Крихітка Дорріт

Chapter 34. A Shoal of Barnacles

           Tokeepupthepretenceastolabour,andstudy,andpatience,andbeingdevotedtomyart,andgivingupmanysolitarydaystoit,andabandoningmanypleasuresforit,andlivinginit,andalltherestofit—inshort,topassthebottleofsmokeaccordingtorule.’

           ‘Butitiswellforamantorespecthisownvocation,whateveritis;andtothinkhimselfboundtoupholdit,andtoclaimforittherespectitdeserves;isitnot?’Arthurreasoned.‘Andyourvocation,Gowan,mayreallydemandthissuitandservice.IconfessIshouldhavethoughtthatallArtdid.’

           ‘Whatagoodfellowyouare,Clennam!’exclaimedtheother,stoppingtolookathim,asifwithirrepressibleadmiration.‘Whatacapitalfellow!Youhaveneverbeendisappointed.That’seasytosee.’

           Itwouldhavebeensocruelifhehadmeantit,thatClennamfirmlyresolvedtobelievehedidnotmeanit.Gowan,withoutpausing,laidhishanduponhisshoulder,andlaughinglyandlightlywenton:

           ‘Clennam,Idon’tliketodispelyourgenerousvisions,andIwouldgiveanymoney(ifIhadany),toliveinsucharose-colouredmist.ButwhatIdoinmytrade,Idotosell.Whatallwefellowsdo,wedotosell.Ifwedidn’twanttosellitforthemostwecangetforit,weshouldn’tdoit.Beingwork,ithastobedone;butit’seasilyenoughdone.Alltherestishocus-pocus.Nowhere’soneoftheadvantages,ordisadvantages,ofknowingadisappointedman.Youhearthetruth.’

           Whateverhehadheard,andwhetheritdeservedthatnameoranother,itsankintoClennam’smind.

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