狄更斯哪部作品好 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第36章Part4

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第36章Part4  

There was a throng in the state-rooms upstairs
increasing every minute; but still Mr Dombey's list of visitors appeared to have some native impossibility of amalgamation with Mrs Dombey's list
and no one could have doubted which was which. The single exception to this rule perhaps was Mr Carker
who now smiled among the pany
and who
as he stood in the circle that was gathered about Mrs Dombey - watchful of her
of them
his chief
Cleopatra and the Major
Florence
and everything around - appeared at ease with both divisions of guests
and not marked as exclusively belonging to either.
Florence had a dread of him
which made his presence in the room a nigare to her. She could not avoid the recollection of it
for her eyes were drawn towards him every now and then
by an attraction of dislike and distrust that she could not resist. Yet her thoughts were busy with other things; for as she sat apart - not unadmired or unsought
but in the gentleness of her quiet spirit - she felt how little part her father had in what was going on
and saw
with pain
how ill at ease he seemed to be
and how little regarded he was as he lingered about near the door
for those visitors whom he wished to distinguish with particular attention
and took them up to introduce them to his wife
who received them with proud coldness
but showed no interest or wish to please
and never
after the bare ceremony of reception
in consultation of his wishes
or in wele of his friends
opened her lips. It was not the less perplexing or painful to Florence
that she who acted thus
treated her so kindly and with such loving consideration
that it almost seemed an ungrateful return on her part even to know of what was passing before her eyes.
Happy Florence would have been
might she have ventured to bear her father pany
by so much as a look; and happy Florence was
in little suspecting the main cause of his uneasiness. But afraid of seeming to know that he was placed at any did advantage
lest he should be resentful of that knowledge; and divided beeen her impulse towards him
and her grateful affection for Edith; she scarcely dared to raise her eyes towards either. Anxious and unhappy for them both
the thought stole on her through the crowd
that it might have been better for them if this noise of tongues and tread of feet had never e there
- if the old dulness and decay had never been replaced by novelty and splendour
- if the neglected child had found no friend in Edith
but had lived her solitary life
unpitied and fotten.
Mrs Chick had some such thoughts too
but they were not so quietly developed in her mind. This good matron had been outraged in the first instance by not receiving an invitation to dinner. That blow partially recovered
she had gone to a vast expense to make such a figure before Mrs Dombey at home
as should dazzle the senses of that lady
and heap mortification
mountains high
on the head of Mrs Skewton.
'But I am made
' said Mrs Chick to Mr Chick
'of no more account than Florence! Who takes the smallest notice of me? No one!'
'No one
my dear
' assented Mr Chick
who was seated by the side of Mrs Chick against the wall
and could console himself
even there
by softly whistling.
'Does it at all appear as if I was wanted here?' exclaimed Mrs Chick
with flashing eyes.
'No
my dear
I don't think it does
' said Mr Chic
'Paul's mad!' said Mrs Chic
Mr Chick whistled.