bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第231节
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 961
times； looking up； and narrowly missed encountering Mr Vholes；
who came out of his office while we were there； and turned his
head to look up too； before going home。 The sight of his lank black
figure； and the lonesome air of that nook in the dark； were
favourable to the state of my mind。 I thought of the youth and love
and beauty of my dear girl； shut up in such an ill…assorted refuge；
almost as if it were a cruel place。
It was very solitary and very dull； and I did not doubt that I
might safely steal upstairs。 I left Charley below and went up with a
light foot； not distressed by any glare from the feeble oil lanterns
on the way。 I listened for a few moments； and in the musty rotting
silence of the house； believed that I could hear the murmur of
their young voices。 I put my lips to the hearse…like panel of the
door； as a kiss for my dear； and came quietly down again； thinking
that one of these days I would confess to the visit。
And it really did me good； for； though nobody but Charley and I
knew anything about it； I somehow felt as if it had diminished the
separation between Ada and me； and had brought us together
again for those moments。 I went back； not quite accustomed yet to
the change； but all the better for that hovering about my darling。
My Guardian had come home； and was standing thoughtfully
by the dark window。 When I went in； his face cleared and he came
to his seat； but he caught the light upon my face as I took mine。
“Little woman；” said he。 “You have been crying。”
“Why； yes； Guardian；” said I； “I am afraid I have been a little。
Ada has been in such distress； and is so very sorry； Guardian。”
I put my arm on the back of his chair； and I saw in his glance
that my words； and my look at her empty place； had prepared him。
“Is she married； my dear？”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 962
I told him all about it； and how her first entreaties had referred
to his forgiveness。
“She has no need of it；” said he。 “Heaven bless her and her
husband！” But just as my first impulse had been to pity her； so
was his。 “Poor girl； poor girl！ Poor Rick！ Poor Ada！”
Neither of us spoke after that； until he said with a sigh； “Well；
well； my dear！ Bleak House is thinning fast。”
“But its mistress remains； Guardian。” Though I was timid
about saying it； I ventured because of the sorrowful tone in which
he had spoken。 “She will do all she can to make him happy；” said
I。
“She will succeed； my love！”
The letter had made no difference between us； except that the
seat by his side had come to be mine； it made none now。 He
turned his old bright fatherly look upon me； laid his hand on my
hand in his old way； and said again； “She will succeed； my dear。
Nevertheless； Bleak House is thinning fast； O little woman！”
I was sorry presently that this was all we said about that。 I was
rather disappointed。 I feared I might not quite have been all I had
meant to be； since the letter and the answer。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 963
Chapter 52
Obstinacy
ut one other day had intervened； when； early in the
Bmorning as we were going to breakfast； Mr Woodcourt
came in haste with the astounding news that a terrible
murder had been committed； for which Mr George had been
apprehended and was in custody。 When he told us that a large
reward was offered by Sir Leicester Dedlock for the murderer’s
apprehension； I did not in my first consternation understand why；
but a few more words explained to me that the murdered person
was Sir Leicester’s lawyer； and immediately my mother’s dread of
him rushed into my remembrance。
This unforeseen and violent removal of one whom she had long
watched and distrusted； and who had long watched and distrusted
her； one for whom she could have had few intervals of kindness；
always dreading in him a dangerous and secret enemy； appeared
so awful； that my first thoughts were of her。 How appalling to hear
of such a death； and be able to feel no pity！ How dreadful to
remember； perhaps； that she had sometimes even wished the old
man away； who was so swiftly hurried out of life！
Such crowding reflections； increasing the distress and fear I
always felt when the name was mentioned； made me so agitated
that I could scarcely hold my place at the table。 I was quite unable
to follow the conversation； until I had had a little time to recover。
But when I came to myself； and saw how shocked my Guardian
was； and found that they were earnestly speaking of the suspected
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Bleak House 964
man； and recalling every favourable impression we had formed of
him； out of the good we had known of him； my interest and my
fears were so strongly aroused in his behalf that I was quite set up
again。
“Guardian； you don’t think it possible that he is justly
accused？”
“My dear； I can’t think so。 This man whom we have seen so
open…hearted and compassionate； who； with the might of a giant；
has the gentleness of a child； who looks as brave a fellow as ever
lived； and is so simple and quiet with it； this man justly accused of
such a crime？ I can’t believe it。 It’s not that I don’t or I won’t。 I
can’t！”
“And I can’t；” said Mr Woodcourt。 “Still； whatever we believe or
know of him； we had better not forget that some appearances are
against him。 He bore an animosity towards the deceased
gentleman。 He has openly mentioned it in many places。 He is said
to have expressed himself violently towards him； and he certainly
did about him； to my knowledge。 He admits that he was alone； on
the scene of the murder； within a few minutes of its commission。 I
sincerely believe him to be as innocent of any participation in it； as
I am； but these are all reasons for suspicion falling upon him。”
“True；” said my Guardian； and he added； turning to me； “it
would be doing him a very bad service； my dear； to shut our eyes
to the truth in any of these respects。”
I felt； of course； that we must admit； not only to ourselves but to
others； the full force of the circumstances against him。 Yet I knew
withal （I could not help saying） that their weight would not induce
us to desert him in his need。
“Heaven forbid！” returned my Guardian。 “We will stand by
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Bleak House 965
him； as he himself stood by the two poor creatures who are gone。”
He meant Mr Gridley and the boy； to both of whom Mr George had
given shelter。
Mr Woodcourt then told us that the trooper’s man had been
with him before day； after wandering about the streets all night
like a distracted creature。 That one of the trooper’s first anxieties
was that we should not suppose him guilty。 That he had charged
his messenger to represent his perfect innocence； with every
solemn assurance he could send us。 That Mr Woodcourt had only
quieted the man by undertaking to come to our house very early in
the morning； with these representations。 He added that he was
now upon his way to see the prisoner himself。
My Guardian said； directly； he would go too。 Now； besides that I
liked the retired soldier very much； and that he liked me； I had
that se
