bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第4节
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see him。
“I will speak with both the young people；” says the Chancellor
anew； “and satisfy myself on the subject of their residing with
their cousin。 I will mention the matter tomorrow morning when I
take my seat。”
The Chancellor is about to bow to the bar when the prisoner is
presented。 Nothing can possibly come of the prisoner’s
conglomeration； but his being sent back to prison； which is soon
done。 The man from Shropshire ventures another remonstrative
“My lord！” but the Chancellor； being aware of him； has dextrously
vanished。 Everybody else quickly vanishes too。 A battery of blue
bags is loaded with heavy charges of papers and carried off by
clerks； the little mad old woman marches off with her documents；
the empty court is locked up。 If all the injustice it has committed；
and all the misery it has caused； could only be locked up with it；
and the whole burnt away in a great funeral pyre；—why so much
the better for other parties than the parties in Jarndyce and
Jarndyce！
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Bleak House 17
Chapter 2
In Fashion
t is but a glimpse of the world of fashion that we want on this
Isame miry afternoon。 It is not so unlike the Court of
Chancery； but that we may pass from the one scene to the
other； as the crow flies。 Both the world of fashion and the Court of
Chancery are things of precedent and usage； oversleeping Rip Van
Winkles； who have played at strange games through a deal of
thundery weather； sleeping beauties； whom the Knight will wake
one day； when all the stopped spits in the kitchen shall begin to
turn prodigiously！
It is not a large world。 Relatively even to this world of ours；
which has its limits too （as your Highness shall find when you have
made the tour of it； and are come to the brink of the void beyond）；
it is a very little speck。 There is much good in it； there are many
good and true people in it； it has its appointed place。 But the evil
of it is； that it is a world wrapped up in too much jeweller’s cotton
and fine wool； and cannot hear the rushing of the larger worlds；
and cannot see them as they circle round the sun。 It is a deadened
world； and its growth is sometimes unhealthy for want of air。
My Lady Dedlock has returned to her house in town for a few
days previous to her departure for Paris； where her ladyship
intends to stay some weeks； after which her movements are
uncertain。 The fashionable intelligence says so； for the comfort of
the Parisians； and it knows all fashionable things。 To know things
otherwise； were to be unfashionable。 My Lady Dedlock has been
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Bleak House 18
down at what she calls； in familiar conversation； her “place” in
Lincolnshire。 The waters are out in Lincolnshire。 An arch of the
bridge in the park has been sapped and sopped away。 The
adjacent low…lying ground； for half a mile in breadth； is a stagnant
river； with melancholy trees for islands in it； and a surface
punctured all over； all day long； with falling rain。 My Lady
Dedlock’s “place” has been extremely dreary。 The weather； for
many a day and night； has been so wet that the trees seem wet
through； and the soft loppings and prunings of the woodman’s axe
can make no crash or crackle as they fall。 The deer； looking
soaked； leave quagmires； where they pass。 The shot of a rifle loses
its sharpness in the moist air； and its smoke moves in a tardy little
cloud towards the green rise； coppice…topped； that makes a
background for the falling rain。 The view from my Lady Dedlock’s
own windows is alternately a lead…coloured view； and a view in
Indian ink。 The vases on the stone terrace in the foreground catch
the rain all day； and the heavy drops fall； drip； drip； drip； upon the
broad flagged pavement； called； from old time； the Ghost’s Walk；
all night。 On Sundays； the little church in the park is mouldy； the
oaken pulpit breaks out into a cold sweat； and there is a general
smell and taste as of the ancient Dedlocks in their graves。 My Lady
Dedlock （who is childless）； looking out in the early twilight from
her boudoir at a keeper’s lodge； and seeing the light of a fire upon
the latticed panes； and smoke rising from the chimney； and a
child； chased by a woman； running out into the rain to meet the
shining figure of a wrapped…up man coming through the gate； has
been put quite out of temper。 My Lady Dedlock says she has been
“bored to death。”
Therefore my Lady Dedlock has come away from the place in
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Bleak House 19
Lincolnshire； and has left it to the rain； and the crows； and the
rabbits； and the deer； and the partridges and pheasants。 The
pictures of the Dedlocks past and gone have seemed to vanish into
the damp walls in mere lowness of spirits； as the housekeeper has
passed along the old rooms； shutting up the shutters。 And when
they will next come forth again； the fashionable intelligence—
which； like the fiend； is omniscient of the past and present； but not
the future—cannot yet undertake to say。
Sir Leicester Dedlock is only a baronet； but there is no mightier
baronet than he。 His family is as old as the hills； and infinitely
more respectable。 He has a general opinion that the world might
get on without hills； but would be done up without Dedlocks。 He
would on the whole admit Nature to be a good idea （a little low；
perhaps； when not enclosed with a park fence）； but an idea
dependent for its execution on your great county families。 He is a
gentleman of strict conscience； disdainful of all littleness and
meanness； and ready； on the shortest notice； to die any death you
may please to mention rather than give occasion for the least
impeachment of his integrity。 He is an honourable； obstinate；
truthful； high…spirited； intensely prejudiced； perfectly
unreasonable man。
Sir Leicester is twenty years； full measure； older than my Lady。
He will never see sixty…five again； nor perhaps sixty…six； nor yet
sixty…seven。 He has a twist of the gout now and then； and walks a
little stiffly。 He is of a worthy presence； with his light grey hair and
whiskers； his fine shirt… frill； his pure white waistcoat； and his blue
coat with bright buttons always buttoned。 He is ceremonious；
stately； most polite on every occasion to my Lady； and holds her
personal attractions in the highest estimation。 His gallantry to my
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Lady； which has never changed since he courted her； is the one
little touch of romantic fancy in him。 Indeed； he married her for
love。 A whisper still goes about； that she had not even family；
howbeit； Sir Leicester had so much family that perhaps he had
enough； and could dispense with any more。 But she had beauty；
pride； ambition； insolent resolve； and sense enough to portion out
a legion of fine ladies。 Wealth and station； added to these； soon
floated her upward； and for years； now； my Lady Dedlock has
been at the centre of the fashionable intelligence； and at the top of
the fashionable tree。
How Alexander wept when he had no more worlds to conquer；
everyb
