bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第61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！
they came he encircled Ada with one arm； in his fatherly way； and
addressed himself to Richard with a cheerful gravity。
“Rick；” said Mr Jarndyce； “I am glad to have won your
confidence。 I hope to preserve it。 When I contemplated these
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 252…
Bleak House 252
relations between us four which have so brightened my life； and so
invested it with new interest and pleasures； I certainly did
contemplate； afar off； the possibility of you and your pretty cousin
here （don’t be shy； Ada； don’t be shy； my dear！） being in a mind to
go through life together。 I saw； and do see； many reasons to make
it desirable。 But that was afar off； Rick； afar off！”
“We look afar off； sir；” returned Richard。
“Well！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “That’s rational。 Now； hear me； my
dears！ I might tell you that you don’t know your own minds yet；
that a thousand things may happen to divert you from one
another； that it is well this chain of flowers you have taken up is
very easily broken； or it might become a chain of lead。 But I will
not do that。 Such wisdom will come soon enough； I dare say； if it is
to come at all。 I will assume that； a few years hence； you will be in
your hearts to one another； what you are today。 All I say before
speaking to you according to that assumption is； if you do
change—if you do come to find that you are more common…place
cousins to each other as man and woman； than you were as boy
and girl （your manhood will excuse me； Rick！）—don’t be ashamed
still to confide in me； for there will be nothing monstrous or
uncommon in it。 I am only your friend and distant kinsman。 I have
no power over you whatever。 But I wish and hope to retain your
confidence； if I do nothing to forfeit it。”
“I am very sure； sir；” returned Richard； “that I speak for Ada；
too； when I say that you have the strongest power over us both—
rooted in respect； gratitude； and affection—strengthening every
day。”
“Dear Cousin John；” said Ada； on his shoulder； “my father’s
place can never be empty again。 All the love and duty I could ever
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 253…
Bleak House 253
have rendered to him； is transferred to you。”
“Come！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “Now for our assumption。 Now we
lift our eyes up； and look hopefully at the distance！ Rick； the world
is before you； and it is most probable that as you enter it； so it will
receive you。 Trust in nothing but in Providence and your own
efforts。 Never separate the two； like the heathen waggoner。
Constancy in love is a good thing； but it means nothing； and is
nothing； without constancy in every kind of effort。 If you had the
abilities of all the great men； past and present； you could do
nothing well； without sincerely meaning it； and setting about it。 If
you entertain the supposition that any real success； in great things
or in small； ever was or could be； ever will or can be； wrested from
Fortune by fits and starts； leave that wrong idea here； or leave
your cousin Ada here。”
“I will leave it here； sir；” replied Richard； smiling； “if I brought
it here just now （but I hope I did not）； and will work my way on to
my cousin Ada in the hopeful distance。”
“Right！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “If you are not to make her happy；
why should you pursue her？”
“I wouldn’t make her unhappy—no； not even for her love；”
retorted Richard； proudly。
“Well said！” cried Mr Jarndyce； “that’s well said！ She remains
here； in her home with me。 Love her； Rick； in your active life； no
less than in her home when you revisit it； and all will go well。
Otherwise； all will go ill。 That’s the end of my preaching。 I think
you and Ada had better take a walk。”
Ada tenderly embraced him； and Richard heartily shook hands
with him； and then the cousins went out of the room—looking
back again directly； though； to say that they would wait for me。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 254…
Bleak House 254
The door stood open； and we both followed them with our eyes；
as they passed down the adjoining room on which the sun was
shining； and out at its farther end。 Richard with his head bent； and
her hand drawn through his arm； was talking to her very
earnestly； and she looked up in his face； listening； and seemed to
see nothing else。 So young； so beautiful； so full of hope and
promise； they went on lightly through the sunlight； as their own
happy thoughts might then be traversing the years to come； and
making them all years of brightness。 So they passed away into the
shadow； and were gone。 It was only a burst of light that had been
so radiant。 The room darkened as they went out； and the sun was
clouded over。
“Am I right； Esther？” said my Guardian； when they were gone。
He who was so good and wise； to ask me whether he was right！
“Rick may gain； out of this； the quality he wants。 Wants； at the
core of so much that is good！” said Mr Jarndyce； shaking his head。
“I have said nothing to Ada； Esther。 She has her friend and
counsellor always near。” And he laid his hand lovingly upon my
head。
I could not help showing that I was a little moved； though I did
all I could to conceal it。
“Tut tut！” said he。 “But we must take care； too； that our little
woman’s life is not all consumed in care for others。”
“Care？ My dear Guardian； I believe I am the happiest creature
in the world！”
“I believe so； too；” said he。 “But some one may find out； what
Esther never will—that the little woman is to be held in
remembrance above all other people！”
I have omitted to mention in its place； that there was some one
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 255…
Bleak House 255
else at the family dinner party。 It was not a lady。 It was a
gentleman。 It was a gentleman of a dark complexion—a young
surgeon。 He was rather reserved； but I thought him very sensible
and agreeable。 At least； Ada asked me if I did not； and I said yes。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 256…
Bleak House 256
Chapter 14
Deportment
ichard left us on the very next evening； to begin his new
Rcareer； and committed Ada to my charge with great love
for her； and great trust in me。 It touched me then to
reflect； and it touches me now； more nearly； to remember （having
what I have to tell） how they both thought of me； even at that
engrossing time。 I was a part of all their plans； for the present and
the future。 I was to write to Richard once a week； making my
faithful report of Ada who was to write to him every alternate day。
I was to be informed； under his own hand； of all his labours and
successes； I was to observe how resolute and persevering he would
be； I was to be Ada’s bridesmaid when they were married； I was to
live with them afterwards； I was to keep all the keys of their house；
I was to be made happy for ever and a day。
“And if the suit should make us rich； Esther—which it may； you
know！” said Richard； to crown all。
A shade crossed Ada’s face。
“My dearest Ada；” asked Richard pausing； “why not？”
“It had better declare us poor at once；” said Ada。
“O！ I don’t know about that；” returned Richard； “but； at all
events； it won’t declare anything at once。 It hasn’t declared
anything
