bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第84节
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about his head； and he laughed； “Ha ha ha ha！ Ha ha ha ha！” to
that extent as he pointed them out； that I really thought he would
have hurt himself。
“But this is taking a good deal of trouble；” said Mr Skimpole in
his light way； “when you are not in earnest after all？”
“Not in earnest！” returned Mr Boythorn； with unspeakable
warmth。 “Not in earnest！ If I could have hoped to train him； I
would have bought a Lion instead of that dog； and would have
turned him loose upon the first intolerable robber who should
dare to make an encroachment on my rights。 Let Sir Leicester
Dedlock consent to come out and decide this question by single
combat； and I will meet him with any weapon known to mankind
in any age or country。 I am that much in earnest。 Not more！”
We arrived at his house on a Saturday。 On the Sunday morning
we all set forth to walk to the little church in the park。 Entering
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the park； almost immediately by the disputed ground； we pursued
a pleasant footpath winding among the verdant turf and the
beautiful trees； until it brought us to the church porch。
The congregation was extremely small and quite a rustic one；
with the exception of a large muster of servants from the House；
some of whom were already in their seats； while others were yet
dropping in。 There were some stately footmen； and there was a
perfect picture of an old coachman； who looked as if he were the
official representative of all the pomps and vanities that had ever
been put into his coach。 There was a very pretty show of young
women； and above them； the handsome old face and fine
responsible portly figure of the housekeeper； towered pre…
eminent。 The pretty girl； of whom Mr Boythorn had told us； was
close by her。 She was so very pretty； that I might have known her
by her beauty； even if I had not seen how blushingly conscious she
was of the eyes of the young fisherman； whom I discovered not far
off。 One face； and not an agreeable one； though it was handsome；
seemed maliciously watchful of this pretty girl； and indeed of
everyone and everything there。 It was a Frenchwoman’s。
As the bell was yet ringing and the great people were not yet
come； I had leisure to glance over the church； which smelt as
earthly as a grave； and to think what a shady； ancient； solemn little
church it was。 The windows； heavily shaded by trees； admitted a
subdued light that made the faces around me pale； and darkened
the old brasses in the pavement； and the time and damp…worn
monuments； and rendered the sunshine in the little porch； where
a monotonous ringer was working at the bell； inestimably bright。
But a stir in that direction； a gathering of reverential awe in the
rustic faces； and a blandly…ferocious assumption on the part of Mr
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Boythorn of being resolutely unconscious of somebody’s existence；
forewarned me that the great people were come； and that the
service was going to begin。
“‘Enter not into judgment with thy servant； O Lord； for in thy
sight—’”
Shall I ever forget the rapid beating of my heart； occasioned by
the look I met； as I stood up！ Shall I ever forget the manner in
which those handsome proud eyes seemed to spring out of their
languor； and to hold mine！ It was only a moment before I cast
mine down—released again； if I may say so—on my book； but； I
knew the beautiful face quite well； in that short space of time。
And； very strangely； there was something quickened within me；
associated with the lonely days at my godmother’s； yes； away even
to the days when I had stood on tiptoe to dress myself at my little
glass； after dressing my doll。 And this； although I had never seen
this lady’s face before in all my life—I was quite sure of it—
absolutely certain。
It was easy to know that the ceremonious； gouty； grey…haired
gentleman； the only other occupant of the great pew； was Sir
Leicester Dedlock； and that the lady was Lady Dedlock。 But why
her face should be； in a confused way； like a broken glass to me； in
which I saw scraps of old remembrances； and why I should be so
fluttered and troubled （for I was still）； by having casually met her
eyes； I could not think。
I felt it to be an unmeaning weakness in me； and I tried to
overcome it by attending to the words I heard。 Then； very
strangely； I seemed to hear them； not in the reader’s voice； but in
the well…remembered voice of my godmother。 This made me think。
Did Lady Dedlock’s face accidentally resemble my godmother’s？ It
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might be that it did； a little； but； the expression was so different；
and the stern decision which had worn into my godmother’s face；
like weather into rocks； was so completely wanting in the face
before me； that it could not be that resemblance which had struck
me。 Neither did I know the loftiness and haughtiness of Lady
Dedlock’s face； at all； in any one。 And yet I—I； little Esther
Summerson； the child who lived a life apart； and on whose
birthday there was no rejoicing—seemed to arise before my own
eyes； evoked out of the past by some power in this fashionable
lady； whom I not only entertained no fancy that I had ever seen；
but whom I perfectly well knew I had never seen until that hour。
It made me tremble so； to be thrown into this unaccountable
agitation； that I was conscious of being distressed even by the
observation of the French maid； though I knew she had been
looking watchfully here； and there； and everywhere； from the
moment of her coming into the church。 By degrees； though very
slowly； I at last overcame my strange emotion。 After a long time； I
looked towards Lady Dedlock again。 It was while they were
preparing to sing； before the sermon。 She took no heed of me； and
the beating at my heart was gone。 Neither did it revive for more
than a few moments； when she once or twice afterwards glanced
at Ada or at me through her glass。
The service being concluded； Sir Leicester gave his arm with
much state and gallantry to Lady Dedlock—though he was obliged
to walk by the help of a thick stick—and escorted her out of
church to the pony carriage in which they had come。 The servants
then dispersed； and so did the congregation： whom Sir Leicester
had contemplated all along （Mr Skimpole said to Mr Boythorn’s
infinite delight）； as if he were a considerable landed proprietor in
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Heaven。
“He believes he is！” said Mr Boythorn。 “He firmly believes it。 So
did his father； and his grandfather； and his great…grandfather！”
“Do you know；” pursued Mr Skimpole； very unexpectedly to Mr
Boythorn； “it’s agreeable to me to see a man of that sort。”
“Is it！” said Mr Boythorn。
“Say that he wants to patronise me；” pursued Mr Skimpole。
“Very well！ I don’t object。”
“I do；” said Mr Boythorn； with great vigour。
“Do you really？” returned Mr Skimpole； in his easy light vein。
“But； that’s taking trouble； surely。 And why should you take
trouble？ Here am I； content to receive things childishly； as they
