bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第199节
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very startling to me at the moment； and ever memorable to me in
what ensued from it； was to happen before this day was out。 Our
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Bleak House 826
guest was in such spirits on the way home； that I could do nothing
but listen to him and wonder at him； nor was I alone in this； for
Ada yielded to the same fascination。 As to my Guardian； the wind；
which had threatened to become fixed in the east when we left
Somers Town； veered completely round； before we were a couple
of miles from it。
Whether of questionable childishness or not； in any other
matters； Mr Skimpole had a child’s enjoyment of change and
bright weather。 In no way wearied by his sallies on the road； he
was in the drawing…room before any of us； and I heard him at the
piano while I was yet looking after my housekeeping； singing
refrains of barcaroles and drinking songs； Italian and German； by
the score。
We were all assembled shortly before dinner； and he was still at
the piano idly picking out in his luxurious way little strains of
music； and talking between whiles of finishing some sketches of
the ruined old Verulam wall； tomorrow； which he had begun a
year or two ago and had got tired of； when a card was brought in；
and my Guardian read aloud in a surprised voice：—
“Sir Leicester Dedlock！”
The visitor was in the room while it was yet turning round with
me； and before I had the power to stir。 If I had had it； I should
have hurried away。 I had not even the presence of mind； in my
giddiness； to retire to Ada in the window； or to see the window； or
to know where it was。 I heard my name； and found that my
Guardian was presenting me； before I could move to a chair。
“Pray be seated； Sir Leicester。”
“Mr Jarndyce；” said Sir Leicester in reply； as he bowed and
seated himself； “I do myself the honour of calling here—”
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Bleak House 827
“You do me the honour； Sir Leicester。”
“Thank you—of calling here on my road from Lincolnshire； to
express my regret that any cause of complaint； however strong；
that I may have against a gentleman who—who is known to you
and has been your host； and to whom therefore I will make no
further reference； should have prevented you； still more ladies
under your escort and charge； from seeing whatever little there
may be to gratify a polite and refined taste； at my house； Chesney
Wold。”
“You are exceedingly obliging； Sir Leicester； and on behalf of
those ladies （who are present） and for myself； I thank you very
much。”
“It is possible； Mr Jarndyce； that the gentleman to whom； for
the reasons I have mentioned I refrain from making further
allusion—it is possible； Mr Jarndyce； that the gentleman may have
done me the honour so far to misapprehend my character； as to
induce you to believe that you would not have been received by
my local establishment in Lincolnshire with that urbanity； that
courtesy； which its members are instructed to show to all ladies
and gentlemen who present themselves at that house。 I merely beg
to observe； sir； that the fact is the reverse。”
My Guardian delicately dismissed this remark without making
any verbal answer。
“It has given me pain； Mr Jarndyce；” Sir Leicester weightily
proceeded。 “I assure you； sir； it has given—Me—pain—to learn
from the housekeeper at Chesney Wold； that a gentleman who was
in your company in that part of the county； and who would appear
to possess a cultivated taste for the Fine Arts； was likewise
deterred； by some such cause； from examining the family pictures
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Bleak House 828
with that leisure； that attention； that care； which he might have
desired to bestow upon them； and which some of them might
possibly have repaid。” Here he produced a card； and read； with
much gravity and a little trouble； through his eyeglass； “Mr
Hirrold；—Herald—Harold—Skampling—Skumpling—I beg your
pardon；—Skimpole。”
“This is Mr Harold Skimpole；” said my Guardian； evidently
surprised。
“Oh！” exclaimed Sir Leicester； “I am happy to meet Mr
Skimpole； and to have the opportunity of tendering my personal
regrets。 I hope； sir； that when you again find yourself in my part of
the county； you will be under no similar sense of restraint。”
“You are very obliging； Sir Leicester Dedlock。 So encouraged； I
shall certainly give myself the pleasure and advantage of another
visit to your beautiful house。 The owners of such places as
Chesney Wold；” said Mr Skimpole； with his usual happy and easy
air； “are public benefactors。 They are good enough to maintain a
number of delightful objects for the admiration and pleasure of us
poor men； and not to reap all the admiration and pleasure that
they yield； is to be ungrateful to our benefactors。”
Sir Leicester seemed to approve of this sentiment highly。 “An
artist； sir？”
“No；” returned Mr Skimpole。 “A perfectly idle man。 A mere
amateur。”
Sir Leicester seemed to approve of this even more。 He hoped he
might have the good fortune to be at Chesney Wold when Mr
Skimpole next came down into Lincolnshire。 Mr Skimpole
professed himself much flattered and honoured。
“Mr Skimpole mentioned；” pursued Sir Leicester； addressing
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Bleak House 829
himself again to my Guardian： “mentioned to the housekeeper；
who； as he may have observed； is an old and attached retainer of
the family—”
（“That is； when I walked through the house the other day； on
the occasion of my going down to visit Miss Summerson and Miss
Clare；” Mr Skimpole airily explained to us。）
“That the friend with whom he had formerly been staying
there； was Mr Jarndyce。” Sir Leicester bowed to the bearer of the
name。 “And hence I became aware of the circumstance for which I
have professed my regret。 That this should have occurred to any
gentleman； Mr Jarndyce； but especially a gentleman formerly
known to Lady Dedlock； and indeed claiming some distant
connection with her； and for whom （as I learn from my Lady
herself） she entertains a high respect； does； I assure you； give—
Me—pain。”
“Pray say no more about it； Sir Leicester；” returned my
Guardian。 “I am very sensible； as I am sure we all are； of your
consideration。 Indeed the mistake was mine； and I ought to
apologise for it。”
I had not once looked up。 I had not seen the visitor； and had not
even appeared to myself to hear the conversation。 It surprises me
to find that I can recall it； for it seemed to make no impression on
me as it passed。 I heard them speaking； but my mind was so
confused； and my instinctive avoidance of this gentleman made his
presence so distressing to me； that I thought I understood nothing；
through the rushing in my head and the beating of my heart。
“I mentioned the subject to Lady Dedlock；” said Sir Leicester；
rising； “and my Lady informed me that she had had the pleasure
of exchanging a few words with Mr Jarndyce and his wards； on the
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