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！
Barnacle himself； in the odour of Circumlocution……with the very smell of
Despatch…Boxes upon him。 Yes； there was Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle； who
had risen to official heights on the wings of one indignant idea； and
that was； My Lords； that I am yet to be told that it behoves a Minister
of this free country to set bounds to the philanthropy； to cramp the
charity； to fetter the public spirit； to contract the enterprise； to
damp the independent self…reliance； of its people。 That was； in other
words； that this great statesman was always yet to be told that it
behoved the Pilot of the ship to do anything but prosper in the private
loaf and fish trade ashore； the crew being able； by dint of hard
pumping； to keep the ship above water without him。 On this sublime
discovery in the great art How not to do it； Lord Decimus had long
sustained the highest glory of the Barnacle family； and let any
ill…advised member of either House but try How to do it by bringing in
a Bill to do it； that Bill was as good as dead and buried when Lord
Decimus Tite Barnacle rose up in his place and solemnly said； soaring
into indignant majesty as the Circumlocution cheering soared around
him； that he was yet to be told； My Lords； that it behoved him as the
Minister of this free country； to set bounds to the philanthropy；
to cramp the charity； to fetter the public spirit； to contract the
enterprise； to damp the independent self…reliance； of its people。 The
discovery of this Behoving Machine was the discovery of the political
perpetual motion。 It never wore out； though it was always going round
and round in all the State Departments。
And there； with his noble friend and relative Lord Decimus； was
William Barnacle； who had made the ever…famous coalition with Tudor
Stiltstalking； and who always kept ready his own particular recipe for
How not to do it； sometimes tapping the Speaker； and drawing it fresh
out of him； with a 'First； I will beg you； sir； to inform the House what
Precedent we have for the course into which the honourable gentleman
would precipitate us；' sometimes asking the honourable gentleman to
favour him with his own version of the Precedent； sometimes telling
the honourable gentleman that he （William Barnacle） would search for a
Precedent； and oftentimes crushing the honourable gentleman flat on
the spot by telling him there was no Precedent。 But Precedent and
Precipitate were； under all circumstances； the well…matched pair of
battle…horses of this able Circumlocutionist。 No matter that the unhappy
honourable gentleman had been trying in vain； for twenty…five years； to
precipitate William Barnacle into this……William Barnacle still put it to
the House； and （at second…hand or so） to the country； whether he was to
be precipitated into this。 No matter that it was utterly irreconcilable
with the nature of things and course of events that the wretched
honourable gentleman could possibly produce a Precedent for
this……William Barnacle would nevertheless thank the honourable gentleman
for that ironical cheer； and would close with him upon that issue； and
would tell him to his teeth that there Was NO Precedent for this。 It
might perhaps have been objected that the William Barnacle wisdom was
not high wisdom or the earth it bamboozled would never have been made；
or； if made in a rash mistake； would have remained blank mud。 But
Precedent and Precipitate together frightened all objection out of most
people。
And there； too； was another Barnacle； a lively one； who had leaped
through twenty places in quick succession； and was always in two or
three at once； and who was the much…respected inventor of an art
which he practised with great success and admiration in all Barnacle
Governments。 This was； when he was asked a Parliamentary question on
any one topic； to return an answer on any other。 It had done immense
service； and brought him into high esteem with the Circumlocution
Office。
And there； too； was a sprinkling of less distinguished Parliamentary
Barnacles； who had not as yet got anything snug； and were going through
their probation to prove their worthiness。 These Barnacles perched upon
staircases and hid in passages； waiting their orders to make houses
or not to make houses； and they did all their hearing； and ohing； and
cheering； and barking； under directions from the heads of the family；
and they put dummy motions on the paper in the way of other men's
motions； and they stalled disagreeable subjects off until late in the
night and late in the session； and then with virtuous patriotism cried
out that it was too late； and they went down into the country； whenever
they were sent； and swore that Lord Decimus had revived trade from a
swoon； and merce from a fit； and had doubled the harvest of corn；
quadrupled the harvest of hay； and prevented no end of gold from flying
out of the Bank。 Also these Barnacles were dealt； by the heads of the
family； like so many cards below the court…cards； to public meetings and
dinners； where they bore testimony to all sorts of services on the part
of their noble and honourable relatives； and buttered the Barnacles on
all sorts of toasts。 And they stood； under similar orders； at all sorts
of elections； and they turned out of their own seats； on the shortest
notice and the most unreasonable terms； to let in other men； and they
fetched and carried； and toadied and jobbed； and corrupted； and ate
heaps of dirt； and were indefatigable in the public service。 And there
was not a list； in all the Circumlocution Office； of places that might
fall vacant anywhere within half a century； from a lord of the Treasury
to a Chinese consul； and up again to a governor…general of India； but as
applicants for such places； the names of some or of every one of these
hungry and adhesive Barnacles were down。
It was necessarily but a sprinkling of any class of Barnacles that
attended the marriage； for there were not two score in all； and what
is that subtracted from Legion！ But the sprinkling was a swarm in the
Twickenham cottage； and filled it。 A Barnacle （assisted by a Barnacle）
married the happy pair； and it behoved Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle
himself to conduct Mrs Meagles to breakfast。
The entertainment was not as agreeable and natural as it might have
been。 Mr Meagles； hove down by his good pany while he highly
appreciated it； was not himself。 Mrs Gowan was herself； and that did not
improve him。 The fiction that it was not Mr Meagles who had stood in the
way； but that it was the Family greatness； and that the Family greatness
had made a concession； and there was now a soothing unanimity； pervaded
the affair； though it was never openly expressed。 Then the Barnacles
felt that they for their parts would have done with the Meagleses when
the present patronising occasion was over； and the Meagleses felt the
same for their parts。 Then Gowan asserting his rights as a disappointed
man who had his grudge against the family； and who； perhaps； had allowed
his mother to have them there； as much in the hope it might give them
some annoyance as with any other benevolent object； aired his pencil and
his poverty ostentatiously before them； and told them he hoped in time
to settle a crust of bread and cheese on his wife； and that he begged
such of them as （more fortunate than himself） came in for any good
thing； and could buy a picture； to please to remember the poor painter。
Then Lord Decimus； who was a wonder on his own Parliamentary pedestal；
turned out to be the windiest creature here： proposing happiness to the
bride and bridegroom in a series of platitudes that would have made the
hair of any sincere disciple and believer stand on end； and trotting；
with the placency of an idiotic elephant； among howling labyrinths of
sentences which he seemed to take for high roads； and never so much
as wanted to get out of。 Then Mr Tite Barnacle could not but feel that
there was a person in pany； who would have disturbed his life…long
sitting to Sir Thomas Lawrence in full official character； if such
disturbance had been possible： while Barnacle junior did； with
indignation； municate to two vapid gentlemen； his relatives； that
there was a feller here； look here； who had e to our Department
without an appointment and said he wanted to know； you know； and that；
look here； if he was to break out now； as he might you know （for you
never could tell what an ungentlemanly Radical of that sort would be up
to next）； and was to say； look here； that he wanted to know this moment；
you know； that would be jolly； wouldn't it？
The pleasantest part of the occasion by far； to Clennam； was the
painfullest。 When Mr and Mrs Meagles at last hung about Pet in the room
with the two pictures （where the pany were not）； before going with
her to the threshold which she could never recross to be the old Pet and
the old delight； nothing could be more natural and simple than the three
were。 Gowan himself was touched； and answered Mr Meagles's 'O Gowan；
take care of her； take care of her！' with an earnest 'Don't be so
broken…hearted； sir。 By Heaven I will！'
And so； with the last sobs and last loving words； and a last look to
Clennam of confidence in his promise； Pet fell back in the carriage；
and her husband waved his hand； and they were away for Dover； though not
until the faithful Mrs Tickit； in her silk gown and jet black curls； had
rushed out from some hiding…place； and thrown both her shoes after
the carriage： an apparition which occasioned great surprise to the
distinguished pany at the windows。
The said pany being now relieved from further attendance； and the
chief Barnacles being rather hurried （for they had it in hand just
then to send a mail or two which was in danger of going straight to its
destination； beating about the seas like the Flying Dutchman； and to
arrange with plexity for the stoppage of a good deal of important
business otherwise in peril of being done）； went their several ways；
with all affability conveying to Mr and Mrs Meagles that general
assurance that what they had been doing there； they had been doing at a
sacrifice for Mr and Mrs Meagles's good； which they always conveyed to
Mr John Bull in their official condescension to that most unfortunate
creature。
A miserable blank remained in the house and in the hearts of the father
and mother and Clennam。 Mr Meagles called only one remembrance to his
aid； that really did him good。
'It's very gratifying； Arthur；' he said； 'after all； to look back upon。'
'The past？' said Clennam。
'Yes……but I mean the pany。'
It had made him much more low and unhappy at the time； but now it really
did him good。 'It's very gratifying；' he said； often repeating the
remark in the course of the evening。 'Such high pany！'
CHAPTER 35。 What was behind Mr Pancks on Little Dorrit's Hand
It was at this time that Mr Pancks； in discharge of his pact with
Clennam； revealed to him the whole of his gipsy story； and told him
Little Dorrit's fortune。 Her father was heir…at…law to a great estate
that had long lain unknown of； unclaimed； and accumulating。 His right
was now clear； nothing interposed in his way； the Marshalsea gates stood
open； the Marshalsea walls were down； a few flourishes of his pen； and
he was extremely rich。
In his tracking out of the claim to its plete establishment； Mr
Pancks had shown a sagacity that nothing could baffle； and a patience
and secrecy that nothing could tire。 'I little thought； sir；' said
Pancks； 'when you and I crossed Smithfield that night； and I told you
what sort of a Collector I was； that this would e of it。 I little
thought； sir； when I told you you were not of the Clennams of
Cornwall； that I was ever going to tell you who were of the Dorrits of
Dorsetshire。' He then went on to detail。 How； having that name recorded
in his note…book； he was first attracted by the name alone。 How； having
often found two exactly similar names； even belonging to the same place；
to involve no traceable consanguinity； near or distant； he did not at
first give much heed to this； except in the way of speculation as to
what a surprising change would be made in the condition of a little
seamstress； if she could be shown to have any interest in so large a
pr