bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第278节
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When he had well examined it； he retired with Mr Kenge into a
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Bleak House 1158
window； and shading his mouth with his black glove； spoke to him
at some length。 I was not surprised to observe Mr Kenge inclined
to dispute what he said before he had said much； for I knew that
no two people ever did agree about anything in Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。 But he seemed to get the better of Mr Kenge； too； in a
conversation that sounded as if it were almost composed of the
words； “Receiver…General；” “Accountant…General；” “Report；”
“Estate；” and “Costs。” When they had finished； they came back to
Mr Kenge’s table； and spoke aloud。
“Well！ But this is a very remarkable document； Mr Vholes？”
said Mr Kenge。
Mr Vholes said； “Very much so。”
“And a very important document； Mr Vholes？” said Mr Kenge。
Again Mr Vholes said； “Very much so。” “And as you say； Mr
Vholes； when the Cause is in the paper next Term； this document
will be an unexpected and interesting feature in it；” said Mr
Kenge； looking loftily at my Guardian。
Mr Vholes was gratified； as a smaller practitioner striving to
keep respectable； to be confirmed in any opinion of his own by
such an authority。
“And when；” asked my Guardian； rising after a pause； during
which Mr Kenge had rattled his money； and Mr Vholes had picked
his pimples； “when is next Term？”
“Next Term； Mr Jarndyce； will be next month；” said Mr Kenge。
“Of course we shall at once proceed to do what is necessary with
this document； and to collect the necessary evidence concerning it；
and of course you will receive our usual notification of the Cause
being in the paper。”
“To which I shall pay； of course； my usual attention。”
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Bleak House 1159
“Still bent； my dear sir；” said Mr Kenge； showing us through
the the outer office to the door； “still bent； even with your enlarged
mind； on echoing a popular prejudice？ We are a prosperous
community； Mr Jarndyce； a very prosperous community。 We are a
great country； Mr Jarndyce； we are a very great country。 This is a
great system； Mr Jarndyce； and would you wish a great country to
have a little system？ Now； really； really！”
He said this at the stair…head； gently moving his right hand as if
it were a silver trowel； with which to spread the cement of his
words on the structure of the system； and consolidate it for a
thousand ages。
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Bleak House 1160
Chapter 63
Steel And Iron
eorge’s shooting…gallery is to let； and the stock is sold off；
and George himself is at Chesney Wold； attending on Sir
G
Leicester in his rides； and riding very near his bridle…rein；
because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse。 But
not today is George so occupied。 He is journeying today into the
iron country farther north； to look about him。
As he comes into the iron country farther north； such fresh
green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind； and coal…
pits and ashes； high chimneys and red bricks； blighted verdure；
scorching fires； and a heavy never lightening cloud of smoke；
become the features of the scenery。 Among such objects rides the
trooper； looking about him； and always looking for something he
has come to find。
At last； on the black canal bridge of a busy town； with a clang of
iron in it； and more fires and more smoke than he has seen yet； the
trooper； swart with the dust of the coal roads； checks his horse；
and asks the workman does he know the name of Rouncewell
thereabouts？”
“Why； master；” quoth the workman； “do I know my own
name？”
“’Tis so well known here； is it； comrade？” asked the trooper。
“Rouncewells？ Ah！ you’re right。”
“And where might he be now？” asks the trooper； with a glance
before him。
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Bleak House 1161
“The bank； the factory； or the house？” the workman wants to
know。
“Hum！ Rouncewells is so great apparently；” mutters the
trooper； stroking his chin； “that I have as good as half a mind to go
back again。 Why I don’t know which I want。 Should I find Mr
Rouncewell at the factory； do you think？”
“’Tain’t easy to say where you’d find him—at this time of the
day you might find either him or son there； if he’s in town； but his
contracts take him away。”
And which is the factory？ Why； he sees those chimneys—the
tallest ones！ Yes； he sees them。 Well！ let him keep his eye on those
chimneys； going on as straight as ever he can； and presently he’ll
see ’em down a turning on the left； shut in by a great brick wall
which forms one side of the street。 That’s Rouncewells。
The trooper thanks his informant； and rides slowly on； looking
about him。 He does not turn back； but puts up his horse （and is
much disposed to groom him too） at a public house where some of
Rouncewell’s hands are dining； as the ostler tells him。 Some of
Rouncewell’s hands have just knocked off for dinner time； and
seem to be invading the whole town。 They are very sinewy and
strong； are Rouncewell’s hands—a little sooty too。
He comes to a gateway in the brick wall； looks in； and sees a
great perplexity of iron lying about； in every stage； and in a vast
variety of shapes； in bars； in wedges； in sheets； in tanks； in boilers；
in axles； in wheels； in cogs； in cranks； in rails； twisted and
wrenched into eccentric and perverse forms； as separate parts of
machinery； mountains of it broken up； and rusty in its age； distant
furnaces of it glowing and bubbling in its youth； bright fireworks
of it showering about； under the blows of the steam hammer； red…
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Bleak House 1162
hot iron； white…hot iron； cold…black iron； an iron taste； an iron
smell； and a Babel of iron sounds。
“This is a place to make a make a man’s head ache； too！” says
the trooper； looking about him for a counting…house。 “Who comes
here？ This is very like me before I was set up。 This ought to be my
nephew； if likenesses run in families。 Your servant； sir。”
“Yours； sir。 Are you looking for any one？”
“Excuse me。 Young Mr Rouncewell； I believe？”
“Yes。”
“I was looking for your father； sir。 I wished to have a word with
him。”
The young man； telling him he is fortunate in his choice of a
time； for his father is there； leads the way to the office where he is
to be found。 “Very like me before I was set up—devilish like me！”
thinks the trooper； as he follows。 They come to a building in the
yard； with an office on an upper floor。 At sight of the gentleman in
the office； Mr George turns very red。
“What name shall I say to my father？” asks the young man。
George full of the idea of iron； in desperation answers “Steel；”
and is so presented。 He is left alone with the gentleman in the
office； who sits at a table with account…books before him； and some
sheets of paper； blotted with hosts of figures and drawings of
cunning shapes。 It is a bare office； with bare windows； looking on
the iron view below。 Tumbled together on the table are some
pieces of iron； purposely broken to be tested； at various periods of
