Крошка Доррит

Chapter 6. Something Right Somewhere

           

           Onthefirst-floorofthehousewasaBank—asurprisingexperienceforanygentlemanofcommercialpursuitsbringinglawsforallmankindfromaBritishcity—wheretwospareclerks,likedrieddragoons,ingreenvelvetcapsadornedwithgoldentassels,stood,bearded,behindasmallcounterinasmallroom,containingnoothervisibleobjectsthananemptyiron-safewiththedooropen,ajugofwater,andapaperingofgarlandofroses;butwho,onlawfulrequisition,bymerelydippingtheirhandsoutofsight,couldproduceexhaustlessmoundsoffive-francpieces.BelowtheBankwasasuiteofthreeorfourroomswithbarredwindows,whichhadtheappearanceofajailforcriminalrats.AbovetheBankwasMrsGowan’sresidence.

           Notwithstandingthatitswallswereblotched,asifmissionarymapswereburstingoutofthemtoimpartgeographicalknowledge;notwithstandingthatitsweirdfurniturewasforlornlyfadedandmusty,andthattheprevailingVenetianodourofbilgewaterandanebbtideonaweedyshorewasverystrong;theplacewasbetterwithin,thanitpromised.Thedoorwasopenedbyasmilingmanlikeareformedassassin—atemporaryservant—whousheredthemintotheroomwhereMrsGowansat,withtheannouncementthattwobeautifulEnglishladieswerecometoseethemistress.

           MrsGowan,whowasengagedinneedlework,putherworkasideinacoveredbasket,androse,alittlehurriedly.MissFannywasexcessivelycourteoustoher,andsaidtheusualnothingswiththeskillofaveteran.

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