Крошка Доррит

Chapter 27. Five-and-Twenty

           Ricketydwellingsofundoubtedfashion,butofacapacitytoholdnothingcomfortablyexceptadismalsmell,lookedlikethelastresultofthegreatmansions’breedingin-and-in;and,wheretheirlittlesupplementarybowsandbalconiesweresupportedonthinironcolumns,seemedtobescrofulouslyrestinguponcrutches.HereandthereaHatchment,withthewholescienceofHeraldryinit,loomeddownuponthestreet,likeanArchbishopdiscoursingonVanity.Theshops,fewinnumber,madenoshow;forpopularopinionwasasnothingtothem.Thepastrycookknewwhowasonhisbooks,andinthatknowledgecouldbecalm,withafewglasscylindersofdowagerpeppermint-dropsinhiswindow,andhalf-a-dozenancientspecimensofcurrant-jelly.Afeworangesformedthegreengrocer’swholeconcessiontothevulgarmind.Asinglebasketmadeofmoss,oncecontainingplovers’eggs,heldallthatthepoultererhadtosaytotherabble.Everybodyinthosestreetsseemed(whichisalwaysthecaseatthathourandseason)tobegoneouttodinner,andnobodyseemedtobegivingthedinnerstheyhadgoneto.Onthedoorstepstherewereloungingfootmenwithbrightparti-colouredplumageandwhitepolls,likeanextinctraceofmonstrousbirds;andbutlers,solitarymenofreclusedemeanour,eachofwhomappeareddistrustfulofallotherbutlers.TherollofcarriagesintheParkwasdonefortheday;thestreetlampswerelighting;andwickedlittlegroomsinthetightestfittinggarments,withtwistsintheirlegsansweringtothetwistsintheirminds,hungaboutinpairs,chewingstrawsandexchangingfraudulentsecrets.

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