do they hide？ He is a match for my Lady there。 She may look at
him； but he can look at the table； and keep that witness…box face of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 568…
Bleak House 568
his from telling anything。
“You may bring the letters；” says my Lady； “if you choose。”
“Your ladyship is not very encouraging； upon my word and
honour；” says Mr Guppy； a little injured。
“You may bring the letters；” she repeats； in the same tone； “if
you—please。”
“It shall be done。 I wish your ladyship good day。”
On a table near her is a rich bauble of a casket； barred and
clasped like an old strong chest。 She； looking at him still； takes it
to her and unlocks it。
“Oh！ I assure your ladyship I am not actuated by any motives of
that sort；” says Mr Guppy； “and I couldn’t accept of anything of
the kind。 I wish your ladyship good day； and am much obliged to
you all the same。”
So the young man makes his bow； and goes downstairs； where
the supercilious Mercury does not consider himself called upon to
leave his Olympus by the hall fire； to let the young man out。
As Sir Leicester basks in his library； and dozes over his
newspaper； is there no influence in the house to startle him； not to
say； to make the very trees at Chesney Wold fling up their knotted
arms； the very portraits frown； the very armour stir？
No。 Words； sobs； and cries； are but air； and air is so shut in and
shut out throughout the house in town； that sounds need be
uttered trumpet…tongued indeed by my Lady in her chamber； to
carry any faint vibration to Sir Leicester’s ears； and yet this cry is
in the house； going upward from a wild figure on its knees。
“O my child； my child！ Not dead in the first hours of her life； as
my cruel sister told me； but sternly nurtured by her； after she had
renounced me and my name！ O my child； O my child！”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 569…
Bleak House 569
Chapter 30
Esther’s Narrative
ichard had been gone away some time； when a visitor
Rcame to pass a few days with us。 It was an elderly lady。 It
was Mrs Woodcourt； who； having come from Wales to stay
with Mrs Bayham Badger； and having written to my Guardian；
“by her son Allan’s desire；” to report that she had heard from him
and that he was well； “and sent his kind remembrances to all of
us；” had been invited by my Guardian to make a visit to Bleak
House。 She stayed with us nearly three weeks She took very
kindly to me； and was extremely confidential； so much so that
sometimes she almost made me uncomfortable。 I had no right； I
knew very well； to be uncomfortable because she confided in me；
and I felt it was unreasonable； still； with all I could do； I could not
quite help it。
She was such a sharp little lady； and used to sit with her hands
folded in each other； looking so very watchful while she talked to
me； that perhaps I found that rather irksome。 Or perhaps it was
her being so upright and trim； though I don’t think it was that；
because I though that quaintly pleasant。 Nor can it have been the
general expression of her face； which was very sparkling and
pretty for an old lady。 I don’t know what it was。 Or at least if I do；
now； I thought I did not then。 Or at least—but it don’t matter。
Of a night when I was going upstairs to bed； she would invite
me into her room； where she sat before the fire in a great chair；
and； dear me； she would tell me about Morgan ap Kerrig until I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 570…
Bleak House 570
was quite low…spirited！ Sometimes she recited a few verses from
Crumlinwallinwer and the Mewlinwillinwodd （if those are the
right names； which I dare say they are not）； and would become
quite fiery with the sentiments they expressed。 Though I never
knew what they were （being in Welsh）； further than that they were
highly eulogistic of the lineage of Morgan ap Kerrig。
“So； Miss Summerson；” she would say to me with stately
triumph； “this you see； is the fortune inherited by my son。
Wherever my son goes； he can claim kindred with Ap Kerrig。 He
may not have money； but he always has what is much better—
family； my dear。”
I had my doubts of their caring so very much for Morgan ap
Kerrig； in India and China； but of course I never expressed them。 I
used to say it was a great thing to be so highly connected。
“It is my dear； a great thing；” Mrs Woodcourt would reply。 “It
has its disadvantages； my son’s choice of a wife； for instance； is
limited by it； but the matrimonial choice of the Royal family
limited in much the same manner。”
Then she would pat me on the arm and smooth my dress； as
much as to assure me that she had a good opinion of me； the
distance between us notwithstanding。
“Poor Mr Woodcourt； my dear；” she would say； and always with
some emotion； for with her lofty pedigree she had a very
affectionate heart； “was descended from a great Highland family；
the Mac Coorts of Mac Coort。 He served his king and country as an
officer in the Royal Highlanders； and he died on the field。 My son
is one of the last representatives of two old families。 With the
blessing of Heaven he will set them up again； and unite them with
another old family。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 571…
Bleak House 571
It was in vain for me to try to change the subject； as I used to
try—only for the sake of novelty—or perhaps because—but I need
not be so particular。 Mrs Woodcourt never would let me change it。
“My dear；” she said one night； “you have so much sense； and
you look at the world in a quiet manner so superior to your time of
life； that it is a comfort to me to talk to you about these family
matters of mine。 You don’t know much of my son； my dear； but
you know enough of him； I dare say； to recollect him？”
“Yes； ma’am。 I recollect him。”
“Yes； my dear。 Now； my dear； I think you are a judge of
character； and I should like to have your opinion of him？”
“O； Mrs Woodcourt；” said I； “that is so difficult。”
“Why is it so difficult； my dear？” she returned。 “I don’t see it
myself。”
“To give an opinion—”
“On so slight an acquaintance； my dear。 That’s true。”
I didn’t mean that； because Mr Woodcourt had been at our
house a good deal altogether； and had become quite intimate with
my Guardian。 I said so； and added that he seemed to be very
clever in his profession—we thought—and that his kindness and
gentleness to Miss Flite were above all praise。
“You do him justice！” said Mrs Woodcourt； pressing my hand。
“You define him exactly。 Allan is a dear fellow； and in his
profession faultless。 I say it； though I am his mother。 Still； I must
confess he is not without faults； love。”
“None of us are；” said I。
“Ah！ But his really are faults that he might correct； and ought
to correct；” returned the sharp old lady； sharply shaking her head。
“I am so much attached to you； that I may confide in you； my dear；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 572…
Bleak House 572
as a third party wholly disinterested； that he is fickleness itself。”
I said； I should have thought it hardly possible that he could
have been otherwise than constant to his profession； and zealous
in the pursuit of it； judging from the reputation he had earned。
“You are right again； my dear；” the old lady retorted； “but I
don’t refer to his profession； look you。”
“O！” said I。
“No；” said she。 “I refer； my dear； to his social conduct。 He is
always paying trivial attentions to young ladies； and always has
been ever since he was eighteen。 Now； my dear； he has never
really cared for any one of them； and has never meant in doing
this to do any harm； or to express anything but politeness and
good nature。 Still； it’s not right； you know； is it？”
“No；” said I； as she seemed to wait for me。
“And it might lead to mistaken notions； you see； my dear。
小提示：按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目，按 ← 键 返回上一页， 按 → 键 进入下一页。
赞一下
添加书签加入书架