狄更斯小说改编系列 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第36章Part2

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第36章Part2  

Now Mrs Dombey appeared
beautiful and proud
and as disdainful and defiant of them all as if the bridal wreath upon her head had been a garland of steel spikes put on to force concession from her which she would die sooner than yield. With her was Florence. When they entered together
the shadow of the night of the return again darkened Mr Dombey's face. But unobserved; for Florence did not venture to raise her eyes to his
and Edith's indifference was too supreme to take the least heed of him.
The arrivals quickly became numerous. More directors
chairmen of public panies
elderly ladies carrying burdens on their heads for full dress
Cousin Feenix
Major Bagstock
friends of Mrs Skewton
with the same bright bloom on their plexion
and very precious necklaces on very withered necks. Among these
a young lady of sixty-five
remarkably coolly dressed as to her back and shoulders
who spoke with an engaging lisp
and whose eyelids wouldn't keep up well
without a great deal of trouble on her part
and whose manners had that indefinable charm which so frequently attaches to the giddiness of youth. As the greater part of Mr Dombey's list were disposed to be taciturn
and the greater part of Mrs Dombey's list were disposed to be talkative
and there was no sympathy beeen them
Mrs Dombey's list
by magic agreement
entered into a bond of union against Mr Dombey's list
who
wandering about the rooms in a desolate manner
or seeking refuge in corners
entangled themselves with pany ing in
and became barricaded behind sofas
and had doors opened smartly from without against their heads
and underwent every sort of disfiture.
When dinner was announced
Mr Dombey took down an old lady like a crimson velvet pincushion stuffed with bank notes
who might have been the identical old lady of Threadneedle Street
she was so rich
and looked so unacmodating; Cousin Feenix took down Mrs Dombey; Major Bagstock took down Mrs Skewton; the young thing with the shoulders was bestowed
as an extinguisher
upon the East India Director; and the remaining ladies were left on view in the drawing-room by the remaining gentlemen
until a forlorn hope volunteered to conduct them downstairs
and those brave spirits with their captives blocked up the dining-room door
shutting out seven mild men in the stony-hearted hall. When all the rest were got in and were seated
one of these mild men still appeared
in smiling confusion
totally destitute and unprovided for
and
escorted by the butler
made the plete circuit of the table ice before his chair could be found
which it finally was
on Mrs Dombey's left hand; after which the mild man never held up his head again.
Now
the spacious dining-room
with the pany seated round the glittering table
busy with their glittering spoons
and knives and forks
and plates
might have been taken for a grown-up exposition of Tom Tiddler's ground
where children pick up gold and silver.' Mr Dombey
as Tiddler
looked his character to admiration; and the long plateau of precious metal frosted
separating him from Mrs Dombey
whereon frosted Cupids offered scentless flowers to each of them
was allegorical to see.
Cousin Feenix was in great force
and looked astonishingly young. But he was sometimes thoughtless in his good humour - his memory occasionally wandering like his legs - and on this occasion caused the pany to shudder. It happened thus. The young lady with the back
who regarded Cousin Feenix with sentiments of tenderness
had entrapped the East India Director into leading her to the chair next him; in return for which good office
she immediately abandoned the Director
who
being shaded on the other side by a gloomy black velvet hat surmounting a bony and speechless female with a fan
yielded to a depression of spirits and withdrew into himself. Cousin Feenix and the young lady were very lively and humorous
and the young lady laughed so much at something Cousin Feenix related to her
that Major Bagstock begged leave to inquire on behalf of Mrs Skewton (they were sitting opposite
a little lower down)
whether that might not be considered public property.
'Why
upon my life
' said Cousin Feenix
'there's nothing in it; it really is not worth repeating: in point of fact
it's merely an anecdote of Jack Adams. I dare say my friend Dombey;' for the general attention was concentrated on Cousin Feenix; 'may remember Jack Adams
Jack Adams
not Joe; that was his brother. Jack - little Jack - man with a cast in his eye
and slight impediment in his speech - man who sat for somebody's borough. We used to call him in my parliamentary time W. P. Adams
in consequence of his being Warming Pan for a young fellow who was in his minority. Perhaps my friend Dombey may have known the man?'
Mr Dombey
who was as likely to have known Guy Fawkes
replied in the negative. But one of the seven mild men unexpectedly leaped into distinction
by saying he had known him
and adding - 'always wore Hessian boots!'