狄更斯小说改编系列 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第26章Part 2

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第26章Part 2  

'He has friends here
no doubt
' pursued Carker. 'I perceive
from what he has said
that you go into society here. Do you know
' smiling horribly
'I am so very glad that you go into society!'
Mr Dombey acknowledged this display of interest on the part of his second in mand
by irling his watch-chain
and slightly moving his head.
'You were formed for society
' said Carker. 'Of all the men I know
you are the best adapted
by nature and by position
for society. Do you know I have been frequently amazed that you should have held it at arm's length so long!'
'I have had my reasons
Carker. I have been alone
and indifferent to it. But you have great social qualifications yourself
and are the more likely to have been surprised.'
'Oh! I!' returned the other
with ready self-disparagement. 'It's quite another matter in the case of a man like me. I don't e into parison with you.'
Mr Dombey put his hand to his neckcloth
settled his chin in it
coughed
and stood looking at his faithful friend and servant for a few moments in silence.
'I shall have the pleasure
Carker
' said Mr Dombey at length: making as if he swallowed something a little too large for his throat: 'to present you to my - to the Major's friends. Highly agreeable people.'
'Ladies among them
I presume?' insinuated the smooth Manager.
'They are all - that is to say
they are both - ladies
' replied Mr Dombey.
'Only o?' smiled Carker.
'They are only o. I have confined my visits to their residence
and have made no other acquaintance here.'
'Sisters
perhaps?' quoth Carker.
'Mother and daughter
' replied Mr Dombey.
As Mr Dombey dropped his eyes
and adjusted his neckcloth again
the smiling face of Mr Carker the Manager became in a moment
and without any stage of transition
transformed into a most intent and frowning face
scanning his closely
and with an ugly sneer. As Mr Dombey raised his eyes
it changed back
no less quickly
to its old expression
and showed him every gum of which it stood possessed.
'You are very kind
' said Carker
'I shall be delighted to know them. Speaking of daughters
I have seen Miss Dombey.'
There was a sudden rush of blood to Mr Dombey's face.
'I took the liberty of waiting on her
' said Carker
'to inquire if she could charge me with any little mission. I am not so fortunate as to be the bearer of any but her - but her dear love.'
Wolf's face that it was then
with even the hot tongue revealing itself through the stretched mouth
as the eyes encountered Mr Dombey's!
'What business intelligence is there?' inquired the latter gentleman
after a silence
during which Mr Carker had produced some memoranda and other papers.
'There is very little
' returned Carker. 'Upon the whole we have not had our usual good fortune of late
but that is of little moment to you. At Lloyd's
they give up the Son and Heir for lost. Well
she was insured
from her keel to her masthead.'
'Carker
' said Mr Dombey
taking a chair near him
'I cannot say that young man
Gay
ever impressed me favourably
'Nor me
' interposed the Manager.