bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第54节
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ears that burn； and not her fresh bright cheeks； for my Lady’s
maid is holding forth about her at this moment； with surpassing
energy。
My Lady’s maid is a Frenchwoman of two…and…thirty； from
somewhere in the Southern country about Avignon and
Marseilles—a large…eyed brown woman with black hair； who
would be handsome； but for a certain feline mouth and general
uncomfortable tightness of face； rendering the jaws too eager； and
the skull too prominent。 There is something indefinably keen and
wan about her anatomy； and she has a watchful way of looking out
of the corners of her eyes without turning her head； which could
be pleasantly dispensed with—especially when she is in an ill…
humour and near knives。 Through all the good taste of her dress
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and little adornments； these objections so express themselves； that
she seems to go about like a very neat She…Wolf imperfectly
tamed。 Besides being accomplished in all the knowledge
appertaining to her post； she is almost an Englishwoman in her
acquaintance with the language—consequently； she is in no want
of words to shower upon Rosa for having attracted my Lady’s
attention； and she pours them out with such grim ridicule as she
sits at dinner； that her companion； the affectionate man； is rather
relieved when she arrives at the spoon stage of that performance。
Ha； ha； ha！ She； Hortense； been in my Lady’s service since five
years； and always kept at the distance； and this doll； this puppet；
caressed—absolutely caressed—by my Lady on the moment of her
arriving at the house！ Ha； ha； ha！ “And do you know how pretty
you are； child？”—“No； my Lady。”—You are right there！ “And how
old are you； child！ And take care they do not spoil you by flattery；
child！” O how droll！ It is the best thing altogether。
In short； it is such an admirable thing； that Mademoiselle
Hortense can’t forget it； but at meals for days afterwards； even
among her countrywomen and others attached in like capacity to
the troop of visitors； relapses into silent enjoyment of the joke—an
enjoyment expressed； in her own convivial manner； by an
additional tightness of face； thin elongation of compressed lips；
and sidewise look： which intense appreciation of humour is
frequently reflected in my Lady’s mirrors； when my Lady is not
among them。
All the mirrors in the house are brought into action now： many
of them after a long blank。 They reflect handsome faces； simpering
faces； youthful faces； faces of threescore…and…ten that will not
submit to be old； the entire collection of faces that have come to
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pass a January week or two at Chesney Wold； and which the
fashionable intelligence； a mighty hunter before the Lord； hunts
with a keen scent； from their breaking cover at the Court of Saint
James’s to their being run down to Death。 The place in
Lincolnshire is all alive。 By day； guns and voices are heard ringing
in the woods； horsemen and carriages enliven the park roads；
servants and hangers…on pervade the Village and the Dedlock
Arms。 Seen by night； from distant openings in the trees； the row of
windows in the long drawing…room； where my Lady’s picture
hangs over the great chimney…piece； is like a row of jewels set in a
black frame。 On Sunday； the chill little church is almost warmed
by so much gallant company； and the general flavour of the
Dedlock dust is quenched in delicate perfumes。
The brilliant and distinguished circle comprehends within it； no
contracted amount of education； sense； courage； honour； beauty；
and virtue。 Yet there is something a little wrong about it； in
despite of its immense advantages。 What can it be？
Dandyism？ There is no King George the Fourth now （more’s
the pity！） to set the dandy fashion； there are no clear…starched
jack…towel neckcloths； no short…waisted coats； no false calves； no
stays。 There are no caricatures； now； of effeminate Exquisites so
arrayed； swooning in opera boxes with excess of delight； and being
revived by other dainty creatures； poking long…necked scent…
bottles at their noses。 There is no beau whom it takes four men at
once to shake into his buckskins； or who goes to see all the
executions； or who is troubled with the self…reproach of having
once consumed a pea。 But is there Dandyism in the brilliant and
distinguished circle notwithstanding； Dandyism of a more
mischievous sort； that has got below the surface and is doing less
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harmless things than jack…towelling itself and stopping its own
digestion； to which no rational person need particularly object？
Why； yes。 It cannot be disguised。 There are； at Chesney Wold
this January week； some ladies and gentlemen of the newest
fashion； who have set up a Dandyism—in Religion； for instance。
Who； in mere lackadaisical want of an emotion； have agreed upon
a little dandy talk about the Vulgar wanting faith in things in
general； meaning； in the things that have been tried and found
wanting； as though a low fellow should unaccountably lose faith in
a bad shilling； after finding it out！ Who would make the Vulgar
very picturesque and faithful； by putting back the hands upon the
Clock of Time； and cancelling a few hundred years of history。
There are also ladies and gentlemen of another fashion； not so
new； but very elegant； who have agreed to put a smooth glaze on
the world； and to keep down all its realities。 For whom everything
must be languid and pretty。 Who have found out the perpetual
stoppage。 Who are to rejoice at nothing； and be sorry for nothing。
Who are not to be disturbed by ideas。 On whom even the Fine
Arts； attending in powder and walking backward like the Lord
Chamberlain； must array themselves in the milliners’ and tailors’
patterns of past generations； and be particularly careful not to be
in earnest； or to receive any impress from the moving age。
Then there is my Lord Boodle； of considerable reputation with
his party who has known what office is； and who tells Sir Leicester
Dedlock with much gravity； after dinner； that he really does not
see to what the present age is tending。 A debate is not what a
debate used to be； the House is not what the House used to be；
even a Cabinet is not what it formerly was。 He perceives with
astonishment； that supposing the present Government to be
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overthrown； the limited choice of the Crown； in the formation of a
new Ministry； would lie between Lord Coodle and Sir Thomas
Doodle—supposing it to be impossible for the Duke of Foodle to
act with Goodle； which may be assumed to be the case in
consequence of the breach arising out of that affair with Hoodle。
Then； giving the Home Department and the Leadership of the
House of Commons to Joodle； the Exchequer to Koodle； the
Colonies to Loodle； and the Foreign Office to Moodle； what are
