bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第220节
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at the Roman； and that he is invested in all eyes with mystery and
awe； as if he were a paralysed dumb witness。
So； it shall happen surely； through many years to come； that
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Bleak House 914
ghostly stories shall be told of the stain upon the floor； so easy to
be covered； so hard to be got out； and that the Roman； pointing
from the ceiling； shall point； so long as dust and damp and spiders
spare him； with far greater significance than he ever had in Mr
Tulkinghorn’s time； and with a deadly meaning。 For； Mr
Tulkinghorn’s time is over for evermore； and the Roman pointed
at the murderous hand uplifted against his life； and pointed
helplessly at him； from night to morning； lying face downward on
the floor； shot through the heart。
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Chapter 49
Dutiful Friendship
great annual occasion has come round in the
Aestablishment of Mr Joseph Bagnet； otherwise Lignum
Vitae； ex…artilleryman and present bassoon…player。 An
occasion of feasting and festival。 The celebration of a birthday in
the family。
It is not Mr Bagnet’s birthday。 Mr Bagnet merely distinguishes
that epoch in the musical instrument business； by kissing the
children with an extra smack before breakfast； smoking an
additional pipe after dinner； and wondering towards evening what
his poor old mother is thinking about it；—a subject of infinite
speculation； and rendered so by his mother having departed this
life twenty years。 Some men rarely revert to their father； but seem；
in the bank…books of their remembrance； to have transferred all
the stock of filial affection into their mother’s name。 Mr Bagnet is
one of these。 Perhaps his excited appreciation of the merits of the
old girl； causes him usually to make the noun…substantive；
Goodness； of the feminine gender。
It is not the birthday of one of the three children。 Those
occasions are kept with some marks of distinction； but they rarely
overleap the bounds of happy returns and a pudding。 On young
Woolwich’s last birthday； Mr Bagnet certainly did； after observing
upon his growth and general advancement； proceed； in a moment
of profound reflection on the changes wrought by time； to examine
him in the catechism； accomplishing with extreme accuracy the
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Bleak House 916
questions number one and two； What is your name？ and who gave
you that name？ but there failing in the exact precision of his
memory； and substituting for number three； the question And how
do you like that name？ which he propounded with a sense of its
importance； in itself so edifying and improving； as to give it quite
an orthodox air。 This； however； was a specialty on that particular
birthday； and not a generic solemnity。
It is the old girl’s birthday； and that is the greatest holiday and
reddest…letter day in Mr Bagnet’s calendar。 The auspicious event
is always commemorated according to certain forms； settled and
prescribed by Mr Bagnet some years since。 Mr Bagnet being
deeply convinced that to have a pair of fowls for dinner is to attain
the highest pitch of imperial luxury； invariably goes forth himself
very early in the morning of this day to buy a pair； he is； as
invariably taken in by the vendor； and installed in the possession
of the oldest inhabitants of any coop in Europe。 Returning with
these triumphs of toughness tied up in a clean blue and white
cotton handkerchief （essential to the arrangements）； he in a casual
manner invites Mrs Bagnet to declare at breakfast what she would
like for dinner。 Mrs Bagnet； by a coincidence never known to fail；
replying Fowls； Mr Bagnet instantly produces his bundle from a
place of concealment； amidst general amazement and rejoicing。
He further requires that the old girl shall do nothing all day long；
but sit in her very best gown； and be served by himself and the
young people。 As he is not illustrious for his cookery； this may be
supposed to be a matter of state rather than enjoyment on the old
girl’s part； but she keeps her state with all imaginable
cheerfulness。
On this present birthday； Mr Bagnet has accomplished the
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Bleak House 917
usual preliminaries。 He has bought two specimens of poultry
which； if there be any truth in adages； were certainly not caught
with chaff； to be prepared for the spit； he has amazed and rejoiced
the family by their unlooked…for production； he is himself directing
the roasting of the poultry； and Mrs Bagnet； with her wholesome
brown fingers itching to prevent what she sees going wrong； sits in
her gown of ceremony； an honoured guest。
Quebec and Malta lay the cloth for dinner； while Woolwich；
serving as beseems him； under his father； keeps the fowls
revolving。 To these young scullions Mrs Bagnet occasionally
imparts a wink； or a shake of the head； or a crooked face； as they
made mistakes。
“At half…after one。” Says Mr Bagnet。 “To the minute。 They’ll be
done。”
Mrs Bagnet； with anguish； beholds one of them at a stand…still
before the fire； and beginning to burn。
“You shall have a dinner； old girl；” says Mr Bagnet。 “Fit for a
queen。”
Mrs Bagnet shows her white teeth cheerfully； but to the
perception of her son betrays so much uneasiness of spirit； that he
is impelled by the dictates of affection to ask her； with his eyes；
what is the matter？—thus standing； with his eyes wide open； more
oblivious of the fowls than before； and not affording the least hope
of a return to consciousness。 Fortunately； his elder sister perceives
the cause of the agitation in Mrs Bagnet’s breast； and with an
admonitory poke recalls him。 The stopped fowls going round
again； Mrs Bagnet closes her eyes； in the intensity of her relief。
“George will look us up；” says Mr Bagnet。 “At half…after four。 To
the moment。 How many years； old girl。 Has George looked us up。
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This afternoon？”
“Ah； Lignum； Lignum； as many as make an old woman of a
young one； I begin to think。 Just about that； and no less；” returns
Mrs Bagnet； laughing and shaking her head。
“Old girl；” says Mr Bagnet。 “Never mind。 You’d be as young as
ever you was。 If you wasn’t younger。 Which you are。 As everybody
knows。”
Quebec and Malta here exclaim； with clapping of hands； that
Bluffy is sure to bring mother something； and begin to speculate
on what it will be。
“Do you know； Lignum；” says Mrs Bagnet； casting a glance on
the tablecloth； and winking “salt！” at Malta with her right eye； and
shaking the pepper away from Quebec with her head； “I begin to
think George is in the roving way again。”
“George；” returns Mr Bagnet； “will never desert。 And leave his
old comrade。 In the lurch。 Don’t be afraid of it。”
“No； Lignum。 No。 I don’t say he will。 I don’t think he will。 But if
he could get over his money…trouble of his； I believe he would be
off。”
Mr Bagnet asks why？
“Well；” returns his wife； considering。 “George seems to me to
be getting not a little impatient and restless。 I don’t say but what
he’s as free
