狄更斯哪部作品好 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第23章Part 11

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第23章Part 11  

'Not Number Nine?' asked Florence
hesitating.
'Who said it wasn't Number Nine?' said Mrs MacStinger.
Susan Nipper instantly struck in
and begged to inquire what Mrs MacStinger meant by that
and if she knew whom she was talking to.
Mrs MacStinger in retort
looked at her all over. 'What do you want with Captain Cuttle
I should wish to know?' said Mrs MacStinger.
'Should you? Then I'm sorry that you won't be satisfied
' returned Miss Nipper.
'Hush
Susan! If you please!' said Florence. 'Perhaps you can have the goodness to tell us where Captain Cutlle lives
Ma'am as he don't live here.'
'Who says he don't live here?' retorted the implacable MacStinger. 'I said it wasn't Cap'en Cuttle's house - and it ain't his house -and forbid it
that it ever should be his house - for Cap'en Cuttle don't know how to keep a house - and don't deserve to have a house - it's my house - and when I let the upper floor to Cap'en Cuttle
oh I do a thankless thing
and cast pearls before swine!'
Mrs MacStinger pitched her voice for the upper windows in offering these remarks
and cracked off each clause sharply by itself as if from a rifle possessing an infinity of barrels. After the last shot
the Captain's voice was heard to say
in feeble remonstrance from his own room
'Steady below!'
'Since you want Cap'en Cuttle
there he is!' said Mrs MacStinger
with an angry motion of her hand. On Florence making bold to enter
without any more parley
and on Susan following
Mrs MacStinger remenced her pedestrian exercise in pattens
and Alexander MacStinger (still on the paving-stone)
who had stopped in his crying to attend to the conversation
began to wail again
entertaining himself during that dismal performance
which was quite mechanical
with a general survey of the prospect
terminating in the hackney-coach.
The Captain in his own apartment was sitting with his hands in his pockets and his legs drawn up under his chair
on a very small desolate island
lying about midway in an ocean of soap and water. The Captain's windows had been cleaned
the walls had been cleaned
the stove had been cleaned
and everything the stove excepted
was wet
and shining with soft soap and sand: the smell of which dry-saltery impregnated the air. In the midst of the dreary scene
the Captain
cast away upon his island
looked round on the waste of waters with a rueful countenance
and seemed waiting for some friendly bark to e that way
and take him off.
But when the Captain
directing his forlorn visage towards the door
saw Florence appear with her maid
no words can describe his astonishment. Mrs MacStinger's eloquence having rendered all other sounds but imperfectly distinguishable
he had looked for no rarer visitor than the potboy or the milkman; wherefore
when Florence appeared
and ing to the confines of the island
put her hand in his
the Captain stood up
aghast
as if he supposed her
for the moment
to be some young member of the Flying Dutchman's family.'
Instantly recovering his self-possession
however
the Captain's first care was to place her on dry land
which he happily acplished
with one motion of his arm. Issuing forth
then
upon the main
Captain Cuttle took Miss Nipper round the waist
and bore her to the island also. Captain Cuttle
then
with great respect and admiration
raised the hand of Florence to his lips
and standing off a little(for the island was not large enough for three)
beamed on her from the soap and water like a new description of Triton.
'You are amazed to see us
I am sure
'said Florence
with a smile.
The inexpressibly gratified Captain kissed his hook in reply
and growled
as if a choice and delicate pliment were included in the words
'Stand by! Stand by!'