bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第145节
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no Won’t—simply Can’t。”
“You can’t recommend anything for the boy； I suppose？” said
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my Guardian； looking back over his shoulder； half angrily； only
half angrily； for he never seemed to consider Mr Skimpole an
accountable being。
“My dear Jarndyce； I observed a bottle of cooling medicine in
his pocket； and it’s impossible for him to do better than take it。
You can tell them to sprinkle a little vinegar about the place where
he sleeps； and to keep it moderately cool； and him moderately
warm。 But it’s mere impertinence in me to offer any
recommendation。 Miss Summerson has such a knowledge of detail
and such a capacity for the administration of detail； that she
knows all about it。”
We went back into the hall； and explained to Jo what we
proposed to do； which Charley explained to him again； and which
he received with the languid unconcern I had already noticed；
wearily looking on at what was done； as if it were for somebody
else。 The servants compassionating his miserable state； and being
very anxious to help； we soon got the loft…room ready； and some of
the men about the house carried him across the wet yard； well
wrapped up。 It was pleasant to observe how kind they were to
him； and how there appeared to be a general impression among
them that frequently calling him “Old Chap；” was likely to revive
his spirits。 Charley directed the operations； and went to and fro
between the loft…room and the house with such little stimulants
and comforts as we thought it safe to give him。 My Guardian
himself saw him before he was left for the night； and reported to
me； when he returned to the Growlery to write a letter on the
boy’s behalf； which a messenger was charged to deliver at daylight
in the morning； that he seemed easier； and inclined to sleep。 They
had fastened his door on the outside； he said； in case of his being
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delirious； but had so arranged that he could not make any noise
without being heard。
Ada being in our room with a cold； Mr Skimpole was left alone
all this time； and entertained himself by playing snatches of
pathetic airs； and sometimes singing to them （as we heard at a
distance） with great expression and feeling。 When we rejoined him
in the drawing…room he said he would give us a little ballad； which
had come into his head； “apropos of our young friend；” and he
sang one about a Peasant boy；
“Thrown on the wide world； doom’d to wander and roam；
Bereft of his parents； bereft of a home；”
quite exquisitely。 It was a song that always made him cry； he told
us。
He was extremely gay all the rest of the evening： “for he
absolutely chirped；” those were his delighted words； “when he
thought by what a happy talent for business he was surrounded。”
He gave us； in his glass of negus； “Better health to our young
friend！” and supposed； and gaily pursued； the case of his being
reserved like Whittington to become Lord Mayor of London。 In
that event； no doubt； he would establish the Jarndyce Institution
and the Summerson Alm…houses； and a little annual Corporation
Pilgrimage to St。 Alban’s。 He had no doubt； he said； that our
young friend was an excellent boy in his way； but his way was not
the Harold Skimpole way； what Harold Skimpole was； Harold
Skimpole had found himself； to his considerable surprise； when he
first made his own acquaintance； he had accepted himself with all
his failings； and had thought it sound philosophy to make the best
of the bargain； and he hoped we would do the same。
Charley’s last report was； that the boy was quiet。 I could see；
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from my window； the lantern they had left him burning quietly；
and I went to bed very happy to think that he was sheltered。
There was more movement and more talking than usual a little
before daybreak； and it awoke me。 As I was dressing； I looked out
of my window； and asked one of our men who had been among the
active sympathisers last night； whether there was anything wrong
about the house。 The lantern was still burning in the loft…window。
“It’s the boy； miss；” said he。
“Is he worse？” I inquired。
“Gone； miss。”
“Dead！”
“Dead； miss？ No。 Gone clean off。”
At what time of the night he had gone； or how； or why； it
seemed hopeless ever to divine。 The door remaining as it had been
left； and the lantern standing in the window； it could only be
supposed that he had got out by a trap in the floor which
communicated with an empty cart…house below。 But he had shut it
down again； if that were so； and it looked as if it had not been
raised。 Nothing of any kind was missing。 On this fact being clearly
ascertained； we all yielded to the painful belief that delirium had
come upon him in the night； and that； allured by some imaginary
object； or pursued by some imaginary horror； he had strayed away
in that worse than helpless state；—all of us； that is to say； but Mr
Skimpole； who repeatedly suggested； in his usual easy light style；
that it had occurred to our young friend that he was not a safe
inmate； having a bad kind of fever upon him； and that he had； with
great natural politeness； taken himself off。
Every possible inquiry was made； and every place was
searched。 The brick kilns were examined； the cottages were
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visited； the two women were particularly questioned； but they
knew nothing of him； and nobody could doubt that their wonder
was genuine。 The weather had for some time been too wet； and
the night itself had been too wet； to admit of any tracing by
footsteps。 Hedge and ditch； and wall； and rick and stack； were
examined by our men for a long distance round； lest the boy
should be lying in such a place insensible or dead； but nothing was
seen to indicate that he had ever been near。 From the time when
he was left in the loft…room； he vanished。
The search continued for five days。 I do not mean that it ceased；
even then； but that my attention was then diverted into a current
very memorable to me。
As Charley was at her writing again in my room in the evening；
and as I sat opposite to her at work； I felt the table tremble。
Looking up I saw my little maid shivering from head to foot。
“Charley；” said I “are you so cold？”
“I think I am； miss；” she replied。 “I don’t know what it is。 I can’t
hold myself still。 I felt so yesterday； at about this same time； miss。
Don’t be uneasy； I think I’m ill。”
I heard Ada’s voice outside； and I hurried to the door of
communication between my room and our pretty sitting…room；
and locked it。 Just in time； for she tapped at it while my hand was
yet upon the key。
Ada called to me to let her in； but I said； “Not now； my dearest。
Go away。 There’s nothing the matter； I will come to you
presently。” Ah！ it was a long； long time； before my darling girl and
I were companions again。
Charley fell ill。 In twelve hours she was very ill。 I moved her to
my room； and laid her in my bed； and sat down quietly to nurse
Charles Dickens
