按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all his life。
Thus delegated on her mission； as it were by Church and State； Mrs
General； who had always occupied high ground； felt in a condition to
keep it； and began by putting herself up at a very high figure。 An
interval of some duration elapsed； in which there was no bid for Mrs
General。 At length a county…widower； with a daughter of fourteen； opened
negotiations with the lady； and as it was a part either of the native
dignity or of the artificial policy of Mrs General （but certainly one
or the other） to port herself as if she were much more sought than
seeking； the widower pursued Mrs General until he prevailed upon her to
form his daughter's mind and manners。
The execution of this trust occupied Mrs General about seven years； in
the course of which time she made the tour of Europe； and saw most of
that extensive miscellany of objects which it is essential that all
persons of polite cultivation should see with other people's eyes；
and never with their own。 When her charge was at length formed； the
marriage； not only of the young lady； but likewise of her father； the
widower； was resolved on。 The widower then finding Mrs General both
inconvenient and expensive； became of a sudden almost as much affected
by her merits as the archdeacon had been； and circulated such praises
of her surpassing worth； in all quarters where he thought an opportunity
might arise of transferring the blessing to somebody else； that Mrs
General was a name more honourable than ever。
The phoenix was to let； on this elevated perch； when Mr Dorrit； who
had lately succeeded to his property； mentioned to his bankers that he
wished to discover a lady； well…bred； acplished； well connected； well
accustomed to good society； who was qualified at once to plete the
education of his daughters； and to be their matron or chaperon。 Mr
Dorrit's bankers； as bankers of the county…widower； instantly said； 'Mrs
General。'
Pursuing the light so fortunately hit upon； and finding the concurrent
testimony of the whole of Mrs General's acquaintance to be of the
pathetic nature already recorded； Mr Dorrit took the trouble of going
down to the county of the county…widower to see Mrs General； in whom he
found a lady of a quality superior to his highest expectations。
'Might I be excused；' said Mr Dorrit； 'if I inquired……ha……what remune……'
'Why； indeed；' returned Mrs General； stopping the word； 'it is a subject
on which I prefer to avoid entering。 I have never entered on it with my
friends here； and I cannot overe the delicacy； Mr Dorrit； with
which I have always regarded it。 I am not； as I hope you are aware； a
governess……'
'O dear no！' said Mr Dorrit。 'Pray； madam； do not imagine for a moment
that I think so。' He really blushed to be suspected of it。
Mrs General gravely inclined her head。 'I cannot； therefore； put a price
upon services which it is a pleasure to me to render if I can render
them spontaneously； but which I could not render in mere return for any
consideration。 Neither do I know how； or where； to find a case parallel
to my own。 It is peculiar。'
No doubt。 But how then （Mr Dorrit not unnaturally hinted） could the
subject be approached。 'I cannot object；' said Mrs General……'though even
that is disagreeable to me……to Mr Dorrit's inquiring； in confidence of
my friends here； what amount they have been accustomed； at quarterly
intervals； to pay to my credit at my bankers'。'
Mr Dorrit bowed his acknowledgements。
'Permit me to add；' said Mrs General； 'that beyond this； I can never
resume the topic。 Also that I can accept no second or inferior position。
If the honour were proposed to me of being known to Mr Dorrit's
family……I think two daughters were mentioned？……'
'Two daughters。'
'I could only accept it on terms of perfect equality； as a panion；
protector； Mentor； and friend。'
Mr Dorrit； in spite of his sense of his importance； felt as if it would
be quite a kindness in her to accept it on any conditions。 He almost
said as much。
'I think；' repeated Mrs General； 'two daughters were mentioned？'
'Two daughters；' said Mr Dorrit again。
'It would therefore；' said Mrs General； 'be necessary to add a third
more to the payment （whatever its amount may prove to be）； which my
friends here have been accustomed to make to my bankers'。'
Mr Dorrit lost no time in referring the delicate question to the
county…widower； and finding that he had been accustomed to pay three
hundred pounds a…year to the credit of Mrs General； arrived； without any
severe strain on his arithmetic； at the conclusion that he himself must
pay four。 Mrs General being an article of that lustrous surface which
suggests that it is worth any money； he made a formal proposal to be
allowed to have the honour and pleasure of regarding her as a member of
his family。 Mrs General conceded that high privilege； and here she was。
In person； Mrs General； including her skirts which had much to do with
it； was of a dignified and imposing appearance； ample； rustling； gravely
voluminous； always upright behind the proprieties。 She might have
been taken……had been taken……to the top of the Alps and the bottom of
Herculaneum； without disarranging a fold in her dress； or displacing
a pin。 If her countenance and hair had rather a floury appearance； as
though from living in some transcendently genteel Mill； it was rather
because she was a chalky creation altogether； than because she mended
her plexion with violet powder； or had turned grey。 If her eyes had
no expression； it was probably because they had nothing to express。 If
she had few wrinkles； it was because her mind had never traced its name
or any other inscription on her face。 A cool； waxy； blown…out woman； who
had never lighted well。 Mrs General had no opinions。 Her way of forming
a mind was to prevent it from forming opinions。 She had a little
circular set of mental grooves or rails on which she started little
trains of other people's opinions； which never overtook one another； and
never got anywhere。 Even her propriety could not dispute that there was
impropriety in the world； but Mrs General's way of getting rid of it was
to put it out of sight； and make believe that there was no such thing。
This was another of her ways of forming a mind……to cram all articles of
difficulty into cupboards； lock them up； and say they had no existence。
It was the easiest way； and； beyond all parison； the properest。
Mrs General was not to be told of anything shocking。 Accidents；
miseries； and offences； were never to be mentioned before her。 Passion
was to go to sleep in the presence of Mrs General； and blood was to
change to milk and water。 The little that was left in the world；
when all these deductions were made； it was Mrs General's province to
varnish。 In that formation process of hers； she dipped the smallest of
brushes into the largest of pots； and varnished the surface of every
object that came under consideration。 The more cracked it was； the more
Mrs General varnished it。 There was varnish in Mrs General's voice；
varnish in Mrs General's touch； an atmosphere of varnish round Mrs
General's figure。 Mrs General's dreams ought to have been varnished……if
she had any……lying asleep in the arms of the good Saint Bernard； with
the feathery snow falling on his house…top。
CHAPTER 3。 On the Road
The bright morning sun dazzled the eyes； the snow had ceased； the mists
had vanished； the mountain air was so clear and light that the
new sensation of breathing it was like the having entered on a new
existence。 To help the delusion； the solid ground itself seemed gone；
and the mountain； a shining waste of immense white heaps and masses； to
be a region of cloud floating between the blue sky above and the earth
far below。
Some dark specks in the snow； like knots upon a little thread； beginning
at the convent door and winding away down the descent in broken lengths
which were not yet pieced together； showed where the Brethren were at
work in several places clearing the track。 Already the snow had begun to
be foot…thawed again about the door。 Mules were busily brought out； tied
to the rings in the wall； and laden； strings of bells were buckled
on； burdens were adjusted； the voices of drivers and riders sounded
musically。 Some of the earliest had even already resumed their journey；
and； both on the level summit by the dark water near the convent； and on
the downward way of yesterday's ascent； little moving figures of men and
mules； reduced to miniatures by the immensity around； went with a clear
tinkling of bells and a pleasant harmony of tongues。
In the supper…room of last night； a new fire； piled upon the feathery
ashes of the old one； shone upon a homely breakfast of loaves； butter；
and milk。 It also shone on the courier of the Dorrit family； making tea
for his party from a supply he had brought up with him； together with
several other small stores which were chiefly laid in for the use of the
strong body of inconvenience。 Mr Gowan and Blandois of Paris had already
breakfasted； and were walking up and down by the lake； smoking their
cigars。 'Gowan； eh？' muttered Tip； otherwise Edward Dorrit； Esquire；
turning over the leaves of the b