a tale of two cities(双城记)-第23章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ition of everything in the rooms； from the largest object to the least； the arrangement of colours； the elegant variety and contrast obtained by thrift in trifles； by delicate hands； clear eyes； and good sense； were at once so pleasant in themselves； and so expressive of their originator； that； as Mr。 Lorry stood looking about him； the very chairs and tables seemed to ask him； with something of that peculiar expression which he knew so well by this time； whether he approved？
There were three rooms on a floor； and； the doors by which they communicated being put open that the air might pass freely through them all； Mr。 Lorry； smilingly observant of that fanciful resemblance which he detected all around him； walked from one to another。 The first was the best room； and in it were Lucie's birds； and flowers； and books； and desk； and work…table； and box of water…colours； the second was the Doctor's consulting…room； used also as the dining…room； the third； changingly speckled by the rustle of the plane…tree in the yard； was the Doctor's bedroom； and there； in a corner； stood the disused shoemaker's bench and tray of tools； much as it had stood on the fifth floor of the dismal house by the wine…shop； in the suburb of Saint Antoine in Paris。
‘I wonder；' said Mr。 Lorry； pausing in his looking about； ‘that he keeps that reminder of his sufferings about him！'
‘And why wonder at that？' was the abrupt inquiry that made him start。
It proceeded from Miss Pross； the wild red woman； strong of hand； whose acquaintance he had first made at the Royal George Hotel at Dover； and had since improved。
‘I should have thought…‘Mr。 Lorry began。
‘Pooh！ You'd have thought！' said Miss Pross； and Mr。 Lorry left off。
‘How do you do？' inquired that lady thensharply； and yet as if to express that she bore him no malice。
‘I am pretty well； I thank you；' answered Mr。 Lorry； with meekness； ‘how are you？'
‘Nothing to boast of；' said Miss Pross。
‘Indeed？'
‘Ah！ indeed！' said Miss Pross。 ‘I am very much put out about my Ladybird。'
‘Indeed？'
‘For gracious sake say something else besides ‘‘indeed；'' or you'll fidget me to death；' said Miss Pross： whose character （dissociated from stature） was shortness。'
‘Really； then？' said Mr。 Lorry； as an amendment。
‘Really； is bad enough；' returned Miss Pross； ‘but better。 Yes； I am very much put out。'
‘May I ask the cause？'
‘I don't want dozens of people who are not at all worthy of Ladybird； to come here looking after her；' said Miss Pross。
‘Do dozens come for that purpose？'
‘Hundreds；' said Miss Pross。
It was characteristic of this lady （as of some other people before her time and since） that whenever her original pro…position was questioned； she exaggerated it。
‘Dear me！' said Mr。 Lorry； as the safest remark he could think of。
‘I have lived with the darlingor the darling has lived with me； and paid me for it； which she certainly should never have done； you may take your affidavit； if I could have afforded to keep either myself or her for nothingsince she was ten years old。 And it's really very hard；' said Miss Pross。
Not seeing with precision what was very hard； Mr。 Lorry shook his head； using that important part of himself as a sort of fairy cloak that would fit anything。
‘All sorts of people who are not in the least degree worthy of the pet； are always turning up；' said Miss Pross。 ‘When you began it…'
‘I began it； Miss Pross？'
‘Didn't you？ Who brought her father to life？'
‘Oh！ If that was beginning it…'said Mr。 Lorry。
‘It wasn't ending it； I suppose？ I say； when you began it； it was hard enough； not that I have any fault to find with Doctor Manette； except that he is not worthy of such a daughter； which is no imputation on him； for it was not to be expected that anybody should be； under any circumstances。 But it really is doubly and trebly hard to have crowds and multitudes of people turning up after him （I could have forgiven him）； to take Ladybird's affections away from me。'
Mr。 Lorry knew Miss Pross to be very jealous； but he also knew her by this time to be； beneath the surface of her eccentricity； one of those unselfish creaturesfound only among womenwho will； for pure love and admiration； bind themselves willing slaves； to youth when they have lost it； to beauty that they never had； to accomplishments that they were never fortunate enough to gain； to bright hopes that never shone upon their own sombre lives。 He knew enough of the world to know that there is nothing in it better than the faithful service of the heart； so rendered and so free from any mercenary taint； he had such an exalted respect for it； that in the retributive arrangements made by his own mindwe all make such arrangements； more or lesshe stationed Miss Pross much nearer to the lower Angels than many ladies immeasurably better got up both by Nature and Art； who had balances at Tellson's。
‘There never was； nor will be； but one man worthy of Lady…bird；' said Miss Pross； ‘and that was my brother Solomon； if he hadn't made a mistake in life。'
Here again： Mr。 Lorry's inquiries into Miss Pross's personal history had established the fact that her brother Solomon was a heartless scoundrel who had stripped her of everything she possessed； as a stake to speculate with； and had abandoned her in her poverty for evermore； with no touch of compunction。 Miss Pross's fidelity of belief in Solomon （deducting a mere trifle for this slight mistake） was quite a serious matter with Mr。 Lorry； and had its weight in his good opinion of her。
‘As we happen to be alone for the moment； and are both people of business；' he said； when they had got back to the drawing…room and had sat down there in friendly relations； ‘let me ask youdoes the Doctor； in talking with Lucie； never refer to the shoemaking time； yet？'
‘Never。'
‘And yet keeps that bench and those tools beside him？'
‘Ah！' returned Miss Pross； shaking her head。 ‘But I don't say he don't refer to it within himself。'
‘Do you believe that he thinks of it much？'
‘I do；' said Miss Pross。
‘Do you imagine…' Mr。 Lorry had begun； when Miss Pross took him up short with：
‘Never imagine anything。 Have no imagination at all。'
‘I stand corrected；； do you supposeyou go so far as to Suppose； sometimes？
‘Now and then；' said Miss Pross。
‘Do you suppose；' Mr。 Lorry went on； with a laughing twinkle in his bright eye； as it looked kindly at her； ‘that Doctor Manette has any theory of his own； preserved through all those years； relative to the cause of his being so oppressed； perhaps； even to the name of his oppressor？'
‘I don't suppose anything about it but what Ladybird tells me。'
‘And that is…？'
‘That she thinks he has。'
‘Now don't be angry at my asking all these questions； because I am a mere dull man of business； and you are a woman of business。'
‘Dull？' Miss Pross inquired； with placidity。
Rather wishing his modest adjective away； Mr。 Lorry replied； ‘No； no； no。 Surely not。 To return to business：… Is it not remarkable that Doctor Manette； unquestionably innocent of any crime as we are all well assured he is； should never touch upon that question？ I will not say with me； though he had business relations with me many years ago； and we are now intimate； I will say with the fair daughter to whom he is so devotedly attached； and who is so devotedly attached to him？ Believe me； Miss Pross； I don't approach the topic with you； out of curiosity； but out of zealous interest。'
‘Well！ To the best of my understanding； and bad's the best； you'll tell me；' said Miss Pross； softened by the tone of the apology； ‘he is afraid of the whole subject。
‘Afraid？'
‘It's plain enough； I should think； why he may be。 It's a dreadful remembrance。 Besides that； his loss of himself grew out of it。 Not knowing how he lost himself； or how he re…covered himself； he may never feel certain of not losing himself again。 That alone wouldn't make the subject pleasant； I should think。'
It was a profounder remark than Mr。 Lorry had looked for。 ‘True；' said he； ‘and fearful to reflect upon。 Yet； a doubt lurks in my mind； Miss Pross； whether it is good for Doctor Manette to have that suppression always shut up within him。 Indeed； it is t
