狄更斯小说改编系列 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第29章Part 3

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第29章Part 3  

Mrs Chick coughed as before
and drew lines on the carpet with the ivory end of her parasol. Miss Tox
who had experience of her fair friend
and knew that under the pressure of any slight fatigue or vexation she was prone to a discursive kind of irritability
availed herself of the pause
to change the subject.
'Pardon me
my dear Louisa
' said Miss Tox
'but have I caught sight of the manly form of Mr Chick in the carriage?'
'He is there
' said Mrs Chick
'but pray leave him there. He has his newspaper
and would be quite contented for the next o hours. Go on with your flowers
Lucretia
and allow me to sit here and rest.''My Louisa knows
' observed Miss Tox
'that beeen friends like ourselves
any approach to ceremony would be out of the question. Therefore - ' Therefore Miss Tox finished the sentence
not in words but action; and putting on her gloves again
which she had taken off
and arming herself once more with her scissors
began to snip and clip among the leaves with microscopic industry.
'Florence has returned home also
' said Mrs Chick
after sitting silent for some time
with her head on one side
and her parasol sketching on the floor; 'and really Florence is a great deal too old now
to continue to lead that solitary life to which she has been accustomed. Of course she is. There can be no doubt about it. I should have very little respect
indeed
for anybody who could advocate a different opinion. Whatever my wishes might be
I could not respect them. We cannot mand our feelings to such an extent as that.'
Miss Tox assented
without being particular as to the intelligibility of the proposition.
'If she's a strange girl
' said Mrs Chick
'and if my brother Paul cannot feel perfectly fortable in her society
after all the sad things that have happened
and all the terrible disappointments that have been undergone
then
what is the reply? That he must make an effort. That he is bound to make an effort. We have always been a family remarkable for effort. Paul is at the head of the family; almost the only representative of it left - for what am I - I am of no consequence - '
'My dearest love
' remonstrated Miss Tox.
Mrs Chick dried her eyes
which were
for the moment
overflowing; and proceeded:
'And consequently he is more than ever bound to make an effort. And though his having done so
es upon me with a sort of shock - for mine is a very weak and foolish nature; which is anything but a blessing I am sure; I often wish my heart was a marble slab
or a paving-stone -
'My sweet Louisa
' remonstrated Miss Tox again.
'Still
it is a triumph to me to know that he is so true to himself
and to his name of Dombey; although
of course
I always knew he would be. I only hope
' said Mrs Chick
after a pause
'that she may be worthy of the name too.
Miss Tox filled a little green watering-pot from a jug
and happening to look up when she had done so
was so surprised by the amount of expression Mrs Chick had conveyed into her face
and was bestowing upon her
that she put the little watering-pot on the table for the present
and sat down near it.
'My dear Louisa
' said Miss Tox
'will it be the least satisfaction to you
if I venture to observe in reference to that remark
that I
as a humble individual
think your sweet niece in every way most promising?~ 'What do you mean
Lucretia?' returned Mrs Chick
with increased stateliness of manner. 'To what remark of mine
my dear
do you refer?'
'Her being worthy of her name
my love
' replied Miss Tox.