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！
circle； that he feared Mr Clennam was not a man of high instincts。
He was happy； he observed； in his public capacity as leader and
representative of the College； to receive Mr Clennam when he called to
pay his respects； but he didn't find that he got on with him personally。
There appeared to be something （he didn't know what it was） wanting in
him。 Howbeit； the father did not fail in any outward show of politeness；
but； on the contrary； honoured him with much attention； perhaps
cherishing the hope that； although not a man of a sufficiently
brilliant and spontaneous turn of mind to repeat his former testimonial
unsolicited； it might still be within the pass of his nature to
bear the part of a responsive gentleman； in any correspondence that way
tending。
In the threefold capacity； of the gentleman from outside who had been
accidentally locked in on the night of his first appearance； of the
gentleman from outside who had inquired into the affairs of the Father
of the Marshalsea with the stupendous idea of getting him out； and of
the gentleman from outside who took an interest in the child of the
Marshalsea； Clennam soon became a visitor of mark。
He was not surprised by the attentions he received from Mr Chivery when
that officer was on the lock； for he made little distinction between
Mr Chivery's politeness and that of the other turnkeys。 It was on one
particular afternoon that Mr Chivery surprised him all at once； and
stood forth from his panions in bold relief。
Mr Chivery； by some artful exercise of his power of clearing the Lodge；
had contrived to rid it of all sauntering Collegians； so that Clennam；
ing out of the prison； should find him on duty alone。
'（Private） I ask your pardon； sir；' said Mr Chivery in a secret manner；
'but which way might you be going？'
'I am going over the Bridge。' He saw in Mr Chivery； with some
astonishment； quite an Allegory of Silence； as he stood with his key on
his lips。
'（Private） I ask your pardon again；' said Mr Chivery； 'but could you go
round by Horsemonger Lane？ Could you by any means find time to look in
at that address？' handing him a little card； printed for circulation
among the connection of Chivery and Co。； Tobacconists； Importers of pure
Havannah Cigars； Bengal Cheroots； and fine…flavoured Cubas； Dealers in
Fancy Snuffs； &C。 &C。
'（Private） It an't tobacco business；' said Mr Chivery。 'The truth is；
it's my wife。 She's wishful to say a word to you； sir； upon a point
respecting……yes；' said Mr Chivery； answering Clennam's look of
apprehension with a nod； 'respecting her。'
'I will make a point of seeing your wife directly。'
'Thank you； sir。 Much obliged。 It an't above ten minutes out of your
way。 Please to ask for Mrs Chivery！' These instructions； Mr Chivery； who
had already let him out； cautiously called through a little slide in the
outer door； which he could draw back from within for the inspection of
visitors when it pleased him。
Arthur Clennam； with the card in his hand； betook himself to the address
set forth upon it； and speedily arrived there。 It was a very small
establishment； wherein a decent woman sat behind the counter working
at her needle。 Little jars of tobacco； little boxes of cigars； a
little assortment of pipes； a little jar or two of snuff； and a little
instrument like a shoeing horn for serving it out； posed the retail
stock in trade。
Arthur mentioned his name； and his having promised to call； on the
solicitation of Mr Chivery。 About something relating to Miss Dorrit； he
believed。 Mrs Chivery at once laid aside her work； rose up from her seat
behind the counter； and deploringly shook her head。
'You may see him now；' said she； 'if you'll condescend to take a peep。'
With these mysterious words； she preceded the visitor into a little
parlour behind the shop； with a little window in it manding a very
little dull back…yard。 In this yard a wash of sheets and table…cloths
tried （in vain； for want of air） to get itself dried on a line or two；
and among those flapping articles was sitting in a chair； like the
last mariner left alive on the deck of a damp ship without the power of
furling the sails； a little woe…begone young man。
'Our John；' said Mrs Chivery。
Not to be deficient in interest； Clennam asked what he might be doing
there？
'It's the only change he takes；' said Mrs Chivery； shaking her head
afresh。 'He won't go out； even in the back…yard； when there's no linen；
but when there's linen to keep the neighbours' eyes off； he'll sit
there； hours。 Hours he will。 Says he feels as if it was groves！' Mrs
Chivery shook her head again； put her apron in a motherly way to her
eyes； and reconducted her visitor into the regions of the business。
'Please to take a seat； sir；' said Mrs Chivery。 'Miss Dorrit is the
matter with Our John； sir； he's a breaking his heart for her； and I
would wish to take the liberty to ask how it's to be made good to his
parents when bust？'
Mrs Chivery； who was a fortable…looking woman much respected about
Horsemonger Lane for her feelings and her conversation； uttered this
speech with fell posure； and immediately afterwards began again to
shake her head and dry her eyes。
'Sir；' said she in continuation； 'you are acquainted with the family；
and have interested yourself with the family； and are influential with
the family。 If you can promote views calculated to make two young people
happy； let me； for Our john's sake； and for both their sakes； implore
you so to do！'
'I have been so habituated；' returned Arthur； at a loss； 'during
the short time I have known her； to consider Little……I have been so
habituated to consider Miss Dorrit in a light altogether removed from
that in which you present her to me； that you quite take me by surprise。
Does she know your son？'
'Brought up together； sir；' said Mrs Chivery。 'Played together。'
'Does she know your son as her admirer？'
'Oh！ bless you； sir；' said Mrs Chivery； with a sort of triumphant
shiver； 'she never could have seen him on a Sunday without knowing he
was that。 His cane alone would have told it long ago； if nothing else
had。 Young men like John don't take to ivory hands a pinting； for
nothing。 How did I first know it myself？ Similarly。'
'Perhaps Miss Dorrit may not be so ready as you； you see。'
'Then she knows it； sir；' said Mrs Chivery； 'by word of mouth。'
'Are you sure？'
'Sir；' said Mrs Chivery； 'sure and certain as in this house I am。 I see
my son go out with my own eyes when in this house I was； and I see my
son e in with my own eyes when in this house I was； and I know he
done it！' Mrs Chivery derived a surprising force of emphasis from the
foregoing circumstantiality and repetition。
'May I ask you how he came to fall into the desponding state which
causes you so much uneasiness？'
'That；' said Mrs Chivery； 'took place on that same day when to this
house I see that John with these eyes return。 Never been himself in this
house since。 Never was like what he has been since； not from the hour
when to this house seven year ago me and his father； as tenants by the
quarter； came！' An effect in the nature of an affidavit was gained from
this speech by Mrs Chivery's peculiar power of construction。 'May I
venture to inquire what is your version of the matter？'
'You may；' said Mrs Chivery； 'and I will give it to you in honour and in
word as true as in this shop I stand。 Our John has every one's good word
and every one's good wish。 He played with her as a child when in that
yard a child she played。 He has known her ever since。 He went out upon
the Sunday afternoon when in this very parlour he had dined； and met
her； with appointment or without appointment； which； I do not pretend to
say。 He made his offer to her。 Her brother and sister is high in their
views； and against Our John。 Her father is all for himself in his views
and against sharing her with any one。 Under which circumstances she
has answered Our John； 〃No； John； I cannot have you； I cannot have
any husband； it is not my intentions ever to bee a wife； it is my
intentions to be always a sacrifice； farewell； find another worthy of
you； and forget me！〃 This is the way in which she is do