bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第83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！
gracefully upon him； “except in the matter of their departure。 I am
only sorry that I cannot have the happiness of being their escort
about Chesney Wold； which is a very fine place！ But； by the light of
this summer day； Jarndyce； if you call upon the owner； while you
stay with me； you are likely to have but a cool reception。 He
carries himself like an eight…day clock at all times； like one of a
race of eight…day clocks in gorgeous cases that never go and never
went—Ha ha ha！—but he will have some extra stiffness； I can
promise you； for the friends of his friend and neighbour
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 344…
Bleak House 344
Boythorn！”
“I shall not put him to the proof；” said my Guardian。 “He is as
indifferent to the honour of knowing me； I dare say； as I am to the
honour of knowing him。 The air of the grounds； and perhaps such
a view of the house as any other sightseer might get； are quite
enough for me。”
“Well！” said Mr Boythorn； “I am glad of it on the whole。 It’s in
better keeping。 I am looked upon； about here； as a second Ajax
defying the lightning。 Ha ha ha ha！ When I go into our little church
on a Sunday； a considerable part of the inconsiderable
congregation expect to see me drop； scorched and withered； on
the pavement under the Dedlock displeasure。 Ha ha ha ha！ I have
no doubt he is surprised that I don’t。 For he is； by Heaven！ the
most self…satisfied； and the shallowest； and the most coxcomical
and utterly brainless ass！”
Our coming to the ridge of a hill we had been ascending；
enabled our friend to point out Chesney Wold itself to us； and
diverted his attention from its master。
It was a picturesque old house； in a fine park； richly wooded。
Among the trees； and not far from the residence； he pointed out
the spire of the little church of which he had spoken。 O； the
solemn woods over which the light and shadow travelled swiftly；
as if Heavenly wings were sweeping on benignant errands through
the summer air； the smooth green slopes； the glittering water； the
garden where the flowers were so symmetrically arranged in
clusters of the richest colours； how beautiful they looked！ The
house； with gable and chimney； and tower； and turret； and dark
doorway； and broad terrace…walk； twining among the balustrades
of which； and lying heaped upon the vases； there was one great
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 345…
Bleak House 345
flush of roses； seemed scarcely real in its light solidity； and in the
serene and peaceful hush that rested all around it。 To Ada and to
me； that； above all； appeared the pervading influence。 On
everything； house； garden； terrace； green slopes； water； old oaks；
fern； moss； woods again； and far away across the openings in the
prospect； to the distance lying wide before us with a purple bloom
upon it； there seemed to be such undisturbed repose。
When we came into the little village； and passed a small inn
with the sign of the Dedlock Arms swinging over the road in front；
Mr Boythorn interchanged greetings with a young gentleman
sitting on a bench outside the inn…door； who had some fishing…
tackle lying beside him。
“That’s the housekeeper’s grandson； Mr Rouncewell by name；”
said he； “and he is in love with a pretty girl up at the House。 Lady
Dedlock has taken a fancy to the pretty girl； and is going to keep
her about her own fair person—an honour which my young friend
himself does not at all appreciate。 However； he can’t marry just
yet； even if his Rosebud were willing； so he is fain to make the best
of it。 In the meanwhile； he comes here pretty often； for a day or
two at a time； to—fish。 Ha ha ha ha！”
“Are he and the pretty girl engaged； Mr Boythorn？” asked Ada。
“Why； my dear Miss Clare；” he returned； “I think they may
perhaps understand each other； but you will see them soon； I dare
say； and I must learn from you on such a point—not you from me。”
Ada blushed； and Mr Boythorn； trotting forward on his comely
grey horse； dismounted at his own door； and stood ready； with
extended arm and uncovered head； to welcome us when we
arrived。
He lived in a pretty house； formerly the Parsonage…house； with
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 346…
Bleak House 346
a lawn in front； a bright flower…garden at the side； and a well…
stocked orchard and kitchen…garden in the rear； enclosed with a
venerable wall that had of itself a ripened ruddy look。 But； indeed；
everything about the place wore an aspect of maturity and
abundance。 The old lime…tree walk was like green cloisters； the
very shadows of the cherry…trees and apple…trees were heavy with
fruit； the gooseberry…bushes were so laden that their branches
arched and rested on the earth； the strawberries and raspberries
grew in like profusion； and the peaches basked by the hundred on
the wall。 Tumbled about among the spread nets and the glass
frames sparkling and winking in the sun； there were such heaps of
drooping pods； and marrows； and cucumbers； that every foot of
ground appeared a vegetable treasury； while the smell of sweet
herbs and all kinds of wholesome growth （to say nothing of the
neighbouring meadows where the hay was carrying） made the
whole air a great nosegay。 Such stillness and composure reigned
within the orderly precincts of the old red wall； that even the
feathers hung in garlands to scare the birds hardly stirred； and the
wall had such a ripening influence that where； here and there high
up； a disused nail and scrap of list still clung to it； it was easier to
fancy that they had mellowed with the changing seasons； than that
they had rusted and decayed according to the common fate。
The house； though a little disorderly in comparison with the
garden； was a real old house； with settles in the chimney of the
brick…floored kitchen； and great beams across the ceilings。 On one
side of it was the terrible piece of ground in dispute； where Mr
Boythorn maintained a sentry in a smock…frock； day and night；
whose duty was supposed to be； in case of aggression； immediately
to ring a large bell hung up there for the purpose； to unchain a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 347…
Bleak House 347
great bulldog established in a kennel as his ally； and generally to
deal destruction on the enemy。 Not content with these
precautions； Mr Boythorn had himself composed and posted
there； on painted boards to which his name was attached in large
letters； the following solemn warnings： “Beware of the Bulldog。 He
is most ferocious。 Lawrence Boythorn。”
“The blunderbuss is loaded with slugs。 Lawrence Boythorn。”
“Mulldogs and spring…guns are set here at all times of the day
and night。 Lawrence Boythorn。”
“Take notice。 That any person or persons audaciously
presuming to trespass on this property； will be punished with the
utmost severity of private chastisement； and prosecuted with the
utmost rigour of the law。 Lawrence Boythorn。” These he showed
us； from the drawing…room window； while his bird was hopping
about his head； and he laughed； “Ha ha ha ha！ Ha ha ha ha！” to
that extent as he pointed them out； that I reall
