bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第42章
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world； said； “Neither have I。 Not one！” and gave him the price of a
supper and a night’s lodging。 That the man had often spoken to
him since； and asked him whether he slept sound at night； and
how he bore cold and hunger； and whether he ever wished to die；
and similar strange questions。 That when the man had no money；
he would say in passing； “I am as poor as you today； Jo；” but that
when he had any； he had always （as the boy most heartily believes）
been glad to give him some。
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“He wos wery good to me；” says the boy； wiping his eyes with
his wretched sleeve。 “Wen I see him a…layin’ so stritched out just
now； I wished he could have heerd me tell him so。 He wos wery
good to me； he wos！”
As he shuffles downstairs； Mr Snagsby； lying in wait for him；
puts a half…crown in his hand。 “If ever you see me coming past
your crossing with my little woman—I mean a lady—” says Mr
Snagsby； with his finger on his nose； “don’t allude to it！”
For some little time the Jurymen hang about the Sol’s Arms
colloquially。 In the sequel； half…a…dozen are caught up in a cloud of
pipe smoke that pervades the parlour of the Sol’s Arms； two stroll
to Hampstead； and four engage to go half…price to the play at
night； and top up with oysters。 Little Swills is treated on several
hands。 Being asked what he thinks of the proceedings；
characterises them （his strength lying in a slangular direction） as
“a rummy start。” The landlord of the Sol’s Arms； finding Little
Swills so popular； commends him highly to the Jurymen and
public； observing that； for a song in character； he don’t know his
equal； and that that man’s character…wardrobe would fill a cart。
Thus； gradually the Sol’s Arms melts into the shadowy night；
and then flares out of it strong in gas。 The Harmonic Meeting hour
arriving； the gentleman of professional celebrity takes the chair； is
faced （red…faced） by Little Swills； their friends rally round them；
and support first…rate talent。 In the zenith of the evening； Little
Swills says； Gentlemen； if you’ll permit me； I’ll attempt a short
description of a scene of real life that came off here today。 Is much
applauded and encouraged； goes out of the room as Swills； comes
in as the Coroner （not the least in the world like him）； describes
the Inquest； with recreative intervals of piano…forte
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accompaniment to the refrain—With his （the Coroner’s） tippy tol li
doll； tippy tol lo doll； tippy tol li doll； Dee！
The jingling piano at last is silent； and the Harmonic friends
rally round their pillows。 Then there is rest around the lonely
figure； now laid in its last earthly habitation； and it is watched by
the gaunt eyes in the shutters through some quiet hours of night。
If this forlorn man could have been prophetically seen lying here；
by the mother at whose breast he nestled； a little child； with eyes
upraised to her loving face； and soft hand scarcely knowing how to
close upon the neck to which it crept； what an impossibility the
vision would have seemed！ O； if； in brighter days； the now…
extinguished fire within him ever burned for one woman who held
him in her heart； where is she； while these ashes are above the
ground！
It is anything but a night of rest at Mr Snagsby’s in Cook’s
Court； where Guster murders sleeps by going； as Mr Snagsby
himself allows—not to put too fine a point upon it—out of one fit
into twenty。 The occasion of this seizure is； that Guster has a
tender heart； and a susceptible something that possibly might
have been imagination； but for Tooting and her patron saint。 Be it
what it may； now； it was so direfully impressed at tea…time by Mr
Snagsby’s account of the inquiry at which he had assisted； that at
supper…time she projected herself into the kitchen； preceded by a
flying Dutch…cheese； and fell into a fit of unusual duration： which
she only came out of to go into another； and another； and so on
through a chain of fits； with short intervals between； of which she
has pathetically availed herself by consuming them in entreaties to
Mrs Snagsby not to give her warning “when she quite comes to；”
and also in appeals to the whole establishment to lay her down on
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the stones； and go to bed。 Hence； Mr Snagsby； at last hearing the
cock at the little dairy in Cursitor Street go into that disinterested
ecstacy of his on the subject of daylight； says； drawing a long
breath； though the most patient of men； “I thought you was dead； I
am sure！”
What question this enthusiastic fowl supposes he settles when
he strains himself to such an extent； or why he should thus crow
（so men crow on various triumphant public occasions； however）
about what cannot be of any moment to him； is his affair。 It is
enough that daylight comes； morning comes； noon comes。
Then the active and intelligent； who has got into the morning
papers as such； comes with his pauper company to Mr Krook’s；
and bears off the body of our dear brother here departed； to a
hemmed…in churchyard； pestiferous and obscene； whence
malignant diseases are communicated to the bodies of our dear
brothers and sisters who have not departed； while our dear
brothers and sisters who hang about official back…stairs—would to
Heaven they had departed！—are very complacent and agreeable。
Into a beastly scrap of ground which a Turk would reject as a
savage abomination； and a Caffre would shudder at； they bring
our dear brother here departed； to receive Christian burial。
With houses looking on； on every side； save where a reeking
little tunnel of a court gives access to the iron gate—with every
villany of life in action close on death； and every poisonous
element of death in action close on life—here； they lower our dear
brother down a foot or two： here； sow him in corruption； to be
raised in corruption： an avenging ghost at many a sick…bedside： a
shameful testimony to future ages； how civilisation and barbarism
walked this boastful island together。
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Come night； come darkness； for you cannot come too soon； or
stay too long； by such a place as this！ Come； straggling lights into
the windows of the ugly houses； and you who do iniquity therein；
do it at least with this dread scene shut out！ Come； flame of gas；
burning so sullenly above the iron gate； on which the poisoned air
deposits its witch…ointment slimy to the touch！ It is well that you
should call to every passer…by； “Look here！”
With the night； comes a slouching figure through the tunnel…
court； to the outside of the iron gate。 It holds the gate with its
hands； and looks in between the bars； stands looking in； for a little
while。
It then； with an old broom it carries； softly sweeps the step； and
makes the archway clean。 It does so； very busily and trimly； looks
in again； a little while； and so departs。
Jo； is it thou？ Well； well！ Though a rejected witness； who “can’t
exactly say” what will be done to him in greater hands than men’s；
thou art not quite in outer darkness。 There is something like a
distant ray of light in thy muttered reason for this：—
“He wos wery good to me； he wos！”
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Chapter 12
On The Watch
t has left off raining down in Lincolnshire； at last； and
IChesney Wold has taken heart。 Mrs Rouncewell is full of
hospitable cares； for Sir Leicester and my Lady are coming
home from Paris。 The fashionable intelligence has found it out；
and communicates the glad tidings to benighted England。 It has
also found out； that they will entertain a brilliant and
distinguished circle of the élite of the beau monde （the fashionable
intelligence is weak in English； but a giant…refreshed in French）； at
the ancient and hospitable family seat in Lincolnshire。
For the greater honour of the brilliant and distinguished circle；
and of Chesney Wold into the bargain； the broken arch of the
bridge in the park is mended； and the water； now retired within its
proper limits and again spanned gracefully； makes a figure in the
prospect from the house。 The clear cold sunshine glances into the
brittle woods； and approvingly beholds the sharp wind scattering
the leaves and drying the moss。 It glides over the park after the
moving shadows of the clouds； and chases them； and never
catches them； all day。 It looks in at the windows； and touches the
ancestral portraits with bars and patches of brightness； never
contemplated by the painters。 Athwart the picture of my Lady；
over the great
