bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第286节
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intended marriage； than he could find words to tell me。 My
husband had been a guardian angel to him and Ada； and he
blessed us both； and wished us all the joy that life could yield us。 I
almost felt as if my own heart would have broken； when I saw him
take my husband’s hand； and hold it to his breast。
We spoke of the future as much as possible； and he said several
times that he must be present at our marriage if he could stand
upon his feet。 Ada would contrive to take him； somehow； he said。
“Yes； surely； dearest Richard！” But as my darling answered him
thus hopefully； so serene and beautiful； with the help that was to
come to her so near；—I knew—I knew！
It was not good for him to talk too much； and when he was
silent； we were silent too。 Sitting beside him； I made a pretence of
working for my dear； as he had always been used to joke about my
being busy。 Ada leaned upon his pillow； holding his head upon her
arm。 He dozed often； and whenever he awoke without seeing him；
said； first of all； “Where is Woodcourt？”
Evening had come on； when I lifted up my eyes； and saw my
Guardian standing in the little hall。 “Who is that； Dame Durden？”
Richard asked me。 The door was behind him； but he had observed
in my face that some one was there。
I looked to Allen for advice； and as he nodded “Yes；” bent over
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Richard and told him。 My Guardian saw what passed； came softly
by me in a moment； and laid his hand on Richard’s。 “O sir；” said
Richard； “you are a good man； you are a good man！” and burst
into tears for the first time。
My Guardian； the picture of a good man； sat down in my place；
keeping his hand on Richard’s。
“My dear Rick；” said he； “the clouds have cleared away； and it
is bright now。 We can see now。 We were all bewildered； Rick； more
or less。 What matters！ And how are you； my dear boy？”
“I am very weak； sir； but I hope I shall be stronger。 I have to
begin the world。”
“Ay； truly； well said！” cried my Guardian。
“I will not begin it in the old way now；” said Richard with a sad
smile。 “I have learned a lesson now； sir。 It was a hard one； but you
shall be assured； indeed； that I have learned it。”
“Well； well；” said my Guardian； comforting him； “well； well；
well； dear boy！”
“I was thinking； sir；” resumed Richard； “that there is nothing
on earth I should so much like to see as their house—Dame
Durden’s and Woodcourt’s house。 If I could be moved there when
I begin to recover my strength； I feel as if I should get well there；
sooner than anywhere。”
“Why； so have I been thinking； too； Rick；” said my Guardian；
“and our little woman likewise； she and I have been talking of it；
this very day。 I dare say her husband won’t object。 What do you
think？”
Richard smiled； and lifted up his arm to touch him； as he stood
behind the head of his couch。
“I say nothing of Ada；” said Richard； “but I think of her； and
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Bleak House 1194
have thought of her very much。 Look at her！ see her here； sir；
bending over this pillow when she has so much need to rest upon
it herself； my dear love； my poor girl！”
He clasped her in his arms； and none of us spoke。 He gradually
released her； and she looked upon us； and looked up to Heaven；
and moved her lips。
“When I get down to Bleak House；” said Richard； “I shall have
much to tell you； sir； and you will have much to show me。 You will
go； won’t you？”
“Undoubtedly； dear Rick。”
“Thank you； like you like you；” said Richard。 “But it’s all like
you。 They have been telling me how you planned it； and how you
remembered all Esther’s familiar tastes and ways。 It will be like
coming to the old Bleak House again。”
“And you will come there too； I hope； Rick。 I am a solitary man
now； you know； and it will be a charity to come to me。 A charity to
come to me； my love！” he repeated to Ada； as he gently passed his
hand over her golden hair； and put a lock of it to his lips。 （I think
he vowed within himself to cherish her if she were left alone。）
“It was all a troubled dream？” said Richard； clasping both my
Guardian’s hands eagerly。
“Nothing more； Rick； nothing more。”
“And you； being a good man； can pass it as such； and forgive
and pity the dreamer； and be lenient and encouraging when he
wakes？”
“Indeed I can。 What am I but another dreamer； Rick？”
“I will begin the world！” said Richard； with a light in his eyes。
My husband drew a little nearer towards Ada； and I saw him
solemnly lift up his hand to warn my Guardian。
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Bleak House 1195
“When shall I go from this place； to that pleasant country where
the old times are； where I shall have strength to tell what Ada has
been to me； where I shall be able to recall my many faults and
blindnesses； where I shall prepare myself to be a guide to my
unborn child？” said Richard。 “When shall I go？”
“Dear Rick； when you are strong enough；” returned my
Guardian。
“Ada； my darling！”
He sought to raise himself a little。 Allan raised him so that she
could hold him on her bosom： which was what he wanted。
“I have done you many wrongs； my own。 I have fallen like a
poor stray shadow on your way； I have married you to poverty and
trouble； I have scattered your means to the winds。 You will forgive
me all this； my Ada； before I begin the world？”
A smile irradiated his face； as she bent to kiss him。 He slowly
laid his face down upon her bosom； drew his arms closer round
her neck； and with one parting sob began the world。 Not this
world； O not this！ The world that sets this right。
When all was still； at a late hour； poor crazed Miss Flite came
weeping to me； and told me she had given her birds their liberty。
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Chapter 66
Down In Lincolnshire
here is a hush upon Chesney Wold in these altered days；
as there is upon a portion of the family history。 The story
T
goes； that Sir Leicester paid some who could have spoken
out； to hold their peace； but it is a lame story； feebly whispering
and creeping about； and any brighter spark of life it shows soon
dies away。 It is known for certain that the handsome Lady Dedlock
lies in the mausoleum in the park； where the trees arch darkly
overhead； and the owl is heard at night making the woods ring；
but whence she was brought home； to be laid among the echoes of
that solitary place； or how she died； is all mystery。 Some of her old
friends； principally to be found among the peachy…cheeked
charmers with the skeleton throats； did once occasionally say； as
they toyed in a ghastly manner with large fans—like charmers
reduced to flirting with grim Death； after losing all their other
beaux—did once occasionally say； when the World assembled
together； that they wondered the ashes of the Dedlocks； entombed
in the mausoleum； never rose against the profanation of her
company。 But the dead…and…gone Dedlocks take it very calmly；
and have never been known to object。
Up from among the fern in the hollow； and winding by the
bridle…road among the trees； comes sometimes to this lonely spot
the sound of horses’ hoofs。 Then may be seen Sir Leicester—
