狄更斯长篇小说 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part6

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part6  

'I left here early
' pursued Edith
'purposely to sit upstairs and talk with you. But
going to your room
I found my bird was flown
and I have been waiting there ever since
expecting its return.
If it had been a bird
indeed
she could not have taken it more tenderly and gently to her breast
than she did Florence.
'Come
dear!'
'Papa will not expect to find me
I suppose
when he wakes
' hesitated Florence.
'Do you think he will
Florence?' said Edith
looking full upon her.
Florence drooped her head
and rose
and put up her work-basket Edith drew her hand through her arm
and they went out of the room like sisters. Her very step was different and new to him' Mr Dombey thought
as his eyes followed her to the door.
He sat in his shadowy corner so long
that the church clocks struck the hour three times before he moved that night. All that while his face was still intent upon the spot where Florence had been seated. The room grew darker
as the candles waned and went out; but a darkness gathered on his face
exceeding any that the night could cast
and rested there.
Florence and Edith
seated before the fire in the remote room where little Paul had died
talked together for a long time. Diogenes
who was of the party
had at first objected to the admission of Edith
and
even In deference to his mistress's wish
had only permitted it under growling protest. But
emerging by little and little from the ante-room
whither he had retired in dudgeon
he soon appeared to prehend
that with the most amiable intentions he had made one of those mistakes which will occasionally arise in the best-regulated dogs' minds; as a friendly apology for which he stuck himself up on end beeen the o
in a very hot place in front of the fire
and sat panting at it
with his tongue out
and a most imbecile expression of countenance
listening to the conversation.
It turned
at first
on Florence's books and favourite pursuits
and on the manner in which she had beguiled the interval since the marriage. The last theme opened up to her a subject which lay very near her heart
and she said
with the tears starting to her eyes: 'Oh
Mama! I have had a great sorrow since that day.'
'You a great sorrow
Florence!'
'Yes. Poor Walter is drowned.'
Florence spread her hands before her face
and wept with all her heart. Many as were the secret tears which Walter's fate had cost her
they flowed yet
when she thought or spoke of him.
'But tell me
dear
' said Edith
soothing her. 'Who was Walter? What was he to you?'
'He was my brother
Mama. After dear Paul died
we said we would be brother and sister. I had known him a long time - from a little child. He knew Paul
who liked him very much; Paul said
almost at the last
"Take care of Walter
dear Papa! I was fond of him!" Walter had been brought in to see him
and was there then - in this room.
'And did he take care of Walter?' inquired Edith
sternly.
'Papa? He appointed him to go abroad. He was drowned in shipwreck on his voyage
' said Florence
sobbing.
'Does he know that he is dead?' asked Edith.
'I cannot tell
Mama. I have no means of knowing. Dear Mama!' cried Florence
clinging to her as for help
and hiding her face upon her bosom
'I know that you have seen - '
'Stay! Stop
Florence.' Edith turned so pale
and spoke so earnestly
that Florence did not need her restraining hand upon her lips. 'Tell me all about Walter first; let me understand this history all through.'