bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第164节
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And my Guardian put a letter in my hand； without any ordinary
beginning such as “My dear Jarndyce；” but rushing at once into
the words； “I swear if Miss Summerson do not come down and
take possession of my house； which I vacate for her this day at one
o’clock； p。m。；” and then with the utmost seriousness； and in the
most emphatic terms； going on to make the extraordinary
declaration he had quoted。 We did not appreciate the writer the
less for laughing heartily over it； and we settled that I should send
him a letter of thanks on the morrow； and accept his offer。 It was a
most agreeable one to me； for all the places I could have thought
of； I should have liked to go to none so well as Chesney Wold。
“Now； little housewife；” said my Guardian； looking at his watch；
“I was strictly timed before I came upstairs； for you must not be
tired too soon； and my time has waned away to the last minute。 I
have one other petition。 Little Miss Flite； hearing a rumour that
you were ill； made nothing of walking down here—twenty miles；
poor soul； in a pair of dancing shoes—to inquire。 It was Heaven’s
mercy we were at home； or she would have walked back again。”
The old conspiracy to make me happy！ Everybody seemed to be
in it！
“Now； pet；” said my Guardian； “if it would not be irksome to
you to admit the harmless little creature one afternoon； before you
save Boythorn’s otherwise devoted house from demolition； I
believe you would make her prouder and better pleased with
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herself than I—though my eminent name is Jarndyce—could do in
a lifetime。”
I have no doubt he knew there would be something in the
simple image of the poor afflicted creature； that would fall like a
gentle lesson on my mind at that time。 I felt it as he spoke to me。 I
could not tell him heartily enough how ready I was to receive her。
I had always pitied her； never so much as now。 I had always been
glad of my little power to soothe her under her calamity； but
never； never； half so glad before。
We arranged a time for Miss Flite to come out by the coach； and
share my early dinner。 When my Guardian left me； I turned my
face away upon my couch； and prayed to be forgiven if I；
surrounded by such blessings； had magnified to myself the little
trial that I had to undergo。 The childish prayer of that old
birthday； when I had aspired to be industrious； contented； and
true…hearted； and to do some good to some one； and win some love
to myself if I could； came back into my mind with a reproachful
sense of all the happiness I had since enjoyed； and all the
affectionate hearts that had been turned towards me。 If I were
weak now； what had I profited by those mercies？ I repeated the
old childish prayer in its old childish words； and found that its old
peace had not departed from it。
My Guardian now came every day。 In a week or so more； I
could walk about our rooms； and hold long talks with Ada from
behind the window…curtain。 Yet I never saw her； for I had not as
yet the courage to look at the dear face； though I could have done
so easily without her seeing me。
On the appointed day Miss Flite arrived。 The poor little
creature ran into my room quite forgetful of her usual dignity； and
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crying from her very heart of hearts； “My dear Fitz…Jarndyce！” fell
upon my neck and kissed me twenty times。
“Dear me！” said she； putting her hand into her reticule； “I have
nothing here but documents； my dear Fitz…Jarndyce； I must
borrow a pocket…handkerchief。”
Charley gave her one； and the good creature certainly made use
of it； for she held it to her eyes with both hands； and sat so；
shedding tears for the next ten minutes。
“With pleasure； my dear Fitz…Jarndyce；” she was careful to
explain。 “Not the least pain。 Pleasure to see you well again。
Pleasure at having the honour of being admitted to see you。 I am
so much fonder of you； my love； than of the Chancellor。 Though I
do attend court regularly。 By the bye； my dear； mentioning pocket…
handkerchiefs—” Miss Flite here looked at Charley； who had been
to meet her at the place where the coach stopped。 Charley glanced
at me； and looked unwilling to pursue the suggestion。
“Ve…ry right！” said Miss Flite； “ve…ry correct。 Truly！ Highly
indiscreet of me to mention it； but my dear Miss Fitz…Jarndyce； I
am afraid I am at times （between ourselves； you wouldn’t think it）
a little—rambling you know；” said Miss Flite； touching her
forehead。 “Nothing more。”
“What were you going to tell me？” said I； smiling； for I saw she
wanted to go on。 “You have roused my curiosity； and now you
must gratify it。”
Miss Flite looked at Charley for advice in this important crisis；
who said； “If you please； ma’am； you had better tell them；” and
therein gratified Miss Flite beyond measure。
“So sagacious； our young friend；” said she to me； in her
mysterious way。 “Diminutive。 But ve…ry sagacious！ Well； my dear；
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it’s a pretty anecdote。 Nothing more。 Still I think it charming。 Who
should follow us down the road from the coach； my dear； but a
poor person in a very ungenteel bonnet—”
“Jenny； if you please； miss；” said Charley。
“Just so！” Miss Flite acquiesced with the greatest suavity。
“Jenny。 Ye…es！ And what does she tell our young friend； but that
there has been a lady with a veil inquiring at her cottage after my
dear Fitz…Jarndyce’s health； and taking a handkerchief away with
her as a little keepsake； merely because it was my amiable Fitz…
Jarndyce’s！ Now； you know； so very prepossessing in the lady with
the veil！”
“If you please； miss；” said Charley； to whom I looked in some
astonishment； “Jenny says that when her baby died； you left a
handkerchief there； and that she put it away and kept it with the
baby’s little things。 I think； if you please； partly because it was
yours； miss； and partly because it had covered the baby。”
“Diminutive；” whispered Miss Flite； making a variety of
motions about her own forehead to express intellect in Charley。
“But exceedingly sagacious！ And so clear！ My love； she’s clearer
than any counsel I ever heard！”
“Yes； Charley；” I returned。 “I remember it。 Well？”
“Well； miss；” said Charley； “and that’s the handkerchief the
lady took。 And Jenny wants you to know that she wouldn’t have
made away with it herself for a heap of money； but that the lady
took it； and left some money instead。 Jenny don’t know her at all；
if you please； miss。”
“Why； who can she be？” said I。
“My love；” Miss Flite suggested； advancing her lips to my ear；
with her most mysterious look； “in my opinion—don’t mention this
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to our diminutive friend—she’s the Lord Chancellor’s wife。 He’s
married； you know。 And I understand she leads him a terrible life。
Throws his lordship’s papers into the fire； my dear； if he won’t pay
the jeweller！”
I did not think very much about this lady then； for I had an
impression that it might be Caddy。 Besides； my
