Крошка Доррит

Chapter 23. Mistress Affery makes a Conditional Promise,

           

           ‘Notthatatanytime,’sheproceeded,‘itsworstenemycouldhavesaiditwasacheerfulhouseforthatitwasnevermadetobebutalwayshighlyimpressive,fondmemoryrecallsanoccasioninyouthereyetthejudgmentwasmaturewhenArthur—confirmedhabit—MrClennam—tookmedownintoanunusedkitcheneminentformouldinessandproposedtosecretemethereforlifeandfeedmeonwhathecouldhidefromhismealswhenhewasnotathomefortheholidaysandondrybreadindisgracewhichatthathalcyonperiodtoofrequentlyoccurred,woulditbeinconvenientoraskingtoomuchtobegtobepermittedtorevivethosescenesandwalkthroughthehouse?’

           MrsClennam,whorespondedwithaconstrainedgracetoMrsFinching’sgoodnatureinbeingthereatall,thoughhervisit(beforeArthur’sunexpectedarrival)wasundoubtedlyanactofpuregoodnatureandnoself-gratification,intimatedthatallthehousewasopentoher.FloraroseandlookedtoArthurforhisescort.‘Certainly,’saidhe,aloud;‘andAfferywilllightus,Idaresay.’

           Afferywasexcusingherselfwith‘Don’tasknothingofme,Arthur!’whenMrFlintwinchstoppedherwith‘Whynot?Affery,what’sthematterwithyou,woman?Whynot,jade!’Thusexpostulatedwith,shecameunwillinglyoutofhercorner,resignedthetoasting-forkintooneofherhusband’shands,andtookthecandlestickheofferedfromtheother.

           ‘Gobefore,youfool!’saidJeremiah.‘Areyougoingup,ordown,MrsFinching?’

           Floraanswered,‘Down.’

           ‘Thengobefore,anddown,youAffery,’saidJeremiah.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 1053 из 1266