bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第136节
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frame like a ripple over water； sees her lips shake； sees her
compose them by a great effort； sees her force herself back to the
knowledge of his presence； and of what he has said。 All this； so
quickly； that her exclamation and her dead condition seemed to
have passed away like the features of those long…preserved dead
bodies sometimes opened up in tombs； which； struck by the air
like lightning vanish in a breath。
“Your ladyship is acquainted with the name of Hawdon？”
“I have heard it before。”
“Name of any collateral； or remote branch of your ladyship’s
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family？”
“No。”
“Now； your ladyship；” says Mr Guppy； “I come to the last point
of the case； so far as I have got it up。 It’s going on； and I shall
gather it up closer and closer as it goes on。 Your ladyship must
know—if your ladyship don’t happen； by any chance to know
already—that there was found dead at the house of a person
named Krook； near Chancery Lane； some time ago； a law…writer in
great distress。 Upon which law…writer； there was an inquest； and
which law…writer was an anonymous character； his name being
unknown。 But； your ladyship； I have discovered； very lately； that
that law…writer’s name was Hawdon。”
“And what is that to me？”
“Aye； your ladyship； that’s the question！ Now； your ladyship； a
queer thing happened after that man’s death。 A lady started up； a
disguised lady； your ladyship； who went to look at the scene of
action； and went to look at his grave。 She hired a cross…sweeping
boy to show it her。 If your ladyship would wish to have the boy
produced in corroboration of this statement； I can lay my hand
upon him at any time。”
The wretched boy is nothing to my Lady； and she does not wish
to have him produced。
“Oh； I assure your ladyship it’s a very queer start indeed；” says
Mr Guppy。 “If you was to hear him tell about the rings that
sparkled on her fingers when she took her glove off； you’d think it
quite romantic。”
There are diamonds glittering on the hand that holds the
screen。 My Lady trifles with the screen； and makes them glitter
more； again with that expression which in other times might have
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been so dangerous to the young man of the name of Guppy。
“It was supposed； your ladyship； that he left no rag or scrap
behind him by which he could be possibly identified。 But he did。
He left a bundle of old letters。”
The screen still goes； as before。 All this time； her eyes never
once release him。
“They were taken and secreted。 And tomorrow night； your
ladyship； they will come into my possession。”
“Still I ask you； what is this to me？”
“Your ladyship； I conclude with that。” Mr Guppy rises。 “If you
think there’s enough； in this chain of circumstances put together—
in the undoubted strong likeness of this young lady to your
ladyship； which is a positive fact for a jury—in her having been
brought up by Miss Barbary—in Miss Barbary stating Miss
Summerson’s real name to be Hawdon—in your ladyship’s
knowing both these names very well—and in Hawdon’s dying as
he did—to give your ladyship a family interest in going further
into the case； I will bring those papers here。 I don’t know what
they are； except that they are old letters： I have never had them in
my possession yet。 I will bring those papers here； as soon as I get
them； and go over them for the first time with your ladyship。 I
have told your ladyship my object。 I have told your ladyship that I
should be placed in a very disagreeable situation； if any complaint
was made； and all is in strict confidence。”
Is this the full purpose of the young man of the name of Guppy；
or has he any other？ Do his words disclose the length； breadth；
depth； of his object and suspicion in coming here； or； if not； what
do they hide？ He is a match for my Lady there。 She may look at
him； but he can look at the table； and keep that witness…box face of
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Bleak House 568
his from telling anything。
“You may bring the letters；” says my Lady； “if you choose。”
“Your ladyship is not very encouraging； upon my word and
honour；” says Mr Guppy； a little injured。
“You may bring the letters；” she repeats； in the same tone； “if
you—please。”
“It shall be done。 I wish your ladyship good day。”
On a table near her is a rich bauble of a casket； barred and
clasped like an old strong chest。 She； looking at him still； takes it
to her and unlocks it。
“Oh！ I assure your ladyship I am not actuated by any motives of
that sort；” says Mr Guppy； “and I couldn’t accept of anything of
the kind。 I wish your ladyship good day； and am much obliged to
you all the same。”
So the young man makes his bow； and goes downstairs； where
the supercilious Mercury does not consider himself called upon to
leave his Olympus by the hall fire； to let the young man out。
As Sir Leicester basks in his library； and dozes over his
newspaper； is there no influence in the house to startle him； not to
say； to make the very trees at Chesney Wold fling up their knotted
arms； the very portraits frown； the very armour stir？
No。 Words； sobs； and cries； are but air； and air is so shut in and
shut out throughout the house in town； that sounds need be
uttered trumpet…tongued indeed by my Lady in her chamber； to
carry any faint vibration to Sir Leicester’s ears； and yet this cry is
in the house； going upward from a wild figure on its knees。
“O my child； my child！ Not dead in the first hours of her life； as
my cruel sister told me； but sternly nurtured by her； after she had
renounced me and my name！ O my child； O my child！”
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Chapter 30
Esther’s Narrative
ichard had been gone away some time； when a visitor
Rcame to pass a few days with us。 It was an elderly lady。 It
was Mrs Woodcourt； who； having come from Wales to stay
with Mrs Bayham Badger； and having written to my Guardian；
“by her son Allan’s desire；” to report that she had heard from him
and that he was well； “and sent his kind remembrances to all of
us；” had been invited by my Guardian to make a visit to Bleak
House。 She stayed with us nearly three weeks She took very
kindly to me； and was extremely confidential； so much so that
sometimes she almost made me uncomfortable。 I had no right； I
knew very well； to be uncomfortable because she confided in me；
and I felt it was unreasonable； still； with all I could do； I could not
quite help it。
She was such a sharp little lady； and used to sit with her hands
folded in each other； looking so very watchful while she talked to
me； that perhaps I found that rather irksome。 Or perhaps it was
her being so upright and trim； though I don’t think it was that；
because I though that quaintly pleasant。 Nor can it have been the
general expression of her face； which was very sparkling and
pretty for an old lady。 I don’t know what it was。 Or at least if I do；
now； I thought I did not th
