bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第21节
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all be ruining one another； without knowing how or why； and be in
constant doubt and discord all our lives。 It seems very strange； as
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there must be right somewhere； that an honest judge in real
earnest has not been able to find out through all these years where
it is。”
“Ah； cousin！” said Richard。 “Strange indeed！ all this wasteful
wanton chess…playing is very strange。 To see that composed court
yesterday jogging on so serenely； and to think of the wretchedness
of the pieces on the board； gave me the headache and the
heartache both together。 My head ached with wondering how it
happened； if men were neither fools nor rascals； and my heart
ached to think they could possibly be either。 But at all events；
Ada—I may call you Ada？”
“Of course you may； cousin Richard。”
“At all events； Ada； Chancery will work none of its bad
influence on us。 We have happily been brought together； thanks to
our good kinsman； and it can’t divide us now！”
“Never； I hope； cousin Richard！” said Ada； gently。
Miss Jellyby gave my arm a squeeze； and me a very significant
look。 I smiled in return； and we made the rest of the way back very
pleasantly。
In half…an…hour after our arrival； Mrs Jellyby appeared； and in
the course of an hour the various things necessary for breakfast
straggled one by one into the dining…room。 I do not doubt that Mrs
Jellyby had gone to bed； and got up in the usual manner； but she
presented no appearance of having changed her dress。 She was
greatly occupied during breakfast； for the morning’s post brought
a heavy correspondence relative to Borrioboola…Gha； which would
occasion her （she said） to pass a busy day。 The children tumbled
about； and notched memoranda of their accidents in their legs；
which were perfect little calendars of distress； and Peepy was lost
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for an hour and a half； and brought home from Newgate market
by a policeman。 The equable manner in which Mrs Jellyby
sustained both his absence； and his restoration to the family circle；
surprised us all。
She was by that time perseveringly dictating to Caddy； and
Caddy was fast relapsing into the inky condition in which we had
found her。 At one o’clock an open carriage arrived for us； and a
cart for our luggage。 Mrs Jellyby charged us with many
remembrances to her good friend； Mr Jarndyce； Caddy left her
desk to see us depart； kissed me in the passage； and stood； biting
her pen； and sobbing on the steps； Peepy； I am happy to say； was
asleep； and spared the pain of separation （I was not without
misgivings that he had gone to Newgate market in search of me）；
and all the other children got up behind the barouche and fell off；
and we saw them； with great concern； scattered over the surface of
Thavies Inn； as we rolled out of its precincts。
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Chapter 6
Quite At Home。
he day had brightened very much； and still brightened as
we went westward。 We went our way through the
T
sunshine and the fresh air； wondering more and more at
the extent of the streets； the brilliancy of the shops； the great
traffic； and the crowds of people whom the pleasanter weather
seemed to have brought out like many…coloured flowers。 By…and…
by we began to leave the wonderful city； and to proceed through
suburbs which； of themselves； would have made a pretty large
town； in my eyes； and at last we got into a real country road again；
with windmills； rickyards； milestones； farmers’ waggons； scents of
old hay； swinging signs and horse troughs： trees； fields； and
hedgerows。 It was delightful to see the green landscape before us；
and the immense metropolis behind； and when a waggon； with a
train of beautiful horses； furnished with red trappings and clear…
sounding bells； came by us with its music； I believe we could all
three have sung to the bells； so cheerful were the influences
around。
“The whole road has been reminding me of my namesake
Whittington；” said Richard； “and that waggon is the finishing
touch。 Halloa！ what’s the matter？”
We had stopped； and the waggon had stopped too。 Its music
changed as the horses came to a stand； and subsided to a gentle
tinkling； except when a horse tossed his head or shook himself；
and sprinkled off a little shower of bell…ringing。
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“Our postilion is looking after the waggoner；” said Richard；
“and the waggoner is coming back after us。 Good day； friend！” The
waggoner was at our coach…door。 “Why； here’s an extraordinary
thing！” added Richard； looking closely at the man。 “He’s got your
name； Ada； in his hat！” He had all our names in his hat。 Tucked
within the band； were three small notes； one； addressed to Ada；
one； to Richard； one； to me。 These the waggoner delivered to each
of us respectively； reading the name aloud first。 In answer to
Richard’s inquiry from whom they came； he briefly answered；
“Master； sir； if you please；” and； putting on his hat again （which
was like a soft bowl）； cracked his whip； reawakened his music； and
went melodiously away。
“Is that Mr Jarndyce’s waggon？” said Richard； calling to our
postboy。
“Yes； sir；” he replied。 “Going to London。”
We opened the notes。 Each was a counterpart of the other； and
contained these words； in a solid； plain hand。
I look forward； my dear； to our meeting easily； and without
constraint on either side。 I therefore have to propose that we meet
as old friends； and take the past for granted。 It will be a relief to
you possibly； and to me certainly； and so my love to you。
John Jarndyce。
I had perhaps less reason to be surprised than either of my
companions； having never yet enjoyed an opportunity of thanking
one who had been my benefactor and sole earthly dependence
through so many years。 I had not considered how I could thank
him； my gratitude lying too deep in my heart for that； but I now
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began to consider how I could meet him without thanking him；
and felt it would be very difficult indeed。
The notes revived； in Richard and Ada； a general impression
that they both had； without quite knowing how they came by it；
that their cousin Jarndyce could never bear acknowledgments for
any kindness he performed； and that； sooner than receive any； he
would resort to the most singular expedients and evasions； or
would even run away。 Ada dimly remembered to have heard her
mother tell； when she was a very little child； that he had once done
her an act of uncommon generosity； and that on her going to his
house to thank him； he happened to see her through a window
coming to the door； and immediately escaped by the back gate；
and was not heard of for three months。 This discourse led to a
great deal more on the same theme； and indeed it lasted us all day；
