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第181章

little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第181章

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Dorrit for himself。 So he went up his grand staircase; slowly; and
tired; and looked into various chambers which were empty; until he saw a
light in a small ante…room。 It was a curtained nook; like a tent;
within two other rooms; and it looked warm and bright in colour; as he
approached it through the dark avenue they made。

There was a draped doorway; but no door; and as he stopped here; looking
in unseen; he felt a pang。 Surely not like jealousy? For why like
jealousy? There was only his daughter and his brother there: he; with
his chair drawn to the hearth; enjoying the warmth of the evening wood
fire; she seated at a little table; busied with some embroidery work。
Allowing for the great difference in the still…life of the picture; the
figures were much the same as of old; his brother being sufficiently
like himself to represent himself; for a moment; in the position。
So had he sat many a night; over a coal fire far away; so had she sat;
devoted to him。 Yet surely there was nothing to be jealous of in the old
miserable poverty。 Whence; then; the pang in his heart?

'Do you know; uncle; I think you are growing young again?'

Her uncle shook his head and said; 'Since when; my dear; since when?'

'I think;' returned Little Dorrit; plying her needle; 'that you have
been growing younger for weeks past。 So cheerful; uncle; and so ready;
and so interested。'

'My dear child……all you。'

'All me; uncle!'

'Yes; yes。 You have done me a world of good。 You have been so
considerate of me; and so tender with me; and so delicate in trying to
hide your attentions from me; that I……well; well; well! It's treasured
up; my darling; treasured up。'

'There is nothing in it but your own fresh fancy; uncle;' said Little
Dorrit; cheerfully。

'Well; well; well!' murmured the old man。 'Thank God!'

She paused for an instant in her work to look at him; and her look
revived that former pain in her father's breast; in his poor weak
breast; so full of contradictions; vacillations; inconsistencies; the
little peevish perplexities of this ignorant life; mists which the
morning without a night only can clear away。

'I have been freer with you; you see; my dove;' said the old man; 'since
we have been alone。 I say; alone; for I don't count Mrs General; I
don't care for her; she has nothing to do with me。 But I know Fanny was
impatient of me。 And I don't wonder at it; or plain of it; for I am
sensible that I must be in the way; though I try to keep out of it as
well as I can。 I know I am not fit pany for our pany。 My brother
William;' said the old man admiringly; 'is fit pany for monarchs;
but not so your uncle; my dear。 Frederick Dorrit is no credit to William
Dorrit; and he knows it quite well。 Ah! Why; here's your father; Amy!
My dear William; wele back! My beloved brother; I am rejoiced to see
you!'

(Turning his head in speaking; he had caught sight of him as he stood in
the doorway。)

Little Dorrit with a cry of pleasure put her arms about her father's
neck; and kissed him again and again。 Her father was a little impatient;
and a little querulous。 'I am glad to find you at last; Amy;' he said。
'Ha。 Really I am glad to find……hum……any one to receive me at last。
I appear to have been……ha……so little expected; that upon my word
I began……ha hum……to think it might be right to offer an apology
for……ha……taking the liberty of ing back at all。'

'It was so late; my dear William;' said his brother; 'that we had given
you up for to…night。'

'I am stronger than you; dear Frederick;' returned his brother with an
elaboration of fraternity in which there was severity; 'and I hope I can
travel without detriment at……ha……any hour I choose。'

'Surely; surely;' returned the other; with a misgiving that he had given
offence。 'Surely; William。'

'Thank you; Amy;' pursued Mr Dorrit; as she helped him to put off his
wrappers。 'I can do it without assistance。 I……ha……need not trouble you;
Amy。 Could I have a morsel of bread and a glass of wine; or……hum……would
it cause too much inconvenience?'

'Dear father; you shall have supper in a very few minutes。'

'Thank you; my love;' said Mr Dorrit; with a reproachful frost upon him;
'I……ha……am afraid I am causing inconvenience。 Hum。 Mrs General pretty
well?'

'Mrs General plained of a headache; and of being fatigued; and so;
when we gave you up; she went to bed; dear。'

Perhaps Mr Dorrit thought that Mrs General had done well in being
overe by the disappointment of his not arriving。 At any rate; his
face relaxed; and he said with obvious satisfaction; 'Extremely sorry to
hear that Mrs General is not well。'

During this short dialogue; his daughter had been observant of him; with
something more than her usual interest。 It would seem as though he had
a changed or worn appearance in her eyes; and he perceived and resented
it; for he said with renewed peevishness; when he had divested himself
of his travelling…cloak; and had e to the fire: 'Amy; what are you
looking at? What do you see in me that causes you to……ha……concentrate
your solicitude on me in that……hum……very particular manner?'

'I did not know it; father; I beg your pardon。 It gladdens my eyes to
see you again; that's all。'

'Don't say that's all; because……ha……that's not all。 You……hum……you
think;' said Mr Dorrit; with an accusatory emphasis; 'that I am not
looking well。' 'I thought you looked a little tired; love。'

'Then you are mistaken;' said Mr Dorrit。 'Ha; I am not tired。 Ha; hum。 I
am very much fresher than I was when I went away。'

He was so inclined to be angry that she said nothing more in her
justification; but remained quietly beside him embracing his arm。 As
he stood thus; with his brother on the other side; he fell into a heavy
doze; of not a minute's duration; and awoke with a start。

'Frederick;' he said; turning to his brother: 'I remend you to go to
bed immediately。'

'No; William。 I'll wait and see you sup。'

'Frederick;' he retorted; 'I beg you to go to bed。 I……ha……make it a
personal request that you go to bed。 You ought to have been in bed long
ago。 You are very feeble。'

'Hah!' said the old man; who had no wish but to please him。 'Well; well;
well! I dare say I am。'

'My dear Frederick;' returned Mr Dorrit; with an astonishing superiority
to his brother's failing powers; 'there can be no doubt of it。 It is
painful to me to see you so weak。 Ha。 It distresses me。 Hum。 I don't
find you looking at all well。 You are not fit for this sort of thing。
You should be more careful; you should be very careful。'

'Shall I go to bed?' asked Frederick。

'Dear Frederick;' said Mr Dorrit; 'do; I adjure you! Good night;
brother。 I hope you will be stronger to…morrow。 I am not at all pleased
with your looks。 Good night; dear fellow。' After dismissing his brother
in this gracious way; he fell into a doze again before the old man was
well out of the room: and he would have stumbled forward upon the logs;
but for his daughter's restraining hold。

'Your uncle wanders very much; Amy;' he said; when he was thus roused。
'He is less……ha……coherent; and his conversation is more……hum……broken;
than I have……ha; hum……ever known。 Has he had any illness since I have
been gone?' 'No; father。'

'You……ha……see a great change in him; Amy?'

'I have not observed it; dear。'

'Greatly broken;' said Mr Dorrit。 'Greatly broken。 My poor;
affectionate; failing Frederick! Ha。 Even taking into account what he
was before; he is……hum……sadly broken!'

His supper; which was brought to him there; and spread upon the little
table where he had seen her working; diverted his attention。

She sat at his side as in the days that were gone; for the first time
since those days ended。 They were alone; and she helped him to his meat
and poured out his drink for him; as she had been used to do in the
prison。 All this happened now; for the first time since their accession
to wealth。 She was afraid to look at him much; after the offence he had
taken; but she noticed two occasions in the course of his meal; when
he all of a sudden looked at her; and looked about him; as if the
association were so strong that he needed assurance from his sense of
sight that they were not 

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