bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第12节
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 49
down near him。 That he admired her； and was interested by her；
even I could see in a moment。 It touched me； that the home of
such a beautiful young creature should be represented by that dry
official place。 The Lord High Chancellor； at his best； appeared so
poor a substitute for the love and pride of parents。
“The Jarndyce in question；” said the Lord Chancellor； still
turning over leaves； “is Jarndyce of Bleak House。”
“Jarndyce of Bleak House； my lord；” said Mr Kenge。
“A dreary name；” said the Lord Chancellor。
“But not a dreary place； at present； my lord；” said Mr Kenge。
“And Bleak House；” said his lordship； “is in—”
“Hertfordshire； my lord。”
“Mr Jarndyce of Bleak House is not married？” said his
lordship。
“He is not； my lord；” said Mr Kenge。
A pause。
“Young Mr Richard Carstone is present？” said the Lord
Chancellor； glancing towards him。
Richard bowed and stepped forward。
“Hum！” said the Lord Chancellor； turning over more leaves。
“Mr Jarndyce of Bleak House； my lord；” Mr Kenge observed in
a low voice； “if I may venture to remind your lordship； provides a
suitable companion for—”
“For Mr Richard Carstone？” I thought （but I am not quite sure）
I heard his lordship say； in an equally low voice； and with a smile。
“For Miss Ada Clare。 This is the young lady。 Miss Summerson。”
His lordship gave me an indulgent look； and acknowledged my
curtsey very graciously。
“Miss Summerson is not related to any party in the cause； I
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think？”
“No； my lord。”
Mr Kenge leant over before it was quite said； and whispered。
His lordship； with his eyes upon his papers； listened； nodded twice
or thrice； turned over more leaves； and did not look towards me
again； until we were going away。
Mr Kenge now retired； and Richard with him； to where I was；
near the door； leaving my pet （it is so natural to me that again I
can’t help it！） sitting near the Lord Chancellor； with whom his
lordship spoke a little apart； asking her； as she told me afterwards；
whether she had well reflected on the proposed arrangement； and
if she thought she would be happy under the roof of Mr Jarndyce
of Bleak House； and why she thought so？ Presently he rose
courteously； and released her； and then he spoke for a minute or
two with Richard Carstone； not seated； but standing； and
altogether with more ease and less ceremony—as if he still knew；
though he was Lord Chancellor； how to go straight to the candour
of a boy。
“Very well！” said his lordship aloud。 “I shall make the order。 Mr
Jarndyce of Bleak House has chosen； so far as I may judge；” and
this was when he looked at me； “a very good companion for the
young lady； and the arrangement altogether seems the best of
which the circumstances admit。”
He dismissed us pleasantly； and we all went out； very much
obliged to him for being so affable and polite； by which he had
certainly lost no dignity； but seemed to us to have gained some。
When we got under the colonnade； Mr Kenge remembered that
he must go back for a moment to ask a question； and left us in the
fog； with the Lord Chancellor’s carriage and servants waiting for
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Bleak House 51
him to come out。
“Well！” said Richard Carstone； “that’s over！ And where do we
go next； Miss Summerson？”
“Don’t you know？” I said。
“Not in the least；” said he。
“And don’t you know； my love？” I asked Ada。
“No！” said she。 “Don’t you？”
“Not at all！” said I。
We looked at one another； half laughing at our being like the
children in the wood； when a curious little old woman in a
squeezed bonnet； and carrying a reticule； came curtseying and
smiling up to us； with an air of great ceremony。
“O！” said she。 “The wards in Jarndyce！ Ve…ry happy； I am sure；
to have the honour！ It is a good omen for youth； and hope； and
beauty； when they find themselves in this place； and don’t know
what’s to come of it。”
“Mad！” whispered Richard； not thinking she could hear him。
“Right！ Mad； young gentleman；” she returned so quickly that
he was quite abashed。 “I was a ward myself。 I was not mad at that
time；” curtseying low； and smiling between every little sentence。
“I had youth； and hope。 I believe； beauty。 It matters very little
now。 Neither of the three served； or saved me。 I have the honour
to attend court regularly。 With my documents。 I expect a
judgement。 Shortly。 On the Day of Judgement。 I have discovered
that the sixth seal mentioned in the Revelations is the Great Seal。
It has been open a long time！ Pray accept my blessing。”
As Ada was a little frightened； I said； to humour the poor old
lady； that we were much obliged to her。
“Ye…es！” she said mincingly。 “I imagine so。 And here is
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Conversation Kenge。 With his documents！ How does your
honourable worship do？”
“Quite well； quite well！ Now don’t be troublesome； that’s a good
soul！” said Mr Kenge； leading the way back。
“By no means；” said the poor old lady； keeping up with Ada and
me。 “Anything but troublesome。 I shall confer estates on both；—
which is not being troublesome； I trust？ I expect a judgment。
Shortly。 On the Day of Judgment。 This is a good omen for you。
Accept my blessing！”
She stopped at the bottom of the steep； broad flight of stairs；
but we looked back as we went up； and she was still there； saying；
still with a curtsey and a smile between every little sentence；
“Youth。 And hope。 And beauty。 And Chancery。 And Conversation
Kenge！ Ha！ Pray accept my blessing！”
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Chapter 4
Telescopic Philanthropy
e were to pass the night； Mr Kenge told us when we
Warrived in his room； at Mrs Jellyby’s； and then he
turned to me； and said he took it for granted I knew
who Mrs Jellyby was？
“I really don’t； sir；” I returned。 “Perhaps Mr Carstone—or Miss
Clare—”
But no； they knew nothing whatever about Mrs Jellyby。
“In…deed！ Mrs Jellyby；” said Mr Kenge； standing with his back
to the fire； and casting his eyes over the dusty hearth…rug； as if it
were Mrs Jellyby’s biography； “is a lady of very remarkable
strength of character； who devotes herself entirely to the public。
She has devoted herself to an extensive variety of public subjects；
at various times； and is at present （until something else attracts
her） devoted to the subject of Africa； with a view to the general
cultivation of the coffee berry—and the natives—and the happy
settlement； on the banks of the African rivers； of our
superabundant home population。 Mr Jarndyce； who is desirous to
aid in any work that is considered likely to be a good work； and
who is much sought after by philanthropists； has； I believe； a very
high opinion of Mrs Jellyby。”
Mr Kenge； adjusting his cravat； then looked at us。
“And Mr Jel
