“她穿着丧服，”她说道。
大提琴立刻停止发声，演奏的人极为亲切、极为小心地把它搁在沙发上，一边做了个手势，请那位女士进来。他立即跟着走出房间，在楼梯上遇到哈里特•卡克。
“您一个人！”他说道，“约翰今天早上到这里来过！出了什么事了，我亲爱的？可是不，”他补充说道，“您的脸容说明了完全不同的情况。”
“这么说，我担心，您在我脸上看到的是自私感情的流露了，”她回答道。
“这是令人很愉快的感情，”他说道，“如果是自私的感情的话，那么也是值得在您身上看到的一桩新奇事儿。但是我不相信这一点。”
这时候他已给她搬过去一张椅子，并在对面坐了下来；大提琴舒适地躺在他们中间的沙发上。
“您不要因为我单独来或约翰没有告诉您我要来而感到惊奇，”哈里特说道，“当我把我到这里来的原因告诉您以后，您就会相信我的。我现在就告诉您好吗？”
“再好不过了。”
“您不忙吗？”
他指指躺在沙发上的大提琴，说道，“我整天都工作。证人就在这里。我向它倾吐了我的一切烦恼。我真但愿除了我个人的忧虑外，我没有别的忧虑可以向它倾吐了。”
“公司是不是倒闭了？”哈里特认真地问道。
“完全倒闭了。”
“永远不能再恢复了吗？”
“永远不能了。”
当她的嘴唇把这几个字不出声地重复说了一遍的时候，她脸上明朗的表情并没有笼罩上阴影。他似乎无意识地带几分惊奇地注意到这一点，然后重新说道：
“永远不能了。您记得我以前跟您说过的话吗？长期来，一直不可能说服他，不可能跟他讲理，有时甚至不可能接近他。最糟糕的事情已经发生了。公司已经垮台了，永远也不能振兴了。”
“董贝先生本人是不是也毁了？”
“毁了。”
“他没有留下私人财产吗？什么也没留下吗？”
她中包含的某种焦急的情绪，她脸上露出的几乎是喜洋洋的表情，似乎使他愈来愈感到惊奇，同时也使他感到失望，这种表情与他自己的情绪是很不一致的。他用一只手的指头敲着桌子，一边若有所思地望着她；沉默了一会儿之后，他摇摇头，说道：
“董贝先生有多少财产，我并不确切地知道；虽然它无疑是很大的，但他的债务也很大。他是个高尚、正直的人。任何人处在他的地位都能跟与他有交易的人达成协议来挽救自己，这种协议会使对方增加微小的、几乎是觉察不到的损失，同时给他留下一笔钱，让他可以生活。许多人处在他的地位都会这样做的。可是他却决心偿付一切，直到最后一个法新。他本人说，他的资产将能抵偿或接近抵偿公司的债务，任何人都不会遭到很大损失。啊，哈里特小姐，我们不妨经常记住：道德超过了应有的限度有时就成了罪恶。他的这个决定也充分表现了他的高傲。”
她听他说话的时候，表情很少变化，或者完全没有变化。她的注意力不集中，这说明她心中正在想着别的什么事情。当他停止讲话的时候，她急忙问他道：
“您最近看到他吗？”
“谁也没有看到他。当这场业务危机使他必须从家里走出来的时候，他才走出来，然后他又回到家里，闭门不出，也不会见任何人。他给我写过一封信，感谢我过去的服务，那些赞扬的话有些过分，不是我所应得的；他在信中同时向我告别。在那些光景美好的年月中我跟他就从来没有很多来往，现在我就更加审慎，不想随意去打扰他；但是我曾经尝试这样做过。我曾经给他写信，到他那里向他提出请求。但是所有这一切全是徒劳。”
他注视着她，好像希望她能比刚才表示出更多的关心；他说得庄重而又富于感情，仿佛想要给她加深印象似的；但是她的表情没有改变。
“唔，哈里特小姐，”他露出失望的神态，说道，“谈这些不合适。您不是到这里来听这些话的。您心中有别的更愉快的话题。让我们转到这些话题上来，这样我们可以谈得融洽些。就这样吧！”
“不，我的话题和您的相同，”哈里特直率地、迅速地表示出惊奇，回答道，“难道能不相同吗？约翰和我最近对这些巨大的变化思考得很多，谈论得很多，难道这不是很自然的吗？约翰为董贝先生服务了这么多年，您知道是按照什么条件服务的，现在，董贝先生，就像您所说的，破产了，而我们却很有钱了。”
她的脸善良、真诚，莫芬先生这位眼睛淡褐色的单身汉自从第一次看到它以来一直喜欢它；可是现在当它露出极端喜悦的神色时，它却不能像过去那样使他喜欢了。
“我不需要提醒您，”哈里特说道，一边眼睛向黑色的衣服低垂着，“我们的境况是通过什么途径发生变化的。您没有忘记，我的弟弟詹姆士在那个可怕的日子去世以后，没有留下遗嘱，除了我们之外他没有别的亲属。”
她的脸虽然比片刻之前苍白、忧郁，可是他却比刚才更喜欢看到它。他似乎呼吸得更为轻松愉快了。
“您知道我们的历史，”她说道，“我两个弟弟的历史，它们都跟您刚才那么真诚地谈到的那位倒霉的、不幸的先生联系着。您知道，我们的需求——约翰的和我的——是多么少，我们在这许多年中一起度过了这样一种生活之后，我们多么不需要用什么钱；由于您的好意帮助，他现在的收入是足够我们两人用的了。您没有料想到我到这里来想请您帮什么忙吧？”
“我不知道。一分钟以前，我好像料想到了。现在我觉得，我没有料想到。”
“关于我死去的弟弟，我没有什么话要说。如果死者知道我们所做的事情的话——可是您了解我。关于我活着的弟弟，我可以说很多的话。可是我需要补充的就是，他想尽他的责任——我就是为了这个缘故才到这里来请求您给予必不可少的帮助的；除非这件事完成了，否则他是不能安宁的。”
她又抬起眼睛，在注视着她的人的眼睛中，她脸上露出的兴高采烈的神色开始显得漂亮起来了。
“亲爱的先生，”她继续说道，“这件事必须很谨慎很秘密地做。您的经验与知识将会向您指出完成这件事的方法。也许可以使董贝先生相信，从他遭受严重损失的财产中还意外地保存下来一笔钱；或者那些跟他从事大宗交易的人们当中，有人由于崇敬他正直、高尚的品格，自愿捐献出一笔款项；或者这是过去无法收回的一笔旧欠款归还来了。做这件事一定有很多方法。我知道您会选择最好的方法。我到这里来请求您的是，您将以您特有的那种善良、慷慨、慎重的方式为我们做这件事。您永远也别向约翰提到这件事。他认为，他的幸福主要在于他秘密地尽了他的责任，不被人知道，不受到赞扬。他遗产中很小的一部分可以留给我们，其余部分的利息由董贝先生在他的余年中领取。我请求您忠实地为我们保守秘密；不过我相信您会这样做的；从现在起，即使是在您和我之间，也不要悄悄地提起它，而让它留在我们的记忆中，因为我有新的理由来感谢上天，并由于有这样一位弟弟而感到高兴和自豪。”
当天使们看到一位忏悔的罪人进入天国，列身在九十九个正直的人们中间的时候，他们脸上才能出现这种兴高采烈的神情。她眼睛里充满了喜悦的泪水，这并没有使这种神情暗淡失色，而是使它变得更加明亮。
“我亲爱的哈里特，”莫芬先生沉默了一会儿，说道，“我对这没有思想准备。您的意思是：您希望由您本人继承的那份遗产也跟约翰的那份一样用于你们善良的目的，我这样理解对吗？”
“对，对，”她回答道，“在这么长久的时间中我们分享一切，并有着共同的忧虑、希望与目的；难道我能容忍把我排除在这件事情之外吗？难道我不能要求自始至终成为我弟弟的伙伴与助手吗？”
“上天不容许我有不同意见！”他回答道。
“这么说，我们可以依赖您友好的帮助了吗？”她说道。
“我知道，我们可以了！”
“如果我不能从心灵里向你们保证我会这样做的话，那么我就不是一个我希望自己能成为那样的人，或我愿意相信我就是那样的人，而是一个坏一些的人了。你们可以毫无保留地指望我帮助你们。我以荣誉发誓，我一定为你们保守秘密。
如果到头来发现我的担心没有错，董贝先生由于一意孤行（看来没有什么办法能影响他改变这一点），落到一贫如洗的地步的话，那么我将帮助你们完成您和约翰共同想出的计划。”
她向他伸出手，并露出热诚的、快乐的脸容向他表示感谢。
“哈里特，”他把她的手留在自己手中，说道，“现在跟您讲你们所能作出牺牲的价值（尤其是讲仅仅金钱方面的牺牲的价值）是无益和放肆的；呼吁你们重新考虑你们的决定或对它规定一个狭窄的幅度，我觉得也同样是荒谬的。我没有权利让我这个软弱的人在这件事情上插手，来毁坏一个伟大历史的伟大结局。可是我有一切权利恭恭敬敬地做好你们信托给我的事情，而且十分高兴，因为它来自一个比我的可怜的世俗的知识更高尚、更纯洁的灵感的源泉。我所要说的只是这一点：我是您的忠实的仆人；我宁愿成为这样的仆人和您所选择的朋友，而不愿意成为世界上除您本人之外的任何其他人。”
她又热诚地谢谢他，祝他晚安。
“您要回家吗？”他说道。“让我陪您一道走。”
“不，今天您别陪我。我现在不回家；我要单独去拜访一个人。您明天来好吗？”
“好，好，”他说道，“我明天来。同时我将考虑一下这件事，我们怎样进行最好。也许•您•也•将•会考虑这件事，亲爱的哈里特，同时，——同时，——请您也稍稍考虑一下与这事有关的我。”
他陪她走到门口，她的一辆轿式马车正在那里等着她。当马车离开以后，他回到楼上来的时候，如果房东太太的耳朵不聋的话，那么她就能听到他喃喃自语地说道，我们都是受习惯支配的奴隶，当一个老单身汉是一个使人伤心的习惯。
大提琴躺在两张椅子中间的沙发上；他把它拿起来，没有移开空着的椅子，在原先坐过的那张椅子上坐下来用低沉的演奏着，同时望着另一张空着的椅子慢悠悠地摇晃着脑袋，时间很久很久。他通过乐器表露出的感情起初虽然非常感伤动人，温柔多情，但跟他看着那张空着的椅子时脸上表露出的感情相比，那就算不了什么了；他脸上表露出的感情十分诚挚，他不得不采用卡特尔船长的办法，不止一次用袖子去擦脸。但是大提琴伴随着他的心情，渐渐地转到了《和睦的铁匠》①这支音调优美的曲子上；他把它拉了一次又一次，直到后来他红润与安祥的脸孔就像一位真正的铁匠的铁砧上的真正的金属一样闪闪发光了。总而言之，大提琴和那张空椅子一直成为他单身生活的伴侣，直到将近午夜。当他坐下吃晚饭的时候，大提琴竖立在沙发的一角，似乎怀着难以形容的智慧，通过它那钩形的眼睛，向那张空椅子递送着秋波，它那挺凸的肚子里充满了一大群和睦的铁匠的和睦气氛。
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①《和睦的铁匠》（HarmoniousBlacksmith）是英籍德国作曲家亨德尔（GeorgeFridericHandel，1685—1759年）所写的一个曲子。
哈里特坐上她租来的轿式马车，离开莫芬先生的家以后，马车夫抄了一条对他显然并不陌生的路线，穿过了好多曲曲弯弯的偏僻小路，再通过近郊的一段路，最后到达一个空旷的地方；那里在一些花园中间，有几间朴素的、小小的旧房屋，他在其中的一间房屋的花园门口停住，哈里特下了车。
她轻轻地拉了一下铃，应声前来的是一位神色忧伤的女人；她脸色苍白，眉毛竖起，头低垂在一边；她看到哈里特，行了个屈膝礼，领着她穿过花园，走到房屋跟前。
“今天夜里您的病人怎样了，护士？”哈里特问道。
“我担心不好了，小姐。啊，有时候我见到她多叫我联想起我舅舅的贝特西•简！”脸色苍白的女人怀着悲喜交集的心情回答道。
“在哪方面？”哈里特问道。
“在所有方面，小姐，”那一位回答道，“只有一点不同，她是个成年人，而贝特西•简走到死神的门口时，还只是个孩子。”
“可是您曾告诉我她痊愈了，”哈里特温柔地说道，“所以就更有理由怀着希望了，威肯姆太太。”
“啊，小姐，对于那些情绪快乐，能够怀有希望的人来说，希望是一件很好的事情！”威肯姆太太摇摇头，说道，“我自己的情绪不好，产生不出希望，但我对这没有任何怨恨。我羡慕那些享有这种幸福的人们！”
“您应当设法快活一些，”哈里特说道。
“非常感谢您，小姐，”威肯姆太太愁眉苦脸地说道，“如果我是个性格快活的人，那么现在这种寂寞的状况——请原谅我说得这么直率——，也会使这点快活在二十四小时内从我的心里完全失去；可是我根本不是这种性格的人。我宁肯这样。我以前曾经有过一点快乐的情绪，它已经在几年以前在布赖顿失去了，我觉得这对我反倒更好。”
确实，这就是接替理查兹大嫂给小保罗当保姆的威肯姆大嫂。她认为，在皮普钦太太家里发生了那桩不幸事件之后，她本人倒是因祸得福。这个非常美妙和考虑周到的古老制度，由于长期承袭的旧俗惯例，已成为神圣不可侵犯；它通常总是把它所能找到的那些最忧郁寡欢、令人不快的人们挑选出来充当青年导师、传道士、女舍监、教务助理生、病床护士以及诸如此类的人物；正由于这个缘故，威肯姆太太就得到了护士这个很好的职务，她的品德受到了很多钦佩她的亲戚们的推荐。
威肯姆太太扬起眉毛，头歪向一边，用蜡烛照着道路，上了楼，走到一间干净、整洁的房间里；这间房间通向另一间灯光幽暗、里面摆有一张床的房间。在第一个房间里，一位老太婆坐在打开的窗子旁边，呆呆地向黑漆漆的窗外凝视着。在另一个房间里，有一个人的身形，伸开四肢，躺在床上；这个人曾经不怕风雨，在冬夜里走路，现在却只能凭她那长长的黑发才能辨认出来；在她那毫无血色的脸孔和周围所有白色物体的衬托下，那头发显得更黑了。
啊，那双炯炯有神的眼睛和那个衰弱的身躯！当哈里特走进去的时候，那双眼睛多么热切、多么明亮地转向了门口，射出了多么明亮的光芒；那个有气无力、抬不起来的脑袋是多么缓慢地在枕头上转过去啊！
“艾丽斯！”客人用温柔的说道，“我今天是不是来晚了？”
“虽然你总是来得早早的，但我总觉得您似乎来晚了。”
Chapter 59
Retribution
Changes have come again upon the great house in the long dull street, once the scene of Florence's childhood and loneliness. It is a great house still, proof against wind and weather, without breaches in the roof, or shattered windows, or dilapidated walls; but it is a ruin none the less, and the rats fly from it.
Mr Towlinson and company are, at first, incredulous in respect of the shapeless rumours that they hear. Cook says our people's credit ain't so easy shook as that comes to, thank God; and Mr Towlinson expects to hear it reported next, that the Bank of England's a-going to break, or the jewels in the Tower to be sold up. But, next come the Gazette, and Mr Perch; and Mr Perch brings Mrs Perch to talk it over in the kitchen, and to spend a pleasant evening.
As soon as there is no doubt about it, Mr Towlinson's main anxiety is that the failure should be a good round one - not less than a hundred thousand pound. Mr Perch don't think himself that a hundred thousand pound will nearly cover it. The women, led by Mrs Perch and Cook, often repeat 'a hun-dred thou-sand pound!' with awful satisfaction - as if handling the words were like handling the money; and the housemaid, who has her eye on Mr Towlinson, wishes she had only a hundredth part of the sum to bestow on the man of her choice. Mr Towlinson, still mindful of his old wrong, opines that a foreigner would hardly know what to do with so much money, unless he spent it on his whiskers; which bitter sarcasm causes the housemaid to withdraw in tears.
But not to remain long absent; for Cook, who has the reputation of being extremely good-hearted, says, whatever they do, let 'em stand by one another now, Towlinson, for there's no telling how soon they may be divided. They have been in that house (says Cook) through a funeral, a wedding, and a running-away; and let it not be said that they couldn't agree among themselves at such a time as the present. Mrs Perch is immensely affected by this moving address, and openly remarks that Cook is an angel. Mr Towlinson replies to Cook, far be it from him to stand in the way of that good feeling which he could wish to see; and adjourning in quest of the housemaid, and presently returning with that young lady on his arm, informs the kitchen that foreigners is only his fun, and that him and Anne have now resolved to take one another for better for worse, and to settle in Oxford Market in the general greengrocery and herb and leech line, where your kind favours is particular requested. This announcement is received with acclamation; and Mrs Perch, projecting her soul into futurity, says, 'girls,' in Cook's ear, in a solemn whisper.
Misfortune in the family without feasting, in these lower regions, couldn't be. Therefore Cook tosses up a hot dish or two for supper, and Mr Towlinson compounds a lobster salad to be devoted to the same hospitable purpose. Even Mrs Pipchin, agitated by the occasion, rings her bell, and sends down word that she requests to have that little bit of sweetbread that was left, warmed up for her supper, and sent to her on a tray with about a quarter of a tumbler-full of mulled sherry; for she feels poorly.
There is a little talk about Mr Dombey, but very little. It is chiefly speculation as to how long he has known that this was going to happen. Cook says shrewdly, 'Oh a long time, bless you! Take your oath of that.' And reference being made to Mr Perch, he confirms her view of the case. Somebody wonders what he'll do, and whether he'll go out in any situation. Mr Towlinson thinks not, and hints at a refuge in one of them genteel almshouses of the better kind. 'Ah, where he'll have his little garden, you know,' says Cook plaintively, 'and bring up sweet peas in the spring.' 'Exactly so,' says Mr Towlinson, 'and be one of the Brethren of something or another.' 'We are all brethren,' says Mrs Perch, in a pause of her drink. 'Except the sisters,' says Mr Perch. 'How are the mighty fallen!' remarks Cook. 'Pride shall have a fall, and it always was and will be so!' observes the housemaid.
It is wonderful how good they feel, in making these reflections; and what a Christian unanimity they are sensible of, in bearing the common shock with resignation. There is only one interruption to this excellent state of mind, which is occasioned by a young kitchen-maid of inferior rank - in black stockings - who, having sat with her mouth open for a long time, unexpectedly discharges from it words to this effect, 'Suppose the wages shouldn't be paid!' The company sit for a moment speechless; but Cook recovering first, turns upon the young woman, and requests to know how she dares insult the family, whose bread she eats, by such a dishonest supposition, and whether she thinks that anybody, with a scrap of honour left, could deprive poor servants of their pittance? 'Because if that is your religious feelings, Mary Daws,' says Cook warmly, 'I don't know where you mean to go to.
Mr Towlinson don't know either; nor anybody; and the young kitchen-maid, appearing not to know exactly, herself, and scouted by the general voice, is covered with confusion, as with a garment.
After a few days, strange people begin to call at the house, and to make appointments with one another in the dining-room, as if they lived there. Especially, there is a gentleman, of a Mosaic Arabian cast of countenance, with a very massive watch-guard, who whistles in the drawing-room, and, while he is waiting for the other gentleman, who always has pen and ink in his pocket, asks Mr Towlinson (by the easy name of 'Old Cock,') if he happens to know what the figure of them crimson and gold hangings might have been, when new bought. The callers and appointments in the dining-room become more numerous every day, and every gentleman seems to have pen and ink in his pocket, and to have some occasion to use it. At last it is said that there is going to be a Sale; and then more people arrive, with pen and ink in their pockets, commanding a detachment of men with carpet caps, who immediately begin to pull up the carpets, and knock the furniture about, and to print off thousands of impressions of their shoes upon the hall and staircase.
The council downstairs are in full conclave all this time, and, having nothing to do, perform perfect feats of eating. At length, they are one day summoned in a body to Mrs Pipchin's room, and thus addressed by the fair Peruvian:
'Your master's in difficulties,' says Mrs Pipchin, tartly. 'You know that, I suppose?'
Mr Towlinson, as spokesman, admits a general knowledge of the fact.
'And you're all on the look-out for yourselves, I warrant you, says Mrs Pipchin, shaking her head at them.
A shrill voice from the rear exclaims, 'No more than yourself!'
'That's your opinion, Mrs Impudence, is it?' says the ireful Pipchin, looking with a fiery eye over the intermediate heads.
'Yes, Mrs Pipchin, it is,' replies Cook, advancing. 'And what then, pray?'
'Why, then you may go as soon as you like,' says Mrs Pipchin. 'The sooner the better; and I hope I shall never see your face again.'
With this the doughty Pipchin produces a canvas bag; and tells her wages out to that day, and a month beyond it; and clutches the money tight, until a receipt for the same is duly signed, to the last upstroke; when she grudgingly lets it go. This form of proceeding Mrs Pipchin repeats with every member of the household, until all are paid.
'Now those that choose, can go about their business,' says Mrs Pipchin, 'and those that choose can stay here on board wages for a week or so, and make themselves useful. Except,' says the inflammable Pipchin, 'that slut of a cook, who'll go immediately.'
'That,' says Cook, 'she certainly will! I wish you good day, Mrs Pipchin, and sincerely wish I could compliment you on the sweetness of your appearance!'
'Get along with you,' says Mrs Pipchin, stamping her foot.
Cook sails off with an air of beneficent dignity, highly exasperating to Mrs Pipchin, and is shortly joined below stairs by the rest of the confederation.
Mr Towlinson then says that, in the first place, he would beg to propose a little snack of something to eat; and over that snack would desire to offer a suggestion which he thinks will meet the position in which they find themselves. The refreshment being produced, and very heartily partaken of, Mr Towlinson's suggestion is, in effect, that Cook is going, and that if we are not true to ourselves, nobody will be true to us. That they have lived in that house a long time, and exerted themselves very much to be sociable together. (At this, Cook says, with emotion, 'Hear, hear!' and Mrs Perch, who is there again, and full to the throat, sheds tears.) And that he thinks, at the present time, the feeling ought to be 'Go one, go all!' The housemaid is much affected by this generous sentiment, and warmly seconds it. Cook says she feels it's right, and only hopes it's not done as a compliment to her, but from a sense of duty. Mr Towlinson replies, from a sense of duty; and that now he is driven to express his opinions, he will openly say, that he does not think it over-respectable to remain in a house where Sales and such-like are carrying forwards. The housemaid is sure of it; and relates, in confirmation, that a strange man, in a carpet cap, offered, this very morning, to kiss her on the stairs. Hereupon, Mr Towlinson is starting from his chair, to seek and 'smash' the offender; when he is laid hold on by the ladies, who beseech him to calm himself, and to reflect that it is easier and wiser to leave the scene of such indecencies at once. Mrs Perch, presenting the case in a new light, even shows that delicacy towards Mr Dombey, shut up in his own rooms, imperatively demands precipitate retreat. 'For what,' says the good woman, 'must his feelings be, if he was to come upon any of the poor servants that he once deceived into thinking him immensely rich!' Cook is so struck by this moral consideration, that Mrs Perch improves it with several pious axioms, original and selected. It becomes a clear case that they must all go. Boxes are packed, cabs fetched, and at dusk that evening there is not one member of the party left.
