Крошка Доррит

Chapter 31. Spirit

           

           Themoststrikingofthesewasperhapstherelishingmannerinwhichheremarkedonthepensioner’sinfirmitiesandfailings,asifhewereagraciousKeepermakingarunningcommentaryonthedeclineoftheharmlessanimalheexhibited.

           ‘Notreadyformorehamyet,Nandy?Why,howslowyouare!(Hislastteeth,’heexplainedtothecompany,‘aregoing,pooroldboy.’)

           Atanothertime,hesaid,‘Noshrimps,Nandy?’andonhisnotinstantlyreplying,observed,(‘Hishearingisbecomingverydefective.He’llbedeafdirectly.’)

           Atanothertimeheaskedhim,‘Doyouwalkmuch,Nandy,abouttheyardwithinthewallsofthatplaceofyours?’

           ‘No,sir;no.Ihaven’tanygreatlikingforthat.’

           ‘No,tobesure,’heassented.‘Verynatural.’Thenheprivatelyinformedthecircle(‘Legsgoing.’)

           Onceheaskedthepensioner,inthatgeneralclemencywhichaskedhimanythingtokeephimafloat,howoldhisyoungergrandchildwas?

           ‘JohnEdward,’saidthepensioner,slowlylayingdownhisknifeandforktoconsider.‘Howold,sir?Letmethinknow.’

           TheFatheroftheMarshalseatappedhisforehead(‘Memoryweak.’)

           ‘JohnEdward,sir?Well,Ireallyforget.Icouldn’tsayatthisminute,sir,whetherit’stwoandtwomonths,orwhetherit’stwoandfivemonths.It’soneortheother.’

           ‘Don’tdistressyourselfbyworryingyourmindaboutit,’hereturned,withinfiniteforbearance.

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