狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第21章Part 2

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第21章Part 2  

'My friend Dombey
Ma'am
' returned the Major
'may be devoted to her in secret
but a man who is paramount in the greatest city in the universe -
'No one can be a stranger
' said Mrs Skewton
'to Mr Dombey's immense influence.'
As Mr Dombey acknowledged the pliment with a bend of his head
the younger lady glancing at him
met his eyes.
'You reside here
Madam?' said Mr Dombey
addressing her.
'No
we have been to a great many places. To Harrogate and Scarborough
and into Devonshire. We have been visiting
and resting here and there. Mama likes change.'
'Edith of course does not
' said Mrs Skewton
with a ghastly archness.
'I have not found that there is any change in such places
' was the answer
delivered with supreme indifference.
'They libel me. There is only one change
Mr Dombey
' observed Mrs Skewton
with a mincing sigh
'for which I really care
and that I fear I shall never be permitted to enjoy. People cannot spare one. But seclusion and contemplation are my what-his-name - '
'If you mean Paradise
Mama
you had better say so
to render yourself intelligible
' said the younger lady.
'My dearest Edith
' returned Mrs Skewton
'you know that I am wholly dependent upon you for those odious names. I assure you
Mr Dombey
Nature intended me for an Arcadian. I am thrown away in society. Cows are my passion. What I have ever sighed for
has been to retreat to a Swiss farm
and live entirely surrounded by cows - and china.'
This curious association of objects
suggesting a remembrance of the celebrated bull who got by mistake into a crockery shop
was received with perfect gravity by Mr Dombey
who intimated his opinion that Nature was
no doubt
a very respectable institution.
'What I want
' drawled Mrs Skewton
pinching her shrivelled throat
'is heart.' It was frightfully true in one sense
if not in that in which she used the phrase. 'What I want
is frankness
confidence
less conventionality
and freer play of soul. We are so dreadfully artificial.'
We were
indeed.
'In short
' said Mrs Skewton
'I want Nature everywhere. It would be so extremely charming.'