little dorrit-信丽(英文版)- 第91部分

'Don't　you　know；'　he　coldly　inquired　across　the　table　of　his　panion；
'that　none　but　smugglers　e　this　way　in　the　winter　or　can　have　any
possible　business　this　way？'

'Holy　blue！　No；　never　heard　of　it。'

'So　it　is；　I　believe。　And　as　they　know　the　signs　of　the　weather
tolerably　well；　they　don't　give　much　employment　to　the　dogs……who　have
consequently　died　out　rather……though　this　house　of　entertainment　is
conveniently　situated　for　themselves。　Their　young　families；　I　am　told；
they　usually　leave　at　home。　But　it's　a　grand　idea！'　cried　the　artist
traveller；　unexpectedly　rising　into　a　tone　of　enthusiasm。　'It's　a
sublime　idea。　It's　the　finest　idea　in　the　world；　and　brings　tears　into
a　man's　eyes；　by　Jupiter！'　He　then　went　on　eating　his　veal　with　great
posure。

There　was　enough　of　mocking　inconsistency　at　the　bottom　of　this　speech
to　make　it　rather　discordant；　though　the　manner　was　refined　and　the
person　well…favoured；　and　though　the　depreciatory　part　of　it　was　so
skilfully　thrown　off　as　to　be　very　difficult　for　one　not　perfectly
acquainted　with　the　English　language　to　understand；　or；　even
understanding；　to　take　offence　at：　so　simple　and　dispassionate　was　its
tone。　After　finishing　his　veal　in　the　midst　of　silence；　the　speaker
again　addressed　his　friend。

'Look；'　said　he；　in　his　former　tone；　'at　this　gentleman　our　host；　not
yet　in　the　prime　of　life；　who　in　so　graceful　a　way　and　with　such　courtly
urbanity　and　modesty　presides　over　us！　Manners　fit　for　a　crown！　Dine
with　the　Lord　Mayor　of　London　（if　you　can　get　an　invitation）　and　observe
the　contrast。　This　dear　fellow；　with　the　finest　cut　face　I　ever　saw；　a
face　in　perfect　drawing；　leaves　some　laborious　life　and　es　up　here
I　don't　know　how　many　feet　above　the　level　of　the　sea；　for　no　other
purpose　on　earth　（except　enjoying　himself；　I　hope；　in　a　capital
refectory）　than　to　keep　an　hotel　for　idle　poor　devils　like　you　and
me；　and　leave　the　bill　to　our　consciences！　Why；　isn't　it　a　beautiful
sacrifice？　What　do　we　want　more　to　touch　us？　Because　rescued　people　of
interesting　appearance　are　not；　for　eight　or　nine　months　out　of　every
twelve；　holding　on　here　round　the　necks　of　the　most　sagacious　of　dogs
carrying　wooden　bottles；　shall　we　disparage　the　place？　No！　Bless　the
place。　It's　a　great　place；　a　glorious　place！'

The　chest　of　the　grey…haired　gentleman　who　was　the　Chief　of　the
important　party；　had　swelled　as　if　with　a　protest　against　his　being
numbered　among　poor　devils。　No　sooner　had　the　artist　traveller　ceased
speaking　than　he　himself　spoke　with　great　dignity；　as　having　it
incumbent　on　him　to　take　the　lead　in　most　places；　and　having　deserted
that　duty　for　a　little　while。

He　weightily　municated　his　opinion　to　their　host；　that　his　life　must
be　a　very　dreary　life　here　in　the　winter。

The　host　allowed　to　Monsieur　that　it　was　a　little　monotonous。　The　air
was　difficult　to　breathe　for　a　length　of　time　consecutively。　The　cold
was　very　severe。　One　needed　youth　and　strength　to　bear　it。　However；
having　them　and　the　blessing　of　Heaven……

Yes；　that　was　very　good。　'But　the　confinement；'　said　the　grey…haired
gentleman。

There　were　many　days；　even　in　bad　weather；　when　it　was　possible　to
walk　about　outside。　It　was　the　custom　to　beat　a　little　track；　and　take
exercise　there。

'But　the　space；'　urged　the　grey…haired　gentleman。　'So　small。
So……ha……very　limited。'

Monsieur　would　recall　to　himself　that　there　were　the　refuges　to　visit；
and　that　tracks　had　to　be　made　to　them　also。

Monsieur　still　urged；　on　the　other　hand；　that　the　space　was
so……ha……hum……so　very　contracted。　More　than　that；　it　was　always　the　same；
always　the　same。

With　a　deprecating　smile；　the　host　gently　raised　and　gently　lowered　his
shoulders。　That　was　true；　he　remarked；　but　permit　him　to　say　that　almost
all　objects　had　their　various　points　of　view。　Monsieur　and　he　did　not
see　this　poor　life　of　his　from　the　same　point　of　view。　Monsieur　was　not
used　to　confinement。

'I……ha……yes；　very　true；'　said　the　grey…haired　gentleman。　He　seemed　to
receive　quite　a　shock　from　the　force　of　the　argument。

Monsieur；　as　an　English　traveller；　surrounded　by　all　means　of　travelling
pleasantly；　doubtless　possessing　fortune；　carriages；　and　servants……

'Perfectly；　perfectly。　Without　doubt；'　said　the　gentleman。

Monsieur　could　not　easily　place　himself　in　the　position　of　a　person　who
had　not　the　power　to　choose；　I　will　go　here　to…morrow；　or　there　next
day；　I　will　pass　these　barriers；　I　will　enlarge　those　bounds。　Monsieur
could　not　realise；　perhaps；　how　the　mind　acmodated　itself　in　such
things　to　the　force　of　necessity。

'It　is　true；'　said　Monsieur。　'We　will……ha……not　pursue　the　subject。

You　are……hum……quite　accurate；　I　have　no　doubt。　We　will　say　no　more。'

The　supper　having　e　to　a　close；　he　drew　his　chair　away　as　he　spoke；
and　moved　back　to　his　former　place　by　the　fire。　As　it　was　very　cold
at　the　greater　part　of　the　table；　the　other　guests　also　resumed　their
former　seats　by　the　fire；　designing　to　toast　themselves　well　before
going　to　bed。　The　host；　when　they　rose　from　the　table；　bowed　to　all
present；　wished　them　good　night；　and　withdrew。　But　first　the　insinuating
traveller　had　asked　him　if　they　could　have　some　wine　made　hot；　and　as
he　had　answered　Yes；　and　had　presently　afterwards　sent　it　in；　that
traveller；　seated　in　the　centre　of　the　group；　and　in　the　full　heat　of
the　fire；　was　soon　engaged　in　serving　it　out　to　the　rest。

At　this　time；　the　younger　of　the　two　young　ladies；　who　had　been　silently
attentive　in　her　dark　corner　（the　fire…light　was　the　chief　light　in　the
sombre　room；　the　lamp　being　smoky　and　dull）　to　what　had　been　said　of　the
absent　lady；　glided　out。　She　was　at　a　loss　which　way　to　turn　when　she
had　softly　closed　the　door；　but；　after　a　little　hesitation　among　the
sounding　passages　and　the　many　ways；　came　to　a　room　in　a　corner　of　the
main　gallery；　where　the　servants　were　at　their　supper。　From　these　she
obtained　a　lamp；　and　a　direction　to　the　lady's　room。

It　was　up　the　great　staircase　on　the　story　above。　Here　and　there；　the
bare　white　walls　were　broken　by　an　iron　grate；　and　she　thought　as　she
went　along　that　the　place　was　something　like　a　prison。　The　arched　door
of　the　lady's　room；　or　cell；　was　not　quite　shut。　After　knocking　at　it
two　or　three　times　without　receiving　an　answer；　she　pushed　it　gently
open；　and　looked　in。

The　lady　lay　with　closed　eyes　on　the　outside　of　the　bed；　protected　from
the　cold　by　the　blankets　and　wrappers　with　which　she　had　been　covered
when　she　revived　from　her　fainting　fit。　A　dull　light　placed　in　the　deep
recess　of　the　window；　made　little　impression　on　the　arched　room。　The
visitor　timidly　stepped　to　the　bed；　and　said；　in　a　soft　whisper；　'Are
you　better？'

The　lady　had　fallen　into　a　slumber；　and　the　whisper　was　too　low　to　awake
her。　Her　visitor；　standing　quite　still；　looked　at　her　attentively。

'She　is　very　pretty；'　she　said　to　herself。　'I　never　saw　so　beautiful　a
face。　O　how　unlike　me！'

It　was　a　curious　thing　to　say；　but　it　had　some　hidden　meaning；　for　it
filled　her　eyes　with　tears。

'I　know　I　must　be　right。　I　know　he　spoke　of　her　that　evening。　I　could
very　easily　be　wrong　on　any　other　subject；　but　not　on　this；　not　on
this！'

With　a　quiet　and　tender　hand　she　put　aside　a　straying　fold　of　the
sleeper's　hair；　and　then　touched　the　hand　that　lay　outside　the　covering。

'I　like　to　look　at　her；'　she　breathed　to　herself。　'I　like　to　see　what
has　affected　him　so　much。'

She　had　not　withdrawn　her　hand；　when　the　sleeper　opened　her　eyes　and
started。

'Pray　don't　be　alarmed。　I　am　only　one　of　the　travellers　from
down…stairs。　I　came　to　ask　if　you　were　better；　and　if　I　could　do
anything　for　you。'

'I　think　you　have　already　been　so　kind　as　to　send　your　servants　to　my
assistance？'

'No；　not　I；　that　was　my　sister。　Are　you　better？'

'Much　better。　It　is　only　a　slight　bruise；　and　has　been　well　looked　to；
and　is　almost　easy　now。　It　made　me　giddy　and　faint　in　a　moment。　It　had
hurt　me　before；　but　at　last　it　overpowered　me　all　at　once。'　'May　I　stay
with　you　until　some　one　es？　Would　you　like　it？'

'I　should　like　it；　for　it　is　lonely　here；　but　I　am　afraid　you　will　feel
the　cold　too　much。'

'I　don't　mind　cold。　I　am　not　delicate；　if　I　look　so。'　She　quickly　moved
one　of　the　two　rough　chairs　to　the　bedside；　and　sat　down。　The　other　as
quickly　moved　a　part　of　some　travelling　wrapper　from　herself；　and　drew
it　over　her；　so　that　her　arm；　in　keeping　it　about　her；　rested　on　her
shoulder。

'You　have　so　much　the　air　of　a　kind　nurse；'　said　the　lady；　smiling　on
her；　'that　you　seem　as　if　you　had　e　to　me　from　home。'

'I　am　very　glad　of　it。'

'I　was　dreaming　of　home　when　I　woke　just　now。　Of　my　old　home；　I　mean；
before　I　was　married。'

'And　before　you　were　so　far　away　from　it。'

'I　have　been　much　farther　away　from　it　than　this；　but　then　I　took
the　best　part　of　it　with　me；　and　missed　nothing。　I　felt　solitary　as　I
dropped　asleep　here；　and；　missing　it　a　little；　wandered　back　to　it。'
There　was　a　sorrowfully　affectionate　and　regretful　sound　in　her　voice；
which　made　her　visitor　refrain　from　looking　at　her　for　the　moment。

'It　is　a　curious　chance　which　at　last　brings　us　together；　under　this
covering　in　which　you　have　wrapped　me；'　said　the　visitor　after　a
pause；'for　do　you　know；　I　think　I　have　been　looking　for　you　some　time。'
'Looking　for　me？'

'I　believe　I　have　a　little　note　here；　which　I　was　to　give　to　you
whenever　I　found　you。　This　is　it。　Unless　I　greatly　mistake；　it　is
addressed　to　you？　Is　it　not？'

The　lady　took　it；　and　said　yes；　and　read　it。　Her　visitor　watched　her　as
she　did　so。　It　was　very　short。　She　flushed　a　little　as　she　put　her　lips
to　her　visitor's　cheek；　and　pressed　her　hand。

'The　dear　young　friend　to　whom　he　presents　me；　may　be　a　fort　to　me
at　some　time；　he　says。　She　is　truly　a　fort　to　me　the　first　time　I　see
her。'

'Perhaps　you　don't；'　said　the　visitor；　hesitating……'perhaps　you　don't
know　my　story？　Perhaps　he　never　told　you　my　story？'

'No。'

'Oh　no；　why　should　he！　I　have　scarcely　the　right　to　tell　it　myself　at
present；　because　I　have　been　entreated　not　to　do　so。　There　is　not　much
in　it；　but　it　might　account　to　you　for　my　asking　you　not　to　say　anything
about　the　letter　here。　You　saw　my　family　with　me；　perhaps？　Some　of
them……I　only　say　this　to　you……are　a　little　proud；　a　little　prejudiced。'

'You　shall　take　it　back　again；'　said　the　other；　'and　then　my　husband　is
sure　not　to　see　it。　He　might　see　it　and　speak　of　it；　otherwise；　by　some
accident。　Will　you　put　it　in　your　bosom　again；　to　be　certain？'

She　did　so　with　great　care。　Her　small；　slight　hand　was　still　upon　the
letter；　when　they　heard　some　one　in　the　gallery　outside。

'I　promised；'　said　the　visitor；　rising；　'that　I　would　write　to　him　after
seeing　you　（I　could　hardly　fail　to　see　you　sooner　or　later）；　and　tell
him　if　you　were　well　and　happy。　I　had　better　say　you　were　well　and
happy。'

'Yes；　yes；　yes！　Say　I　was　very　well　and　very　happy。　And　that　I　thanked
him　affectionately；　and　would　never　forget　him。'

'I　shall　see　you　in　the　morning。　After　that　we　are　sure　to　meet　again
before　very　long。　Good　night！'

'Good　night。　Thank　you；　thank　you。　Good　night；　my　dear！'

Both　of　them　were　hurried　and　fluttered　as　they　exchanged　this