bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第32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！
“Set it a going。”
Watt sets it a…going—music and all。
“Now； come hither；” says the housekeeper。 “Hither； child；
towards my lady’s pillow。 I am not sure that it is dark enough yet；
but listen！ Can you hear the sound upon the terrace through the
music； and the beat； and everything？”
“I certainly can！”
“So my Lady says。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 132…
Bleak House 132
Chapter 8
Covering A Multitude of Sins
t was interesting when I dressed before daylight； to peep out
of the window； where my candles were reflected in the black
I
panes like two beacons； and finding all beyond still
enshrouded in the indistinctness of last night； to watch how it
turned out when the day came on。 As the prospect gradually
revealed itself； and disclosed the scene over which the wind had
wandered in the dark； like my memory over my life； I had a
pleasure in discovering the unknown objects that had been around
me in my sleep。 At first they were faintly discernible in the mist；
and above them the later stars still glimmered。 That pale interval
over； the picture began to enlarge and fill up so fast； that； at every
new peep； I could have found enough to look at for an hour。
Imperceptibly； my candles became the only incongruous part of
the morning； the dark places in my room all melted away； and the
day shone bright upon a cheerful landscape； prominent in which
the old Abbey Church； with its massive tower； threw a softer train
of shadow on the view than seemed compatible with its rugged
character。 But so from rough outsides （I hope I have learnt）；
serene and gentle influences often proceed。
Every part of the house was in such order and every one was so
attentive to me； that I had no trouble with my two bunches of keys：
though what with trying to remember the contents of each little
storeroom drawer； and cupboard； and what with making notes on
a slate about jams； and pickles； and preserves； and bottles； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 133…
Bleak House 133
glass； and china； and a great many other things； and what with
being generally a methodical； old…maidenish sort of foolish little
person； I was so busy that I could not believe it was breakfast…time
when I heard the bell ring。 Away I ran； however； and made tea； as
I had already been installed into the responsibility of the teapot；
and then； as they were all rather late； and nobody was down yet； I
thought I would take a peep at the garden and get some
knowledge of that too。 I found it quite a delightful place； in front；
the pretty avenue and drive by which we had approached （and
where； by…the…bye； we had cut up the gravel so terribly with our
wheels that I asked the gardener to roll it）； at the back； the flower…
garden； with my darling at her window up there； throwing it open
to smile out at me； as if she would have kissed me from that
distance。 Beyond the flower…garden was a kitchen…garden； and
then a paddock； and then a snug little rick…yard； and then a dear
little farmyard。 As to the House itself； with its three peaks in the
roof； its various…shaped windows； some so large； some so small；
and all so pretty； its trellis…work against the south…front for roses
and honey…suckle； and its homely； comfortable； welcoming look； it
was； as Ada said； when she came out to meet me with her arm
through that of its master； worthy of her cousin John—a bold
thing to say； though he only pinched her dear cheek for it。
Mr Skimpole was as agreeable at breakfast； as he had been
overnight。 There was honey on the table； and it led him into a
discourse about Bees。 He had no objection to honey； he said （and I
should think he had not； for he seemed to like it）； but he protested
against the overweening assumptions of Bees。 He didn’t at all see
why the busy Bee should be proposed as a model to him； he
supposed the Bee liked to make honey； or he wouldn’t do it—
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 134…
Bleak House 134
nobody asked him。 It was not necessary for the Bee to make such
a merit of his tastes。 If every confectioner went buzzing about the
world； banging against everything that came in his way； and
egotistically calling upon everybody to take notice that he was
going to his work and must not be interrupted； the world would be
quite an insupportable place。 Then； after all； it was a ridiculous
position； to be smoked out of your fortune with brimstone； as soon
as you had made it。 You would have a very mean opinion of a
Manchester man； if he spun cotton for no other purpose。 He must
say he thought a Drone the embodiment of a pleasanter and wiser
idea。 The Drone said； unaffectedly； “You will excuse me； I really
cannot attend to the shop！ I find myself in a world in which there
is so much to see； and so short a time to see it in； that I must take
the liberty of looking about me； and begging to be provided for by
somebody who doesn’t want to look about him。” This appeared to
Mr Skimpole to be the Drone philosophy； and he thought it a very
good philosophy—always supposing the Drone to be willing to be
on good terms with the Bee： which； so far as he knew； the easy
fellow always was； if the consequential creature would only let
him； and not be so conceited about his honey！
He pursued this fancy with the lightest foot over a variety of
ground； and made us all merry； though again he seemed to have as
serious a meaning in what he said as he was capable of having。 I
left them still listening to him when I withdrew to attend to my
new duties。 They had occupied me for some time； and I was
passing through the passages on my return with my basket of keys
on my arm； when Mr Jarndyce called me into a small room next
his bedchamber； which I found to be in part a little library of
books and papers； and in part quite a little museum of his boots
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 135…
Bleak House 135
and shoes； and hat…boxes。
“Sit down； my dear；” said Mr Jarndyce。 “This； you must know；
is the Growlery。 When I am out of humour； I come and growl
here。”
“You must be here very seldom； sir；” said I。
“O； you don’t know me！” he returned。 “When I am deceived or
disappointed in—the wind； and it’s Easterly； I take refuge here。
The Growlery is the best…used room in the house。 You are not
aware of half my humours yet。 My dear； how you are trembling！”
I could not help it： I tried very hard： but being alone with that
benevolent presence； and meeting his kind eyes； and feeling so
happy； and so honoured there； and my heart so full—
I kissed his hand。 I don’t know what I said； or even that I spoke。
He was disconcerted； and walked to the window： I almost believed
with an intention of jumping out； until he turned； and I was
reassured by seeing in his eyes what he had gone there to hide。 He
gently patted me on the head； and I sat down。
“There！ There！” he said。 “That’s over。 Pooh！ Don’t be foolish。”
“It shall not happen again； sir；” I returned； “but at first it is
difficult”—
“Nonsense！” he said； “it’s easy； easy。 Why not？ I hear of a good
little orphan girl without a protector； and I take it in my head to be
that protector。 She grows u
