點擊下方⇊⇊⇊公眾號即可看全免小說
⇈⇈⇈
免費小說|免費小說公眾號|免費小說全本|免費小說大全｜小說免費公眾號推薦｜免費小說全集書城推薦｜小說免費閱讀｜小說免費｜小說免費閱讀網｜小說免費看｜小說資源｜小說推薦｜小說閱讀｜熱門都市言情鄉村愛情盡在：免費小說全本公眾號
閱讀本文前，請您先點擊上面的藍色字體，再點擊「關注」，這 樣您就可以繼續免費收到文章了。每天都有分享，完全是免費訂閱，請放心關注！
【免責聲明】本文部分文字與圖片資源來自於網絡，轉載此文是出於傳遞更多信息之目的,若有來源標註錯誤或侵犯了您的合法權益，請立即通知我們，情況屬實，我們會第一時間予以刪除，並同時向您表示歉意！
番茄小說是今日頭條旗下的免費網文閱讀APP，致力於為讀者提供暢快不花錢的極致閱讀體驗，於2019年11月正式上線。番茄小說支持在線閱讀、離線下載、興趣推薦、視頻推書、有聲書、閱讀換金幣等多項功能。番茄小說是一款免費網文閱讀 APP，採用「廣告+免費」的模式，為讀者提供免費的精彩網文，提供暢快的閱讀體驗。支持在線閱讀、離線下載、興趣推薦、視頻推書、有聲書、閱讀換金幣等多項功能。2019年7月15日，按照全國「掃黃打非」辦公室部署，「掃黃打非」辦公室聯合網信、新聞出版和文化執法等部門分別對番茄小說運營企業進行約談，要求針對傳播網絡淫穢色情出版物等問題進行嚴肅整改。2019年8月14日，從全國「掃黃打非」辦公室獲悉，2019年以來，「掃黃打非」部門針對網絡文學領域低俗色情等問題開展專項整治，截至7月底，已查辦刑事案件10起、行政案件67起，並約談網站70餘家，責令整改。據介紹，全國「掃黃打非」辦公室轉辦了涉嫌傳播低俗色情甚至淫穢內容的網絡文學網站、APP、微信公眾號和作者線索347條，部署北京、上海查處了晉江文學城、起點中文網、米讀小說、番茄小說等違法行為並公開曝光。2019年12月5日，據國家網絡安全通報中心消息，2019年11月以來，全國公安機關網安部門集中查處整改了100款違法違規APP及其運營的網際網路企業。其中包括：番茄小說。2019年8月14日，從全國「掃黃打非」辦公室獲悉，2019年以來，「掃黃打非」部門針對網絡文學領域低俗色情等問題開展專項整治，截至7月底，已查辦刑事案件10起、行政案件67起，並約談網站70餘家，責令整改。據介紹，全國「掃黃打非」辦公室轉辦了涉嫌傳播低俗色情甚至淫穢內容的網絡文學網站、APP、微信公眾號和作者線索347條，部署北京、上海查處了晉江文學城、起點中文網、米讀小說、番茄小說等違法行為並公開曝光。2019年12月5日，據國家網絡安全通報中心消息，2019年11月以來，全國公安機關網安部門集中查處整改了100款違法違規APP及其運營的網際網路企業。其中包括：番茄小說。2019年8月14日，從全國「掃黃打非」辦公室獲悉，2019年以來，「掃黃打非」部門針對網絡文學領域低俗色情等問題開展專項整治，截至7月底，已查辦刑事案件10起、行政案件67起，並約談網站70餘家，責令整改。據介紹，全國「掃黃打非」辦公室轉辦了涉嫌傳播低俗色情甚至淫穢內容的網絡文學網站、APP、微信公眾號和作者線索347條，部署北京、上海查處了晉江文學城、起點中文網、米讀小說、番茄小說等違法行為並公開曝光。
dear, dear father, how can you, can you, do it!』
The poor fellow stood gazing at her, overflowing with
sympathy, but not knowing what to make of this, until, having
taken out her handkerchief and put it to her still averted face, she
hurried away. At first he remained stock still; then hurried after
her.
『Miss Amy, pray! Will you have the goodness to stop a moment?
Miss Amy, if it comes to that, let me go. I shall go out of my senses,
if I have to think that I have driven you away like this.』
His trembling voice and unfeigned earnestness brought Little
Dorrit to a stop. 『Oh, I don’t know what to do,』 she cried, 『I don’t
know what to do!』
To Young John, who had never seen her bereft of her quiet self-
command, who had seen her from her infancy ever so reliable and
self-suppressed, there was a shock in her distress, and in having to
associate himself with it as its cause, that shook him from his great
hat to the pavement. He felt it necessary to explain himself. He
might be misunderstood—supposed to mean something, or to
have done something, that had never entered into his imagination.
He begged her to hear him explain himself, as the greatest favour
she could show him.
『Miss Amy, I know very well that your family is far above mine.
It were vain to conceal it. There never was a Chivery a gentleman
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 313
that ever I heard of, and I will not commit the meanness of making
a false representation on a subject so momentous. Miss Amy, I
know very well that your high-souled brother, and likewise your
spirited sister, spurn me from a height. What I have to do is to
respect them, to wish to be admitted to their friendship, to look up
at the eminence on which they are placed from my lowlier
station—for, whether viewed as tobacco or viewed as the lock, I
well know it is lowly—and ever wish them well and happy.』
There really was a genuineness in the poor fellow, and a
contrast between the hardness of his hat and the softness of his
heart (albeit, perhaps, of his head, too), that was moving. Little
Dorrit entreated him to disparage neither himself nor his station,
and, above all things, to divest himself of any idea that she
supposed hers to be superior. This gave him a little comfort.
『Miss Amy,』 he then stammered, 『I have had for a long time —
ages they seem to me—Revolving ages—a heart-cherished wish to
say something to you. May I say it?』
Little Dorrit involuntarily started from his side again, with the
faintest shadow of her former look; conquering that, she went on
at great speed half across the Bridge without replying!
『May I—Miss Amy, I but ask the question humbly—may I say
it? I have been so unlucky already in giving you pain without
having any such intentions, before the holy Heavens! that there is
no fear of my saying it unless I have your leave. I can be miserable
alone, I can be cut up by myself, why should I also make miserable
and cut up one that I would fling myself off that parapet to give
half a moment’s joy to! Not that that’s much to do, for I』d do it for
twopence.』
The mournfulness of his spirits, and the gorgeousness of his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 314
appearance, might have made him ridiculous, but that his delicacy
made him respectable. Little Dorrit learnt from it what to do.
『If you please, John Chivery,』 she returned, trembling, but in a
quiet way, 『since you are so considerate as to ask me whether you
shall say any more—if you please, no.』
『Never, Miss Amy?』
『No, if you please. Never.』
『O Lord!』 gasped Young John.
『But perhaps you will let me, instead, say something to you. I
want to say it earnestly, and with as plain a meaning as it is
possible to express. When you think of us, John—I mean my
brother, and sister, and me—don’t think of us as being any
different from the rest; for, whatever we once were (which I hardly
know) we ceased to be long ago, and never can be any more. It will
be much better for you, and much better for others, if you will do
that instead of what you are doing now.』
Young John dolefully protested that he would try to bear it in
mind, and would be heartily glad to do anything she wished.
『As to me,』 said Little Dorrit, 『think as little of me as you can;
the less, the better. When you think of me at all, John, let it only be
as the child you have seen grow up in the prison with one set of
duties always occupying her; as a weak, retired, contented,
unprotected girl. I particularly want you to remember, that when I
come outside the gate, I am unprotected and solitary.』
He would try to do anything she wished. But why did Miss Amy
so much want him to remember that?
『Because,』 returned Little Dorrit, 『I know I can then quite trust
you not to forget to-day, and not to say any more to me. You are so
generous that I know I can trust to you for that; and I do and I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 315
always will. I am going to show you, at once, that I fully trust you. I
like this place where we are speaking better than any place I
know;』 her slight colour had faded, but her lover thought he saw it
coming back just then; 『and I may be often here. I know it is only
necessary for me to tell you so, to be quite sure that you will never
come here again in search of me. And I am—quite sure!』
She might rely upon it, said Young John. He was a miserable
wretch, but her word was more than a law for him.
『And good-bye, John,』 said Little Dorrit. 『And I hope you will
have a good wife one day, and be a happy man. I am sure you will
deserve to be happy, and you will be, John.』
As she held out her hand to him with these words, the heart
that was under the waistcoat of sprigs—mere slop-work, if the
truth must be known—swelled to the size of the heart of a
gentleman; and the poor common little fellow, having no room to
hold it, burst into tears.
『Oh, don’t cry,』 said Little Dorrit piteously. 『Don’t, don’t! Good-
bye, John. God bless you!』
『Good-bye, Miss Amy. Good-bye!』
And so he left her: first observing that she sat down on the
corner of a seat, and not only rested her little hand upon the rough
wall, but laid her face against it too, as if her head were heavy, and
her mind were sad. It was an affecting illustration of the fallacy of
human projects, to behold her lover, with the great hat pulled over
his eyes, the velvet collar turned up as if it rained, the plum-
coloured coat buttoned to conceal the silken waistcoat of golden
sprigs, and the little direction-post pointing inexorably home,
creeping along by the worst back-streets, and composing, as he
went, the following new inscription for a tombstone in St George’s
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 316
Churchyard:
『Here lie the mortal remains Of JOHN CHIVERY, Never
anything worth mentioning, Who died about the end of the year
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, Of a broken heart,
Requesting with his last breath that the word AMY might be
inscribed over his ashes, which was accordingly directed to be
done, By his afflicted Parents.』
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 317
Chapter 19
The Father of the Marshalsea in two
or three Relations
he brothers William and Frederick Dorrit, walking up and
down the College-yard—of course on the aristocratic or
TPump side, for the Father made it a point of his state to be
chary of going among his children on the Poor side, except on
Sunday mornings, Christmas Days, and other occasions of
ceremony, in the observance whereof he was very punctual, and at
which times he laid his hand upon the heads of their infants, and
blessed those young insolvents with a benignity that was highly
edifying—the brothers, walking up and down the College-yard
together, were a memorable sight. Frederick the free, was so
humbled, bowed, withered, and faded; William the bond, was so
courtly, condescending, and benevolently conscious of a position;
that in this regard only, if in no other, the brothers were a
spectacle to wonder at.
They walked up and down the yard on the evening of Little
Dorrit’s Sunday interview with her lover on the Iron Bridge. The
cares of state were over for that day, the Drawing Room had been
well attended, several new presentations had taken place, the
three-and-sixpence accidentally left on the table had accidentally
increased to twelve shillings, and the Father of the Marshalsea
refreshed himself with a whiff of cigar. As he walked up and down,
affably accommodating his step to the shuffle of his brother, not
proud in his superiority, but considerate of that poor creature,
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 318
bearing with him, and breathing toleration of his infirmities in
every little puff of smoke that issued from his lips and aspired to
get over the spiked wall, he was a sight to wonder at.
His brother Frederick of the dim eye, palsied hand, bent form,
and groping mind, submissively shuffled at his side, accepting his
patronage as he accepted every incident of the labyrinthian world
in which he had got lost. He held the usual screwed bit of whitey-
brown paper in his hand, from which he ever and again
unscrewed a spare pinch of snuff. That falteringly taken, he would
glance at his brother not unadmiringly, put his hands behind him,
and shuffle on so at his side until he took another pinch, or stood
still to look about him—perchance suddenly missing his clarionet.
The College visitors were melting away as the shades of night
drew on, but the yard was still pretty full, the Collegians being
mostly out, seeing their friends to the Lodge. As the brothers
paced the yard, William the bond looked about him to receive
salutes, returned them by graciously lifting off his hat, and, with
an engaging air, prevented Frederick the free from running
against the company, or being jostled against the wall. The
Collegians as a body were not easily impressible, but even they,
according to their various ways of wondering, appeared to find in
the two brothers a sight to wonder at.
『You are a little low this evening, Frederick,』 said the Father of
the Marshalsea. 『Anything the matter?』
『The matter?』 He stared for a moment, and then dropped his
head and eyes again. 『No, William, no. Nothing is the matter.』
『If you could be persuaded to smarten yourself up a little,
Frederick—』
『Aye, aye!』 said the old man hurriedly. 『But I can’t be. I can’t be.
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 319
Don’t talk so. That’s all over.』
The Father of the Marshalsea glanced at a passing Collegian
with whom he was on friendly terms, as who should say, 『An
enfeebled old man, this; but he is my brother, sir, my brother, and
the voice of Nature is potent!』 and steered his brother clear of the
handle of the pump by the threadbare sleeve. Nothing would have
been wanting to the perfection of his character as a fraternal
guide, philosopher and friend, if he had only steered his brother
clear of ruin, instead of bringing it upon him.
『I think, William,』 said the object of his affectionate
consideration, 『that I am tired, and will go home to bed.』
『My dear Frederick,』 returned the other, 『don’t let me detain
you; don’t sacrifice your inclination to me.』
『Late hours, and a heated atmosphere, and years, I suppose,』
said Frederick, 『weaken me.』
『My dear Frederick,』 returned the Father of the Marshalsea, 『do
you think you are sufficiently careful of yourself? Do you think
your habits are as precise and methodical as—shall I say as mine
are? Not to revert again to that little eccentricity which I
mentioned just now, I doubt if you take air and exercise enough,
Frederick. Here is the parade, always at your service. Why not use
it more regularly than you do?』
『Hah!』 sighed the other. 『Yes, yes, yes, yes.』
『But it is of no use saying yes, yes, my dear Frederick,』 the
Father of the Marshalsea in his mild wisdom persisted, 『unless you
act on that assent. Consider my case, Frederick. I am a kind of
example. Necessity and time have taught me what to do. At certain
stated hours of the day, you will find me on the parade, in my
room, in the Lodge, reading the paper, receiving company, eating
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 320
and drinking. I have impressed upon Amy during many years, that
I must have my meals (for instance) punctually. Amy has grown up
in a sense of the importance of these arrangements, and you know
what a good girl she is.』
The brother only sighed again, as he plodded dreamily along,
『Hah! Yes, yes, yes, yes.』
『My dear fellow,』 said the Father of the Marshalsea, laying his
hand upon his shoulder, and mildly rallying him—mildly, because
of his weakness, poor dear soul; 『you said that before, and it does
not express much, Frederick, even if it means much. I wish I could
rouse you, my good Frederick; you want to be roused.』
『Yes, William, yes. No doubt,』 returned the other, lifting his dim
eyes to his face. 『But I am not like you.』
The Father of the Marshalsea said, with a shrug of modest self-
depreciation, 『Oh! You might be like me, my dear Frederick; you
might be, if you chose!』 and forbore, in the magnanimity of his
strength, to press his fallen brother further.
There was a great deal of leave-taking going on in corners, as
was usual on Sunday nights; and here and there in the dark, some
poor woman, wife or mother, was weeping with a new Collegian.
The time had been when the Father himself had wept, in the
shades of that yard, as his own poor wife had wept. But it was
many years ago; and now he was like a passenger aboard ship in a
long voyage, who has recovered from sea-sickness, and is
impatient of that weakness in the fresher passengers taken aboard
at the last port. He was inclined to remonstrate, and to express his
opinion that people who couldn’t get on without crying, had no
business there. In manner, if not in words, he always testified his
displeasure at these interruptions of the general harmony; and it
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Little Dorrit 321
was so well understood, that delinquents usually withdrew if they
were aware of him.
On this Sunday evening, he accompanied his brother to the
gate with an air of endurance and clemency; being in a bland
temper and graciously disposed to overlook the tears. In the
flaring gaslight of the Lodge, several Collegians were basking;
some taking leave of visitors, and some who had no visitors,
watching the frequent turning of the key, and conversing with one
another and with Mr Chivery. The paternal entrance made a
sensation of course; and Mr Chivery, touching his hat (in a short
manner though) with his key, hoped he found himself tolerable.
『Thank you, Chivery, quite well. And you?』
Mr Chivery said in a low growl, 『Oh! he was all right.』 Which
點擊下方⇊⇊⇊公眾號即可看全免小說
⇈⇈⇈