bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第228章
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pits and ashes； high chimneys and red bricks； blighted verdure；
scorching fires； and a heavy never lightening cloud of smoke；
become the features of the scenery。 Among such objects rides the
trooper； looking about him； and always looking for something he
has come to find。
At last； on the black canal bridge of a busy town； with a clang of
iron in it； and more fires and more smoke than he has seen yet； the
trooper； swart with the dust of the coal roads； checks his horse；
and asks the workman does he know the name of Rouncewell
thereabouts？”
“Why； master；” quoth the workman； “do I know my own
name？”
“’Tis so well known here； is it； comrade？” asked the trooper。
“Rouncewells？ Ah！ you’re right。”
“And where might he be now？” asks the trooper； with a glance
before him。
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“The bank； the factory； or the house？” the workman wants to
know。
“Hum！ Rouncewells is so great apparently；” mutters the
trooper； stroking his chin； “that I have as good as half a mind to go
back again。 Why I don’t know which I want。 Should I find Mr
Rouncewell at the factory； do you think？”
“’Tain’t easy to say where you’d find him—at this time of the
day you might find either him or son there； if he’s in town； but his
contracts take him away。”
And which is the factory？ Why； he sees those chimneys—the
tallest ones！ Yes； he sees them。 Well！ let him keep his eye on those
chimneys； going on as straight as ever he can； and presently he’ll
see ’em down a turning on the left； shut in by a great brick wall
which forms one side of the street。 That’s Rouncewells。
The trooper thanks his informant； and rides slowly on； looking
about him。 He does not turn back； but puts up his horse （and is
much disposed to groom him too） at a public house where some of
Rouncewell’s hands are dining； as the ostler tells him。 Some of
Rouncewell’s hands have just knocked off for dinner time； and
seem to be invading the whole town。 They are very sinewy and
strong； are Rouncewell’s hands—a little sooty too。
He comes to a gateway in the brick wall； looks in； and sees a
great perplexity of iron lying about； in every stage； and in a vast
variety of shapes； in bars； in wedges； in sheets； in tanks； in boilers；
in axles； in wheels； in cogs； in cranks； in rails； twisted and
wrenched into eccentric and perverse forms； as separate parts of
machinery； mountains of it broken up； and rusty in its age； distant
furnaces of it glowing and bubbling in its youth； bright fireworks
of it showering about； under the blows of the steam hammer； red…
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hot iron； white…hot iron； cold…black iron； an iron taste； an iron
smell； and a Babel of iron sounds。
“This is a place to make a make a man’s head ache； too！” says
the trooper； looking about him for a counting…house。 “Who comes
here？ This is very like me before I was set up。 This ought to be my
nephew； if likenesses run in families。 Your servant； sir。”
“Yours； sir。 Are you looking for any one？”
“Excuse me。 Young Mr Rouncewell； I believe？”
“Yes。”
“I was looking for your father； sir。 I wished to have a word with
him。”
The young man； telling him he is fortunate in his choice of a
time； for his father is there； leads the way to the office where he is
to be found。 “Very like me before I was set up—devilish like me！”
thinks the trooper； as he follows。 They come to a building in the
yard； with an office on an upper floor。 At sight of the gentleman in
the office； Mr George turns very red。
“What name shall I say to my father？” asks the young man。
George full of the idea of iron； in desperation answers “Steel；”
and is so presented。 He is left alone with the gentleman in the
office； who sits at a table with account…books before him； and some
sheets of paper； blotted with hosts of figures and drawings of
cunning shapes。 It is a bare office； with bare windows； looking on
the iron view below。 Tumbled together on the table are some
pieces of iron； purposely broken to be tested； at various periods of
their service； in various capacities。 There is iron…dust on
everything； and the smoke is seen； through the windows； rolling
heavily out of the tall chimneys； to mingle with the smoke from a
vaporous Babylon of other chimneys。
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“I am at your service； Mr Steel；” says the gentleman； when his
visitor has taken a rustic chair。
“Well； Mr Rouncewell；” George replies； leaning forward； with
his left arm on his knee； and his hat in his hand； and very chary of
meeting his brother’s eye； “I am not without my expectations； that
in the present visit I may prove to be more free than welcome。 I
have served as a dragoon in my day； and a comrade of mine that I
was once rather partial to； was； if I don’t deceive myself； a brother
of yours。 I believe you had a brother who gave his family some
trouble； and ran away； and never did any good but in keeping
away？”
“Are you quite sure；” returns the ironmaster； in an altered
voice； “that your name is Steel？”
The trooper falters and looks at him。 His brother starts up； calls
him by his name； and grasps him by both hands。
“You are too quick for me！” cries the trooper； with the tears
springing out of his eyes。 “How do you do； my dear old fellow。 I
never could have thought you would have been half so glad to see
me as all this。 How do you do； my dear old fellow； how do you do！”
They shake hands； and embrace each other； over and over
again； the trooper still coupling his “How do you do； my dear old
fellow！” with his protestation that he never thought his brother
would have been half so glad to see him as all this！
“So far from it；” he declares； at the end of a full account of what
has preceded his arrival there； “I had very little idea of making
myself known。 I thought； if you took by any means forgivingly to
my name； I might gradually get myself up to the point of writing a
letter。 But I should not have been surprised； brother； if you had
considered it anything but welcome news to hear of me。”
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“We will show you at home what kind of news we think it；
George；” returns his brother。 “This is a great day at home； and you
could not have arrived； you bronzed old soldier； on a better。 I
make an agreement with my son Watt today； that on this day
twelvemonth he shall marry as pretty and as good a girl as you
have seen in all your travels。 She goes to Germany tomorrow； with
one of your nieces； for a little polishing up in her education。 We
make a feast of the event； and you will be made the hero of it。”
Mr George is so entirely overcome at first by this prospect； that
he resists the proposed honour with great earnestness。 Being
overborne； however； by his brother and his nephew—concerning
whom he renews his protestations that he never could have
thought they would have been half so glad to see him—he is taken
home to an elegant house； in all the arrangements of which there
is to be observed a pleasant mixture of the originally simple habits
of the father and mother； with such as are suited to their altered
station and the higher fortunes of their children。 Here； Mr George
is much dismayed by the graces and accomplishments of his
nieces that are； and by the beauty of Rosa； his niece that is to be；
and by the affectionate salutations of these young ladies； which he
receives in a sort of dream。 He is sorely taken aback； too； by the
dutiful behaviour of his nephew； and has a woeful consciousness
upon him of being a scapegrace。 However； there is great rejoicing；
and a very hearty company； and infinite enjoyment； and Mr
George comes bluff and martial through it all； and his pledge to be
present at the marriage and give away the bride； is received with
universal favour。 A whirling head has Mr George that night； when
he lies down in the state…bed of his brother’s house； to think of all
these things； and to see the images of his nieces （awful all the
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evening in their floating muslins）； waltzing； after the German
manner； over his counterpane。
The brothers are closeted next morning in the ironmaster’s
room； where the elder is proceeding； in his clear； sensible way； to
show how he thinks he may best dispose of George in his business；
when George squeezes his hand and stops him。
“Brother； I thank you a million times for your more than
brotherly welcome； and a million times more to that for your more
than brotherly intentions。 But my plans are made。 Before I say a
word as to them； I wish to consult you upon one family point。
How—” says the trooper； folding his arms； and looking with
indomitable firmness at his brother—“how is my mother to
