hard times(艰难时世)-第85节
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morning； when there cometh into our Ring； by the thtage door； a
dog。 He had travelled a long way； he wath in very bad condithon；
he wath lame； and pretty well blind。 He went round to our
children； one after another； as if he wath a theeking for a child he
know’d； and then he come to me； and throwed hithelf up behind；
and thood on hith two fore…legth； weak ath he wath； and then he
wagged hith tail and died。 Thquire； that dog wath Merrylegth。”
“Sissy’s father’s dog！”
“Thethilia’th father’th old dog。 Now； Thquire； I can take my
oath； from my knowledge of that dog； that that man wath dead—
and buried—afore that dog come back to me。 Joth’phine and
Childerth and me talked it over a long time； whether I thoud write
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or not。 But we agreed； ‘No。 There’th nothing comfortable to tell：
why unthettle her mind； and make her unhappy？’ Tho； whether
her father bathely detherted her； or whether he broke his own
heart alone； rather than pull her down along with him； never will
be known； now； Thquire； till—no； not till we know how the dog
findth uth out！”
“She keeps the bottle that he sent her for； to this hour； and she
will believe in his affection to the last moment of her life；” said Mr
Gradgrind。
“It theemth to prethent two thingth to a perthon； don’t it；
Thquire？” said Mr Sleary； musing as he looked down into the
depths of his brandy and water： “one； that there ith a love in the
world； not all Thelf…intereth after all； but thomething very
different； t’other； that it hath a way of ith own of calculating or not
calculating； whith thomehow or another ith at leatht ath hard to
give a name to； ath the wayth of the dogth ith！”
Mr Gradgrind looked out of window； and made no reply。 Mr
Sleary emptied his glass and recalled the ladies。
“Thethilia my dear； kith me and good…bye！ Mith Thquire； to
thee you treating of her like a thithter； and a thithter that you
trutht； and honour with all your heart and more； ith a very pretty
thight to me。 I hope your brother may live to be better detherving
of you； and a greater comfort to you。 Thquire； thake handth； firtht
and latht！ Don’t be croth with uth poor vagabondth。 People mutht
be amuthed。 They can’t be alwayth a learning； nor yet they can’t
be alwayth a working； they an’t made for it。 You mutht have uth；
Thquire。 Do the withe thing and the kind thing too； and make the
beth uth： not the wurth！
“And I never thought before；” said Mr Sleary； putting his head
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in at the door again to say it； “that I wath tho muth of a Cackler！”
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Chapter 9
Final
t is a dangerous thing to see anything in the sphere of a vain
blusterer； before the vain blusterer sees it himself。 Mr
I
Bounderby felt that Mrs Sparsit had audaciously anticipated
him； and presumed to be wiser than he。 Inappeasably indignant
with her for her triumphant discovery of Mrs Pegler； he turned his
presumption； on the part of a woman in her dependent position；
over and over in his mind； until it accumulated with turning like a
great snowball。 At last he made the discovery that to discharge
this highly connected female—to have it in his power to say； “She
was a woman of family； and wanted to stick to me； but I wouldn’t
have it； and got rid of her”—would be to get the utmost possible
amount of crowning glory out of the connection； and at the same
time to punish Mrs Sparsit according to her deserts。
Filled fuller than ever； with this great idea； Mr Bounderby came
into lunch； and sat himself down in the dining…room of former
days； where his portrait was。 Mrs Sparsit sat by the fire； with her
foot in her cotton stirrup； little thinking whither she was posting。
Since the Pegler affair； this gentlewoman had covered her pity
for Mr Bounderby with a veil of quiet melancholy and contrition。
In virtue thereof； it had become her habit to assume a woeful look；
which woeful look she now bestowed upon her patron。
“What’s the matter now； ma’am？” said Mr Bounderby； in a very
short； rough way。
“Pray； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； “do not bite my nose off。”
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“Bite your nose off； ma’am！” repeated Mr Bounderby。 “Your
nose！” meaning； as Mrs Sparsit conceived； that it was too
developed a nose for the purpose。 After which offensive
implication； he cut himself a crust of bread； and threw the knife
down with a noise。
Mrs Sparsit took her foot out of her stirrup； and said； “Mr
Bounderby； sir！”
“Well； ma’am？” retorted Mr Bounderby。 “What are you staring
at？”
“May I ask； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit； “have you been ruffled this
morning？”
“Yes； ma’am。”
“May I inquire； sir；” pursued the injured woman； “whether I am
the unfortunate cause of your having lost temper？”
“Now； I’ll tell you what； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “I am not
come here to be bullied。 A female may be highly connected； but
she can’t be permitted to bother and badger a man in my position；
and I am not going to put up with it。” （Mr Bounderby felt it
necessary to get on； foreseeing that if he allowed of details； he
would be beaten。） Mrs Sparsit first elevated； then knitted； her
Coriolanian eyebrows； gathered up her work into its proper
basket； and rose。
“Sir；” said she； majestically。 “It is apparent to me that I am in
your way at present。 I will retire to my own apartment。”
“Allow me to open the door； ma’am。”
“Thank you； sir； I can do it for myself。”
“You had better allow me； ma’am；” said Bounderby； passing
her； and getting his hand upon the lock； “because I can take the
opportunity of saying a word to you； before you go。 Mrs Sparsit；
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ma’am； I rather think you are cramped here； do you know？ It
appears to me； that； under my humble roof； there’s hardly opening
enough for a lady of your genius in other people’s affairs。”
Mrs Sparsit gave him a look of the darkest scorn； and said with
great politeness； “Really； sir？”
“I have been thinking it over； you see； since the late affairs have
happened； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “and it appears to my poor
judgment—”
“Oh！ Pray； sir；” Mrs Sparsit interposed； with sprightly
cheerfulness； “don’t disparage your judgment。 Everybody knows
how unerring Mr Bounderby’s judgment is。 Everybody has had
proofs of it。 It must be the theme of general conversation。
Disparage anything in yourself but your judgment； sir；” said Mrs
Sparsit； laughing。
Mr Bounderby； very red and uncomfortable； resumed：
“It appears to me； ma’am； I say； that a different sort of
establishment altogether； would bring out a lady of your powers。
Such an establishment as your relation； Lady Scadgers’s now。
Don’t you think you might find some affairs there； ma’am； to
interfere with？”
“It never occurred to me before； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit；
“but now you mention it； I should think it highly probable。”
