狄更斯小说改编系列 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第22章Part 8

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第22章Part 8  

'He has been a little wild
Sir
' returned Polly
checking the baby
who was making convulsive efforts with his arms and legs to launch himself on Biler
through the ambient air
'and has gone with wrong panions: but I hope he has seen the misery of that
Sir
and will do well again.'
Mr Carker looked at Polly
and the clean room
and the clean children
and the simple Toodle face
bined of father and mother
that was reflected and repeated everywhere about him - and seemed to have achieved the real purpose of his visit.
'Your husband
I take it
is not at home?' he said.
'No
Sir
' replied Polly. 'He's down the line at present.'
The prodigal Rob seemed very much relieved to hear it: though still in the absorption of all his faculties in his patron
he hardly took his eyes from Mr Carker's face
unless for a moment at a time to steal a sorrowful glance at his mother.
'Then
' said Mr Carker
'I'll tell you how I have stumbled on this boy of yours
and who I am
and what I am going to do for him.'
This Mr Carker did
in his own way; saying that he at first intended to have accumulated nameless terrors on his presumptuous head
for ing to the whereabout of Dombey and Son. That he had relented
in consideration of his youth
his professed contrition
and his friends. That he was afraid he took a rash step in doing anything for the boy
and one that might expose him to the censure of the prudent; but that he did it of himself and for himself
and risked the consequences single-handed; and that his mother's past connexion with Mr Dombey's family had nothing to do with it
and that Mr Dombey had nothing to do with it
but that he
Mr Carker
was the be-all and the end-all of this business. Taking great credit to himself for his goodness
and receiving no less from all the family then present
Mr Carker signified
indirectly but still pretty plainly
that Rob's implicit fidelity
attachment
and devotion
were for evermore his due
and the least homage he could receive. And with this great truth Rob himself was so impressed
that
standing gazing on his patron with tears rolling down his cheeks
he nodded his shiny head until it seemed almost as loose as it had done under the same patron's hands that morning.
Polly
who had passed Heaven knows how many sleepless nights on account of this her dissipated firstborn
and had not seen him for weeks and weeks
could have almost kneeled to Mr Carker the Manager
as to a Good Spirit - in spite of his teeth. But Mr Carker rising to depart
she only thanked him with her mother's prayers and blessings; thanks so rich when paid out of the Heart's mint
especially for any service Mr Carker had rendered
that he might have given back a large amount of change
and yet been overpaid.
As that gentleman made his way among the crowding children to the door
Rob retreated on his mother
and took her and the baby in the same repentant hug.
'I'll try hard
dear mother
now. Upon my soul I will!' said Rob.
'Oh do
my dear boy! I am sure you will
for our sakes and your own!' cried Polly
kissing him. 'But you're ing back to speak to me
when you have seen the gentleman away?'
'I don't know
mother.' Rob hesitated
and looked down. 'Father - when's he ing home?'
'Not till o o'clock to-morrow morning.'