bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第310章
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me。
“Well； Dame Durden？” said my Guardian； the post had brought
him several letters； and he was writing。 “You want money！”
“No； indeed； I have plenty in hand。”
“There never was such a Dame Durden；” said my Guardian；
“for making money last。”
He had laid down his pen； and leaned back in his chair looking
at me。 I have often spoken of his bright face； but I thought I had
never seen it look so bright and good。 There was a high happiness
upon it； which made me think； “he has been doing some great
kindness this morning。”
“There never was；” said my Guardian； musing as he smiled
upon me； “such a Dame Durden for making money last。”
He had never yet altered his old manner。 I loved it； and him； so
much； that when I now went up to him and took my usual chair；
which was always put at his side—for sometimes I read to him；
and sometimes I talked to him； and sometimes I silently worked by
him—I hardly liked to disturb it by laying my hand on his breast。
But I found I did not disturb it at all。
“Dear Guardian；” said I； “I want to speak to you。 Have I been
remiss in anything？”
“Remiss in anything； my dear！”
“Have I not been what I have meant to be； since—I brought the
answer to your letter； Guardian？”
“You have been everything I could desire； my love。”
“I am very glad indeed to hear that；” I returned。 “You know；
you said to me； was this the mistress of Bleak House？ And I said；
yes。”
“Yes；” said my Guardian； nodding his head。 He had put his arm
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about me； as if there were something to protect me from； and
looked into my face； smiling。
“Since then；” said I； “we have never spoken on the subject
except once。”
“And then I said； Bleak House was thinning fast； and so it was；
my dear。”
“And I said；” I timidly reminded him； “but its mistress
remained。”
He still held me in the same protecting manner； and with the
same bright goodness in his face。
“Dear Guardian；” said I； “I know how you have felt all that has
happened； and how considerate you have been。 As so much time
has passed； and as you spoke only this morning of my being so
well again； perhaps you expect me to renew the subject。 Perhaps I
ought to do so。 I will be the mistress of Bleak House when you
please。”
“See！” he returned gaily； “what a sympathy there must be
between us！ I have had nothing else； poor Rick excepted—it’s a
large exception—in my mind。 When you came in； I was full of it。
When shall we give Bleak House its mistress； little woman？”
“When you please。”
“Next month！”
“Next month； dear Guardian。”
“The day on which I take the happiest and best step of my life—
the day on which I shall be a man more exulting and more
enviable than any other man in the world—the day on which I give
Bleak House its little mistress—shall be next month； then；” said
my Guardian。
I put my arms round his neck and kissed him； just as I had done
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on the day when I brought my answer。
A servant came to the door to announce Mr Bucket； which was
quite unnecessary； for Mr Bucket was already looking in over the
servant’s shoulder。 “Mr Jarndyce and Miss Summerson；” said he
rather out of breath； “with all apologies for intruding； will you
allow me to order up a person that’s on the stairs； and that objects
to being left there in case of becoming the subject of observation in
his absence？ Thank you。 Be so good as chair that there Member in
this direction； will you？” said Mr Bucket； beckoning over the
banisters。
This singular request produced an old man in a black skull…cap；
unable to walk； who was carried up by a couple of bearers； and
deposited in the room near the door。 Mr Bucket immediately got
rid of the bearers； mysteriously shut the door； and bolted it。
“Now you see； Mr Jarndyce；” he then began； putting down his
hat； and opening his subject with a flourish of his well…
remembered finger； “you know me； and Miss Summerson knows
me。 This gentleman likewise knows me； and his name is
Smallweed。 The discounting line is his line principally； and he’s
what you may call a dealer in bills。 That’s about what you are； you
know； ain’t you？” said Mr Bucket； stopping a little to address the
gentleman in question； who was exceedingly suspicious of him。
He seemed about to dispute this designation of himself； when
he was seized with a violent fit of coughing。
“Now； Moral； you know！” said Mr Bucket； improving the
accident。 “Don’t you contradict when there ain’t no occasion； and
you won’t be took in that way。 Now； Mr Jarndyce； I address myself
to you。 I’ve been negotiating with this gentleman on behalf of Sir
Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； and one way and another I’ve been in
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and out and about his premises a deal。 His premises are the
premises formerly occupied by Krook； Marine Store Dealer—a
relation of this gentleman’s； that you saw in his lifetime； if I don’t
mistake？”
My Guardian replied “Yes。”
“Well！ You are to understand；” said Mr Bucket； “that this
gentleman he come into Krook’s property； and a good deal of
magpie property there was。 Vast lots of waste paper among the
rest。 Lord bless you； of no use to nobody！”
The cunning of Mr Bucket’s eye； and the masterly manner in
which he contrived； without a look or a word against which his
watchful auditor could protest； to let us know that he stated the
case according to previous agreement； and could say much more
of Mr Smallweed if he thought it advisable； deprived us of any
merit in quite understanding him。 His difficulty was increased by
Mr Smallweed’s being deaf as well as suspicious； and watching his
face with the closest attention。
“Among them odd heaps of old papers； this gentleman； when he
comes into the property； naturally begins to rummage； don’t you
see？” said Mr Bucket。
“To which？ Say that again；” cried Mr Smallweed； in a shrill
sharp voice。
“To rummage；” repeated Mr Bucket。 “Being a prudent man；
and being accustomed to take care of your own affairs； you begin
to rummage among the papers as you have come into； don’t you？”
“Of course I do；” cried Mr Smallweed。
“Of course you do；” said Mr Bucket； conversationally； “and
much to blame you would be if you didn’t。 And so you chance to
find； you know；” Mr Bucket went on； stooping over him with an air
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