bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第166节
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mentioned。 Ve…ry strong influence； is it not？ Well； my dear； there
has been a terrible shipwreck over in those East…Indian seas。”
“Mr Woodcourt shipwrecked！”
“Don’t be agitated； my dear。 He is safe。 An awful scene。 Death
in all shapes。 Hundreds of dead and dying。 Fire； storm； and
darkness。 Numbers of the drowning thrown upon a rock。 There；
and through it all； my dear physician was a hero。 Calm and brave；
through everything。 Saved many lives； never complained in
hunger and thirst； wrapped naked people in his spare clothes； took
the lead； showed them what to do； governed them； tended the sick；
buried the dead； and brought the poor survivors safely off at last！
My dear the poor emaciated creatures all but worshipped him。
They fell down at his feet； when they got to the land； and blessed
him。 The whole country rings with it。 Stay！ Where’s my bag of
documents？ I have got it there； and you shall read it； you shall
read it！”
And I did read all the noble history； though very slowly and
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imperfectly then； for my eyes were so dimmed that I could not see
the words； and I cried so much that I was many times obliged to
lay down the long account she had cut out of the newspaper。 I felt
so triumphant ever to have known the man who had done such
generous and gallant deeds； I felt such glowing exultation in his
renown； I so admired and loved what he had done； that I envied
the storm…worn people who had fallen at his feet and blessed him
as their preserver。 I could myself have kneeled down then； so far
away； and blessed him； in my rapture that he should be so truly
good and brave。 I felt that no one—mother； sister； wife—could
honour him more than I。 I did； indeed！
My poor little visitor made me a present of the account； and
when； as the evening began to close in； she rose to take her leave；
lest she should miss the coach by which she must return； she was
still full of the shipwreck； which I had not yet sufficiently
composed myself to understand in all its details。
“My dear；” said she； as she carefully folded up her scarf and
gloves； “my brave physician ought to have a Title bestowed upon
him。 And no doubt he will。 You are of that opinion？”
“That he well deserves one； yes。 That he would ever have one；
no。”
“Why not； Fitz…Jarndyce？” she asked； rather sharply。
I said it was not the custom in England to confer titles on men
distinguished by peaceful services； however good and great；
unless occasionally； when they consisted of the accumulation of
some very large amount of money。
“Why； good gracious；” said Miss Flite； “how can you say that？
Surely you know； my dear； that all the greatest ornaments of
England in knowledge； imagination； active humanity； and
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improvement of every sort； are added to its nobility！ Look round
you； my dear； and consider。 You must be rambling a little now； I
think； if you don’t know that this is the great reason why titles will
always last in the land！”
I am afraid she believed what she said； for there were moments
when she was very mad indeed。
And now I must part with the little secret I have thus far tried
to keep。 I had thought； sometimes； that Mr Woodcourt loved me；
and that if he had been richer； he would perhaps have told me that
he loved me； before he went away。 I had thought； sometimes； that
if he had done so； I should have been glad of it。 But； how much
better it was now； that this had never happened！ What should I
have suffered； if I had had to write to him； and tell him that the
poor face he had known as mine was quite gone from me； and that
I freely released him from his bondage to one whom he had never
seen！
O； it was so much better； as it was！ With a great pang mercifully
spared me； I could take back to my heart my childish prayer to be
all he had so brightly shown himself； and there was nothing to be
undone： no chain for me to break； or for him to drag； and I could
go； please God； my lowly way along the path of duty； and he could
go his nobler way upon its broader road； and though we were
apart upon the journey； I might aspire to meet him； unselfishly；
innocently； better far than he had thought me when I found some
favour in his eyes； at the journey’s end。
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Chapter 36
Chesney Wold
harley and I did not set off alone upon our expedition into
Lincolnshire。 My Guardian had made up his mind not to
C
lose sight of me until I was safe in Mr Boythorn’s house； so
he accompanied us； and we were two days upon the road。 I found
every breath of air； and every scent； and every flower and leaf and
blade of grass； and every passing cloud； and everything in nature；
more beautiful and wonderful to me than I had ever found it yet。
This was my first gain from my illness。 How little I had lost； when
the wide world was so full of delight for me。
My Guardian intending to go back immediately； we appointed；
on our way down； a day when my dear girl should come。 I wrote
her a letter； of which he took charge； and he left us within half an
hour of our arrival at our destination； on a delightful evening in
the early summer time。
If a good fairy had built the house for me with a wave of her
wand； and I had been a princess and her favoured godchild； I
could not have been more considered in it。 So many preparations
were made for me； and such an endearing remembrance was
shown of all my little tastes and likings； that I could have sat down；
overcome； a dozen times； before I had revisited half the rooms。 I
did better than that； however； by showing them all to Charley
instead。 Charley’s delight calmed mine； and after we had had a
walk in the garden； and Charley had exhausted her whole
vocabulary of admiring expressions； I was as tranquilly happy as I
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ought to have been。 It was a great comfort to be able to say to
myself after tea； “Esther； my dear； I think you are quite sensible
enough to sit down now； and write a note of thanks to your host。”
He had left a note of welcome for me； as sunny as his own face；
and had confided his bird to my care； which I knew to be his
highest mark of confidence。 Accordingly I wrote a little note to
him in London； telling him how all his favourite plants and trees
were looking； and how the most astonishing of birds had chirped
the honours of the house to me in the most hospitable manner；
and how； after singing on my shoulder； to the inconceivable
rapture of my little maid； he was then at roost in the usual corner
of his cage； but whether dreaming or no I could not report。 My
note finished and sent off to the post； I made myself very busy in
unpacking and arranging； and I sent Charley to bed in good time；
and told her I should want her no more that night。
For I had not yet looked in the glass； and had never asked to
have my own restored to me。 I knew this to be a weakness which
must be overcome； but I had always said to myself that I would
begin afresh； when I got to where I now was。 Therefore I had
wanted to be alone； and therefore I said； now alone in my o
