little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第82章

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well　to　leave　that　alone　now；　for　I　couldn't　undertake　to　say　after　all；
but　it　doesn't　signify　lie　down　a　little！'

'I　have　always　been　strong　enough　to　do　what　I　want　to　do；　and　I　shall
be　quite　well　directly；'　returned　Little　Dorrit；　with　a　faint　smile。
'You　have　overpowered　me　with　gratitude；　that's　all。　If　I　keep　near　the
window　for　a　moment　I　shall　be　quite　myself。'

Flora　opened　a　window；　sat　her　in　a　chair　by　it；　and　considerately
retired　to　her　former　place。　It　was　a　windy　day；　and　the　air　stirring
on　Little　Dorrit's　face　soon　brightened　it。　In　a　very　few　minutes　she
returned　to　her　basket　of　work；　and　her　nimble　fingers　were　as　nimble　as
ever。

Quietly　pursuing　her　task；　she　asked　Flora　if　Mr　Clennam　had　told　her
where　she　lived？　When　Flora　replied　in　the　negative；　Little　Dorrit　said
that　she　understood　why　he　had　been　so　delicate；　but　that　she　felt　sure
he　would　approve　of　her　confiding　her　secret　to　Flora；　and　that
she　would　therefore　do　so　now　with　Flora's　permission。　Receiving　an
encouraging　answer；　she　condensed　the　narrative　of　her　life　into　a　few
scanty　words　about　herself　and　a　glowing　eulogy　upon　her　father；　and
Flora　took　it　all　in　with　a　natural　tenderness　that　quite　understood　it；
and　in　which　there　was　no　incoherence。

When　dinner…time　came；　Flora　drew　the　arm　of　her　new　charge　through
hers；　and　led　her　down…stairs；　and　presented　her　to　the　Patriarch　and　Mr
Pancks；　who　were　already　in　the　dining…room　waiting　to　begin。　（Mr　F。's
Aunt　was；　for　the　time；　laid　up　in　ordinary　in　her　chamber。）　By　those
gentlemen　she　was　received　according　to　their　characters；　the　Patriarch
appearing　to　do　her　some　inestimable　service　in　saying　that　he　was　glad
to　see　her；　glad　to　see　her；　and　Mr　Pancks　blowing　off　his　favourite
sound　as　a　salute。

In　that　new　presence　she　would　have　been　bashful　enough　under　any
circumstances；　and　particularly　under　Flora's　insisting　on　her
drinking　a　glass　of　wine　and　eating　of　the　best　that　was　there；　but　her
constraint　was　greatly　increased　by　Mr　Pancks。　The　demeanour　of　that
gentleman　at　first　suggested　to　her　mind　that　he　might　be　a　taker　of
likenesses；　so　intently　did　he　look　at　her；　and　so　frequently　did　he
glance　at　the　little　note…book　by　his　side。　Observing　that　he　made　no
sketch；　however；　and　that　he　talked　about　business　only；　she　began　to
have　suspicions　that　he　represented　some　creditor　of　her　father's；　the
balance　due　to　whom　was　noted　in　that　pocket　volume。　Regarded　from　this
point　of　view　Mr　Pancks's　puffings　expressed　injury　and　impatience；　and
each　of　his　louder　snorts　became　a　demand　for　payment。

But　here　again　she　was　undeceived　by　anomalous　and　incongruous　conduct
on　the　part　of　Mr　Pancks　himself。　She　had　left　the　table　half　an　hour；
and　was　at　work　alone。　Flora　had　'gone　to　lie　down'　in　the　next　room；
concurrently　with　which　retirement　a　smell　of　something　to　drink
had　broken　out　in　the　house。　The　Patriarch　was　fast　asleep；　with　his
philanthropic　mouth　open　under　a　yellow　pocket…handkerchief　in　the
dining…room。　At　this　quiet　time；　Mr　Pancks　softly　appeared　before　her；
urbanely　nodding。

'Find　it　a　little　dull；　Miss　Dorrit？'　inquired　Pancks　in　a　low　voice。

'No；　thank　you；　sir；'　said　Little　Dorrit。

'Busy；　I　see；'　observed　Mr　Pancks；　stealing　into　the　room　by　inches。
'What　are　those　now；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'Handkerchiefs。'

'Are　they；　though！'　said　Pancks。　'I　shouldn't　have　thought　it。'　Not　in
the　least　looking　at　them；　but　looking　at　Little　Dorrit。　'Perhaps　you
wonder　who　I　am。　Shall　I　tell　you？　I　am　a　fortune…teller。'

Little　Dorrit　now　began　to　think　he　was　mad。

'I　belong　body　and　soul　to　my　proprietor；'　said　Pancks；　'you　saw　my
proprietor　having　his　dinner　below。　But　I　do　a　little　in　the　other　way；
sometimes；　privately；　very　privately；　Miss　Dorrit。'

Little　Dorrit　looked　at　him　doubtfully；　and　not　without　alarm。

'I　wish　you'd　show　me　the　palm　of　your　hand；'　said　Pancks。　'I　should
like　to　have　a　look　at　it。　Don't　let　me　be　troublesome。'　He　was　so　far
troublesome　that　he　was　not　at　all　wanted　there；　but　she　laid　her　work
in　her　lap　for　a　moment；　and　held　out　her　left　hand　with　her　thimble　on
it。

'Years　of　toil；　eh？'　said　Pancks；　softly；　touching　it　with　his　blunt
forefinger。　'But　what　else　are　we　made　for？　Nothing。　Hallo！'　looking
into　the　lines。　'What's　this　with　bars？　It's　a　College！　And　what's　this
with　a　grey　gown　and　a　black　velvet　cap？　it's　a　father！　And　what's　this
with　a　clario？　It's　an　uncle！　And　what's　this　in　dancing…shoes？　It's
a　sister！　And　what's　this　straggling　about　in　an　idle　sort　of　a　way？
It's　a　brother！　And　what's　this　thinking　for　'em　all？　Why；　this　is　you；
Miss　Dorrit！'　Her　eyes　met　his　as　she　looked　up　wonderingly　into　his
face；　and　she　thought　that　although　his　were　sharp　eyes；　he　was　a
brighter　and　gentler…looking　man　than　she　had　supposed　at　dinner。　His
eyes　were　on　her　hand　again　directly；　and　her　opportunity　of　confirming
or　correcting　the　impression　was　gone。

'Now；　the　deuce　is　in　it；'　muttered　Pancks；　tracing　out　a　line　in　her
hand　with　his　clumsy　finger；　'if　this　isn't　me　in　the　corner　here！　What
do　I　want　here？　What's　behind　me？'

He　carried　his　finger　slowly　down　to　the　wrist；　and　round　the　wrist；　and
affected　to　look　at　the　back　of　the　hand　for　what　was　behind　him。

'Is　it　any　harm？'　asked　Little　Dorrit；　smiling。

'Deuce　a　bit！'　said　Pancks。　'What　do　you　think　it's　worth？'

'I　ought　to　ask　you　that。　I　am　not　the　fortune…teller。'

'True；'　said　Pancks。　'What's　it　worth？　You　shall　live　to　see；　Miss
Dorrit。'

Releasing　the　hand　by　slow　degrees；　he　drew　all　his　fingers　through　his
prongs　of　hair；　so　that　they　stood　up　in　their　most　portentous　manner；
and　repeated　slowly；　'Remember　what　I　say；　Miss　Dorrit。　You　shall　live
to　see。'

She　could　not　help　showing　that　she　was　much　surprised；　if　it　were　only
by　his　knowing　so　much　about　her。

'Ah！　That's　it！'　said　Pancks；　pointing　at　her。　'Miss　Dorrit；　not　that；
ever！'

More　surprised　than　before；　and　a　little　more　frightened；　she　looked　to
him　for　an　explanation　of　his　last　words。

'Not　that；'　said　Pancks；　making；　with　great　seriousness；　an　imitation
of　a　surprised　look　and　manner　that　appeared　to　be　unintentionally
grotesque。　'Don't　do　that。　Never　on　seeing　me；　no　matter　when；　no　matter
where。　I　am　nobody。　Don't　take　on　to　mind　me。　Don't　mention　me。　Take　no
notice。　Will　you　agree；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'I　hardly　know　what　to　say；'　returned　Little　Dorrit；　quite　astounded。
'Why？'

'Because　I　am　a　fortune…teller。　Pancks　the　gipsy。　I　haven't　told　you　so
much　of　your　fortune　yet；　Miss　Dorrit；　as　to　tell　you　what's　behind
me　on　that　little　hand。　I　have　told　you　you　shall　live　to　see。　Is　it
agreed；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'Agreed　that　I……am……to……'

'To　take　no　notice　of　me　away　from　here；　unless　I　take　on　first。　Not
to　mind　me　when　I　e　and　go。　It's　very　easy。　I　am　no　loss；　I　am　not
handsome；　I　am　not　good　pany；　I　am　only　my　proprietors　grubber。
You　need　do　no　more　than　think；　〃Ah！　Pancks　the　gipsy　at　his
fortune…telling……he'll　tell　the　rest　of　my　fortune　one　day……I　shall　live
to　know　it。〃　Is　it　agreed；　Miss　Dorrit？'

'Ye…es；'　faltered　Little　Dorrit；　whom　he　greatly　confused；　'I　suppose
so；　while　you　do　no　harm。'

'Good！'　Mr　Pancks　glanced　at　the　wall　of　the　adjoining　room；　and　stooped
forward。　'Honest　creature；　woman　of　capital　points；　but　heedless　and
a　loose　talker；　Miss　Dorrit。'　With　that　he　rubbed　his　hands　as　if　the
interview　had　been　very　satisfactory　to　him；　panted　away　to　the　door；
and　urbanely　nodded　himself　out　again。

If　Little　Dorrit　were　beyond　measure　perplexed　by　this　curious　conduct
on　the　part　of　her　new　acquaintance；　and　by　finding　herself　involved
in　this　singular　treaty；　her　perplexity　was　not　diminished　by　ensuing
circumstances。　Besides　that　Mr　Pancks　took　every　opportunity　afforded
him　in　Mr　Casby's　house　of　significantly　glancing　at　her　and　snorting
at　her……which　was　not　much；　after　what　he　had　done　already……he　began　to
pervade　her　daily　life。　She　saw　him　in　the　street；　constantly。　When　she
went　to　Mr　Casby's；　he　was　always　there。　When　she　went　to　Mrs　Clennam's；
he　came　there　on　any　pretence；　as　if　to　keep　her　in　his　sight。　A　week
had　not　gon