bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第22节
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great deal more on the same theme； and indeed it lasted us all day；
and we talked of scarcely anything else。 If we did； by any chance；
diverge into another subject； we soon returned to this； and
wondered what the house would be like； and when we should get
there； and whether we should see Mr Jarndyce as soon as we
arrived； or after a delay； and what he would say to us； and what we
should say to him； All of which we wondered about； over and over
again。
The roads were very heavy for the horses； but the pathway was
generally good； so we alighted and walked up all the hills； and
liked it so well that we prolonged our walk on the level ground
when we got to the top。 At Barnet there were other horses waiting
for us； but as they had only just been fed； we had to wait for them
too； and got a long fresh walk over a common and old battle field；
before the carriage came up。 These delays so protracted the
journey； that the short day was spent； and the long night had
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closed in； before we came to St。 Albans； near to which town Bleak
House was； we knew。
By that time we were so anxious and nervous； that even
Richard confessed； as we rattled over the stones of the old street；
to feeling an irrational desire to drive back again。 As to Ada and
me； whom he had wrapped up with great care； the night being
sharp and frosty； we trembled from head to foot。 When we turned
out of the town； round a corner； and Richard told us that the post…
boy； who had for a long time sympathised with our heightened
expectation； was looking back and nodding； we both stood up in
the carriage （Richard holding Ada； lest she should be jolted down）；
and gazed round upon the open country and the starlight night；
for our destination。 There was a light sparkling on the top of a hill
before us； and the driver； pointing to it with his whip and crying
“That’s Bleak House！” put his horses into a canter； and took us
forward at such a rate； uphill though it was； that the wheels sent
the road…drift flying about our heads like spray from a water…mill。
Presently we lost the light； presently saw it； presently lost it；
presently saw it； and turned into an avenue of trees； and cantered
up towards where it was beaming brightly。 It was in a window of
what seemed to be an old…fashioned house； with three peaks in the
roof in front； and a circular sweep leading to the porch。 A bell was
rung as we drew up； and amidst the sound of its deep voice in the
still air； and the distant barking of some dogs； and a gush of light
from the open door； and the smoking and steaming of the heated
horses； and the quickening beating of our own hearts； we alighted
in no inconsiderable confusion。
“Ada； my love； Esther； my dear； you are welcome。 I rejoice to
see you！ Rick； if I had a hand to spare at present； I would give it
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you！”
The gentleman who said these words in a clear； bright；
hospitable voice； had one of his arms round Ada’s waist； and the
other round mine； and kissed us both in a fatherly way； and bore
us across the hall into a ruddy little room； all in a glow with a
blazing fire。 Here he kissed us again； and opening his arms； made
us sit down side by side； on a sofa ready drawn out near the
hearth。 I felt that if we had been at all demonstrative； he would
have run away in a moment。
“Now； Rick！” said he； “I have a hand at liberty。 A word in
earnest is as good as a speech。 I am heartily glad to see you。 You
are at home。 Warm yourself！”
Richard shook him by both hands with an intuitive mixture of
respect and frankness； and only saying （though with an
earnestness that rather alarmed me； I was so afraid of Mr
Jarndyce’s suddenly disappearing）； “You are very kind； sir！ We
are very much obliged to you！” laid aside his hat and coat； and
came up to the fire。
“And how did you like the ride？” And how did you like Mrs
Jellyby； my dear？” said Mr Jarndyce to Ada。
While Ada was speaking to him in reply； I glanced （I need not
say with how much interest） at his face。 It was a handsome； lively；
quick face； full of change and motion； and his hair was a silvered
iron…grey。 I took him to be nearer sixty than fifty； but he was
upright； hearty； and robust。 From the moment of his first speaking
to us； his voice had connected itself with an association in my
mind that I could not define； but now； all at once； a something
sudden in his manner； and a pleasant expression in his eyes；
recalled the gentleman in the stage…coach； six years ago； on the
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memorable day of my journey to Reading。 I was certain it was he。 I
never was so frightened in my life as when I made the discovery；
for he caught my glance； and appearing to read my thoughts； gave
such a look at the door that I thought we had lost him。
However； I am happy to say he remained where he was； and
asked me what I thought of Mrs Jellyby？
“She exerts herself very much for Africa； sir；” I said。
“Nobly！” returned Mr Jarndyce。 “But you answer like Ada。”
Whom I had not heard。 “You all think something else； I see。”
“We rather thought；” said I； glancing at Richard and Ada； who
entreated me with their eyes to speak； “that perhaps she was a
little unmindful of her home。”
“Floored！” cried Mr Jarndyce。
I was rather alarmed again。
“Well！ I want to know your real thoughts； my dear。 I may have
sent you there on purpose。”
“We thought that； perhaps；” said I； hesitating； “it is right to
begin with the obligations of home； sir； and that； perhaps； while
those are overlooked and neglected； no other duties can possibly
be substituted for them。”
“The little Jellybys；” said Richard； coming to my relief； “are
really—I can’t help expressing myself strongly； sir—in a devil of a
state。”
“She means well；” said Mr Jarndyce； hastily。 “The wind’s in the
east。”
“It was in the north； sir； as we came down；” observed Richard。
“My dear Rick；” said Mr Jarndyce； poking the fire； “I’ll take an
oath it’s either in the east； or going to be。 I am always conscious of
an uncomfortable sensation now and then when the wind is
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blowing in the east。”
“Rheumatism； sir？” said Richard。
“I dare say it is； Rick。 I believe it is。 And so the little Jell—I had
my doubts about ’em—are in a—oh； Lord； yes； it’s easterly！” said
Mr Jarndyce。
He had taken two or three undecided turns up and down while
uttering these broken sentences； retaining the poker in one hand
and rubbing his hair with the other； with a good…natured vexation；
at once so whimsical and so loveable； that I am sure we were more
delighted with him than we could possibly have expressed in any
words。 He gave an arm to Ada and an arm to me； and bidding
Richard bring a candle； was leading the way out； when he
suddenly turned us all back again。
“Those little Jellybys。 Couldn’t you—didn’t you—now； if it had
rained sugar…plums； or three…cornered raspberry tarts； or anything
of that sort！” said Mr Jarndyce。
“O cousin —！” Ada hastily began。
“Good； my pretty pet。 I like cousin。 Cousin John； perhaps； is
better。”
“Then；
