按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
got there；……the first change of feeling which the prison most monly
induced； and from which dangerous resting…place so many men had slipped
down to the depths of degradation and disgrace by so many ways；……he
could think of some passages in his life； almost as if he were removed
from them into another state of existence。 Taking into account where he
was； the interest that had first brought him there when he had been free
to keep away； and the gentle presence that was equally inseparable from
the walls and bars about him and from the impalpable remembrances of his
later life which no walls or bars could imprison； it was not remarkable
that everything his memory turned upon should bring him round again to
Little Dorrit。 Yet it was remarkable to him； not because of the fact
itself； but because of the reminder it brought with it； how much the
dear little creature had influenced his better resolutions。
None of us clearly know to whom or to what we are indebted in this wise；
until some marked stop in the whirling wheel of life brings the right
perception with it。 It es with sickness； it es with sorrow； it
es with the loss of the dearly loved； it is one of the most frequent
uses of adversity。 It came to Clennam in his adversity； strongly and
tenderly。 'When I first gathered myself together；' he thought； 'and
set something like purpose before my jaded eyes； whom had I before me；
toiling on； for a good object's sake； without encouragement； without
notice； against ignoble obstacles that would have turned an army of
received heroes and heroines？ One weak girl！ When I tried to conquer
my misplaced love； and to be generous to the man who was more fortunate
than I； though he should never know it or repay me with a gracious word；
in whom had I watched patience； self…denial； self…subdual； charitable
construction； the noblest generosity of the affections？ In the same poor
girl！ If I； a man； with a man's advantages and means and energies； had
slighted the whisper in my heart； that if my father had erred； it was my
first duty to conceal the fault and to repair it； what youthful figure
with tender feet going almost bare on the damp ground； with spare hands
ever working； with its slight shape but half protected from the
sharp weather； would have stood before me to put me to shame？ Little
Dorrit's。' So always as he sat alone in the faded chair； thinking。
Always； Little Dorrit。 Until it seemed to him as if he met the reward of
having wandered away from her； and suffered anything to pass between him
and his remembrance of her virtues。
His door was opened； and the head of the elder Chivery was put in a very
little way； without being turned towards him。
'I am off the Lock； Mr Clennam； and going out。 Can I do anything for
you？'
'Many thanks。 Nothing。'
'You'll excuse me opening the door；' said Mr Chivery； 'but I couldn't
make you hear。'
'Did you knock？' 'Half…a…dozen times。'
Rousing himself； Clennam observed that the prison had awakened from its
noontide doze； that the inmates were loitering about the shady yard； and
that it was late in the afternoon。 He had been thinking for hours。 'Your
things is e；' said Mr Chivery； 'and my son is going to carry 'em
up。 I should have sent 'em up but for his wishing to carry 'em himself。
Indeed he would have 'em himself； and so I couldn't send 'em up。 Mr
Clennam； could I say a word to you？'
'Pray e in；' said Arthur； for Mr Chivery's head was still put in at
the door a very little way； and Mr Chivery had but one ear upon him；
instead of both eyes。 This was native delicacy in Mr Chivery……true
politeness； though his exterior had very much of a turnkey about it； and
not the least of a gentleman。
'Thank you； sir；' said Mr Chivery； without advancing； 'it's no odds me
ing in。 Mr Clennam； don't you take no notice of my son （if you'll
be so good） in case you find him cut up anyways difficult。 My son has a
'art； and my son's 'art is in the right place。 Me and his mother knows
where to find it； and we find it sitiwated correct。'
With this mysterious speech； Mr Chivery took his ear away and shut the
door。 He might have been gone ten minutes； when his son succeeded him。
'Here's your portmanteau；' he said to Arthur； putting it carefully down。
'It's very kind of you。 I am ashamed that you should have the trouble。'
He was gone before it came to that； but soon returned； saying exactly as
before； 'Here's your black box：' which he also put down with care。
'I am very sensible of this attention。 I hope we may shake hands now； Mr
John。'
Young John； however； drew back； turning his right wrist in a socket made
of his left thumb and middle…finger and said as he had said at first；
'I don't know as I can。 No； I find I can't！' He then stood regarding the
prisoner sternly； though with a swelling humour in his eyes that looked
like pity。
'Why are you angry with me；' said Clennam； 'and yet so ready to do me
these kind services？ There must be some mistake between us。 If I have
done anything to occasion it I am sorry。'
'No mistake； sir；' returned John； turning the wrist backwards and
forwards in the socket； for which it was rather tight。 'No mistake； sir；
in the feelings with which my eyes behold you at the present moment！ If
I r Clennam……which I am not；
and if you weren't under a cloud……which you are； and if it wasn't
against all rules of the Marshalsea……which it is； those feelings are
such； that they would stimulate me； more to having it out with you in
a Round on the present spot than to anything else I could name。' Arthur
looked at him for a moment in some wonder； and some little anger。 'Well；
well！' he said。 'A mistake； a mistake！' Turning away； he sat down with a
heavy sigh in the faded chair again。
Young John followed him with his eyes； and； after a short pause； cried
out； 'I beg your pardon！'
'Freely granted；' said Clennam； waving his hand without raising his
sunken head。 'Say no more。 I am not worth it。'
'This furniture； sir；' said Young John in a voice of mild and soft
explanation； 'belongs to me。 I am in the habit of letting it out to
parties without furniture； that have the room。 It an't much； but it's at
your service。 Free； I mean。 I could not think of letting you have it on
any other terms。 You're wele to it for nothing。'
Arthur raised his head again to thank him； and to say he could
not accept the favour。 John was still turning his wrist； and still
contending with himself in his former divided manner。
'What is the matter between us？' said Arthur。
'I decline to name it； sir；' returned Young John； suddenly turning loud
and sharp。 'Nothing's the matter。'
Arthur looked at him again； in vain； for an explanation of his
behaviour。 After a while； Arthur turned away his head again。 Young John
said； presently afterwards； with the utmost mildness：
'The little round table； sir； that's nigh your elbow； was……you know
whose……I needn't mention him……he died a great gentleman。 I bought it of
an individual that he gave it to； and that lived here after him。 But the
individual ost individuals would find it
hard to e up to his level。'
Arthur drew the little table nearer； rested his arm upon it； and kept it
there。
'Perhaps you may not be aware； sir；' said Young John； 'that I intruded
upon him when he was over here in London。 On the whole he was of opinion
that it WAS an intrusion； though he was so good as to ask me to sit
down and to inquire after father and all other old friends。 Leastways
humblest acquaintances。 He looked； to me； a good deal changed； and I
said so when I came back。 I asked him if Miss Amy was well……'
'And she was？'
'I should have thought you would have known without putting the question
to such as me；' returned Young John； after appearing to take a large
invisible pill。 'Since you do put me the question； I am sorry I can't
answer it。 But the truth is； he looked upon the inquiry as a liberty；
and said； 〃What was that to me？〃 It was then I became quite aware I was
intruding： of which I had been fearful before。 However； he spoke very
handsome afterwards； very handsome。'
They were both silent for several minutes： except that Young John
remarked； at about the middle