bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第186章
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away in the night。 Cold and glittering devils！”
She tapped me several times upon the arm； and nodded good…
humouredly； as if she were anxious I should understand that I had
no cause to fear her； though she spoke so gloomily； and confided
these awful secrets to me。
“Let me see；” said she。 “I’ll tell you my own case。 Before they
ever drew me—before I had ever seen them—what was it I used to
do？ Tambourine playing？ No。 Tambour work。 I and my sister
worked at tambour work。 Our father and our brother had a
builder’s business。 We all lived together。 Ve…ry respectably； my
dear！ First； our father was drawn—slowly。 Home was drawn with
him。 In a few years； he was a fierce； sour； angry bankrupt； without
a kind word or a kind look for any one。 He had been so different；
Fitz…Jarndyce。 He was drawn to a debtor’s prison。 There he died。
Then our brother was drawn—swiftly—to drunkenness。 And rags。
And death。 Then my sister was drawn。 Hush！ Never ask to what！
Then I was ill； and in misery； and heard； as I had often heard
before； that this was all the work of Chancery。 When I got better； I
went to look at the monster。 And then I found out how it was； and
I was drawn to stay there。”
Having got over her own short narrative； in the delivery of
which she had spoken in a low； strained voice； as if the shock were
fresh upon her； she gradually resumed her usual air of amiable
importance。
“You don’t quite credit me； my dear！ Well； well！ You will； some
day。 I am a little rambling。 But I have noticed。 I have seen many
new faces come； unsuspicious； within the influence of the Mace
and Seal； in these many years。 As my father’s came there。 As my
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brother’s。 As my sister’s。 As my own。 I hear Conversation Kenge；
and the rest of them； say to the new faces； ‘Here’s little Miss Flite。
O you are new here； and you must come and be presented to little
Miss Flite！’ Ve…ry good。 Proud I am sure to have the honour！ And
we all laugh。 But； Fitz…Jarndyce； I know what will happen。 I know；
far better than they do； when the attraction has begun。 I know the
signs； my dear。 I saw them begin in Gridley。 And I saw them end。
Fitz…Jarndyce； my love；” speaking low again； “I saw them
beginning in our friend the Ward in Jarndyce。 Let some one hold
him back。 Or he’ll be drawn to ruin。”
She looked at me in silence for some moments； with her face
gradually softening into a smile。 Seeming to fear that she had been
too gloomy； and seeming also to lose the connection in her mind；
she said； politely； as she sipped her glass of wine； “Yes； my dear； as
I was saying； I expect a Judgment。 Shortly。 Then I shall release my
birds； you know； and confer estates。”
I was much impressed by her allusion to Richard； and by the
sad meaning； so sadly illustrated in her poor pinched form； that
made its way through all her incoherence。 But happily for her； she
was quite complacent again now； and beamed with nods and
smiles。
“But； my dear；” she said； gaily； reaching another hand to put it
upon mine。 “You have not congratulated me on my physician。
Positively not once； yet！”
I was obliged to confess that I did not quite know what she
meant。
“My physician； Mr Woodcourt； my dear； who was so
exceedingly attentive to me。 Though his services were rendered
quite gratuitously。 Until the Day of Judgment。 I mean the
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judgment that will dissolve the spell upon me of the Mace and
Seal。”
“Mr Woodcourt is so far away now；” said I； “that I thought the
time for such congratulation was past； Miss Flite。”
“But； my child；” she returned； “is it possible that you don’t
know what has happened？”
“No；” said I。
“Not what everybody has been talking of； my beloved Fitz…
Jarndyce！”
“No；” said I。 “You forget how long I have been here。”
“True！ My dear； for the moment—true。 I blame myself。 But my
memory has been drawn out of me； with everything else； by what I
mentioned。 Ve…ry strong influence； is it not？ Well； my dear； there
has been a terrible shipwreck over in those East…Indian seas。”
“Mr Woodcourt shipwrecked！”
“Don’t be agitated； my dear。 He is safe。 An awful scene。 Death
in all shapes。 Hundreds of dead and dying。 Fire； storm； and
darkness。 Numbers of the drowning thrown upon a rock。 There；
and through it all； my dear physician was a hero。 Calm and brave；
through everything。 Saved many lives； never complained in
hunger and thirst； wrapped naked people in his spare clothes； took
the lead； showed them what to do； governed them； tended the sick；
buried the dead； and brought the poor survivors safely off at last！
My dear the poor emaciated creatures all but worshipped him。
They fell down at his feet； when they got to the land； and blessed
him。 The whole country rings with it。 Stay！ Where’s my bag of
documents？ I have got it there； and you shall read it； you shall
read it！”
And I did read all the noble history； though very slowly and
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imperfectly then； for my eyes were so dimmed that I could not see
the words； and I cried so much that I was many times obliged to
lay down the long account she had cut out of the newspaper。 I felt
so triumphant ever to have known the man who had done such
generous and gallant deeds； I felt such glowing exultation in his
renown； I so admired and loved what he had done； that I envied
the storm…worn people who had fallen at his feet and blessed him
as their preserver。 I could myself have kneeled down then； so far
away； and blessed him； in my rapture that he should be so truly
good and brave。 I felt that no one—mother； sister； wife—could
honour him more than I。 I did； indeed！
My poor little visitor made me a present of the account； and
when； as the evening began to close in； she rose to take her leave；
lest she should miss the coach by which she must return； she was
still full of the shipwreck； which I had not yet sufficiently
composed myself to understand in all its details。
“My dear；” said she； as she carefully folded up her scarf and
gloves； “my brave physician ought to have a Title bestowed upon
him。 And no doubt he will。 You are of that opinion？”
“That he well deserves one； yes。 That he would ever have one；
no。”
“Why not； Fitz…Jarndyce？” she asked； rather sharply。
I said it was not the custom in England to confer titles on men
distinguished by peaceful services； however good and great；
unless occasionally； when they consisted of the accumulation o
