第53章

’It’stheonlychangehetakes，’saidMrsChivery，shakingherheadafresh。’Hewon’tgoout，evenintheback-yard，whenthere’snolinen；butwhenthere’slinentokeeptheneighbours’eyesoff，he’llsitthere，hours。Hourshewill。Sayshefeelsasifitwasgroves!’MrsChiveryshookherheadagain，putheraproninamotherlywaytohereyes，andreconductedhervisitorintotheregionsofthebusiness。

’Pleasetotakeaseat，sir，’saidMrsChivery。’MissDorritisthematterwithOurJohn，sir；he’sabreakinghisheartforher，andIwouldwishtotakethelibertytoaskhowit’stobemadegoodtohisparentswhenbust？’

MrsChivery，whowasacomfortable-lookingwomanmuchrespectedaboutHorsemongerLaneforherfeelingsandherconversation，utteredthisspeechwithfellcomposure，andimmediatelyafterwardsbeganagaintoshakeherheadanddryhereyes。

’Sir，’saidsheincontinuation，’youareacquaintedwiththefamily，andhaveinterestedyourselfwiththefamily，andareinfluentialwiththefamily。Ifyoucanpromoteviewscalculatedtomaketwoyoungpeoplehappy，letme，forOurjohn’ssake，andforboththeirsakes，imploreyousotodo!’

’Ihavebeensohabituated，’returnedArthur，ataloss，’duringtheshorttimeIhaveknownher，toconsiderLittle——IhavebeensohabituatedtoconsiderMissDorritinalightaltogetherremovedfromthatinwhichyoupresenthertome，thatyouquitetakemebysurprise。Doessheknowyourson？’

’Broughtuptogether，sir，’saidMrsChivery。’Playedtogether。’

’Doessheknowyoursonasheradmirer？’

’Oh!blessyou，sir，’saidMrsChivery，withasortoftriumphantshiver，’shenevercouldhaveseenhimonaSundaywithoutknowinghewasthat。Hiscanealonewouldhavetolditlongago，ifnothingelsehad。YoungmenlikeJohndon’ttaketoivoryhandsapinting，fornothing。HowdidIfirstknowitmyself？Similarly。’

’PerhapsMissDorritmaynotbesoreadyasyou，yousee。’

’Thensheknowsit，sir，’saidMrsChivery，’bywordofmouth。’

’Areyousure？’

’Sir，’saidMrsChivery，’sureandcertainasinthishouseIam。

IseemysongooutwithmyowneyeswheninthishouseIwas，andIseemysoncomeinwithmyowneyeswheninthishouseIwas，andIknowhedoneit!’MrsChiveryderivedasurprisingforceofemphasisfromtheforegoingcircumstantialityandrepetition。

’MayIaskyouhowhecametofallintothedespondingstatewhichcausesyousomuchuneasiness？’

’That，’saidMrsChivery，’tookplaceonthatsamedaywhentothishouseIseethatJohnwiththeseeyesreturn。Neverbeenhimselfinthishousesince。Neverwaslikewhathehasbeensince，notfromthehourwhentothishousesevenyearagomeandhisfather，astenantsbythequarter，came!’AneffectinthenatureofanaffidavitwasgainedfromthisspeechbyMrsChivery’speculiarpowerofconstruction。

’MayIventuretoinquirewhatisyourversionofthematter？’

’Youmay，’saidMrsChivery，’andIwillgiveittoyouinhonourandinwordastrueasinthisshopIstand。OurJohnhaseveryone’sgoodwordandeveryone’sgoodwish。Heplayedwithherasachildwheninthatyardachildsheplayed。Hehasknownhereversince。HewentoutupontheSundayafternoonwheninthisveryparlourhehaddined，andmether，withappointmentorwithoutappointment；which，Idonotpretendtosay。Hemadehisoffertoher。Herbrotherandsisterishighintheirviews，andagainstOurJohn。Herfatherisallforhimselfinhisviewsandagainstsharingherwithanyone。UnderwhichcircumstancesshehasansweredOurJohn，“No，John，Icannothaveyou，Icannothaveanyhusband，itisnotmyintentionsevertobecomeawife，itismyintentionstobealwaysasacrifice，farewell，findanotherworthyofyou，andforgetme!“Thisisthewayinwhichsheisdoomedtobeaconstantslavetothemthatarenotworthythataconstantslavesheuntothemshouldbe。ThisisthewayinwhichOurJohnhascometofindnopleasurebutintakingcoldamongthelinen，andinshowinginthatyard，asinthatyardIhavemyselfshownyou，abroken-downruinthatgoeshometohismother’sheart!’

Herethegoodwomanpointedtothelittlewindow，whencehersonmightbese