狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第29章Part 4

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第29章Part 4  

'If
' said Mrs Chick
with solemn patience
'I have not expressed myself with clearness
Lucretia
the fault of course is mine. There is
perhaps
no reason why I should express myself at all
except the intimacy that has subsisted beeen us
and which I very much hope
Lucretia - confidently hope - nothing will occur to disturb. Because
why should I do anything else? There is no reason; it would be absurd. But I wish to express myself clearly
Lucretia; and therefore to go back to that remark
I must beg to say that it was not intended to relate to Florence
in any way.'
'Indeed!' returned Miss Tox.
'No
' said Mrs Chick shortly and decisively.
'Pardon me
my dear
' rejoined her meek friend; 'but I cannot have understood it. I fear I am dull.'
Mrs Chick looked round the room and over the way; at the plants
at the bird
at the watering-pot
at almost everything within view
except Miss Tox; and finally dropping her glance upon Miss Tox
for a moment
on its way to the ground
said
looking meanwhile with elevated eyebrows at the carpet:
'When I speak
Lucretia
of her being worthy of the name
I speak of my brother Paul's second wife. I believe I have already said
in effect
if not in the very words I now use
that it is his intention to marry a second wife.'
Miss Tox left her seat in a hurry
and returned to her plants; clipping among the stems and leaves
with as little favour as a barber working at so many pauper heads of hair.
'Whether she will be fully sensible of the distinction conferred upon her
' said Mrs Chick
in a lofty tone
'is quite another question. I hope she may be. We are bound to think well of one another in this world
and I hope she may be. I have not been advised with myself If I had been advised with
I have no doubt my advice would have been cavalierly received
and therefore it is infinitely better as it is. I much prefer it as it is.'
Miss Tox
with head bent down
still clipped among the plants. Mrs Chick
with energetic shakings of her own head from time to time
continued to hold forth
as if in defiance of somebody. 'If my brother Paul had consulted with me
which he sometimes does - or rather
sometimes used to do; for he will naturally do that no more now
and this is a circumstance which I regard as a relief from responsibility
' said Mrs Chick
hysterically
'for I thank Heaven I am not jealous - ' here Mrs Chick again shed tears: 'if my brother Paul had e to me
and had said
"Louisa
what kind of qualities would you advise me to look out for
in a wife?" I should certainly have answered
"Paul
you must have family
you must have beauty
you must have dignity
you must have connexion." Those are the words I should have used. You might have led me to the block immediately afterwards
' said Mrs Chick
as if that consequence were highly probable
'but I should have used them. I should have said
"Paul! You to marry a second time without family! You to marry without beauty! You to marry without dignity! You to marry without connexion! There is nobody in the world
not mad
who could dream of daring to entertain such a preposterous idea!
Miss Tox stopped clipping; and with her head among the plants
listened attentively. Perhaps Miss Tox thought there was hope in this exordium
and the warmth of Mrs Chick.