bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第275节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
“I have；” he answered。 “With such help from Mr Jarndyce； as
you who know him so well can imagine him to have rendered me； I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1145…
Bleak House 1145
have succeeded。”
“Heaven bless him for it；” said I； giving him my hand； “and
Heaven bless you in all you do！”
“I shall do it better for the wish；” he answered； “it will make me
enter on these new duties； as on another sacred trust from you。”
“Ah！ Richard！” I exclaimed involuntarily； “what will he do
when you are gone！”
“I am not required to go yet； I would not desert him； dear Miss
Summerson； even if I were。”
One other thing I felt it needful to touch upon； before he left
me。 I knew that I should not be worthier of the love I could not
take； if I reserved it。
“Mr Woodcourt；” said I； “you will be glad to know from my lips
before I say Good night； that in the future； which is clear and
bright before me； I am most happy； most fortunate； have nothing
to regret or to desire。”
It was indeed a glad hearing to him； he replied。
“From my childhood I have been；” said I； “the object of the
untiring goodness of the best of human beings； to whom I am so
bound by every tie of attachment； gratitude； and love； that nothing
I could do in the compass of a life could express the feelings of a
single day。”
“I share those feelings；” he returned； “You speak of Mr
Jarndyce。”
“You know his virtues well；” said I； “but few can know the
greatness of his character as I know it。 All its highest and best
qualities have been revealed to me in nothing more brightly； than
in the shaping out of that future in which I am so happy。 And if
your highest homage and respect had not been his already；—
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1146…
Bleak House 1146
which I know they are；—they would have been his； I think； on this
assurance； and in the feeling it would have awakened in you
towards him for my sake。”
He fervently replied； that indeed indeed they would have been。
I gave him my hand again。
“Good night；” I said； “Good…bye。”
“The first； until we meet tomorrow： the second； as a farewell to
this theme between us for ever？”
“Yes。”
“Good night； good…bye！”
He left me； and I stood at the dark window watching the street。
His love； in all its constancy and generosity； had come so suddenly
upon me； that he had not left me a minute when my fortitude gave
way again； and the street was blotted out by my rushing tears。
But they were not tears of regret and sorrow。 No。 He had called
me the beloved of his life； and had said I would be evermore as
dear to him as I was then； and I felt as if my heart would not hold
the triumph of having heard those words。 My first wild thought
had died away。 It was not too late to hear them； for it was not too
late to be animated by them to be good； true； grateful； and
contented。 How easy my path； how much easier than his！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1147…
Bleak House 1147
Chapter 62
Another Discovery
had not the courage to see any one that night。 I had not even
the courage to see myself； for I was afraid that my tears might
Ia little reproach me。 I went up to my room in the dark； and
prayed in the dark； and lay down in the dark to sleep。 I had no
need of any light to read my Guardian’s letter by； for I knew it by
heart。 I took it from the place where I kept it； and repeated its
contents by its own clear light of integrity and love； and went to
sleep with it on my pillow。
I was up very early in the morning； and called Charley to come
for a walk。 We bought flowers for the breakfast…table； and came
back and arranged them； and were as busy as possible。 We were
so early； that I had good time still for Charley’s lesson； before
breakfast； Charley （who was not in the least improved in the old
defective article of grammar） came through it with great applause；
and we were altogether very notable。 When my Guardian
appeared； he said； “Why； little woman； you look fresher than your
flowers！” And Mrs Woodcourt repeated and translated a passage
from the Mewlinwillinwodd； expressive of my being like a
mountain with the sun upon it。
This was all so pleasant； that I hope it made me more like the
mountain than I had been before。 After breakfast； I waited my
opportunity； and peeped about a little； until I saw my Guardian in
his own room—the room of last night—by himself。 Then I made an
excuse to go in with my housekeeping keys； shutting the door after
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1148…
Bleak House 1148
me。
“Well； Dame Durden？” said my Guardian； the post had brought
him several letters； and he was writing。 “You want money！”
“No； indeed； I have plenty in hand。”
“There never was such a Dame Durden；” said my Guardian；
“for making money last。”
He had laid down his pen； and leaned back in his chair looking
at me。 I have often spoken of his bright face； but I thought I had
never seen it look so bright and good。 There was a high happiness
upon it； which made me think； “he has been doing some great
kindness this morning。”
“There never was；” said my Guardian； musing as he smiled
upon me； “such a Dame Durden for making money last。”
He had never yet altered his old manner。 I loved it； and him； so
much； that when I now went up to him and took my usual chair；
which was always put at his side—for sometimes I read to him；
and sometimes I talked to him； and sometimes I silently worked by
him—I hardly liked to disturb it by laying my hand on his breast。
But I found I did not disturb it at all。
“Dear Guardian；” said I； “I want to speak to you。 Have I been
remiss in anything？”
“Remiss in anything； my dear！”
“Have I not been what I have meant to be； since—I brought the
answer to your letter； Guardian？”
“You have been everything I could desire； my love。”
“I am very glad indeed to hear that；” I returned。 “You know；
you said to me； was this the mistress of Bleak House？ And I said；
yes。”
“Yes；” said my Guardian； nodding his head。 He had put his arm
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1149…
Bleak House 1149
about me； as if there were something to protect me from； and
looked into my face； smiling。
“Since then；” said I； “we have never spoken on the subject
except once。”
“And then I said； Bleak House was thinning fast； and so it was；
my dear。”
“And I said；” I timidly reminded him； “but its mistress
remained。”
He still held me in the same protecting manner； and with the
same bright goodness in his face。
“Dear Guardian；” said I； “I know how you have felt all that has
happened； and how considerate you have been。 As so much time
has passed； and as you spoke only this morning of my being so
well again； perhaps you expect me to renew the subject。 Perhaps I
ought to do so。 I will be the mistress of Bleak House when you
please。”
“See！” he returned gaily； “what a sympathy there must be
between us！ I have had nothing else； poor Rick excepted—it’s a
large exception—in my mind。 When you came in； I was full of it。
When shall we giv
