bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第145章
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away； first sweeping the hearth to the end that Mr Bagnet and the
visitor may not be retarded in the smoking of their pipes。 These
household cares involve much pattening and counter…pattening in
the back yard； and considerable use of a pail； which is finally so
happy as to assist in the ablutions of Mrs Bagnet herself。 That old
girl reappearing by…and…by； quite fresh； and sitting down to her
needlework； then and only then—the greens being only then to be
considered as entirely off her mind—Mr Bagnet requests the
trooper to state his case。
This Mr George does with great discretion； appearing to
address himself to Mr Bagnet； but having an eye solely on the old
girl all the time； as Bagnet has himself。 She； equally discreet；
busies herself with her needlework。 The case fully stated； Mr
Bagnet resorts to his standard artifice for the maintenance of
discipline。
“That’s the whole of it； is it； George？” says he。
“That’s the whole of it。”
“You act according to my opinion？”
“I shall be guided；” replies George； “entirely by it。”
“Old girl；” says Mr Bagnet； “give him my opinion。 You know it。
Tell him what it is。”
It is； that he cannot have too little to do with people who are too
deep for him； and cannot be too careful of interference with
matters he does not understand； that the plain rule is to do
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nothing in the dark； to be a party to nothing under…handed or
mysterious； and never to put his foot where he cannot see the
ground。 This； in effect； is Mr Bagnet’s opinion； as delivered
through the old girl； and it so relieves Mr George’s mind； by
confirming his own opinion and banishing his doubts； that he
composes himself to smoke another pipe on that exceptional
occasion； and to have a talk over old times with the whole Bagnet
family； according to their various ranges of experience。
Through these means it comes to pass that Mr George does not
again rise to his full height in that parlour until the time is
drawing on when the bassoon and fife are expected by a British
public at the theatre； and as it takes time even then for Mr George；
in his domestic character of Bluffy； to take leave to Quebec and
Malta； and insinuate a sponsorial shilling into the pocket of his
godson； with felicitations on his success in life； it is dark when Mr
George again turns his face towards Lincoln’s Inn Fields。
“A family home；” he ruminates； as he marches along； “however
small it is； makes a man like me look lonely。 But it’s well I never
made that evolution of matrimony。 I shouldn’t have been fit for it。
I’m such a vagabond still； even at my present time of life； that I
couldn’t hold to the gallery a month together； if it was a regular
pursuit； or if I didn’t camp there； gypsy fashion。 Come！ I disgrace
nobody and cumber nobody： that’s something。 I have not done
that； for many a long year！”
So he whistles it off； and marches on。
Arrived in Lincoln’s Inn Fields； and mounting Mr
Tulkinghorn’s stair； he finds the outer door closed； and the
chambers shut； but the trooper not knowing much about outer
doors； and the staircase being dark besides； he is yet fumbling and
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Bleak House 538
groping about； hoping to discover a bell handle or to open the door
for himself； when Mr Tulkinghorn comes up the stairs （quietly； of
course）； and angrily asks：
“Who is that？ What are you doing there？”
“I ask your pardon； sir。 It’s George。 The serjeant。”
“And couldn’t George； the serjeant； see that my door was
locked？”
“Why； no； sir； I couldn’t。 At any rate； I didn’t；” says the trooper；
rather nettled。
“Have you changed your mind？ or are you in the same mind？”
Mr Tulkinghorn demands。 But he knows well enough at a glance。
“In the same mind； sir。”
“I thought so。 That’s sufficient。 You can go。 So； you are the
man；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； opening his door with the key； “in
whose hiding…place Mr Gridley was found？”
“Yes； I am the man；” says the trooper； stopping two or three
stairs down。 “What then； sir？”
“What then？ I don’t like your associates。 You should not have
seen the inside of my door this morning； if I had thought of your
being that man。 Gridley？ A threatening； murderous； dangerous
fellow。”
With these words； spoken in an unusually high tone for him； the
lawyer goes into his rooms； and shuts the door with a thundering
noise。
Mr George takes this dismissal in great dudgeon； the greater；
because a clerk coming up the stairs has heard the last words of
all； and evidently applies them to him。 “A pretty character to
bear；” the trooper growls with a hasty oath； as he strides upstairs。
“A threatening； murderous； dangerous fellow！” and looking up； he
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Bleak House 539
sees the clerk looking down at him； and marking him as he passes
a lamp。 This so intensifies his dudgeon； that for five minutes he is
in an ill…humour。 But he whistles that off； like the rest of it； and
marches home to the Shooting Gallery。
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Chapter 28
The Ironmaster
ir Leicester Dedlock has got the better for the time being；
of the family gout； and is once more； in a literal no less than
S
in a figurative point of view； upon his legs。 He is at his
place in Lincolnshire； but the waters are out again on the low…
lying grounds； and the cold and damp steal into Chesney Wold；
though well defended； and eke into Sir Leicester’s bones。 The
blazing fires of faggot and coal—Dedlock timber and antediluvian
forest—that blaze upon the broad wide hearths； and wink in the
twilight on the frowning woods； sullen to see how trees are
sacrificed； do not exclude the enemy。 The hot water pipes that
trail themselves all over the house； the cushioned doors and
windows； and the screens and curtains； fail to supply the fires’
deficiencies； and to satisfy Sir Leicester’s need。 Hence the
fashionable intelligence proclaims one morning to the listening
earth； that Lady Dedlock is expected shortly to return to town for
a few weeks。
