little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第77章

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Clennam　was　the　unfortunate　person　at　whom　the　challenge　was　hurled。

'One　last　remark；'　resumed　Flora；　'I　was　going　to　say　I　wish　to　make　one
last　explanation　I　wish　to　offer；　Mr　F。's　Aunt　and　myself　would　not　have
intruded　on　business　hours　Mr　F。　having　been　in　business　and　though　the
wine　trade　still　business　is　equally　business　call　it　what　you　will　and
business　habits　are　just　the　same　as　witness　Mr　F。　himself　who　had　his
slippers　always　on　the　mat　at　ten　minutes　before　six　in　the　afternoon
and　his　boots　inside　the　fender　at　ten　minutes　before　eight　in　the
morning　to　the　moment　in　all　weathers　light　or　dark……would　not　therefore
have　intruded　without　a　motive　which　being　kindly　meant　it　may　be　hoped
will　be　kindly　taken　Arthur；　Mr　Clennam　far　more　proper；　even　Doyce　and
Clennam　probably　more　business…like。'

'Pray　say　nothing　in　the　way　of　apology；'　Arthur　entreated。　'You　are
always　wele。'

'Very　polite　of　you　to　say　so　Arthur……cannot　remember　Mr　Clennam　until
the　word　is　out；　such　is　the　habit　of　times　for　ever　fled；　and　so　true
it　is　that　oft　in　the　stilly　night　ere　slumber's　chain　has　bound　people；
fond　memory　brings　the　light　of　other　days　around　people……very　polite
but　more　polite　than　true　I　am　afraid；　for　to　go　into　the　machinery
business　without　so　much　as　sending　a　line　or　a　card　to　papa……I　don't
say　me　though　there　was　a　time　but　that　is　past　and　stern　reality　has
now　my　gracious　never　mind……does　not　look　like　it　you　must　confess。'

Even　Flora's　mas　seemed　to　have　fled　on　this　occasion；　she　was　so
much　more　disjointed　and　voluble　than　in　the　preceding　interview。

'Though　indeed；'　she　hurried　on；　'nothing　else　is　to　be　expected　and　why
should　it　be　expected　and　if　it's　not　to　be　expected　why　should　it　be；
and　I　am　far　from　blaming　you　or　any　one；　When　your　mama　and　my　papa
worried　us　to　death　and　severed　the　golden　bowl……I　mean　bond　but　I　dare
say　you　know　what　I　mean　and　if　you　don't　you　don't　lose　much　and　care
just　as　little　I　will　venture　to　add……when　they　severed　the　golden　bond
that　bound　us　and　threw　us　into　fits　of　crying　on　the　sofa　nearly　choked
at　least　myself　everything　was　changed　and　in　giving　my　hand　to　Mr　F。　I
know　I　did　so　with　my　eyes　open　but　he　was　so　very　unsettled　and　in　such
low　spirits　that　he　had　distractedly　alluded　to　the　river　if　not　oil　of
something　from　the　chemist's　and　I　did　it　for　the　best。'

'My　good　Flora；　we　settled　that　before。　It　was　all　quite　right。'

'It's　perfectly　clear　you　think　so；'　returned　Flora；　'for　you　take　it
very　coolly；　if　I　hadn't　known　it　to　be　China　I　should　have　guessed
myself　the　Polar　regions；　dear　Mr　Clennam　you　are　right　however　and　I
cannot　blame　you　but　as　to　Doyce　and　Clennam　papa's　property　being　about
here　we　heard　it　from　Pancks　and　but　for　him　we　never　should　have　heard
one　word　about　it　I　am　satisfied。'

'No；　no；　don't　say　that。'

'What　nonsense　not　to　say　it　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam……easier　and　less
trying　to　me　than　Mr　Clennam……when　I　know　it　and　you　know　it　too　and
can't　deny　it。'

'But　I　do　deny　it；　Flora。　I　should　soon　have　made　you　a　friendly　visit。'

'Ah！'　said　Flora；　tossing　her　head。　'I　dare　say！'　and　she　gave　him
another　of　the　old　looks。　'However　when　Pancks　told　us　I　made　up　my　mind
that　Mr　F。's　Aunt　and　I　would　e　and　call　because　when　papa……which　was
before　that……happened　to　mention　her　name　to　me　and　to　say　that　you　were
interested　in　her　I　said　at　the　moment　Good　gracious　why　not　have　her
here　then　when　there's　anything　to　do　instead　of　putting　it　out。'

'When　you　say　Her；'　observed　Clennam；　by　this　time　pretty　well
bewildered；　'do　you　mean　Mr　F。's……'

'My　goodness；　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam　really　easier　to　me　with　old
remembrances……who　ever　heard　of　Mr　F。's　Aunt　doing　needlework　and　going
out　by　the　day？'

'Going　out　by　the　day！　Do　you　speak　of　Little　Dorrit？'　'Why　yes　of
course；'　returned　Flora；　'and　of　all　the　strangest　names　I　ever　heard
the　strangest；　like　a　place　down　in　the　country　with　a　turnpike；　or　a
favourite　pony　or　a　puppy　or　a　bird　or　something　from　a　seed…shop　to　be
put　in　a　garden　or　a　flower…pot　and　e　up　speckled。'

'Then；　Flora；'　said　Arthur；　with　a　sudden　interest　in　the　conversation；
'Mr　Casby　was　so　kind　as　to　mention　Little　Dorrit　to　you；　was　he？　What
did　he　say？'

'Oh　you　know　what　papa　is；'　rejoined　Flora；　'and　how　aggravatingly　he
sits　looking　beautiful　and　turning　his　thumbs　over　and　over　one　another
till　he　makes　one　giddy　if　one　keeps　one's　eyes　upon　him；　he　said　when
we　were　talking　of　you……I　don't　know　who　began　the　subject　Arthur　（Doyce
and　Clennam）　but　I　am　sure　it　wasn't　me；　at　least　I　hope　not　but　you
really　must　excuse　my　confessing　more　on　that　point。'

'Certainly；'　said　Arthur。　'By　all　means。'

'You　are　very　ready；'　pouted　Flora；　ing　to　a　sudden　stop　in　a
captivating　bashfulness；　'that　I　must　admit；　Papa　said　you　had　spoken　of
her　in　an　earnest　way　and　I　said　what　I　have　told　you　and　that's　all。'

'That's　all？'　said　Arthur；　a　little　disappointed。

'Except　that　when　Pancks　told　us　of　your　having　embarked　in　this
business　and　with　difficulty　persuaded　us　that　it　was　really　you　I　said
to　Mr　F。's　Aunt　then　we　would　e　and　ask　you　if　it　would　be　agreeable
to　all　parties　that　she　should　be　engaged　at　our　house　when　required
for　I　know　she　often　goes　to　your　mama's　and　I　know　that　your　mama　has
a　very　touchy　temper　Arthur……Doyce　and　Clennam……or　I　never　might　have
married　Mr　F。　and　might　have　been　at　this　hour　but　I　am　running　into
nonsense。'

'It　was　very　kind　of　you；　Flora；　to　think　of　this。'

Poor　Flora　rejoined　with　a　plain　sincerity　which　became　her　better　than
her　youngest　glances；　that　she　was　glad　he　thought　so。　She　said　it　with
so　much　heart　that　Clennam　would　have　given　a　great　deal　to　buy　his
old　character　of　her　on　the　spot；　and　throw　it　and　the　mermaid　away　for
ever。

'I　think；　Flora；'　he　said；　'that　the　employment　you　can　give　Little
Dorrit；　and　the　kindness　you　can　show　her……'

'Yes　and　I　will；'　said　Flora；　quickly。

'I　am　sure　of　it……will　be　a　great　assistance　and　support　to　her。　I　do
not　feel　that　I　have　the　right　to　tell　you　what　I　know　of　her；　for　I
acquired　the　knowledge　confidentially；　and　under　circumstances　that
bind　me　to　silence。　But　I　have　an　interest　in　the　little　creature；　and
a　respect　for　her　that　I　cannot　express　to　you。　Her　life　has　been　one
of　such　trial　and　devotion；　and　such　quiet　goodness；　as　you　can　scarcely
imagine。　I　can　hardly　think　of　her；　far　less　speak　of　her；　without
feeling　moved。　Let　that　feeling　represent　what　I　could　tell　you；　and
mit　her　to　your　friendliness　with　my　thanks。'

Once　more　he　put　out　his　hand　frankly　to　poor　Flora；　once　more　poor
Flora　couldn't　accept　it　frankly；　found　it　worth　nothing　openly；　must
make　the　old　intrigue　and　mystery　of　it。　As　much　to　her　own　enjoyment　as
to　his　dismay；　she　covered　it　with　a　corner　of　her　shawl　as　she　took　it。
Then；　looking　towards　the　glass　front　of　the　counting…house；　and　seeing
two　figures　approaching；　she　cried　with　infinite　relish；　'Papa！　Hush；
Arthur；　for　Mercy's　sake！'　and　tottered　back　to　her　chair　with　an
amazing　imitation　of　being　in　danger　of　swooning；　in　the　dread　surprise
and　maidenly　flutter　of　her　spirits。

The　Patriarch；　meanwhile；　came　inanely　beaming　towards　the
counting…house　in　the　wake　of　Pancks。　Pancks　opened　the　door　for　him；
towed　him　in；　and　retired　to　his　own　moorings　in　a　corner。

'I　heard　from　Flora；'　said　the　Patriarch　with　his　benevolent　smile；
'that　she　was　ing　to　call；　ing　to　call。　And　being　out；　I　thought
I'd　e　also；　thought　I'd　e　also。'

The　benign　wisdom　he　infused　into　this　declaration　（not　of　itself
profound）；　by　means　of　his　blue　eyes；　his　shining　head；　and　his　long
white　hair；　was　most　impressive。　It　seemed　worth　putting　down　among　the
noblest　sentiments　enunciated　by　the　best　of　men。　Also；　when　he　said　to
Clennam；　seating　himself　in　the　proffered　chair；　'And　you　are　in　a　new
business；　Mr　Clennam？　I　wish　you　well；　sir；　I　wish　you　well！'　he　seemed
to　have　done　benevolent　wonders。

'Mrs　Finching　has　been　telling　me；　sir；'　said　Arthur；　after　making　his
acknowledgments；　the　relict　of　the　late　Mr　F。　meanwhile　protesting；　with
a　ges