a tale of two cities(双城记)-第25章

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　old　unfinished　work；　were　all　as　usual。　

CHAPTER　XI
A　Companion　Picture
　
‘SYDNEY；'　said　Mr。　Stryver；　on　that　self…same　night；　or　morning；　to　his　jackal；　‘mix　another　bowl　of　punch；　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。'　
　Sydney　had　been　working　double　tides　that　night；　and　the　night　before；　and　the　night　before　that；　and　a　good　many　nights　in　succession；　making　a　grand　clearance　among　Mr。　Stryver's　papers　before　the　setting　in　of　the　long　vacation。　The　clearance　was　effected　at　last；　the　Stryver　arrears　were　handsomely　fetched　up；　everything　was　got　rid　of　until　November　should　come　with　its　fogs　atmospheric　and　fogs　legal；　and　bring　grist　to　the　mill　again。　
　Sydney　was　none　the　livelier　and　none　the　soberer　for　so　much　application。　It　had　taken　a　deal　of　extra　wet…towelling　to　pull　him　through　the　night；　a　correspondingly　extra　quantity　of　wine　had　preceded　the　towelling；　and　he　was　in　a　very　damaged　condition；　as　he　now　pulled　his　turban　off　and　threw　it　into　the　basin　in　which　he　had　steeped　it　at　intervals　for　the　last　six　hours。　
　‘Are　you　mixing　that　other　bowl　of　punch？'　said　Stryver　the　portly；　with　his　hands　in　his　waistband；　glancing　round　from　the　sofa　where　he　lay　on　his　back；　
　‘I　am。'　
　‘Now；　look　here！　I　am　going　to　tell　you　something　that　will　rather　surprise　you；　and　that　perhaps　will　make　you　think　me　not　quite　as　shrewd　as　you　usually　do　think　me。　I　intend　to　marry。　
　‘Do　you？'　
　‘Yes。　And　not　for　money。　What　do　you　say　now？'　
　‘I　don't　feel　disposed　to　say　much。　Who　is　she？'　
　‘Guess。'　
　‘Do　I　know　her？'　
　‘Guess。'　
　‘I　am　not　going　to　guess；　at　five　o'clock　in　the　morning；　with　my　brains　frying　and　sputtering　in　my；　head。　If　you　want　me　to　guess；　you　must　ask　me　to　dinner。　
　‘Well　then；　I'll　tell　you；'　said　Stryver；　coming　slowly　into　a　sitting　posture。　‘Sydney；　I　rather　despair　of　making　myself　intelligible　to　you；　because　you　are　such　an　insensible　dog。'　
‘And　you；'　returned　Sydney；　busy　concocting　the　punch；　‘are　such　a　sensitive　and　poetical　spirit。'　
　‘Come！'　rejoined　Stryver；　laughing　boastfully；　‘though　I　don't　prefer　any　claim　to　being　the　soul　of　Romance　（for　I　hope　I；　know　better）；　still　I　am　a　tenderer　sort　of　fellow　than　you。　
　‘You　are　a　luckier；　if　you　mean　that。'　
　‘I　don't　mean　that。　I　mean　I　am　a　man　of　moremore…'　
　‘Say　gallantry；　while　you　are　about　it；'　suggested　Carton。　
　‘Well！　I'll　say　gallantry。　My　meaning　is　that　I　am　a　man；'　said　Stryver；　inflating　himself　at　his　friend　as　he　made　the　punch；　‘who　cares　more　to　be　agreeable；　Who　takes　more　pains　to　be　agreeable；　who　knows　better　how　to　be　agreeable；　in　a　woman's　society；　than　you　do。'　
　‘Go　on；'　said　Sydney　Carton。　
　‘No；　but　before　I　go　on；'　said　Stryver；　shaking　his　head　in　his　bullying　way；　‘I'll　have　this　out　with　you。　You've　been　at　Dr。　Manette's　house　as　much　as　I　have；　or　more　than　I　have。　Why；　I　have　been　ashamed　of　your　moroseness　there！　Your　manners　have　been　of　that　silent　and　sullen　and　hang…dog　kind；　that；　upon　my　life　and　soul；　I　have　been　ashamed　of　you；　Sydney！'　
　‘It　should　be　very　beneficial　to　a　man　in　your　practice　at　the　bar；　to　be　ashamed　of　anything；'　returned　Sydney；　‘you　ought　to　be　much　obliged　to　me。　
　‘You　shall　not　get　off　in　that　Way；'　rejoined　Stryver；　shouldering　the　rejoinder　at　him；　‘no；　Sydney；　it's　my　duty　to　tell　youand　I　tell　you　to　your　face　to　do　you　goodthat　you　are　a　devilish　ill…conditioned　fellow　in　that　sort　of　society。　You　are　a　disagreeable　fellow。'　
　Sydney　drank　a　bumper　of　the　punch　he　had　made；　and　laughed。　
　‘Look　at　me！'　said　Stryver；　squaring　himself：　‘I　have　less　need　to　make　myself　agreeable　than　you　have；　being　more　independent　in　circumstances。　Why　do　I　do　it？'　
　‘I　never　saw　you　do　it　yet；'　muttered　Carton。　
　‘I　do　it　because　it's　politic；　I　do　it　on　principle。　And　look　at　me！　I　get　on。'　
　‘You　don't　get　on　with　your　account　of　your　matrimonial　intentions；'　answered　Carton；　with　a　careless　air；　‘I　wish　you　would　keep　to　that。　As　to　mewill　you　never　understand　that　I　am　incorrigible？'　
　He　asked　the　question　with　some　appearance　of　scorn。　
　‘You　have　no　business　to　be　incorrigible；'　was　his　friend's　answer；　delivered　in　no　very　soothing　tone。　
　‘I　have　no　business　to　be；　at　all；　that　I　know　of；'　said　Sydney　Carton。　‘Who　is　the　lady？'　
　‘Now；　don't　let　my　announcement　of　the　name　make　you　uncomfortable；　Sydney；'　said　Mr。　Stryver；　preparing　him　with　ostentatious　friendliness　for　the　disclosure　he　was　about　to　make；　‘because　I　know　you　don't　mean　half　you　say；　and　if　you　meant　it　all；　it　would　be　of　no　importance。　I　make　this　little　preface；　because；you　once　mentioned　the　young　lady　to　me　in　slighting　terms。　
　‘I　did？'　
　‘Certainly；　and　in　these　chambers。'　
　Sydney　Carton　looked　at　his　punch　and　looked　at　his　complacent　friend；　drank　his　punch　and　looked　at　his　complacent　friend。　
　‘You　made　mention　of　the　young　lady　as　a　golden…haired　doll。　The　young　lady　is　Miss　Manette。　If　you　had　been　a　fellow　of　any　sensitiveness　or　delicacy　of　feeling　in　that　kind　of　way；　Sydney；　I　might　have　been　a　little　resentful　of　your　employing　such　a　designation；　but　you　are　not。　You　want　that　sense　altogether；　therefore　I　am　no　more　annoyed　when　I　think　of　the　expression；　than　I　should　be　annoyed　by　a　man's　opinion　of　a　picture　of　mine；　who　had　no　eye　for　pictures：　or　of　a　piece　of　music　of　mine；　who　had　no　ear　for　music。'　
　Sydney　Carton　drank　the　punch　at　a　great　rate；　drank　it　by　bumpers；　looking　at　his　friend。　
　‘Now　you　know　all　about　it；　Syd；'　said　Mr。　Stryver。　‘I　don't　care　about　fortune：　she　is　a　charming　creature；　and　I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　please　myself：　on　the　whole；　I　think　I　can　afford　to　please　myself。　She　will　have　in　me　a　man　already　pretty　well　off　and　a　rapidly　rising　man；　and　a　man　of　some　distinction：　it　is　a　piece　of　good　fortune　for　her；　but　she　is　worthy　of　good　fortune。　Are　you　astonished？'　
　Carton；　still　drinking　the　punch；　rejoined；　‘Why　should　I　be　astonished？'　
　‘You　approve？'　
　Carton；　still　drinking　the　punch；　rejoined；　‘Why　should　I　not　approve？'　‘Well！'　said　his　friend　Stryver；　‘you　take　it　more　easily　than　I　fancied　you　would；　and　are　less　mercenary　on　my　behalf　than　I　thought　you　would　be；　though；　to　be　sure；　you　know　well　enough　by　this　time　that　your　ancient　chum　is　a　man　of　a　pretty　strong　will。　Yes；　Sydney；　I　have　had　enough　of　this　style　of　life；　with　no　other　as　a　change　iron'　it；　I　feel　that　it　is　a　pleasant　thing　for　a　man　to　have　a　home　when　he　feels　inclined　to　go　to　it　（when　he　doesn't；　he　can　stay　away）；　and　I　feel　that　Miss　Manette　will　tell　well　in　any　station；　and　will　always　do　me　credit。　So　I　have　made　up　my　mind。　And　now；　Sydney；　old　boy；　I　want　to　say　a　word　to　you　about　your　prospects。　You　are　in　a　bad　way；　you　know；　you　really　are　in　a　bad　way。　You　don't　know　the　value　of　money；　you　live　hard；　you'll　knock　up　one　of　these　days；　and　be　ill　and　poor；　you　really　ought　to　think　about　a　nurse。　
　The　prosperous　patronage　with　which　he　said　it；　made　him　look　twice　as　big　as　he　was；　and　four　times　as　offensive。　
　‘Now；　let　me　recommend　you；'　pursued　Stryver；　‘to　look　it　in　the　face。　I　have　looked　it　in　the　face；　in　my　different　way；　look　it　in　the　face；　you；　in　your　different　way。　Marry。　Provide　somebody　to　take　care　of　you。　Never　mind　your　having　no　enjoyment　of　women's　society；　nor　understanding　of　it；　nor　tact　for　it。　Find　out　somebody。　Find　out　some　respectable　woman　with　a　little　propertysomebody　in　the　landlady　way；　or　lodging…letting　wayand　marry　her；　against　a　rainy　day。　That's　the　kind　of　thing　for　you。　Now　think　of　it；　Sydney。'　
　‘I'll　think　of　it；'　said　Sydney。　
　　
CHAPTER　XII
The　Fellow　of　Delicacy
　
MR。　STRYVER　having　made　up　his　mind　to　that　magnanimous　bestowal　of　good　fortune　on　the　Doctor's　daughter；　resolved　to　make　her　happiness　known　to　her　before　he　left　town　for　the　Long　Vacation。　After　some　mental　debating　of　the　point；　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　it　would　be　as　well　to　get　all　the　preliminaries　done　with；　and　they　could　then　arrange　at　their　leisure　whether　he　should　give　her　his　hand　a　week　or　two　before　Michaelmas　Term；　or　in　the　little　Christmas　vacation　between　it　and　Hilary。　
　As　to　the　strength　of　his　case；　he　had　not　a　doubt　about　it；　but　clearly　saw　his　way　to'　the　verdict。　Argued　with　the　jury　on　substantial　worldly　groundsthe　only　grounds　ever　worth　taking　into　accountit　was　a　plain　case；　and　had　not　a　weak　spot　in　it。　He　called　himself　for　the　plaintiff；　there　was　no　getting　over　his　evidence；　the　counsel　for　the　defendant　threw　up　his　brief；　and　the　jury　did　not　even　turn　to　consider。　After　trying　it；　Stryver；　C。　J。；　was　satisfied　that　no　plainer　case　could　be。　
　Accordingly；　Mr。　Stryver　inaugurated　the　Long　Vacation　with　a　formal　proposal　to　take　Miss　Manette　to　Vauxhall　Gardens；　that　failing；　to　Ranelagh；　that　unaccountably　failing　too；　it　behoved　him　to　present　himself　in　Soho；　and　there　declare　his　noble　mind。　
　Towards　Soho；　therefore；　Mr。　Steer　shouldered　his　way　from　the　Temple；　while　the　bloom　of　the　Long　Vacation's　infancy　was　still　upon　it。　Anybody　who　had　seen　him　projecting　himself　into　Soho　while　he　was　yet　on　Saint　Dunstan's　side　of　Temple　Bar；　bursting　in　his　full…blown　way　along　the　pavement；　to　the　jostlement　of　all　weaker　people；　might　have　seen　how　safe　and　strong　he　was。　
　His　way　taking　him　past　Tellson's；　and　he　both　banking　at　Tellson's　and　knowing　Mr。　Lorry　as　the　intimate　friend　of　the　Manettes；　it　entered　Mr。　Stryver's　mind　to　enter　the　bank；　and　reveal　to　Mr。　Lorry　the　brightness　of　the　Soho　horizon。　So；　he　pushed　open　the　door　with　the　weak　rattle　in　its　throat；　stumbled　down　the　two　steps；　got　past　the　two　ancient　cashiers；　and　shouldered　himself　into　the　musty　back　closet　where　Mr。　Lorry　sat　at　great　books　ruled　for　figures；　with　perpendicular　iron　bars　to　his　window　as　if　that　were　ruled　for　figures　too；　and　everything　under　the　clouds　were　a　sum。　
　‘Halloa！'　said　Mr。　Stryver。　‘How　do　you　do？　I　hope　you　are　well！'　
　It　was　Stryver's　grand　peculiarity　that　he　always　seemed　too　big　for　any　place；　or　space。　He　was　so　much　too　big　for　Tellson's；　that　old　clerks　in　distant　corners　looked　up　with　looks　of　remonstrance；　as　though　he　squeezed　them　against　the　wall。　The　House　itself；　magnificently　reading　the　paper　quite　in　the　far…off　perspective；　lowered　displeased；　as　if　the　Stryver　head　had　been　butted　into　its　responsible　waistcoat。　
　The　discreet　Mr。　Lorry　said；　in　a　sample　tone　of　the　voice　he　would　recommend　under　the　circumstances；　‘How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Stryver？　How　do　you　do；　sir？'　and　shook　hands。　There　was　a　peculiarity　in　his　manner　of　shaking　hands；　always　to　be　seen　in　any　clerk　at　Tellson's　who　shook　hands　with　a　customer　when　the　House　pervaded　the　air。　He　shook　in　a　self…abnegating　way；　as　one　who　shook　for　Tellson　and　Co。　
　‘Can　I　do　anything　for　you；　Mr。　Stryver？'　asked　Mr。　Lorry；　in　his　business　character。　
　‘Why；　no；　thank　you；　this　is　a　private　visit　to　yourself；　Mr。　Lorry；　I　have　come　for　a　private　word。'　
　‘Oh　indeed！'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　bending　down　his　ear；　while　his　eye　strayed　to　the　House　afar　off。　
　‘I　am　going；'　said　Mr。　Stryver；　leaning　his　arms　confidentially　on　the　desk：　whereupon；　although　it　was　a　large　double　one；　there　appeared　to　be　not　half　desk　enough　for　him：　‘I　am　going　to　make　an　offer　of　myself　in　marria