狄更斯哪部作品好 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第37章Part3

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第37章Part3  

He offered no reply to the mother
but fixed his eyes on the proud daughter
as though he would only be bidden by her
and was resolved to he bidden by her. Edith
in spite of herself sat down
and slightly motioned with her hand to him to be seated too. No action could be colder
haughtier
more insolent in its air of supremacy and disrespect
but she had struggled against even that concession ineffectually
and it was wrested from her. That was enough! Mr Carker sat down.
'May I be allowed
Madam
' said Carker
turning his white teeth on Mrs Skewton like a light - 'a lady of your excellent sense and quick feeling will give me credit
for good reason
I am sure - to address what I have to say
to Mrs Dombey
and to leave her to impart it to you who are her best and dearest friend - next to Mr Dombey?'
Mrs Skewton would have retired
but Edith stopped her. Edith would have stopped him too
and indignantly ordered him to speak openly or not at all
but that he said
in a low Voice - 'Miss Florence - the young lady who has just left the room - '
Edith suffered him to proceed. She looked at him now. As he bent forward
to be nearer
with the utmost show of delicacy and respect
and with his teeth persuasively arrayed
in a self-depreciating smile
she felt as if she could have struck him dead.
'Miss Florence's position
' he began
'has been an unfortunate one. I have a difficulty in alluding to it to you
whose attachment to her father is naturally watchful and jealous of every word that applies to him.' Always distinct and soft in speech
no language could describe the extent of his distinctness and softness
when he said these words
or came to any others of a similar import. 'But
as one who is devoted to Mr Dombey in his different way
and whose life is passed in admiration of Mr Dombey's character
may I say
without offence to your tenderness as a wife
that Miss Florence has unhappily been neglected - by her father. May I say by her father?'
Edith replied
'I know it.'
'You know it!' said Mr Carker
with a great appearance of relief. 'It removes a mountain from my breast. May I hope you know how the neglect originated; in what an amiable phase of Mr Dombey's pride - character I mean?'
'You may pass that by
Sir
' she returned
'and e the sooner to the end of what you have to say.'
'Indeed
I am sensible
Madam
' replied Carker
- 'trust me
I am deeply sensible
that Mr Dombey can require no justification in anything to you. But
kindly judge of my breast by your own
and you will five my interest in him
if in its excess
it goes at all astray.
What a stab to her proud heart
to sit there
face to face with him
and have him tendering her false oath at the altar again and again for her acceptance
and pressing it upon her like the dregs of a sickening cup she could not own her loathing of or turn away from'. How shame
remorse
and passion raged within her
when
upright and majestic in her beauty before him
she knew that in her spirit she was down at his feet!
'Miss Florence
' said Carker
'left to the care - if one may call it care - of servants and mercenary people
in every way her inferiors
necessarily wanted some guide and pass in her younger days
and
naturally
for want of them
has been indiscreet
and has in some degree fotten her station. There was some folly about one Walter
a mon lad
who is fortunately dead now: and some very undesirable association
I regret to say
with certain coasting sailors
of anything but good repute
and a runaway old bankrupt.'
'I have heard the circumstances
Sir
' said Edith
flashing her disdainful glance upon him
'and I know that you pervert them. You may not know it. I hope so.'
'Pardon me
' said Mr Carker
'I believe that nobody knows them so well as I. Your generous and ardent nature
Madam - the same nature which is so nobly imperative in vindication of your beloved and honoured husband
and which has blessed him as even his merits deserve - I must respect
defer to
bow before. But
as regards the circumstances
which is indeed the business I presumed to solicit your attention to
I can have no doubt
since
in the execution of my trust as Mr Dombey's confidential - I presume to say - friend
I have fully ascertained them. In my execution of that trust; in my deep concern
which you can so well understand
for everything relating to him
intensified
if you will (for I fear I labour under your displeasure)
by the lower motive of desire to prove my diligence
and make myself the more acceptable; I have long pursued these circumstances by myself and trusorthy instruments
and have innumerable and most minute proofs.'
She raised her eyes no higher than his mouth
but she saw the means of mischief vaunted in every tooth it contained.