bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第203节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
put them for a moment to her lips。 I thought about her love for
Richard； though； indeed； the flowers had nothing to do with that。
Then I took them into my own room； and burned them at the
candle； and they were dust in an instant。
On entering the breakfast…room next morning； I found my
Guardian just as usual； quite as frank； as open； and free。 There
being not the least constraint in his manner； there was none （or I
think there was none） in mine。 I was with him several times in the
course of the morning； in and out； when there was no one there；
and I thought it not unlikely that he might speak to me about the
letter； but he did not say a word。
So； on the next morning； and the next； and for at least a week；
over which time Mr Skimpole prolonged his stay。 I expected； every
day； that my Guardian might speak to me about the letter； but he
never did。
I thought then； growing uneasy； that I ought to write an answer。
I tried over and over again in my own room at night； but I could
not write an answer that at all began like a good answer； so I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 843…
Bleak House 843
thought each night I would wait one more day。 And I waited seven
more days； and he never said a word。
At last Mr Skimpole having departed； we three were one
afternoon going out for a ride； and I being dressed before Ada； and
going down； came upon my Guardian； with his back towards me；
standing at the drawing…room window looking out。
He turned on my coming in； and said； smiling； “Aye； it’s you；
little woman； is it？” and looked out again。
I had made up my mind to speak to him now。 In short； I had
come down on purpose。 “Guardian；” I said； rather hesitating and
trembling； “when would you like to have the answer to the letter
Charley came for？”
“When it’s ready； my dear；” he replied。
“I think it is ready；” said I。
“Is Charley to bring it？” he asked pleasantly。
“No。 I have brought it myself； Guardian；” I returned。
I put my two arms round his neck and kissed him； and he said；
was this the mistress of Bleak House； and I said yes； and it made
no difference presently； and we all went out together； and I said
nothing to my precious pet about it。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 844…
Bleak House 844
Chapter 45
In Trust
ne morning when I had done jingling about with my
baskets of keys； as my beauty and I were walking round
O
and round the garden I happened to turn my eyes
towards the house； and saw a long thin shadow going in which
looked like Mr Vholes。 Ada had been telling me only that morning；
of her hopes that Richard might exhaust his ardour in the
Chancery suit by being so very earnest in it； and therefore； not to
damp my dear girl’s spirits； I said nothing about Mr Vholes’s
shadow。
Presently came Charley； lightly winding among the bushes； and
tripping along the paths； as rosy and pretty as one of Flora’s
attendants instead of my maid； saying； “O if you please； miss；
would you step and speak to Mr Jarndyce！”
It was one of Charley’s peculiarities； that whenever she was
charged with a message she always began to deliver it as soon as
she beheld； at any distance； the person for whom it was intended。
Therefore I saw Charley； asking me in her usual form of words； to
“step and speak” to Mr Jarndyce； long before I heard her。 And
when I did hear her； she had said it so often that she was out of
breath。
I told Ada I would make haste back； and inquired of Charley； as
we went in； whether there was not a gentleman with Mr
Jarndyce？ To which Charley； whose grammar； I confess to my
shame； never did any credit to my educational powers； replied；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 845…
Bleak House 845
“Yes； miss。 Him as come down in the country with Mr Richard。”
A more complete contrast than my Guardian and Mr Vholes； I
suppose there could not be。 I found them looking at one another
across a table； the one so open； and the other so close； the one so
broad and upright； and the other so narrow and stooping； the one
giving out what he had to say in such a rich ringing voice； and the
other keeping it in such a cold…blooded； gasping； fish…like manner；
that I thought I never had seen two people so unmatched。
“You know Mr Vholes； my dear；” said my Guardian。 Not with
the greatest urbanity； I must say。
Mr Vholes rose； gloved and buttoned up as usual； and seated
himself again； just as he had seated himself beside Richard in the
gig。 Not having Richard to look at； he looked straight before him。
“Mr Vholes；” said my Guardian； eyeing his black figure； as if he
were a bird of ill…omen； “has brought an ugly report of our most
unfortunate Rick。” Laying a marked emphasis on most
unfortunate； as if the words were rather descriptive of his
connection with Mr Vholes。
I sat down between them； Mr Vholes remained immovable；
except that he secretly picked at one of the red pimples on his
yellow face with his black glove。
“And as Rick and you are happily good friends； I should like to
know；” said my Guardian； “what you think； my dear。 Would you
be so good as to—as to speak up； Mr Vholes？”
Doing anything but that； Mr Vholes observed：
“I have been saying that I have reason to know； Miss
Summerson； as Mr C。’s professional adviser； that Mr C。’s
circumstances are at the present moment in an embarrassed state。
Not so much in point of amount； as owing to the peculiar and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 846…
Bleak House 846
pressing nature of liabilities Mr C。 has incurred； and the means he
has of liquidating or meeting the same。 I have staved off many
little matters for Mr C。； but there is a limit to staving off； and we
have reached it。 I have made some advances out of pocket to
accommodate these unpleasantnesses； but I necessarily look to
being repaid； for I do not pretend to be a man of capital； and I
have a father to support in the Vale of Taunton； besides striving to
realise some little independence for three dear girls at home。 My
apprehension is； Mr C。’s circumstances being such； lest it should
end in his obtaining leave to part with his commission； which at all
events is desirable to be made known to his connections。”
Mr Vholes； who had looked at me while speaking； here merged
into the silence he could hardly be said to have broken； so stifled
was his tone； and looked before him again。
“Imagine the poor fellow without even his present resource；”
said my Guardian to me。 “Yet what can I do？ You know him；
Esther。 He would never accept of help from me； now。 To offer it； or
hint at it； would be to drive him to an extremity； if nothing else
did。”
Mr Vholes hereupon addressed me again。
“What Mr Jarndyce remarks； miss； is no doubt the case； and is
the difficulty。 I do not see that anything is to be done。 I do not say
that anything is to be done。 Far from it。 I merely come down here
under the seal of confidence and mention it； in order that
everything may be openly carried on； and that it may not be said
afterwards that everything was not openly carried on。 My wish is
that everything should be openly carried on。 I desire to leave a
good name behind me。 If I consulted merely my own interests with
