bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第130节
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made of common iron at first； and done base service。
Service； however （with a few limited reservations： genteel but
not profitable）； they may not do； being of the Dedlock dignity。 So
they visit their richer cousins； and get into debt when they can；
and live but shabbily when they can’t； and find—the women no
husbands； and the men no wives—and ride in borrowed carriages；
and sit at feasts that are never of their own making； and so go
through high life。 The rich family sum has been divided by so
many figures； and they are the something over that nobody knows
what to do with。
Everybody on Sir Leicester Dedlock’s side of the question； and
of his way of thinking； would appear to be his cousin more or less。
From my Lord Boodle； through the Duke of Foodle； down to
Noodle； Sir Leicester； like a glorious spider； stretches his threads
of relationship。 But while he is stately in the cousinship of the
Everybodys； he is a kind and generous man； according to his
dignified way； in the cousinship of the Nobodys； and at the present
time； in despite of the damp； he stays out the visit of several such
cousins at Chesney Wold； with the constancy of a martyr。
Of these； foremost in the first rank stands Volumnia Dedlock； a
young lady （of sixty）； who is doubly highly related； having the
honour to be a poor relation； by the mother’s side； to another great
family。 Miss Volumnia； displaying in early life a pretty talent for
cutting ornaments out of coloured paper； and also for singing to
the guitar in the Spanish tongue； and propounding French
conundrums in country houses； passed the twenty years of her
existence between twenty and forty in a sufficiently agreeable
manner。 Lapsing then out of date； and being considered to bore
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mankind by her vocal performances in the Spanish language； she
retired to Bath； where she lives slenderly on an annual present
from Sir Leicester； and whence she makes occasional
resurrections in the country houses of her cousins。 She has an
extensive acquaintance at Bath among appalling old gentlemen
with thin legs and nankeen trousers； and is of high standing in
that dreary city。 But she is a little dreaded elsewhere； in
consequence of an indiscreet profusion in the article of rouge； and
persistency in an obsolete pearl necklace like a rosary of little
bird’s…eggs。
In any country in a wholesome state； Volumnia would be a clear
case for the pension list。 Efforts have been made to get her on it；
and when William Buffy came in it was fully expected that her
name would be put down for a couple of hundred a…year。 But
William Buffy somehow discovered； contrary to all expectation；
that these were not times when it could be done； and this was the
first clear indication Sir Leicester Dedlock had conveyed to him；
that the country was going to pieces。
There is likewise the Honourable Bob Stables； who can make
warm mashes with the skill of a veterinary surgeon； and is a better
shot than most gamekeepers。 He has been for some time
particularly desirous to serve his country in a post of good
emoluments； unaccompanied by any trouble or responsibility。 In a
well regulated body politic； this natural desire on the part of a
spirited young gentleman so highly connected； would be speedily
recognised； but somehow William Buffy found when he came in；
that these were not times in which he could manage that little
matter； either； and this was the second indication Sir Leicester
Dedlock had conveyed to him； that the country was going to
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Bleak House 543
pieces。
The rest of the cousins are ladies and gentleman of various ages
and capacities； the major part； amiable and sensible； and likely to
have done well enough in life if they could have overcome their
cousinship； as it is； they are almost all a little worsted by it； and
lounge in purposeless and listless paths； and seem to be quite as
much at a loss how to dispose of themselves； as anybody else can
be how to dispose of them。
In this society； and where not； my Lady Dedlock reigns
supreme。 Beautiful； elegant； accomplished； and powerful in her
little world （for the world of fashion does not stretch all the way
from pole to pole）； her influence in Sir Leicester’s house； however
haughty and indifferent her manner； is greatly to improve it and
refine it。 The cousins； even those older cousins who were
paralysed when Sir Leicester married her； do her feudal homage；
and the Honourable Bob Stables daily repeats to some chosen
person； between breakfast and lunch； his favourite original
remark that she is the best…groomed woman in the whole stud。
Such the guests in the long drawing…room at Chesney Wold this
dismal night； when the step on the Ghost’s Walk （inaudible here；
however）； might be the step of a deceased cousin shut out in the
cold。 It is near bedtime。 Bedroom fires blaze brightly all over the
house； raising ghosts of grim furniture on wall and ceiling。
Bedroom candlesticks bristle on the distant table by the door； and
cousins yawn on ottomans。 Cousins at the piano； cousins at the
soda…water tray； cousins rising from the card…table； cousins
gathered round the fire。 Standing on one side of his own peculiar
fire （for there are two）； Sir Leicester。 On the opposite side of the
broad hearth； my Lady at her table。 Volumnia； as one of the more
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Bleak House 544
privileged cousins； in a luxurious chair between them。 Sir
Leicester glancing； with magnificent displeasure； at the rouge and
the pearl necklace。
“I occasionally meet on my staircase here；” drawls Volumnia；
whose thoughts perhaps are already hopping up it to bed； after a
long evening of a very desultory talk； “one of the prettiest girls； I
think； that I ever saw in my life。”
“A protegée of my Lady’s；” observes Sir Leicester。
“I thought so。 I felt sure that some uncommon eye must have
picked that girl out。 She really is a marvel。 A dolly sort of beauty
perhaps；” says Miss Volumnia； reserving her own sort； “but in its
way； perfect； such bloom I never saw！”
Sir Leicester with his magnificent glance of displeasure at the
rouge； appears to say so too。
“Indeed；” remarks my Lady； languidly； “if there is any
uncommon eye in the case； it is Mrs Rouncewell’s； and not mine。
Rosa is her discovery。”
“Your maid； I suppose？”
“No。 My anything； pet—secretary—messenger—I don’t know
what。”
“You like to have her about you； as you would like to have a
flower； or a bird； or a picture； or a poodle—no； not a poodle；
though—or anything else that was equally pretty？” says Volumnia；
sympathising。 “Yes； how charming now！ and how well that
delightful old soul Mrs Rouncewell is looking。 She must be an
immense age； and yet she is as active and handsome！—She is the
dearest friend I have； positively！”
Sir Leicester feels it to be right and fitting that the housekeeper
of Chesney Wold should be a remarkable person。 Apart from that；
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