Walter goes away
The wooden Midshipman at the Instrument-maker's door, like the hard-hearted little Midshipman he was, remained supremely indifferent to Walter's going away, even when the very last day of his sojourn in the back parlour was on the decline. With his quadrant at his round black knob of an eye, and his figure in its old attitude of indomitable alacrity, the Midshipman displayed his elfin small-clothes to the best advantage, and, absorbed in scientific pursuits, had no sympathy with worldly concerns. He was so far the creature of circumstances, that a dry day covered him with dust, and a misty day peppered him with little bits of soot, and a wet day brightened up his tarnished uniform for the moment, and a very hot day blistered him; but otherwise he was a callous, obdurate, conceited Midshipman, intent on his own discoveries, and caring as little for what went on about him, terrestrially, as Archimedes at the taking of Syracuse.
Such a Midshipman he seemed to be, at least, in the then position of domestic affairs. Walter eyed him kindly many a time in passing in and out; and poor old Sol, when Walter was not there, would come and lean against the doorpost, resting his weary wig as near the shoe-buckles of the guardian genius of his trade and shop as he could. But no fierce idol with a mouth from ear to ear, and a murderous visage made of parrot's feathers, was ever more indifferent to the appeals of its savage votaries, than was the Midshipman to these marks of attachment.
Walter's heart felt heavy as he looked round his old bedroom, up among the parapets and chimney-pots, and thought that one more night already darkening would close his acquaintance with it, perhaps for ever. Dismantled of his little stock of books and pictures, it looked coldly and reproachfully on him for his desertion, and had already a foreshadowing upon it of its coming strangeness. 'A few hours more,' thought Walter, 'and no dream I ever had here when I was a schoolboy will be so little mine as this old room. The dream may come back in my sleep, and I may return waking to this place, it may be: but the dream at least will serve no other master, and the room may have a score, and every one of them may change, neglect, misuse it.'
But his Uncle was not to be left alone in the little back parlour, where he was then sitting by himself; for Captain Cuttle, considerate in his roughness, stayed away against his will, purposely that they should have some talk together unobserved: so Walter, newly returned home from his last day's bustle, descended briskly, to bear him company.
'Uncle,' he said gaily, laying his hand upon the old man's shoulder, 'what shall I send you home from Barbados?'
'Hope, my dear Wally. Hope that we shall meet again, on this side of the grave. Send me as much of that as you can.'
'So I will, Uncle: I have enough and to spare, and I'll not be chary of it! And as to lively turtles, and limes for Captain Cuttle's punch, and preserves for you on Sundays, and all that sort of thing, why I'll send you ship-loads, Uncle: when I'm rich enough.'
Old Sol wiped his spectacles, and faintly smiled.
'That's right, Uncle!' cried Walter, merrily, and clapping him half a dozen times more upon the shoulder. 'You cheer up me! I'll cheer up you! We'll be as gay as larks to-morrow morning, Uncle, and we'll fly as high! As to my anticipations, they are singing out of sight now.
'Wally, my dear boy,' returned the old man, 'I'll do my best, I'll do my best.'
'And your best, Uncle,' said Walter, with his pleasant laugh, 'is the best best that I know. You'll not forget what you're to send me, Uncle?'
'No, Wally, no,' replied the old man; 'everything I hear about Miss Dombey, now that she is left alone, poor lamb, I'll write. I fear it won't be much though, Wally.'
'Why, I'll tell you what, Uncle,' said Walter, after a moment's hesitation, 'I have just been up there.'
'Ay, ay, ay?' murmured the old man, raising his eyebrows, and his spectacles with them.
'Not to see her,' said Walter, 'though I could have seen her, I daresay, if I had asked, Mr Dombey being out of town: but to say a parting word to Susan. I thought I might venture to do that, you know, under the circumstances, and remembering when I saw Miss Dombey last.'
'Yes, my boy, yes,' replied his Uncle, rousing himself from a temporary abstraction.
'So I saw her,' pursued Walter, 'Susan, I mean: and I told her I was off and away to-morrow. And I said, Uncle, that you had always had an interest in Miss Dombey since that night when she was here, and always wished her well and happy, and always would be proud and glad to serve her in the least: I thought I might say that, you know, under the circumstances. Don't you think so ?'
'Yes, my boy, yes,' replied his Uncle, in the tone as before.
'And I added,' pursued Walter, 'that if she - Susan, I mean - could ever let you know, either through herself, or Mrs Richards, or anybody else who might be coming this way, that Miss Dombey was well and happy, you would take it very kindly, and would write so much to me, and I should take it very kindly too. There! Upon my word, Uncle,' said Walter, 'I scarcely slept all last night through thinking of doing this; and could not make up my mind when I was out, whether to do it or not; and yet I am sure it is the true feeling of my heart, and I should have been quite miserable afterwards if I had not relieved it.'
His honest voice and manner corroborated what he said, and quite established its ingenuousness.
'So, if you ever see her, Uncle,' said Walter, 'I mean Miss Dombey now - and perhaps you may, who knows! - tell her how much I felt for her; how much I used to think of her when I was here; how I spoke of her, with the tears in my eyes, Uncle, on this last night before I went away. Tell her that I said I never could forget her gentle manner, or her beautiful face, or her sweet kind disposition that was better than all. And as I didn't take them from a woman's feet, or a young lady's: only a little innocent child's,' said Walter: 'tell her, if you don't mind, Uncle, that I kept those shoes - she'll remember how often they fell off, that night - and took them away with me as a remembrance!'
They were at that very moment going out at the door in one of Walter's trunks. A porter carrying off his baggage on a truck for shipment at the docks on board the Son and Heir, had got possession of them; and wheeled them away under the very eye of the insensible Midshipman before their owner had well finished speaking.
But that ancient mariner might have been excused his insensibility to the treasure as it rolled away. For, under his eye at the same moment, accurately within his range of observation, coming full into the sphere of his startled and intensely wide-awake look-out, were Florence and Susan Nipper: Florence looking up into his face half timidly, and receiving the whole shock of his wooden ogling!
More than this, they passed into the shop, and passed in at the parlour door before they were observed by anybody but the Midshipman. And Walter, having his back to the door, would have known nothing of their apparition even then, but for seeing his Uncle spring out of his own chair, and nearly tumble over another.
'Why, Uncle!' exclaimed Walter. 'What's the matter?'
Old Solomon replied, 'Miss Dombey!'
'Is it possible?' cried Walter, looking round and starting up in his turn. 'Here!'
Why, It was so possible and so actual, that, while the words were on his lips, Florence hurried past him; took Uncle Sol's snuff-coloured lapels, one in each hand; kissed him on the cheek; and turning, gave her hand to Walter with a simple truth and earnestness that was her own, and no one else's in the world!
'Going away, Walter!' said Florence.
'Yes, Miss Dombey,' he replied, but not so hopefully as he endeavoured: 'I have a voyage before me.'
'And your Uncle,' said Florence, looking back at Solomon. 'He is sorry you are going, I am sure. Ah! I see he is! Dear Walter, I am very sorry too.'
'Goodness knows,' exclaimed Miss Nipper, 'there's a many we could spare instead, if numbers is a object, Mrs Pipchin as a overseer would come cheap at her weight in gold, and if a knowledge of black slavery should be required, them Blimbers is the very people for the sitiwation.'
With that Miss Nipper untied her bonnet strings, and alter looking vacantly for some moments into a little black teapot that was set forth with the usual homely service on the table, shook her head and a tin canister, and began unasked to make the tea.
In the meantime Florence had turned again to the Instrument-maker, who was as full of admiration as surprise. 'So grown!' said old Sol. 'So improved! And yet not altered! Just the same!'
'Indeed!' said Florence.
'Ye - yes,' returned old Sol, rubbing his hands slowly, and considering the matter half aloud, as something pensive in the bright eyes looking at him arrested his attention. 'Yes, that expression was in the younger face, too!'
'You remember me,' said Florence with a smile, 'and what a little creature I was then?'
'My dear young lady,' returned the Instrument-maker, 'how could I forget you, often as I have thought of you and heard of you since! At the very moment, indeed, when you came in, Wally was talking about you to me, and leaving messages for you, and - '
'Was he?' said Florence. 'Thank you, Walter! Oh thank you, Walter! I was afraid you might be going away and hardly thinking of me;' and again she gave him her little hand so freely and so faithfully that Walter held it for some moments in his own, and could not bear to let it go.
Yet Walter did not hold it as he might have held it once, nor did its touch awaken those old day-dreams of his boyhood that had floated past him sometimes even lately, and confused him with their indistinct and broken shapes. The purity and innocence of her endearing manner, and its perfect trustfulness, and the undisguised regard for him that lay so deeply seated in her constant eyes, and glowed upon her fair face through the smile that shaded - for alas! it was a smile too sad to brighten - it, were not of their romantic race. They brought back to his thoughts the early death-bed he had seen her tending, and the love the child had borne her; and on the wings of such remembrances she seemed to rise up, far above his idle fancies, into clearer and serener air.
'I - I am afraid I must call you Walter's Uncle, Sir,' said Florence to the old man, 'if you'll let me.'
'My dear young lady,' cried old Sol. 'Let you! Good gracious!'
'We always knew you by that name, and talked of you,' said Florence, glancing round, and sighing gently. 'The nice old parlour! Just the same! How well I recollect it!'
Old Sol looked first at her, then at his nephew, and then rubbed his hands, and rubbed his spectacles, and said below his breath, 'Ah! time, time, time!'
There was a short silence; during which Susan Nipper skilfully impounded two extra cups and saucers from the cupboard, and awaited the drawing of the tea with a thoughtful air.
'I want to tell Walter's Uncle,' said Florence, laying her hand timidly upon the old man's as it rested on the table, to bespeak his attention, 'something that I am anxious about. He is going to be left alone, and if he will allow me - not to take Walter's place, for that I couldn't do, but to be his true friend and help him if I ever can while Walter is away, I shall be very much obliged to him indeed. Will you? May I, Walter's Uncle?'
The Instrument-maker, without speaking, put her hand to his lips, and Susan Nipper, leaning back with her arms crossed, in the chair of presidency into which she had voted herself, bit one end of her bonnet strings, and heaved a gentle sigh as she looked up at the skylight.
'You will let me come to see you,' said Florence, 'when I can; and you will tell me everything about yourself and Walter; and you will have no secrets from Susan when she comes and I do not, but will confide in us, and trust us, and rely upon us. And you'll try to let us be a comfort to you? Will you, Walter's Uncle?'
The sweet face looking into his, the gentle pleading eyes, the soft voice, and the light touch on his arm made the more winning by a child's respect and honour for his age, that gave to all an air of graceful doubt and modest hesitation - these, and her natural earnestness, so overcame the poor old Instrument-maker, that he only answered:
'Wally! say a word for me, my dear. I'm very grateful.'
'No, Walter,' returned Florence with her quiet smile. 'Say nothing for him, if you please. I understand him very well, and we must learn to talk together without you, dear Walter.'
The regretful tone in which she said these latter words, touched Walter more than all the rest.
'Miss Florence,' he replied, with an effort to recover the cheerful manner he had preserved while talking with his Uncle, 'I know no more than my Uncle, what to say in acknowledgment of such kindness, I am sure. But what could I say, after all, if I had the power of talking for an hour, except that it is like you?'
Susan Nipper began upon a new part of her bonnet string, and nodded at the skylight, in approval of the sentiment expressed.
'Oh! but, Walter,' said Florence, 'there is something that I wish to say to you before you go away, and you must call me Florence, if you please, and not speak like a stranger.'
'Like a stranger!' returned Walter, 'No. I couldn't speak so. I am sure, at least, I couldn't feel like one.'
'Ay, but that is not enough, and is not what I mean. For, Walter,' added Florence, bursting into tears, 'he liked you very much, and said before he died that he was fond of you, and said "Remember Walter!" and if you'll be a brother to me, Walter, now that he is gone and I have none on earth, I'll be your sister all my life, and think of you like one wherever we may be! This is what I wished to say, dear Walter, but I cannot say it as I would, because my heart is full.'
And in its fulness and its sweet simplicity, she held out both her hands to him. Walter taking them, stooped down and touched the tearful face that neither shrunk nor turned away, nor reddened as he did so, but looked up at him with confidence and truth. In that one moment, every shadow of doubt or agitation passed away from Walter's soul. It seemed to him that he responded to her innocent appeal, beside the dead child's bed: and, in the solemn presence he had seen there, pledged himself to cherish and protect her very image, in his banishment, with brotherly regard; to garner up her simple faith, inviolate; and hold himself degraded if he breathed upon it any thought that was not in her own breast when she gave it to him.
Susan Nipper, who had bitten both her bonnet strings at once, and imparted a great deal of private emotion to the skylight, during this transaction, now changed the subject by inquiring who took milk and who took sugar; and being enlightened on these points, poured out the tea. They all four gathered socially about the little table, and took tea under that young lady's active superintendence; and the presence of Florence in the back parlour, brightened the Tartar frigate on the wall.
Half an hour ago Walter, for his life, would have hardly called her by her name. But he could do so now when she entreated him. He could think of her being there, without a lurking misgiving that it would have been better if she had not come. He could calmly think how beautiful she was, how full of promise, what a home some happy man would find in such a heart one day. He could reflect upon his own place in that heart, with pride; and with a brave determination, if not to deserve it - he still thought that far above him - never to deserve it less
Some fairy influence must surely have hovered round the hands of Susan Nipper when she made the tea, engendering the tranquil air that reigned in the back parlour during its discussion. Some counter-influence must surely have hovered round the hands of Uncle Sol's chronometer, and moved them faster than the Tartar frigate ever went before the wind. Be this as it may, the visitors had a coach in waiting at a quiet corner not far off; and the chronometer, on being incidentally referred to, gave such a positive opinion that it had been waiting a long time, that it was impossible to doubt the fact, especially when stated on such unimpeachable authority. If Uncle Sol had been going to be hanged by his own time, he never would have allowed that the chronometer was too fast, by the least fraction of a second.
Florence at parting recapitulated to the old man all that she had said before, and bound him to the compact. Uncle Sol attended her lovingly to the legs of the wooden Midshipman, and there resigned her to Walter, who was ready to escort her and Susan Nipper to the coach.
'Walter,' said Florence by the way, 'I have been afraid to ask before your Uncle. Do you think you will be absent very long?'
'Indeed,' said Walter, 'I don't know. I fear so. Mr Dombey signified as much, I thought, when he appointed me.'
'Is it a favour, Walter?' inquired Florence, after a moment's hesitation, and looking anxiously in his face.
'The appointment?' returned Walter.
'Yes.'
Walter would have given anything to have answered in the affirmative, but his face answered before his lips could, and Florence was too attentive to it not to understand its reply.
'I am afraid you have scarcely been a favourite with Papa,' she said, timidly.
'There is no reason,' replied Walter, smiling, 'why I should be.'
'No reason, Walter!'
'There was no reason,' said Walter, understanding what she meant. 'There are many people employed in the House. Between Mr Dombey and a young man like me, there's a wide space of separation. If I do my duty, I do what I ought, and do no more than all the rest.'
Had Florence any misgiving of which she was hardly conscious: any misgiving that had sprung into an indistinct and undefined existence since that recent night when she had gone down to her father's room: that Walter's accidental interest in her, and early knowledge of her, might have involved him in that powerful displeasure and dislike? Had Walter any such idea, or any sudden thought that it was in her mind at that moment? Neither of them hinted at it. Neither of them spoke at all, for some short time. Susan, walking on the other side of Walter, eyed them both sharply; and certainly Miss Nipper's thoughts travelled in that direction, and very confidently too.
'You may come back very soon,' said Florence, 'perhaps, Walter.'
'I may come back,' said Walter, 'an old man, and find you an old lady. But I hope for better things.'
'Papa,' said Florence, after a moment, 'will - will recover from his grief, and - speak more freely to me one day, perhaps; and if he should, I will tell him how much I wish to see you back again, and ask him to recall you for my sake.'
There was a touching modulation in these words about her father, that Walter understood too well.
The coach being close at hand, he would have left her without speaking, for now he felt what parting was; but Florence held his hand when she was seated, and then he found there was a little packet in her own.
'Walter,' she said, looking full upon him with her affectionate eyes, 'like you, I hope for better things. I will pray for them, and believe that they will arrive. I made this little gift for Paul. Pray take it with my love, and do not look at it until you are gone away. And now, God bless you, Walter! never forget me. You are my brother, dear!'
He was glad that Susan Nipper came between them, or he might have left her with a sorrowful remembrance of him. He was glad too that she did not look out of the coach again, but waved the little hand to him instead, as long as he could see it.
In spite of her request, he could not help opening the packet that night when he went to bed. It was a little purse: and there was was money in it.
Bright rose the sun next morning, from his absence in strange countries and up rose Walter with it to receive the Captain, who was already at the door: having turned out earlier than was necessary, in order to get under weigh while Mrs MacStinger was still slumbering. The Captain pretended to be in tip-top spirits, and brought a very smoky tongue in one of the pockets of the of the broad blue coat for breakfast.
'And, Wal'r,' said the Captain, when they took their seats at table, if your Uncle's the man I think him, he'll bring out the last bottle of the Madeira on the present occasion.'
'No, no, Ned,' returned the old man. 'No! That shall be opened when Walter comes home again.'
'Well said!' cried the Captain. 'Hear him!'
'There it lies,' said Sol Gills, 'down in the little cellar, covered with dirt and cobwebs. There may be dirt and cobwebs over you and me perhaps, Ned, before it sees the light.'
'Hear him! 'cried the Captain. 'Good morality! Wal'r, my lad. Train up a fig-tree in the way it should go, and when you are old sit under the shade on it. Overhaul the - Well,' said the Captain on second thoughts, 'I ain't quite certain where that's to be found, but when found, make a note of. Sol Gills, heave ahead again!'
'But there or somewhere, it shall lie, Ned, until Wally comes back to claim it,' said the old man. 'That's all I meant to say.'
'And well said too,' returned the Captain; 'and if we three don't crack that bottle in company, I'll give you two leave to.'
Notwithstanding the Captain's excessive joviality, he made but a poor hand at the smoky tongue, though he tried very hard, when anybody looked at him, to appear as if he were eating with a vast apetite. He was terribly afraid, likewise, of being left alone with either Uncle or nephew; appearing to consider that his only chance of safety as to keeping up appearances, was in there being always three together. This terror on the part of the Captain, reduced him to such ingenious evasions as running to the door, when Solomon went to put his coat on, under pretence of having seen an extraordinary hackney-coach pass: and darting out into the road when Walter went upstairs to take leave of the lodgers, on a feint of smelling fire in a neighbouring chimney. These artifices Captain Cuttle deemed inscrutable by any uninspired observer.
Walter was coming down from his parting expedition upstairs, and was crossing the shop to go back to the little parlour, when he saw a faded face he knew, looking in at the door, and darted towards it.
'Mr Carker!' cried Walter, pressing the hand of John Carker the Junior. 'Pray come in! This is kind of you, to be here so early to say good-bye to me. You knew how glad it would make me to shake hands with you, once, before going away. I cannot say how glad I am to have this opportunity. Pray come in.'
'It is not likely that we may ever meet again, Walter,' returned the other, gently resisting his invitation, 'and I am glad of this opportunity too. I may venture to speak to you, and to take you by the hand, on the eve of separation. I shall not have to resist your frank approaches, Walter, any more.
There was a melancholy in his smile as he said it, that showed he had found some company and friendship for his thoughts even in that.
'Ah, Mr Carker!' returned Walter. 'Why did you resist them? You could have done me nothing but good, I am very sure.
He shook his head. 'If there were any good,' he said, 'I could do on this earth, I would do it, Walter, for you. The sight of you from day to day, has been at once happiness and remorse to me. But the pleasure has outweighed the pain. I know that, now, by knowing what I lose.'
'Come in, Mr Carker, and make acquaintance with my good old Uncle,' urged Walter. 'I have often talked to him about you, and he will be glad to tell you all he hears from me. I have not,' said Walter, noticing his hesitation, and speaking with embarrassment himself: 'I have not told him anything about our last conversation, Mr Carker; not even him, believe me.
The grey Junior pressed his hand, and tears rose in his eyes.
'If I ever make acquaintance with him, Walter,' he returned, 'it will be that I may hear tidings of you. Rely on my not wronging your forbearance and consideration. It would be to wrong it, not to tell him all the truth, before I sought a word of confidence from him. But I have no friend or acquaintance except you: and even for your sake, am little likely to make any.'
'I wish,' said Walter, 'you had suffered me to be your friend indeed. I always wished it, Mr Carker, as you know; but never half so much as now, when we are going to part'
'It is enough replied the other, 'that you have been the friend of my own breast, and that when I have avoided you most, my heart inclined the most towards you, and was fullest of you. Walter, good-bye!'
'Good-bye, Mr Carker. Heaven be with you, Sir!' cried Walter with emotion.
'If,' said the other, retaining his hand while he spoke; 'if when you come back, you miss me from my old corner, and should hear from anyone where I am lying, come and look upon my grave. Think that I might have been as honest and as happy as you! And let me think, when I know time is coming on, that some one like my former self may stand there, for a moment, and remember me with pity and forgiveness! Walter, good-bye!'
His figure crept like a shadow down the bright, sun-lighted street, so cheerful yet so solemn in the early summer morning; and slowly passed away.
The relentless chronometer at last announced that Walter must turn his back upon the wooden Midshipman: and away they went, himself, his Uncle, and the Captain, in a hackney-coach to a wharf, where they were to take steam-boat for some Reach down the river, the name of which, as the Captain gave it out, was a hopeless mystery to the ears of landsmen. Arrived at this Reach (whither the ship had repaired by last night's tide), they were boarded by various excited watermen, and among others by a dirty Cyclops of the Captain's acquaintance, who, with his one eye, had made the Captain out some mile and a half off, and had been exchanging unintelligible roars with him ever since. Becoming the lawful prize of this personage, who was frightfully hoarse and constitutionally in want of shaving, they were all three put aboard the Son and Heir. And the Son and Heir was in a pretty state of confusion, with sails lying all bedraggled on the wet decks, loose ropes tripping people up, men in red shirts running barefoot to and fro, casks blockading every foot of space, and, in the thickest of the fray, a black cook in a black caboose up to his eyes in vegetables and blinded with smoke.
The Captain immediately drew Walter into a corner, and with a great effort, that made his face very red, pulled up the silver watch, which was so big, and so tight in his pocket, that it came out like a bung.
'Wal'r,' said the Captain, handing it over, and shaking him heartily by the hand, 'a parting gift, my lad. Put it back half an hour every morning, and about another quarter towards the arternoon, and it's a watch that'll do you credit.'
'Captain Cuttle! I couldn't think of it!' cried Walter, detaining him, for he was running away. 'Pray take it back. I have one already.'
'Then, Wal'r,' said the Captain, suddenly diving into one of his pockets and bringing up the two teaspoons and the sugar-tongs, with which he had armed himself to meet such an objection, 'take this here trifle of plate, instead.'
'No, no, I couldn't indeed!' cried Walter, 'a thousand thanks! Don't throw them away, Captain Cuttle!' for the Captain was about to jerk them overboard. 'They'll be of much more use to you than me. Give me your stick. I have often thought I should like to have it. There! Good-bye, Captain Cuttle! Take care of my Uncle! Uncle Sol, God bless you!'
They were over the side in the confusion, before Walter caught another glimpse of either; and when he ran up to the stern, and looked after them, he saw his Uncle hanging down his head in the boat, and Captain Cuttle rapping him on the back with the great silver watch (it must have been very painful), and gesticulating hopefully with the teaspoons and sugar-tongs. Catching sight of Walter, Captain Cuttle dropped the property into the bottom of the boat with perfect unconcern, being evidently oblivious of its existence, and pulling off the glazed hat hailed him lustily. The glazed hat made quite a show in the sun with its glistening, and the Captain continued to wave it until he could be seen no longer. Then the confusion on board, which had been rapidly increasing, reached its height; two or three other boats went away with a cheer; the sails shone bright and full above, as Walter watched them spread their surface to the favourable breeze; the water flew in sparkles from the prow; and off upon her voyage went the Son and Heir, as hopefully and trippingly as many another son and heir, gone down, had started on his way before her.
Day after day, old Sol and Captain Cuttle kept her reckoning in the little hack parlour and worked out her course, with the chart spread before them on the round table. At night, when old Sol climbed upstairs, so lonely, to the attic where it sometimes blew great guns, he looked up at the stars and listened to the wind, and kept a longer watch than would have fallen to his lot on board the ship. The last bottle of the old Madeira, which had had its cruising days, and known its dangers of the deep, lay silently beneath its dust and cobwebs, in the meanwhile, undisturbed.
儀器制造商門口的木制海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生就像鐵石心腸的小海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生一樣，對沃爾特的離別一直極為漠不關(guān)心，甚至當(dāng)沃爾特有后客廳逗留的最后一天即將消逝時(shí)也依然一樣。象限儀緊挨著他像肉瘤般的一只圓鼓鼓的黑眼睛，身形像往日一樣呈現(xiàn)出一副朝氣蓬勃、不屈不撓的姿態(tài)，海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生盡量炫耀著他的像小精靈般的短褲，并埋頭于科學(xué)研究，對于世俗的憂慮沒有絲毫同情。他是個(gè)受環(huán)境支配的人兒；氣候干燥的日子，他滿身塵土；薄霧彌漫的日子，他身上復(fù)蓋著點(diǎn)點(diǎn)煤煙的碎屑；下雨的日子，他失去了光澤的制服頓時(shí)煥然一新，閃閃發(fā)亮；炎熱的日子，他的皮膚被曬出泡來；但是他在其他方面卻是個(gè)麻木不仁、冷酷無情、自高自大的海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生，專心致志于自己的發(fā)現(xiàn)，對周圍塵世間發(fā)生的事情不聞不問，就像阿基米得①在敘拉古被圍時(shí)一樣。
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①阿基米得（Archimedes，約公元前287—212年）：古希臘數(shù)學(xué)家和物理學(xué)家，理論力學(xué)的創(chuàng)始人，生于西西里島的敘拉古城（Syracuse，當(dāng)時(shí)是希臘的殖民城市）。當(dāng)敘拉古開始被羅馬人圍困時(shí)，他正專心研究數(shù)學(xué)，不知道外面發(fā)生的戰(zhàn)爭。
至少，在目前家中發(fā)生大事的情況下，他就是這樣的一位海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生。沃爾特進(jìn)進(jìn)出出時(shí)向他親切地定神看了許多次；當(dāng)沃爾特不在家時(shí)，可憐的老所爾就出來靠在門柱上，把他那疲倦的戴著假發(fā)的腦袋盡量挨近這位他的店鋪與營業(yè)的天才守衛(wèi)者的鞋扣；可是海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生對這些向他作出的親熱殷勤的表示完全無動(dòng)于衷，就像那殘忍兇猛的偶像一樣，嘴巴咧得大大的，由鸚鵡羽毛做成的臉孔露出一副殺氣騰騰的兇相，對于他那些尚未開化的崇拜者們的懇求根本漠不關(guān)心。
沃爾特環(huán)視著他居住多年的臥室，向上望到女兒墻和煙囪；天已經(jīng)黑了，這時(shí)他想到這個(gè)夜晚過去，他就要跟它也許永久分離，心情感到沉重不堪。他的一些書籍和圖畫已經(jīng)搬走，臥室由于他的遺棄，冷淡地、責(zé)備地望著他，并早已對他未來的疏遠(yuǎn)投下了陰影?！霸龠^幾個(gè)小時(shí)之后，”沃爾特想，“這個(gè)房間就不再屬于我了，就像我當(dāng)小學(xué)生時(shí)在這里做過的夢一樣不再屬于我了一樣。在我睡覺的時(shí)候，夢也許還會(huì)回來，我也許還會(huì)醒著回到這個(gè)地方，但這夢至少不會(huì)回到新的主人的腦子里去了；這房間今后也許會(huì)有二十個(gè)新主人，他們每個(gè)人也許都會(huì)改變它、冷落它或不正當(dāng)?shù)厥褂盟??！?BR> 可是，不能讓舅舅獨(dú)自待在后面的小客廳里。這時(shí)，他正一個(gè)人坐在那里呢，因?yàn)榭ㄌ貭柎L雖然性格粗獷，但卻很能體貼人，他這時(shí)故意違背自己的心愿，沒有來到，為的是使他們舅甥兩人在沒有旁人在場的情況下一塊兒聊聊。所以，沃爾特經(jīng)過最后一天的奔忙以后一回到家里，就急忙下樓去陪伴他。
“舅舅，”他把一只手?jǐn)R在老人的肩膀上，快樂地說道，“我從巴巴多斯給你送些什么東西來呢？”
“把希望送來，我親愛的沃利。在我進(jìn)墳?zāi)挂郧拔覀冞€能再見面的希望。你給我盡量多送一些來吧。”
“我會(huì)給你送來的，舅舅。這樣的希望我多得很，不會(huì)舍不得送給你的！至于活的海龜，給卡特爾船長配制潘趣酒的檸檬，給你星期天吃的罐頭食品以及其他這一類東西，等我發(fā)了財(cái)，我會(huì)整船整船給你送來的。”
老所爾擦了擦眼鏡，無力地微笑著。
“這就對了，舅舅！”沃爾特愉快地喊道，又在他肩膀上拍了六下，“你鼓舞我！我鼓舞你！我們將像明天早上的云雀一樣快樂，舅舅，我們將像它們一樣飛得那么高！至于我的希望嘛，它現(xiàn)在正在望不到的高空中歌唱著呢?！?BR> “沃利，我親愛的孩子，”老人回答道，“我將盡我的努力，我將盡我的努力。”
“你說到你的努力，舅舅，”沃爾特高興地笑著說，“那肯定是的努力。舅舅，你不會(huì)忘記你將送給我的東西吧？”
“不會(huì)的，沃利，不會(huì)的，”老人回答道，“我聽到有關(guān)董貝小姐的一切，我將會(huì)寫信告訴你?？蓱z的小羊羔，她現(xiàn)在單獨(dú)一個(gè)人了。不過，我怕我聽到的不多，沃利。”
“啊，舅舅，這我就要告訴你，”沃爾特遲疑了片刻，說道，“我剛剛到那里去啦。”
“啊，是嗎？”老人揚(yáng)起眉毛，同時(shí)也舉起眼鏡，說道。
“我不是去看她，”沃爾特說，“雖然我敢說，如果我要求的話，我就能見到她，因?yàn)槎愊壬辉诩?。我是去跟蘇珊說句告別的話。你知道，在當(dāng)前的情況下，同時(shí)如果記得我上次見到董貝小姐的那一天的話，我是可以大膽那么做的。”
“是的，我的孩子，是的，”他的舅舅從暫時(shí)的出神中驚醒過來，回答道。
“這樣，我就見到了她，”沃爾特繼續(xù)說道，“我是說蘇珊；我告訴她我明天就要走了。我還跟她說，舅舅，自從董貝小姐那天夜里到這里來以后，你一直很關(guān)心她，一直在祝她健康和幸福，而且總以能稍稍為她效勞而感到自豪和高興。你知道，在當(dāng)前的情況下，我是可以這樣說的。你覺得是不是？”
“是的，我的孩子，是的，”他的舅舅用剛才同樣的聲調(diào)回答道。
“我還要再說一句，”沃爾特繼續(xù)說，“如果她——我是說蘇珊——由她本人，或通過理查茲大嫂或其他順便路過這里的什么人，在什么時(shí)候，讓你知道，董貝小姐健康和幸福的話，那么你將會(huì)十分感謝她的好意，并會(huì)寫信告訴我，我也將會(huì)十分感謝她的好意的。好啦，全說完了。說實(shí)在的，舅舅，”沃爾特說，“昨天我因?yàn)橄脒@件事情幾乎一整夜沒睡著覺；而我一出門又下不定決心，究竟去不去做這件事；可是我相信我內(nèi)心的真實(shí)感情，如果我不把它表達(dá)出來的話，那么我以后一定會(huì)很痛苦的?！?BR> 他的誠實(shí)的聲音和神態(tài)表明他所說的話是完全真實(shí)的，而且是坦誠的。
“因此，舅舅，如果你什么時(shí)候見到她，”沃爾特說，“我現(xiàn)在是說董貝小姐，——也許你會(huì)見到她的，誰知道呢！——就請你告訴她，我對她懷著多大的好感；當(dāng)我在這里的時(shí)候，我一直多么想著她，在我離開前一天的夜里，舅舅，我是多么熱淚盈眶地談到她。請你告訴她，我說，我永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)忘記她那溫柔的舉止，她那美麗的容貌或她那勝過一切的可愛的、善良的性情。因?yàn)檫@兩只鞋我并不是從一個(gè)女人的腳上，也不是從一個(gè)姑娘的腳上，而只是從一個(gè)天真的小孩的腳上得到的，”沃爾特說，“舅舅，如果你不介意，就請你告訴她，我保存著這雙鞋子——她會(huì)記得，那天夜里它們跌落了多少次——，并把它們當(dāng)作紀(jì)念品隨身帶走了！”
就在這個(gè)時(shí)候，它們被裝在沃爾特的一只箱子里被搬到門口。一個(gè)搬運(yùn)工人正在把他的行李搬到一輛貨車上，以便運(yùn)到碼頭，裝上“兒子和繼承人”號(hào)；當(dāng)它們的主人還沒有講完話的時(shí)候，它們已在冷淡無情的海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生的眼前被推走了。
但是那位以往的海員對運(yùn)走的珍寶所表現(xiàn)出的冷淡無情的態(tài)度也許是情有可原的。因?yàn)椋顾蟪砸惑@的是，就在這同一個(gè)時(shí)刻，就在他的視野圈內(nèi)，就在他的眼皮底下，弗洛倫斯和蘇珊·尼珀已完全進(jìn)入了他高度警惕的監(jiān)視范圍之中。弗洛倫斯不無膽怯地望著他的臉，碰見了他那緊張?bào)@駭?shù)哪绢^眼光！
不僅如此，她們還走進(jìn)店鋪，到了客廳的門口，除了海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生外，沒有任何人注意到她們。沃爾特這時(shí)背對著門，如果不是看見舅舅從椅子中跳起來、幾乎跌到另一張椅子上的話，連他當(dāng)時(shí)也根本不會(huì)知道她們像幽靈似地突然來臨。
“怎么了，舅舅！”沃爾特大聲喊道，“出了什么事？”
老所羅門回答道：“董貝小姐！”
“可能嗎？”沃爾特喊道，一邊四下環(huán)視，現(xiàn)在輪到他跳起來了，“到這里來了？”
對了，這不僅是可能的，而且是千真萬確的事實(shí)。他的話音未落，弗洛倫斯已急忙從他的身邊跑過去，把所爾舅舅的鼻煙色的翻領(lǐng)的兩邊分別握在兩只手中，吻了吻他的臉頰，然后轉(zhuǎn)過身來，以她那獨(dú)有的十分純樸、真誠、懇切的神情，把手伸向沃爾特，這種神情確是世界上其他人所沒有的！
“要離開這里了嗎，沃爾特？”弗洛倫斯問道。
“是的，董貝小姐，”他回答道，但不像他努力想要表示出的那么樂觀開朗，“我將外出航行。”
“您的舅舅，”弗洛倫斯又回過來望著所羅門，說道，“您出去他一定感到難過。唉，我看他是這樣的！親愛的沃爾特，我也感到很難過?！?BR> “天知道，”尼珀姑娘高聲嚷道，“世界上有許多人，我們沒有他們也行，如果要精明善算的人，派皮普欽太太去當(dāng)監(jiān)工，稱黃金，準(zhǔn)能買到便宜的黃金，如果需要對付黑奴的知識(shí)，布林伯他們這家人就是最合適的人選?！?BR> 尼珀小姐一邊說，一邊解開帽帶，接著向桌子上和其他家常茶具擺在一起的一只小黑茶壺里面發(fā)呆地看了一會(huì)兒，然后搖搖頭，又搖搖洋鐵皮的茶葉罐，沒經(jīng)人請就泡起茶來。
在這期間，弗洛倫斯又轉(zhuǎn)向了儀器制造商；他對她極為贊賞，又感到極為驚奇?！伴L得這么大了！”老所爾說，“長得這么漂亮！可是一點(diǎn)沒有變！跟原先一模一樣！”
“真的嗎？”弗洛倫斯說。
“是——是的，”老所爾回答道，一邊慢吞吞地搓著手，低聲地思考著這個(gè)問題，這時(shí)那雙向他望著的明亮的眼睛中的沉思的神情吸引了他的注意，“是的，過去那張更年輕的臉上也曾表露過這樣的神情！”
“您還記得我哪，”弗洛倫斯微笑著說道，“那時(shí)候我是個(gè)多么小的小人兒??？”
“我親愛的小姐，”儀器制造商回答道，“我怎么能忘記您呢？從那時(shí)起，我多么經(jīng)常地想到您，多么經(jīng)常地聽到您的消息！說真的，就在您進(jìn)來的時(shí)候，沃利還正在跟我談起您，給您留下口信，還——”
“真的嗎？”弗洛倫斯說道，“謝謝您，沃爾特！啊，謝謝您，沃爾特！我還怕您走了以后不會(huì)再想到我了呢。”接著她又無拘無束、充分信任地向沃爾特伸出小手；他把它在自己手中握了好幾秒鐘，舍不得放開。
可是沃爾特并不像先前那樣握它，這樣的接觸也沒有喚醒過去童年時(shí)代的那些白日夢，甚至最近這些夢有時(shí)還會(huì)從他面前漂浮過去，并以它們那模糊不清、支離破碎的形狀使他心煩意亂。她那天真純潔、可親可愛的神態(tài)，她在專注的眼光中深切表露出的以及在俊俏的臉上通過微笑（這微笑太悲哀了，它在她臉上投下了陰影，不能使它容光煥發(fā)）洋溢著的對他的完全信任與真誠關(guān)懷，所有這些都不是浪漫性質(zhì)的。它們使他回想起了他曾看到她殷勤看護(hù)的那張夭逝的小床，回想起了那男孩對她所懷的熱愛，靠著這些回憶的翅膀，她似乎已遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地超越了他的那些胡思亂想，飛升到那更為明凈、更為寧靜的高空之中了。
“我——我想，我得管您叫沃爾特的舅舅，先生，”弗洛倫斯對老人說，“如果您允許的話?！?BR> “我親愛的小姐，”老所爾喊道，“如果我允許的話！我的上帝！”
“我們常常是以這個(gè)稱呼來了解您和談起您的，”弗洛倫斯向四周看了一眼，輕輕地嘆氣道，“可愛的老客廳！完全跟先前一模一樣！我把它記得多么清楚??！”
老所爾先看看她，又看看他的外甥，然后搓搓手，又擦擦眼鏡，低聲說道，“唉，時(shí)間啊，時(shí)間啊，時(shí)間?。 ?BR> 接著是短暫的沉默；在這段時(shí)間中蘇珊·尼珀靈巧地從碗柜里取出了兩只帶碟子的茶杯，并以若有所思的神氣等待著泡茶。
“我想跟沃爾特的舅舅說點(diǎn)我很擔(dān)心的事，”弗洛倫斯膽怯地把手放在老人擱在桌子上的手上，以便引起他的注意，說道，“他很快就要單獨(dú)一個(gè)人了，如果他允許我——不是代替沃爾特，因?yàn)槟鞘俏易霾坏降?，而是在沃爾特不在的時(shí)候成為他的真誠的朋友，并盡我的力量來幫助他，那我就會(huì)十分感謝他。您肯允許我嗎？我可以嗎，沃爾特舅舅？”
儀器制造商默默無言地把她的手拉到他的嘴唇上。蘇珊·尼珀兩手交叉，背靠在她自行充任的主席的椅子上，這時(shí)咬著帽帶的一端，仰望著天窗，輕輕地嘆了口氣。
“如果我可能的話，那么請?jiān)试S我來看您，”弗洛倫斯說，“那時(shí)請您告訴我您自己和沃爾特的一切事情；如果蘇珊代替我來的話，那么就請您不要對她保守秘密，請您信任我們，信賴我們，依靠我們。請您設(shè)法讓我們成為您的安慰，您愿意嗎，沃爾特的舅舅？”
那張望著他的可愛的臉孔，那雙關(guān)切的懇求的眼睛，那個(gè)溫柔的聲音，以及她在他胳膊上輕輕的撫摸，本來就使她顯得十分親切可愛，再加上女孩子對他年齡所懷有的崇敬與尊重，這就使她更加得人歡心，當(dāng)時(shí)她表露出一種優(yōu)雅得體的疑惑不定的神情和由于謙虛羞怯而猶豫不決的神情——所有這一切，以及她那出乎天性的懇切的態(tài)度，完全征服了這位可憐的年老的儀器制造商，他只是回答道：
“沃利，為我說一句話吧，我親愛的，我太感激了?！?BR> “不，沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯平靜地微笑著回答道，“請您一句話也不要為他說。我很了解他，我們必須學(xué)會(huì)在您不在場的時(shí)候相互交談，親愛的沃爾特?！?BR> 她說最后幾個(gè)字時(shí)惋惜的聲調(diào)比其他的一切更使他感動(dòng)。
“弗洛倫斯小姐，”他努力恢復(fù)剛才跟舅舅談話時(shí)所保持的高興的神態(tài)，回答道，“說真的，我跟舅舅一樣，不知道說些什么話來感謝您的深情厚意?？墒羌词刮夷苷f上一個(gè)小時(shí)，我除了說這再一次表明了您的為人之外，我究竟還能說些別的什么呢？”
蘇珊·尼珀開始咬她帽帶另外的一端，并向天窗點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭，表示贊成沃爾特表達(dá)出來的感情。
“啊，沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯說道，“可是在您走之前，我還想跟您再說些話，請你一定管我叫弗洛倫斯，而不要像一個(gè)陌生人那樣跟我說話?！?BR> “像一個(gè)陌生人一樣！”沃爾特答道，“不，我不能那樣說的。我相信，至少我沒有這樣的感覺?！?BR> “是的，但是那樣還不夠，我也不是這個(gè)意思。因?yàn)?，沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯眼淚滿滿地涌流出來，繼續(xù)說道，“他很喜歡您，臨死的時(shí)候還說他愛您，又說，‘別忘記沃爾特！’現(xiàn)在他已死了，我在世界上沒有兄弟了，如果您做我的哥哥，沃爾特，我將一輩子做您的妹妹，不論我們將來在什么地方，我都會(huì)像想到哥哥那樣想到您！這就是我想要說的，親愛的沃爾特，可是我卻不能說得像我想說的那樣好，因?yàn)榍а匀f語充滿了我的心懷，我不知該說什么好。”
她懷著那顆充滿了感情、純樸可愛的心，把雙手向他伸過去。沃爾特握著它們，彎下身子，嘴唇接觸到她的流滿了眼淚的臉；當(dāng)他這樣做的時(shí)候，她的臉沒有退縮，沒有轉(zhuǎn)開，也沒有發(fā)紅，而是信賴地、真誠地仰望著他。在那瞬刻之間，任何懷疑或焦慮的陰影都從沃爾特的心靈中消失了；他似乎覺得，他是在那死去的孩子的床邊回答她的天真的請求，并且在那個(gè)他曾親眼看到的莊嚴(yán)的場合中發(fā)誓說，在他放逐在外的時(shí)候，他將以他兄弟般的關(guān)懷，珍愛和保護(hù)她的形象；他將保持她純樸的信任，不讓遭到破壞；如果他懷有任何當(dāng)她對他表示信任時(shí)心中不曾懷有的思想，因而辜負(fù)了這樣的信任時(shí)，他就認(rèn)為自己卑鄙可恥。
蘇珊·尼珀在這過程中已經(jīng)同時(shí)咬住帽帶的兩端，并向天窗傳送了她本人的許多感情，這時(shí)她改變話題，問大家誰要牛奶，誰要糖；這些問題得到回答以后，她就開始倒茶。他們四人和睦友愛地圍坐在小桌子的旁邊，在那位姑娘殷勤的指揮下開始喝茶；弗洛倫斯光臨后客廳，使墻上帶帆的韃靼戰(zhàn)艦發(fā)出了光輝。
半個(gè)小時(shí)以前，沃爾特?zé)o論如何也不敢放肆地用她的名字喊她?？墒乾F(xiàn)在只要她請求，他就可以這樣喊她。當(dāng)他想到她來到這里的時(shí)候，不僅又在暗暗地?fù)?dān)心：如果她不來反而更好。他可以平靜地想到她長得多么美，想到多么大有希望，想到有朝一日某一位幸福的男子在她這樣一顆心中將會(huì)得到多少繾綣柔情。他可以自豪地想到他在這顆心中也占有一席之地；并毅然下定決心，如果他現(xiàn)在還不配得到它的話——他仍然認(rèn)為它高不可攀——他決不能在將來比現(xiàn)在更不配得到它。
一定有什么神力支配著蘇珊·尼珀倒茶的手，并產(chǎn)生了籠罩著后客廳中喝茶談話時(shí)的平靜的氣氛。一定又有什么敵對的魔力支配著精密計(jì)時(shí)表的指針，使它們走得比永遠(yuǎn)在順風(fēng)中航行的韃靼戰(zhàn)艦還快。不管怎么樣，客人們是有一輛轎式馬車在一個(gè)不遠(yuǎn)的安靜的角落里等待著的；當(dāng)他們偶爾看到精密計(jì)時(shí)表時(shí)，它確鑿地指明，馬車已經(jīng)等待得很長久了；這個(gè)事實(shí)是不容懷疑的，當(dāng)它由這樣一個(gè)無可指責(zé)的權(quán)威說明時(shí)尤其如此。如果所爾舅舅要按照他自己的時(shí)間處以絞刑的話，那么他也不會(huì)承認(rèn)這精密計(jì)時(shí)表走快了一秒鐘的萬分之一。
弗洛倫斯在離別時(shí)又把所有她剛才說過的話向老人扼要地重說了一遍，并要他保證遵守他們所達(dá)成的協(xié)議。所爾舅舅親切地陪她走到木制海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生的腿邊，在那里把她交給沃爾特；沃爾特欣然地護(hù)送著她與蘇珊，向馬車走去。
“沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯在路上說道，“我剛才當(dāng)著你舅舅的面不敢問您。您認(rèn)為您將離開很久嗎？”
“說實(shí)在的，”沃爾特說，“我也不知道。我怕會(huì)這樣。董貝先生指派我的時(shí)候，我覺得他表示了這樣的意思?！?BR> “這是不是對您的一種恩惠，沃爾特？”弗洛倫斯遲疑了片刻后問道，同時(shí)憂慮地望著他的臉。
“您是指這次指派嗎？”沃爾特反問道。
“是的?！?BR> 沃爾特非常想給予肯定的回答，但是他的臉色比他的嘴回答得早，弗洛倫斯又是那么注意地觀察著，所以她不可能不理解它的回答。
“我怕您不是我爸爸所寵愛的人，”她膽怯地說道。
“沒有什么理由我必須是，”沃爾特微笑著回答道。
“沒有理由嗎，沃爾特？”
“過去沒有什么理由，”沃爾特明白她的意思，說道，“公司里雇用著許多人。在董貝先生和像我這樣的一個(gè)年輕人之間，有著一個(gè)很寬闊的距離。如果我盡我的職責(zé)，我就做我應(yīng)當(dāng)做的事，而不做任何其他有情?！?BR> 在弗洛倫斯心上是不是有著她還不怎么意識(shí)到的憂慮，是不是自從最近那天夜間她走到樓下她父親房間去以后她心中產(chǎn)生出一種模糊不清和不可名狀的憂慮：沃爾特由于偶然的原因?qū)λa(chǎn)生興趣以及過早地認(rèn)識(shí)她，這會(huì)引起她父親對他強(qiáng)烈的不快和討厭？在沃爾特心中是不是也有這樣的想法，或者突然想到在這個(gè)時(shí)刻她的心中也正在這么想？在短短的一段時(shí)間中，他們兩人誰也沒有說話。走在沃爾特另一邊的蘇珊敏銳地注視著他們兩人；尼珀姑娘的思想肯定也朝著那個(gè)方向轉(zhuǎn)悠，并且十分相信自己的看法是正確的。
“您可能很快就會(huì)回來的，”弗洛倫斯說道，“也許會(huì)這樣的，沃爾特?！?BR> “我可能回來時(shí)已成了個(gè)老頭子了，”沃爾特說道，“并且看到您已成了個(gè)老太太了。不過我往好里希望。”
“爸爸，”弗洛倫斯沉默了片刻之后說，“也許會(huì)——會(huì)從悲痛中恢復(fù)過來，有一天會(huì)——更無拘無束地跟我說話；如果那樣的話，那么我將告訴他，我是多么希望看到您重新回來，并請求他為了我的緣故把您調(diào)回來?！?BR> 她談到她父親的這些話聲調(diào)壓抑，缺乏信心，令人感動(dòng)，沃爾特聽得很明白。
馬車就在近旁，他本來會(huì)默默無言地跟她分手的，因?yàn)樗@時(shí)真正感覺到離別的滋味了；可是弗洛倫斯坐下以后握住他的手，這時(shí)他覺得她手中有一個(gè)小包包。
“沃爾特，”她用感情深厚的眼光望著他的臉，說道，“我像您一樣，也希望有美好的將來。我將祈求它，相信它會(huì)來臨。我為保羅準(zhǔn)備了這個(gè)小小的禮物，請隨同我的愛把它拿走吧，在您離別之前別去看它。愿上帝保佑您，沃爾特！千萬別忘記我。您是我的哥哥呀，親愛的！”
他感到高興的是，蘇珊·尼珀這時(shí)走到他們中間，要不然他就會(huì)給她留下一個(gè)關(guān)于他的悲傷的回憶了。他又感到高興的是，她沒有再從馬車?yán)锿馔窍蛩麚]著小手，一直到他望不見為止。
他在當(dāng)天夜里睡覺之前，不顧她的請求，還是忍不住把那小包包打開了。這是個(gè)小小的錢包，里面裝著錢。
第二天早晨，太陽從異國他鄉(xiāng)返回，光輝燦爛地升起，沃爾特也隨同它一道起來，去迎接早已在門口的船長。船長本不需要這么早就起床，但他是為了在麥克斯廷杰太太還在睡覺的時(shí)候就上路才這么做的；他假裝情緒高昂，在他寬大的藍(lán)色外衣的一個(gè)口袋中帶來一條熏得很黑的舌頭作為早餐。
“沃爾，”當(dāng)他們在桌旁坐下的時(shí)候，船長說道，“如果你舅舅是我所想的那種人，遇上今天這樣的日子，他是會(huì)取出他最后的那瓶馬德拉白葡萄酒的?！?BR> “不，不，內(nèi)德，”老人回答道，“不，那瓶酒等沃爾特重新回到家里時(shí)再打開?！?BR> “說得好！”船長喊道，“聽他說吧！”
“它躺在那里，”所爾·吉爾斯說，“躺在下面的小地窖里，上面覆蓋著塵土和蜘蛛網(wǎng)。在它重見陽光之前，內(nèi)德，也許你和我身上也已覆蓋著塵土和蜘蛛網(wǎng)了。”
“聽他說吧！”船長喊道，“極妙的寓意！沃爾，我的孩子，栽一株無花果，讓它好好長大，等你老了，就坐在樹蔭下休息。翻一下——不過，”船長想了一下，說，“我不能很肯定從哪本書里可以找到這句話；可是你要是收到的話，請把它記下來。所爾·吉爾斯。重新往前用力拉吧①！”
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①這是水手在起錨時(shí)的勞動(dòng)號(hào)子，船長借用它來要所爾·吉爾斯繼續(xù)往下說。
“可是它得躺在那里或別的什么地方，內(nèi)德，直到沃利回來要求喝它的時(shí)候，”老人說道，“這就是我所想要說的一切?！?BR> “說得也不錯(cuò)，”船長回答道，“如果我們?nèi)瞬荒芤黄鸫蜷_那瓶酒的話，那么我允許你們兩人把我的那份也喝掉！”
船長雖然談笑風(fēng)生，十分興高采烈，但他對付那條熏黑的舌頭的本領(lǐng)卻怪差勁，盡管當(dāng)有人看著他的時(shí)候，他極力裝出胃口很好地吃著。而且，他很害怕和舅舅或外甥單獨(dú)在一起，好像他認(rèn)為，他要保持這種春風(fēng)滿面的神態(tài)，安全的機(jī)會(huì)是三個(gè)人老待在一起。船長由于懷有這種恐懼心理，他就想出了好些機(jī)智的逃避方法：當(dāng)所羅門走去穿外衣的時(shí)候，他就假裝看到一輛不同尋常的出租馬車經(jīng)過而跑到門口；當(dāng)沃爾特上樓去跟房客們告別時(shí)，他就假裝聞到鄰近煙囪的火焦味而沖到街上。船長認(rèn)為，沒有靈感的觀察者是很難看破他的這些巧計(jì)的。
沃爾特去樓上告別之后走下樓來，正穿過店鋪向小客廳走回的時(shí)候，他看到一張他認(rèn)識(shí)的憔悴的臉正向門里探望，就立即向他急沖過去。
“卡克先生！”沃爾特緊握著約翰·卡克先生的手，喊道，“請進(jìn)來吧！您真客氣，起得這么早來向我告別。您知道，我多么高興能在離別之前再跟您握一次手啊。我說不出我是多么高興能有這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)。請進(jìn)來吧！”
“我們不見得以后還能再見面了，沃爾特，”那一位委婉地謝絕了他的邀請，“我也因?yàn)橛羞@個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)而感到高興。在即將離別之前，我也許可以不揣冒昧地來跟您說說話和握握手。
沃爾特，我將不再迫不得已反對您坦率地跟我接近了”。
當(dāng)他說這些話的時(shí)候，在他的微笑中還帶有一些憂郁的東西，這表明他甚至在沃爾特要跟他接近的想法本身中也看到了關(guān)懷與友誼。
“唉，卡克先生！”沃爾特回答道，“您為什么要反對呢？
我完全相信，您只會(huì)做對我有益的事情?！?BR> 他搖搖頭?！叭绻谶@世界上我能做點(diǎn)兒什么有益事情的話，那么我將會(huì)為您做的。我一天天看到您，對我來說，既感到快樂，又引起悔恨。但是高興超過了痛苦?，F(xiàn)在我明白了這一點(diǎn)，因?yàn)槲抑牢沂ナ裁戳??！?BR> “請進(jìn)來吧，卡克先生，來跟我善良的年老的舅舅認(rèn)識(shí)認(rèn)識(shí)吧，”沃爾特催促著，“我常常跟他說到您，他將會(huì)高興把從我那里聽到的一切告訴您；我沒有，”沃爾特注意到他的遲疑，他自己也感到局促不安地說道，“我沒有跟他說起我們上次談話的內(nèi)容，什么也沒有說；卡克先生；甚至對他我也不說，請相信我。”
這位頭發(fā)斑白的低級職員緊握著他的手，眼睛里涌出了淚水。
“如果我什么時(shí)候跟他認(rèn)識(shí)，沃爾特，”他回答道，“那么那只是為了可以從他那里打聽到您的消息。請相信我決不會(huì)對不起您對我的寬容與關(guān)心。如果我在取得他的信任之前不把全部真情告訴他，那么我就對不起您的寬容與關(guān)心了。但是我除了您，沒有別的朋友或熟人；甚至為了您的緣故我也未必會(huì)去找?！?BR> “我希望，”沃爾特說，“您已真正允許我做您的朋友?？讼壬荒?，我經(jīng)常是這樣希望的；可是這希望從不曾像現(xiàn)在我們就要分別的時(shí)候這么強(qiáng)烈?！?BR> “您一直是我心里的朋友，當(dāng)我愈是避開您的時(shí)候，我的心就愈是向著您，愈是一心一意地想著您——我想這就夠了。
沃爾特，再見吧！”
“再見吧，卡克先生，愿老天爺保佑您，先生！”沃爾特激動(dòng)地喊道。
“如果，”那一位繼續(xù)握著他的手說道，“如果您回來時(shí)，在我原先的角落里看不到我，并從別人那里打聽到我躺在什么地方的話，那么請來看看我的墳?zāi)拱伞Ｕ埾胍幌?，我本來是可以跟您一樣誠實(shí)和幸福的！當(dāng)我知道我的死期就要來臨的時(shí)候，請讓我想到，有一位像我過去一樣的人會(huì)在那里站上片刻，懷著憐憫與寬恕的心情記得我的！沃爾特，再見吧！”
夏日清晨的街道布滿了陽光，明明亮亮，那么令人爽心悅目，又那么莊嚴(yán)肅穆；他的身形像一個(gè)影子似的，沿著這條街道緩慢地移行著，最后消失不見了。
毫不留情的精密計(jì)時(shí)表終于宣告：沃爾特必須離別木制海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生了。他們——他自己、舅舅和船長——乘著一輛出租馬車動(dòng)身前往碼頭，再從碼頭搭乘汽艇到河流下面的一個(gè)河段；當(dāng)船長說出它的名稱時(shí)，陸地上的人們聽起來真像是個(gè)不可思議、神奇莫測的秘密。當(dāng)汽艇乘著昨夜的漲潮，開到這個(gè)河段之后，他們被一群情緒興奮的劃小船的船家團(tuán)團(tuán)圍住，里面有一位是船長認(rèn)識(shí)的骯臟的賽克洛普斯①；他雖然只有一只眼睛，但在一英里半之外就認(rèn)出了船長，從那時(shí)起就跟他交換著難以理解的么喝。這位胡子拉碴、嗓子嘶啞得可怕的人，把他們?nèi)水?dāng)成了合法的戰(zhàn)利品，運(yùn)送到“兒子和繼承人”號(hào)上?！皟鹤雍屠^承人”號(hào)上十分混亂，沾著泥水的船帆被撂在濕漉漉的甲板上，沒有拉緊的繩索把人們絆倒，穿著紅襯衫的船員們赤著腳跑來跑去，木桶堵塞著每一小塊空處；在這一切雜亂的中心，甲板上黑廚房中的一位黑廚師周圍堆滿了蔬菜，一直堆到他的眼睛底下，他的眼睛被煙薰得幾乎失明。
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①賽克洛普斯（Cyclops）：希臘神話中的獨(dú)眼巨人。
船長立即把沃爾特拉到一個(gè)角落里，臉孔漲得通紅，使勁地拉出了那只銀表；那只表很大，在他的衣袋中塞得又很緊，所以把它拉出的時(shí)候就像從桶口拔出個(gè)大塞子似的。
“沃爾，”船長把它遞過去，并熱烈地握著他的手說道，“這是告別的禮物，我的孩子。每天早上把它往后撥半小時(shí)，到中午再往后撥一刻鐘左右。這只表是你可以引以自豪的?！?BR> “卡特爾船長！我不能要這個(gè)！”沃爾特喊道，一邊攔住他，因?yàn)樗荛_。“請拿回去。我已經(jīng)有一只了。”
“那么，沃爾，”船長突然把手伸進(jìn)另一只口袋。取出兩只茶匙和一副方糖箝子，他裝備著這些東西就是為了防備遭到拒絕時(shí)用的。“就請改拿走這些喝茶用的小東西吧！”
“不，不，說真的，我不能拿走！”沃爾特喊道，“千謝萬謝！別扔掉，卡特爾船長！”因?yàn)榇L正想要把它們投擲到船外?！八鼈儗δ葘ξ矣杏玫枚?。把您的手杖給我吧。我時(shí)常想，我要能有它該多好啊。唔，這就是！再見，卡特爾船長！
請照顧照顧舅舅吧！所爾舅舅，上帝保佑你！”
沃爾特沒來得及再望他們一眼，他們已經(jīng)在混亂之中離開大船了；當(dāng)他跑到船尾，目送著他們的時(shí)候，他看見舅舅坐在小船里低垂著頭，卡特爾船長用那只大銀表拍打著他的背（那一定很痛），還精神抖擻地用茶匙和方糖箝子打著手勢?？ㄌ貭柎L瞧見沃爾特時(shí)，顯然忘記了他還有這些財(cái)產(chǎn)，漫不經(jīng)心地把它們掉落到小船船底，同時(shí)脫下了上了光的帽子，拼命地向他歡呼。上了光的帽子在陽光下閃閃發(fā)光，大出風(fēng)頭，船長不斷地?fù)]舞著它，直到望不見沃爾特為止。船上一直在迅速增加的雜亂這時(shí)達(dá)到了高潮；另外兩三只小船在歡呼聲中離開；當(dāng)沃爾特望著船帆在順風(fēng)中舒展開帆面的時(shí)候，船帆在上空明亮和豐滿地閃耀著；浪花從船頭飛濺過來；“兒子和繼承人”號(hào)就這樣雄赳赳氣昂昂地、輕輕快快地啟程航行，就像在它之前已經(jīng)走上旅程的其他許多兒子和繼承人一樣，一直向前行進(jìn)。
老所爾和卡特爾船長在小后客廳里一天天在圓桌上攤開地圖，推算著船舶的航行距離，研究著它的航線。夜里，當(dāng)老所爾十分孤獨(dú)地走上樓去，一直走到有時(shí)大風(fēng)猛刮的頂樓上時(shí)，他仰望著星星，靜聽著風(fēng)聲；如果讓他在那艘船上值夜，也不會(huì)像他現(xiàn)在值得這么長久。那最后一瓶馬德拉白葡萄酒曾經(jīng)度過漂洋過海的日子，體驗(yàn)過海洋深處的危險(xiǎn)，這時(shí)卻安安靜靜地躺在塵土和蜘蛛網(wǎng)下面，誰也不去打攪它。
The wooden Midshipman at the Instrument-maker's door, like the hard-hearted little Midshipman he was, remained supremely indifferent to Walter's going away, even when the very last day of his sojourn in the back parlour was on the decline. With his quadrant at his round black knob of an eye, and his figure in its old attitude of indomitable alacrity, the Midshipman displayed his elfin small-clothes to the best advantage, and, absorbed in scientific pursuits, had no sympathy with worldly concerns. He was so far the creature of circumstances, that a dry day covered him with dust, and a misty day peppered him with little bits of soot, and a wet day brightened up his tarnished uniform for the moment, and a very hot day blistered him; but otherwise he was a callous, obdurate, conceited Midshipman, intent on his own discoveries, and caring as little for what went on about him, terrestrially, as Archimedes at the taking of Syracuse.
Such a Midshipman he seemed to be, at least, in the then position of domestic affairs. Walter eyed him kindly many a time in passing in and out; and poor old Sol, when Walter was not there, would come and lean against the doorpost, resting his weary wig as near the shoe-buckles of the guardian genius of his trade and shop as he could. But no fierce idol with a mouth from ear to ear, and a murderous visage made of parrot's feathers, was ever more indifferent to the appeals of its savage votaries, than was the Midshipman to these marks of attachment.
Walter's heart felt heavy as he looked round his old bedroom, up among the parapets and chimney-pots, and thought that one more night already darkening would close his acquaintance with it, perhaps for ever. Dismantled of his little stock of books and pictures, it looked coldly and reproachfully on him for his desertion, and had already a foreshadowing upon it of its coming strangeness. 'A few hours more,' thought Walter, 'and no dream I ever had here when I was a schoolboy will be so little mine as this old room. The dream may come back in my sleep, and I may return waking to this place, it may be: but the dream at least will serve no other master, and the room may have a score, and every one of them may change, neglect, misuse it.'
But his Uncle was not to be left alone in the little back parlour, where he was then sitting by himself; for Captain Cuttle, considerate in his roughness, stayed away against his will, purposely that they should have some talk together unobserved: so Walter, newly returned home from his last day's bustle, descended briskly, to bear him company.
'Uncle,' he said gaily, laying his hand upon the old man's shoulder, 'what shall I send you home from Barbados?'
'Hope, my dear Wally. Hope that we shall meet again, on this side of the grave. Send me as much of that as you can.'
'So I will, Uncle: I have enough and to spare, and I'll not be chary of it! And as to lively turtles, and limes for Captain Cuttle's punch, and preserves for you on Sundays, and all that sort of thing, why I'll send you ship-loads, Uncle: when I'm rich enough.'
Old Sol wiped his spectacles, and faintly smiled.
'That's right, Uncle!' cried Walter, merrily, and clapping him half a dozen times more upon the shoulder. 'You cheer up me! I'll cheer up you! We'll be as gay as larks to-morrow morning, Uncle, and we'll fly as high! As to my anticipations, they are singing out of sight now.
'Wally, my dear boy,' returned the old man, 'I'll do my best, I'll do my best.'
'And your best, Uncle,' said Walter, with his pleasant laugh, 'is the best best that I know. You'll not forget what you're to send me, Uncle?'
'No, Wally, no,' replied the old man; 'everything I hear about Miss Dombey, now that she is left alone, poor lamb, I'll write. I fear it won't be much though, Wally.'
'Why, I'll tell you what, Uncle,' said Walter, after a moment's hesitation, 'I have just been up there.'
'Ay, ay, ay?' murmured the old man, raising his eyebrows, and his spectacles with them.
'Not to see her,' said Walter, 'though I could have seen her, I daresay, if I had asked, Mr Dombey being out of town: but to say a parting word to Susan. I thought I might venture to do that, you know, under the circumstances, and remembering when I saw Miss Dombey last.'
'Yes, my boy, yes,' replied his Uncle, rousing himself from a temporary abstraction.
'So I saw her,' pursued Walter, 'Susan, I mean: and I told her I was off and away to-morrow. And I said, Uncle, that you had always had an interest in Miss Dombey since that night when she was here, and always wished her well and happy, and always would be proud and glad to serve her in the least: I thought I might say that, you know, under the circumstances. Don't you think so ?'
'Yes, my boy, yes,' replied his Uncle, in the tone as before.
'And I added,' pursued Walter, 'that if she - Susan, I mean - could ever let you know, either through herself, or Mrs Richards, or anybody else who might be coming this way, that Miss Dombey was well and happy, you would take it very kindly, and would write so much to me, and I should take it very kindly too. There! Upon my word, Uncle,' said Walter, 'I scarcely slept all last night through thinking of doing this; and could not make up my mind when I was out, whether to do it or not; and yet I am sure it is the true feeling of my heart, and I should have been quite miserable afterwards if I had not relieved it.'
His honest voice and manner corroborated what he said, and quite established its ingenuousness.
'So, if you ever see her, Uncle,' said Walter, 'I mean Miss Dombey now - and perhaps you may, who knows! - tell her how much I felt for her; how much I used to think of her when I was here; how I spoke of her, with the tears in my eyes, Uncle, on this last night before I went away. Tell her that I said I never could forget her gentle manner, or her beautiful face, or her sweet kind disposition that was better than all. And as I didn't take them from a woman's feet, or a young lady's: only a little innocent child's,' said Walter: 'tell her, if you don't mind, Uncle, that I kept those shoes - she'll remember how often they fell off, that night - and took them away with me as a remembrance!'
They were at that very moment going out at the door in one of Walter's trunks. A porter carrying off his baggage on a truck for shipment at the docks on board the Son and Heir, had got possession of them; and wheeled them away under the very eye of the insensible Midshipman before their owner had well finished speaking.
But that ancient mariner might have been excused his insensibility to the treasure as it rolled away. For, under his eye at the same moment, accurately within his range of observation, coming full into the sphere of his startled and intensely wide-awake look-out, were Florence and Susan Nipper: Florence looking up into his face half timidly, and receiving the whole shock of his wooden ogling!
More than this, they passed into the shop, and passed in at the parlour door before they were observed by anybody but the Midshipman. And Walter, having his back to the door, would have known nothing of their apparition even then, but for seeing his Uncle spring out of his own chair, and nearly tumble over another.
'Why, Uncle!' exclaimed Walter. 'What's the matter?'
Old Solomon replied, 'Miss Dombey!'
'Is it possible?' cried Walter, looking round and starting up in his turn. 'Here!'
Why, It was so possible and so actual, that, while the words were on his lips, Florence hurried past him; took Uncle Sol's snuff-coloured lapels, one in each hand; kissed him on the cheek; and turning, gave her hand to Walter with a simple truth and earnestness that was her own, and no one else's in the world!
'Going away, Walter!' said Florence.
'Yes, Miss Dombey,' he replied, but not so hopefully as he endeavoured: 'I have a voyage before me.'
'And your Uncle,' said Florence, looking back at Solomon. 'He is sorry you are going, I am sure. Ah! I see he is! Dear Walter, I am very sorry too.'
'Goodness knows,' exclaimed Miss Nipper, 'there's a many we could spare instead, if numbers is a object, Mrs Pipchin as a overseer would come cheap at her weight in gold, and if a knowledge of black slavery should be required, them Blimbers is the very people for the sitiwation.'
With that Miss Nipper untied her bonnet strings, and alter looking vacantly for some moments into a little black teapot that was set forth with the usual homely service on the table, shook her head and a tin canister, and began unasked to make the tea.
In the meantime Florence had turned again to the Instrument-maker, who was as full of admiration as surprise. 'So grown!' said old Sol. 'So improved! And yet not altered! Just the same!'
'Indeed!' said Florence.
'Ye - yes,' returned old Sol, rubbing his hands slowly, and considering the matter half aloud, as something pensive in the bright eyes looking at him arrested his attention. 'Yes, that expression was in the younger face, too!'
'You remember me,' said Florence with a smile, 'and what a little creature I was then?'
'My dear young lady,' returned the Instrument-maker, 'how could I forget you, often as I have thought of you and heard of you since! At the very moment, indeed, when you came in, Wally was talking about you to me, and leaving messages for you, and - '
'Was he?' said Florence. 'Thank you, Walter! Oh thank you, Walter! I was afraid you might be going away and hardly thinking of me;' and again she gave him her little hand so freely and so faithfully that Walter held it for some moments in his own, and could not bear to let it go.
Yet Walter did not hold it as he might have held it once, nor did its touch awaken those old day-dreams of his boyhood that had floated past him sometimes even lately, and confused him with their indistinct and broken shapes. The purity and innocence of her endearing manner, and its perfect trustfulness, and the undisguised regard for him that lay so deeply seated in her constant eyes, and glowed upon her fair face through the smile that shaded - for alas! it was a smile too sad to brighten - it, were not of their romantic race. They brought back to his thoughts the early death-bed he had seen her tending, and the love the child had borne her; and on the wings of such remembrances she seemed to rise up, far above his idle fancies, into clearer and serener air.
'I - I am afraid I must call you Walter's Uncle, Sir,' said Florence to the old man, 'if you'll let me.'
'My dear young lady,' cried old Sol. 'Let you! Good gracious!'
'We always knew you by that name, and talked of you,' said Florence, glancing round, and sighing gently. 'The nice old parlour! Just the same! How well I recollect it!'
Old Sol looked first at her, then at his nephew, and then rubbed his hands, and rubbed his spectacles, and said below his breath, 'Ah! time, time, time!'
There was a short silence; during which Susan Nipper skilfully impounded two extra cups and saucers from the cupboard, and awaited the drawing of the tea with a thoughtful air.
'I want to tell Walter's Uncle,' said Florence, laying her hand timidly upon the old man's as it rested on the table, to bespeak his attention, 'something that I am anxious about. He is going to be left alone, and if he will allow me - not to take Walter's place, for that I couldn't do, but to be his true friend and help him if I ever can while Walter is away, I shall be very much obliged to him indeed. Will you? May I, Walter's Uncle?'
The Instrument-maker, without speaking, put her hand to his lips, and Susan Nipper, leaning back with her arms crossed, in the chair of presidency into which she had voted herself, bit one end of her bonnet strings, and heaved a gentle sigh as she looked up at the skylight.
'You will let me come to see you,' said Florence, 'when I can; and you will tell me everything about yourself and Walter; and you will have no secrets from Susan when she comes and I do not, but will confide in us, and trust us, and rely upon us. And you'll try to let us be a comfort to you? Will you, Walter's Uncle?'
The sweet face looking into his, the gentle pleading eyes, the soft voice, and the light touch on his arm made the more winning by a child's respect and honour for his age, that gave to all an air of graceful doubt and modest hesitation - these, and her natural earnestness, so overcame the poor old Instrument-maker, that he only answered:
'Wally! say a word for me, my dear. I'm very grateful.'
'No, Walter,' returned Florence with her quiet smile. 'Say nothing for him, if you please. I understand him very well, and we must learn to talk together without you, dear Walter.'
The regretful tone in which she said these latter words, touched Walter more than all the rest.
'Miss Florence,' he replied, with an effort to recover the cheerful manner he had preserved while talking with his Uncle, 'I know no more than my Uncle, what to say in acknowledgment of such kindness, I am sure. But what could I say, after all, if I had the power of talking for an hour, except that it is like you?'
Susan Nipper began upon a new part of her bonnet string, and nodded at the skylight, in approval of the sentiment expressed.
'Oh! but, Walter,' said Florence, 'there is something that I wish to say to you before you go away, and you must call me Florence, if you please, and not speak like a stranger.'
'Like a stranger!' returned Walter, 'No. I couldn't speak so. I am sure, at least, I couldn't feel like one.'
'Ay, but that is not enough, and is not what I mean. For, Walter,' added Florence, bursting into tears, 'he liked you very much, and said before he died that he was fond of you, and said "Remember Walter!" and if you'll be a brother to me, Walter, now that he is gone and I have none on earth, I'll be your sister all my life, and think of you like one wherever we may be! This is what I wished to say, dear Walter, but I cannot say it as I would, because my heart is full.'
And in its fulness and its sweet simplicity, she held out both her hands to him. Walter taking them, stooped down and touched the tearful face that neither shrunk nor turned away, nor reddened as he did so, but looked up at him with confidence and truth. In that one moment, every shadow of doubt or agitation passed away from Walter's soul. It seemed to him that he responded to her innocent appeal, beside the dead child's bed: and, in the solemn presence he had seen there, pledged himself to cherish and protect her very image, in his banishment, with brotherly regard; to garner up her simple faith, inviolate; and hold himself degraded if he breathed upon it any thought that was not in her own breast when she gave it to him.
Susan Nipper, who had bitten both her bonnet strings at once, and imparted a great deal of private emotion to the skylight, during this transaction, now changed the subject by inquiring who took milk and who took sugar; and being enlightened on these points, poured out the tea. They all four gathered socially about the little table, and took tea under that young lady's active superintendence; and the presence of Florence in the back parlour, brightened the Tartar frigate on the wall.
Half an hour ago Walter, for his life, would have hardly called her by her name. But he could do so now when she entreated him. He could think of her being there, without a lurking misgiving that it would have been better if she had not come. He could calmly think how beautiful she was, how full of promise, what a home some happy man would find in such a heart one day. He could reflect upon his own place in that heart, with pride; and with a brave determination, if not to deserve it - he still thought that far above him - never to deserve it less
Some fairy influence must surely have hovered round the hands of Susan Nipper when she made the tea, engendering the tranquil air that reigned in the back parlour during its discussion. Some counter-influence must surely have hovered round the hands of Uncle Sol's chronometer, and moved them faster than the Tartar frigate ever went before the wind. Be this as it may, the visitors had a coach in waiting at a quiet corner not far off; and the chronometer, on being incidentally referred to, gave such a positive opinion that it had been waiting a long time, that it was impossible to doubt the fact, especially when stated on such unimpeachable authority. If Uncle Sol had been going to be hanged by his own time, he never would have allowed that the chronometer was too fast, by the least fraction of a second.
Florence at parting recapitulated to the old man all that she had said before, and bound him to the compact. Uncle Sol attended her lovingly to the legs of the wooden Midshipman, and there resigned her to Walter, who was ready to escort her and Susan Nipper to the coach.
'Walter,' said Florence by the way, 'I have been afraid to ask before your Uncle. Do you think you will be absent very long?'
'Indeed,' said Walter, 'I don't know. I fear so. Mr Dombey signified as much, I thought, when he appointed me.'
'Is it a favour, Walter?' inquired Florence, after a moment's hesitation, and looking anxiously in his face.
'The appointment?' returned Walter.
'Yes.'
Walter would have given anything to have answered in the affirmative, but his face answered before his lips could, and Florence was too attentive to it not to understand its reply.
'I am afraid you have scarcely been a favourite with Papa,' she said, timidly.
'There is no reason,' replied Walter, smiling, 'why I should be.'
'No reason, Walter!'
'There was no reason,' said Walter, understanding what she meant. 'There are many people employed in the House. Between Mr Dombey and a young man like me, there's a wide space of separation. If I do my duty, I do what I ought, and do no more than all the rest.'
Had Florence any misgiving of which she was hardly conscious: any misgiving that had sprung into an indistinct and undefined existence since that recent night when she had gone down to her father's room: that Walter's accidental interest in her, and early knowledge of her, might have involved him in that powerful displeasure and dislike? Had Walter any such idea, or any sudden thought that it was in her mind at that moment? Neither of them hinted at it. Neither of them spoke at all, for some short time. Susan, walking on the other side of Walter, eyed them both sharply; and certainly Miss Nipper's thoughts travelled in that direction, and very confidently too.
'You may come back very soon,' said Florence, 'perhaps, Walter.'
'I may come back,' said Walter, 'an old man, and find you an old lady. But I hope for better things.'
'Papa,' said Florence, after a moment, 'will - will recover from his grief, and - speak more freely to me one day, perhaps; and if he should, I will tell him how much I wish to see you back again, and ask him to recall you for my sake.'
There was a touching modulation in these words about her father, that Walter understood too well.
The coach being close at hand, he would have left her without speaking, for now he felt what parting was; but Florence held his hand when she was seated, and then he found there was a little packet in her own.
'Walter,' she said, looking full upon him with her affectionate eyes, 'like you, I hope for better things. I will pray for them, and believe that they will arrive. I made this little gift for Paul. Pray take it with my love, and do not look at it until you are gone away. And now, God bless you, Walter! never forget me. You are my brother, dear!'
He was glad that Susan Nipper came between them, or he might have left her with a sorrowful remembrance of him. He was glad too that she did not look out of the coach again, but waved the little hand to him instead, as long as he could see it.
In spite of her request, he could not help opening the packet that night when he went to bed. It was a little purse: and there was was money in it.
Bright rose the sun next morning, from his absence in strange countries and up rose Walter with it to receive the Captain, who was already at the door: having turned out earlier than was necessary, in order to get under weigh while Mrs MacStinger was still slumbering. The Captain pretended to be in tip-top spirits, and brought a very smoky tongue in one of the pockets of the of the broad blue coat for breakfast.
'And, Wal'r,' said the Captain, when they took their seats at table, if your Uncle's the man I think him, he'll bring out the last bottle of the Madeira on the present occasion.'
'No, no, Ned,' returned the old man. 'No! That shall be opened when Walter comes home again.'
'Well said!' cried the Captain. 'Hear him!'
'There it lies,' said Sol Gills, 'down in the little cellar, covered with dirt and cobwebs. There may be dirt and cobwebs over you and me perhaps, Ned, before it sees the light.'
'Hear him! 'cried the Captain. 'Good morality! Wal'r, my lad. Train up a fig-tree in the way it should go, and when you are old sit under the shade on it. Overhaul the - Well,' said the Captain on second thoughts, 'I ain't quite certain where that's to be found, but when found, make a note of. Sol Gills, heave ahead again!'
'But there or somewhere, it shall lie, Ned, until Wally comes back to claim it,' said the old man. 'That's all I meant to say.'
'And well said too,' returned the Captain; 'and if we three don't crack that bottle in company, I'll give you two leave to.'
Notwithstanding the Captain's excessive joviality, he made but a poor hand at the smoky tongue, though he tried very hard, when anybody looked at him, to appear as if he were eating with a vast apetite. He was terribly afraid, likewise, of being left alone with either Uncle or nephew; appearing to consider that his only chance of safety as to keeping up appearances, was in there being always three together. This terror on the part of the Captain, reduced him to such ingenious evasions as running to the door, when Solomon went to put his coat on, under pretence of having seen an extraordinary hackney-coach pass: and darting out into the road when Walter went upstairs to take leave of the lodgers, on a feint of smelling fire in a neighbouring chimney. These artifices Captain Cuttle deemed inscrutable by any uninspired observer.
Walter was coming down from his parting expedition upstairs, and was crossing the shop to go back to the little parlour, when he saw a faded face he knew, looking in at the door, and darted towards it.
'Mr Carker!' cried Walter, pressing the hand of John Carker the Junior. 'Pray come in! This is kind of you, to be here so early to say good-bye to me. You knew how glad it would make me to shake hands with you, once, before going away. I cannot say how glad I am to have this opportunity. Pray come in.'
'It is not likely that we may ever meet again, Walter,' returned the other, gently resisting his invitation, 'and I am glad of this opportunity too. I may venture to speak to you, and to take you by the hand, on the eve of separation. I shall not have to resist your frank approaches, Walter, any more.
There was a melancholy in his smile as he said it, that showed he had found some company and friendship for his thoughts even in that.
'Ah, Mr Carker!' returned Walter. 'Why did you resist them? You could have done me nothing but good, I am very sure.
He shook his head. 'If there were any good,' he said, 'I could do on this earth, I would do it, Walter, for you. The sight of you from day to day, has been at once happiness and remorse to me. But the pleasure has outweighed the pain. I know that, now, by knowing what I lose.'
'Come in, Mr Carker, and make acquaintance with my good old Uncle,' urged Walter. 'I have often talked to him about you, and he will be glad to tell you all he hears from me. I have not,' said Walter, noticing his hesitation, and speaking with embarrassment himself: 'I have not told him anything about our last conversation, Mr Carker; not even him, believe me.
The grey Junior pressed his hand, and tears rose in his eyes.
'If I ever make acquaintance with him, Walter,' he returned, 'it will be that I may hear tidings of you. Rely on my not wronging your forbearance and consideration. It would be to wrong it, not to tell him all the truth, before I sought a word of confidence from him. But I have no friend or acquaintance except you: and even for your sake, am little likely to make any.'
'I wish,' said Walter, 'you had suffered me to be your friend indeed. I always wished it, Mr Carker, as you know; but never half so much as now, when we are going to part'
'It is enough replied the other, 'that you have been the friend of my own breast, and that when I have avoided you most, my heart inclined the most towards you, and was fullest of you. Walter, good-bye!'
'Good-bye, Mr Carker. Heaven be with you, Sir!' cried Walter with emotion.
'If,' said the other, retaining his hand while he spoke; 'if when you come back, you miss me from my old corner, and should hear from anyone where I am lying, come and look upon my grave. Think that I might have been as honest and as happy as you! And let me think, when I know time is coming on, that some one like my former self may stand there, for a moment, and remember me with pity and forgiveness! Walter, good-bye!'
His figure crept like a shadow down the bright, sun-lighted street, so cheerful yet so solemn in the early summer morning; and slowly passed away.
The relentless chronometer at last announced that Walter must turn his back upon the wooden Midshipman: and away they went, himself, his Uncle, and the Captain, in a hackney-coach to a wharf, where they were to take steam-boat for some Reach down the river, the name of which, as the Captain gave it out, was a hopeless mystery to the ears of landsmen. Arrived at this Reach (whither the ship had repaired by last night's tide), they were boarded by various excited watermen, and among others by a dirty Cyclops of the Captain's acquaintance, who, with his one eye, had made the Captain out some mile and a half off, and had been exchanging unintelligible roars with him ever since. Becoming the lawful prize of this personage, who was frightfully hoarse and constitutionally in want of shaving, they were all three put aboard the Son and Heir. And the Son and Heir was in a pretty state of confusion, with sails lying all bedraggled on the wet decks, loose ropes tripping people up, men in red shirts running barefoot to and fro, casks blockading every foot of space, and, in the thickest of the fray, a black cook in a black caboose up to his eyes in vegetables and blinded with smoke.
The Captain immediately drew Walter into a corner, and with a great effort, that made his face very red, pulled up the silver watch, which was so big, and so tight in his pocket, that it came out like a bung.
'Wal'r,' said the Captain, handing it over, and shaking him heartily by the hand, 'a parting gift, my lad. Put it back half an hour every morning, and about another quarter towards the arternoon, and it's a watch that'll do you credit.'
'Captain Cuttle! I couldn't think of it!' cried Walter, detaining him, for he was running away. 'Pray take it back. I have one already.'
'Then, Wal'r,' said the Captain, suddenly diving into one of his pockets and bringing up the two teaspoons and the sugar-tongs, with which he had armed himself to meet such an objection, 'take this here trifle of plate, instead.'
'No, no, I couldn't indeed!' cried Walter, 'a thousand thanks! Don't throw them away, Captain Cuttle!' for the Captain was about to jerk them overboard. 'They'll be of much more use to you than me. Give me your stick. I have often thought I should like to have it. There! Good-bye, Captain Cuttle! Take care of my Uncle! Uncle Sol, God bless you!'
They were over the side in the confusion, before Walter caught another glimpse of either; and when he ran up to the stern, and looked after them, he saw his Uncle hanging down his head in the boat, and Captain Cuttle rapping him on the back with the great silver watch (it must have been very painful), and gesticulating hopefully with the teaspoons and sugar-tongs. Catching sight of Walter, Captain Cuttle dropped the property into the bottom of the boat with perfect unconcern, being evidently oblivious of its existence, and pulling off the glazed hat hailed him lustily. The glazed hat made quite a show in the sun with its glistening, and the Captain continued to wave it until he could be seen no longer. Then the confusion on board, which had been rapidly increasing, reached its height; two or three other boats went away with a cheer; the sails shone bright and full above, as Walter watched them spread their surface to the favourable breeze; the water flew in sparkles from the prow; and off upon her voyage went the Son and Heir, as hopefully and trippingly as many another son and heir, gone down, had started on his way before her.
Day after day, old Sol and Captain Cuttle kept her reckoning in the little hack parlour and worked out her course, with the chart spread before them on the round table. At night, when old Sol climbed upstairs, so lonely, to the attic where it sometimes blew great guns, he looked up at the stars and listened to the wind, and kept a longer watch than would have fallen to his lot on board the ship. The last bottle of the old Madeira, which had had its cruising days, and known its dangers of the deep, lay silently beneath its dust and cobwebs, in the meanwhile, undisturbed.
儀器制造商門口的木制海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生就像鐵石心腸的小海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生一樣，對沃爾特的離別一直極為漠不關(guān)心，甚至當(dāng)沃爾特有后客廳逗留的最后一天即將消逝時(shí)也依然一樣。象限儀緊挨著他像肉瘤般的一只圓鼓鼓的黑眼睛，身形像往日一樣呈現(xiàn)出一副朝氣蓬勃、不屈不撓的姿態(tài)，海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生盡量炫耀著他的像小精靈般的短褲，并埋頭于科學(xué)研究，對于世俗的憂慮沒有絲毫同情。他是個(gè)受環(huán)境支配的人兒；氣候干燥的日子，他滿身塵土；薄霧彌漫的日子，他身上復(fù)蓋著點(diǎn)點(diǎn)煤煙的碎屑；下雨的日子，他失去了光澤的制服頓時(shí)煥然一新，閃閃發(fā)亮；炎熱的日子，他的皮膚被曬出泡來；但是他在其他方面卻是個(gè)麻木不仁、冷酷無情、自高自大的海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生，專心致志于自己的發(fā)現(xiàn)，對周圍塵世間發(fā)生的事情不聞不問，就像阿基米得①在敘拉古被圍時(shí)一樣。
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①阿基米得（Archimedes，約公元前287—212年）：古希臘數(shù)學(xué)家和物理學(xué)家，理論力學(xué)的創(chuàng)始人，生于西西里島的敘拉古城（Syracuse，當(dāng)時(shí)是希臘的殖民城市）。當(dāng)敘拉古開始被羅馬人圍困時(shí)，他正專心研究數(shù)學(xué)，不知道外面發(fā)生的戰(zhàn)爭。
至少，在目前家中發(fā)生大事的情況下，他就是這樣的一位海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生。沃爾特進(jìn)進(jìn)出出時(shí)向他親切地定神看了許多次；當(dāng)沃爾特不在家時(shí)，可憐的老所爾就出來靠在門柱上，把他那疲倦的戴著假發(fā)的腦袋盡量挨近這位他的店鋪與營業(yè)的天才守衛(wèi)者的鞋扣；可是海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生對這些向他作出的親熱殷勤的表示完全無動(dòng)于衷，就像那殘忍兇猛的偶像一樣，嘴巴咧得大大的，由鸚鵡羽毛做成的臉孔露出一副殺氣騰騰的兇相，對于他那些尚未開化的崇拜者們的懇求根本漠不關(guān)心。
沃爾特環(huán)視著他居住多年的臥室，向上望到女兒墻和煙囪；天已經(jīng)黑了，這時(shí)他想到這個(gè)夜晚過去，他就要跟它也許永久分離，心情感到沉重不堪。他的一些書籍和圖畫已經(jīng)搬走，臥室由于他的遺棄，冷淡地、責(zé)備地望著他，并早已對他未來的疏遠(yuǎn)投下了陰影?！霸龠^幾個(gè)小時(shí)之后，”沃爾特想，“這個(gè)房間就不再屬于我了，就像我當(dāng)小學(xué)生時(shí)在這里做過的夢一樣不再屬于我了一樣。在我睡覺的時(shí)候，夢也許還會(huì)回來，我也許還會(huì)醒著回到這個(gè)地方，但這夢至少不會(huì)回到新的主人的腦子里去了；這房間今后也許會(huì)有二十個(gè)新主人，他們每個(gè)人也許都會(huì)改變它、冷落它或不正當(dāng)?shù)厥褂盟??！?BR> 可是，不能讓舅舅獨(dú)自待在后面的小客廳里。這時(shí)，他正一個(gè)人坐在那里呢，因?yàn)榭ㄌ貭柎L雖然性格粗獷，但卻很能體貼人，他這時(shí)故意違背自己的心愿，沒有來到，為的是使他們舅甥兩人在沒有旁人在場的情況下一塊兒聊聊。所以，沃爾特經(jīng)過最后一天的奔忙以后一回到家里，就急忙下樓去陪伴他。
“舅舅，”他把一只手?jǐn)R在老人的肩膀上，快樂地說道，“我從巴巴多斯給你送些什么東西來呢？”
“把希望送來，我親愛的沃利。在我進(jìn)墳?zāi)挂郧拔覀冞€能再見面的希望。你給我盡量多送一些來吧。”
“我會(huì)給你送來的，舅舅。這樣的希望我多得很，不會(huì)舍不得送給你的！至于活的海龜，給卡特爾船長配制潘趣酒的檸檬，給你星期天吃的罐頭食品以及其他這一類東西，等我發(fā)了財(cái)，我會(huì)整船整船給你送來的。”
老所爾擦了擦眼鏡，無力地微笑著。
“這就對了，舅舅！”沃爾特愉快地喊道，又在他肩膀上拍了六下，“你鼓舞我！我鼓舞你！我們將像明天早上的云雀一樣快樂，舅舅，我們將像它們一樣飛得那么高！至于我的希望嘛，它現(xiàn)在正在望不到的高空中歌唱著呢?！?BR> “沃利，我親愛的孩子，”老人回答道，“我將盡我的努力，我將盡我的努力。”
“你說到你的努力，舅舅，”沃爾特高興地笑著說，“那肯定是的努力。舅舅，你不會(huì)忘記你將送給我的東西吧？”
“不會(huì)的，沃利，不會(huì)的，”老人回答道，“我聽到有關(guān)董貝小姐的一切，我將會(huì)寫信告訴你?？蓱z的小羊羔，她現(xiàn)在單獨(dú)一個(gè)人了。不過，我怕我聽到的不多，沃利。”
“啊，舅舅，這我就要告訴你，”沃爾特遲疑了片刻，說道，“我剛剛到那里去啦。”
“啊，是嗎？”老人揚(yáng)起眉毛，同時(shí)也舉起眼鏡，說道。
“我不是去看她，”沃爾特說，“雖然我敢說，如果我要求的話，我就能見到她，因?yàn)槎愊壬辉诩?。我是去跟蘇珊說句告別的話。你知道，在當(dāng)前的情況下，同時(shí)如果記得我上次見到董貝小姐的那一天的話，我是可以大膽那么做的。”
“是的，我的孩子，是的，”他的舅舅從暫時(shí)的出神中驚醒過來，回答道。
“這樣，我就見到了她，”沃爾特繼續(xù)說道，“我是說蘇珊；我告訴她我明天就要走了。我還跟她說，舅舅，自從董貝小姐那天夜里到這里來以后，你一直很關(guān)心她，一直在祝她健康和幸福，而且總以能稍稍為她效勞而感到自豪和高興。你知道，在當(dāng)前的情況下，我是可以這樣說的。你覺得是不是？”
“是的，我的孩子，是的，”他的舅舅用剛才同樣的聲調(diào)回答道。
“我還要再說一句，”沃爾特繼續(xù)說，“如果她——我是說蘇珊——由她本人，或通過理查茲大嫂或其他順便路過這里的什么人，在什么時(shí)候，讓你知道，董貝小姐健康和幸福的話，那么你將會(huì)十分感謝她的好意，并會(huì)寫信告訴我，我也將會(huì)十分感謝她的好意的。好啦，全說完了。說實(shí)在的，舅舅，”沃爾特說，“昨天我因?yàn)橄脒@件事情幾乎一整夜沒睡著覺；而我一出門又下不定決心，究竟去不去做這件事；可是我相信我內(nèi)心的真實(shí)感情，如果我不把它表達(dá)出來的話，那么我以后一定會(huì)很痛苦的?！?BR> 他的誠實(shí)的聲音和神態(tài)表明他所說的話是完全真實(shí)的，而且是坦誠的。
“因此，舅舅，如果你什么時(shí)候見到她，”沃爾特說，“我現(xiàn)在是說董貝小姐，——也許你會(huì)見到她的，誰知道呢！——就請你告訴她，我對她懷著多大的好感；當(dāng)我在這里的時(shí)候，我一直多么想著她，在我離開前一天的夜里，舅舅，我是多么熱淚盈眶地談到她。請你告訴她，我說，我永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)忘記她那溫柔的舉止，她那美麗的容貌或她那勝過一切的可愛的、善良的性情。因?yàn)檫@兩只鞋我并不是從一個(gè)女人的腳上，也不是從一個(gè)姑娘的腳上，而只是從一個(gè)天真的小孩的腳上得到的，”沃爾特說，“舅舅，如果你不介意，就請你告訴她，我保存著這雙鞋子——她會(huì)記得，那天夜里它們跌落了多少次——，并把它們當(dāng)作紀(jì)念品隨身帶走了！”
就在這個(gè)時(shí)候，它們被裝在沃爾特的一只箱子里被搬到門口。一個(gè)搬運(yùn)工人正在把他的行李搬到一輛貨車上，以便運(yùn)到碼頭，裝上“兒子和繼承人”號(hào)；當(dāng)它們的主人還沒有講完話的時(shí)候，它們已在冷淡無情的海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生的眼前被推走了。
但是那位以往的海員對運(yùn)走的珍寶所表現(xiàn)出的冷淡無情的態(tài)度也許是情有可原的。因?yàn)椋顾蟪砸惑@的是，就在這同一個(gè)時(shí)刻，就在他的視野圈內(nèi)，就在他的眼皮底下，弗洛倫斯和蘇珊·尼珀已完全進(jìn)入了他高度警惕的監(jiān)視范圍之中。弗洛倫斯不無膽怯地望著他的臉，碰見了他那緊張?bào)@駭?shù)哪绢^眼光！
不僅如此，她們還走進(jìn)店鋪，到了客廳的門口，除了海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生外，沒有任何人注意到她們。沃爾特這時(shí)背對著門，如果不是看見舅舅從椅子中跳起來、幾乎跌到另一張椅子上的話，連他當(dāng)時(shí)也根本不會(huì)知道她們像幽靈似地突然來臨。
“怎么了，舅舅！”沃爾特大聲喊道，“出了什么事？”
老所羅門回答道：“董貝小姐！”
“可能嗎？”沃爾特喊道，一邊四下環(huán)視，現(xiàn)在輪到他跳起來了，“到這里來了？”
對了，這不僅是可能的，而且是千真萬確的事實(shí)。他的話音未落，弗洛倫斯已急忙從他的身邊跑過去，把所爾舅舅的鼻煙色的翻領(lǐng)的兩邊分別握在兩只手中，吻了吻他的臉頰，然后轉(zhuǎn)過身來，以她那獨(dú)有的十分純樸、真誠、懇切的神情，把手伸向沃爾特，這種神情確是世界上其他人所沒有的！
“要離開這里了嗎，沃爾特？”弗洛倫斯問道。
“是的，董貝小姐，”他回答道，但不像他努力想要表示出的那么樂觀開朗，“我將外出航行。”
“您的舅舅，”弗洛倫斯又回過來望著所羅門，說道，“您出去他一定感到難過。唉，我看他是這樣的！親愛的沃爾特，我也感到很難過?！?BR> “天知道，”尼珀姑娘高聲嚷道，“世界上有許多人，我們沒有他們也行，如果要精明善算的人，派皮普欽太太去當(dāng)監(jiān)工，稱黃金，準(zhǔn)能買到便宜的黃金，如果需要對付黑奴的知識(shí)，布林伯他們這家人就是最合適的人選?！?BR> 尼珀小姐一邊說，一邊解開帽帶，接著向桌子上和其他家常茶具擺在一起的一只小黑茶壺里面發(fā)呆地看了一會(huì)兒，然后搖搖頭，又搖搖洋鐵皮的茶葉罐，沒經(jīng)人請就泡起茶來。
在這期間，弗洛倫斯又轉(zhuǎn)向了儀器制造商；他對她極為贊賞，又感到極為驚奇?！伴L得這么大了！”老所爾說，“長得這么漂亮！可是一點(diǎn)沒有變！跟原先一模一樣！”
“真的嗎？”弗洛倫斯說。
“是——是的，”老所爾回答道，一邊慢吞吞地搓著手，低聲地思考著這個(gè)問題，這時(shí)那雙向他望著的明亮的眼睛中的沉思的神情吸引了他的注意，“是的，過去那張更年輕的臉上也曾表露過這樣的神情！”
“您還記得我哪，”弗洛倫斯微笑著說道，“那時(shí)候我是個(gè)多么小的小人兒??？”
“我親愛的小姐，”儀器制造商回答道，“我怎么能忘記您呢？從那時(shí)起，我多么經(jīng)常地想到您，多么經(jīng)常地聽到您的消息！說真的，就在您進(jìn)來的時(shí)候，沃利還正在跟我談起您，給您留下口信，還——”
“真的嗎？”弗洛倫斯說道，“謝謝您，沃爾特！啊，謝謝您，沃爾特！我還怕您走了以后不會(huì)再想到我了呢。”接著她又無拘無束、充分信任地向沃爾特伸出小手；他把它在自己手中握了好幾秒鐘，舍不得放開。
可是沃爾特并不像先前那樣握它，這樣的接觸也沒有喚醒過去童年時(shí)代的那些白日夢，甚至最近這些夢有時(shí)還會(huì)從他面前漂浮過去，并以它們那模糊不清、支離破碎的形狀使他心煩意亂。她那天真純潔、可親可愛的神態(tài)，她在專注的眼光中深切表露出的以及在俊俏的臉上通過微笑（這微笑太悲哀了，它在她臉上投下了陰影，不能使它容光煥發(fā)）洋溢著的對他的完全信任與真誠關(guān)懷，所有這些都不是浪漫性質(zhì)的。它們使他回想起了他曾看到她殷勤看護(hù)的那張夭逝的小床，回想起了那男孩對她所懷的熱愛，靠著這些回憶的翅膀，她似乎已遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地超越了他的那些胡思亂想，飛升到那更為明凈、更為寧靜的高空之中了。
“我——我想，我得管您叫沃爾特的舅舅，先生，”弗洛倫斯對老人說，“如果您允許的話?！?BR> “我親愛的小姐，”老所爾喊道，“如果我允許的話！我的上帝！”
“我們常常是以這個(gè)稱呼來了解您和談起您的，”弗洛倫斯向四周看了一眼，輕輕地嘆氣道，“可愛的老客廳！完全跟先前一模一樣！我把它記得多么清楚??！”
老所爾先看看她，又看看他的外甥，然后搓搓手，又擦擦眼鏡，低聲說道，“唉，時(shí)間啊，時(shí)間啊，時(shí)間?。 ?BR> 接著是短暫的沉默；在這段時(shí)間中蘇珊·尼珀靈巧地從碗柜里取出了兩只帶碟子的茶杯，并以若有所思的神氣等待著泡茶。
“我想跟沃爾特的舅舅說點(diǎn)我很擔(dān)心的事，”弗洛倫斯膽怯地把手放在老人擱在桌子上的手上，以便引起他的注意，說道，“他很快就要單獨(dú)一個(gè)人了，如果他允許我——不是代替沃爾特，因?yàn)槟鞘俏易霾坏降?，而是在沃爾特不在的時(shí)候成為他的真誠的朋友，并盡我的力量來幫助他，那我就會(huì)十分感謝他。您肯允許我嗎？我可以嗎，沃爾特舅舅？”
儀器制造商默默無言地把她的手拉到他的嘴唇上。蘇珊·尼珀兩手交叉，背靠在她自行充任的主席的椅子上，這時(shí)咬著帽帶的一端，仰望著天窗，輕輕地嘆了口氣。
“如果我可能的話，那么請?jiān)试S我來看您，”弗洛倫斯說，“那時(shí)請您告訴我您自己和沃爾特的一切事情；如果蘇珊代替我來的話，那么就請您不要對她保守秘密，請您信任我們，信賴我們，依靠我們。請您設(shè)法讓我們成為您的安慰，您愿意嗎，沃爾特的舅舅？”
那張望著他的可愛的臉孔，那雙關(guān)切的懇求的眼睛，那個(gè)溫柔的聲音，以及她在他胳膊上輕輕的撫摸，本來就使她顯得十分親切可愛，再加上女孩子對他年齡所懷有的崇敬與尊重，這就使她更加得人歡心，當(dāng)時(shí)她表露出一種優(yōu)雅得體的疑惑不定的神情和由于謙虛羞怯而猶豫不決的神情——所有這一切，以及她那出乎天性的懇切的態(tài)度，完全征服了這位可憐的年老的儀器制造商，他只是回答道：
“沃利，為我說一句話吧，我親愛的，我太感激了?！?BR> “不，沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯平靜地微笑著回答道，“請您一句話也不要為他說。我很了解他，我們必須學(xué)會(huì)在您不在場的時(shí)候相互交談，親愛的沃爾特?！?BR> 她說最后幾個(gè)字時(shí)惋惜的聲調(diào)比其他的一切更使他感動(dòng)。
“弗洛倫斯小姐，”他努力恢復(fù)剛才跟舅舅談話時(shí)所保持的高興的神態(tài)，回答道，“說真的，我跟舅舅一樣，不知道說些什么話來感謝您的深情厚意?？墒羌词刮夷苷f上一個(gè)小時(shí)，我除了說這再一次表明了您的為人之外，我究竟還能說些別的什么呢？”
蘇珊·尼珀開始咬她帽帶另外的一端，并向天窗點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭，表示贊成沃爾特表達(dá)出來的感情。
“啊，沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯說道，“可是在您走之前，我還想跟您再說些話，請你一定管我叫弗洛倫斯，而不要像一個(gè)陌生人那樣跟我說話?！?BR> “像一個(gè)陌生人一樣！”沃爾特答道，“不，我不能那樣說的。我相信，至少我沒有這樣的感覺?！?BR> “是的，但是那樣還不夠，我也不是這個(gè)意思。因?yàn)?，沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯眼淚滿滿地涌流出來，繼續(xù)說道，“他很喜歡您，臨死的時(shí)候還說他愛您，又說，‘別忘記沃爾特！’現(xiàn)在他已死了，我在世界上沒有兄弟了，如果您做我的哥哥，沃爾特，我將一輩子做您的妹妹，不論我們將來在什么地方，我都會(huì)像想到哥哥那樣想到您！這就是我想要說的，親愛的沃爾特，可是我卻不能說得像我想說的那樣好，因?yàn)榍а匀f語充滿了我的心懷，我不知該說什么好。”
她懷著那顆充滿了感情、純樸可愛的心，把雙手向他伸過去。沃爾特握著它們，彎下身子，嘴唇接觸到她的流滿了眼淚的臉；當(dāng)他這樣做的時(shí)候，她的臉沒有退縮，沒有轉(zhuǎn)開，也沒有發(fā)紅，而是信賴地、真誠地仰望著他。在那瞬刻之間，任何懷疑或焦慮的陰影都從沃爾特的心靈中消失了；他似乎覺得，他是在那死去的孩子的床邊回答她的天真的請求，并且在那個(gè)他曾親眼看到的莊嚴(yán)的場合中發(fā)誓說，在他放逐在外的時(shí)候，他將以他兄弟般的關(guān)懷，珍愛和保護(hù)她的形象；他將保持她純樸的信任，不讓遭到破壞；如果他懷有任何當(dāng)她對他表示信任時(shí)心中不曾懷有的思想，因而辜負(fù)了這樣的信任時(shí)，他就認(rèn)為自己卑鄙可恥。
蘇珊·尼珀在這過程中已經(jīng)同時(shí)咬住帽帶的兩端，并向天窗傳送了她本人的許多感情，這時(shí)她改變話題，問大家誰要牛奶，誰要糖；這些問題得到回答以后，她就開始倒茶。他們四人和睦友愛地圍坐在小桌子的旁邊，在那位姑娘殷勤的指揮下開始喝茶；弗洛倫斯光臨后客廳，使墻上帶帆的韃靼戰(zhàn)艦發(fā)出了光輝。
半個(gè)小時(shí)以前，沃爾特?zé)o論如何也不敢放肆地用她的名字喊她?？墒乾F(xiàn)在只要她請求，他就可以這樣喊她。當(dāng)他想到她來到這里的時(shí)候，不僅又在暗暗地?fù)?dān)心：如果她不來反而更好。他可以平靜地想到她長得多么美，想到多么大有希望，想到有朝一日某一位幸福的男子在她這樣一顆心中將會(huì)得到多少繾綣柔情。他可以自豪地想到他在這顆心中也占有一席之地；并毅然下定決心，如果他現(xiàn)在還不配得到它的話——他仍然認(rèn)為它高不可攀——他決不能在將來比現(xiàn)在更不配得到它。
一定有什么神力支配著蘇珊·尼珀倒茶的手，并產(chǎn)生了籠罩著后客廳中喝茶談話時(shí)的平靜的氣氛。一定又有什么敵對的魔力支配著精密計(jì)時(shí)表的指針，使它們走得比永遠(yuǎn)在順風(fēng)中航行的韃靼戰(zhàn)艦還快。不管怎么樣，客人們是有一輛轎式馬車在一個(gè)不遠(yuǎn)的安靜的角落里等待著的；當(dāng)他們偶爾看到精密計(jì)時(shí)表時(shí)，它確鑿地指明，馬車已經(jīng)等待得很長久了；這個(gè)事實(shí)是不容懷疑的，當(dāng)它由這樣一個(gè)無可指責(zé)的權(quán)威說明時(shí)尤其如此。如果所爾舅舅要按照他自己的時(shí)間處以絞刑的話，那么他也不會(huì)承認(rèn)這精密計(jì)時(shí)表走快了一秒鐘的萬分之一。
弗洛倫斯在離別時(shí)又把所有她剛才說過的話向老人扼要地重說了一遍，并要他保證遵守他們所達(dá)成的協(xié)議。所爾舅舅親切地陪她走到木制海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生的腿邊，在那里把她交給沃爾特；沃爾特欣然地護(hù)送著她與蘇珊，向馬車走去。
“沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯在路上說道，“我剛才當(dāng)著你舅舅的面不敢問您。您認(rèn)為您將離開很久嗎？”
“說實(shí)在的，”沃爾特說，“我也不知道。我怕會(huì)這樣。董貝先生指派我的時(shí)候，我覺得他表示了這樣的意思?！?BR> “這是不是對您的一種恩惠，沃爾特？”弗洛倫斯遲疑了片刻后問道，同時(shí)憂慮地望著他的臉。
“您是指這次指派嗎？”沃爾特反問道。
“是的?！?BR> 沃爾特非常想給予肯定的回答，但是他的臉色比他的嘴回答得早，弗洛倫斯又是那么注意地觀察著，所以她不可能不理解它的回答。
“我怕您不是我爸爸所寵愛的人，”她膽怯地說道。
“沒有什么理由我必須是，”沃爾特微笑著回答道。
“沒有理由嗎，沃爾特？”
“過去沒有什么理由，”沃爾特明白她的意思，說道，“公司里雇用著許多人。在董貝先生和像我這樣的一個(gè)年輕人之間，有著一個(gè)很寬闊的距離。如果我盡我的職責(zé)，我就做我應(yīng)當(dāng)做的事，而不做任何其他有情?！?BR> 在弗洛倫斯心上是不是有著她還不怎么意識(shí)到的憂慮，是不是自從最近那天夜間她走到樓下她父親房間去以后她心中產(chǎn)生出一種模糊不清和不可名狀的憂慮：沃爾特由于偶然的原因?qū)λa(chǎn)生興趣以及過早地認(rèn)識(shí)她，這會(huì)引起她父親對他強(qiáng)烈的不快和討厭？在沃爾特心中是不是也有這樣的想法，或者突然想到在這個(gè)時(shí)刻她的心中也正在這么想？在短短的一段時(shí)間中，他們兩人誰也沒有說話。走在沃爾特另一邊的蘇珊敏銳地注視著他們兩人；尼珀姑娘的思想肯定也朝著那個(gè)方向轉(zhuǎn)悠，并且十分相信自己的看法是正確的。
“您可能很快就會(huì)回來的，”弗洛倫斯說道，“也許會(huì)這樣的，沃爾特?！?BR> “我可能回來時(shí)已成了個(gè)老頭子了，”沃爾特說道，“并且看到您已成了個(gè)老太太了。不過我往好里希望。”
“爸爸，”弗洛倫斯沉默了片刻之后說，“也許會(huì)——會(huì)從悲痛中恢復(fù)過來，有一天會(huì)——更無拘無束地跟我說話；如果那樣的話，那么我將告訴他，我是多么希望看到您重新回來，并請求他為了我的緣故把您調(diào)回來?！?BR> 她談到她父親的這些話聲調(diào)壓抑，缺乏信心，令人感動(dòng)，沃爾特聽得很明白。
馬車就在近旁，他本來會(huì)默默無言地跟她分手的，因?yàn)樗@時(shí)真正感覺到離別的滋味了；可是弗洛倫斯坐下以后握住他的手，這時(shí)他覺得她手中有一個(gè)小包包。
“沃爾特，”她用感情深厚的眼光望著他的臉，說道，“我像您一樣，也希望有美好的將來。我將祈求它，相信它會(huì)來臨。我為保羅準(zhǔn)備了這個(gè)小小的禮物，請隨同我的愛把它拿走吧，在您離別之前別去看它。愿上帝保佑您，沃爾特！千萬別忘記我。您是我的哥哥呀，親愛的！”
他感到高興的是，蘇珊·尼珀這時(shí)走到他們中間，要不然他就會(huì)給她留下一個(gè)關(guān)于他的悲傷的回憶了。他又感到高興的是，她沒有再從馬車?yán)锿馔窍蛩麚]著小手，一直到他望不見為止。
他在當(dāng)天夜里睡覺之前，不顧她的請求，還是忍不住把那小包包打開了。這是個(gè)小小的錢包，里面裝著錢。
第二天早晨，太陽從異國他鄉(xiāng)返回，光輝燦爛地升起，沃爾特也隨同它一道起來，去迎接早已在門口的船長。船長本不需要這么早就起床，但他是為了在麥克斯廷杰太太還在睡覺的時(shí)候就上路才這么做的；他假裝情緒高昂，在他寬大的藍(lán)色外衣的一個(gè)口袋中帶來一條熏得很黑的舌頭作為早餐。
“沃爾，”當(dāng)他們在桌旁坐下的時(shí)候，船長說道，“如果你舅舅是我所想的那種人，遇上今天這樣的日子，他是會(huì)取出他最后的那瓶馬德拉白葡萄酒的?！?BR> “不，不，內(nèi)德，”老人回答道，“不，那瓶酒等沃爾特重新回到家里時(shí)再打開?！?BR> “說得好！”船長喊道，“聽他說吧！”
“它躺在那里，”所爾·吉爾斯說，“躺在下面的小地窖里，上面覆蓋著塵土和蜘蛛網(wǎng)。在它重見陽光之前，內(nèi)德，也許你和我身上也已覆蓋著塵土和蜘蛛網(wǎng)了。”
“聽他說吧！”船長喊道，“極妙的寓意！沃爾，我的孩子，栽一株無花果，讓它好好長大，等你老了，就坐在樹蔭下休息。翻一下——不過，”船長想了一下，說，“我不能很肯定從哪本書里可以找到這句話；可是你要是收到的話，請把它記下來。所爾·吉爾斯。重新往前用力拉吧①！”
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①這是水手在起錨時(shí)的勞動(dòng)號(hào)子，船長借用它來要所爾·吉爾斯繼續(xù)往下說。
“可是它得躺在那里或別的什么地方，內(nèi)德，直到沃利回來要求喝它的時(shí)候，”老人說道，“這就是我所想要說的一切?！?BR> “說得也不錯(cuò)，”船長回答道，“如果我們?nèi)瞬荒芤黄鸫蜷_那瓶酒的話，那么我允許你們兩人把我的那份也喝掉！”
船長雖然談笑風(fēng)生，十分興高采烈，但他對付那條熏黑的舌頭的本領(lǐng)卻怪差勁，盡管當(dāng)有人看著他的時(shí)候，他極力裝出胃口很好地吃著。而且，他很害怕和舅舅或外甥單獨(dú)在一起，好像他認(rèn)為，他要保持這種春風(fēng)滿面的神態(tài)，安全的機(jī)會(huì)是三個(gè)人老待在一起。船長由于懷有這種恐懼心理，他就想出了好些機(jī)智的逃避方法：當(dāng)所羅門走去穿外衣的時(shí)候，他就假裝看到一輛不同尋常的出租馬車經(jīng)過而跑到門口；當(dāng)沃爾特上樓去跟房客們告別時(shí)，他就假裝聞到鄰近煙囪的火焦味而沖到街上。船長認(rèn)為，沒有靈感的觀察者是很難看破他的這些巧計(jì)的。
沃爾特去樓上告別之后走下樓來，正穿過店鋪向小客廳走回的時(shí)候，他看到一張他認(rèn)識(shí)的憔悴的臉正向門里探望，就立即向他急沖過去。
“卡克先生！”沃爾特緊握著約翰·卡克先生的手，喊道，“請進(jìn)來吧！您真客氣，起得這么早來向我告別。您知道，我多么高興能在離別之前再跟您握一次手啊。我說不出我是多么高興能有這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)。請進(jìn)來吧！”
“我們不見得以后還能再見面了，沃爾特，”那一位委婉地謝絕了他的邀請，“我也因?yàn)橛羞@個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)而感到高興。在即將離別之前，我也許可以不揣冒昧地來跟您說說話和握握手。
沃爾特，我將不再迫不得已反對您坦率地跟我接近了”。
當(dāng)他說這些話的時(shí)候，在他的微笑中還帶有一些憂郁的東西，這表明他甚至在沃爾特要跟他接近的想法本身中也看到了關(guān)懷與友誼。
“唉，卡克先生！”沃爾特回答道，“您為什么要反對呢？
我完全相信，您只會(huì)做對我有益的事情?！?BR> 他搖搖頭?！叭绻谶@世界上我能做點(diǎn)兒什么有益事情的話，那么我將會(huì)為您做的。我一天天看到您，對我來說，既感到快樂，又引起悔恨。但是高興超過了痛苦?，F(xiàn)在我明白了這一點(diǎn)，因?yàn)槲抑牢沂ナ裁戳??！?BR> “請進(jìn)來吧，卡克先生，來跟我善良的年老的舅舅認(rèn)識(shí)認(rèn)識(shí)吧，”沃爾特催促著，“我常常跟他說到您，他將會(huì)高興把從我那里聽到的一切告訴您；我沒有，”沃爾特注意到他的遲疑，他自己也感到局促不安地說道，“我沒有跟他說起我們上次談話的內(nèi)容，什么也沒有說；卡克先生；甚至對他我也不說，請相信我。”
這位頭發(fā)斑白的低級職員緊握著他的手，眼睛里涌出了淚水。
“如果我什么時(shí)候跟他認(rèn)識(shí)，沃爾特，”他回答道，“那么那只是為了可以從他那里打聽到您的消息。請相信我決不會(huì)對不起您對我的寬容與關(guān)心。如果我在取得他的信任之前不把全部真情告訴他，那么我就對不起您的寬容與關(guān)心了。但是我除了您，沒有別的朋友或熟人；甚至為了您的緣故我也未必會(huì)去找?！?BR> “我希望，”沃爾特說，“您已真正允許我做您的朋友?？讼壬荒?，我經(jīng)常是這樣希望的；可是這希望從不曾像現(xiàn)在我們就要分別的時(shí)候這么強(qiáng)烈?！?BR> “您一直是我心里的朋友，當(dāng)我愈是避開您的時(shí)候，我的心就愈是向著您，愈是一心一意地想著您——我想這就夠了。
沃爾特，再見吧！”
“再見吧，卡克先生，愿老天爺保佑您，先生！”沃爾特激動(dòng)地喊道。
“如果，”那一位繼續(xù)握著他的手說道，“如果您回來時(shí)，在我原先的角落里看不到我，并從別人那里打聽到我躺在什么地方的話，那么請來看看我的墳?zāi)拱伞Ｕ埾胍幌?，我本來是可以跟您一樣誠實(shí)和幸福的！當(dāng)我知道我的死期就要來臨的時(shí)候，請讓我想到，有一位像我過去一樣的人會(huì)在那里站上片刻，懷著憐憫與寬恕的心情記得我的！沃爾特，再見吧！”
夏日清晨的街道布滿了陽光，明明亮亮，那么令人爽心悅目，又那么莊嚴(yán)肅穆；他的身形像一個(gè)影子似的，沿著這條街道緩慢地移行著，最后消失不見了。
毫不留情的精密計(jì)時(shí)表終于宣告：沃爾特必須離別木制海軍軍官候補(bǔ)生了。他們——他自己、舅舅和船長——乘著一輛出租馬車動(dòng)身前往碼頭，再從碼頭搭乘汽艇到河流下面的一個(gè)河段；當(dāng)船長說出它的名稱時(shí)，陸地上的人們聽起來真像是個(gè)不可思議、神奇莫測的秘密。當(dāng)汽艇乘著昨夜的漲潮，開到這個(gè)河段之后，他們被一群情緒興奮的劃小船的船家團(tuán)團(tuán)圍住，里面有一位是船長認(rèn)識(shí)的骯臟的賽克洛普斯①；他雖然只有一只眼睛，但在一英里半之外就認(rèn)出了船長，從那時(shí)起就跟他交換著難以理解的么喝。這位胡子拉碴、嗓子嘶啞得可怕的人，把他們?nèi)水?dāng)成了合法的戰(zhàn)利品，運(yùn)送到“兒子和繼承人”號(hào)上?！皟鹤雍屠^承人”號(hào)上十分混亂，沾著泥水的船帆被撂在濕漉漉的甲板上，沒有拉緊的繩索把人們絆倒，穿著紅襯衫的船員們赤著腳跑來跑去，木桶堵塞著每一小塊空處；在這一切雜亂的中心，甲板上黑廚房中的一位黑廚師周圍堆滿了蔬菜，一直堆到他的眼睛底下，他的眼睛被煙薰得幾乎失明。
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①賽克洛普斯（Cyclops）：希臘神話中的獨(dú)眼巨人。
船長立即把沃爾特拉到一個(gè)角落里，臉孔漲得通紅，使勁地拉出了那只銀表；那只表很大，在他的衣袋中塞得又很緊，所以把它拉出的時(shí)候就像從桶口拔出個(gè)大塞子似的。
“沃爾，”船長把它遞過去，并熱烈地握著他的手說道，“這是告別的禮物，我的孩子。每天早上把它往后撥半小時(shí)，到中午再往后撥一刻鐘左右。這只表是你可以引以自豪的?！?BR> “卡特爾船長！我不能要這個(gè)！”沃爾特喊道，一邊攔住他，因?yàn)樗荛_。“請拿回去。我已經(jīng)有一只了。”
“那么，沃爾，”船長突然把手伸進(jìn)另一只口袋。取出兩只茶匙和一副方糖箝子，他裝備著這些東西就是為了防備遭到拒絕時(shí)用的。“就請改拿走這些喝茶用的小東西吧！”
“不，不，說真的，我不能拿走！”沃爾特喊道，“千謝萬謝！別扔掉，卡特爾船長！”因?yàn)榇L正想要把它們投擲到船外?！八鼈儗δ葘ξ矣杏玫枚?。把您的手杖給我吧。我時(shí)常想，我要能有它該多好啊。唔，這就是！再見，卡特爾船長！
請照顧照顧舅舅吧！所爾舅舅，上帝保佑你！”
沃爾特沒來得及再望他們一眼，他們已經(jīng)在混亂之中離開大船了；當(dāng)他跑到船尾，目送著他們的時(shí)候，他看見舅舅坐在小船里低垂著頭，卡特爾船長用那只大銀表拍打著他的背（那一定很痛），還精神抖擻地用茶匙和方糖箝子打著手勢?？ㄌ貭柎L瞧見沃爾特時(shí)，顯然忘記了他還有這些財(cái)產(chǎn)，漫不經(jīng)心地把它們掉落到小船船底，同時(shí)脫下了上了光的帽子，拼命地向他歡呼。上了光的帽子在陽光下閃閃發(fā)光，大出風(fēng)頭，船長不斷地?fù)]舞著它，直到望不見沃爾特為止。船上一直在迅速增加的雜亂這時(shí)達(dá)到了高潮；另外兩三只小船在歡呼聲中離開；當(dāng)沃爾特望著船帆在順風(fēng)中舒展開帆面的時(shí)候，船帆在上空明亮和豐滿地閃耀著；浪花從船頭飛濺過來；“兒子和繼承人”號(hào)就這樣雄赳赳氣昂昂地、輕輕快快地啟程航行，就像在它之前已經(jīng)走上旅程的其他許多兒子和繼承人一樣，一直向前行進(jìn)。
老所爾和卡特爾船長在小后客廳里一天天在圓桌上攤開地圖，推算著船舶的航行距離，研究著它的航線。夜里，當(dāng)老所爾十分孤獨(dú)地走上樓去，一直走到有時(shí)大風(fēng)猛刮的頂樓上時(shí)，他仰望著星星，靜聽著風(fēng)聲；如果讓他在那艘船上值夜，也不會(huì)像他現(xiàn)在值得這么長久。那最后一瓶馬德拉白葡萄酒曾經(jīng)度過漂洋過海的日子，體驗(yàn)過海洋深處的危險(xiǎn)，這時(shí)卻安安靜靜地躺在塵土和蜘蛛網(wǎng)下面，誰也不去打攪它。