Крошка Доррит

Chapter 26. Nobody’s State of Mind

           

           MrsGowanwithagentlemelancholyuponher,occasionedbyherson’sbeingreducedtocourttheswinishpublicasafollowerofthelowArts,insteadofassertinghisbirthrightandputtingaringthroughitsnoseasanacknowledgedBarnacle,headedtheconversationatdinnerontheevildays.ItwasthenthatClennamlearnedforthefirsttimewhatlittlepivotsthisgreatworldgoesroundupon.

           ‘IfJohnBarnacle,’saidMrsGowan,afterthedegeneracyofthetimeshadbeenfullyascertained,‘ifJohnBarnaclehadbutabandonedhismostunfortunateideaofconciliatingthemob,allwouldhavebeenwell,andIthinkthecountrywouldhavebeenpreserved.’

           Theoldladywiththehighnoseassented;butaddedthatifAugustusStiltstalkinghadinageneralwayorderedthecavalryoutwithinstructionstocharge,shethoughtthecountrywouldhavebeenpreserved.

           ThenobleRefrigeratorassented;butaddedthatifWilliamBarnacleandTudorStiltstalking,whentheycameovertooneanotherandformedtheirever-memorablecoalition,hadboldlymuzzledthenewspapers,andrendereditpenalforanyEditor-persontopresumetodiscusstheconductofanyappointedauthorityabroadorathome,hethoughtthecountrywouldhavebeenpreserved.

           Itwasagreedthatthecountry(anotherwordfortheBarnaclesandStiltstalkings)wantedpreserving,buthowitcametowantpreservingwasnotsoclear.ItwasonlyclearthatthequestionwasallaboutJohnBarnacle,AugustusStiltstalking,WilliamBarnacleandTudorStiltstalking,Tom,Dick,orHarryBarnacleorStiltstalking,becausetherewasnobodyelsebutmob.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 481 из 1266