little dorrit-信丽(英文版)- 第29部分

'Four　year　just　turned；　sir；'　said　Mrs　Plornish。　'He　IS　a　fine　little
fellow；　ain't　he；　sir？　But　this　one　is　rather　sickly。'　She　tenderly
hushed　the　baby　in　her　arms；　as　she　said　it。　'You　wouldn't　mind　my
asking　if　it　happened　to　be　a　job　as　you　was　e　about；　sir；　would
you？'　asked　Mrs　Plornish　wistfully。

She　asked　it　so　anxiously；　that　if　he　had　been　in　possession　of　any
kind　of　tenement；　he　would　have　had　it　plastered　a　foot　deep　rather
than　answer　No。　But　he　was　obliged　to　answer　No；　and　he　saw　a　shade　of
disappointment　on　her　face；　as　she　checked　a　sigh；　and　looked　at　the
low　fire。　Then　he　saw；　also；　that　Mrs　Plornish　was　a　young　woman；　made
somewhat　slatternly　in　herself　and　her　belongings　by　poverty；　and　so
dragged　at　by　poverty　and　the　children　together；　that　their　united
forces　had　already　dragged　her　face　into　wrinkles。

'All　such　things　as　jobs；'　said　Mrs　Plornish；　'seems　to　me　to　have　gone
underground；　they　do　indeed。'　（Herein　Mrs　Plornish　limited　her　remark　to
the　plastering　trade；　and　spoke　without　reference　to　the　Circumlocution
Office　and　the　Barnacle　Family。）

'Is　it　so　difficult　to　get　work？'　asked　Arthur　Clennam。

'Plornish　finds　it　so；'　she　returned。　'He　is　quite　unfortunate。　Really
he　is。'　Really　he　was。　He　was　one　of　those　many　wayfarers　on　the　road
of　life；　who　seem　to　be　afflicted　with　supernatural　corns；　rendering　it
impossible　for　them　to　keep　up　even　with　their　lame　petitors。

A　willing；　working；　soft　hearted；　not　hard…headed　fellow；　Plornish　took
his　fortune　as　smoothly　as　could　be　expected；　but　it　was　a　rough　one。
It　so　rarely　happened　that　anybody　seemed　to　want　him；　it　was　such　an
exceptional　case　when　his　poisty
mind　could　not　make　out　how　it　happened。　He　took　it　as　it　came；
therefore；　he　tumbled　into　all　kinds　of　difficulties；　and　tumbled　out　of
them；　and；　by　tumbling　through　life；　got　himself　considerably　bruised。

'It's　not　for　want　of　looking　after　jobs；　I　am　sure；'　said　Mrs　Plornish；
lifting　up　her　eyebrows；　and　searching　for　a　solution　of　the　problem
between　the　bars　of　the　grate；　'nor　yet　for　want　of　working　at　them　when
they　are　to　be　got。　No　one　ever　heard　my　husband　plain　of　work。'

Somehow　or　other；　this　was　the　general　misfortune　of　Bleeding　Heart
Yard。　From　time　to　time　there　were　public　plaints；　pathetically
going　about；　of　labour　being　scarce……which　certain　people　seemed　to　take
extraordinarily　ill；　as　though　they　had　an　absolute　right　to　it　on　their
own　terms……but　Bleeding　Heart　Yard；　though　as　willing　a　Yard　as　any　in
Britain；　was　never　the　better　for　the　demand。　That　high　old　family；　the
Barnacles；　had　long　been　too　busy　with　their　great　principle　to　look
into　the　matter；　and　indeed　the　matter　had　nothing　to　do　with　their
watchfulness　in　out…generalling　all　other　high　old　families　except　the
Stiltstalkings。

While　Mrs　Plornish　spoke　in　these　words　of　her　absent　lord；　her　lord
returned。　A　smooth…cheeked；　fresh…coloured；　sandy…whiskered　man　of
thirty。　Long　in　the　legs；　yielding　at　the　knees；　foolish　in　the　face；
flannel…jacketed；　lime…whitened。

'This　is　Plornish；　sir。'

'I　came；'　said　Clennam；　rising；　'to　beg　the　favour　of　a　little
conversation　with　you　on　the　subject　of　the　Dorrit　family。'

Plornish　became　suspicious。　Seemed　to　scent　a　creditor。　Said；　'Ah；　yes。
Well。　He　didn't　know　what　satisfaction　he　could　give　any　gentleman；
respecting　that　family。　What　might　it　be　about；　now？'

'I　know　you　better；'　said　Clennam；　smiling；　'than　you　suppose。'

Plornish　observed；　not　Smiling　in　return；　And　yet　he　hadn't　the　pleasure
of　being　acquainted　with　the　gentleman；　neither。

'No；'　said　Arthur；　'I　know　your　kind　offices　at　second　hand；　but　on　the
best　authority；　through　Little　Dorrit。……I　mean；'　he　explained；　'Miss
Dorrit。'

'Mr　Clennam；　is　it？　Oh！　I've　heard　of　you；　Sir。'

'And　I　of　you；'　said　Arthur。

'Please　to　sit　down　again；　Sir；　and　consider　yourself　wele。……Why；
yes；'　said　Plornish；　taking　a　chair；　and　lifting　the　elder　child　upon
his　knee；　that　he　might　have　the　moral　support　of　speaking　to　a　stranger
over　his　head；　'I　have　been　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　Lock　myself；　and
in　that　way　we　e　to　know　Miss　Dorrit。　Me　and　my　wife；　we　are　well
acquainted　with　Miss　Dorrit。'　'Intimate！'　cried　Mrs　Plornish。　Indeed；
she　was　so　proud　of　the　acquaintance；　that　she　had　awakened　some
bitterness　of　spirit　in　the　Yard　by　magnifying　to　an　enormous　amount　the
sum　for　which　Miss　Dorrit's　father　had　bee　insolvent。　The　Bleeding
Hearts　resented　her　claiming　to　know　people　of　such　distinction。

'It　was　her　father　that　I　got　acquainted　with　first。　And　through　getting
acquainted　with　him；　you　see……why……I　got　acquainted　with　her；'　said
Plornish　tautologically。

'I　see。'

'Ah！　And　there's　manners！　There's　polish！　There's　a　gentleman　to　have
run　to　seed　in　the　Marshalsea　jail！　Why；　perhaps　you　are　not　aware；'
said　Plornish；　lowering　his　voice；　and　speaking　with　a　perverse
admiration　of　what　he　ought　to　have　pitied　or　despised；　'not　aware　that
Miss　Dorrit　and　her　sister　dursn't　let　him　know　that　they　work　for　a
living。　No！'　said　Plornish；　looking　with　a　ridiculous　triumph　first　at
his　wife；　and　then　all　round　the　room。　'Dursn't　let　him　know　it；　they
dursn't！'

'Without　admiring　him　for　that；'　Clennam　quietly　observed；　'I　am　very
sorry　for　him。'　The　remark　appeared　to　suggest　to　Plornish；　for　the
first　time；　that　it　might　not　be　a　very　fine　trait　of　character　after
all。　He　pondered　about　it　for　a　moment；　and　gave　it　up。

'As　to　me；'　he　resumed；　'certainly　Mr　Dorrit　is　as　affable　with　me；　I
am　sure；　as　I　can　possibly　expect。　Considering　the　differences　and
distances　betwixt　us；　more　so。　But　it's　Miss　Dorrit　that　we　were
speaking　of。'

'True。　Pray　how　did　you　introduce　her　at　my　mother's！'

Mr　Plornish　picked　a　bit　of　lime　out　of　his　whisker；　put　it　between　his
lips；　turned　it　with　his　tongue　like　a　sugar…plum；　considered；　found
himself　unequal　to　the　task　of　lucid　explanation；　and　appealing　to　his
wife；　said；　'Sally；　you　may　as　well　mention　how　it　was；　old　woman。'

'Miss　Dorrit；'　said　Sally；　hushing　the　baby　from　side　to　side；　and
laying　her　chin　upon　the　little　hand　as　it　tried　to　disarrange　the　gown
again；　'came　here　one　afternoon　with　a　bit　of　writing；　telling　that
how　she　wished　for　needlework；　and　asked　if　it　would　be　considered　any
ill…conwenience　in　case　she　was　to　give　her　address　here。'　（Plornish
repeated；　her　address　here；　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　he　were　making
responses　at　church。）　'Me　and　Plornish　says；　No；　Miss　Dorrit；　no
ill…conwenience；'　（Plornish　repeated；　no　ill…conwenience；）　'and　she
wrote　it　in；　according。　Which　then　me　and　Plornish　says；　Ho　Miss
Dorrit！'　（Plornish　repeated；　Ho　Miss　Dorrit。）　'Have　you　thought　of
copying　it　three　or　four　times；　as　the　way　to　make　it　known　in　more
places　than　one？　No；　says　Miss　Dorrit；　I　have　not；　but　I　will。　She
copied　it　out　according；　on　this　table；　in　a　sweet　writing；　and
Plornish；　he　took　it　where　he　worked；　having　a　job　just　then；'　（Plornish
repeated　job　just　then；）　'and　likewise　to　the　landlord　of　the　Yard；
through　which　it　was　that　Mrs　Clennam　first　happened　to　employ　Miss
Dorrit。'　Plornish　repeated；　employ　Miss　Dorrit；　and　Mrs　Plornish　having
e　to　an　end；　feigned　to　bite　the　fingers　of　the　little　hand　as　she
kissed　it。

'The　landlord　of　the　Yard；'　said　Arthur　Clennam；　'is……'

'He　is　Mr　Casby；　by　name；　he　is；'　said　Plornish；　'and　Pancks；　he
collects　the　rents。　That；'　added　Mr　Plornish；　dwelling　on　the　subject
with　a　slow　thoughtfulness　that　appeared　to　have　no　connection　with　any
specific　object；　and　to　lead　him　nowhere；　'that　is　about　what　they　are；
you　may　believe　me　or　not；　as　you　think　proper。'

'Ay？'　returned　Clennam；　thoughtful　in　his　turn。　'Mr　Casby；　too！　An　old
acquaintance　of　mine；　long　ago！'

Mr　Plornish　did　not　see　his　road　to　any　ment　on　this　fact；　and　made
none。　As　there　truly　was　no　reason　why　he　should　have　the　least　interest
in　it；　Arthur　Clennam　went　on　to　the　present　purport　of　his　visit；
namely；　to　make　Plornish　the　instrument　of　effecting　Tip's　release；
with　as　little　detriment　as　possible　to　the　self…reliance　and
self…helpfulness　of　the　young　man；　supposing　him　to　possess　any　remnant
of　those　qualities：　without　doubt　a　very　wide　stretch　of　supposition。
Plornish；　having　been　made　acquainted　with　the　cause　of　action　from　the
Defendant's　own　mouth；　gave　Arthur　to　understand　that　the　Plaintiff
was　a　'Chaunter'……meaning；　not　a　singer　of　anthems；　but　a　seller　of
horses……and　that　he　（Plornish）　considered　that　ten　shillings　in　the
pound　'would　settle　handsome；'　and　that　more　would　be　a　waste　of　money。
The　Principal　and　instrument　soon　drove　off　together　to　a　stable…yard　in
High　Holborn；　where　a　remarkably　fine　grey　gelding；　worth；　at　the　lowest
figure；　seventy…five　guineas　（not　taking　into　account　the　value　of　the
shot　he　had　been　made　to　swallow　for　the　improvement　of　his　form）；　was
to　be　parted　with　for　a　twenty…pound　note；　in　consequence　of　his　having
run　away　last　week　with　Mrs　Captain　Barbary　of　Cheltenham；　who　wasn't　up
to　a　horse　of　his　courage；　and　who；　in　mere　spite；　insisted　on　selling
him　for　that　ridiculous　sum：　or；　in　other　words；　on　giving　him　away。
Plornish；　going　up　this　yard　alone　and　leaving　his　Principal　outside；
found　a　gentleman　with　tight　drab　legs；　a　rather　old　hat；　a　little
hooked　stick；　and　a　blue　neckerchief　（Captain　Maroon　of　Gloucestershire；
a　private　friend　of　Captain　Barbary）；　who　happened　to　be　there；　in
a　friendly　way；　to　mention　these　little　circumstances　concerning　the
remarkably　fine　grey　gelding　to　any　real　judge　of　a　horse　and　quick
snapper…up　of　a　good　thing；　who　might　look　in　at　that　address　as　per
advertisement。　This　gentleman；　happening　also　to　be　the　Plaintiff　in　the
Tip　case；　referred　Mr　Plornish　to　his　solicitor；　and　declined　to　treat
with　Mr　Plornish；　or　even　to　endure　his　presence　in　the　yard；　unless
he　appeared　there　with　a　twenty…pound　note：　in　which　case　only；　the
gentleman　would　augur　from　appearances　that　he　meant　business；　and
might　be　induced　to　talk　to　him。　On　this　hint；　Mr　Plornish　retired
to　municate　with　his　Principal；　and　presently　came　back　with　the
required　credentials。　Then　said　Captain　Maroon；　'Now；　how　much　time　do
you　want　to　make　the　other　twenty　in？　Now；　I'll　give　you　a　month。'　Then
said　Captain　Maroon；　when　that　wouldn't　suit；　'Now；　I'll　tell　what　I'll
do　with　you。　You　shall　get　me　a　good　bill　at　four　months；　made　payable
at　a　banking…house；　for　the　other　twenty！'　Then　said　Captain　Maroon；
when　THAT　wouldn't　suit；　'Now；　e；　Here's　the　last　I've　got　to　say
to　you。　You　shall　give　me　another　ten　down；　and　I'll　run　my　pen　clean
through　it。'　Then　said　Captain　Maroon　when　THAT　wouldn't　suit；　'Now；
I'll　tell　you　what　it　is；　and　this　shuts　it　up；　he　has　used　me　bad；　but
I'll　let　him　off　for　another　five　down　and　a　bottle　of　wine；　and　if　you
mean　done；　say　done；　and　if　you　don't　like　it；　leave　it。'　Finally　said
Captain　Maroon；　when　THAT　wouldn't　suit　either；　'Hand　over；　then！'……And
in　consideration　of　the　first　offer；　gave　a　receipt　in　full　and
discharged　the　prisoner。

'Mr　Plornish；'　said　Arthur；　'I　trust　to　you；　if　you　please；　to　keep　my
secret。　If　you　will　undertake　to　let　the　young　man　know　that　he　is　free；