bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第217节
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Bleak House 902
“By all means。”
“—I should prefer the course which will the soonest relieve you
of the incumbrance； and remove her from her present position。”
“And to speak as plainly；” she returns； with the same studied
carelessness； “so should I。 Do I understand that you will take her
with you？”
The iron gentleman makes an iron bow。
“Sir Leicester； will you ring？” Mr Tulkinghorn steps forward
from his window and pulls the bell。 “I had forgotten you。 Thank
you。” He makes his usual bow； and goes quietly back again。
Mercury； swift responsive； appears； receives instructions whom to
produce； skims away； produces the aforesaid； and departs。
Rosa has been crying； and is yet in distress。 On her coming in；
the ironmaster leaves his chair； takes her arm in his； and remains
with her near the door ready to depart。
“You are taken charge of； you see；” says my Lady； in her weary
manner； “and are going away well protected。 I have mentioned
that you are a very good girl； and you have nothing to cry for。”
“She seems after all；” observes Mr Tulkinghorn； loitering a
little forward with his hands behind him； “as if she were crying at
going away。”
“Why； she is not well…bred； you see；” returns Mr Rouncewell
with some quickness in his manner； as if he were glad to have the
lawyer to retort upon； “and she is an inexperienced little thing；
and knows no better。 If she had remained here； sir； she would
have improved； no doubt。”
“No doubt；” is Mr Tulkinghorn’s composed reply。
Rosa sobs out that she is very sorry to leave my Lady； and that
she was happy at Chesney Wold； and has been happy with my
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Lady； and that she thanks my Lady over and over again。 “Out； you
silly little puss！” says the ironmaster； checking her in a low voice；
though not angrily； “have a spirit； if you’re fond of Wat！” My Lady
merely waves her off with indifference； saying； “There； there；
child。 You are a good girl。 Go away！” Sir Leicester has
magnificently disengaged himself from the subject； and retired
into the sanctuary of his blue coat。 Mr Tulkinghorn； an indistinct
form against the dark street now dotted with lamps； looms in my
lady’s view； bigger and blacker than before。
“Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock；” says Mr Rouncewell； after a
pause of a few moments； “I beg to take my leave； with an apology
for having again troubled you； though not of my own act； on this
tiresome subject。 I can very well understand； I assure you； how
tiresome so small a matter must have become to Lady Dedlock。 If I
am doubtful of my dealing with it； it is only because I did not at
first quietly exert my influence to take my young friend here away；
without troubling you at all。 But it appeared to me—I dare say
magnifying the importance of the thing—that it was respectful to
explain to you how the matter stood； and candid to consult your
wishes and convenience。 I hope you will excuse my want of
acquaintance with the polite world。”
Sir Leicester considers himself evoked out of the sanctuary by
these remarks。 “Mr Rouncewell；” he returns； “do not mention it。
Justifications are unnecessary； I hope； on either side。”
“I am glad to hear it； Sir Leicester； and if I may by way of a last
word； revert to what I said before of my mother’s long connection
with the family； and the worth it bespeaks on both sides； I would
point out this little instance here on my arm； who shows herself so
affectionate and faithful in parting； and in whom my mother； I
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Bleak House 904
dare say； has done something to awaken such feelings—though of
course Lady Dedlock； by her heartfelt interest and her genial
condescension； has done much more！”
If he means this ironically； it may be truer than he thinks。 He
points it； however； by no deviation from his straightforward
manner of speech； though in saying it he turns towards that part
of the dim room where my Lady sits。 Sir Leicester stands to return
his parting salutation； Mr Tulkinghorn again rings。 Mercury takes
another flight； and Mr Rouncewell and Rosa leave the house。
Then lights are brought in； discovering Mr Tulkinghorn still
standing in his window with his hands behind him； and my Lady
still sitting with his figure before her； closing up her view of the
night as well as of the day。 She is very pale。 Mr Tulkinghorn
observing it as she rises to retire； thinks； “Well she may be！ The
power of this woman is astonishing。 She has been acting a part the
whole time。” But he can act a part too—his one unchanging
character—and as he holds the door open for this woman； fifty
pairs of eyes； each fifty times sharper than Sir Leicester’s pair；
should find no flaw in him。
Lady Dedlock dines alone in her own room today。 Sir Leicester
is whipped in to the rescue of the Doodle Party； and the
discomfiture of the Coodle Faction。 Lady Dedlock asks； on sitting
down to dinner； still deadly pale （and quite an illustration of the
debilitated cousin’s text）； whether he is gone out？ Yes。 Whether
Mr Tulkinghorn is gone yet？ No。 Presently she asks again； is he
gone yet？ No。 What is he doing？ Mercury thinks he is writing
letters in the library。 Would my Lady wish to see him？ Anything
but that。
But he wishes to see my Lady。 Within a few more minutes he is
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Bleak House 905
reported as sending his respects； and could my Lady please to
receive him for a word or two after her dinner？ My Lady will
receive him now。 He comes now； apologising for intruding； even
by her permission； while she is at table。 When they are alone； my
Lady waves her hand to dispense with such mockeries。
“What do you want； sir？”
“Why； Lady Dedlock；” says the lawyer； taking a chair at a little
distance from her； and slowly rubbing his rusty legs up and down；
up and down； up and down； “I am rather surprised by the course
you have taken。”
“Indeed？”
“Yes； decidedly。 I was not prepared for it。 I consider it a
departure from our agreement and your promise。 It puts us in a
new position； Lady Dedlock。 I feel myself under the necessity of
saying that I don’t approve of it。”
He stops in his rubbing； and looks at her； with his hands on his
knees。 Imperturbable and unchangeable as he is； there is still an
indefinable freedom in his manner； which is new； and which does
not escape this woman’s observation。
“I do not quite understand you。”
“O yes you do； I think。 I think you do。 Come； come； Lady
Dedlock； we must not fence and parry now。 You know you like this
girl。”
“Well； sir？”
“And you know—and I know—that you have not sent her away
for the reasons you have assigned； but for the purpose of
separating her as much as possible from—excuse my mentioning
it as a matter of business—any reproach and exposure that
impend over yourself。”
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Bleak House 906
“Well； sir？”
“Well； Lady Dedlock；” returns the lawyer； crossing his legs； and
nursing the uppermost knee； “I object to that； I consider that a
dangerous proceeding。 I know it to be unnecessary； and calculated
to awaken speculation；
