bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第120节
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know； I’m sure； sir。” On which interruption； Mrs Chadband glares；
and Mrs Snagsby says； “For shame！”
“I hear a voice；” says Chadband； “is it a still small voice； my
friends？ I fear not； though I fain would hope so—”
（“Ah…h！” from Mrs Snagsby。）
“Which says； I don’t know。 Then I will tell you why。 I say this
brother； present here among us； is devoid of parents； devoid of
relations； devoid of flocks and herds； devoid of gold； of silver； and
of precious stones； because he is devoid of the light that shines in
upon some of us。 What is that light？ What is it？ I ask you what is
that light？”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 499…
Bleak House 499
Mr Chadband draws back his head and pauses； but Mr Snagsby
is not to be lured on to his destruction again。 Mr Chadband；
leaning forward over the table； pierces what he has got to follow；
directly into Mr Snagsby； with the thumbnail already mentioned。
“It is；” says Chadband； “the ray of rays； the sun of suns； the
moon of moons； the star of stars。 It is the light of Terewth。”
Mr Chadband draws himself up again； and looks triumphantly
at Mr Snagsby； as if he would be glad to know how he feels after
that。
“Of Terewth；” says Mr Chadband； hitting him again。 “Say not
to me that it is not the lamp of lamps。 I say to you； it is。 I say to you；
a million of times over； it is。 It is！ I say to you that I will proclaim it
to you； whether you like it or not； nay； that the less you like it； the
more I will proclaim it to you。 With a speaking…trumpet！ I say to
you that if you rear yourself against it； you shall fall； you shall be
bruised； you shall be battered； you shall be flawed； you shall be
smashed。”
The present effect of this flight of oratory—much admired for
its general power by Mr Chadband’s followers—being not only to
make Mr Chadband unpleasantly warm； but to represent the
innocent Mr Snagsby in the light of a determined enemy to virtue；
with a forehead of brass and a heart of adamant； that unfortunate
tradesman becomes yet more disconcerted； and is in a very
advanced state of low spirits and false position； when Mr
Chadband accidentally finishes him。
“My friends；” he resumes； after dabbing his fat head for some
time—and it smokes to such an extent that he seems to light his
pocket…handkerchief at it； which smokes； too； after every dab—“to
pursue the subject we are endeavouring with our lowly gifts to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 500…
Bleak House 500
improve； let us in a spirit of love inquire what is that Terewth to
which I have alluded。 For； my young friends；” suddenly
addressing the ’prentices and Guster； to their consternation； “if I
am told by the doctor that calomel or castor…oil is good for me； I
may naturally ask what is calomel； and what is castor…oil。 I may
wish to be informed of that； before I dose myself with either or
with both。 Now； my young friends； what is this Terewth； then？
Firstly （in a spirit of love）； what is the common sort of Terewth—
the working clothes—the every…day wear； my young friends？ Is it
deception？”
（“Ah…h！” from Mrs Snagsby。）
“Is it suppression？”
（A shiver in the negative from Mrs Snagsby。）
“Is it reservation？”
（A shake of the head from Mrs Snagsby—very long and very
tight。）
“No； my friends； it is neither of these。 Neither of these names
belongs to it。 When this young Heathen now among us—who is
now； my friends； asleep； the seal of indifference and perdition
being set upon his eyelids； but do not wake him； for it is right that
I should have to wrestle； and to combat and to struggle； and to
conquer； for his sake—when this young hardened Heathen told us
a story of a Cock； and of a Bull； and of a lady； and of a sovereign；
was that the Terewth？ No。 Or； if it was partly； was it wholly； and
entirely？ No； my friends； no！”
If Mr Snagsby could withstand his little woman’s look； as it
enters at his eyes； the windows of his soul； and searches the whole
tenement； he were other than the man he is。 He cowers and
droops。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 501…
Bleak House 501
“Or； my juvenile friends；” says Chadband； descending to the
level of their comprehension； with a very obtrusive demonstration；
in his greasily meek smile； of coming a long way downstairs for the
purpose； “if the master of this house was to go forth into the city
and there see an eel； and was to come back； and was to call untoe
him the mistress of this house； and was to say； ‘Sarah； rejoice with
me； for I have seen an elephant！’ would that be Terewth？”
Mrs Snagsby in tears。
“Or put it； my juvenile friends； that he saw an elephant； and
returning said ‘Lo； the city is barren； I have seen but an eel；’ would
that be Terewth？”
Mrs Snagsby sobbing loudly。
“Or put it； my juvenile friends；” says Chadband； stimulated by
the sound； “that the unnatural parents of this slumbering
Heathen—for parents he had； my juvenile friends； beyond a
doubt—after casting him forth to the wolves and the vultures； and
the wild dogs and the young gazelles； and the serpents； went back
to their dwellings and had their pipes； and their pots； and their
flutings and their dancings； and their malt liquors； and their
butcher’s meat and poultry； would that be Terewth！”
Mrs Snagsby replies by delivering herself a prey to spasms； not
an unresisting prey； but a crying and a tearing one； so that Cook’s
Court re…echoes with her shrieks。 Finally； becoming cataleptic； she
has to be carried up the narrow staircase like a grand piano。 After
unspeakable suffering； productive of the utmost consternation；
she is pronounced； by expresses from the bedroom； free from pain；
though much exhausted； in which state of affairs Mr Snagsby；
trampled and crushed in the piano…forte removal； and extremely
timid and feeble； ventures to come out from behind the door in the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 502…
Bleak House 502
drawing…room。
All this time； Jo has been standing on the spot where he woke
up； ever picking his cap； and putting bits of fur in his mouth。 He
spits them out with a remorseful air； for he feels that it is in his
nature to be an unimprovable reprobate； and that it’s no good his
trying to keep awake； for he won’t never know nothink。 Though it
may be； Jo； that there is a history so interesting and affecting even
to minds as near the brutes as thine； recording deeds done on this
earth for common men； that if the Chadbands； removing their own
persons from the light； would but show it thee in simple reverence；
would but leave it unimproved； would but regard it as being
eloquent enough without their modest aid—it might hold thee
awake； and thou might learn from it yet！
Jo never heard of any such book。 Its compilers； and the
Reverend Chadband； are all one to him—except that he knows the
Reverend Chadband； and would rather run away from him for an
hour than hear him talk for five minutes。 “It an’t no good my
waiting here no longer；” thinks Jo。 “Mr Snagsby an’t a going to say
nothink to me tonight。” And downstairs he shuffles。
But downstairs is the charitable Guster； holding by the hand…
rail of the kitchen stairs； and warding off a fit； as yet doubtfully；
the same having been induced by Mrs Snagsby’s screaming。 She
has her own supper of bread and cheese to hand to Jo； with whom
