bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第188节
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become in the cycles of time almost new again； the honour of
taking the fair Dedlock in to dinner； or even the privilege of her
hand in the dance。 On these national occasions； dancing may be a
patriotic service： and Volumnia is constantly seen hopping about；
for the good of an ungrateful and unpensioning country。
My Lady takes no great pains to entertain the numerous guests；
and； being still unwell； rarely appears until late in the day。 But； at
all the dismal dinners； leaden lunches； basilisk balls； and other
melancholy pageants； her mere appearance is a relief。 As to Sir
Leicester； he conceives it utterly impossible that anything can be
wanting； in any direction； by any one who has the good fortune to
be received under that roof； and in a state of sublime satisfaction；
he moves among the company； a magnificent refrigerator。
Daily the cousins trot through dust； and canter over roadside
turf； away to hustings and polling…booths （with leather gloves and
hunting…whips for the counties； and kid gloves and riding…canes
for the boroughs）； and daily bring back reports on which Sir
Leicester holds forth after dinner。 Daily the restless men who have
no occupation in life； present the appearance of being rather busy。
Daily； Volumnia has a little cousinly talk with Sir Leicester on the
state of the nation； from which Sir Leicester is disposed to
conclude that Volumnia is a more reflecting woman than he had
thought her。
“How are we getting on？” says Miss Volumnia； clasping her
hands。 “Are we safe？”
The mighty business is nearly over by this time； and Doodle will
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throw himself off the country in a few days more。 Sir Leicester has
just appeared in the long drawing…room after dinner； a bright
particular star； surrounded by clouds of cousins。
“Volumnia；” replies Sir Leicester； who has a list in his hand；
“we are doing tolerably。”
“Only tolerably！”
Although it is summer weather； Sir Leicester always has his
own particular fire in the evening。 He takes his usual screened
seat near it； and repeats； with much firmness and a little
displeasure； as who should say； I am not a common man； and
when I say tolerably； it must not be understood as a common
expression： “Volumnia； we are doing tolerably。”
“At least there is no opposition to you；” Volumnia asserts with
confidence。
“No； Volumnia。 This distracted country has lost its senses in
many respects； I grieve to say； but—”
“It is not so bad as that。 I am glad to hear it！”
Volumnia’s finishing the sentence restores her to favour。 Sir
Leicester； with a gracious inclination of his head； seems to say to
himself； “A sensible woman this； on the whole； though
occasionally precipitate。”
In fact； as to this question of opposition； the fair Dedlock’s
observation was superfluous： Sir Leicester； on these occasions；
always delivering in his own candidateship； as a kind of handsome
wholesale order to be promptly executed。 Two other little seats
that belong to him； he treats as retail orders of less importance；
merely sending down the men； and signifying to the tradespeople；
“You will have the goodness to make these materials into two
members of parliament； and to send them home when done。”
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“I regret to say； Volumnia； that in many places the people have
shown a bad spirit； and that this opposition to the Government has
been of a most determined and most implacable description。”
“W…r…retches！” says Volumnia。
“Even；” proceeds Sir Leicester； glancing at the circumjacent
cousins on sofas and ottomans； “even in many—in fact； in most—
of those places in which the Government has carried it against a
faction—” （Note； by the way； that the Coodleites are always a
faction with the Doodleites； and that the Doodleites occupy exactly
that the same position towards the Coodleites。） “—Even in them I
am shocked； for the credit of Englishmen； to be constrained to
inform you that the Party has not triumphed without being put to
an enormous expense。 Hundreds；” says Sir Leicester； eyeing the
cousins with increasing dignity and swelling indignation；
“Hundreds of thousands of pounds！”
If Volumnia have a fault； it is the fault of being a trifle too
innocent； seeing that the innocence which would go extremely
well with a sash and tucker； is a little out of keeping with the rouge
and pearl necklace。 Howbeit； impelled by innocence； she asks；
“What for？”
“Volumnia；” remonstrates Sir Leicester； with his utmost
severity。 “Volumnia！”
“No； no； I don’t mean what for；” cries Volumnia with her
favourite little scream。 “How stupid I am！ I mean what a pity！”
“I am glad；” returns Sir Leicester； “that you do mean what a
pity。”
Volumnia hastens to express her opinion that the shocking
people ought to be tried as traitors； and made to support the Party。
“I am glad； Volumnia；” repeats Sir Leicester； unmindful of
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these mollifying sentiments； “that you do mean what a pity。 It is
disgraceful to the electors。 But as you； though inadvertently； and
without intending so unreasonable a question； asked me ‘what
for？’ let me reply to you。 For necessary expenses。 And I trust to
your good sense； Volumnia； not to pursue the subject； here or
elsewhere。”
Sir Leicester feels it incumbent on him to observe a crushing
aspects towards Volumnia； because it is whispered abroad that
these necessary expenses will； in some two hundred election
petitions； be unpleasantly connected with the word bribery； and
because some graceless jokers have consequently suggested the
omission from the Church service of the ordinary supplication in
behalf of the High Court of Parliament； and have recommended
instead that the prayers of the congregation be requested for six
hundred and fifty…eight gentlemen in a very unhealthy state。
“I suppose；” observes Volumnia； having taken a little time to
recover her spirits after her late castigation； “I suppose Mr
Tulkinghorn has been worked to death。”
“I don’t know；” says Sir Leicester； opening his eyes； “why Mr
Tulkinghorn should be worked to death。 I don’t know what Mr
Tulkinghorn’s engagements may be。 He is not a candidate。”
Volumnia had thought he might have been employed。 Sir
Leicester could desire to know by whom； and what for？ Volumnia；
abashed again； suggests； by Somebody—to advise and make
arrangements。 Sir Leicester is not aware that any client of Mr
Tulkinghorn has been in need of his assistance。
Lady Dedlock seated at an open window with her arm upon its
cushioned ledge and looking out at the evening shadows falling on
the park； has seemed to attend since the lawyer’s name was
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mentioned。
A languid cousin with a moustache； in a state of extreme
debility； now observes from his couch； that�
