bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第133节
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！
“Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock； allow me to thank you for
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 553…
Bleak House 553
your attention； and only to observe that I shall very seriously
recommend my son to conquer his present inclinations。 Good
night！”
“Mr Rouncewell；” says Sir Leicester； with all the nature of a
gentleman shining in him； “it is late； and the roads are dark。 I
hope your time is not so precious but that you will allow my Lady
and myself to offer you the hospitality of Chesney Wold； for
tonight at least。”
“I hope so；” adds my Lady。
“I am much obliged to you； but I have to travel all night； in
order to reach a distant part of the country； punctually at an
appointed time in the morning。”
Therewith the ironmaster takes his departure； Sir Leicester
ringing the bell； and my Lady rising as he leaves the room。
When my Lady goes to her boudoir； she sits down thoughtfully
by the fire； and； inattentive to the Ghost’s Walk； looks at Rosa；
writing in an inner room。 Presently my Lady calls her。
“Come to me； child。 Tell me the truth。 Are you in love？”
“O！ My lady！”
My Lady； looking at the downcast and blushing face； says
smiling：
“Who is it？ Is it Mrs Rouncewell’s grandson？”
“Yes； if you please； my Lady。 But I don’t know that I am in love
with him—yet。”
“Yet； you silly little thing！ Do you know that he loves you； yet？”
“I think he likes me a little； my Lady。” And Rosa bursts into
tears。
Is this Lady Dedlock standing beside the village beauty；
smoothing her dark hair with that motherly touch； and watching
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 554…
Bleak House 554
her with eyes so full of musing interest？ Aye； indeed it is！
“Listen to me； child。 You are young and true； and I believe you
are attached to me。”
“Indeed I am； my Lady。 Indeed there is nothing in the world I
wouldn’t do； to show how much。”
“And I don’t think you would wish to leave me just yet； Rosa；
even for a lover。”
“No； my Lady！ O no！” Rosa looks up for the first time； quite
frightened at the thought。
“Confide in me； my child。 Don’t fear me。 I wish you to be happy；
and will make you so—if I can make anybody happy on this earth。”
Rosa； with fresh tears； kneels at her feet and kisses her hand。
My Lady takes the hand with which she has caught it； and；
standing with her eyes fixed on the fire； puts it about and about
between her own two hands； and gradually lets it fall。 Seeing her
so absorbed； Rosa softly withdraws； but still my Lady’s eyes are on
the fire。
In search of what？ Of any hand that is no more； of any hand
that never was； of any touch that might have magically changed
her life？ Or does she listen to the Ghost’s Walk； and think what
step does it most resemble？ A man’s？ A woman’s？ The pattering
of a little child’s feet； ever coming on…on…on？ Some melancholy
influence is upon her； or why should so proud a lady close the
doors； and sit alone upon the hearth so desolate？
Volumnia is away next day； and all the cousins are scattered
before dinner。 Not a cousin of the batch but is amazed to hear
from Sir Leicester； at breakfast time； of the obliteration of
landmarks； and opening of floodgates； and cracking of the
framework of society； manifested through Mrs Rouncewell’s son。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 555…
Bleak House 555
Not a cousin of the batch but is really indignant； and connects it
with the feebleness of William Buffy when in office； and really
does feel deprived of a stake in the country—or the pension list—
or something—by fraud and wrong。 As to Volumnia； she is handed
down the great staircase by Sir Leicester； as eloquent upon the
theme； as if there were a general rising in the North of England to
obtain her rouge…pot and pearl necklace。 And thus； with a clatter
of maids and valets—for it is one appurtenance of their cousinship；
that however difficult they may find it to keep themselves； they
must keep maids and valets—the cousins disperse to the four
winds of heaven； and the one wintry wind that blows today shakes
a shower from the trees near the deserted house； as if all the
cousins had been changed into leaves。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 556…
Bleak House 556
Chapter 29
The Young Man
hesney Wold is shut up； carpets are rolled into great
scrolls in corners of comfortless rooms； bright damask
C
does penance in brown holland； carving and gilding puts
on mortification； and the Dedlock ancestors retire from the light of
day again。 Around and around the house the leaves fall thick—but
never fast； for they come circling down with a dead lightness that
is sombre and slow。 Let the gardener sweep and sweep the turf as
he will； and press the leaves into full barrows； and wheel them off；
still they lie ankle…deep。 Howls the shrill wind round Chesney
Wold； the sharp rain beats； the windows rattle； and the chimneys
growl。 Mists hide in the avenues； veil the points of view； and move
in funeral wise across the rising grounds。 On all the house there is
a cold； blank smell； like the smell of the little church； though
something dryer： suggesting that the dead and buried Dedlocks
walk there； in the long nights； and leave the flavour of their graves
behind them。
But the house in town； which is rarely in the same mind as
Chesney Wold at the same time； seldom rejoicing when it rejoices；
or mourning when it mourns； excepting when a Dedlock dies； the
house in town shines out awakened。 As warm and bright as so
much state may be； as delicately redolent of pleasant scents that
bear no trace of winter as hothouse flowers can make it； soft and
hushed； so that the ticking of the clocks and the crisp burning of
the fires alone disturb the stillness in the rooms； it seems to wrap
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 557…
Bleak House 557
those chilled bones of Sir Leicester’s in rainbow…coloured wool。
And Sir Leicester is glad to repose in dignified contentment before
the great fire in the library； condescendingly perusing the backs of
his books； or honouring the fine arts with a glance of approbation。
For he has his pictures； ancient and modern。 Some； of the Fancy
Ball School in which Art occasionally condescends to become a
master； which would be best catalogued like the miscellaneous
articles in a sale。 As； “Three high…backed chairs； a table and cover；
long…necked bottle （containing wine）； one flask； one Spanish
female’s costume； three…quarter face portrait of Miss Jogg the
model； and a suit of armour containing Don Quixote。” Or； “One
stone terrace （cracked）； one gondola in distance； one Venetian
senator’s dress complete； richly embroidered white satin costume
with profile portrait of Miss Jogg the model； one scimeter superbly
mounted in gold with jewelled handle； elaborate Moorish dress
（very rare）； and Othello。”
Mr Tulkinghorn comes and goes pretty often； there being estate
business to do； leases to be renewed； and so on。 He sees my
