bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第39节
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with his pleasant laugh and perhaps the least tinge of a blush；
“that I can’t get on without her。 Before I begin my harum…scarum
day—grinding away at those books and instruments； and then
galloping up hill and down dale； all the country round； like a
highwayman—it does me so much good to come and have a steady
walk with our comfortable friend； that here I am again。”
“You know； Dame Durden； dear；” Ada would say at night； with
her head upon my shoulder； and the firelight shining in her
thoughtful eyes； “I don’t wont to talk when we come upstairs here。
Only to sit a little while； thinking； with your dear face for
company； and to hear the wind； and remember the poor sailors at
sea—”
Ah！ Perhaps Richard was going to be a sailor。 We had talked it
over very often； now； and there was some talk of gratifying the
inclination of his childhood for the sea。 Mr Jarndyce had written
to a relation of the family； a great Sir Leicester Dedlock； for his
interest in Richard’s favour； generally； and Sir Leicester had
replied in a gracious manner； “that he would be happy to advance
the prospects of the young gentleman if it should ever prove to be
within his power； which was not at all probable—and that my
Lady sent her compliments to the young gentleman （to whom she
perfectly remembered that she was allied by remote
consanguinity）； and trusted that he would ever do his duty in any
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honourable profession to which he might devote himself。”
“So I apprehend it’s pretty clear；” said Richard to me； “that I
shall have to work my own way。 Never mind！ Plenty of people
have had to do that before now； and have done it。 I only wish I had
the command of a clipping privateer； to begin with； and could
carry off the Chancellor and keep him on short allowance until he
gave judgment in our cause。 He’d find himself growing thin； if he
didn’t look sharp！”
With a buoyancy and hopefulness and a gaiety that hardly ever
flagged； Richard had a carelessness in his character that quite
perplexed me—principally because he mistook it； in such a very
odd way； for prudence。 It entered into all his calculations about
money； in a singular manner； which I don’t think I can better
explain than by reverting for a moment to our loan to Mr
Skimpole。
Mr Jarndyce had ascertained the amount； either from Mr
Skimpole himself or from Coavinses； and had placed the money in
my hands with instructions to me to retain my own part of it and
hand the rest to Richard。 The number of little acts of thoughtless
expenditure which Richard justified by the recovery of his ten
pounds； and the number of times he talked to me as if he had
saved or realised that amount； would form a sum in simple
addition。
“My prudent Mother Hubbard； why not？” he said to me； when
he wanted； without the least consideration； to bestow five pounds
on the brickmaker。 “I made ten pounds； clear； out of Coavinses’
business。”
“How was that？” said I。
“Why； I got rid of ten pounds which I was quite content to get
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rid of； and never expected to see any more。 You don’t deny that？”
“No；” said I。
“Very well； then I came into possession of ten pounds—”
“The same ten pounds；” I hinted。
“That has nothing to do with it！” returned Richard。 “I have got
ten pounds more than I expected to have； and consequently I can
afford to spend it without being particular。”
In exactly the same way； when he was persuaded out of the
sacrifice of these five pounds by being convinced that it would do
no good； he carried that sum to his credit and drew upon it。
“Let me see！” he would say。 “I saved five pounds out of the
brickmaker’s affair； so； if I have a good rattle to London and back
in a post…chaise； and put that down at four pounds； I shall have
saved one。 And it’s a very good thing to save one； let me tell you； a
penny saved； is a penny got！”
I believe Richard’s was as frank and generous a nature as there
possibly can be。 He was ardent and brave； and； in the midst of all
his wild restlessness； was so gentle； that I knew him like a brother
in a few weeks。 His gentleness was natural to him； and would have
shown itself abundantly； even without Ada’s influence； but； with it；
he became one of the most winning of companions； always so
ready to be interested； and always so happy； sanguine； and light…
hearted。 I am sure that I； sitting with them； and walking with
them； and talking with them； and noticing from day to day how
they went on； falling deeper and deeper in love； and saying
nothing about it； and each shyly thinking that this love was the
greatest of secrets； perhaps not yet suspected even by the other—I
am sure that I was scarcely less enchanted than they were； and
scarcely less pleased with the pretty dream。
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We were going on in this way； when one morning at breakfast
Mr Jarndyce received a letter； and looking at the superscription
said； “From Boythorn？ Aye； aye！” and opened and read it with
evident pleasure； announcing to us； in a parenthesis； when he was
about halfway through； that Boythorn was “coming down” on a
visit。 Now； who was Boythorn？ we all thought。 And I dare say we
all thought； too—I am sure I did； for one—would Boythorn at all
interfere with what was going forward？
“I went to school with this fellow； Lawrence Boythorn；” said Mr
Jarndyce； tapping the letter as he laid it on the table； “more than
five…and…forty years ago。 He was then the most impetuous boy in
the world； and he is now the most impetuous man。 He was then
the loudest boy in the world； and he is now the loudest man。 He
was then the heartiest and sturdiest boy in the world； and he is
now the heartiest and sturdiest man。 He is a tremendous fellow。”
“In stature； sir？” asked Richard。
“Pretty well； Rick； in that respect；” said Mr Jarndyce； “being
some ten years older than I； and a couple of inches taller； with his
head thrown back like an old soldier； his stalwart chest squared；
his hands like a clean blacksmith’s； and his lungs！—there’s no
simile for his lungs。 Talking； laughing； or snoring； they make the
beams of the house shake。”
As Mr Jarndyce sat enjoying the image of his friend Boythorn；
we observed the favourable omen that there was not the least
indication of any change in the wind。
“But it’s the inside of the man； the warm heart of the man； the
passion of the man； the fresh blood of the man； Rick—and Ada；
and little Cobweb too； for you are all interested in a visitor！—that I
speak of；” he pursued。 “His language is as sounding as his voice。
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He is always in extremes； perpetually in the superlative degree。 In
his condemnation he is all ferocity； You might suppose him to be
an Ogre； from what he says； and I believe he has the reputation of
one with some people。 There！ I tell you no more of him
beforehand。 You must not be surprised to see him take me under
his protection； for he has never forgotten that I was a low boy at
school； and that our friendship began in his knocking
