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！
Little Dorrit yielded willingly。 She glided away into the prison for a
few moments； returned； and said she was ready to go。 They went out
by another staircase； avoiding the lodge； and ing into the front
court…yard； now all quiet and deserted； gained the street。
It was one of those summer evenings when there is no greater darkness
than a long twilight。 The vista of street and bridge was plain to see；
and the sky was serene and beautiful。 People stood and sat at their
doors； playing with children and enjoying the evening； numbers were
walking for air； the worry of the day had almost worried itself out； and
few but themselves were hurried。 As they crossed the bridge； the clear
steeples of the many churches looked as if they had advanced out of the
murk that usually enshrouded them； and e much nearer。 The smoke that
rose into the sky had lost its dingy hue and taken a brightness upon it。
The beauties of the sunset had not faded from the long light films of
cloud that lay at peace in the horizon。 From a radiant centre； over
the whole length and breadth of the tranquil firmament； great shoots of
light streamed among the early stars； like signs of the blessed later
covenant of peace and hope that changed the crown of thorns into a
glory。
Less remarkable； now that she was not alone and it was darker； Mrs
Clennam hurried on at Little Dorrit's side； unmolested。 They left the
great thoroughfare at the turning by which she had entered it； and wound
their way down among the silent； empty； cross…streets。 Their feet were
at the gateway； when there was a sudden noise like thunder。
'What was that！ Let us make haste in；' cried Mrs Clennam。
They were in the gateway。 Little Dorrit； with a piercing cry； held her
back。
In one swift instant the old house was before them； with the man lying
smoking in the window； another thundering sound； and it heaved； surged
outward； opened asunder in fifty places； collapsed； and fell。 Deafened
by the noise； stifled； choked； and blinded by the dust； they hid their
faces and stood rooted to the spot。 The dust storm； driving between them
and the placid sky； parted for a moment and showed them the stars。 As
they looked up； wildly crying for help； the great pile of chimneys；
which was then alone left standing like a tower in a whirlwind； rocked；
broke； and hailed itself down upon the heap of ruin； as if every
tumbling fragment were intent on burying the crushed wretch deeper。
So blackened by the flying particles of rubbish as to be unrecognisable；
they ran back from the gateway into the street； crying and shrieking。
There； Mrs Clennam dropped upon the stones； and she never from that hour
moved so much as a finger again； or had the power to speak one word。
For upwards of three years she reclined in a wheeled chair； looking
attentively at those about her and appearing to understand what they
said； but the rigid silence she had so long held was evermore enforced
upon her； and except that she could move her eyes and faintly express a
negative and affirmative with her head； she lived and died a statue。
Affery had been looking for them at the prison； and had caught sight
of them at a distance on the bridge。 She came up to receive her old
mistress in her arms； to help to carry her into a neighbouring house；
and to be faithful to her。 The mystery of the noises was out now；
Affery； like greater people； had always been right in her facts； and
always wrong in the theories she deduced from them。
When the storm of dust had cleared away and the summer night was calm
again； numbers of people choked up every avenue of access； and parties
of diggers were formed to relieve one another in digging among the
ruins。 There had been a hundred people in the house at the time of its
fall； there had been fifty； there had been fifteen； there had been
two。 Rumour finally settled the number at two； the foreigner and Mr
Flintwinch。 The diggers dug all through the short night by flaring pipes
of gas； and on a level with the early sun； and deeper and deeper below
it as it rose into its zenith； and aslant of it as it declined； and on a
level with it again as it departed。 Sturdy digging； and shovelling；
and carrying away； in carts； barrows； and baskets； went on without
intermission； by night and by day； but it was night for the second time
when they found the dirty heap of rubbish that had been the foreigner
before his head had been shivered to atoms； like so much glass； by the
great beam that lay upon him； crushing him。
Still； they had not e upon Flintwinch yet； so the sturdy digging and
shovelling and carrying away went on without intermission by night and
by day。 It got about that the old house had had famous cellarage （which
indeed was true）； and that Flintwinch had been in a cellar at the
moment； or had had time to escape into one； and that he was safe under
its strong arch； and even that he had been heard to cry； in hollow；
subterranean； suffocated notes； 'Here I am！' At the opposite extremity
of the town it was even known that the excavators had been able to open
a munication with him through a pipe； and that he had received both
soup and brandy by that channel； and that he had said with admirable
fortitude that he was All right； my lads； with the exception of his
collar…bone。 But the digging and shovelling and carrying away went on
without intermission； until the ruins were all dug out； and the cellars
opened to the light； and still no Flintwinch； living or dead； all right
or all wrong； had been turned up by pick or spade。
It began then to be perceived that Flintwinch had not been there at the
time of the fall； and it began then to be perceived that he had been
rather busy elsewhere； converting securities into as much money as could
be got for them on the shortest notice； and turning to his own exclusive
account his authority to act for the Firm。 Affery； remembering that the
clever one had said he would explain himself further in four…and…twenty
hours' time； determined for her part that his taking himself off within
that period with all he could get； was the final satisfactory sum and
substance of his promised explanation； but she held