bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第28节
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consequences！ Ha； ha； ha！”
It was so delicious to see the clouds about his bright face
clearing； and to see him so heartily pleased； and to know； as it was
impossible not to know； that the source of his pleasure was the
goodness which was tortured by condemning； or mistrusting； or
secretly accusing any one； that I saw the tears in Ada’s eyes； while
she echoed his laugh； and felt them in my own。
“Why； what a cod’s head and shoulders I am；” said Mr
Jarndyce； “to require reminding of it！ The whole business shows
the child from beginning to end。 Nobody but a child would have
thought of singling you two out for parties in the affair！ Nobody
but a child would have thought of your having the money！ If it had
been a thousand pounds； it would have been just the same！” said
Mr Jarndyce； with his whole face in a glow。
We all confirmed it from our night’s experience。
“To be sure； to be sure！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “However； Rick；
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Esther； and you too； Ada； for I don’t know that even your little
purse is safe from his inexperience—I must have a promise all
round； that nothing of this sort shall ever be done any more。 No
advances！ Not even sixpences。”
We all promised faithfully； Richard； with a merry glance at me；
touching his pocket； as if to remind me that there was no danger of
our transgressing。
“As to Skimpole；” said Mr Jarndyce； “a habitable doll’s house；
with good board； and a few tin people to get into debt with and
borrow money of； would set the boy up in life。 He is in a child’s
sleep by this time； I suppose； it’s time I should take my craftier
head to my more worldly pillow。 Good night； my dears。 God bless
you！”
He peeped in again； with a smiling face； before we had lighted
our candles； and said； “O！ I have been looking at the weather…cock。
I find it was a false alarm about the wind。 It’s in the south！” And
went away singing to himself。
Ada and I agreed； as we talked together for a little while
upstairs； that this caprice about the wind was a fiction； and that he
used the pretence to account for any disappointment he could not
conceal； rather than he would blame the real cause of it； or
disparage or depreciate any one。 We thought this very
characteristic of his eccentric gentleness； and of the difference
between him and those petulant people who make the weather
and the winds （particularly that unlucky wind which he had
chosen for such a different purpose） the stalking…horses of their
splenetic and gloomy humours。
Indeed； so much affection for him had been added in this one
evening to my gratitude； that I hoped I already began to
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understand him through that mingled feeling。 Any seeming
inconsistencies in Mr Skimpole； or in Mrs Jellyby； I could not
expect to be able to reconcile； having so little experience or
practical knowledge。 Neither did I try； for my thoughts were busy
when I was alone； with Ada and Richard； and with the confidence
I had seemed to receive concerning them。 My fancy； made a little
wild by the wind perhaps； would not consent to be all unselfish；
either； though I would have persuaded it to be so if I could。 It
wandered back to my godmother’s house； and came along the
intervening track； raising up shadowy speculations which had
sometimes trembled there in the dark； as to what knowledge Mr
Jarndyce had of my earliest history—even as to the possibility of
his being my father—though that idle dream was quite gone now。
It was all gone now； I remembered； getting up from the fire。 It
was not for me to muse over bygones； but to act with a cheerful
spirit and a grateful heart。 So I said to myself； “Esther； Esther；
Esther！ Duty； my dear！” and gave my little basket of housekeeping
keys such a shake； that they sounded like little bells； and rang me
hopefully to bed。
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Chapter 7
The Ghost’s Walk
hile Esther sleeps； and while Esther wakes； it is still wet
Wweather down at the place in Lincolnshire。 The rain is
ever falling； drip； drip； drip； by day and night； upon the
broad flagged terrace…pavement； The Ghost’s Walk。 The weather
is so very bad； down in Lincolnshire； that the liveliest imagination
can scarcely apprehend its ever being fine again。 Not that there is
any superabundant life of imagination on the spot； for Sir
Leicester is not here （and； truly； even if he were； would not do
much for it in that particular）； but is in Paris； with my Lady； and
solitude； with dusky wings； sits brooding upon Chesney Wold。
There may be some motions of fancy among the lower animals
of Chesney Wold。 The horses in the stables—the long stables in a
barren； red…brick courtyard； where there is a great bell in a turret；
and a clock with a large face； which the pigeons who live near it；
and who love to perch upon its shoulders； seem to be always
consulting—they may contemplate some mental pictures of fine
weather on occasions； and may be better artists at them than the
grooms。 The old roan； so famous for cross…country work； turning
his large eyeball to the grated window near his rack； may
remember the fresh leaves that glisten there at other times； and
the scents that stream in； and may have a fine run with the
hounds； while the human helper； clearing out the next stall； never
stirs beyond his pitchfork and birch…broom。 The grey； whose place
is opposite the door； and who； with an impatient rattle of his
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halter； pricks his ears and turns his head so wistfully when it is
opened； and to whom the opener says； “Woa grey； then； steady！
Noabody wants you today！” may know it quite as well as the man。
The whole seemingly monotonous and uncompanionable half…
dozen； stabled together； may pass the long wet hours； when the
door is shut； in livelier communication than is held in the servant’s
hall； or at the Dedlock Arms；—or may even beguile the time by
improving （perhaps corrupting） the pony in the loose…box in the
corner。
So the mastiff； dozing in his kennel； in the courtyard； with his
large head on his paws； may think of the hot sunshine； when the
shadows of the stable…buildings tire his patience out by changing；
and leave him； at one time of the day； no broader refuge than the
shadow of his own house； where he sits on end； panting and
growling short； and very much wanting something to worry；
besides himself and his chain。 So； now； half…waking and all…
winking； he may recall the house full of company； the coach…
houses full of vehicles； the stables full of horses； and the out…
buildings full of attendants upon horses； until he is undecided
about the present； and comes forth to see how it is。 Then with that
impatient shape of himself； he may growl in the spirit； “Rain； rain；
rain！ Nothing but rain—and no family here！” as he goes in again；
and lies down with a gloomy yawn。
So with th
