bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第60节
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Dingo；” she resumed； with a plaintive smile。 “I felt it a good deal at
first。 Such an entire revolution in my mode of life！ But custom；
combined with science—particularly science—inured me to it。
Being the Professor’s sole companion in his botanical excursions； I
almost forgot that I had ever been afloat； and became quite
learned。 It is singular that the Professor was the Antipodes of
Captain Swosser； and that Mr Badger is not in the least like
either！”
We then passed into a narrative of the deaths of Captain
Swosser and Professor Dingo； both of whom seemed to have had
very bad complaints。 In the course of it； Mrs Badger signified to us
that she had never madly loved but once； and that the object of
that wild affection； never to be recalled in its fresh enthusiasm；
was Captain Swosser。 The Professor was yet dying by inches in
the most dismal manner； and Mrs Badger was giving us imitations
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of his way of saying； with great difficulty； “Where is Laura？ Let
Laura give me my toast and water！” when the entrance of the
gentlemen consigned him to the tomb。
Now； I observed that evening； as I had observed for some days
past； that Ada and Richard were more than ever attached to each
other’s society； which was but natural； seeing that they were going
to be separated so soon。 I was therefore not very much surprised；
when we got home； and Ada and I retired upstairs； to find Ada
more silent than usual； though I was not quite prepared for her
coming into my arms； and beginning to speak to me； with her face
hidden。
“My darling Esther！” murmured Ada。 “I have a great secret to
tell you！”
A mighty secret； my pretty one； no doubt！
“What is it； Ada？”
“O Esther； you would never guess！”
“Shall I try to guess？” said I。
“O no！ Don’t！ Pray don’t！” cried Ada； very much startled by the
idea of my doing so。
“Now I wonder who it can be about？” said I； pretending to
consider。
“It’s about；” said Ada in a whisper。 “It’s about—my cousin
Richard！”
“Well； my own！” said I； kissing her bright hair； which was all I
could see。 “And what about him？”
“O Esther； you would never guess！”
It was so pretty to have her clinging to me in that way； hiding
her face； and to know that she was not crying in sorrow； but in a
little glow of joy； and pride； and hope； that I would not help her
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just yet。
“He says—I know it’s very foolish； we are both so young—but
he says；” with a burst of tears； “that he loves me dearly； Esther。”
“Does he indeed？” said I。 “I never heard of such a thing！ Why；
my pet of pets； I could have told you that weeks and weeks ago！”
To see Ada lift up her flushed face in joyful surprise； and hold
me round the neck； and laugh； and cry； and blush； and laugh； was
so pleasant！
“Why； my darling！” said I； “what a goose you must take me for！
Your cousin Richard has been loving you as plainly as he could；
for I don’t know how long！”
“And yet you never said a word about it！” cried Ada； kissing me。
“No； my love；” said I。 “I waited to be told。”
“But now I have told you； you don’t think it wrong of me； do
you？” returned Ada。 She might have coaxed me to say No； if I had
been the hardest…hearted Duenna in the world。 Not being that yet；
I said No； very freely。
“And now；” said I； “I know the worst of it。”
“O that’s not quite the worst of it； Esther dear；” cried Ada；
holding me tighter； and laying down her face again upon my
breast。
“No？” said I。 “Not even that？”
“No； not even that！” said Ada； shaking her head。
“Why； you never mean to say —！” I was beginning in joke。
But Ada； looking up and smiling through her tears； cried； “Yes I
do！ You know； you know I do！” and then sobbed out； “With all my
heart I do！ With all my whole heart； Esther！”
I told her； laughing； why I had known that； too； just as well as I
had known the other！ And we sat before the fire； and I had all the
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talking to myself for a little while （though there was not much of
it）； and Ada was soon quiet and happy。
“Do you think my cousin John knows； dear Dame Durden？” she
asked。
“Unless my cousin John is blind； my pet；” said I； “I should think
my cousin John knows pretty well as much as we know。”
“We want to speak to him before Richard goes；” said Ada；
timidly； “and we wanted you to advise us； and to tell him so。
Perhaps you wouldn’t mind Richard’s coming in； Dame Durden？”
“O！ Richard is outside； is he； my dear？” said I。
“I am not quite certain；” returned Ada； with a bashful simplicity
that would have won my heart； if she had not won it long before；
“but I think he’s waiting at the door。”
There he was of course。 They brought a chair on either side of
me； and put me between them； and really seemed to have fallen in
love with me； instead of one another； they were so confiding； and
so trustful； and so fond of me。 They went on in their own wild way
for a little while—I never stopped them； I enjoyed it too much
myself—and then we gradually fell to considering how young they
were； and how there must be a lapse of several years before this
early love could come to anything； and how it could come to
happiness only if it were real and lasting； and inspired them with a
steady resolution to do their duty to each other； with constancy；
fortitude； and perseverance： each always for the other’s sake。
Well！ Richard said that he would work his fingers to the bone for
Ada； and Ada said that she would work her fingers to the bone for
Richard； and they called me all sorts of endearing and sensible
names； and we sat there； advising and talking； half the night。
Finally before we parted； I gave them my promise to speak to their
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cousin John tomorrow。
So； when tomorrow came； I went to my Guardian after
breakfast； in the room that was our town substitute for the
Growlery； and told him that I had it in trust to tell him something。
“Well； little woman；” said he； shutting up his book； “if you have
accepted the trust； there can be no harm in it。”
“I hope not； Guardian；” said I。 “I can guarantee that there is no
secrecy in it。 For it only happened yesterday。”
“Aye？ And what is it； Esther？”
“Guardian；” said I； “you remember the happy night when we
first came down to Bleak House？ When Ada was singing in the
dark room？”
I wished to recall to his remembrance the look he had given me
then。 Unless I am much mistaken； I saw that I did so。
“Because；” said I； with a little hesitation。
“Yes； my dear！” said he。 “Don’t hurry。”
“Because；” said I； “Ada and Richard have fallen in love。 And
have told each other so。”
“Already！” cried my Guardian； quite astonished。
“Yes！” said I； “and to tell you the truth； Guardian； I rather
expected it。”
“The deuce you did！” said he。
He sat considering for a minute or two； with his smile at once so
handsome and so kind； upon his changing face； and then
requested me to let them know that he wished to see them。 When
they came he encircled Ada with one arm； in his fatherly way； and
addressed himself to Richard with a cheerful gravity。
“Rick；
