bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第280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！
The iron master； repressing his amused smile； assents。
“Thank you。 Thank you。 It’s a weight off my mind；” says the
trooper； with a heave of his chest as he unfolds his arms； and puts
a hand on each leg； “though I had set my heart on being scratched；
too！”
The brothers are very like each other； sitting face to face； but a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1167…
Bleak House 1167
certain massive simplicity； and absence of usage in the ways of the
world； is all on the trooper’s side。
“Well；” he proceeds； throwing off his disappointment； “next and
last； those plans of mine。 You have been so brotherly as to propose
to me to fall in here； and take my place among the products of
your perseverance and sense。 I thank you heartily。 It’s more than
brotherly； as I said before； and I thank you heartily for it；” shaking
him a long time by the hand。 “But the truth is； brother； I am a—I
am a kind of a Weed； and it’s too late to plant me in a regular
garden。”
“My dear George；” returns the elder； concentrating his strong
steady brow upon him； and smiling confidently； “leave that to me；
and let me try。”
George shakes his head。 “You could do it； I have not a doubt； if
anybody could； but it’s not to be done。 Not to be done； sir！
Whereas it so falls out； on the other hand； that I am able to be of
some trifle of use to Sir Leicester Dedlock since his illness—
brought on by family sorrows； and that he would rather have that
help from our mother’s son than from anybody else。”
“Well； my dear George；” returns the other； with a very slight
shade upon his open face； “if you prefer to serve in Sir Leicester
Dedlock’s household brigade—”
“There it is； brother！” cries the trooper； checking him； with his
hand upon his knee again： “there it is。 You don’t take kindly to
that idea； I don’t mind it。 You are not used to being officered； I am。
Everything about you is in perfect order and discipline； everything
about me requires to be kept so。 We are not accustomed to carry
things with the same hand； or to look at ’em from the same point。 I
don’t say much about my garrison manners； because I found
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1168…
Bleak House 1168
myself pretty well at my ease last night； and they wouldn’t be
noticed here； I dare say； once and away。 But I shall get on best at
Chesney Wold—where there’s more room for a Weed than there is
here； and the dear old lady will be made happy besides。 Therefore
I accept of Sir Leicester Dedlock’s proposals。 When I come over
next year to give away the bride； or whenever I come； I shall have
the sense to keep the household brigade in ambuscade； and not to
manoeuvre it on your ground。 I thank you heartily again； and am
proud to think of the Rouncewells as they’ll be founded by you。”
“You know yourself； George；” says the elder brother； returning
the grip of his hand； “and perhaps you know me better than I
know myself。 Take your way。 So that we don’t quite lose one
another again； take your way。”
“No fear of that！” returns the trooper。 “Now； before I turn my
horse’s head homewards； brother； I will ask you—if you’ll be so
good—to look over a letter for me。 I brought it with me to send
from these parts； as Chesney Wold might be a painful name just
now to the person it’s written to。 I am not much accustomed to
correspondence myself； and I am particular respecting this
present letter； because I want it to be both straightforward and
delicate。”
Herewith he hands a letter； closely written in somewhat pale
ink but in a neat round hand； to the ironmaster； who reads as
follows：
“Miss Esther Summerson；
“A communication having been made to me by Inspector
Bucket of a letter to myself being found among the papers of a
certain person； I take the liberty to make known to you that it was
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1169…
Bleak House 1169
but a few lines of instruction from abroad； when； where； and how
to deliver an enclosed letter to a young and beautiful lady； then
unmarried in England。 I duly observed the same。
“I further take the liberty to make known to you； that it was got
from me as a proof of hand…writing only； and that otherwise I
would not have given it up as appearing to be the most harmless in
my possession； without being previously shot through the heart。
“I further take the liberty to mention； that if I could have
supposed a certain unfortunate gentleman to have been in
existence； I never could and never would have rested until I had
discovered his retreat； and shared my last farthing with him； as my
duty and my inclination would have equally been。 But he was
（officially） reported drowned； and assuredly went over the side of a
transport…ship at night in an Irish harbour； within a few hours of
her arrival from the West Indies； as I have myself heard both from
officers and men on board； and know to have been （officially）
confirmed。
“I further take the liberty to state that in my humble quality as
one of the rank and file； I am； and shall ever continue to be； your
thoroughly devoted and admiring servant； and that I esteem the
qualities you possess above all others； far beyond the limits of the
present dispatch。
“I have the honour to be；
“GEORGE。”
“A little formal；” observes the elder brother； refolding it with a
puzzled face。
“But nothing that might not be sent to a pattern young lady？”
asks the younger。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1170…
Bleak House 1170
“Nothing at all。”
Therefore it is sealed； and deposited for posting among the iron
correspondence of the day。 This done； Mr George takes a hearty
farewell of the family party； and prepares to saddle and mount。
His brother； however； unwilling to part with him so soon； proposes
to ride with him in a light open carriage to the place where he will
bait for the night； and there remain with him until morning： a
servant riding； for so much of the journey； on the thorough…bred
old grey from Chesney Wold。 The offer being gladly accepted； is
followed by a pleasant ride； a pleasant dinner； and a pleasant
breakfast； all in brotherly communion。 Then they once more shake
hands long and heartily； and part； the ironmaster turning his face
to the smoke and fires； and the trooper to the green country。 Early
in the afternoon； the subdued sound of his heavy military trot is
heard on the turf in in the avenue； as he rides on with imaginary
clank and jingle of accoutrements under the old elm trees。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1171…
Bleak House 1171
Chapter 64
Esther’s Narrative
oon after I had had that conversation with my Guardian； he
put a sealed paper in my hand one morning； and said；
S
“This is for next month； my dear。” I found in it two
hundred pounds。
I now began very quietly to make such preparations as I
thought were necessary。 Regulating my purchases by my
Guardian’s taste； which I knew very well of course； I arranged my
wardrobe
