bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第261节
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… Page 1086…
Bleak House 1086
stares about him in such a confused way； that Mrs Rouncewell
feels it necessary to explain。
“Miss Dedlock don’t speak of my eldest son； Sir Leicester； but
my youngest。 I have found him。 He has come home。”
Sir Leicester breaks silence with a harsh cry。 “George？ Your
son George come home； Mrs Rouncewell？”
The old housekeeper wipes her eyes。 “Thank God。 Yes； Sir
Leicester。”
Does this discovery of some one lost； this return of some one so
long gone； come upon him as a strong confirmation of his hopes？
Does he think； “Shall I not； with the aid I have； recall her safely
after this； there being fewer hours in her case than there are years
in his？”
It is of no use entreating him； he is determined to speak now；
and he does。 In a thick crowd of sounds； but still intelligibly
enough to be understood。
“Why did you not tell me； Mrs Rouncewell？”
“It happened only yesterday； Sir Leicester； and I doubted your
being well enough to be talked to of such things。”
Besides； the giddy Volumnia now remembers with her little
scream that nobody was to have known of his being Mrs
Rouncewell’s son； and that she was not to have told。 But Mrs
Rouncewell protests； with warmth enough to swell the stomacher；
that of course she would have told Sir Leicester as soon as he got
better。
“Where is your son George； Mrs Rouncewell？” asks Sir
Leicester。
Mrs Rouncewell； not a little alarmed by his disregard of the
doctor’s injunctions； replies； in London。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1087…
Bleak House 1087
“Where in London？”
Mrs Rouncewell is constrained to admit that he is in the house。
“Bring him here to my room。 Bring him directly。”
The old lady can do nothing but go in search of him。 Sir
Leicester； with such power of movement as he has； arranges
himself a little； to receive him。 When he has done so； he looks out
again at the falling sleet and snow； and listens again for the
returning steps。 A quantity of straw has been tumbled down in the
street to deaden the noises there； and she might be driven to the
door perhaps without his hearing wheels。 He is lying thus；
apparently forgetful of his newer and minor surprise； when the
housekeeper returns； accompanied by her trooper son。 Mr George
approaches softly to the bedside； makes his bow； squares his chest；
and stands； with his face flushed； very heartily ashamed of himself。
“Good Heaven； and it is really George Rouncewell！” exclaims
Sir Leicester。 “Do you remember me； George？”
The trooper needs to look at him； and to separate this sound
from that sound； before he knows what he has said； but doing this；
and being a little helped by his mother； he replies：
“I must have a very bad memory； indeed； Sir Leicester； if I
failed to remember you。”
“When I look at you； George Rouncewell；” Sir Leicester
observes with difficulty； “I see something of a boy at Chesney
Wold—I remember well—very well。”
He looks at the trooper until tears come into his eyes； and then
he looks at the sleet and snow again。
“I ask your pardon； Sir Leicester；” says the trooper； “but would
you accept of my arms to raise you up。 You would lie easier； Sir
Leicester； if you would allow me to move you。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1088…
Bleak House 1088
“If you please； George Rouncewell； if you will be so good。”
The trooper takes him in his arms like a child； lightly raises
him； and turns him with his face more towards the window。
“Thank you。 You have your mother’s gentleness；” returns Sir
Leicester； “and your own strength。 Thank you。”
He signs to him with his hand not to go away。 George quietly
remains at the bedside； waiting to be spoken to。
“Why did you wish for secrecy？” It takes Sir Leicester some
time to ask this。
“Truly I am not much to boast of； Sir Leicester； and I—I should
still； Sir Leicester； if you was not so indisposed—which I hope you
will not be long—I should still hope for the favour of being allowed
to remain unknown in general。 That involves explanations not
very hard to be guessed at； not very well timed here； and not very
creditable to myself。 However opinions may differ on a variety of
subjects； I should think it would be universally agreed； Sir
Leicester； that I am not much to boast of。”
“You have been a soldier；” observes Sir Leicester； “and a
faithful one。”
George makes his military bow。 “As far as that goes； Sir
Leicester； I have done my duty under discipline； and it was the
least I could do。”
“You find me；” says Sir Leicester； whose eyes are much
attracted towards him； “far from well； George Rouncewell。”
“I am very sorry both to hear it and to see it； Sir Leicester。”
“I am sure you are。 No。 In addition to my older malady； I have
had a sudden and bad attack。 Something that deadens—” making
an endeavour to pass one hand down one side； “and confuses—”
touching his lips。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1089…
Bleak House 1089
George； with a look of assent and sympathy； makes another
bow。 The different times when they were both young men （the
trooper much the younger of the two）； and looked at one another
down at Chesney Wold； arise before them both and soften both。
Sir Leicester； evidently with a great determination to say； in his
own manner； something that is on his mind before relapsing into
silence； tries to raise himself among his pillows a little more。
George observant of the action； takes him in his arms again and
places him as he desires to be。 “Thank you； George。 You are
another self to me。 You have often carried my spare gun at
Chesney Wold； George。 You are familiar to me in these strange
circumstances； very familiar。” He has put Sir Leicester’s sounder
arm over his shoulder in lifting him up； and Sir Leicester is slow in
drawing it away again； as he says these words。
“I was about to add；” he presently goes on； “I was about to add；
respecting this attack； that it was unfortunately simultaneous with
a slight misunderstanding between my Lady and myself。 I do not
mean that there was any difference between us （for there has been
none）； but that there was a misunderstanding of certain
circumstances important only to ourselves； which deprives me； for
a little while； of my Lady’s society。 She has found it necessary to
make a journey；—I trust will shortly return。 Volumnia； do I make
myself intelligible？ The words are not quite under my command；
in the manner of pronouncing them。”
Volumnia understands him perfectly； and in truth he delivers
himself with far greater plainness than could have been supposed
possible a minute ago。 The effort by which he does so； is written in
the anxious and labouring expression of his face。 Nothing but the
strength of his purpose enables him to make it。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1090…
Bleak House 1090
“Therefore； Volumnia； I desire to say in your presence—and in
the presence of my old retainer and friend； Mrs Rouncewell；
whose truth and fidelity no one can question—and in the presence
of her son George； who comes back like a familiar recollection of
my youth in the home of my ancestors at Chesney Wold—in ca
