bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第131节
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Bleak House 545
he has a real regard for Mrs Rouncewell； and likes to hear her
praised。 So he says； “You are right； Volumnia；” which Volumnia is
extremely glad to hear。
“She has no daughter of her own； has she？”
“Mrs Rouncewell？ No； Volumnia。 She has a son。 Indeed； she
had two。”
My Lady； whose chronic malady of boredom has been sadly
aggravated by Volumnia this evening； glances wearily towards the
candlesticks and heaves a noiseless sigh。
“And it is a remarkable example of the confusion into which the
present age has fallen； of the obliteration of landmarks； the
opening of floodgates； and the uprooting of distinctions；” says Sir
Leicester with stately gloom； “that I have been informed； by Mr
Tulkinghorn； that Mrs Rouncewell’s son has been invited to go
into Parliament。”
Miss Volumnia utters a little sharp scream。
“Yes； indeed；” repeats Sir Leicester。 “Into Parliament。”
“I never heard of such a thing！ Good gracious； what is the
man？” exclaims Volumnia。
“He is called； I believe—an—Ironmaster。” Sir Leicester says it
slowly； and with gravity and doubt； as not being sure but that he is
called a Lead…mistress； or that the right word may be some other
word expressive of some other relationship to some other metal。
Volumnia utters another little scream。
“He has declined the proposal； if my information from Mr
Tulkinghorn be correct； as I have no doubt it is； Mr Tulkinghorn
being always correct and exact； still that does not；” says Sir
Leicester； “that does not lessen the anomaly； which is fraught with
strange considerations—startling considerations； as it appears to
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me。”
Miss Volumnia rising with a look candlestick…wards； Sir
Leicester politely performs the grand tour of the drawing…room；
brings one； and lights it at my Lady’s shaded lamp。
“I must beg you； my Lady；” he says while doing so； “to remain a
few moments； for this individual of whom I speak； arrived this
evening shortly before dinner； and requested—in a very becoming
note；” Sir Leicester； with his habitual regard to truth； dwells upon
it； “I am bound to say； in a very becoming and well expressed
note—the favour of a short interview with yourself and myself； on
the subject of this young girl。 As it appeared that he wished to
depart tonight； I replied that we would see him before retiring。”
Miss Volumnia with a third little scream takes flight； wishing
her hosts—O Lud！—well rid of the—what is it？—Ironmaster！
The other cousins soon disperse； to the last cousin there。 Sir
Leicester rings the bell。 “Make my compliments to Mr
Rouncewell； in the housekeeper’s apartments； and say I can
receive him now。”
My Lady； who has heard all this with slight attention outwardly；
looks towards Mr Rouncewell as he comes in。 He is a little over
fifty perhaps； of a good figure； like his mother； and has a clear
voice； a broad forehead from which his dark hair has retired； and a
shrewd； though open face。 He is a responsible…looking gentleman
dressed in black； portly enough； but strong and active。 Has a
perfectly natural and easy air； and is not in the least embarrassed
by the great presence into which he comes。
“Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock； as I have already apologised
for intruding on you； I cannot do better than be very brief。 I thank
you； Sir Leicester。”
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Bleak House 547
The head of the Dedlocks has motioned towards a sofa between
himself and my Lady。 Mr Rouncewell quietly takes his seat there。
“In these busy times； when so many great undertakings are in
progress； people like myself have so many workmen in so many
places； that we are always on the flight。”
Sir Leicester is content enough that the ironmaster should feel
that there is no hurry there； there； in that ancient house； rooted in
that quiet park； where the ivy and the moss have had time to
mature； and the gnarled and warted elms； and the umbrageous
oaks； stand deep in the fern and leaves of a hundred years； and
where the sundial on the terrace has dumbly recorded for
centuries that time； which was as much the property of every
Dedlock—while he lasted—as the house and lands。 Sir Leicester
sits down in an easy chair； opposing his repose and that of
Chesney Wold to the restless flights of ironmasters。
“Lady Dedlock has been so kind；” proceeds Mr Rouncewell；
with a respectful glance and a bow that way； “as to place near her
a young beauty of the name of Rosa。 Now； my son has fallen in
love with Rosa； and has asked my consent to his proposing
marriage to her； and to their becoming engaged if she will take
him—which I suppose she will。 I have never seen Rosa until today；
but I have some confidence in my son’s good sense—even in love。 I
find her what he represents her； to the best of my judgment； and
my mother speaks of her with great commendation。”
“She in all respects deserves it；” says my Lady。
“I am happy； Lady Dedlock； that you say so； and I need not
comment on the value to me of your kind opinion of her。”
“That；” observes Sir Leicester； with unspeakable grandeur； for
he thinks the ironmaster a little too glib； “must be quite
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Bleak House 548
unnecessary。”
“Quite unnecessary； Sir Leicester。 Now； my son is a very young
man； and Rosa is a very young woman。 As I made my way； so my
son must make his； and his being married at present is out of the
question。 But supposing I gave my consent to his engaging himself
to this pretty girl； if this pretty girl will engage herself to him； I
think it a piece of candour to say at once—I am sure； Sir Leicester
and Lady Dedlock； you will understand and excuse me—I should
make it a condition that she did not remain at Chesney Wold。
Therefore； before communicating further with my son； I take the
liberty of saying； that if her removal would be in any way
inconvenient or objectionable； I will hold the matter over with him
for any reasonable time； and leave it precisely where it is。”
Not remain at Chesney Wold！ Make it a condition！ All Sir
Leicester’s old misgivings relative to Wat Tyler； and the people in
the iron districts who do nothing but turn out by torchlight； come
in a shower upon his head： the fine grey hair of which； as well as of
his whiskers； actually stirs with indignation。
“Am I to understand； sir；” says Sir Leicester； “and is my Lady
to understand；” he brings her in thus specially； first； as a point of
gallantry； and next as a point of prudence； having great reliance
on her sense； “am I to understand； Mr Rouncewell； and is my
Lady to understand； sir； that you consider this young woman too
good for Chesney Wold； or likely to be injured by remaining
here？”
“Certainly not； Sir Leicester。”
“I am glad to hear it。” Sir Leicester very lofty indeed。
“Pray； Mr Rouncewell；” says my Lady； warning Sir Leicester
off with the slightest gesture of her pretty hand； as if he were a fly；
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“explain to me what you mean。”
“Willingly； Lady Ded
