bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第218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！
… Page 1108…
Bleak House 1108
Another person mixed up in that business and no other； a person
in a wretched state； comes here tonight； and is seen a…speaking to
your maid…servant； and between her and your maid…servant there
passes a paper that I would give a hundred pound for； down。 What
do you do？ You hide and you watch ’em； and you pounce upon
that maid…servant—knowing what she’s subject to； and what a
little thing will bring ’em on—in that surprising manner； and with
that severity； that； by the Lord； she goes off and keeps off； when a
Life may be hanging upon that girl’s words！”
He so thoroughly meant what he said now； that I involuntarily
clasped my hands； and felt the room turning away from me。 But it
stopped。 Mr Woodcourt came in； put a paper into his hand； and
went away again。
“Now； Mrs Snagsby； the only amends you can make；” said Mr
Bucket； rapidly glancing at it； “is to let me speak a word to this
young lady in private here。 And if you know of any help that you
can give to that gentleman in the next kitchen there； or can think
of any one thing that’s likelier than another to bring the girl round；
do your swiftest and best！” In an instant she was gone； and he had
shut the door。 “Now； my dear； you’re steady； and quite sure of
yourself？”
“Quite；” said I。
“Whose writing is that？”
It was my mother’s。 A pencil…writing； on a crushed and torn
piece of paper； blotted with wet。 Folded roughly like a letter； and
directed to me at my Guardian’s。
“You know the hand；” he said； “and if you are firm enough to
read it to me； do！ But be particular to a word。”
It had been written in portions； at different times。 I read what
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1109…
Bleak House 1109
follows：—
“I came to the cottage with two objects。 First； to see the dear
one； if I could； once more—but only to see her—not to speak to
her； or let her know that I was near。 The other object； to elude
pursuit； and to be lost。 Do not blame the mother for her share。 The
assistance that she rendered me； she rendered on my strongest
assurance that it was for the dear one’s good。 You remember her
dead child。 The men’s consent I bought； but her help was freely
given。”
“‘I came。’ That was written；” said my companion； “when she
rested there。 It bears out what I made of it。 I was right。”
The next was written at another time。
“I have wandered a long distance； and for many hours； and I
know that I must soon die。 These streets！ I have no purpose but to
die。 When I left； I had a worse； but I am saved from adding that
guilt to the rest。 Cold； wet； and fatigue； are sufficient causes for my
being found dead： but I shall die of others； though I suffer from
these。 It was right that all that had sustained me should give way
at once； and that I should die of terror and my conscience。”
“Take courage；” said Mr Bucket。 “There’s only a few words
more。”
Those； too； were written at another time。 To all appearance；
almost in the dark。
“I have done all I could to be lost。 I shall be soon forgotten so；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1110…
Bleak House 1110
and shall disgrace him least。 I have nothing about me by which I
can be recognised。 This paper I part with now。 The place where I
shall lie down； if I can yet get so far； has been often in my mind。
Farewell。 Forgive。”
Mr Bucket； supporting me with his arm； lowered me gently into
my chair。 “Cheer up！ Don’t think me hard with you； my dear； but；
as soon as ever you feel equal to it； get your shoes on and be
ready。”
I did as he required； but I was left there a long time； praying for
my unhappy mother。 They were all occupied with the poor girl；
and I heard Mr Woodcourt directing them； and speaking to her
often。 At length he came in with Mr Bucket； and said that as it was
important to address her gently； he thought it best that I should
ask her for whatever information we desired to obtain。 There was
no doubt that she could now reply to questions； if she were
soothed； and not alarmed。 The questions； Mr Bucket said； were
how she came by the letter； what passed between her and the
person who gave her the letter； and where the person went。
Holding my mind as steadily as I could to these points； I went into
the next room with them。 Mr Woodcourt would have remained
outside； but at my solicitation went in with us。
The poor girl was sitting on the floor where they had laid her
down。 They stood around her though at a little distance； that she
might have air。 She was not pretty； and looked weak and poor； but
she had a plaintive and a good face； though it was still a little wild。
I kneeled on the ground beside her； and put her poor head on my
shoulder； whereupon she drew her arm round my neck； and burst
into tears。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1111…
Bleak House 1111
“My poor girl；” said I； laying my face against her forehead； for
indeed I was crying too； and trembling； “it seems cruel to trouble
you now； but more depends on our knowing something about this
letter； than I could tell you in an hour。”
She began piteously declaring that she didn’t mean any harm；
she didn’t mean any harm； Mrs Snagsby。
“We are all sure of that；” said I。 “But pray tell me how you got
it。”
“Yes； dear lady； I will； and tell you true。 I’ll tell true； indeed；
Mrs Snagsby。”
“I am sure of that；” said I。 “And how was it？”
“I had been out on an errand； dear lady—long after it was
dark—quite late； and when I came home； I found a common…
looking person； all wet and muddy； looking up at our house。 When
she saw me coming in at the door； she called me back； and said did
I live here？ and I said yes； and she said she knew only one or two
places about here； but had lost her way； and couldn’t find them。 O
what shall I do； what shall I do！ They won’t believe me！ She didn’t
say any harm to me； and I didn’t say any harm to her； indeed； Mrs
Snagsby！”
It was necessary for her mistress to comfort her； which she did；
I must say； with a good deal of contribution； before she could be
got beyond this。
“She could not find those places；” said I。
“No！” cried the girl； shaking her head。 “No！ Couldn’t find them。
And she was so faint； and lame； and miserable； O so wretched！
that if you had seen her； Mr Snagsby； you’d have given her half…a…
crown； I know！”
“Well； Guster； my girl；” said he； at first not knowing what to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1112…
Bleak House 1112
say。 “I hope I should。”
“And yet she was so well spoken；” said the girl； looking at me
with wide…open eyes； “that it made a person’s heart bleed。 And so
she said to me； did I know the way to the burying…ground？ And I
asked her which burying…ground？ And she said the poor burying…
ground。 And I told her I had been a poor child myself； and it was
according to parishes。 But she said she meant a poor burying…
ground not very far from here； where there was an archway； and a
step； and an iron gate。”
As I watched her face； and soothed her to go on； I saw that Mr
Bucket received this with a look which I could not separate from
one of alarm。
“O dear； dear！” cried the girl； pressing her hair back with her
hands； “what shall I do； what shall I do！ She meant the burying…
ground where the man was buried that took the sleeping stuff—
that you came home and told us of； Mr Snagsby—that frightened
me so； Mrs Snagsby。 O I am frightened again。 Hold me！”
“You are so much better now；” said I。 “Pray； pray tell me
more。”
“Yes I will； yes I will！ But don’t be angry with me； that’s a dear
lady； because I have been so ill。”
Angry with her； poor soul！
“There； now I will； now I will。 So she said； could I tell her how
to find it； and I said yes； and I told her； and she looked at me with
eyes like almost as if she was blind； and herself all waving back。
And so she took out the letter； and showed it me； and said if she
was to put that in the post…office； it would be rubbed out and not
minded and never sent； and would I take it from her； and send it；
and the messenger would be paid at the house？ And so I said yes；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1113…
Bleak House 1113
if it was no harm； and she said no—no harm。 And so I took it from
her； and she said she had nothing to give me； and I said I was poor
myself and consequently wanted nothing。 And so she said God
bless you！ and went。”
“And did she go—？”
“Yes；” cried the girl； anticipating the inquiry； “yes！ she went the
way I had shown her。 Then I came in； and Mrs Snagsby came
behind me from somewhere； and laid hold of me； and I was
frightened。”
Mr Woodcourt took her kindly from me。 Mr Bucket wrapped
me up； and immediately we were in the street。 Mr Woodcourt
hesitated； but I said； “Don’t leave me now！” and Mr Bucket added；
“You’ll be better with us； we may want you； don’t lose time！”
I have the most confused impressions of that walk。 I recollect
that it was neither
