bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第106节
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alone with the veiled figure。 But； on Mr Tulkinghorn’s coming into
the room； the veil is raised； and a sufficiently good…looking French…
woman is revealed； though her expression is something of the
intensest。
“Thank you； Mademoiselle Hortense；” says Mr Tulkinghorn；
with his usual equanimity。 “I will give you no further trouble
about this little wager。”
“You will do me the kindness to remember； sir； that I am not at
present placed？” says Mademoiselle。
“Certainly； certainly！”
“And to confer upon me the favour of your distinguished
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recommendation？”
“By all means； Mademoiselle Hortense。”
“A word from Mr Tulkinghorn is so powerful。”—”It shall not be
wanting； Mademoiselle。”—“Receive the assurance of my devoted
gratitude； dear sir。”—“Good night。” Mademoiselle goes out with
an air of native gentility； and Mr Bucket； to whom it is； on an
emergency； as natural to be groom of the ceremonies as it is to be
anything else； shows her downstairs； not without gallantry。
“Well； Bucket？” quoth Mr Tulkinghorn on his return。
“It’s all squared； you see； as I squared it myself； sir。 There an’t a
doubt that it was the other one with this one’s dress on。 The boy
was exact respecting colours and everything。 Mr Snagsby； I
promised you as a man that he should be sent away all right。 Don’t
say it wasn’t done！”
“You have kept your word； sir；” returns the stationer； “and if I
can be of no further use； Mr Tulkinghorn； I think； as my little
woman will be getting anxious—”
“Thank you； Snagsby； no further use；” says Mr Tulkinghorn。 “I
am quite indebted to you for the trouble you have taken already。”
“Not at all； sir。 I wish you good night。”
“You see； Mr Snagsby；” says Mr Bucket； accompanying him to
the door and shaking hands with him over and over again； “what I
like in you； is； that you’re a man it’s of no use pumping； that’s what
you are。 When you know you have done a right thing； you put it
away； and it’s done with and gone； and there’s an end of it。 That’s
what you do。”
“That is certainly what I endeavour to do； sir；” returns Mr
Snagsby。
“No； you don’t do yourself justice。 It an’t what you endeavour to
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do；” says Mr Bucket； shaking hands with him and blessing him in
the tenderest manner； “it’s what you do。 That’s what I estimate in
a man in your way of business。”
Mr Snagsby makes a suitable response； and goes homeward so
confused by the events of the evening； that he is doubtful of his
being awake and out—doubtful of the reality of the streets through
which he goes—doubtful of the reality of the moon that shines
above him。 He is presently reassured on these subjects； by the
unchallengeable reality of Mrs Snagsby； sitting up with her head
in a perfect beehive of curl…papers and nightcap： who has
dispatched Guster to the police station with official intelligence of
her husband’s being made away with； and who； within the last two
hours； has passed through every stage of swooning with the
greatest decorum。 But； as the little woman feelingly says； many
thanks she gets for it！
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Chapter 23
Esther’s Narrative
e came home from Mr Boythorn’s after six pleasant
Wweeks。 We were often in the park； and in the woods；
and seldom passed the Lodge where we had taken
shelter without looking in to speak to the keeper’s wife； but we
saw no more of Lady Dedlock； except at church on Sundays。
There was company at Chesney Wold； and although several
beautiful faces surrounded her； her face retained the same
influence on me as at first。 I do not quite know； even now； whether
it was painful or pleasurable； whether it drew me towards her； or
made me shrink from her。 I think I admired her with a kind of
fear； and I know that in her presence my thoughts always
wandered back； as they had done at first； to that old time of my
life。
I had a fancy； on more than one of these Sundays； that what
this lady so curiously was to me； I was to her—I mean that I
disturbed her thoughts as she influenced mine； though in some
different way。 But when I stole a glance at her； and saw her so
composed and distant and unapproachable； I felt this to be a
foolish weakness。 Indeed； I felt the whole state of my mind in
reference to her to be weak and unreasonable； and I remonstrated
with myself about it as much as I could。
One incident that occurred before we quitted Mr Boythorn’s
house； I had better mention in this place。
I was walking in the garden with Ada； when I was told that
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some one wished to see me。 Going into the breakfast…room where
this person was waiting； I found it to be the French maid who had
cast off her shoes and walked through the wet grass； on the day
when it thundered and lightened。
“Mademoiselle；” she began； looking fixedly at me with her too…
eager eyes； though otherwise presenting an agreeable appearance；
and speaking neither with boldness nor servility； “I have taken a
great liberty in coming here； but you know how to excuse it； being
so amiable； mademoiselle。”
“No excuse is necessary；” I returned； “if you wish to speak to
me。”
“That is my desire； mademoiselle。 A thousand thanks for the
permission。 I have your leave to speak。 Is it not？” she said； in a
quick； natural way。
“Certainly；” said I。
“Mademoiselle； you are so amiable！ Listen then； if you please。 I
have left my Lady。 We could not agree。 My Lady is so high； so very
high。 Pardon！ Mademoiselle； you are right！” Her quickness
anticipated what I might have said presently； but as yet had only
thought。 “It is not for me to come here to complain of my Lady。
But I say she is so high； so very high。 I will say not a word more。
All the world knows that。”
“Go on； if you please；” said I。
“Assuredly； mademoiselle； I am thankful for your politeness。
Mademoiselle； I have an inexpressible desire to find service with a
young lady who is good； accomplished； beautiful。 You are good；
accomplished； and beautiful as an angel。 Ah； could I have the
honour of being your domestic！”
“I am sorry—” I began。
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“Do not dismiss me so soon； mademoiselle！” she said； with an
involuntary contraction of her fine black eyebrows。 “Let me hope
a moment！ Mademoiselle； I know this service would be more
retired than that which I have quitted。 Well！ I wish that。 I know
this service would be less distinguished than that which I have
quitted。 Well！ I wish that。 I know that I should win less； as to
wages here。 Good。 I am content。”
“I assure you；” said I； quite embarrassed by the mere idea of
having such an attendant
