第41章法官的房子（3）
"Surely，"hethought，"theyothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading。Hadtheybeen，Imusthave！"Presehenoiseiisfiedhimselfthatitwasreallywasevidentthatatfirsttheratshadbeehepreserahelightoffireandlamp；butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenthemselvesaswastheirwont。
Howbusytheywere！Ａndharktenoises！Upaheoldwaiheduheyradgnawed，andscratched！MaliledtohimselfashereindthesayingofMrs。Dempster，"Bogiesisrats，andratsisbogies！"Theteabegaseffetelledimulus，hesawwithjspellofworktobedhtast，andintheseywhichitgavehim，heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtheroom。Hetookhislampinonehaallarousoquaiifulanoldhousehadbeensolohegoftheoakohewainscotwasfine，andonandroundthedoorsandasbeautifulahereweresomeoldpithewalls，buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthatheotdistinguishahem，thoughheheldhislampashighashecouldoverhishead。Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholebloentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteri，butinaninstantitwasgone，andasqueakandascamperfollowed。Thethingthatmoststruckhim，hoeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof，whigdowniheroomht-hahefireplace。Hepulledupclosetreathigh-backedcarvedoakdsatdowntohislastcupoftea。Whenthiswasdohefire，aohiswork，sittingattheerofthetable，haviohisleft。Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeirperpetualsg，buthegotaedtothenoiseasohetigofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater，andhebeersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld，excepttheproblemwhichhewastryingtosolve，passedawayfromhim。
Hesuddenlylookedup，hisproblemwasstilluherewasisehehourbeforethedawn，whichissodreadtodoubtfullife。Theheratshaddeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddeionwhichhaddisturbedhim。Thefirehadfallenlow，butstillitthreredglow。Ashelookedhestartedinspiteofhissangfroid。
&hegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefireplaenormousrat，steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes。Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway，butitdidnotstir。Theisomething。Stillitdidnotstir，butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily，anditscrueleyesshohelamplightwithaiveness。
Malazed，ahepokerfromthehearthranatittokillit。Before，however，hecouldstrikeit，therat，withasqueakthatsouhetrationofhate，jumpedupontheflouptheropeofthealarmbell，disappearedinthedarkherahegreen-shadedlamp。Instantly，straosay，thenoisysgoftheratsibeganagain。
BythistimeMalindwasquiteofftheproblem；andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimoftheapproa，heweosleep。
&sosouevenwakedbyMrs。Dempsteringintomakeuphisroom。Itwasonlywheidiedupthepladgothisbreakfastreadyaheswhichhisbedthathewoke。Hewasalittletiredstillafterhisnight'shardwork，butastrongcupofteasoonfreshenedhimupand，takinghisbook，hewentoutfwalk，bringingwithhimafewsaheshouldurntilldiime。Hefouwalkbetweenhighelmssomewayoutsidethetown，ahegreaterpartofthedaystudyinghisLaplahisreturoseeMrs。Withamandtothankherforherkindness。Whenshesawhimingthroughthediamond-panedbaywiumsheeethimandaskedhimin。Shelookedathimseardshookherheadasshesaid：
"Youmust，sir。Youarepalerthismthanyoushouldbe。Toolatehoursandtoohardworkonthebrainisn'tgoodforanyman！Buttellme，sir，howdidyoupassthenight？Well，Ihope？Butmyheart！sir，Iwasgladwheoldmethismthatyhtandsleepingsoundwhein。"
"Oh，Iwasallright，"heanswered，smiling，"the'something'didn'tworryme，asyet。Os；andtheyhadacircus，Itellyou，allovertheplace。Therewasonewicked-lookisatuponmyownchairbythefire，andwouldn'tgotillItookthepokertohim，aheropeofthealarmbellandgottosomewhereupthewallortheg—I'tseewhere，itwassodark。"
"Merus，"saidMrs。Witham，"anolddevil，andsittingonachairbythefireside！Takecare，sir！takecare！There'smanyatruewordspoke;
"Howdoyoumean？PonmywordIdon'tuand。"