bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第260章
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Ada has been in such distress； and is so very sorry； Guardian。”
I put my arm on the back of his chair； and I saw in his glance
that my words； and my look at her empty place； had prepared him。
“Is she married； my dear？”
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Bleak House 962
I told him all about it； and how her first entreaties had referred
to his forgiveness。
“She has no need of it；” said he。 “Heaven bless her and her
husband！” But just as my first impulse had been to pity her； so
was his。 “Poor girl； poor girl！ Poor Rick！ Poor Ada！”
Neither of us spoke after that； until he said with a sigh； “Well；
well； my dear！ Bleak House is thinning fast。”
“But its mistress remains； Guardian。” Though I was timid
about saying it； I ventured because of the sorrowful tone in which
he had spoken。 “She will do all she can to make him happy；” said
I。
“She will succeed； my love！”
The letter had made no difference between us； except that the
seat by his side had come to be mine； it made none now。 He
turned his old bright fatherly look upon me； laid his hand on my
hand in his old way； and said again； “She will succeed； my dear。
Nevertheless； Bleak House is thinning fast； O little woman！”
I was sorry presently that this was all we said about that。 I was
rather disappointed。 I feared I might not quite have been all I had
meant to be； since the letter and the answer。
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Bleak House 963
Chapter 52
Obstinacy
ut one other day had intervened； when； early in the
Bmorning as we were going to breakfast； Mr Woodcourt
came in haste with the astounding news that a terrible
murder had been committed； for which Mr George had been
apprehended and was in custody。 When he told us that a large
reward was offered by Sir Leicester Dedlock for the murderer’s
apprehension； I did not in my first consternation understand why；
but a few more words explained to me that the murdered person
was Sir Leicester’s lawyer； and immediately my mother’s dread of
him rushed into my remembrance。
This unforeseen and violent removal of one whom she had long
watched and distrusted； and who had long watched and distrusted
her； one for whom she could have had few intervals of kindness；
always dreading in him a dangerous and secret enemy； appeared
so awful； that my first thoughts were of her。 How appalling to hear
of such a death； and be able to feel no pity！ How dreadful to
remember； perhaps； that she had sometimes even wished the old
man away； who was so swiftly hurried out of life！
Such crowding reflections； increasing the distress and fear I
always felt when the name was mentioned； made me so agitated
that I could scarcely hold my place at the table。 I was quite unable
to follow the conversation； until I had had a little time to recover。
But when I came to myself； and saw how shocked my Guardian
was； and found that they were earnestly speaking of the suspected
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Bleak House 964
man； and recalling every favourable impression we had formed of
him； out of the good we had known of him； my interest and my
fears were so strongly aroused in his behalf that I was quite set up
again。
“Guardian； you don’t think it possible that he is justly
accused？”
“My dear； I can’t think so。 This man whom we have seen so
open…hearted and compassionate； who； with the might of a giant；
has the gentleness of a child； who looks as brave a fellow as ever
lived； and is so simple and quiet with it； this man justly accused of
such a crime？ I can’t believe it。 It’s not that I don’t or I won’t。 I
can’t！”
“And I can’t；” said Mr Woodcourt。 “Still； whatever we believe or
know of him； we had better not forget that some appearances are
against him。 He bore an animosity towards the deceased
gentleman。 He has openly mentioned it in many places。 He is said
to have expressed himself violently towards him； and he certainly
did about him； to my knowledge。 He admits that he was alone； on
the scene of the murder； within a few minutes of its commission。 I
sincerely believe him to be as innocent of any participation in it； as
I am； but these are all reasons for suspicion falling upon him。”
“True；” said my Guardian； and he added； turning to me； “it
would be doing him a very bad service； my dear； to shut our eyes
to the truth in any of these respects。”
I felt； of course； that we must admit； not only to ourselves but to
others； the full force of the circumstances against him。 Yet I knew
withal （I could not help saying） that their weight would not induce
us to desert him in his need。
“Heaven forbid！” returned my Guardian。 “We will stand by
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Bleak House 965
him； as he himself stood by the two poor creatures who are gone。”
He meant Mr Gridley and the boy； to both of whom Mr George had
given shelter。
Mr Woodcourt then told us that the trooper’s man had been
with him before day； after wandering about the streets all night
like a distracted creature。 That one of the trooper’s first anxieties
was that we should not suppose him guilty。 That he had charged
his messenger to represent his perfect innocence； with every
solemn assurance he could send us。 That Mr Woodcourt had only
quieted the man by undertaking to come to our house very early in
the morning； with these representations。 He added that he was
now upon his way to see the prisoner himself。
My Guardian said； directly； he would go too。 Now； besides that I
liked the retired soldier very much； and that he liked me； I had
that secret interest in what had happened； which was only known
to my Guardian。 I felt as if it came close and near to me。 It seemed
to become personally important to myself that the truth should be
discovered； and that no innocent people should be suspected； for
suspicion； once run wild； might run wilder。
In a word； I felt as if it were my duty and obligation to go with
them。 My Guardian did not seek to dissuade me； and I went。
It was a large prison； with many courts and passages so like one
another； and so uniformly paved； that I seemed to gain a new
comprehension； as I passed along； of the fondness that solitary
prisoners； shut up among the same staring walls from year to year；
have had—as I have read—for a weed； or a stray blade of grass。 In
an arched room by himself； like a cellar upstairs； with walls so
glaringly white； that they made the massive iron window…bars and
iron…bound door even more profoundly bla
