bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第5节
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the fashionable tree。
How Alexander wept when he had no more worlds to conquer；
everybody knows—or has some reason to know by this time； the
matter having been rather frequently mentioned。 My Lady
Dedlock； having conquered her world； fell； not into the melting；
but rather into the freezing mood。 An exhausted composure； a
worn…out placidity； an equanimity of fatigue not to be ruffled by
interest or satisfaction； are the trophies of her victory。 She is
perfectly well…bred。 If she could be translated to heaven tomorrow；
she might be expected to ascend without any rapture。
She has beauty still； and； if it be not in its heyday； it is not yet in
its autumn。 She has a fine face…originally of a character that would
be rather called very pretty than handsome； but improved into
classicality by the acquired expression of her fashionable state。
Her figure is elegant； and has the effect of being tall。 Not that she
is so； but that “the most is made；” as the Honourable Bob Stables
has frequently asserted upon oath； “of all her points。” The same
authority observes； that she is perfectly got up； and remarks； in
commendation of her hair especially； that she is the best…groomed
woman in the whole stud。
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With all her perfections on her head； my Lady Dedlock has
come up from her place in Lincolnshire （hotly pursued by the
fashionable intelligence）； to pass a few days at her house in town
previous to her departure for Paris； where her ladyship intends to
stay some weeks； after which her movements are uncertain。 And
at her house in town； upon this muddy； murky afternoon； presents
himself an old…fashioned old gentleman； attorney…at…law； and eke
solicitor of the High Court of Chancery； who has the honour of
acting as legal adviser of the Dedlocks； and has as many cast…iron
boxes in his office with that name outside； as if the present
baronet were the coin of the conjuror’s trick； and were constantly
being juggled through the whole set。 Across the hall； and up the
stairs； and along the passages； and through the rooms； which are
very brilliant in the season and very dismal out of it—Fairyland to
visit； but a desert to live in—the old gentleman is conducted； by a
Mercury in powder； to my Lady’s presence。
The old gentleman is rusty to look at； but is reputed to have
made good thrift out of aristocratic marriage settlements and
aristocratic wills； and to be very rich。 He is surrounded by a
mysterious halo of family confidences； of which he is known to be
the silent depository。 There are noble Mausoleums rooted for
centuries in retired glades of parks； among the growing timber
and the fern； which perhaps hold fewer noble secrets than walk
abroad among men； shut up in the breast of Mr Tulkinghorn。 He is
of what is called the old school—a phrase generally meaning any
school that seems never to have been young—and wears knee
breeches tied with ribbons； and gaiters or stockings。 One
peculiarity of his black clothes； and of his black stockings； be they
silk or worsted； is； that they never shine。 Mute； close； irresponsive
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to any glancing light； his dress is like himself。 He never converses；
when not professionally consulted。 He is found sometimes；
speechless but quite at home； at corners of dinner…tables in great
country houses； and near doors of drawing…rooms； concerning
which the fashionable intelligence is eloquent； where everybody
knows him； and where half the Peerage stops to say “How do you
do； Mr Tulkinghorn？” he receives these salutations with gravity；
and buries them along with the rest of his knowledge。
Sir Leicester Dedlock is with my Lady； and is happy to see Mr
Tulkinghorn。 There is an air of prescription about him which is
always agreeable to Sir Leicester； he receives it as a kind of
tribute。 He likes Mr Tulkinghorn’s dress； there is a kind of tribute
in that too。 It is eminently respectable； and likewise； in a general
way； retainer…like。 It expresses； as it were； the steward of the legal
mysteries； the butler of the legal cellar； of the Deadlocks。
Has Mr Tulkinghorn any idea of this himself？ It may be so； or it
may not； but there is this remarkable circumstance to be noted in
everything associated with my Lady Dedlock as one of a class—as
one of the leaders and representatives of her little world。 She
supposes herself to be an inscrutable Being； quite out of the reach
and ken of ordinary mortals—seeing herself in her glass； where
indeed she looks so。 Yet； every dim little star revolving about her；
from her maid to the manager of the Italian Opera； knows her
weaknesses； prejudices； follies； haughtinesses； and caprices； and
lives upon as accurate a calculation and as nice a measure of her
moral nature； as her dressmaker takes of her physical proportions。
Is a new dress； a new custom； a new singer； a new dancer； a new
form of jewellery； a new dwarf or giant； a new chapel； a new
anything； to be set up？ There are deferential people； in a dozen
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callings； whom my Lady Dedlock suspects of nothing but
prostration before her； who can tell you how to manage her as if
she were a baby； who do nothing but nurse her all their lives； who；
humbly affecting to follow with profound subservience； lead her
and her whole troop after them； who； in hooking one； hook all and
bear them off； as Lemuel Gulliver bore away the stately fleet of the
majestic Lilliput。 “If you want to address our people； sir；” say
Blaze and Sparkle the jewellers—meaning by our people Lady
Dedlock and the rest—“you must remember that you are not
dealing with the general public； you must hit our people in their
weakest place； and their weakest place is such a place。” “To make
this article go down； gentleman；” say Sheen and Gloss the
mercers； to their friends the manufacturers； “you must come to us；
because we know where to have the fashionable people； and we
can make it fashionable。” “If you want to get this print upon the
tables of my high connection； sir；” says Mr Sladdery the librarian；
“or if you want to get this dwarf or giant into the houses of my
connection； sir； or if you want to secure to this entertainment； the
patronage of my high connection； sir； you must leave it； if you
please； to me； for I have been accustomed to study the leaders of
my high connection； sir； and I may tell you； without vanity； that I
can turn them round my finger；”—in which Mr Sladdery； who is
an honest man； does not exaggerate at all。
Therefore； while Mr Tulkinghorn may not know what is passing
in the Dedlock mind at present； it is very possible that he may。
“My Lady’s cause has been again before the Chancellor； has it；
Mr Tulkinghorn？” says Sir Leicester； giving him his hand。
“Yes。 It has been on again today；” Mr Tulkinghorn replies；
making one of his quiet bows to my Lady who is on a sofa near the
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fire； shading her face with a handscreen。
“It would be useless to ask；” says my Lady； with the dreariness
of the place in Lincolnshire still upon her； “whether anything has
been done。”
“Nothing that
