little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第13章
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bright glories of fancy。 He leaned upon the sill of the long low window；
and looking out upon the blackened forest of chimneys again； began to
dream； for it had been the uniform tendency of this man's life……so much
was wanting in it to think about； so much that might have been better
directed and happier to speculate upon……to make him a dreamer； after
all。
CHAPTER 4。 Mrs Flintwinch has a Dream
When Mrs Flintwinch dreamed； she usually dreamed； unlike the son of her
old mistress； with her eyes shut。 She had a curiously vivid dream that
night； and before she had left the son of her old mistress many hours。
In fact it was not at all like a dream； it was so very real in every
respect。 It happened in this wise。
The bed…chamber occupied by Mr and Mrs Flintwinch was within a few paces
of that to which Mrs Clennam had been so long confined。 It was not on
the same floor； for it was a room at the side of the house； which was
approached by a steep descent of a few odd steps； diverging from the
main staircase nearly opposite to Mrs Clennam's door。 It could scarcely
be said to be within call； the walls； doors； and panelling of the old
place were so cumbrous； but it was within easy reach； in any undress；
at any hour of the night； in any temperature。 At the head of the bed
and within a foot of Mrs Flintwinch's ear； was a bell； the line of which
hung ready to Mrs Clennam's hand。 Whenever this bell rang； up started
Affery； and was in the sick room before she was awake。
Having got her mistress into bed； lighted her lamp； and given her good
night； Mrs Flintwinch went to roost as usual； saving that her lord had
not yet appeared。 It was her lord himself who became……unlike the
last theme in the mind； according to the observation of most
philosophers……the subject of Mrs Flintwinch's dream。 It seemed to her
that she awoke after sleeping some hours； and found Jeremiah not yet
abed。 That she looked at the candle she had left burning； and； measuring
the time like King Alfred the Great； was confirmed by its wasted state
in her belief that she had been asleep for some considerable period。
That she arose thereupon； muffled herself up in a wrapper； put on
her shoes； and went out on the staircase； much surprised； to look for
Jeremiah。
The staircase was as wooden and solid as need be； and Affery went
straight down it without any of those deviations peculiar to dreams。
She did not skim over it； but walked down it； and guided herself by the
banisters on account of her candle having died out。 In one corner of
the hall； behind the house…door； there was a little waiting…room； like a
well…shaft； with a long narrow window in it as if it had been ripped up。
In this room； which was never used； a light was burning。
Mrs Flintwinch crossed the hall； feeling its pavement cold to her
stockingless feet； and peeped in between the rusty hinges on the door；
which stood a little open。 She expected to see Jeremiah fast asleep or
in a fit； but he was calmly seated in a chair； awake； and in his usual
health。 But what……hey？……Lord forgive us！……Mrs Flintwinch muttered some
ejaculation to this effect； and turned giddy。
For； Mr Flintwinch awake； was watching Mr Flintwinch asleep。 He sat on
one side of the small table； looking keenly at himself on the other side
with his chin sunk on his breast； snoring。 The waking Flintwinch had his
full front face presented to his wife； the sleeping Flintwinch was
in profile。 The waking Flintwinch was the old original； the sleeping
Flintwinch was the double； just as she might have distinguished between
a tangible object and its reflection in a glass； Affery made out this
difference with her head going round and round。
If she had had any doubt which was her own Jeremiah； it would have been
resolved by his impatience。 He looked about him for an offensive weapon；
caught up the snuffers； and； before applying them to the cabbage…headed
candle； lunged at the sleeper as though he would have run him through
the body。
'Who's that？ What's the matter？' cried the sleeper； starting。
Mr Flintwinch made a movement with the snuffers； as if he would have
enforced silence on his panion by putting them down his throat； the
panion； ing to himself； said； rubbing his eyes； 'I forgot where I
was。'
'You have been asleep；' snarled Jeremiah； referring to his watch； 'two
hours。 You said you would be rested enough if you had a short nap。'
'I have had a short nap；' said Double。
'Half…past two o'clock in the morning；' muttered Jeremiah。 'Where's your
hat？ Where's your coat？ Where's the box？'
'All here；' said Double； tying up his throat with sleepy carefulness in
a shawl。 'Stop a minute。 Now give me the sleeve……not that sleeve； the
other one。 Ha！ I'm not as young as I was。' Mr Flintwinch had pulled
him into his coat with vehement energy。 'You promised me a second glass
after I was rested。'
'Drink it！' returned Jeremiah； 'and……choke yourself； I was going
to say……but go； I mean。'At the same time he produced the identical
port…wine bottle； and filled a wine…glass。
'Her port…wine； I believe？' said Double； tasting it as if he were in the
Docks； with hours to spare。 'Her health。'
He took a sip。
'Your health！'
He took another sip。
'His health！'
He took another sip。
'And all friends round St Paul's。' He emptied and put down the
wine…glass half…way through this ancient civic toast； and took up the
box。 It was an iron box some two feet square； which he carried under his
arms pretty easily。 Jeremiah watched his manner of adjusting it； with
jealous eyes； tried it with his hands； to be sure that he had a firm
hold of it； bade him for his life be careful what he was about； and then
stole out on tiptoe to open the door for him。 Affery； anticipating
the last movement； was on the staircase。 The sequence of things was
so ordinary and natural； that； standing there； she could hear the door
open； feel the night air； and see the stars outside。
But now came the most remarkable part of the dream。 She felt so afraid
of her husband； that being on the staircase； she had not the power to
retreat to her room （which she might easily have done before he had
fastened the door）； but stood there staring。 Consequently when he came
up the staircase to bed； candle in hand； he came full upon her。 He
looked astonished； but said not a word。 He kept his eyes upon her； and
kept advancing； and she； pletely under his influence； kept retiring
before him。 Thus； she walking backward and he walking forward； they
came into their own room。 They were no sooner shut in there； than Mr
Flintwinch took her by the throat； and shook her until she was black in
the face。
'Why； Affery； woman……Affery！' said Mr Flintwinch。 'What have you been
dreaming of？ Wake up； wake up！ What's the matter？'
'The……the matter； Jeremiah？' gasped Mrs Flintwinch； rolling her eyes。
'Why； Affery； woman……Affery！ You have been getting out of bed in your
sleep； my dear！ I e up； after having fallen asleep myself； below； and
find you in your wrapper here； with the nightmare。 Affery； woman；' said
Mr Flintwinch； with a friendly grin on his expressive countenance； 'if
you ever have a dream of this sort again； it'll be a sign of your being
in want of physic。 And I'll give you such a dose； old woman……such a
dose！'
Mrs Flintwinch thanked him and crept into bed。
CHAPTER 5。 Family Affairs
As the city clocks struck nine on Monday morning； Mrs Clennam was
wheeled by Jeremiah Flintwinch of the cut…down aspect to her tall
cabi。 When she had unlocked and opened it； and had settled herself
at its desk； Jeremiah withdrew……as it might be； to hang himself more
effectually……and her son appeared。
'Are you any better this morning； mother？'
She shook her head； with the same austere air of luxuriousness that she
had shown over…night when speaking of the weather。
'I shall never be better any more。 It is well for me； Arthur； that I
know it and can bear it。'
Sitting with her hands laid separately upon the desk； and the tall
cabi towering before her； she looked as if she were performing on a
dumb church organ。 Her son thought so （it was an old thought with him）；
while he took his seat beside i
