狄更斯思想 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第27章Part 14

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第27章Part 14  

Cleopatra was so much fluttered and moved
by hearing this
of course
inprehensible speech
that she could only shut her eyes
and shake her head
and give Mr Dombey her hand; which Mr Dombey
not exactly knowing what to do with
dropped.
'Dombey
e along!' cried the Major
looking in at the door. 'Damme
Sir
old Joe has a great mind to propose an alteration in the name of the Royal Hotel
and that it should be called the Three Jolly Bachelors
in honour of ourselves and Carker.' With this
the Major slapped Mr Dombey on the back
and winking over his shoulder at the ladies
with a frightful tendency of blood to the head
carried him off.
Mrs Skewton reposed on her sofa
and Edith sat apart
by her harp
in silence. The mother
trifling with her fan
looked stealthily at the daughter more than once
but the daughter
brooding gloomily with downcast eyes
was not to be disturbed.
Thus they remained for a long hour
without a word
until Mrs Skewton's maid appeared
according to custom
to prepare her gradually for night. At night
she should have been a skeleton
with dart and hour-glass
rather than a woman
this attendant; for her touch was as the touch of Death. The painted object shrivelled underneath her hand; the form collapsed
the hair dropped off
the arched dark eyebrows changed to scanty tufts of grey; the pale lips shrunk
the skin became cadaverous and loose; an old
worn
yellow
nodding woman
with red eyes
alone remained in Cleopatra's place
huddled up
like a slovenly bundle
in a greasy flannel gown.
The very voice was changed
as it addressed Edith
when they were alone again.
'Why don't you tell me
' it said sharply
'that he is ing here to-morrow by appointment?'
'Because you know it
' returned Edith
'Mother.'
The mocking emphasis she laid on that one word!