Крошка Доррит

Chapter 30. Closing in

           

           ‘WhenIforcedhimtogiveheruptome,byhernameandplaceofabode,’shewentoninhertorrentofindignationanddefence;‘whenIaccusedher,andshefellhidingherfaceatmyfeet,wasitmyinjurythatIasserted,weretheymyreproachesthatIpoureduponher?Thosewhowereappointedofoldtogotowickedkingsandaccusethem—weretheynotministersandservants?AndhadnotI,unworthyandfar-removedfromthem,sintodenounce?Whenshepleadedtomeheryouth,andhiswretchedandhardlife(thatwasherphraseforthevirtuoustraininghehadbelied),andthedesecratedceremonyofmarriagetherehadsecretlybeenbetweenthem,andtheterrorsofwantandshamethathadoverwhelmedthembothwhenIwasfirstappointedtobetheinstrumentoftheirpunishment,andthelove(forshesaidthewordtome,downatmyfeet)inwhichshehadabandonedhimandlefthimtome,wasitmyenemythatbecamemyfootstool,weretheythewordsofmywraththatmadehershrinkandquiver!Notuntomethestrengthbeascribed;notuntomethewringingoftheexpiation!’

           Manyyearshadcomeandgonesinceshehadhadthefreeuseevenofherfingers;butitwasnoticeablethatshehadalreadymorethanoncestruckherclenchedhandvigorouslyuponthetable,andthatwhenshesaidthesewordssheraisedherwholearmintheair,asthoughithadbeenacommonactionwithher.

           ‘Andwhatwastherepentancethatwasextortedfromthehardnessofherheartandtheblacknessofherdepravity?I,vindictiveandimplacable?Itmaybeso,tosuchasyouwhoknownorighteousness,andnoappointmentexceptSatan’s.

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