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！
proprietor's grubber were in no wise lessened； and though that service
bore no greater resemblance to a bed of roses than was to be discovered
in its many thorns； some new branch of industry made a constant demand
upon him。 When he cast off the Patriarch at night； it was only to take
an anonymous craft in tow； and labour away afresh in other waters。
The advance from a personal acquaintance with the elder Mr Chivery to
an introduction to his amiable wife and disconsolate son； may have been
easy； but easy or not； Mr Pancks soon made it。 He nestled in the bosom
of the tobacco business within a week or two after his first appearance
in the College； and particularly addressed himself to the cultivation of
a good understanding with Young John。 In this endeavour he so prospered
as to lure that pining shepherd forth from the groves； and tempt him
to undertake mysterious missions； on which he began to disappear at
uncertain intervals for as long a space as two or three days together。
The prudent Mrs Chivery； who wondered greatly at this change； would have
protested against it as detrimental to the Highland typification on the
doorpost but for two forcible reasons； one； that her John was roused to
take strong interest in the business which these starts were supposed
to advance……and this she held to be good for his drooping spirits；
the other； that Mr Pancks confidentially agreed to pay her； for the
occupation of her son's time； at the handsome rate of seven and sixpence
per day。 The proposal originated with himself； and was couched in the
pithy terms； 'If your John is weak enough； ma'am； not to take it；
that is no reason why you should be； don't you see？ So； quite between
ourselves； ma'am； business being business； here it is！'
What Mr Chivery thought of these things； or how much or how little he
knew about them； was never gathered from himself。 It has been already
remarked that he was a man of few words； and it may be here observed
that he had imbibed a professional habit of locking everything up。 He
locked himself up as carefully as he locked up the Marshalsea debtors。
Even his custom of bolting his meals may have been a part of an uniform
whole； but there is no question； that； as to all other purposes； he kept
his mouth as he kept the Marshalsea door。 He never opened it without
occasion。 When it was necessary to let anything out； he opened it a
little way； held it open just as long as sufficed for the purpose； and
locked it again。
Even as he would be sparing of his trouble at the Marshalsea door； and
would keep a visitor who wanted to go out； waiting for a few moments if
he saw another visitor ing down the yard； so that one turn of the key
should suffice for both； similarly he would often reserve a remark if he
perceived another on its way to his lips； and would deliver himself of
the two together。 As to any key to his inner knowledge being to be
found in his face； the Marshalsea key was as legible as an index to the
individual characters and histories upon which it was turned。
That Mr Pancks should be moved to invite any one to dinner at
Pentonville； was an unprecedented fact in his calendar。 But he invited
Young John to dinner； and even brought him within range of the dangerous
（because expensive） fascinations of Miss Rugg。 The banquet was appointed
for a Sunday； and Miss Rugg with her own hands stuffed a leg of mutton
with oysters on the occasion； and sent it to the baker's……not THE
baker's but an opposition establishment。 Provision of oranges； apples；
and nuts was also made。 And rum was brought home by Mr Pancks on
Saturday night； to gladden the visitor's heart。 The store of creature
forts was not the chief part of the visitor's reception。 Its special
feature was a foregone family confidence and sympathy。 When Young John
appeared at half…past one without the ivory hand and waistcoat of golden
sprigs； the sun shorn of his beams by disastrous clouds； Mr Pancks
presented him to the yellow…haired Ruggs as the young man he had so
often mentioned who loved Miss Dorrit。 'I am glad；' said Mr Rugg；
challenging him specially in that character； 'to have the distinguished
gratification of making your acquaintance； sir。 Your feelings do you
honour。 You are young； may you never outlive your feelings！ If I was
to outlive my own feelings； sir；' said Mr Rugg； who was a man of many
words； and was considered to possess a remarkably good address； 'if I
was to outlive my own feelings； I'd leave fifty pound in my will to the
man who would put me out of existence。'
Miss Rugg heaved a sigh。
'My daughter； sir；' said Mr Rugg。 'Anastatia； you are no stranger to the
state of this young man's affections。 My daughter has had her trials；
sir'……Mr Rugg might have used the word more pointedly in the singular
number……'and she can feel for you。'
Young John； almost overwhelmed by the touching nature of this greeting；
professed himself to that effect。
'What I envy you； sir； is；' said Mr Rugg； 'allow me to take your hat……we
are rather short of pegs……I'll put it in the corner； nobody will tread
on it there……What I envy you； sir； is the luxury of your own feelings。 I
belong to a profession in which that luxury is sometimes denied us。'
Young John replied； with acknowledgments； that he only hoped he did what
was right； and what showed how entirely he was devoted to Miss Dorrit。
He wished to be unselfish； and he hoped he was。 He wished to do anything
as laid in his power to serve Miss Dorrit； altogether putting himself
out of sight； and he hoped he did。 It was but little that he could do；
but he hoped he did it。
'Sir；' said Mr Rugg； taking him by the hand； 'you are a young man that
it does one good to e across。 You are a young man that I should
like to put in the witness…box； to humanise the minds of the legal
profession。 I hope you have brought your appetite with you； and intend
to play a good knife and fork？'
'Thank you； sir；' returned Young John； 'I don't eat much at present。'
Mr Rugg drew him a little apart。 'My daughter's case； sir；' said he； 'at
the time when； in vindication of her outraged feelings and her sex； she
became the plaintiff in Rugg and Bawkins。 I suppose I could have put it
in evidence； Mr Chivery； if I had thought it worth my while； that the
amount of solid sustenance my daughter consumed at that period did not
exceed ten ounces per week。' 'I think I go a little beyond that； sir；'
returned the other； hesitating； as if he confessed it with some shame。
'But in your case there's no fiend in human form；' said Mr Rugg； with
argumentative smile and action of hand。 'Observe； Mr Chivery！
No fiend in human form！' 'No； sir； certainly；' Young John added with
simplicity； 'I should be very sorry if there was。'
'The sentiment；' said Mr Rugg； 'is what I should have expected from your
known principles。 It would affect my daughter greatly； sir； if she heard
it。 As I perceive the mutton； I am glad she didn't hear it。 Mr Pancks；
on this occasion； pray face me。 My dear； face Mr Chivery。 For what we
are going to receive； may we （and Miss Dorrit） be truly thankful！'
But for a grave waggishness in Mr Rugg's manner of delivering this
introduction to the feast； it might have appeared that Miss Dorrit was
expected to be one of the pany。 Pancks recognised the sally in
his usual way； and took in his provender in his usual way。 Miss Rugg；
perhaps making up some of her arrears； likewise took very kindly to
the mutton； and it rapidly diminished to the bone。 A bread…and…butter
pudding entirely disappeared； and a considerable amount of cheese and
radishes vanished by the same means。 Then came the dessert。
Then also； and before the broaching of the rum and water； came Mr
Pancks's note…book。 The ensuing business proceedings were brief but
curious； and rather in the nature of a conspiracy。 Mr Pancks looked over
his note…book； which was now getting full； studiously； and picked out
little extracts； which he wrote on separate slips of paper on the table；
Mr Rugg； in the meanwhile； looking at him with close attention； and
Young John losing his uncollected eye in mists of meditation。 When Mr
Pancks； who supported the character of chief conspirator； had pleted
his extracts； he looked them over； corrected them； put up his note…book；
and held them like a hand at cards。
'Now； there's a churchyard in Bedfordshire；' said Pancks。 'Who takes
it？'
'I'll take it； sir；' returned Mr Rugg； 'if no one bids。'
Mr Pancks dealt him his card； and looked at his hand again。
'Now； there's an Enquiry in York；' said Pancks。 'Who takes it？'
'I'm not good for York；' said Mr Rugg。
'Then perhaps；' pursued Pancks； 'you'll be so obliging； John Chivery？'
Young John assenting； Pancks dealt him his card； and consulted his hand
again。
'There's a Church in London； I may as well take that。 And a Family
Bible； I may as well take that； too。 That's two to me。 Two to me；'
repeated Pancks； breathing hard over his cards。 'Here's a Clerk at
Durham for you； John； and an old seafaring gentleman at Dunstable for
you； Mr Rugg。 Two to me； was it？ Yes； two to me。 Here's a Stone； three
to me。 And a Still…born Baby； four to me。 And all； for the present；
told。' When he had thus disposed of his cards； all being done very
quietly and in a suppressed tone； Mr Pancks puffed his way into his own
breast…pocket and tugged out a canvas bag； from which； with a sparing
hand； he told forth money for travelling expenses in two little
portions。 'Cash goes out fast；' he said anxiously； as he pushed a
portion to each of his male panions； 'very fast。'
'I can only assure you； Mr Pancks；' said Young John； 'that I deeply
regret my circumstances being such that I can't afford to pay my own
charges； or that it's not advisable to allow me the time necessary for
my doing the distances on foot； because nothing would give me greater
satisfaction than to walk myself off my legs without fee or reward。'
This young man's disinterestedness appeared so very ludicrous in
the eyes of Miss Rugg； that she was obliged to effect a precipitate
retirement from the pany； and to sit upon the stairs until she had
had her laugh out。 Meanwhile Mr Pancks； looking； not without some pity；
at Young John； slowly and thoughtfully twisted up his canvas bag as if
he were wringing its neck。 The lady； returning as he restored it to his
pocket； mixed rum and water for the party； not forgetting her fair self；
and handed to every one his glass。 When all were supplied； Mr Rugg rose；
and silently holding out his glass at arm's length above the centre of
the table； by that gesture invited the other three to add theirs； and to
unite in a general conspiratorial clink。 The ceremony was effective up
to a certain point； and would have been wholly so throughout； if Miss
Rugg； as she raised her glass to her lips in pletion of it； had not
happened to look at Young John； when she was again so overe by the
contemptible icality of his disinterestedness as to splutter some
ambrosial drops of rum and water around； and withdraw in confusion。
Such was the dinner without precedent； given by Pancks at Pentonville；
and such was the busy and strange life Pancks led。 The only waking
moments at which he appeared to relax from his cares； and to recreate
himself by going anywhere or saying anything without a pervading object；
were when he showed a dawning interest in the lame foreigner with the
stick； down Bleeding Heart Yard。
The foreigner； by name John Baptist Cavalletto……they called him Mr
Baptist in the Yard……was such a chirping； easy； hopeful little fellow；
that his attraction for Pancks was probably in the force of contrast。
Solitary； ost necessary words
of the only language in which he could municate with the people about
him； he went with the stream of his fortunes； in a brisk way that was
new in those parts。 With little to eat； and less to drink； and nothing
to wear but what he wore upon him； or had brought tied up in one of the
smallest bundles that ever were seen； he put as bright a face upon it as
if he were in the most flourishing circumstances when he first hobbled
up and down the Yard； humbly propitiating the general good…will with his
white teeth。
It was uphill work for a foreigner； lame or sound；