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！
significance of his emphasis； 'but it is not every one who can go out。'
'Pardon me once more。 Are you familiar with the place？'
'Sir；' returned the old man； squeezing his little packet of snuff in his
hand； and turning upon his interrogator as if such questions hurt him。
'I am。'
'I beg you to excuse me。 I am not impertinently curious； but have a good
object。 Do you know the name of Dorrit here？'
'My name； sir；' replied the old man most unexpectedly； 'is Dorrit。'
Arthur pulled off his hat to him。 'Grant me the favour of half…a…dozen
words。 I was wholly unprepared for your announcement； and hope that
assurance is my sufficient apology for having taken the liberty of
addressing you。 I have recently e home to England after a long
absence。 I have seen at my mother's……Mrs Clennam in the city……a young
woman working at her needle； whom I have only heard addressed or spoken
of as Little Dorrit。 I have felt sincerely interested in her； and have
had a great desire to know something more about her。 I saw her； not a
minute before you came up； pass in at that door。'
The old man looked at him attentively。 'Are you a sailor； sir？' he
asked。 He seemed a little disappointed by the shake of the head that
replied to him。 'Not a sailor？ I judged from your sunburnt face that you
might be。 Are you in earnest； sir？'
'I do assure you that I am； and do entreat you to believe that I am； in
plain earnest。'
'I know very little of the world； sir；' returned the other； who had a
merely passing on； like the shadow over
the sun…dial。 It would be worth no man's while to mislead me； it would
really be too easy……too poor a success； to yield any satisfaction。 The
young woman whom you saw go in here is my brother's child。 My brother
is William Dorrit； I am Frederick。 You say you have seen her at your
mother's （I know your mother befriends her）； you have felt an interest
in her； and you wish to know what she does here。 e and see。'
He went on again； and Arthur acpanied him。
'My brother；' said the old man； pausing on the step and slowly facing
round again； 'has been here many years； and much that happens even among
ourselves； out of doors； is kept from him for reasons that I needn't
enter upon now。 Be so good as to say nothing of my niece's working at
her needle。 Be so good as to say nothing that goes beyond what is said
among us。 If you keep within our bounds； you cannot well be wrong。 Now！
e and see。'
Arthur followed him down a narrow entry； at the end of which a key was
turned； and a strong door was opened from within。 It admitted them into
a lodge or lobby； across which they passed； and so through another door
and a grating into the prison。 The old man always plodding on before；
turned round； in his slow； stiff； stooping manner； when they came to the
turnkey on duty； as if to present his panion。 The turnkey nodded； and
the panion passed in without being asked whom he wanted。
The night was dark； and the prison lamps in the yard； and the candles in
the prison windows faintly shining behind many sorts of wry old curtain
and blind； had not the air of making it lighter。 A few people loitered
about； but the greater part of the population was within doors。 The old
man； taking the right…hand side of the yard； turned in at the third or
fourth doorway； and began to ascend the stairs。 'They are rather dark；
sir； but you will not find anything in the way。'
He paused for a moment before opening a door on the second story。 He had
no sooner turned the handle than the visitor saw Little Dorrit； and saw
the reason of her setting so much store by dining alone。
She had brought the meat home that she should have eaten herself； and
was already warming it on a gridiron over the fire for her father； clad
in an old grey gown and a black cap； awaiting his supper at the table。
A clean cloth was spread before him； with knife； fork； and spoon；
salt…cellar； pepper…box； glass； and pewter ale…pot。 Such zests as his
particular little phial of cayenne pepper and his pennyworth of pickles
in a saucer； were not wanting。
She started； coloured deeply； and turned white。 The visitor； more with
his eyes than by the slight impulsive motion of his hand； entreated her
to be reassured and to trust him。
'I found this gentleman；' said the uncle……'Mr Clennam； William； son of
Amy's friend……at the outer gate； wishful； as he was going by； of paying
his respects； but hesitating whether to e in or not。 This is my
brother William； sir。'
'I hope；' said Arthur； very doubtful what to say； 'that my respect for
your daughter may explain and justify my desire to be presented to you；
sir。'
'Mr Clennam；' returned the other； rising； taking his cap off in the
flat of his hand； and so holding it； ready to put on again； 'you do me
honour。 You are wele； sir；' with a low bow。 'Frederick； a chair。 Pray
sit down； Mr Clennam。'
He put his black cap on again as he had taken it off； and resumed his
own seat。 There was a wonderful air of benignity and patronage in his
manner。 These were the ceremonies with which he received the collegians。
'You are wele to the Marshalsea； sir。 I have weled many gentlemen
to these walls。 Perhaps you are aware……my daughter Amy may have
mentioned that I am the Father of this place。'
'I……so I have understood；' said Arthur； dashing at the assertion。
'You know； I dare say； that my daughter Amy was born here。 A good girl；
sir； a dear girl； and long a fort and support to me。 Amy； my dear；
put this dish on； Mr Clennam will excuse the primitive customs to which
we are reduced here。 Is it a pliment to ask you if you would do me
the honour； sir； to……'
'Thank you；' returned Arthur。 'Not a morsel。'
He felt himself quite lost in wonder at the manner of the man； and that
the probability of his daughter's having had a reserve as to her family
history； should be so far out of his mind。
She filled his glass； put all the little matters on the table ready to
his hand； and then sat beside him while he ate his supper。 Evidently in
observance of their nightly custom； she put some bread before herself；
and touched his glass with her lips； but Arthur saw she was troubled
and took not