bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第86节
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by which our little lives are encompassed； to consider how
beneficent they are； and how upon the smallest flower and leaf
there was already a freshness poured from all this seeming rage；
which seemed to make creation new again。
“Is it not dangerous to sit in so exposed a place？”
“O no； Esther dear！” said Ada； quietly。
Ada said it to me； but； I had not spoken。
The beating at my heart came back again。 I had never heard the
voice； as I had never seen the face； but it affected me in the same
strange way。 Again； in a moment； there arose before my mind
innumerable pictures of myself。
Lady Dedlock had taken shelter in the lodge； before our arrival
there； and had come out of the gloom within。 She stood behind my
chair； with her hand upon it。 I saw her with her hand close to my
shoulder； when I turned my head。
“I have frightened you？” she said。
“No。 It was not fright。 Why should I be frightened！”
“I believe；” said Lady Dedlock to my Guardian； “I have the
pleasure of speaking to Mr Jarndyce。”
“Your remembrance does me more honour than I had
supposed it would； Lady Dedlock；” he returned。
“I recognised you in church on Sunday。 I am sorry that any
local disputes of Sir Leicester’s—they are not of his seeking；
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however； I believe—should render it a matter of some absurd
difficulty to show you any attention here。”
“I am aware of the circumstances；” returned my Guardian with
a smile； “and am sufficiently obliged。”
She had given him her hand； in an indifferent way that seemed
habitual to her； and spoke in a correspondingly indifferent
manner； though in a very pleasant voice。 She was as graceful as
she was beautiful； perfectly self…possessed； and had the air； I
thought； of being able to attract and interest any one； if she had
thought it worth her while。 The keeper had brought her a chair； on
which she sat； in the middle of the porch between us。
“Is the young gentleman disposed of； whom you wrote to Sir
Leicester about； and whose wishes Sir Leicester was sorry not to
have it in his power to advance in any way？” she said； over her
shoulder； to my Guardian。
“I hope so；” said he。
She seemed to respect him； and even to wish to conciliate him。
There was something very winning in her haughty manner； and it
became more familiar—I was going to say more easy； but that
could hardly be—as she spoke to him over her shoulder。
“I presume this is your other ward； Miss Clare？”
He presented Ada； in form。
“You will lose the disinterested part of your Don Quixote
character；” said Lady Dedlock to Mr Jarndyce； over her shoulder
again； “if you only redress the wrongs of beauty like this。 But
present me；” and she turned full upon me； “to this young lady
too！”
“Miss Summerson really is my ward；” said Mr Jarndyce。 “I am
responsible to no Lord Chancellor in her case。”
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“Has Miss Summerson lost both her parents？” said my Lady。
“Yes。”
“She is very fortunate in her Guardian。”
Lady Dedlock looked at me； and I looked at her； and said I was
indeed。 All at once she turned from me with a hasty air； almost
expressive of displeasure or dislike； and spoke to him over her
shoulder again。
“Ages have passed since we were in the habit of meeting； Mr
Jarndyce。”
“A long time。 At least I thought it was a long time； until I saw
you last Sunday；” he returned。
“What！ Even you are a courtier； or think it necessary to become
one to me！” she said； with some disdain。 “I have achieved that
reputation； I suppose。”
“You have achieved so much； Lady Dedlock；” said my
Guardian； “that you pay some little penalty； I dare say。 But none
to me。”
“So much！” she repeated； slightly laughing。 “Yes！”
With her air of superiority； and power； and fascination； and I
know not what； she seemed to regard Ada and me as little more
than children。 So； as she slightly laughed； and afterwards sat
looking at the rain； she was as self…possessed； and as free to
occupy herself with her own thoughts； as if she had been alone。
“I think you knew my sister； when we were abroad together；
better than you knew me？” she said； looking at him again。
“Yes； we happened to meet oftener；” he returned。
“We went our several ways；” said Lady Dedlock； “and had little
in common even before we agreed to differ。 It is to be regretted； I
suppose； but it could not be helped。”
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Lady Dedlock again sat looking at the rain。 The storm soon
began to pass upon its way。 The shower greatly abated； the
lightning ceased； the thunder rolled among the distant hills； and
the sun began to glisten on the wet leaves and the falling rain。 As
we sat there； silently； we saw a little pony phaeton coming towards
us at a merry pace。
“The messenger is coming back； my lady；” said the keeper；
“with the carriage。”
As it drove up； we saw that there were two people inside。 There
alighted from it； with some cloaks and wrappers； first the
Frenchwoman whom I had seen in church； and secondly the
pretty girl； the Frenchwoman with a defiant confidence； the pretty
girl confused and hesitating。
“What now？” said Lady Dedlock。 “Two！”
“I am your maid； my Lady； at the present；” said the
Frenchwoman。 “The message was for the attendant。”
“I was afraid you might mean me； my Lady；” said the pretty
girl。
“I did mean you； child；” replied her mistress； calmly。 “Put that
shawl on me。”
She slightly stooped her shoulders to receive it； and the pretty
girl lightly dropped it in its place。 The Frenchwoman stood
unnoticed； looking on with her lips very tightly set。
“I am sorry；” said Lady Dedlock to Mr Jarndyce； “that we are
not likely to renew our former acquaintance。 You will allow me to
send the carriage back for your two wards。 It shall be here
directly。”
But as he would on no account accept this offer； she took a
graceful leave of Ada—none of me—and put her hand upon his
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proffered arm； and got into the carriage； which was a little； low；
park carriage； with a hood。
“Come； child！” she said to the pretty girl； “I shall want you。 Go
on！”
The carriage rolled away； and the Frenchwoman； with the
wrappers she had brought hanging over her arm； remained
standing where she had alighted。
I suppose there is nothing Pride can so little bear with； as Pride
itself； and that she was punished for her imperious manner。 Her
retaliation was the most singular I could have imagined。 She
remained perfectly still until the carriage had turned into the
drive； and then； without the least discomposure of countenance；
slipped off her shoes； left them on the ground； and walked
deliberately in the same direction； through the wettest of the wet
grass。
“Is that young woman mad？” said my Guardian。
“O no； sir！” said the keeper； who； with his wife； was looking
after her。 “Horten
