狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part1

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part1  

The dark blot on the street is gone. Mr Dombey's mansion
if it be a gap among the other houses any longer
is only so because it is not to be vied with in its brightness
and haughtily casts them off. The saying is
that home is home
be it never so homely. If it hold good in the opposite contingency
and home is home be it never so stately
what an altar to the Household Gods is raised up here!
Lights are sparkling in the windows this evening
and the ruddy glow of fires is warm and bright upon the hangings and soft carpets
and the dinner waits to be served
and the dinner-table is handsomely set forth
though only for four persons
and the side board is cumbrous with plate. It is the first time that the house has been arranged for occupation since its late changes
and the happy pair are looked for every minute.
Only second to the wedding morning
in the interest and expectation it engenders among the household
is this evening of the ing home. Mrs Perch is in the kitchen taking tea; and has made the tour of the establishment
and priced the silks and damasks by the yard
and exhausted every interjection in the dictionary and out of it expressive of admiration and wonder. The upholsterer's foreman
who has left his hat
with a pocket-handkerchief in it
both smelling strongly of varnish
under a chair in the hall
lurks about the house
gazing upwards at the cornices
and downward at the carpets
and occasionally
in a silent transport of enjoyment
taking a rule out of his pocket
and skirmishingly measuring expensive objects
with unutterable feelings. Cook is in high spirits
and says give her a place where there's plenty of pany (as she'll bet you sixpence there will be now)
for she is of a lively disposition
and she always was from a child
and she don't mind who knows it; which sentiment elicits from the breast of Mrs Perch a responsive murmur of support and approbation. All the housemaid hopes is
happiness for 'em - but marriage is a lottery
and the more she thinks about it
the more she feels the independence and the safety of a single life. Mr Towlinson is saturnine and grim' and says that's his opinion too
and give him War besides
and down with the French - for this young man has a general impression that every foreigner is a Frenchman
and must be by the laws of nature.
At each new sound of wheels
they all stop> whatever they are saying
and listen; and more than once there is a general starting up and a cry of 'Here they are!' But here they are not yet; and Cook begins to mourn over the dinner
which has been put back ice
and the upholsterer's foreman still goes lurking about the rooms
undisturbed in his blissful reverie!
Florence is ready to receive her father and her new Mama Whether the emotions that are throbbing in her breast originate In pleasure or in pain
she hardly knows. But the fluttering heart sends added colour to her cheeks
and brightness to her eyes; and they say downstairs
drawing their heads together - for they always speak softly when they speak of her - how beautiful Miss Florence looks to-night
and what a sweet young lady she has grown
poor dear! A pause succeeds; and then Cook
feeling
as president
that her sentiments are waited for
wonders whether - and there stops. The housemaid wonders too
and so does Mrs Perch
who has the happy social faculty of always wondering when other people wonder
without being at all particular what she wonders at. Mr Towlinson
who now descries an opportunity of bringing down the spirits of the ladies to his own level
says wait and see; he wishes some people were well out of this. Cook leads a sigh then
and a murmur of 'Ah
it's a strange world
it is indeed!' and when it has gone round the table
adds persuasively
'but Miss Florence can't well be the worse for any change
Tom.' Mr Towlinson's rejoinder
pregnant with frightful meaning
is 'Oh
can't she though!' and sensible that a mere man can scarcely be more prophetic
or improve upon that
he holds his peace.
Mrs Skewton
prepared to greet her darling daughter and dear son-in-law with open arms
is appropriately attired for that purpose in a very youthful costume
with short sleeves. At present
however
her ripe charms are blooming in the shade of her own apartments
whence she had not emerged since she took possession of them a few hours ago
and where she is fast growing fretful
on account of the postponement of dinner. The maid who ought to be a skeleton
but is in truth a buxom damsel
is
on the other hand
In a most amiable state: considering her quarterly stipend much safer than heretofore
and foreseeing a great improvement in her board and lodging.
Where are the happy pair
for whom this brave home is waiting? Do steam
tide
wind
and horses
all abate their speed
to linger on such happiness? Does the swarm of loves and graces hovering about them retard their progress by its numbers? Are there so many flowers in their happy path
that they can scarcely move along
without entanglement in thornless roses
and sweetest briar?