bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第177章
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removed out of the way。
Sir Leicester begs his Lady’s pardon。 She was about to say？
“Only that Mr Rouncewell is here （he has called by my
appointment）； and that we had better make an end of the question
of that girl。 I am tired to death of the matter。”
“What can I do—to—assist？” demands Sir Leicester； in some
considerable doubt。
“Let us see him here； and have done with it。 Will you tell them
to send him up？”
“Mr Tulkinghorn； be so good as to ring。 Thank you。 Request；”
says Sir Leicester to Mercury； not immediately remembering the
business term； “request the iron gentleman to walk this way。”
Mercury departs in search of the iron gentleman； finds； and
produces him。 Sir Leicester receives that ferruginous person；
graciously。
“I hope you are well； Mr Rouncewell。 Be seated。 （My solicitor；
Mr Tulkinghorn。） My Lady was desirous； Mr Rouncewell；” Sir
Leicester skillfully transfers him with a solemn wave of his hand；
“was desirous to speak with you。 Hem！”
“I shall be very happy；” returns the iron gentleman； “to give my
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best attention to anything Lady Dedlock does me the honour to
say。”
As he turns towards her； he finds that the impression she
makes upon him is less agreeable than on the former occasion。 A
distant supercilious air makes a cold atmosphere about her； and
there is nothing in her bearing； as there was before； to encourage
openness。
“Pray； sir；” says Lady Dedlock； listlessly； “may I be allowed to
inquire whether anything has passed between you and your son；
respecting your son’s fancy？”
It is almost too troublesome to her languid eyes to bestow a look
upon him； as she asks this question。
“If my memory serves me； Lady Dedlock； I said； when I had the
pleasure of seeing you before； that I should seriously advise my
son to conquer that—fancy。” The ironmaster repeats her
expression with a little emphasis。
“And did you？”
“O！ of course I did。”
Sir Leicester gives a nod； approving and confirmatory。 Very
proper。 The iron gentleman having said that he would do it； was
bound to do it。 No difference in this respect between the base
metals and the precious。 Highly proper。
“And pray has he done so？”
“Really； Lady Dedlock； I cannot make you a definite reply。 I
fear not。 Probably not yet。 In our condition of life； we sometimes
couple an intention with our—our fancies； which renders them not
altogether easy to throw off。 I think it is rather our way to be in
earnest。”
Sir Leicester has a misgiving that there may be a hidden Wat
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Tylerish meaning in this expression； and fumes a little。 Mr
Rouncewell is perfectly good…humoured and polite； but； within
such limits； evidently adapts his tone to his reception。
“Because；” proceeds my Lady； “I have been thinking of the
subject—which is tiresome to me。”
“I am very sorry； I am sure。”
“And also of what Sir Leicester said upon it； in which I quite
concur；” Sir Leicester flattered： “and if you cannot give us the
assurance that this fancy is at an end； I have come to the
conclusion that the girl had better leave me。”
“I can give no such assurance； Lady Dedlock。 Nothing of the
kind。”
“Then she had better go。”
“Excuse me； my Lady；” Sir Leicester considerately interposes；
“but perhaps this may be doing an injury to the young woman；
which she has not merited。 Here is a young woman；” says Sir
Leicester； magnificently laying out the matter with his right hand；
like a service of plate； “whose good fortune it is to have attracted
the notice and favour of an eminent lady； and to live； under the
protection of that eminent lady； surrounded by the various
advantages which such a position confers； and which are
unquestionably very great—I believe unquestionably very great；
sir—for a young woman in that station of life。 The question then
arises； should that young woman be deprived of these many
advantages and that good fortune； simply because she has—” Sir
Leicester； with an apologetic but dignified inclination of his head
towards the ironmaster； winds up his sentence—“has attracted the
notice of Mr Rouncewell’s son？ Now； has she deserved this
punishment？ Is this just towards her？ Is this our previous
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understanding？”
“I beg your pardon；” interposes Mr Rouncewell’s son’s father。
“Sir Leicester； will you allow me？ I think I may shorten the
subject。 Pray dismiss that from your consideration。 If you
remember anything so unimportant—which is not to be
expected—you would recollect that my first thought in the affair
was directly opposed to her remaining here。”
Dismiss the Dedlock patronage from consideration？ O！ Sir
Leicester is bound to believe a pair of ears that have been handed
down to him through such a family； or he really might have
mistrusted their report of the iron gentleman’s observations。
“It is not necessary；” observes my Lady； in her coldest manner；
before he can do anything but breathe amazedly； “to enter into
these matters on either side。 The girl is a very good girl； I have
nothing whatever to say against her； but she is so far insensible to
her many advantages and her good fortune； that she is in love—or
supposes she is； poor little fool—and unable to appreciate them。”
Sir Leicester begs to observe； that wholly alters the case。 He
might have been sure that my Lady had the best grounds and
reasons in support of her view。 He entirely agrees with my Lady。
The young woman had better go。
“As Sir Leicester observed； Mr Rouncewell； on the last
occasion； when we were fatigued by this business；” Lady Dedlock
languidly proceeds； “we cannot make conditions with you。
Without conditions； and under present circumstances； the girl is
quite misplaced here； and had better go。 I have told her so。 Would
you wish to have her sent back to the village； or would you like to
take her with you； or what would you prefer？”
“Lady Dedlock； if I may speak plainly—”
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“By all means。”
“—I should prefer the course which will the soonest relieve you
of the incumbrance； and remove her from her present position。”
“And to speak as plainly；” she returns； with the same studied
carelessness； “so should I。 Do I understand that you will take her
with you？”
The iron gentleman makes an iron bow。
“Sir Leicester； will you ring？” Mr Tulkinghorn steps forward
from his window and pulls the bell。 “I had forgotten you。 Thank
you。” He makes his usual bow； and goes quietly back again。
Mercury； swift responsive； appears； receives instructions whom to
produce； skims away； produces the aforesaid； and departs。
Rosa has been crying； and is yet in distress。 On her coming in；
the ironmaster leaves his chair； takes her arm in his； and remains
with her near the door ready to depart。
“You are taken charge of； you see；” says my Lady； in her weary
manner； “and are going away well protected。 I have mentioned
that you are a very good girl； and you have nothing to cry for。”
“She seems after all；” observes Mr Tulkinghorn； loitering a
little forward with his hands behind him； “as if she were crying at
going away。”
“Why； she is not well…bred； you see；” returns Mr Rouncewell
with some quickness in his manner； as if he were glad to have the
lawyer to retort upon； “and she is an inexperienced little thing；
and knows no better。 If she had remained here； sir； she would
have improved； no doubt。”
“No doubt；” is Mr Tulkinghorn’s composed reply。
Rosa sobs out that she is very sorry to leave my Lady； and that
she was happy at Chesney Wold； and has been happy with my
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Lady； and that she thanks my Lady over and over again。 “Out； you
silly little puss！” says the ironmaster； checking her in a low voice；
though not angrily； “have a spirit； if you’re fond of Wat！” My Lady
merely waves her off with indifference； saying； “There； there；
child。 You are a good girl。 Go away！” Sir Leicester has
magnificently disengaged himself from the subject； and retired
into the sanctuary of his blue coat。 Mr Tulkinghorn； an indistinct
form against the dark street now dotted with lamps； looms in my
lady’s view； bigger and blacker than before。
“Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock；” says Mr Rouncewell； after a
pause of a few moments； “I beg to take my leave； with an apology
for having again troubled you； though not of my own act； on this
tiresome subject。 I can very well
