bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第86章
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that he is alone。
His first proceeding； is； to hold the piece of money to the
gaslight； and to be overpowered at finding that it is yellow…gold。
His next is； to give it a one…sided bite at the edge； as a test of its
quality。 His next； to put it in his mouth for safety； and to sweep the
step and passage with great care。 His job done； he sets off for Tom…
all…Alone’s； stopping in the light of innumerable gas…lamps to
produce the piece of gold； and give it another one…sided bite； as a
reassurance of its being genuine。
The Mercury in powder is in no want of society tonight； for my
Lady goes to a grand dinner； and three or four balls。 Sir Leicester
is fidgety； down at Chesney Wold； with no better company than
the gout； he complains to Mrs Rouncewell that the rain makes
such a monotonous pattering on the terrace； that he can’t read the
paper； even by the fireside in his own snug dressing…room。
“Sir Leicester would have done better to try the other side of
the house； my dear；” says Mrs Rouncewell to Rosa。 “His dressing…
room is on my Lady’s side。 And in all these years I never heard the
step upon the Ghost’s Walk； more distinct than it is tonight！”
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Chapter 17
Esther’s Narrative
ichard very often came to see us while we remained in
RLondon （though he soon failed in his letter writing）； and
with his quick abilities； his good spirits； his good temper；
his gaiety and freshness； was always delightful。 But； though I liked
him more and more； the better I knew him； I still felt more and
more； how much it was to be regretted that he had been educated
in no habits of application and concentration。 The system which
had addressed him in exactly the same manner as it had
addressed hundreds of other boys； all varying in character and
capacity； had enabled him to dash through his tasks； always with
fair credit； and often with distinction； but in a fitful； dazzling way
that had confirmed his reliance on those very qualities in himself；
which it had been most desirable to direct and train。 They were
great qualities； without which no high place can be meritoriously
won； but； like fire and water； though excellent servants； they were
very bad masters。 If they had been under Richard’s direction； they
would have been his friends； but Richard being under their
direction； they became his enemies。
I write down these opinions； not because I believe that this or
any other thing was so； because I thought so； but only because I
did think so； and I want to be quite candid about all I thought and
did。 These were my thoughts about Richard。 I thought I often
observed besides； how right my Guardian was in what he had said；
and that the uncertainties and delays of the Chancery suit
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imparted to his nature something of the careless spirit of a
gamester； who felt that he was part of a great gaming system。
Mr and Mrs Bayham Badger coming one afternoon； when my
Guardian was not at home； in the course of conversation I
naturally inquired after Richard。
“Why； Mr Carstone；” said Mrs Badger； “is very well； and is； I
assure you； a great acquisition to our society。 Captain Swosser
used to say of me that I was always better than land a…head and a
breeze a…starn to the midshipmen’s mess when the purser’s junk
had become as tough as the fore…topsel weather earrings。 It was
his naval way of mentioning generally that I was an acquisition to
any society。 I may render the same tribute； I am sure； to Mr
Carstone。 But I—you won’t think me premature if I mention it？”
I said no； as Mrs Badger’s insinuating tone seemed to require
such an answer。
“Nor Miss Clare？” said Mrs Bayham Badger； sweetly。 Ada said
no； too； and looked uneasy。
“Why； you see； my dears；” said Mrs Badger—“you’ll excuse me
calling you my dears？”
We entreated Mrs Badger not to mention it。
“Because you really are； if I may take the liberty of saying so；”
pursued Mrs Badger； “so perfectly charming。 You see； my dears；
that although I am still young—or Mr Bayham Badger pays me the
compliment of saying so—”
“No；” Mr Badger called out； like some one contradicting at a
public meeting。 “Not at all！”
“Very well；” smiled Mrs Badger； “we will say still young。”
（“Undoubtedly；” said Mr Badger。）
“My dears； though still young； I have had many opportunities of
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observing young men。 There were many such on board the dear
old Crippler； I assure you。 After that； when I was with Captain
Swosser in the Mediterranean； I embraced every opportunity of
knowing and befriending the midshipmen under Captain
Swosser’s command。 You never heard them called the young
gentlemen； my dears； and probably would not understand
allusions to their pipe…claying their weekly accounts； but it is
otherwise with me； for blue water has been a second home to me；
and I have been quite a sailor。 Again； with Professor Dingo。”
（“A man of European reputation。” murmured Mr Badger。）
“When I lost my dear first； and became the wife of my dear
second；” said Mrs Badger； speaking of her former husbands as if
they were parts of a charade； “I still enjoyed opportunities of
observing youth。 The class attendant on Professor Dingo’s lectures
was a large one； and it became my pride； as the wife of an eminent
scientific man seeking herself in science the utmost consolation it
could impart； to throw our house open to the students； as a kind of
Scientific Exchange。 Every Tuesday evening there was lemonade
and a mixed biscuit； for all who chose to partake of those
refreshments。 And there was science to an unlimited extent。”
（“Remarkable assemblies those； Miss Summerson；” said Mr
Badger； reverentially。 “There must have been great intellectual
friction going on there； under the auspices of such a man！”）
“And now；” pursued Mrs Badger； “now that I am the wife of my
dear third； Mr Badger； I still pursue those habits of observation
which were formed during the lifetime of Captain Swosser； and
adapted to new and unexpected purposes during the lifetime of
Professor Dingo。 I therefore have not come to the consideration of
Mr Carstone as a Neophyte。 And yet I am very much of the
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