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第19章 法官的房子4（第1页）
tintheJudgesHouse!
"shesaid，andgrewaleasshesoke。Heexlainedthelocalityofthehouse，sayingthathedidnotknowitsname。Whenhehadfinishedsheanswered:
"Aye，sureenough—sureenoughtheverylace!ItistheJudgesHousesureenough。
"Heaskedhertotellhimaboutthelace，whysocalled，andwhattherewasagainstit。Shetoldhimthatitwassocalledlocallybecauseithadbeenmanyyearsbefore—howlongshecouldnotsay，asshewasherselffromanotherartofthecountry，butshethoughtitmusthavebeenahundredyearsormore—theabodeofajudgewhowasheldingreatterroronaccountofhisharshsentencesandhishostilitytorisonersatAssizes。Astowhattherewasagainstthehouse，itselfshecouldnottell。Shehadoftenasked，butnoonecouldinformher;buttherewasageneralfeelingthattherewassomething，andforherownartshewouldnottakeallthemoneyinDrinkwatersBankandstayinthehouseanhourbyherself。ThensheaologizedtoMalcolmsonforherdisturbingtalk。
"Itistoobadofme，sir，andyou—andayounggentleman，too—ifyouwillardonmesayingit，goingtolivethereallalone。Ifyouweremyboy—andyoullexcusemeforsayingit—youwouldntsleethereanight，notifIhadtogotheremyselfandullthebigalarmbellthatsonthatroof!
"
Thegoodcreaturewassomanifestlyinearnest，andwassokindlyinherintentions，thatMalcolmson，althoughamused，wastouched。Hetoldherkindlyhowmuchheareciatedherinterestinhim，andadded:
"But，mydearMrs。Witham，indeedyouneednotbeconcernedaboutme!AmanwhoisreadingfortheMathematicalTrioshastoomuchtothinkoftobedisturbedanyanyofthesemysterioussomething，andhisworkisoftooexactandrosaicakindtoallowofhishavinganycornerinhismindformysteriesofanykind。HarmonicalProgression，PermutationsandCombinations，andElliticFunctionshavesufficientmysteriesforme!
"Mrs。Withamkindlyundertooktoseeafterhiscommissions，andhewenthimselftolookfortheoldwomanwhohadbeenrecommendedtohim。WhenhereturnedtotheJudgesHousewithher，afteranintervalofacouleofhours，hefoundMrs。Withamherselfwaitingwithseveralmenandboyscarryingarcels，andanuholsterersmanwithabedinacar，forshesaid，thoughtablesandchairsmightbeallverywell，abedthathadntbeenairedformayhafiftyyearswasnotroerforyoungbonestolieon。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-ofthings，thatuttheirheadsroundthesides，orovertheto，andlookonme!
"Theimagewhichshehadcalleduwastoomuchforhernerves，andshefledincontinently。
Mrs。Demstersniffedinasueriormannerasthelandladydisaeared，andremarkedthatforherownartshewasntafraidofallthebogiesinthekingdom。
"Illtellyouwhatitis，sir，
"shesaid;
"bogiesisallkindsandsortsofthings—excetbogies!Ratsandmice，andbeetles，andcreakydoors，andlooseslates，andbrokenanes，andstiffdrawerhandles，thatstayoutwhenyouullthemandthenfalldowninthemiddleofthenight。Lookatthewainscotoftheroom!Itisold—hundredsofyearsold!Doyouthinktheresnoratsandbeetlesthere!Anddoyouimagine，sir，thatyouwontseenoneofthem?Ratsisbogies，Itellyou，andbogiesisrats;anddontyougettothinkanythingelse!
"
"Mrs。Demster，
"saidMalcolmsongravely，makingheraolitebow，
"youknowmorethanaSeniorWrangler!Andletmesay，that，asamarkofesteemforyourindubitablesoundnessofheadandheart，Ishall，whenIgo，giveyouossessionofthishouse，andletyoustayherebyyourselfforthelasttwomonthsofmytenancy，forfourweekswillservemyurose。
"
"Thankyoukindly，sir!
"sheanswered，
"butIcouldntsleeawayfromhomeanight。IaminGreenhowsCharity，andifIsletanightawayfrommyroomsIshouldloseallIhavegottoliveon。Therulesisverystrict;andtherestoomanywatchingforavacancyformetorunanyrisksinthematter。Onlyforthat，sir，Idgladlycomehereandattendonyoualtogetherduringyourstay。
"
"Mygoodwoman，
"saidMalcolmsonhastily，
"Ihavecomehereonurosetoobtainsolitude;andbelievemethatIamgratefultothelateGreenhowforhavingsoorganisedhisadmirablecharity—whateveritis—thatIamerforcedeniedtheoortunityofsufferingfromsuchaformoftemtation!SaintAnthonyhimselfcouldnotbemorerigidontheoint!
"
Theoldwomanlaughedharshly。
"Ah，youyounggentlemen，
"shesaid，
"youdontfearfornaught;andbelikeyoullgetallthesolitudeyouwanthere。
"Shesettoworkwithhercleaning;andbynightfall，whenMalcolmsonreturnedfromhiswalk—healwayshadoneofhisbookstostudyashewalked—hefoundtheroomswetandtidied，afireburningintheoldhearth，thelamlit，andthetablesreadforsuerwithMrs。Withamsexcellentfare。
"Thisiscomfort，indeed，
"hesaid，asherubbedhishands。
