Крошка Доррит

Chapter 2 Fellow Travellers

           ThisishowyoufoundusstaringattheNile,andthePyramids,andtheSphinxes,andtheDesert,andalltherestofit;andthisishowTattycoramwillbeagreatertravellerincourseoftimethanCaptainCook.’

           ‘Ithankyou,’saidtheother,‘veryheartilyforyourconfidence.’

           ‘Don’tmentionit,’returnedMrMeagles,‘Iamsureyouarequitewelcome.Andnow,MrClennam,perhapsImayaskyouwhetheryouhaveyetcometoadecisionwheretogonext?’

           ‘Indeed,no.Iamsuchawaifandstrayeverywhere,thatIamliabletobedriftedwhereanycurrentmayset.’

           ‘It’sextraordinarytome—ifyou’llexcusemyfreedominsayingso—thatyoudon’tgostraighttoLondon,’saidMrMeagles,inthetoneofaconfidentialadviser.

           ‘PerhapsIshall.’

           ‘Ay!ButImeanwithawill.’

           ‘Ihavenowill.Thatistosay,’—hecolouredalittle,—‘nexttononethatIcanputinactionnow.Trainedbymainforce;broken,notbent;heavilyironedwithanobjectonwhichIwasneverconsultedandwhichwasnevermine;shippedawaytotheotherendoftheworldbeforeIwasofage,andexiledthereuntilmyfather’sdeaththere,ayearago;alwaysgrindinginamillIalwayshated;whatistobeexpectedfrommeinmiddlelife?Will,purpose,hope?AllthoselightswereextinguishedbeforeIcouldsoundthewords.’

           ‘Light‘emupagain!’saidMrMeagles.

           ‘Ah!Easilysaid.Iamtheson,MrMeagles,ofahardfatherandmother.Iamtheonlychildofparentswhoweighed,measured,andpricedeverything;forwhomwhatcouldnotbeweighed,measured,andpriced,hadnoexistence.

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