bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第26章
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other in age or character； and they had no children to moderate
between them。 After her favourite brother； a young gentleman；
was killed in the civil wars （by Sir Morbury’s near kinsman）； her
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feeling was so violent that she hated the race into which she had
married。 When the Dedlocks were about to ride out from Chesney
Wold in the King’s cause； she is supposed to have more than once
stolen down into the stables in the dead of night； and lamed their
horses； and the story is； that once； at such an hour； her husband
saw her gliding down the stairs； and followed her into the stall
where his own favourite horse stood。 There he seized her by the
wrist： and in a struggle or in a fall； or through the horse being
frightened and lashing out； she was lamed in the hip； and from
that hour began to pine away。”
The housekeeper has dropped her voice to little more than a
whisper。
“She had been a lady of a handsome figure and a noble
carriage。 She never complained of the change； she never spoke to
any one of being crippled； or of being in pain； but； day by day； she
tried to walk upon the terrace； and with the help of a stick； and
with the help of the stone balustrade； went up and down； up and
down； up and down； in sun and shadow； with greater difficulty
every day。 At last； one afternoon； her husband （to whom she had
never； on any persuasion； opened her lips since that night）；
standing at the great south window； saw her drop upon the
pavement。 He hastened down to raise her； but she repulsed him as
he bent over her； and looking at him fixedly and coldly； said ‘I will
die here where I have walked。 And I will walk here； though I am in
my grave。 I will walk here； until the pride of this house is humbled。
And when calamity； or when disgrace is coming to it； let the
Dedlocks listen for my step！’” Watt looks at Rosa。 Rosa in the
deepening gloom looks down upon the ground； half frightened and
half shy。
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“There and then she died。 And from those days；” says Mrs
Rouncewell； “the name has come down—The Ghost’s Walk。 If the
tread is an echo； it is an echo that is only heard after dark； and is
often unheard for a long while together。 But it comes back from
time to time； and so sure as there is sickness or death in the
family； it will be heard then。”
“—And disgrace； grandmother—” says Watt。
“Disgrace never comes to Chesney Wold；” returns the
housekeeper。
Her grandson apologises； with “True。 True。”
“That is the story。 Whatever the sound is； it is a worrying
sound；” said Mrs Rouncewell； getting up from her chair； “and
what is to be noticed in it； is； that it must be heard。 My lady； who is
afraid of nothing； admits that when it is there； it must be heard。
You cannot shut it out。 Watt； there is a tall French clock behind
you （placed there； ’a purpose） that has a loud beat when it is in
motion； and can play music。 You understand how those things are
managed？”
“Pretty well； grandmother； I think。”
“Set it a going。”
Watt sets it a…going—music and all。
“Now； come hither；” says the housekeeper。 “Hither； child；
towards my lady’s pillow。 I am not sure that it is dark enough yet；
but listen！ Can you hear the sound upon the terrace through the
music； and the beat； and everything？”
“I certainly can！”
“So my Lady says。”
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Chapter 8
Covering A Multitude of Sins
t was interesting when I dressed before daylight； to peep out
of the window； where my candles were reflected in the black
I
panes like two beacons； and finding all beyond still
enshrouded in the indistinctness of last night； to watch how it
turned out when the day came on。 As the prospect gradually
revealed itself； and disclosed the scene over which the wind had
wandered in the dark； like my memory over my life； I had a
pleasure in discovering the unknown objects that had been around
me in my sleep。 At first they were faintly discernible in the mist；
and above them the later stars still glimmered。 That pale interval
over； the picture began to enlarge and fill up so fast； that； at every
new peep； I could have found enough to look at for an hour。
Imperceptibly； my candles became the only incongruous part of
the morning； the dark places in my room all melted away； and the
day shone bright upon a cheerful landscape； prominent in which
the old Abbey Church； with its massive tower； threw a softer train
of shadow on the view than seemed compatible with its rugged
character。 But so from rough outsides （I hope I have learnt）；
serene and gentle influences often proceed。
Every part of the house was in such order and every one was so
attentive to me； that I had no trouble with my two bunches of keys：
though what with trying to remember the contents of each little
storeroom drawer； and cupboard； and what with making notes on
a slate about jams； and pickles； and preserves； and bottles； and
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glass； and china； and a great many other things； and what with
being generally a methodical； old…maidenish sort of foolish little
person； I was so busy that I could not believe it was breakfast…time
when I heard the bell ring。 Away I ran； however； and made tea； as
I had already been installed into the responsibility of the teapot；
and then； as they were all rather late； and nobody was down yet； I
thought I would take a peep at the garden and get some
knowledge of that too。 I found it quite a delightful place； in front；
the pretty avenue and drive by which we had approached （and
where； by…the…bye； we had cut up the gravel so terribly with our
wheels that I asked the gardener to roll it）； at the back； the flower…
garden； with my darling at her window up there； throwing it open
to smile out at me； as if she would have kissed me from that
distance。 Beyond the flower…garden was a kitchen…garden； and
then a paddock； and then a snug little rick…yard； and then a dear
little farmyard。 As to the House itself； with its three peaks in the
roof； its various…shaped windows； some so large； some so small；
and all so pretty； its trellis…work against the south…front for roses
and honey…suckle； and its homely； comfortable； welcoming look； it
was； as Ada said； when she came out to meet me with her arm
through that of its master； worthy of her cousin John—a bold
thing to say； though he only pinched her dear cheek for it。
Mr Skimpole was as agreeable at breakfast； as he had been
overnight。 There was honey on the table； and it led him into a
discourse about Bees。 He had no objection to honey； he said （and I
should think he had not； for he seemed to like it）； but he protested
against the overweening assumptions of Bees。 He didn’t at all see
why the busy Bee should be proposed as a model to him； he
supposed the Bee liked to make honey； or he wouldn’t do it—
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nobody asked him。 It was not necessary for the Bee to make such
a merit of his tastes。 If every confectioner went buzzing about the
world； banging against everything that came in his way； and
egotistically calling upon everybody to take notice that he was
going to his work and must not be interrupted； the world would be
quite an insupportable place。 Then； after all； it was a ridiculous
position； to be smoked out of your fortune with brimstone； as soon
as you had made it。 You would have a very mean opinion of a
Manchester man； if he spun cotton for no other purpose。 He must
say he thought a Drone the embodiment of a pleasanter and wiser
idea。 The Drone said； unaffectedly； “You will excuse me； I really
cannot attend to the shop！ I find myself in a world in which there
is so much to see； and so short a time to see it in； that I must take
the liberty of looking about me； and begging to be provided for by
somebody who doesn’t want to look about him。” This appeared to
Mr Skimpole to be the Drone philosophy； and he thought it a very
good philosophy—always supposing the Drone to be willing to be
on good terms with the Bee： which； so far as he knew； the easy
fellow always was； if the consequential creature would only let
him； and not be so conceited about his honey！
He pursued this fancy with the lightest foot over a variety of
ground； and made us all merry； though again he seemed to have as
serious a meaning in what he said as he was capable of having。 I
left them still listening to him when I withdrew to attend to my
new duties。 They had occupied me for some time； and I was
passing thr
