¡¶little dorrit-ÐÅÀö(Ó¢ÎÄ°æ)¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

little dorrit-ÐÅÀö(Ó¢ÎÄ°æ)- µÚ32²¿·Ö


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
tittered¡¡confusedly£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡old¡¡glances¡£

The¡¡Patriarch£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡now¡¡began¡¡to¡¡perceive¡¡that¡¡his¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡piece
was¡¡to¡¡get¡¡off¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡might¡¡be£»¡¡rose£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door
by¡¡which¡¡Pancks¡¡had¡¡worked¡¡out£»¡¡hailing¡¡that¡¡Tug¡¡by¡¡name¡£¡¡He¡¡received
an¡¡answer¡¡from¡¡some¡¡little¡¡Dock¡¡beyond£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡towed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight
directly¡£

'You¡¡mustn't¡¡think¡¡of¡¡going¡¡yet£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora¡­¡­Arthur¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his
hat£»¡¡being¡¡in¡¡a¡¡ludicrous¡¡dismay£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡knowing¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do£º¡¡'you¡¡could
never¡¡be¡¡so¡¡unkind¡¡as¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡going£»¡¡Arthur¡­¡­I¡¡mean¡¡Mr¡¡Arthur¡­¡­or¡¡I
suppose¡¡Mr¡¡Clennam¡¡would¡¡be¡¡far¡¡more¡¡proper¡­¡­but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know
what¡¡I¡¡am¡¡saying¡­¡­without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡about¡¡the¡¡dear¡¡old¡¡days¡¡gone¡¡for¡¡ever£»
when¡¡I¡¡e¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it¡¡I¡¡dare¡¡say¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡much¡¡better¡¡not¡¡to
speak¡¡of¡¡them¡¡and¡¡it's¡¡highly¡¡probable¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡some¡¡much¡¡more
agreeable¡¡engagement¡¡and¡¡pray¡¡let¡¡Me¡¡be¡¡the¡¡last¡¡person¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world
to¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡it¡¡though¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡running¡¡into
nonsense¡¡again¡£'

Was¡¡it¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡Flora¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡such¡¡a¡¡chatterer¡¡in¡¡the
days¡¡she¡¡referred¡¡to£¿¡¡Could¡¡there¡¡have¡¡been¡¡anything¡¡like¡¡her¡¡present
disjointed¡¡volubility¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fascinations¡¡that¡¡had¡¡captivated¡¡him£¿

'Indeed¡¡I¡¡have¡¡little¡¡doubt£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡running¡¡on¡¡with¡¡astonishing
speed£»¡¡and¡¡pointing¡¡her¡¡conversation¡¡with¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡mas£»¡¡and¡¡very
few¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡'that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡married¡¡to¡¡some¡¡Chinese¡¡lady£»¡¡being¡¡in¡¡China
so¡¡long¡¡and¡¡being¡¡in¡¡business¡¡and¡¡naturally¡¡desirous¡¡to¡¡settle¡¡and
extend¡¡your¡¡connection¡¡nothing¡¡was¡¡more¡¡likely¡¡than¡¡that¡¡you¡¡should
propose¡¡to¡¡a¡¡Chinese¡¡lady¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡was¡¡more¡¡natural¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡than
that¡¡the¡¡Chinese¡¡lady¡¡should¡¡accept¡¡you¡¡and¡¡think¡¡herself¡¡very¡¡well¡¡off
too£»¡¡I¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡she's¡¡not¡¡a¡¡Pagodian¡¡dissenter¡£'

'I¡¡am¡¡not£»'¡¡returned¡¡Arthur£»¡¡smiling¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡himself£»¡¡'married¡¡to
any¡¡lady£»¡¡Flora¡£'

'Oh¡¡good¡¡gracious¡¡me¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡you¡¡never¡¡kept¡¡yourself¡¡a¡¡bachelor¡¡so¡¡long
on¡¡my¡¡account£¡'¡¡tittered¡¡Flora£»¡¡'but¡¡of¡¡course¡¡you¡¡never¡¡did¡¡why¡¡should
you£»¡¡pray¡¡don't¡¡answer£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡where¡¡I'm¡¡running¡¡to£»¡¡oh¡¡do¡¡tell¡¡me
something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Chinese¡¡ladies¡¡whether¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡are¡¡really¡¡so¡¡long
and¡¡narrow¡¡always¡¡putting¡¡me¡¡in¡¡mind¡¡of¡¡mother¡­of¡­pearl¡¡fish¡¡at¡¡cards
and¡¡do¡¡they¡¡really¡¡wear¡¡tails¡¡down¡¡their¡¡back¡¡and¡¡plaited¡¡too¡¡or¡¡is
it¡¡only¡¡the¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡pull¡¡their¡¡hair¡¡so¡¡very¡¡tight¡¡off¡¡their
foreheads¡¡don't¡¡they¡¡hurt¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡why¡¡do¡¡they¡¡stick¡¡little¡¡bells
all¡¡over¡¡their¡¡bridges¡¡and¡¡temples¡¡and¡¡hats¡¡and¡¡things¡¡or¡¡don't¡¡they
really¡¡do¡¡it£¿'¡¡Flora¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡another¡¡of¡¡her¡¡old¡¡glances¡£¡¡Instantly¡¡she
went¡¡on¡¡again£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡in¡¡reply¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡£

'Then¡¡it's¡¡all¡¡true¡¡and¡¡they¡¡really¡¡do£¡¡¡good¡¡gracious¡¡Arthur£¡¡­¡­pray
excuse¡¡me¡­¡­old¡¡habit¡­¡­Mr¡¡Clennam¡¡far¡¡more¡¡proper¡­¡­what¡¡a¡¡country¡¡to¡¡live
in¡¡for¡¡so¡¡long¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡so¡¡many¡¡lanterns¡¡and¡¡umbrellas¡¡too¡¡how
very¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡wet¡¡the¡¡climate¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡and¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡actually¡¡is£»¡¡and
the¡¡sums¡¡of¡¡money¡¡that¡¡must¡¡be¡¡made¡¡by¡¡those¡¡two¡¡trades¡¡where¡¡everybody
carries¡¡them¡¡and¡¡hangs¡¡them¡¡everywhere£»¡¡the¡¡little¡¡shoes¡¡too¡¡and¡¡the
feet¡¡screwed¡¡back¡¡in¡¡infancy¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡surprising£»¡¡what¡¡a¡¡traveller¡¡you
are£¡'

In¡¡his¡¡ridiculous¡¡distress£»¡¡Clennam¡¡received¡¡another¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡glances
without¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡knowing¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡it¡£

'Dear¡¡dear£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡'only¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the¡¡changes¡¡at¡¡home
Arthur¡­¡­cannot¡¡overe¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡seems¡¡so¡¡natural£»¡¡Mr¡¡Clennam¡¡far¡¡more
proper¡­¡­since¡¡you¡¡became¡¡familiar¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Chinese¡¡customs¡¡and¡¡language
which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡persuaded¡¡you¡¡speak¡¡like¡¡a¡¡Native¡¡if¡¡not¡¡better¡¡for¡¡you¡¡were
always¡¡quick¡¡and¡¡clever¡¡though¡¡immensely¡¡difficult¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure
the¡¡tea¡¡chests¡¡alone¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡tried£»¡¡such¡¡changes¡¡Arthur¡­¡­I
am¡¡doing¡¡it¡¡again£»¡¡seems¡¡so¡¡natural£»¡¡most¡¡improper¡­¡­as¡¡no¡¡one¡¡could¡¡have
believed£»¡¡who¡¡could¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡imagined¡¡Mrs¡¡Finching¡¡when¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡imagine
it¡¡myself£¡'

'Is¡¡that¡¡your¡¡married¡¡name£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Arthur£»¡¡struck£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡all
this£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡warmth¡¡of¡¡heart¡¡that¡¡expressed¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡her¡¡tone
when¡¡she¡¡referred£»¡¡however¡¡oddly£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡youthful¡¡relation¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they
had¡¡stood¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another¡£¡¡'Finching£¿'

'Finching¡¡oh¡¡yes¡¡isn't¡¡it¡¡a¡¡dreadful¡¡name£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡said¡¡when¡¡he
proposed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡which¡¡he¡¡did¡¡seven¡¡times¡¡and¡¡handsomely¡¡consented¡¡I¡¡must
say¡¡to¡¡be¡¡what¡¡he¡¡used¡¡to¡¡call¡¡on¡¡liking¡¡twelve¡¡months£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡he
wasn't¡¡answerable¡¡for¡¡it¡¡and¡¡couldn't¡¡help¡¡it¡¡could¡¡he£»¡¡Excellent¡¡man£»
not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡like¡¡you¡¡but¡¡excellent¡¡man£¡'

Flora¡¡had¡¡at¡¡last¡¡talked¡¡herself¡¡out¡¡of¡¡breath¡¡for¡¡one¡¡moment¡£¡¡One
moment£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡recovered¡¡breath¡¡in¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of¡¡raising¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡corner
of¡¡her¡¡pocket¡­handkerchief¡¡to¡¡her¡¡eye£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡tribute¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ghost¡¡of¡¡the
departed¡¡Mr¡¡F¡££»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡again¡£

'No¡¡one¡¡could¡¡dispute£»¡¡Arthur¡­¡­Mr¡¡Clennam¡­¡­that¡¡it's¡¡quite¡¡right¡¡you
should¡¡be¡¡formally¡¡friendly¡¡to¡¡me¡¡under¡¡the¡¡altered¡¡circumstances¡¡and
indeed¡¡you¡¡couldn't¡¡be¡¡anything¡¡else£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡not¡¡you¡¡ought
to¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡help¡¡recalling¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when¡¡things
were¡¡very¡¡different¡£'

'My¡¡dear¡¡Mrs¡¡Finching£»'¡¡Arthur¡¡began£»¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡good¡¡tone¡¡again¡£

'Oh¡¡not¡¡that¡¡nasty¡¡ugly¡¡name£»¡¡say¡¡Flora£¡'

'Flora¡£¡¡I¡¡assure¡¡you£»¡¡Flora£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡happy¡¡in¡¡seeing¡¡you¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡in
finding¡¡that£»¡¡like¡¡me£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡not¡¡forgotten¡¡the¡¡old¡¡foolish¡¡dreams£»
when¡¡we¡¡saw¡¡all¡¡before¡¡us¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡our¡¡youth¡¡and¡¡hope¡£'

'You¡¡don't¡¡seem¡¡so£»'¡¡pouted¡¡Flora£»¡¡'you¡¡take¡¡it¡¡very¡¡coolly£»¡¡but
however¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡are¡¡disappointed¡¡in¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡the¡¡Chinese
ladies¡­¡­Mandarinesses¡¡if¡¡you¡¡call¡¡them¡¡so¡­¡­are¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡I¡¡am
the¡¡cause¡¡myself£»¡¡it's¡¡just¡¡as¡¡likely¡£'

'No£»¡¡no£»'¡¡Clennam¡¡entreated£»¡¡'don't¡¡say¡¡that¡£'

'Oh¡¡I¡¡must¡¡you¡¡know£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡positive¡¡tone£»¡¡'what¡¡nonsense¡¡not
to£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡what¡¡you¡¡expected£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that¡¡very¡¡well¡£'

In¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡her¡¡rapidity£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡found¡¡that¡¡out¡¡with¡¡the¡¡quick
perception¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cleverer¡¡woman¡£¡¡The¡¡inconsistent¡¡and¡¡profoundly
unreasonable¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡instantly¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¡to
interweave¡¡their¡¡long¡­abandoned¡¡boy¡¡and¡¡girl¡¡relations¡¡with¡¡their
present¡¡interview£»¡¡made¡¡Clennam¡¡feel¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡light¡­headed¡£

'One¡¡remark£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡giving¡¡their¡¡conversation£»¡¡without¡¡the
slightest¡¡notice¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡terror¡¡of¡¡Clennam£»¡¡the¡¡tone¡¡of¡¡a
love¡­quarrel£»¡¡'I¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡make£»¡¡one¡¡explanation¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡offer£»¡¡when
your¡¡Mama¡¡came¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡it¡¡with¡¡my¡¡Papa¡¡and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡called
down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡little¡¡breakfast¡­room¡¡where¡¡they¡¡were¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡one
another¡¡with¡¡your¡¡Mama's¡¡parasol¡¡between¡¡them¡¡seated¡¡on¡¡two¡¡chairs¡¡like
mad¡¡bulls¡¡what¡¡was¡¡I¡¡to¡¡do£¿'

'My¡¡dear¡¡Mrs¡¡Finching£»'¡¡urged¡¡Clennam¡­¡­'all¡¡so¡¡long¡¡ago¡¡and¡¡so¡¡long
concluded£»¡¡is¡¡it¡¡worth¡¡while¡¡seriously¡¡to¡­¡­'

'I¡¡can't¡¡Arthur£»'¡¡returned¡¡Flora£»¡¡'be¡¡denounced¡¡as¡¡heartless¡¡by¡¡the
whole¡¡society¡¡of¡¡China¡¡without¡¡setting¡¡myself¡¡right¡¡when¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the
opportunity¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡so£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡must¡¡be¡¡very¡¡well¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡there
was¡¡Paul¡¡and¡¡Virginia¡¡which¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡returned¡¡and¡¡which¡¡was¡¡returned
without¡¡note¡¡or¡¡ment£»¡¡not¡¡that¡¡I¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡you¡¡could¡¡have¡¡written
to¡¡me¡¡watched¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡but¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡only¡¡e¡¡back¡¡with¡¡a¡¡red¡¡wafer¡¡on
the¡¡cover¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡known¡¡that¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡e¡¡to¡¡Pekin¡¡Nankeen¡¡and
What's¡¡the¡¡third¡¡place£»¡¡barefoot¡£'

'My¡¡dear¡¡Mrs¡¡Finching£»¡¡you¡¡were¡¡not¡¡to¡¡blame£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡never¡¡blamed¡¡you¡£
We¡¡were¡¡both¡¡too¡¡young£»¡¡too¡¡dependent¡¡and¡¡helpless£»¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡but
accept¡¡our¡¡separation¡£¡­¡­Pray¡¡think¡¡how¡¡long¡¡ago£»'¡¡gently¡¡remonstrated
Arthur¡£¡¡'One¡¡more¡¡remark£»'¡¡proceeded¡¡Flora¡¡with¡¡unslackened¡¡volubility£»
'I¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡make£»¡¡one¡¡more¡¡explanation¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡offer£»¡¡for¡¡five¡¡days¡¡I
had¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡in¡¡the¡¡head¡¡from¡¡crying¡¡which¡¡I¡¡passed¡¡entirely¡¡in¡¡the¡¡back
drawing¡­room¡­¡­there¡¡is¡¡the¡¡back¡¡drawing¡­room¡¡still¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡floor
and¡¡still¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡to¡¡confirm¡¡my¡¡words¡­¡­when¡¡that¡¡dreary
period¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡a¡¡lull¡¡succeeded¡¡years¡¡rolled¡¡on¡¡and¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡became
acquainted¡¡with¡¡us¡¡at¡¡a¡¡mutual¡¡friend's£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡all¡¡attention¡¡he¡¡called
next¡¡day¡¡he¡¡soon¡¡began¡¡to¡¡call¡¡three¡¡evenings¡¡a¡¡week¡¡and¡¡to¡¡send
in¡¡little¡¡things¡¡for¡¡supper¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡love¡¡on¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£'s¡¡part¡¡it¡¡was
adoration£»¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡proposed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡full¡¡approval¡¡of¡¡Papa¡¡and¡¡what¡¡could
I¡¡do£¿'

'Nothing¡¡whatever£»'¡¡said¡¡Arthur£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡cheerfulest¡¡readiness£»¡¡'but
what¡¡you¡¡did¡£¡¡Let¡¡an¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡assure¡¡you¡¡of¡¡his¡¡full¡¡conviction¡¡that
you¡¡did¡¡quite¡¡right¡£'

'One¡¡last¡¡remark£»'¡¡proceeded¡¡Flora£»¡¡rejecting¡¡monplace¡¡life¡¡with¡¡a
wave¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡'I¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡make£»¡¡one¡¡last¡¡explanation¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡offer£»
there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡time¡¡ere¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡first¡¡paid¡¡attentions¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡being
mistaken£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡is¡¡past¡¡and¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡dear¡¡Mr¡¡Clennam¡¡you¡¡no
longer¡¡wear¡¡a¡¡golden¡¡chain¡¡you¡¡are¡¡free¡¡I¡¡trust¡¡you¡¡may¡¡be¡¡happy£»¡¡here
is¡¡Papa¡¡who¡¡is¡¡always¡¡tiresome¡¡and¡¡putting¡¡in¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡everywhere¡¡where
he¡¡is¡¡not¡¡wanted¡£'

With¡¡these¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hasty¡¡gesture¡¡fraught¡¡with¡¡timid
caution¡­¡­such¡¡a¡¡gesture¡¡had¡¡Clennam's¡¡eyes¡¡been¡¡familiar¡¡with¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old
time¡­¡­poor¡¡Flora¡¡left¡¡herself¡¡at¡¡eighteen¡¡years¡¡of¡¡age£»¡¡a¡¡long¡¡long¡¡way
behind¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡full¡¡stop¡¡at¡¡last¡£

Or¡¡rather£»¡¡she¡¡left¡¡about¡¡half¡¡of¡¡herself¡¡at¡¡eighteen¡¡years¡¡of¡¡age
behind£»¡¡and¡¡grafted¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡relict¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Mr¡¡F¡££»¡¡thus
making¡¡a¡¡moral¡¡mermaid¡¡of¡¡herself£»¡¡which¡¡her¡¡once¡¡boy¡­lover¡¡contemplated
with¡¡feelings¡¡wherein¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sorrowful¡¡and¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡the
ical¡¡were¡¡curiously¡¡blended¡£

For¡¡example¡£¡¡As¡¡if¡¡there¡¡were¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡understanding¡¡between¡¡herself
and¡¡Clennam¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡thrilling¡¡nature£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡first¡¡of¡¡a¡¡train¡¡of
post¡­chaises¡¡and¡¡four£»¡¡extending¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Scotland£»¡¡were¡¡at¡¡that
moment¡¡round¡¡the¡¡corner£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡£¨and¡¡wouldn't£©¡¡have
walked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Parish¡¡Church¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family
umbrella£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Patriarchal¡¡blessing¡¡on¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡perfect
concurrence¡¡of¡¡all¡¡mankind£»¡¡Flora¡¡forted¡¡her¡¡soul¡¡with¡¡agonies¡¡of
mysterious¡¡signalling£»¡¡expressing¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡discovery¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡sensation
of¡¡being¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡light¡­headed¡¡every¡¡minute£»¡¡Clennam¡¡saw¡¡the
relict¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡enjoying¡¡herself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡wonderful¡¡manner£»
by¡¡putting¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡him¡¡in¡¡their¡¡old¡¡places£»¡¡and¡¡going¡¡through¡¡all
the¡¡old¡¡performances¡­¡­now£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡was¡¡dusty£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡scenery
was¡¡faded£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡youthful¡¡actors¡¡were¡¡dead£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡orchestra¡¡was
empty£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡were¡¡out¡£¡¡And¡¡still£»¡¡through¡¡all¡¡this¡¡grotesque
revival¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡as¡¡having¡¡once¡¡been¡¡prettily¡¡natural¡¡to
her£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡but¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡it¡¡revived¡¡at¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡that
there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tender¡¡memory¡¡in¡¡it¡£

The¡¡Patriarch¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡his¡¡staying¡¡to¡¡dinner£»¡¡and¡¡Flora¡¡signalled
'Yes£¡'¡¡Clennam¡¡so¡¡wished¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡done¡¡more¡¡than¡¡stay¡¡to¡¡dinner¡­¡­so
heartily¡¡wished¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡found¡¡the¡¡Flora¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡or¡¡that
never¡¡had¡¡been¡­¡­that¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡least¡¡atonement¡¡he¡¡could¡¡make¡¡for
the¡¡disappointment¡¡he¡¡almost¡¡felt¡¡ashamed¡¡of£»¡¡was¡¡to¡¡give¡¡himself¡¡up¡¡to
the¡¡family¡¡desire¡£¡¡Therefore£»¡¡he¡¡stayed¡¡to¡¡dinner¡£

Pancks¡¡dined¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡Pancks¡¡steamed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡little¡¡dock¡¡at¡¡a
quarter¡¡before¡¡six£»¡¡and¡¡bore¡¡straight¡¡down¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Patriarch£»¡¡who
happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡then¡¡driving£»¡¡in¡¡an¡¡inane¡¡manner£»¡¡through¡¡a¡¡stagnant
account¡¡of¡¡Bleeding¡¡Heart¡¡Yard¡£¡¡Pancks¡¡instantly¡¡made¡¡fast¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and
hauled¡¡him¡¡out¡£

'Bleeding¡¡Heart¡¡Yard£¿'¡¡said¡¡Pancks£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡puff¡¡and¡¡a¡¡snort¡£¡¡'It's¡¡a
troublesome¡¡property¡£¡¡Don't¡¡pay¡¡you¡¡badly£»¡¡but¡¡rents¡¡are¡¡very¡¡hard¡¡to
get¡¡there¡£¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü