bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第158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！
head as if the shower…bath were over； and looks disconsolately at
Mr George； who has turned quite white； and looks distressfully at
the grey cloak and straw bonnet。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 657…
Bleak House 657
“Mat；” says the trooper； in a subdued voice； addressing him；
but still looking at his wife； “I am sorry you take it so much to
heart； because I do hope it’s not so bad as that comes to。 I certainly
have； this morning； received this letter； which he reads aloud； “but
I hope it may be set right yet。 As to a rolling stone； why； what you
say is true。 I am a rolling stone； and I never rolled in anybody’s
way； I fully believe； that I rolled the least good to。 But it’s
impossible for an old vagabond comrade to like your wife and
family better than I like ’em； Mat； and I trust you’ll look upon me
as forgivingly as you can。 Don’t think I’ve kept anything from you。
I haven’t had the letter more than a quarter of an hour。”
“Old girl！” murmurs Mr Bagnet； after a short silence； “will you
tell him my opinion？”
“O！ Why didn’t he marry；” Mrs Bagnet answers； half laughing
and half crying； “Joe Pouch’s widder in North America？ Then he
wouldn’t have got himself into these troubles。”
“The old girl；” says Mr Bagnet； “puts it correct—why didn’t
you？”
“Well； she has a better husband by this time； I hope；” returns
the trooper。 “Anyhow； here I stand； this present day； not married
to Joe Pouch’s widder。 What shall I do？ You see all I have got
about me。 It’s not mine； it’s yours。 Give the word； and I’ll sell off
every morsel。 If I could have hoped it would have brought in
nearly the sum wanted； I’d have sold all long ago。 Don’t believe
that I’ll leave you or yours in the lurch； Mat。 I’d sell myself first。 I
only wish；” says the trooper； giving himself a disparaging blow in
the chest； “that I knew of anyone who’d buy such a second…hand
piece of old stores。”
Old girl；” murmurs Mr Bagnet； “give him another bit of my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 658…
Bleak House 658
mind。”
“George；” says the old girl； “you are not so much to be blamed；
on full consideration； except for ever taking this business without
the means。”
“And that was like me！” observed the penitent trooper； shaking
his head。 “Like me； I know。”
“Silence！ The old girl；” says Mr Bagnet； “is correct—in her way
of giving my opinions—hear me out！”
“That was when you never ought to have asked for the security；
George； and when you never ought to have got it； all things
considered。 But what’s done can’t be undone。 You are always an
honourable and straight…forward fellow； as far as lays in your
power； though a little flighty。 On the other hand； you can’t admit
but what it’s natural in us to be anxious； with such a thing hanging
over our heads。 So forget and forgive all round； George。 Come！
Forget and forgive all round！”
Mrs Bagnet； giving him one of her honest hands； and giving her
husband the other； Mr George gives each of them one of his； and
holds them while he speaks。
“I do assure you both； there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to
discharge this obligation。 But whatever I have been able to scrape
together； has gone every two months in keeping it up。 We have
lived plainly enough here； Phil and I。 But the Gallery don’t quite
do what was expected of it； and it’s not—in short； it’s not the Mint。
It was wrong in me to take it？ Well； so it was。 But I was in a
manner drawn into that step； and I thought it might steady me；
and set me up； and you’ll try to overlook my having such
expectations； and upon my soul； I am very much obliged to you；
and very much ashamed of myself。” With these concluding words；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 659…
Bleak House 659
Mr George gives a shake to each of the hands he holds； and；
relinquishing them； backs a pace or two； in a broad…chested
upright attitude； as if he had made a final confession； and were
immediately going to be shot with all military honours。
“George； hear me out！” says Mr Bagnet； glancing at his wife。
“Old girl； go on！”
Mr Bagnet； being in this singular manner heard out； has merely
to observe that the letter must be attended to without any delay；
that it is advisable that George and he should immediately wait on
Mr Smallweed in person； and that the primary object is to save
and hold harmless Mr Bagnet； who had none of the money。 Mr
George entirely assenting； puts on his hat； and prepares to march
with Mr Bagnet to the enemy’s camp。
“Don’t you mind a woman’s hasty word； George；” says Mrs
Bagnet； patting him on the shoulder。 “I trust my old Lignum to
you； and I am sure you’ll bring him through it。”
The trooper returns； that this is kindly said； and that he will
bring Lignum through it somehow。 Upon which Mrs Bagnet； with
her cloak； basket； and umbrella； goes home； bright…eyed again； to
the rest of her family； and the comrades sally forth on the hopeful
errand of mollifying Mr Smallweed。
Whether there are two people in England less likely to come
satisfactorily out of any negotiation with Mr Smallweed than Mr
George and Mr Matthew Bagnet； may be very reasonably
questioned。 Also； notwithstanding their martial appearance； broad
square shoulders； and heavy tread； whether there are； within the
same limits； two more simple and unaccustomed children； in all
the Smallweedy affairs of life。 As they proceed with great gravity
through the streets towards the region of Mount Pleasant； Mr
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 660…
Bleak House 660
Bagnet； observing his companion to be thoughtful； considers it a
friendly part to refer to Mrs Bagnet’s late sally。
“George； you know the old girl—she’s as sweet and as mild as
milk。 But touch her on the children—or myself—and she’s off like
gunpowder。”
“It does her credit； Mat！”
“George；” says Mr Bagnet； looking straight before him； “the old
girl—can’t do anything—that don’t do her credit。 More or less。 I
never say so。 Discipline must be maintained。”
“She’s worth her weight in gold；” returns the trooper。
“In gold？” says Mr Bagnet。 “I’ll tell you what。 The old girl’s
weight—is twelve stone six。 Would I take that weight—in any
metal—for the old girl？ No。 Why not？ Because the old girl’s metal
is far more precious—than the preciousest metal。 And she’s all
metal！”
“You are right； Mat！”
“When she took me—and accepted of the ring—she ‘listed
under me and the children—heart and head； for life。 She’s that
earnest；” says Mr Bagnet； “and true to her colours—that； touch us
with a finger—and she turns out—and stands to her arms。 If the
old girl fires wide—once in a way—at the call of duty—look over it；
George。 For she’s loyal！”
“Why bless her； Mat！” returns the trooper； “I think the higher
of her for it！”
“You are right！” says Mr Bagnet； with the warmest enthusiasm；
though without relaxing the rigidity of a single muscle。 “Think as
high of the old girl—as the rock of Gibraltar—and still you’ll be
thinking low—of such merits。 But I never own to it before her。
Discipline must be maintained。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 6
