little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第68部分

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Rugg　（his　daughter）　in　the　back…parlour。

Miss　Rugg　was　a　lady　of　a　little　property　which　she　had　acquired；
together　with　much　distinction　in　the　neighbourhood；　by　having　her
heart　severely　lacerated　and　her　feelings　mangled　by　a　middle…aged　baker
resident　in　the　vicinity；　against　whom　she　had；　by　the　agency　of　Mr
Rugg；　found　it　necessary　to　proceed　at　law　to　recover　damages　for　a
breach　of　promise　of　marriage。　The　baker　having　been；　by　the　counsel　for
Miss　Rugg；　witheringly　denounced　on　that　occasion　up　to　the　full　amount
of　twenty　guineas；　at　the　rate　of　about　eighteen…pence　an　epithet；　and
having　been　cast　in　corresponding　damages；　still　suffered　occasional
persecution　from　the　youth　of　Pentonville。　But　Miss　Rugg；　environed　by
the　majesty　of　the　law；　and　having　her　damages　invested　in　the　public
securities；　was　regarded　with　consideration。

In　the　society　of　Mr　Rugg；　who　had　a　round　white　visage；　as　if　all　his
blushes　had　been　drawn　out　of　him　long　ago；　and　who　had　a　ragged　yellow
head　like　a　worn…out　hearth　broom；　and　in　the　society　of　Miss　Rugg；　who
had　little　nankeen　spots；　like　shirt　buttons；　all　over　her　face；　and
whose　own　yellow　tresses　were　rather　scrubby　than　luxuriant；　Mr　Pancks
had　usually　dined　on　Sundays　for　some　few　years；　and　had　twice　a　week；
or　so；　enjoyed　an　evening　collation　of　bread；　Dutch　cheese；　and　porter。
Mr　Pancks　was　one　of　the　very　few　marriageable　men　for　whom　Miss　Rugg
had　no　terrors；　the　argument　with　which　he　reassured　himself　being
twofold；　that　is　to　say；　firstly；　'that　it　wouldn't　do　twice；'　and
secondly；　'that　he　wasn't　worth　it。'　Fortified　within　this　double
armour；　Mr　Pancks　snorted　at　Miss　Rugg　on　easy　terms。

Up　to　this　time；　Mr　Pancks　had　transacted　little　or　no　business　at　his
quarters　in　Pentonville；　except　in　the　sleeping　line；　but　now　that　he
had　bee　a　fortune…teller；　he　was　often　closeted　after　midnight
with　Mr　Rugg　in　his　little　front…parlour　office；　and　even　after　those
untimely　hours；　burnt　tallow　in　his　bed…room。　Though　his　duties　as　his
proprietor's　grubber　were　in　no　wise　lessened；　and　though　that　service
bore　no　greater　resemblance　to　a　bed　of　roses　than　was　to　be　discovered
in　its　many　thorns；　some　new　branch　of　industry　made　a　constant　demand
upon　him。　When　he　cast　off　the　Patriarch　at　night；　it　was　only　to　take
an　anonymous　craft　in　tow；　and　labour　away　afresh　in　other　waters。

The　advance　from　a　personal　acquaintance　with　the　elder　Mr　Chivery　to
an　introduction　to　his　amiable　wife　and　disconsolate　son；　may　have　been
easy；　but　easy　or　not；　Mr　Pancks　soon　made　it。　He　nestled　in　the　bosom
of　the　tobacco　business　within　a　week　or　two　after　his　first　appearance
in　the　College；　and　particularly　addressed　himself　to　the　cultivation　of
a　good　understanding　with　Young　John。　In　this　endeavour　he　so　prospered
as　to　lure　that　pining　shepherd　forth　from　the　groves；　and　tempt　him
to　undertake　mysterious　missions；　on　which　he　began　to　disappear　at
uncertain　intervals　for　as　long　a　space　as　two　or　three　days　together。
The　prudent　Mrs　Chivery；　who　wondered　greatly　at　this　change；　would　have
protested　against　it　as　detrimental　to　the　Highland　typification　on　the
doorpost　but　for　two　forcible　reasons；　one；　that　her　John　was　roused　to
take　strong　interest　in　the　business　which　these　starts　were　supposed
to　advance……and　this　she　held　to　be　good　for　his　drooping　spirits；
the　other；　that　Mr　Pancks　confidentially　agreed　to　pay　her；　for　the
occupation　of　her　son's　time；　at　the　handsome　rate　of　seven　and　sixpence
per　day。　The　proposal　originated　with　himself；　and　was　couched　in　the
pithy　terms；　'If　your　John　is　weak　enough；　ma'am；　not　to　take　it；
that　is　no　reason　why　you　should　be；　don't　you　see？　So；　quite　between
ourselves；　ma'am；　business　being　business；　here　it　is！'

What　Mr　Chivery　thought　of　these　things；　or　how　much　or　how　little　he
knew　about　them；　was　never　gathered　from　himself。　It　has　been　already
remarked　that　he　was　a　man　of　few　words；　and　it　may　be　here　observed
that　he　had　imbibed　a　professional　habit　of　locking　everything　up。　He
locked　himself　up　as　carefully　as　he　locked　up　the　Marshalsea　debtors。
Even　his　custom　of　bolting　his　meals　may　have　been　a　part　of　an　uniform
whole；　but　there　is　no　question；　that；　as　to　all　other　purposes；　he　kept
his　mouth　as　he　kept　the　Marshalsea　door。　He　never　opened　it　without
occasion。　When　it　was　necessary　to　let　anything　out；　he　opened　it　a
little　way；　held　it　open　just　as　long　as　sufficed　for　the　purpose；　and
locked　it　again。

Even　as　he　would　be　sparing　of　his　trouble　at　the　Marshalsea　door；　and
would　keep　a　visitor　who　wanted　to　go　out；　waiting　for　a　few　moments　if
he　saw　another　visitor　ing　down　the　yard；　so　that　one　turn　of　the　key
should　suffice　for　both；　similarly　he　would　often　reserve　a　remark　if　he
perceived　another　on　its　way　to　his　lips；　and　would　deliver　himself　of
the　two　together。　As　to　any　key　to　his　inner　knowledge　being　to　be
found　in　his　face；　the　Marshalsea　key　was　as　legible　as　an　index　to　the
individual　characters　and　histories　upon　which　it　was　turned。

That　Mr　Pancks　should　be　moved　to　invite　any　one　to　dinner　at
Pentonville；　was　an　unprecedented　fact　in　his　calendar。　But　he　invited
Young　John　to　dinner；　and　even　brought　him　within　range　of　the　dangerous
（because　expensive）　fascinations　of　Miss　Rugg。　The　banquet　was　appointed
for　a　Sunday；　and　Miss　Rugg　with　her　own　hands　stuffed　a　leg　of　mutton
with　oysters　on　the　occasion；　and　sent　it　to　the　baker's……not　THE
baker's　but　an　opposition　establishment。　Provision　of　oranges；　apples；
and　nuts　was　also　made。　And　rum　was　brought　home　by　Mr　Pancks　on
Saturday　night；　to　gladden　the　visitor's　heart。　The　store　of　creature
forts　was　not　the　chief　part　of　the　visitor's　reception。　Its　special
feature　was　a　foregone　family　confidence　and　sympathy。　When　Young　John
appeared　at　half…past　one　without　the　ivory　hand　and　waistcoat　of　golden
sprigs；　the　sun　shorn　of　his　beams　by　disastrous　clouds；　Mr　Pancks
presented　him　to　the　yellow…haired　Ruggs　as　the　young　man　he　had　so
often　mentioned　who　loved　Miss　Dorrit。　'I　am　glad；'　said　Mr　Rugg；
challenging　him　specially　in　that　character；　'to　have　the　distinguished
gratification　of　making　your　acquaintance；　sir。　Your　feelings　do　you
honour。　You　are　young；　may　you　never　outlive　your　feelings！　If　I　was
to　outlive　my　own　feelings；　sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　who　was　a　man　of　many
words；　and　was　considered　to　possess　a　remarkably　good　address；　'if　I
was　to　outlive　my　own　feelings；　I'd　leave　fifty　pound　in　my　will　to　the
man　who　would　put　me　out　of　existence。'

Miss　Rugg　heaved　a　sigh。

'My　daughter；　sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg。　'Anastatia；　you　are　no　stranger　to　the
state　of　this　young　man's　affections。　My　daughter　has　had　her　trials；
sir'……Mr　Rugg　might　have　used　the　word　more　pointedly　in　the　singular
number……'and　she　can　feel　for　you。'

Young　John；　almost　overwhelmed　by　the　touching　nature　of　this　greeting；
professed　himself　to　that　effect。

'What　I　envy　you；　sir；　is；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　'allow　me　to　take　your　hat……we
are　rather　short　of　pegs……I'll　put　it　in　the　corner；　nobody　will　tread
on　it　there……What　I　envy　you；　sir；　is　the　luxury　of　your　own　feelings。　I
belong　to　a　profession　in　which　that　luxury　is　sometimes　denied　us。'

Young　John　replied；　with　acknowledgments；　that　he　only　hoped　he　did　what
was　right；　and　what　showed　how　entirely　he　was　devoted　to　Miss　Dorrit。
He　wished　to　be　unselfish；　and　he　hoped　he　was。　He　wished　to　do　anything
as　laid　in　his　power　to　serve　Miss　Dorrit；　altogether　putting　himself
out　of　sight；　and　he　hoped　he　did。　It　was　but　little　that　he　could　do；
but　he　hoped　he　did　it。

'Sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　taking　him　by　the　hand；　'you　are　a　young　man　that
it　does　one　good　to　e　across。　You　are　a　young　man　that　I　should
like　to　put　in　the　witness…box；　to　humanise　the　minds　of　the　legal
profession。　I　hope　you　have　brought　your　appetite　with　you；　and　intend
to　play　a　good　knife　and　fork？'

'Thank　you；　sir；'　returned　Young　John；　'I　don't　eat　much　at　present。'

Mr　Rugg　drew　him　a　little　apart。　'My　daughter's　case；　sir；'　said　he；　'at
the　time　when；　in　vindication　of　her　outraged　feelings　and　her　sex；　she
became　the　plaintiff　in　Rugg　and　Bawkins。　I　suppose　I　could　have　put　it
in　evidence；　Mr　Chivery；　if　I　had　thought　it　worth　my　while；　that　the
amount　of　solid　sustenance　my　daughter　consumed　at　that　period　did　not
exceed　ten　ounces　per　week。'　'I　think　I　go　a　little　beyond　that；　sir；'
returned　the　other；　hesitating；　as　if　he　confessed　it　with　some　shame。

'But　in　your　case　there's　no　fiend　in　human　form；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　with
argumentative　smile　and　action　of　hand。　'Observe；　Mr　Chivery！

No　fiend　in　human　form！'　'No；　sir；　certainly；'　Young　John　added　with
simplicity；　'I　should　be　very　sorry　if　there　was。'

'The　sentiment；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　'is　what　I　should　have　expected　from　your
known　principles。　It　would　affect　my　daughter　greatly；　sir；　if　she　heard
it。　As　I　perceive　the　mutton；　I　am　glad　she　didn't　hear　it。　Mr　Pancks；
on　this　occasion；　pray　face　me。　My　dear；　face　Mr　Chivery。　For　what　we
are　going　to　receive；　may　we　（and　Miss　Dorrit）　be　truly　thankful！'

But　for　a　grave　waggishness　in　Mr　Rugg's　manner　of　delivering　this
introduction　to　the　feast；　it　might　have　appeared　that　Miss　Dorrit　was
expected　to　be　one　of　the　pany。　Pancks　recognised　the　sally　in
his　usual　way；　and　took　in　his　provender　in　his　usual　way。　Miss　Rugg；
perhaps　making　up　some　of　her　arrears；　likewise　took　very　kindly　to
the　mutton；　and　it　rapidly　diminished　to　the　bone。　A　bread…and…butter
pudding　entirely　disappeared；　and　a　considerable　amount　of　cheese　and
radishes　vanished　by　the　same　means。　Then　came　the　dessert。

Then　also；　and　before　the　broaching　of　the　rum　and　water；　came　Mr
Pancks's　note…book。　The　ensuing　business　proceedings　were　brief　but
curious；　and　rather　in　the　nature　of　a　conspiracy。　Mr　Pancks　looked　over
his　note…book；　which　was　now　getting　full；　studiously；　and　picked　out
little　extracts；　which　he　wrote　on　separate　slips　of　paper　on　the　table；
Mr　Rugg；　in　the　meanwhile；　looking　at　him　with　close　attention；　and
Young　John　losing　his　uncollected　eye　in　mists　of　meditation。　When　Mr
Pancks；　who　supported　the　character　of　chief　consp