狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第37章Part2

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第37章Part2  

'My dear love
' drawled Mrs Skewton
'how very odd to send that message without seeing the name! Bring it here
Withers. Dear me
my love; Mr Carker
too! That very sensible person!'
'I am going out
' repeated Edith
in so imperious a tone that Withers
going to the door
imperiously informed the servant who was waiting
'Mrs Dombey is going out. Get along with you
' and shut it on him.'
But the servant came back after a short absence
and whispered to Withers again
who once more
and not very willingly
presented himself before Mrs Dombey.
'If you please
Ma'am
Mr Carker sends his respectful pliments
and begs you would spare him one minute
if you could - for business
Ma'am
if you please.'
'Really
my love
' said Mrs Skewton in her mildest manner; for her daughter's face was threatening; 'if you would allow me to offer a word
I should remend - '
'Show him this way
' said Edith. As Withers disappeared to execute the mand
she added
frowning on her mother
'As he es at your remendation
let him e to your room.'
'May I - shall I go away?' asked Florence
hurriedly.
Edith nodded yes
but on her way to the door Florence met the visitor ing in. With the same disagreeable mixture of familiarity and forbearance
with which he had first addressed her
he addressed her now in his softest manner - hoped she was quite well - needed not to ask
with such looks to anticipate the answer - had scarcely had the honour to know her
last night
she was so greatly changed - and held the door open for her to pass out; with a secret sense of power in her shrinking from him
that all the deference and politeness of his manner could not quite conceal.
He then bowed himself for a moment over Mrs Skewton's condescending hand
and lastly bowed to Edith. Coldly returning his salute without looking at him
and neither seating herself nor inviting him to be seated
she waited for him to speak.
Entrenched in her pride and power
and with all the obduracy of her spirit summoned about her
still her old conviction that she and her mother had been known by this man in their worst colours
from their first acquaintance; that every degradation she had suffered in her own eyes was as plain to him as to herself; that he read her life as though it were a vile book
and fluttered the leaves before her in slight looks and tones of voice which no one else could detect; weakened and undermined her. Proudly as she opposed herself to him
with her manding face exacting his humility
her disdainful lip repulsing him
her bosom angry at his intrusion
and the dark lashes of her eyes sullenly veiling their light
that no ray of it might shine upon him - and submissively as he stood before her
with an entreating injured manner
but with plete submission to her will - she knew
in her own soul
that the cases were reversed
and that the triumph and superiority were his
and that he knew it full well.
'I have presumed
' said Mr Carker
'to solicit an interview
and I have ventured to describe it as being one of business
because - '
'Perhaps you are charged by Mr Dombey with some message of reproof
' said Edit 'You possess Mr Dombey's confidence in such an unusual degree
Sir
that you would scarcely surprise me if that were your business.'
'I have no message to the lady who sheds a lustre upon his name
' said Mr Carker. 'But I entreat that lady
on my own behalf to be just to a very humble claimant for justice at her hands - a mere dependant of Mr Dombey's - which is a position of humility; and to reflect upon my perfect helplessness last night
and the impossibility of my avoiding the share that was forced upon me in a very painful occasion.'
'My dearest Edith
' hinted Cleopatra in a low voice
as she held her eye-glass aside
'really very charming of Mr What's-his-name. And full of heart!'
'For I do
' said Mr Carker
appealing to Mrs Skewton with a look of grateful deference
- 'I do venture to call it a painful occasion
though merely because it was so to me
who had the misfortune to be present. So slight a difference
as beeen the principals - beeen those who love each other with disinterested devotion
and would make any sacrifice of self in such a cause - is nothing. As Mrs Skewton herself expressed
with so much truth and feeling last night
it is nothing.'
Edith could not look at him
but she said after a few moments

'And your business
Sir - '
'Edith
my pet
' said Mrs Skewton
'all this time Mr Carker is standing! My dear Mr Carker
take a seat
I beg.'