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little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第307章

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precious box down…stairs for you。'

They got into the street as the bell began to ring; Mr Meagles carrying
the box。 Little Dorrit had no conveyance there: which rather surprised
him。 He called a coach for her and she got into it; and he placed the
box beside her when she was seated。 In her joy and gratitude she kissed
his hand。

'I don't like that; my dear;' said Mr Meagles。 'It goes against my
feeling of what's right; that YOU should do homage to ME……at the
Marshalsea Gate。'

She bent forward; and kissed his cheek。

'You remind me of the days;' said Mr Meagles; suddenly drooping……'but
she's very fond of him; and hides his faults; and thinks that no
one sees them……and he certainly is well connected and of a very good
family!'

It was the only fort he had in the loss of his daughter; and if he
made the most of it; who could blame him?




CHAPTER 34。 Gone


On a healthy autumn day; the Marshalsea prisoner; weak but otherwise
restored; sat listening to a voice that read to him。 On a healthy autumn
day; when the golden fields had been reaped and ploughed again; when the
summer fruits had ripened and waned; when the green perspectives of hops
had been laid low by the busy pickers; when the apples clustering in the
orchards were russet; and the berries of the mountain ash were crimson
among the yellowing foliage。 Already in the woods; glimpses of the hardy
winter that was ing were to be caught through unaccustomed openings
among the boughs where the prospect shone defined and clear; free from
the bloom of the drowsy summer weather; which had rested on it as the
bloom lies on the plum。 So; from the seashore the ocean was no longer to
be seen lying asleep in the heat; but its thousand sparkling eyes were
open; and its whole breadth was in joyful animation; from the cool sand
on the beach to the little sails on the horizon; drifting away like
autumn…tinted leaves that had drifted from the trees。 Changeless and
barren; looking ignorantly at all the seasons with its fixed; pinched
face of poverty and care; the prison had not a touch of any of these
beauties on it。 Blossom what would; its bricks and bars bore uniformly
the same dead crop。 Yet Clennam; listening to the voice as it read to
him; heard in it all that great Nature was doing; heard in it all the
soothing songs she sings to man。 At no Mother's knee but hers had he
ever dwelt in his youth on hopeful promises; on playful fancies; on
the harvests of tenderness and humility that lie hidden in the
early…fostered seeds of the imagination; on the oaks of retreat from
blighting winds; that have the germs of their strong roots in nursery
acorns。

But; in the tones of the voice that read to him; there were memories of
an old feeling of such things; and echoes of every merciful and loving
whisper that had ever stolen to him in his life。

When the voice stopped; he put his hand over his eyes; murmuring that
the light was strong upon them。


Little Dorrit put the book by; and presently arose quietly to shade
the window。 Maggy sat at her needlework in her old place。 The light
softened; Little Dorrit brought her chair closer to his side。

'This will soon be over now; dear Mr Clennam。 Not only are Mr Doyce's
letters to you so full of friendship and encouragement; but Mr Rugg says
his letters to him are so full of help; and that everybody (now a little
anger is past) is so considerate; and speaks so well of you; that it
will soon be over now。'

'Dear girl。 Dear heart。 Good angel!'

'You praise me far too much。 And yet it is such an exquisite pleasure
to me to hear you speak so feelingly; and to……and to see;' said Little
Dorrit; raising her eyes to his; 'how deeply you mean it; that I cannot
say Don't。'

He lifted her hand to his lips。

'You have been here many; many times; when I have not seen you; Little
Dorrit?'

'Yes; I have been here sometimes when I have not e into the room。'

'Very often?'

'Rather often;' said Little Dorrit; timidly。

'Every day?'

'I think;' said Little Dorrit; after hesitating; 'that I have been here
at least twice every day。' He might have released the little light hand
after fervently kissing it again; but that; with a very gentle lingering
where it was; it seemed to court being retained。 He took it in both of
his; and it lay softly on his breast。

'Dear Little Dorrit; it is not my imprisonment only that will soon be
over。 This sacrifice of you must be ended。 We must learn to part again;
and to take our different ways so wide asunder。 You have not forgotten
what we said together; when you came back?'

'O no; I have not forgotten it。 But something has been……You feel quite
strong to…day; don't you?'

'Quite strong。'

The hand he held crept up a little nearer his face。

'Do you feel quite strong enough to know what a great fortune I have
got?'


'I shall be very glad to be told。 No fortune can be too great or good
for Little Dorrit。'

'I have been anxiously waiting to tell you。 I have been longing and
longing to tell you。 You are sure you will not take it?'

'Never!'

'You are quite sure you will not take half of it?'

'Never; dear Little Dorrit!'

As she looked at him silently; there was something in her affectionate
face that he did not quite prehend: something that could have broken
into tears in a moment; and yet that was happy and proud。

'You will be sorry to hear what I have to tell you about Fanny。 Poor
Fanny has lost everything。 She has nothing left but her husband's
ine。 All that papa gave her when she married was lost as your money
was lost。 It was in the same hands; and it is all gone。'

Arthur was more shocked than surprised to hear it。 'I had hoped it might
not be so bad;' he said: 'but I had feared a heavy loss there; knowing
the connection between her husband and the defaulter。'

'Yes。 It is all gone。 I am very sorry for Fanny; very; very; very sorry
for poor Fanny。 My poor brother too!' 'Had he property in the same
hands?'

'Yes! And it's all gone。……How much do you think my own great fortune
is?'

As Arthur looked at her inquiringly; with a new apprehension on him;
she withdrew her hand; and laid her face d
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