bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第269节
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journey； and never resumed。 I showed it to him now； and he
admired it highly。 After I had explained the pattern to him； and all
the great effects that were to come out by…and…by； I thought I
would go back to our last theme。
“You said dear Guardian； when we spoke of Mr Woodcourt
before Ada left us； that you thought he would give a long trial to
another country。 Have you been advising him since？”
“Yes； little woman； pretty often。”
“Has he decided to do so？”
“I rather think not。”
“Some other prospect has opened to him； perhaps？” said I。
“Why—yes—perhaps；” returned my Guardian； beginning his
answer in a very deliberate manner。 “About half a year hence or
so； there is a medical attendant for the poor to be appointed at a
certain place in Yorkshire。 It is a thriving place； pleasantly
situated； streams and streets； town and country； mill and moor；
and seems to present an opening for such a man。 I mean； a man
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whose hopes and aims may sometimes lie （as most men’s
sometimes do； I dare say） above the ordinary level； but to whom
the ordinary level will be high enough after all； if it should prove to
be a way of usefulness and good service leading to no other。 All
generous spirits are ambitious； I suppose； but the ambition that
calmly trusts itself to such a road； instead of spasmodically trying
to fly over it； is of the kind I care for。 It is Woodcourt’s kind。”
“And will he get this appointment？” I asked。
“Why； little woman；” returned my Guardian； smiling； “not
being an oracle； I cannot confidently say； but I think so。 His
reputation stands very high； there were people from that part of
the country in the shipwreck； and； strange to say； I believe the
best man has the best chance。 You must not suppose it to be a fine
endowment。 It is a very； very commonplace affair； my dear； an
appointment to a great amount of work and a small amount of pay；
but better things will gather about it； it may be fairly hoped。”
“The poor of that place will have reason to bless the choice； if it
falls on Mr Woodcourt； Guardian。”
“You are right； little woman； that I am sure they will。”
We said no more about it； nor did he say a word about the
future of Bleak House。 But it was the first time I had taken my seat
at his side in my mourning dress； and that accounted for it； I
considered。
I now began to visit my dear girl every day； in the dull dark
corner where she lived。 The morning was my usual time； but
whenever I found I had an hour or so to spare； I put on my bonnet
and bustled off to Chancery Lane。 They were both so glad to see
me at all hour and used to brighten up so when they heard me
opening the door and coming in （being quite at home； I never
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knocked）； that I had no fear of becoming troublesome just yet。
On these occasions I frequently found Richard absent。 At other
times he would be writing； or reading papers in the Cause； at that
table of his； so covered with papers； which was never disturbed。
Sometimes I would come upon him； lingering at the door of Mr
Vholes’s office。 Sometimes I would meet him in the
neighbourhood； lounging about； and biting his nails。 I often met
him wandering in Lincoln’s Inn； near the place where I had first
seen him； O how different； how different！
That the money Ada brought him was melting away with the
candles I used to see burning after dark in Mr Vholes’s office； I
knew very well。 It was not a large amount in the beginning； he had
married in debt； and I could not fail to understand； by this time；
what was meant by Mr Vholes’s shoulder being at the wheel—as I
still heard it was。 My dear made the best of housekeepers； and
tried hard to save； but I knew that they were getting poorer and
poorer every day。
She shone in the miserable corner like a beautiful star。 She
adorned and graced it so； that it became another place。 Paler than
she had been at home； and a little quieter than I had thought
natural when she was yet so cheerful and hopeful； her face was so
unshadowed； that I half believed she was blinded by her love for
Richard to his ruinous career。
I went one day to dine with them； while I was under this
impression。 As I turned into Symond’s Inn； I met little Miss Flite
coming out。 She had been to make a stately call upon the wards in
Jarndyce； as she still called them； and had derived the highest
gratification from that ceremony。 Ada had already told me that she
called every Monday at five o’clock； with one little extra white bow
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in her bonnet； which never appeared there at any other time； and
with her largest reticule of documents on her arm。
“My dear！” she began。 “So delighted！ How do you do！ So glad
to see you。 And are you going to visit our interesting Jarndyce
wards？ To be sure！ Our beauty is at home； my dear； and will be
charmed to see you。”
“Then Richard has not come in yet？” said I。 “I am glad of that；
for I was afraid of being a little late。”
“No he is not come in；” returned Miss Flite。 “He has had a long
day in court。 I left him there； with Vholes。 You don’t like Vholes； I
hope？ Don’t like Vholes。 Dan…gerous man！”
“I am afraid you see Richard oftener than ever now？” said I。
“My dearest；” returned Miss Flite； “daily and hourly。 You know
what I told you of the attraction on the Chancellor’s table？ My
dear； next to myself he is the most constant suitor in court。 He
begins quite to amuse our little party。 Ve…ry friendly little party；
are we not？”
It was miserable to hear this from her poor mad lips； though it
was no surprise。
“In short； my valued friend；” pursued Miss Flite； advancing her
lips to my ear； with an air of equal patronage and mystery； “I must
tell you a secret。 I have made him my executor。 Nominated；
constituted； and appointed him。 In my will。 Ye…es。”
“Indeed？” said I。
“Ye…es；” repeated Miss Flite； in her most genteel accents； “my
executor； administrator； and assign。 （Our Chancery phrases； my
love。） I have reflected that if I should wear out； he will be able to
watch that judgment。 Being so very regular in his attendance。”
It made me sigh to think of him。
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“I did at one time mean；” said Miss Flite； echoing the sigh； “to
nominate； constitute； and appoint poor Gridley。 Also very regular；
my charming girl。 I assure you； most exemplary！ But he wore out；
poor man； so I have appointed his successor。 Don’t mention it。
This is in confidence。”
She carefully opened her reticule a little way； and showed me a
folded piece of paper inside； as the appointment of which she
spoke。
“Another secret； my dear。 I have added to my collection of
birds。”
“Really； Miss Flite？” said I； knowing how it pleased her to have
her confidence received with an appearance of interest。
She nodded several times； and her face became overcast and
gloomy。 “Two more。 I call them the wards in Jarndyce。 They are
caged up with all the others。 With Hope； Joy； Youth； Peace； Rest；
Life； Dust；
