bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第67节
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pale；” said Caddy； when we came out； “and cold！” I felt as if the
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room had chilled me。
We had walked slowly； while we were talking； and my Guardian
and Ada were here before us。 We found them in Miss Flite’s
garret。 They were looking at the birds； while a medical gentleman
who was so good as to attend Miss Flite with much solicitude and
compassion； spoke with her cheerfully by the fire。
“I have finished my professional visit；” he said coming forward。
“Miss Flite is much better； and may appear in Court （as her mind
is set upon it） tomorrow。 She has been greatly missed there； I
understand。”
Miss Flite received the compliment with complacency； and
dropped a general curtsey to us。
“Honoured； indeed；” said she； “by another visit from the Wards
in Jarndyce！ Ve…ry happy to receive Jarndyce of Bleak House
beneath my humble roof！” with a special curtsey。 “Fitz…Jarndyce；
my dear；” she had bestowed that name on Caddy； it appeared； and
always called her by it； “a double welcome！”
“Has she been very ill？” asked Mr Jarndyce of the gentleman
whom we had found in attendance on her。 She answered for
herself directly； though he had put the question in a whisper。
“O decidedly unwell！ O very unwell indeed；” she said；
confidentially。 “Not pain； you know—trouble。 Not bodily so much
as nervous； nervous！ The truth is；” in a subdued voice and
trembling； “we have had death here。 There was poison in the
house。 I am very susceptible to such horrid things。 It frightened
me。 Only Mr Woodcourt knows how much。 My physician； Mr
Woodcourt！” with great stateliness。 “The Wards in Jarndyce—
Jarndyce of Bleak House—Fitz…Jarndyce！”
“Miss Flite—” said Mr Woodcourt； in a grave kind of voice； as if
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he were appealing to her while speaking to us； and laying his hand
gently on her arm； “Miss Flite describes her illness with her usual
accuracy。 She was alarmed by an occurrence in the house which
might have alarmed a stronger person； and was made ill by the
distress and agitation。 She brought me here； in the first hurry of
the discovery； though too late for me to be of any use to the
unfortunate man。 I have compensated myself for that
disappointment by coming here since； and being of some small use
to her。
“The kindest physician in the college；” whispered Miss Flite to
me。 “I expect a judgement。 On the day of Judgement。 And shall
then confer estates。”
“She will be as well； in a day or two；” said Mr Woodcourt；
looking at her with an observant smile； “as she ever will be。 In
other words； quite well of course。 Have you heard of her good
fortune？”
“Most extraordinary！” said Miss Flite； smiling brightly。 “You
never heard of such a thing； my dear！ Every Saturday；
Conversation Kenge； or Guppy （Clerk to Conversation K。）； places
in my hand a paper of shillings。 Shillings。 I assure you！ Always the
same number in the paper。 Always one for every day in the week。
Now you know； really！ So well…timed； is it not？ Ye…es！ From
whence do these papers come； you say？ That is the great question。
Naturally。 Shall I tell you what I think？ I think；” said Miss Flite；
drawing herself back with a very shrewd look； and shaking her
right forefinger in a most significant manner； “that the Lord
Chancellor； aware of the length of time during which the Great
Seal has been open； （for it has been open a long time！） forwards
them。 Until the Judgement I expect； is given。 Now that’s very
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creditable； you know。 To confess in that way that he is a little slow
for human life。 So delicate！ Attending Court the other day—I
attend it regularly—with my documents—I taxed him with it； and
he almost confessed。 That is； I smiled at him from my bench； and
he smiled at me from his bench。 But it’s great good fortune； is it
not？ And Fitz…Jarndyce lays the money out for me to great
advantage。 O； I assure you to the greatest advantage！”
I congratulated her （as she addressed herself to me） upon this
fortunate addition to her income； and wished her a long
continuance of it。 I did not speculate upon the source from which
it came； or wonder whose humanity was so considerate。 My
Guardian stood before me contemplating the birds； and I had no
need to look beyond him。
“And what do you call these little fellows； ma’am？” said he in
his pleasant voice。 “Have they any names？”
“I can answer for Miss Flite that they have；” said I； “for she
promised to tell us what they were。 Ada remembers？”
Ada remembered very well。
“Did I？” said Miss Flite—“who’s that at my door？ What are you
listening at my door for； Krook？”
The old man of the house； pushing it open before him；
appeared there with his fur…cap in his hand； and his cat at his
heels。
“I warn’t listening； Miss Flite；” he said。 “I was going to give a
rap with my knuckles； only you’re so quick！”
“Make your cat go down。 Drive her away！” the old lady angrily
exclaimed。
“Bah； bah！—There ain’t no danger； gentlefolks；” said Mr Krook；
looking slowly and sharply from one to another； until he had
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looked at all of us； “she’d never offer at the birds when I was here；
unless I told her to it。”
“You will excuse my landlord；” said the old lady with a
dignified air。 “M； quite M！ What do you want； Krook； when I have
company？”
“Hi！” said the old man。 “You know I am the Chancellor。”
“Well？” returned Miss Flite。 “What of that？”
“For the Chancellor；” said the old man with a chuckle； “not to
be acquainted with a Jarndyce is queer； ain’t it； Miss Flite？
Mightn’t I take the liberty？—Your servant； sir。 I know Jarndyce
and Jarndyce a’most as well as you do； sir。 I knowed old Squire
Tom； sir。 I never to my knowledge see you afore though； not even
in Court。 Yet； I go there a mortal sight of times in the course of the
year； taking one day with another。”
“I never go there；” said Mr Jarndyce （which he never did on
any consideration）。 “I would sooner go—somewhere else。”
“Would you； though？” returned Krook； grinning。 “You’re
bearing hard upon my noble and learned brother in your meaning；
sir； though perhaps it is but nat’ral in a Jarndyce。 The burnt child；
sir！ What； you’re looking at my lodger’s birds； Mr Jarndyce？” The
old man had come by little and little into the room； until he now
touched my Guardian with his elbow； and looked close up into his
face with his spectacled eyes。 “It’s one of her strange ways； that
she’ll never tell the names of these birds if she can help it； though
she named ’em all。” This was in a whisper。 “Shall I run ’em over；
Flite？” he asked aloud； winking at us and pointing at her as she
turned away； affecting to sweep the grate。
“If you like；” she answered hurriedly。
The old man； looking up at the cages； after another look at us；
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