little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第233章

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in　the　world　to　manage　a　thing　of　this　sort。　I　don't　know　what　I　should
have　done　if　I　had　been　in　the　diplomatic　line……right；　perhaps！　The　long
and　short　of　it　is；　Arthur；　we　have　both　been　in　England　this　fortnight。
And　if　you　go　on　to　ask　where　Doyce　is　at　the　present　moment；　why；　my
plain　answer　is……here　he　is！　And　now　I　can　breathe　again　at　last！'

Doyce　darted　in　from　behind　the　door；　caught　Arthur　by　both　hands；　and
said　the　rest　for　himself。

'There　are　only　three　branches　of　my　subject；　my　dear　Clennam；'　said
Doyce；　proceeding　to　mould　them　severally；　with　his　plastic　thumb；　on
the　palm　of　his　hand；　'and　they're　soon　disposed　of。　First；　not　a　word
more　from　you　about　the　past。　There　was　an　error　in　your　calculations。
I　know　what　that　is。　It　affects　the　whole　machine；　and　failure　is　the
consequence。　You　will　profit　by　the　failure；　and　will　avoid　it　another
time。　I　have　done　a　similar　thing　myself；　in　construction；　often。　Every
failure　teaches　a　man　something；　if　he　will　learn；　and　you　are　too
sensible　a　man　not　to　learn　from　this　failure。　So　much　for　firstly。
Secondly。　I　was　sorry　you　should　have　taken　it　so　heavily　to　heart；　and
reproached　yourself　so　severely；　I　was　travelling　home　night　and　day
to　put　matters　right；　with　the　assistance　of　our　friend；　when　I　fell　in
with　our　friend　as　he　has　informed　you。　Thirdly。　We　two　agreed；　that；
after　what　you　had　undergone；　after　your　distress　of　mind；　and　after
your　illness；　it　would　be　a　pleasant　surprise　if　we　could　so　far　keep
quiet　as　to　get　things　perfectly　arranged　without　your　knowledge；　and
then　e　and　say　that　all　the　affairs　were　smooth；　that　everything　was
right；　that　the　business　stood　in　greater　want　of　you　than　ever　it　did；
and　that　a　new　and　prosperous　career　was　opened　before　you　and　me　as
partners。　That's　thirdly。　But　you　know　we　always　make　an　allowance　for
friction；　and　so　I　have　reserved　space　to　close　in。　My　dear　Clennam；
I　thoroughly　confide　in　you；　you　have　it　in　your　power　to　be　quite　as
useful　to　me　as　I　have；　or　have　had；　it　in　my　power　to　be　useful　to　you；
your　old　place　awaits　you；　and　wants　you　very　much；　there　is　nothing　to
detain　you　here　one　half…hour　longer。'

There　was　silence；　which　was　not　broken　until　Arthur　had　stood　for　some
time　at　the　window　with　his　back　towards　them；　and　until　his　little　wife
that　was　to　be　had　gone　to　him　and　stayed　by　him。

'I　made　a　remark　a　little　while　ago；'　said　Daniel　Doyce　then；　'which　I
am　inclined　to　think　was　an　incorrect　one。　I　said　there　was　nothing
to　detain　you　here；　Clennam；　half　an　hour　longer。　Am　I　mistaken　in
supposing　that　you　would　rather　not　leave　here　till　to…morrow　morning？
Do　I　know；　without　being　very　wise；　where　you　would　like　to　go；　direct
from　these　walls　and　from　this　room？'

'You　do；'　returned　Arthur。　'It　has　been　our　cherished　purpose。'

'Very　well！'　said　Doyce。　'Then；　if　this　young　lady　will　do　me　the　honour
of　regarding　me　for　four…and…twenty　hours　in　the　light　of　a　father；　and
will　take　a　ride　with　me　now　towards　Saint　Paul's　Churchyard；　I　dare　say
I　know　what　we　want　to　get　there。'

Little　Dorrit　and　he　went　out　together　soon　afterwards；　and　Mr　Meagles
lingered　behind　to　say　a　word　to　his　friend。

'I　think；　Arthur；　you　will　not　want　Mother　and　me　in　the　morning　and
we　will　keep　away。　It　might　set　Mother　thinking　about　Pet；　she's　a
soft…hearted　woman。　She's　best　at　the　Cottage；　and　I'll　stay　there　and
keep　her　pany。'

With　that　they　parted　for　the　time。　And　the　day　ended；　and　the　night
ended；　and　the　morning　came；　and　Little　Dorrit；　simply　dressed　as　usual
and　having　no　one　with　her　but　Maggy；　came　into　the　prison　with　the
sunshine。　The　poor　room　was　a　happy　room　that　morning。　Where　in　the
world　was　there　a　room　so　full　of　quiet　joy！

'My　dear　love；'　said　Arthur。　'Why　does　Maggy　light　the　fire？　We　shall　be
gone　directly。'

'I　asked　her　to　do　it。　I　have　taken　such　an　odd　fancy。　I　want　you　to
burn　something　for　me。'

'What？'

'Only　this　folded　paper。　If　you　will　put　it　in　the　fire　with　your　own
hand；　just　as　it　is；　my　fancy　will　be　gratified。'

'Superstitious；　darling　Little　Dorrit？　Is　it　a　charm？'

'It　is　anything　you　like　best；　my　own；'　she　answered；　laughing　with
glistening　eyes　and　standing　on　tiptoe　to　kiss　him；　'if　you　will　only
humour　me　when　the　fire　burns　up。'

So　they　stood　before　the　fire；　waiting：　Clennam　with　his　arm　about　her
waist；　and　the　fire　shining；　as　fire　in　that　same　place　had　often　shone；
in　Little　Dorrit's　eyes。　'Is　it　bright　enough　now？'　said　Arthur。　'Quite
bright　enough　now；'　said　Little　Dorrit。　'Does　the　charm　want　any　words
to　be　said？'　asked　Arthur；　as　he　held　the　paper　over　the　flame。　'You　can
say　（if　you　don't　mind）　〃I　love　you！〃'　answered　Little　Dorrit。　So　he　said
it；　and　the　paper　burned　away。

They　passed　very　quietly　along　the　yard；　for　no　one　was　there；　though
many　heads　were　stealthily　peeping　from　the　windows。

Only　one　face；　familiar　of　old；　was　in　the　Lodge。　When　they　had　both
accosted　it；　and　spoken　many　kind　words；　Little　Dorrit　turned　back　one
last　time　with　her　hand　stretched　out；　saying；　'Good…bye；　good　John！　I
hope　you　will　live　very　happy；　dear！'

Then　they　went　up　the　steps　of　the　neighbouring　Saint　George's　Church；
and　went　up　to　the　altar；　where　Daniel　Doyce　was　waiting　in　his　paternal
character。　And　there　was　Little　Dorrit's　old　friend　who　had　given　her
the　Burial　Register　for　a　pillow；　full　of　admiration　that　she　should
e　back　to　them　to　be　married；　after　all。

And　they　were　married　with　the　sun　shining　on　them　through　the　painted
figure　of　Our　Saviour　on　the　window。　And　they　went　into　the　very　room
where　Little　Dorrit　had　slumbered　after　her　party；　to　sign　the　Marriage
Register。　And　there；　Mr　Pancks；　（destined　to　be　chief　clerk　to　Doyce　and
Clennam；　and　afterwards　partner　in　the　house）；　sinking　the　Incendiary
in　the　peaceful　friend；　looked　in　at　the　door　to　see　it　done；　with　Flora
gallantly　supported　on　one　arm　and　Maggy　on　the　other；　and　a　back…ground
of　John　Chivery　and　father　and　other　turnkeys　who　had　run　round　for　the
moment；　deserting　the　parent　Marshalsea　for　its　happy　child。　Nor　had
Flora　the　least　signs　of　seclusion　upon　her；　notwithstanding　her　recent
declaration；　but；　on　the　contrary；　was　wonderfully　smart；　and　enjoyed
the　ceremonies　mightily；　though　in　a　fluttered　way。

Little　Dorrit's　old　friend　held　the　inkstand　as　she　signed　her　name；　and
the　clerk　paused　in　taking　off　the　good　clergyman's　surplice；　and　all
the　witnesses　looked　on　with　special　interest。　'For；　you　see；'　said
Little　Dorrit's　old　friend；　'this　young　lady　is　one　of　our　curiosities；
and　has　e　now　to　the　third　volume　of　our　Registers。　Her　birth　is　in
what　I　call　the　first　volume；　she　lay　asleep；　on　this　very　floor；
with　her　pretty　head　on　what　I　call　the　second　volume；　and　she's　now
a…writing　her　little　name　as　a　bride　in　what　I　call　the　third　volume。'

They　all　gave　place　when　the　signing　was　done；　and　Little　Dorrit　and　her
husband　walked　out　of　the　church　alone。　They　paused　for　a　moment　on　the
steps　of　the　portico；　looking　at　the　fresh　perspective　of　the　street　in
the　autumn　morning　sun's　bright　rays；　and　then　went　down。

Went　down　into　a　modest　life　of　usefulness　and　happiness。　Went　down
to　give　a　mother's　care；　in　the　fulness　of　time；　to　Fanny's　neglected
children　no　less　than　to　their　own；　and　to　leave　that　lady　going　into
Society　for　ever　and　a　day。　Went　down　to　give　a　tender　nurse　and　friend
to　Tip　for　some　few　years；　who　was　never　vexed　by　the　great　exactions　he
made　of　her　in　return　for　the　riches　he　might　have　given　her　if　he　had
ever　had　them；　and　who　lovingly　closed　his　eyes　upon　the　Marshalsea
and　all　its　blighted　fruits。　They　went　quietly　down　into　the　roaring
streets；　inseparable　and　blessed；　and　as　they　passed　along　in　sunshine
and　shade；　the　noisy　and　the　eager；　and　the　arrogant　and　the　froward　and
the　vain；　fretted　and　chafed；　and　made　their　usual　uproar。





End　

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