Chapter 18. Little Dorrit’s Lover

           

           LittleDorrithadnotattainedhertwenty-secondbirthdaywithoutfindingalover.EvenintheshallowMarshalsea,theeveryoungArchershotoffafewfeatherlessarrowsnowandthenfromamouldybow,andwingedaCollegianortwo.

           LittleDorrit’slover,however,wasnotaCollegian.Hewasthesentimentalsonofaturnkey.Hisfatherhoped,inthefulnessoftime,toleavehimtheinheritanceofanunstainedkey;andhadfromhisearlyyouthfamiliarisedhimwiththedutiesofhisoffice,andwithanambitiontoretaintheprison-lockinthefamily.Whilethesuccessionwasyetinabeyance,heassistedhismotherintheconductofasnugtobaccobusinessroundthecornerofHorsemongerLane(hisfatherbeinganon-residentturnkey),whichcouldusuallycommandaneatconnectionwithintheCollegewalls.

           Yearsagone,whentheobjectofhisaffectionswaswonttositinherlittlearm-chairbythehighLodge-fender,YoungJohn(familyname,Chivery),ayearolderthanherself,hadeyedherwithadmiringwonder.Whenhehadplayedwithherintheyard,hisfavouritegamehadbeentocounterfeitlockingherupincorners,andtocounterfeitlettingheroutforrealkisses.Whenhegrewtallenoughtopeepthroughthekeyholeofthegreatlockofthemaindoor,hehaddiverstimessetdownhisfather’sdinner,orsupper,togetonasitmightontheoutersidethereof,whilehestoodtakingcoldinoneeyebydintofpeepingatherthroughthatairyperspective.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 322 из 1266