bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第287节
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the sound of horses’ hoofs。 Then may be seen Sir Leicester—
invalided； bent； and almost blind； but of worthy presence yet—
riding with a stalwart man beside him； constant to his bridle…rein。
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When they come to a certain spot before the mausoleum door； Sir
Leicester’s accustomed horse stops of his own accord； and Sir
Leicester； pulling off his hat； is still for a few moments before they
ride away。
War rages yet with the audacious Boythorn； though at
uncertain intervals； and now hotly； and now coolly； flickering like
an unsteady fire。 The truth is said to be； that when Sir Leicester
came down to Lincolnshire for good； Mr Boythorn showed a
manifest desire to abandon his right of way； and do whatever Sir
Leicester would： which Sir Leicester； conceiving to be a
condescension to his illness or misfortune； took in such high
dudgeon； and was so magnificently aggrieved by； that Mr
Boythorn found himself under the necessity of committing a
flagrant trespass to restore his neighbour to himself。 Similarly Mr
Boythorn continues to post tremendous placards on the disputed
thoroughfare； and （with his bird upon his head） to hold forth
vehemently against Sir Leicester in the sanctuary of his own
home； similarly； also； he defies him as of old in the little church； by
testifying a bland unconsciousness of his existence。 But it is
whispered that when he is most ferocious towards his old foe； he is
really most considerate； and that Sir Leicester； in the dignity of
being implacable； little supposes how much he is humoured。 As
little does he think how near together he and his antagonist have
suffered； in the fortunes of two sisters； and his antagonist； who
knows it now； is not the man to tell him。 So the quarrel goes on to
the satisfaction of both。
In one of the lodges of the park； that lodge within sight of the
house where； once upon a time； when the waters were out down at
Lincolnshire； my Lady used to see the Keeper’s child； the stalwart
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Bleak House 1198
man； the trooper formerly； is housed。 Some relics of his old calling
hang upon the walls； and these it is the chosen recreation of a little
lame man about the stable…yard to keep gleaming bright。 A busy
little man he always is； in the polishing at harness…house doors； of
stirrup…irons； bits； curb…chains； harness…bosses； anything in the
way of a stable…yard that will take a polish： leading a life of friction。
A shaggy little damaged man； withal； not unlike an old dog of some
mongrel breed； who has been considerably knocked about。 He
answers to the name of Phil。
A goodly sight it is to see the grand old housekeeper （harder of
hearing now） going to church on the arm of her son； and to
observe—which few do； for the house is scant of company in these
times—the relations of both towards Sir Leicester； and his
towards them。 They have visitors in the high summer weather；
when a grey cloak and umbrella； unknown to Chesney Wold at
other periods； are seen among the leaves； when two young ladies
are occasionally found gambolling； in sequestered saw…pits； and
such nooks of the park； and when the smoke of two pipes wreathes
away into the fragrant evening air； from the trooper’s door。 Then
is a fife heard trolling within the lodge on the inspiring topic of the
British Grenadiers； and； as the evening closes in； a gruff inflexible
voice is heard to say； while two men pace together up and down；
“But I never own to it before the old girl。 Discipline must be
maintained。”
The greater part of the house is shut up； and it is a show…house
no longer； yet Sir Leicester holds his shrunken state in the long
drawing…room for all that； and reposes in his old place before my
Lady’s picture。 Closed in by night with broad screens； and
illumined only in that part； the light of the drawing…room seems
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Bleak House 1199
gradually contracting and dwindling until it shall be no more。 A
little more； in truth； and it will be all extinguished for Sir
Leicester； and the damp door in the mausoleum which shuts so
tight； and looks so obdurate； will have opened and received him。
Volumnia； growing with the flight of time pinker as to the red in
her face； and yellower as to the white； reads to Sir Leicester in the
long evenings； and is driven to various artifices to conceal her
yawns： of which the chief and most efficacious is the insertion of
the pearl necklace between her rosy lips。 Longwinded treatises on
the Buffy and Boodle question； showing how Buffy is immaculate
and Boodle villainous； and how the country is lost by being all
Boodle and no Buffy； or saved by being all Buffy and no Boodle （it
must be one of the two； and cannot be anything else）； are the
staple of her reading。 Sir Leicester is not particular what it is； and
does not appear to follow it very closely； further than that he
always comes broad awake the moment Volumnia ventures to
leave off； and sonorously repeating her last word； begs with some
displeasure to know if she finds herself fatigued？ However；
Volumnia； in the course of her bird…like hopping about and
pecking at papers； has lighted on a memorandum concerning
herself； in the event of “anything happening” to her kinsman；
which is handsome compensation for an extensive course of
reading； and holds even the dragon Boredom at bay。
The cousins generally are rather shy of Chesney Wold in its
dulness； but take to it a little in the shooting season； when guns
are heard in the plantations； and a few scattered beaters and
keepers wait at the old places of appointment； for low…spirited
twos and threes of cousins。 The debilitated cousin； more
debilitated by the deariness of the place； gets into a fearful state of
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depression； groaning under penitential sofa…pillows in his gunless
hours； and protesting that such fernal old jail’s—nough t’sew fler
up—frever。
The only great occasions for Volumnia； in this changed aspect
of the place in Lincolnshire； are those occasions； rare and widely
separated； when something is to be done for the county； or the
country； in the way of gracing a public ball。 Then； indeed； does the
tuckered slyph come out in fairy form； and proceed with joy under
cousinly escort to the exhausted old assembly…room； fourteen
heavy miles off； which； during three hundred and sixty…four days
and nights of every ordinary year； is a kind of Antipodean lumber…
room； full of old chairs and tables； upside down。 Then； indeed；
does she captivate all hearts by her condescension； by her girlish
vivacity； and by her skipping about as in the days when the
hideous old general with the mouth too full of teeth； had not cut
one of them at two guineas each。 Then does she twirl and twine； a
pastoral nymph of good family； through the mazes of the dance。
Then do the swains appear with tea； with lemonade； with
sandwiches； with homage。 Then is she kind and cruel； stately and
unassuming； various； beautif
