bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第178章
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！
for having again troubled you； though not of my own act； on this
tiresome subject。 I can very well understand； I assure you； how
tiresome so small a matter must have become to Lady Dedlock。 If I
am doubtful of my dealing with it； it is only because I did not at
first quietly exert my influence to take my young friend here away；
without troubling you at all。 But it appeared to me—I dare say
magnifying the importance of the thing—that it was respectful to
explain to you how the matter stood； and candid to consult your
wishes and convenience。 I hope you will excuse my want of
acquaintance with the polite world。”
Sir Leicester considers himself evoked out of the sanctuary by
these remarks。 “Mr Rouncewell；” he returns； “do not mention it。
Justifications are unnecessary； I hope； on either side。”
“I am glad to hear it； Sir Leicester； and if I may by way of a last
word； revert to what I said before of my mother’s long connection
with the family； and the worth it bespeaks on both sides； I would
point out this little instance here on my arm； who shows herself so
affectionate and faithful in parting； and in whom my mother； I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 904…
Bleak House 904
dare say； has done something to awaken such feelings—though of
course Lady Dedlock； by her heartfelt interest and her genial
condescension； has done much more！”
If he means this ironically； it may be truer than he thinks。 He
points it； however； by no deviation from his straightforward
manner of speech； though in saying it he turns towards that part
of the dim room where my Lady sits。 Sir Leicester stands to return
his parting salutation； Mr Tulkinghorn again rings。 Mercury takes
another flight； and Mr Rouncewell and Rosa leave the house。
Then lights are brought in； discovering Mr Tulkinghorn still
standing in his window with his hands behind him； and my Lady
still sitting with his figure before her； closing up her view of the
night as well as of the day。 She is very pale。 Mr Tulkinghorn
observing it as she rises to retire； thinks； “Well she may be！ The
power of this woman is astonishing。 She has been acting a part the
whole time。” But he can act a part too—his one unchanging
character—and as he holds the door open for this woman； fifty
pairs of eyes； each fifty times sharper than Sir Leicester’s pair；
should find no flaw in him。
Lady Dedlock dines alone in her own room today。 Sir Leicester
is whipped in to the rescue of the Doodle Party； and the
discomfiture of the Coodle Faction。 Lady Dedlock asks； on sitting
down to dinner； still deadly pale （and quite an illustration of the
debilitated cousin’s text）； whether he is gone out？ Yes。 Whether
Mr Tulkinghorn is gone yet？ No。 Presently she asks again； is he
gone yet？ No。 What is he doing？ Mercury thinks he is writing
letters in the library。 Would my Lady wish to see him？ Anything
but that。
But he wishes to see my Lady。 Within a few more minutes he is
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 905…
Bleak House 905
reported as sending his respects； and could my Lady please to
receive him for a word or two after her dinner？ My Lady will
receive him now。 He comes now； apologising for intruding； even
by her permission； while she is at table。 When they are alone； my
Lady waves her hand to dispense with such mockeries。
“What do you want； sir？”
“Why； Lady Dedlock；” says the lawyer； taking a chair at a little
distance from her； and slowly rubbing his rusty legs up and down；
up and down； up and down； “I am rather surprised by the course
you have taken。”
“Indeed？”
“Yes； decidedly。 I was not prepared for it。 I consider it a
departure from our agreement and your promise。 It puts us in a
new position； Lady Dedlock。 I feel myself under the necessity of
saying that I don’t approve of it。”
He stops in his rubbing； and looks at her； with his hands on his
knees。 Imperturbable and unchangeable as he is； there is still an
indefinable freedom in his manner； which is new； and which does
not escape this woman’s observation。
“I do not quite understand you。”
“O yes you do； I think。 I think you do。 Come； come； Lady
Dedlock； we must not fence and parry now。 You know you like this
girl。”
“Well； sir？”
“And you know—and I know—that you have not sent her away
for the reasons you have assigned； but for the purpose of
separating her as much as possible from—excuse my mentioning
it as a matter of business—any reproach and exposure that
impend over yourself。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 906…
Bleak House 906
“Well； sir？”
“Well； Lady Dedlock；” returns the lawyer； crossing his legs； and
nursing the uppermost knee； “I object to that； I consider that a
dangerous proceeding。 I know it to be unnecessary； and calculated
to awaken speculation； doubt； rumour； I don’t know what； in the
house。 Besides； it is a violation of our agreement。 You were to be
exactly what you were before。 Whereas； it must be evident to
yourself； as it is to me； that you have been this evening very
different from what you were before。 Why； bless my soul； Lady
Dedlock； transparently so！”
“If； sir；” she begins； “in my knowledge of my secret—” But he
interrupts her。
“Now； Lady Dedlock； this is a matter of business； and in a
matter of business the ground cannot be kept too clear。 It is no
longer your secret。 Excuse me。 That is just the mistake。 It is my
secret； in trust for Sir Leicester and the family。 If it were your
secret； Lady Dedlock； we should not be here； holding this
conversation。”
“That is very true。 If； in my knowledge of the secret； I do what I
can to spare an innocent girl （especially； remembering your own
reference to her when you told my story to the assembled guests at
Chesney Wold） from the taint of my impending shame； I act upon
a resolution I have taken。 Nothing in the world； and no one in the
world； could shake it； or could move me。” This she says with great
deliberation and distinctness； and with no more outward passion
than himself。 As for him； he methodically discusses his matter of
business； as if she were any insensible instrument used in
business。
“Really？ Then you see； Lady Dedlock；” he returns； “you are not
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 907…
Bleak House 907
to be trusted。 You have put the case in a perfectly plain way； and
according to the literal fact； and； that being the case； you are not to
be trusted。”
“Perhaps you may remember that I expressed some anxiety on
this same point； when we spoke at night at Chesney Wold？”
“Yes；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； coolly getting up and standing on
the hearth。 “Yes。 I recollect； Lady Dedlock； that you certainly
referred to the girl； but that was before we came to our
arrangement； and both the letter and the spirit of our
arrangement altogether precluded any action on your part；
founded upon my discovery。 There can be no doubt about that。 As
to sparing the girl； of what importance or value is she？ Spare！
Lady Dedlock； here is a family name compromised。 One might
have supposed that the course was straight on—over everything；
neither to the right nor to the left； regardless of all considerations
in the way； sparing nothing； treading everything under foot。”
She has been looking at the table。 She lifts up her eyes； and
looks at him。 There is a stern expression on her face； and a part of
her lower lip is compressed under her teeth。 “This woman
understands me；” Mr Tulkinghorn thinks； as she lets her glance
fall again。 “She cannot be spared。 Why should she spare others？”
For a little while they are silent。 Lady Dedlock has eaten no
dinner； but has twice or thrice poured out water with a steady
hand and drunk it。 She rises from table； takes a lounging…chair；
and reclines in it； shading her face。 There is nothing in her
manner to express weakness or excite compassion。 It is
thoughtful； gloomy； concentrated。 “This woman；” thinks Mr
Tulkinghorn； standing on the hearth； again a dark object closing
up her view； is a “study。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 908…
Bleak House 908
He studies her at his leisure； not speaking for a time。 She； too；
studies something at her leisure。 She is not the first to speak；
appearing indeed so unlikely to be so； though he stood there until
midnight； that even he is driven upon breaking silence。
“Lady Dedlock； the most disagreeable part of this business
interview remains； but it is business。 Our agreement is broken。 A
lady of your sense and strength of character will be prepared for
my now declaring it void； and taking my own course。”
“I am quite prepared。”
Mr Tulkinghorn inclines his head。 “That is all I have to trouble
you
