little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第58章

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Whether　it　had　occurred　to　his　good　friend；　that　Society　might　not
unreasonably　hope　that　one　so　blest　in　his　undertakings；　and　whose
example　on　his　pedestal　was　so　influential　with　it；　would　shed　a　little
money　in　the　direction　of　a　mission　or　so　to　Africa？

Mr　Merdle　signifying　that　the　idea　should　have　his　best　attention；
Bishop　put　another　case：

Whether　his　good　friend　had　at　all　interested　himself　in　the　proceedings
of　our　bined　Additional　Endowed　Dignitaries　mittee；　and　whether　it
had　occurred　to　him　that　to　shed　a　little　money　in　that　direction　might
be　a　great　conception　finely　executed？

Mr　Merdle　made　a　similar　reply；　and　Bishop　explained　his　reason　for
inquiring。

Society　looked　to　such　men　as　his　good　friend　to　do　such　things。　It　was
not　that　HE　looked　to　them；　but　that　Society　looked　to　them。

Just　as　it　was　not　Our　mittee　who　wanted　the　Additional　Endowed
Dignitaries；　but　it　was　Society　that　was　in　a　state　of　the　most
agonising　uneasiness　of　mind　until　it　got　them。　He　begged　to　assure　his
good　friend　that　he　was　extremely　sensible　of　his　good　friend's　regard
on　all　occasions　for　the　best　interests　of　Society；　and　he　considered
that　he　was　at　once　consulting　those　interests　and　expressing　the
feeling　of　Society；　when　he　wished　him　continued　prosperity；　continued
increase　of　riches；　and　continued　things　in　general。

Bishop　then　betook　himself　up…stairs；　and　the　other　magnates　gradually
floated　up　after　him　until　there　was　no　one　left　below　but　Mr　Merdle。
That　gentleman；　after　looking　at　the　table…cloth　until　the　soul　of　the
chief　butler　glowed　with　a　noble　resentment；　went　slowly　up　after　the
rest；　and　became　of　no　account　in　the　stream　of　people　on　the　grand
staircase。　Mrs　Merdle　was　at　home；　the　best　of　the　jewels　were　hung　out
to　be　seen；　Society　got　what　it　came　for；　Mr　Merdle　drank　twopennyworth
of　tea　in　a　corner　and　got　more　than　he　wanted。

Among　the　evening　magnates　was　a　famous　physician；　who　knew　everybody；
and　whom　everybody　knew。　On　entering　at　the　door；　he　came　upon　Mr　Merdle
drinking　his　tea　in　a　corner；　and　touched　him　on　the　arm。

Mr　Merdle　started。　'Oh！　It's　you！'

'Any　better　to…day？'

'No；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　'I　am　no　better。'

'A　pity　I　didn't　see　you　this　morning。　Pray　e　to　me　to…morrow；　or　let
me　e　to　you。'

'Well！'　he　replied。　'I　will　e　to…morrow　as　I　drive　by。'　Bar　and
Bishop　had　both　been　bystanders　during　this　short　dialogue；　and　as　Mr
Merdle　was　swept　away　by　the　crowd；　they　made　their　remarks　upon　it
to　the　Physician。　Bar　said；　there　was　a　certain　point　of　mental　strain
beyond　which　no　man　could　go；　that　the　point　varied　with　various
textures　of　brain　and　peculiarities　of　constitution；　as　he　had　had
occasion　to　notice　in　several　of　his　learned　brothers；　but　the　point　of
endurance　passed　by　a　line's　breadth；　depression　and　dyspepsia　ensued。
Not　to　intrude　on　the　sacred　mysteries　of　medicine；　he　took　it；　now
（with　the　jury　droop　and　persuasive　eye…glass）；　that　this　was　Merdle's
case？　Bishop　said　that　when　he　was　a　young　man；　and　had　fallen　for　a
brief　space　into　the　habit　of　writing　sermons　on　Saturdays；　a　habit
which　all　young　sons　of　the　church　should　sedulously　avoid；　he　had
frequently　been　sensible　of　a　depression；　arising　as　he　supposed　from　an
over…taxed　intellect；　upon　which　the　yolk　of　a　new…laid　egg；　beaten　up
by　the　good　woman　in　whose　house　he　at　that　time　lodged；　with　a　glass
of　sound　sherry；　nutmeg；　and　powdered　sugar　acted　like　a　charm。　Without
presuming　to　offer　so　simple　a　remedy　to　the　consideration　of　so
profound　a　professor　of　the　great　healing　art；　he　would　venture　to
inquire　whether　the　strain；　being　by　way　of　intricate　calculations；
the　spirits　might　not　（humanly　speaking）　be　restored　to　their　tone　by　a
gentle　and　yet　generous　stimulant？

'Yes；'　said　the　physician；　'yes；　you　are　both　right。　But　I　may　as　well
tell　you　that　I　can　find　nothing　the　matter　with　Mr　Merdle。　He　has
the　constitution　of　a　rhinoceros；　the　digestion　of　an　ostrich；　and
the　concentration　of　an　oyster。　As　to　nerves；　Mr　Merdle　is　of　a　cool
temperament；　and　not　a　sensitive　man：　is　about　as　invulnerable；　I　should
say；　as　Achilles。　How　such　a　man　should　suppose　himself　unwell　without
reason；　you　may　think　strange。　But　I　have　found　nothing　the　matter　with
him。　He　may　have　some　deep…seated　recondite　plaint。　I　can't　say。　I
only　say；　that　at　present　I　have　not　found　it　out。'

There　was　no　shadow　of　Mr　Merdle's　plaint　on　the　bosom　now　displaying
precious　stones　in　rivalry　with　many　similar　superb　jewel…stands；　there
was　no　shadow　of　Mr　Merdle's　plaint　on　young　Sparkler　hovering　about
the　rooms；　monomaniacally　seeking　any　sufficiently　ineligible　young　lady
with　no　nonsense　about　her；　there　was　no　shadow　of　Mr　Merdle's　plaint
on　the　Barnacles　and　Stiltstalkings；　of　whom　whole　colonies　were
present；　or　on　any　of　the　pany。　Even　on　himself；　its　shadow　was　faint
enough　as　he　moved　about　among　the　throng；　receiving　homage。

Mr　Merdle's　plaint。　Society　and　he　had　so　much　to　do　with　one　another
in　all　things　else；　that　it　is　hard　to　imagine　his　plaint；　if　he
had　one；　being　solely　his　own　affair。　Had　he　that　deep…seated　recondite
plaint；　and　did　any　doctor　find　it　out？　Patience；　in　the　meantime；
the　shadow　of　the　Marshalsea　wall　was　a　real　darkening　influence；　and
could　be　seen　on　the　Dorrit　Family　at　any　stage　of　the　sun's　course。




CHAPTER　22。　A　Puzzle


Mr　Clennam　did　not　increase　in　favour　with　the　Father　of　the　Marshalsea
in　the　ratio　of　his　increasing　visits。　His　obtuseness　on　the　great
Testimonial　question　was　not　calculated　to　awaken　admiration　in　the
paternal　breast；　but　had　rather　a　tendency　to　give　offence　in　that
sensitive　quarter；　and　to　be　regarded　as　a　positive　shorting　in　point
of　gentlemanly　feeling。　An　impression　of　disappointment；　occasioned
by　the　discovery　that　Mr　Clennam　scarcely　possessed　that　delicacy　for
which；　in　the　confidence　of　his　nature；　he　had　been　inclined　to　give
him　credit；　began　to　darken　the　fatherly　mind　in　connection　with　that
gentleman。　The　father　went　so　far　as　to　say；　in　his　private　family
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