第19章 法官的房子〔4〕
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tintheJudge'sHouse!
"shesaid,andgrewaleasshesoke.Heexlainedthelocalityofthehouse,sayingthathedidnotknowitsname.Whenhehadfinishedsheanswered:
"Aye,sureenough—sureenoughtheverylace!ItistheJudge'sHousesureenough.
"Heaskedhertotellhimaboutthelace,whysocalled,andwhattherewasagainstit.Shetoldhimthatitwassocalledlocallybecauseithadbeenmanyyearsbefore—howlongshecouldnotsay,asshewasherselffromanotherartofthecountry,butshethoughtitmusthavebeenahundredyearsormore—theabodeofajudgewhowasheldingreatterroronaccountofhisharshsentencesandhishostilitytorisonersatAssizes.Astowhattherewasagainstthehouse,itselfshecouldnottell.Shehadoftenasked,butnoonecouldinformher;buttherewasageneralfeelingthattherewassomething,andforherownartshewouldnottakeallthemoneyinDrinkwater'sBankandstayinthehouseanhourbyherself.ThensheaologizedtoMalcolmsonforherdisturbingtalk.
"Itistoobadofme,sir,andyou—andayounggentleman,too—ifyouwillardonmesayingit,goingtolivethereallalone.Ifyouweremyboy—andyou'llexcusemeforsayingit—youwouldn'tsleethereanight,notifIhadtogotheremyselfandullthebigalarmbellthat'sonthatroof!
"
Thegoodcreaturewassomanifestlyinearnest,andwassokindlyinherintentions,thatMalcolmson,althoughamused,wastouched.Hetoldherkindlyhowmuchheareciatedherinterestinhim,andadded:
"But,mydearMrs.Witham,indeedyouneednotbeconcernedaboutme!AmanwhoisreadingfortheMathematicalTrioshastoomuchtothinkoftobedisturbedanyanyofthesemysterious'something',andhisworkisoftooexactandrosaicakindtoallowofhishavinganycornerinhismindformysteriesofanykind.HarmonicalProgression,PermutationsandCombinations,andElliticFunctionshavesufficientmysteriesforme!
"Mrs.Withamkindlyundertooktoseeafterhiscommissions,andhewenthimselftolookfortheoldwomanwhohadbeenrecommendedtohim.WhenhereturnedtotheJudge'sHousewithher,afteranintervalofacouleofhours,hefoundMrs.Withamherselfwaitingwithseveralmenandboyscarryingarcels,andanuholsterer'smanwithabedinacar,forshesaid,thoughtablesandchairsmightbeallverywell,abedthathadn'tbeenairedformayhafiftyyearswasnotroerforyoungbonestolieon.Shewasevidentlycurioustoseetheinsideofthehouse;andthoughmanifestlysoafraidofthe
"something
"thatattheslightestsoundsheclutchedontoMalcolmson,whomsheneverleftforamoment,wentoverthewholelace.
Afterhisexaminationofthehouse,Malcolmsondecidedtotakeuhisabodeinthegreatdining-room,whichwasbigenoughtoserveforallhisrequirements;andMrs.Witham,withtheaidofthecharwoman,Mrs.Demster,roceededtoarrangematters.Whenthehamerswerebroughtinandunacked,Malcolmsonsawthatwithmuchkindforethoughtshehadsentfromherownkitchensufficientrovisionstolastforafewdays.Beforegoingsheexressedallsortsofkindwishes;andatthedoorturnedandsaid:
"Anderhas,sir,astheroomisbiganddraughtyitmightbewelltohaveoneofthosebigscreensutroundyourbedatnight-though,truthtotell,IwoulddiemyselfifIweretobesoshutinwithallkindsof-of'things',thatuttheirheadsroundthesides,orovertheto,andlookonme!
"Theimagewhichshehadcalleduwastoomuchforhernerves,andshefledincontinently.
Mrs.Demstersniffedinasueriormannerasthelandladydisaeared,andremarkedthatforherownartshewasn'tafraidofallthebogiesinthekingdom.
"I'lltellyouwhatitis,sir,
"shesaid;
"bogiesisallkindsandsortsofthings—excetbogies!Ratsandmice,andbeetles,andcreakydoors,andlooseslates,andbrokenanes,andstiffdrawerhandles,thatstayoutwhenyouullthemandthenfalldowninthemiddleofthenight.Lookatthewainscotoftheroom!Itisold—hundredsofyearsold!Doyouthinkthere'snoratsandbeetlesthere!Anddoyouimagine,sir,thatyouwon'tseenoneofthem?Ratsisbogies,Itellyou,andbogiesisrats;anddon'tyougettothinkanythingelse!
"
"Mrs.Demster,
"saidMalcolmsongravely,makingheraolitebow,
"youknowmorethanaSeniorWrangler!Andletmesay,that,asamarkofesteemforyourindubitablesoundnessofheadandheart,Ishall,whenIgo,giveyouossessionofthishouse,andletyoustayherebyyourselfforthelasttwomonthsofmytenancy,forfourweekswillservemyurose.
"
"Thankyoukindly,sir!
"sheanswered,
"butIcouldn'tsleeawayfromhomeanight.IaminGreenhow'sCharity,andifIsletanightawayfrommyroomsIshouldloseallIhavegottoliveon.Therulesisverystrict;andthere'stoomanywatchingforavacancyformetorunanyrisksinthematter.Onlyforthat,sir,I'dgladlycomehereandattendonyoualtogetherduringyourstay.
"
"Mygoodwoman,
"saidMalcolmsonhastily,
"Ihavecomehereonurosetoobtainsolitude;andbelievemethatIamgratefultothelateGreenhowforhavingsoorganisedhisadmirablecharity—whateveritis—thatIamerforcedeniedtheoortunityofsufferingfromsuchaformoftemtation!SaintAnthonyhimselfcouldnotbemorerigidontheoint!
"
Theoldwomanlaughedharshly.
"Ah,youyounggentlemen,
"shesaid,
"youdon'tfearfornaught;andbelikeyou'llgetallthesolitudeyouwanthere.
"Shesettoworkwithhercleaning;andbynightfall,whenMalcolmsonreturnedfromhiswalk—healwayshadoneofhisbookstostudyashewalked—hefoundtheroomswetandtidied,afireburningintheoldhearth,thelamlit,andthetablesreadforsuerwithMrs.Witham'sexcellentfare.
"Thisiscomfort,indeed,
"hesaid,asherubbedhishands.
