bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第16章
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never known about court by any other name； and was as well
known there； as—she is now” nodding slightly at his lodger； “Tom
Jarndyce was often in here。 He got into a restless habit of strolling
about when the cause was on； or expected； talking to the little
shop…keepers； and telling ’em to keep out of Chancery； whatever
they did。 ‘For；’ says he； ‘it’s being ground to bits in a slow mill； it’s
being roasted at a slow fire； it’s being stung to death by single
bees； it’s being drowned by drops； it’s going mad by grains。’ He
was as near making away with himself； just where the young lady
stands； as near could be。”
We listened with horror。
“He come in at the door；” said the old man； slowly pointing an
imaginary track along the shop； “on the day he did it—the whole
neighbourhood had said for months before； that he would do it； of
a certainty sooner or later—he come in at the door that day； and
walked along there； and sat himself on a bench that stood there；
and asked me （you’ll judge I was a mortal sight younger then） to
fetch him a pint of wine。 ‘For；’ says he； ‘Krook； I am much
depressed； my cause is on again； and I think I’m nearer judgment
than I ever was。’ I hadn’t a mind to leave him alone； and I
persuaded him to go to the tavern over the way there； t’other side
my lane （I mean Chancery Lane）； and I followed and looked in at
the window； and saw him； comfortable as I thought； in the
armchair by the fire； and company with him。 I hadn’t hardly got
back here； when I heard a shot go echoing and rattling right away
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into the inn。 I ran out—neighbours ran out—twenty of us cried at
once； Tom Jarndyce！’” The old man stopped； looked hard at us；
looked down into the lantern； blew the light out； and shut the
lantern up。
“We were right； I needn’t tell the present hearers。 Hi！ To be
sure； how the neighbourhood poured into court that afternoon
while the cause was on！ How my noble and learned brother； and
all the rest of ’em； grubbed and muddled away as usual； and tried
to look as if they hadn’t heard a word of the last fact in the case； or
as if they had—O dear me！ nothing at all to do with it； if they had
heard of it by any chance！”
Ada’s colour had entirely left her； and Richard was scarcely less
pale。 Nor could I wonder； judging even from my emotions； and I
was no party in the suit； that to hearts so untried and fresh； it was
a shock to come into the inheritance of a protracted misery；
attended in the minds of many people with such dreadful
recollections。 I had another uneasiness； in the application of the
painful story to the poor half…witted creature who had brought us
there； but； to my surprise； she seemed perfectly unconscious of
that； and only led the way upstairs again； informing us； with the
toleration of a superior creature for the infirmities of a common
mortal； that her landlord was “a little—M—； you know！”
She lived at the top of the house； in a pretty large room； from
which she had a glimpse of the roof of Lincoln’s Inn Hall。 This
seemed to have been her principal inducement； originally； for
taking up her residence there。 She could look at it； she said； in the
night； especially in the moonshine。 Her room was clean； but very；
very bare。 I noticed the scantiest necessaries in the way of
furniture； a few old prints from books； of Chancellors and
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barristers； wafered against the wall； and some half…dozen reticules
and work…bags； “containing documents；” as she informed us。
There were neither coals nor ashes in the grate； and I saw no
articles of clothing anywhere； nor any kind of food。 Upon a shelf in
an open cupboard were a plate or two； a cup or two； and so forth；
but all dry and empty。 There was a more affecting meaning in her
pinched appearance； I thought； as I looked round； than I had
understood before。
“Extremely honoured； I am sure；” said our poor hostess； with
the greatest suavity； “by this visit from the wards in Jarndyce。 And
very much indebted for the omen。 It is a retired situation。
Considering。 I am limited as to situation。 In consequence of the
necessity of attending on the Chancellor。 I have lived here many
years。 I pass my days in court； my evenings and my nights here。 I
find the nights long； for I sleep but little； and think much。 That is；
of course； unavoidable； being in Chancery。 I am sorry I cannot
offer chocolate。 I expect a judgment shortly； and shall then place
my establishment on a superior footing。 At present； I don’t mind
confessing to the wards in Jarndyce （in strict confidence）； that I
sometimes find it difficult to keep up a genteel appearance。 I have
felt the cold here。 I have felt something sharper than cold。 It
matters very little。 Pray excuse the introduction of such mean
topics。”
She partly drew aside the curtain of the long low garret…
window； and called our attention to a number of bird…cages
hanging there： some containing several birds。 There were larks；
linnets； and goldfinches—I should think at least twenty。
“I began to keep the little creatures；” she said； “with an object
that the wards will readily comprehend。 With the intention of
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restoring them to liberty。 When my judgment should be given。 Ye…
es！ They die in prison； though。 Their lives； poor silly things； are so
short in comparison with Chancery proceedings； that； one by one；
the whole collection has died over and over again。 I doubt； do you
know； whether one of these； though they are all young； will live to
be free！ Ve…ry mortifying； is it not？”
Although she sometimes asked a question； she never seemed to
expect a reply； but rambled on as if she were in the habit of doing
so； when no one but herself was present。
“Indeed；” she pursued； “I positively doubt sometimes； I do
assure you； whether while matters are still unsettled； and the sixth
or Great Seal prevails； I may not one day be found lying stark and
senseless here； as I have found so many birds！”
Richard； answering what he saw in Ada’s compassionate eyes；
took the opportunity of laying some money； softly and unobserved；
on the chimney…piece。 We all drew nearer to the cages； feigning to
examine the birds。
“I can’t allow them to sing much；” said the little old lady； “for
（you’ll think this curious） I find my mind confused by the idea that
they are singing； while I am following the arguments in court。 And
my mind requires to be so very clear； you know！ Another time； I’ll
tell you their names。 Not at present。 On a day of such good omen；
they shall sing as much as they like。 In honour of youth；” a smile
and curtsey； “hope；” a smile and curtsey； and “beauty；” a smile
and curtsey。 “There！ We’ll let in the full light。”
The birds began to stir and chirp。
“I cannot admit the air freely；” said the little old lady； the room
was close； and would have been the better for it； “because the cat
you saw downstairs—called Lady Jane—is greedy for their lives。
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She crouches on the parapet outside for hours and hours。 I have
discovered；” whispering mysteriously； “that her natural cruelty is
sharpened by a jealous fear of their regaining their liberty。 In
consequence of the judgement I expect being shortly given。 She is
sly； and full of malice。 I half believe； sometimes； that she is no cat；
but the wolf of the old saying。 It is so very difficult to keep her
from the door。”
Some neighbouring bells； reminding the poor soul that it was
half…past nine； did more for us in the way of bringing our visit to
an end； than we could easily have done for ourselves。 She
hurriedly took up her little bag of documents； which she had laid
upon the table on coming in； and asked if we were also going into
court？ On our answering no； and that we would on no account
detain her； she opened the door to attend us downstairs。
“With such an omen； it is even more necessary than usual that I
should be there before the Chancellor comes in；” said she； “for he
might mention my case the first thing。 I have a presentiment that
he will mention it the first thing this morning。”
She stopped to tell us； in a whisper； as we were going down；
that the whole house was filled with strange lumber which her
landlord had bought piecemeal； and had no wish to sell； in
consequence of being a little—M—。 This was on the first floor。 But
she had made a previous stoppage on the second floor； and had
silently pointed at a dark door there。
“The only other lodger—” she now whispered； in explanation—
“a law…writer。 The children in the lanes here； say he has sold
himself to the devil。 I don’t know what he can have done with the
money。 Hush！”
She appeared to mistrust that the lodger might hear her； even
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