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！
you go your own way； and the consequences are on your own head）； I will
say this much： that I shape my course by pilots； strictly by proved and
tried pilots； under whom I cannot be shipwrecked……can not be……and that
if I were unmindful of the admonition conveyed in those three letters； I
should not be half as chastened as I am。'
It was curious how she seized the occasion to argue with some invisible
opponent。 Perhaps with her own better sense； always turning upon herself
and her own deception。
'If I forgot my ignorances in my life of health and freedom； I might
plain of the life to which I am now condemned。 I never do； I never
have done。 If I forgot that this scene； the Earth； is expressly meant to
be a scene of gloom； and hardship； and dark trial； for the creatures who
are made out of its dust； I might have some tenderness for its vanities。
But I have no such tenderness。 If I did not know that we are； every one；
the subject （most justly the subject） of a wrath that must be satisfied；
and against which mere actions are nothing； I might repine at the
difference between me； imprisoned here； and the people who pass that
gateway yonder。 But I take it as a grace and favour to be elected to
make the satisfaction I am making here； to know what I know for certain
here； and to work out what I have worked out here。 My affliction might
otherwise have had no meaning to me。 Hence I would forget； and I do
forget； nothing。 Hence I am contented； and say it is better with me
than with millions。' As she spoke these words； she put her hand upon the
watch； and restored it to the precise spot on her little table which
it always occupied。 With her touch lingering upon it； she sat for some
moments afterwards； looking at it steadily and half…defiantly。
Mr Blandois； during this exposition； had been strictly attentive；
keeping his eyes fastened on the lady； and thoughtfully stroking his
moustache with his two hands。 Mr Flintwinch had been a little fidgety；
and now struck in。
'There； there； there！' said he。 'That is quite understood； Mrs Clennam；
and you have spoken piously and well。 Mr Blandois； I suspect； is not
of a pious cast。' 'On the contrary； sir！' that gentleman protested；
snapping his fingers。 'Your pardon！ It's a part of my character。 I am
sensitive； ardent； conscientious； and imaginative。 A sensitive； ardent；
conscientious； and imaginative man； Mr Flintwinch； must be that； or
nothing！'
There was an inkling of suspicion in Mr Flintwinch's face that he might
be nothing； as he swaggered out of his chair （it was characteristic of
this man； as it is of all men similarly marked； that whatever he did；
he overdid； though it were sometimes by only a hairsbreadth）； and
approached to take his leave of Mrs Clennam。
'With what will appear to you the egotism of a sick old woman； sir；' she
then said； 'though really through your accidental allusion； I have
been led away into the subject of myself and my infirmities。 Being so
considerate as to visit me； I hope you will be likewise so considerate
as to overlook that。 Don't pliment me； if you please。' For he was
evidently going to do it。 'Mr Flintwinch will be happy to render you any
service； and I hope your stay in this city may prove agreeable。'
Mr Blandois thanked her； and kissed his hand several times。 'This is an
old room；' he remarked； with a sudden sprightliness of manner； looking
round when he got near the door； 'I have been so interested that I have
not observed it。 But it's a genuine old room。'
'It is a genuine old house；' said Mrs Clennam； with her frozen smile。 'A
place of no pretensions； but a piece of antiquity。'
'Faith！' cried the visitor。 'If Mr Flintwinch would do me the favour to
take me through the rooms on my way out； he could hardly oblige me more。
An old house is a weakness with me。 I have many weaknesses； but none
greater。 I love and study the picturesque in all its varieties。 I have
been called picturesque myself。 It is no merit to be picturesque……I
have greater merits； perhaps……but I may be； by an accident。 Sympathy；
sympathy！'
'I tell you beforehand； Mr Blandois； that you'll find it very dingy and
very bare；' said Jeremiah； taking up the candle。 'It's not worth your
looking at。'But Mr Blandois； smiting him in a friendly manner on the
back； only laughed； so the said Blandois kissed his hand again to Mrs
Clennam； and they went out of the room together。
'You don't care to go up…stairs？' said Jeremiah； on the landing。 'On the
contrary； Mr Flintwinch； if not tiresome to you； I shall be ravished！'
Mr Flintwinch； therefore； wormed himself up the staircase； and Mr
Blandois followed close。 They ascended to the great garret bed…room
which Arthur had occupied on the night of his return。 'There； Mr
Blandois！' said Jeremiah； showing it； 'I hope you may think that worth
ing so high to see。 I confess I don't。'
Mr Blandois being enraptured； they walked through other garrets and
passages； and came down the staircase again。 By this time Mr Flintwinch
had remarked that he never found the visitor looking at any room； after
throwing one quick glance around； but always found the visitor looking
at him； Mr Flintwinch。 With this discovery in his thoughts； he turned
about on the staircase for another experiment。 He met his eyes directly；
and on the instant of their fixing one another； the visitor； with
that ugly play of nose and moustache； laughed （as he had done at every
similar moment since they left Mrs Clennam's chamber） a diabolically
silent laugh。
As a much shorter man than the visitor； Mr Flintwinch was at the
physical disadvantage of being thus disagreeably leered at from a
height； and as he went first down the staircase； and was usually a
step or two lower than the other； this disadvantage was at the time
increased。 He postponed looking at Mr Blandois again until this
accidental inequality was removed by their having entered the late Mr
Clennam's room。 But； then twisting himself suddenly round upon him； he
found his look unchanged。
'A most admirable old house；' smiled Mr Blandois。 'So mysterious。 Do you
never hear any haunted noises here？'
'Noises；' returned Mr Flintwinch。 'No。'
'Nor see any devils？'
'Not；' said Mr Flintwinch； grimly screwing himself at his questioner；
'not any that introduce themselves under that name and in that
capacity。'
'Haha！ A portrait here； I see。'
（Still looking at Mr Flintwinch； as if he were the portrait。）
'It's a portrait； sir； as you observe。'
'May I ask the subject； Mr Flintwinch？'
'Mr Clennam； deceased。 Her husband。' 'Former owner of the remarkable
watch； perhaps？' said the visitor。
Mr Flintwinch； who had cast his eyes towards the portrait； twisted
himself about again； and again found himself the subject of the same
look and smile。 'Yes； Mr Blandois；' he replied tartly。 'It was his； and
his uncle's before him； and Lord knows who before him； and that's all I
can tell you of its pedigree。'
'That's a strongly marked character； Mr Flintwinch； our friend
up…stairs。'
'Yes； sir；' said Jeremiah； twisting himself at the visitor again； as he
did during the whole of this dialogue； like some screw…machine that
fell short of its grip； for the other never changed； and he always
felt obliged to retreat a little。 'She is a remarkable woman。 Great
fortitude……great strength of mind。'
'They must have been very happy；' said Blandois。
'Who？' demanded Mr Flintwinch； with another screw at him。
Mr Blandois shook his right forefinger towards the sick room； and his
left forefinger towards the portrait； and then； putting his arms akimbo
and striding his legs wide apart； stood smiling down at Mr Flintwinch
with the advancing nose and the retreating moustache。
'As happy as most other married people； I suppose；' returned Mr
Flintwinch。 'I can't say。 I don't know。 There are secrets in all
families。'
'Secrets！' cried Mr Blandois； quickly。 'Say it again； my son。'
'I say；' replied Mr Flintwinch； upon whom he had swelled himself so
suddenly that Mr Flintwinch found his face almost brushed by the dilated
chest。 'I say there are secrets in all families。'
'So there are；' cried the other； clapping him on both shoulders； and