狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第29章Part 1

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第29章Part 1  

Miss Tox
all unconscious of any such rare appearances in connexion with Mr Dombey's house
as scaffoldings and ladders
and men with their heads tied up in pocket-handkerchiefs
glaring in at the windows like flying genii or strange birds
- having breakfasted one morning at about this eventful period of time
on her customary viands; to wit
one French roll rasped
one egg new laid (or warranted to be)
and one little pot of tea
wherein was infused one little silver scoopful of that herb on behalf of Miss Tox
and one little silver scoopful on behalf of the teapot - a flight of fancy in which good housekeepers delight; went upstairs to set forth the bird waltz on the harpsichord
to water and arrange the plants
to dust the nick-nacks
and
according to her daily custom
to make her little drawing-room the garland of Princess's Place.
Miss Tox endued herself with a pair of ancient gloves
like dead leaves
in which she was accustomed to perform these avocations - hidden from human sight at other times in a table drawer - and went methodically to work; beginning with the bird waltz; passing
by a natural association of ideas
to her bird - a very high-shouldered canary
stricken in years
and much rumpled
but a piercing singer
as Princess's Place well knew; taking
next in order
the little china ornaments
paper fly-cages
and so forth; and ing round
in good time
to the plants
which generally required to be snipped here and there with a pair of scissors
for some botanical reason that was very powerful with Miss Tox. Miss Tox was slow in ing to the plants
this morning. The weather was warm
the wind southerly; and there was a sigh of the summer-time In Princess's Place
that turned Miss Tox's thoughts upon the country. The pot-boy attached to the Princess's Arms had e out with a can and trickled water
in a flowering pattern
all over Princess's Place
and it gave the weedy ground a fresh scent - quite a growing scent
Miss Tox said. There was a tiny blink of sun peeping in from the great street round the corner
and the smoky sparrows hopped over it and back again
brightening as they passed: or bathed in it
like a stream
and became glorified sparrows
unconnected with chimneys. Legends in praise of Ginger-Beer
with pictorial representations of thirsty customers submerged in the effervescence
or stunned by the flying corks
were conspicuous in the window of the Princess's Arms. They were making late hay
somewhere out of town; and though the fragrance had a long way to e
and many counter fragrances to contend with among the dwellings of the poor (may God reward the worthy gentlemen who stickle for the Plague as part and parcel of the wisdom of our ancestors
and who do their little best to keep those dwellings miserable!)
yet it was wafted faintly into Princess's Place
whispering of Nature and her wholesome air
as such things will
even unto prisoners and captives
and those who are desolate and oppressed
in very spite of aldermen and knights to boot: at whose sage nod - and how they nod! - the rolling world stands still!
Miss Tox sat down upon the window-seat
and thought of her good Papa deceased - Mr Tox
of the Customs Department of the public service; and of her childhood
passed at a seaport
among a considerable quantity of cold tar
and some rusticity. She fell into a softened remembrance of meadows
in old time
gleaming with buttercups
like so many inverted firmaments of golden stars; and how she had made chains of dandelion-stalks for youthful vowers of eternal constancy
dressed chiefly in nankeen; and how soon those fetters had withered and broken.
Sitting on the window-seat
and looking out upon the sparrows and the blink of sun
Miss Tox thought likewise of her good Mama deceased - sister to the owner of the powdered head and pigtail - of her virtues and her rheumatism. And when a man with bulgy legs
and a rough voice
and a heavy basket on his head that crushed his hat into a mere black muffin
came crying flowers down Princess's Place
making his timid little roots of daisies shudder in the vibration of every yell he gave
as though he had been an ogre
hawking little children
summer recollections were so strong upon Miss Tox
that she shook her head
and murmured she would be paratively old before she knew it - which seemed likely.
In her pensive mood
Miss Tox's thoughts went wandering on Mr Dombey's track; probably because the Major had returned home to his lodgings opposite
and had just bowed to her from his window. What other reason could Miss Tox have for connecting Mr Dombey with her summer days and dandelion fetters? Was he more cheerful? thought Miss Tox. Was he reconciled to the decrees of fate? Would he ever marry again? and if yes
whom? What sort of person now!
A flush - it was warm weather - overspread Miss Tox's face
as
while entertaining these meditations
she turned her head
and was surprised by the reflection of her thoughtful image In the chimney-glass. Another flush succeeded when she saw a little carriage drive into Princess's Place
and make straight for her own door. Miss Tox arose
took up her scissors hastily
and so ing
at last
to the plants
was very busy with them when Mrs Chick entered the room.
'How is my sweetest friend!' exclaimed Miss Tox
with open arms.