you　are……'　He　was　going　to　say
so　lightly　clad；　but　stopped　himself　in　what　would　have　been　a　reference
to　her　poverty；　saying　instead；　'And　it　is　so　cold。'

Putting　the　chair　from　which　he　had　risen　nearer　to　the　grate；　he　made
her　sit　down　in　it；　and　hurriedly　bringing　wood　and　coal；　heaped　them
together　and　got　a　blaze。

'Your　foot　is　like　marble；　my　child；'　he　had　happened　to　touch　it；　while
stooping　on　one　knee　at　his　work　of　kindling　the　fire；　'put　it　nearer
the　warmth。'　Little　Dorrit　thanked　him　hastily。　It　；　it
was　very　warm！　It　smote　upon　his　heart　to　feel　that　she　hid　her　thin；
worn　shoe。

Little　Dorrit　was　not　ashamed　of　her　poor　shoes。　He　knew　her　story；　and
it　was　not　that。　Little　Dorrit　had　a　misgiving　that　he　might　blame　her
father；　if　he　saw　them；　that　he　might　think；　'why　did　he　dine　to…day；
and　leave　this　little　creature　to　the　mercy　of　the　cold　stones！'　She　had
no　belief　that　it　would　have　been　a　just　reflection；　she　simply　knew；
by　experience；　that　such　delusions　did　sometimes　present　themselves　to
people。　It　was　a　part　of　her　father's　misfortunes　that　they　did。

'Before　I　say　anything　else；'　Little　Dorrit　began；　sitting　before
the　pale　fire；　and　raising　her　eyes　again　to　the　face　which　in　its
harmonious　look　of　interest；　and　pity；　and　protection；　she　felt　to　be　a
mystery　far　above　her　in　degree；　and　almost　removed　beyond　her　guessing
at；　'may　I　tell　you　something；　sir？'

'Yes；　my　child。'　A　slight　shade　of　distress　fell　upon　her；　at　his　so
often　calling　her　a　child。　She　was　surprised　that　he　should　see　it；　or
think　of　such　a　slight　thing；　but　he　said　directly：　'I　wanted　a　tender
word；　and　could　think　of　no　other。　As　you　just　now　gave　yourself　the
name　they　give　you　at　my　mother's；　and　as　that　is　the　name　by　which　I
always　think　of　you；　let　me　call　you　Little　Dorrit。'

'Thank　you；　sir；　I　should　like　it　better　than　any　name。'

'Little　Dorrit。'

'Little　mother；'　Maggy　（who　had　been　falling　asleep）　put　in；　as　a
correction。

'It's　all　the　same；　Maggy；'　returned　Little　Dorrit；　'all　the　same。'

'Is　it　all　the　same；　mother？'

'Just　the　same。'

Maggy　laughed；　and　immediately　snored。　In　Little　Dorrit's　eyes　and　ears；
the　uncouth　figure　and　the　uncouth　sound　were　as　pleasant　as　could　be。
There　was　a　glow　of　pride　in　her　big　ch