bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第5章
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oaken pulpit breaks out into a cold sweat； and there is a general
smell and taste as of the ancient Dedlocks in their graves。 My Lady
Dedlock （who is childless）； looking out in the early twilight from
her boudoir at a keeper’s lodge； and seeing the light of a fire upon
the latticed panes； and smoke rising from the chimney； and a
child； chased by a woman； running out into the rain to meet the
shining figure of a wrapped…up man coming through the gate； has
been put quite out of temper。 My Lady Dedlock says she has been
“bored to death。”
Therefore my Lady Dedlock has come away from the place in
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Lincolnshire； and has left it to the rain； and the crows； and the
rabbits； and the deer； and the partridges and pheasants。 The
pictures of the Dedlocks past and gone have seemed to vanish into
the damp walls in mere lowness of spirits； as the housekeeper has
passed along the old rooms； shutting up the shutters。 And when
they will next come forth again； the fashionable intelligence—
which； like the fiend； is omniscient of the past and present； but not
the future—cannot yet undertake to say。
Sir Leicester Dedlock is only a baronet； but there is no mightier
baronet than he。 His family is as old as the hills； and infinitely
more respectable。 He has a general opinion that the world might
get on without hills； but would be done up without Dedlocks。 He
would on the whole admit Nature to be a good idea （a little low；
perhaps； when not enclosed with a park fence）； but an idea
dependent for its execution on your great county families。 He is a
gentleman of strict conscience； disdainful of all littleness and
meanness； and ready； on the shortest notice； to die any death you
may please to mention rather than give occasion for the least
impeachment of his integrity。 He is an honourable； obstinate；
truthful； high…spirited； intensely prejudiced； perfectly
unreasonable man。
Sir Leicester is twenty years； full measure； older than my Lady。
He will never see sixty…five again； nor perhaps sixty…six； nor yet
sixty…seven。 He has a twist of the gout now and then； and walks a
little stiffly。 He is of a worthy presence； with his light grey hair and
whiskers； his fine shirt… frill； his pure white waistcoat； and his blue
coat with bright buttons always buttoned。 He is ceremonious；
stately； most polite on every occasion to my Lady； and holds her
personal attractions in the highest estimation。 His gallantry to my
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Lady； which has never changed since he courted her； is the one
little touch of romantic fancy in him。 Indeed； he married her for
love。 A whisper still goes about； that she had not even family；
howbeit； Sir Leicester had so much family that perhaps he had
enough； and could dispense with any more。 But she had beauty；
pride； ambition； insolent resolve； and sense enough to portion out
a legion of fine ladies。 Wealth and station； added to these； soon
floated her upward； and for years； now； my Lady Dedlock has
been at the centre of the fashionable intelligence； and at the top of
the fashionable tree。
How Alexander wept when he had no more worlds to conquer；
everybody knows—or has some reason to know by this time； the
matter having been rather frequently mentioned。 My Lady
Dedlock； having conquered her world； fell； not into the melting；
but rather into the freezing mood。 An exhausted composure； a
worn…out placidity； an equanimity of fatigue not to be ruffled by
interest or satisfaction； are the trophies of her victory。 She is
perfectly well…bred。 If she could be translated to heaven tomorrow；
she might be expected to ascend without any rapture。
She has beauty still； and； if it be not in its heyday； it is not yet in
its autumn。 She has a fine face…originally of a character that would
be rather called very pretty than handsome； but improved into
classicality by the acquired expression of her fashionable state。
Her figure is elegant； and has the effect of being tall。 Not that she
is so； but that “the most is made；” as the Honourable Bob Stables
has frequently asserted upon oath； “of all her points。” The same
authority observes； that she is perfectly got up； and remarks； in
commendation of her hair especially； that she is the best…groomed
woman in the whole stud。
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With all her perfections on her head； my Lady Dedlock has
come up from her place in Lincolnshire （hotly pursued by the
fashionable intelligence）； to pass a few days at her house in town
previous to her departure for Paris； where her ladyship intends to
stay some weeks； after which her movements are uncertain。 And
at her house in town； upon this muddy； murky afternoon； presents
himself an old…fashioned old gentleman； attorney…at…law； and eke
solicitor of the High Court of Chancery； who has the honour of
acting as legal adviser of the Dedlocks； and has as many cast…iron
boxes in his office with that name outside； as if the present
baronet were the coin of the conjuror’s trick； and were constantly
being juggled through the whole set。 Across the hall； and up the
stairs； and along the passages； and through the rooms； which are
very brilliant in the season and very dismal out of it—Fairyland to
visit； but a desert to live in—the old gentleman is conducted； by a
Mercury in powder； to my Lady’s presence。
The old gentleman is rusty to look at； but is reputed to have
made good thrift out of aristocratic marriage settlements and
aristocratic wills； and to be very rich。 He is surrounded by a
mysterious halo of family confidences； of which he is known to be
the silent depository。 There are noble Mausoleums rooted for
centuries in retired glades of parks； among the growing timber
and the fern； which perhaps hold fewer noble secrets than walk
abroad among men； shut up in the breast of Mr Tulkinghorn。 He is
of what is called the old school—a phrase generally meaning any
school that seems never to have been young—and wears knee
breeches tied with ribbons； and gaiters or stockings。 One
peculiarity of his black clothes； and of his black stockings； be they
silk or worsted； is； that they never shine。 Mute； close； irresponsive
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Bleak House
