bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第112节
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always be so blest and happy as to be useful to some one in my
small way。
They were so glad to see me when I got home； as they always
were； that I could have sat down and cried for joy； if that had not
been a method of making myself disagreeable。 Everybody in the
house； from the lowest to the highest； showed me such a bright
face of welcome； and spoke so cheerily； and was so happy to do
anything for me； that I suppose there never was such a fortunate
little creature in the world。
We got into such a chatty state that night； through Ada and my
Guardian drawing me out to tell them all about Caddy； that I went
on prose； prose； prosing； for a length of time。 At last I got up to my
own room； quite red to think how I had been holding forth； and
then I heard a soft tap at my door。 So I said； “Come in！” and there
came in a pretty little girl； neatly dressed in mourning； who
dropped a curtsey。
“If you please； miss；” said the little girl； in a soft voice； “I am
Charley。”
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“Why； so you are；” said I； stooping down in astonishment； and
giving her a kiss。 “How glad am I to see you； Charley！”
“If you please； miss；” pursued Charley； in the same soft voice；
“I’m your maid。”
“Charley？”
“If you please； miss； I’m a present to you； with Mr Jarndyce’s
love。”
I sat down with my hand on Charley’s neck； and looked at
Charley。
“And O； miss；” says Charley； clapping her hands； with the tears
starting down her dimpled cheeks； “Tom’s at school； if you please；
and learning so good！ And little Emma； she’s with Mrs Blinder；
miss； a being took such care of！ And Tom； he would have been at
school—and Emma； she would have been left with Mrs Blinder—
and me； I should have been here—all a deal sooner； miss； only Mr
Jarndyce thought that Tom and Emma and me had better get a
little used to parting first； we was so small。 Don’t cry； if you please；
miss！”
“I can’t help it； Charley。”
“No； miss； nor I can’t help it；” says Charley。 “And if you please；
miss； Mr Jarndyce’s love； and he thinks you’ll like to teach me now
and then。 And if you please； Tom and Emma and me is to see each
other once a month。 And I’m so happy and so thankful； miss；”
cried Charley with a heaving heart； “and I’ll try to be such a good
maid！”
“O Charley dear； never forget who did all this！”
“No； miss； I never will。 Nor Tom won’t。 Nor yet Emma。 It was
all you； miss。”
“I have known nothing of it。 It was Mr Jarndyce； Charley。”
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“Yes； miss； but it was all done for the love of you； and that you
might be my mistress。 If you please； miss。 I am a little present with
his love； and it was all done for the love of you。 Me and Tom was to
be sure to remember it。”
Charley dried her eyes； and entered on her functions； going in
her matronly little way about and about the room； and folding up
everything she could lay her hands upon。 Presently； Charley came
creeping back to my side； and said：
“O don’t cry； if you please； miss。”
And I said again； “I can’t help it； Charley。”
And Charley said again； “No； miss； nor I can’t help it。” And so；
after all； I did cry for joy indeed； and so did she。
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Chapter 24
An Appeal Case
s soon as Richard and I had held the conversation of
Awhich I have given an account； Richard communicated
the state of his mind to Mr Jarndyce。 I doubt if my
Guardian were altogether taken by surprise； when he received the
representation； though it caused him much uneasiness and
disappointment。 He and Richard were often closeted together； late
at night and early in the morning； and passed whole days in
London； and had innumerable appointments with Mr Kenge； and
laboured through a quantity of disagreeable business。 While they
were thus employed； my Guardian； though he underwent
considerable inconvenience from the state of the wind； and
rubbed his head so constantly that not a single hair upon it ever
rested in its right place； was as genial with Ada and me as at any
other time； but maintained a steady reserve on these matters。 And
as our utmost endeavours could only elicit from Richard himself
sweeping assurances that everything was going on capitally； and
that it really was all right at last； our anxiety was not much
relieved by him。
We learnt； however； as the time went on； that a new application
was made to the Lord Chancellor on Richard’s behalf； as an Infant
and a Ward； and I don’t know what； and that there was a quantity
of talking； and that the Lord Chancellor described him； in open
court； as a vexatious and capricious infant； and that the matter
was adjourned and readjourned； and referred； and reported on；
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and petitioned about； until Richard began to doubt （as he told us）
whether； if he entered the army at all； it would not be as a veteran
of seventy or eighty years of age。 At last an appointment was made
for him to see the Lord Chancellor again in his private room； and
there the Lord Chancellor very seriously reproved him for trifling
with time； and not knowing his mind—“a pretty good joke； I
think；” said Richard； “from that quarter！”—and at last it was
settled that his application should be granted。 His name was
entered at the Horse Guards； as an applicant for an Ensign’s
commission； the purchase…money was deposited at an Agent’s； and
Richard； in his usual characteristic way； plunged into a violent
course of military study； and got up at five o’clock every morning
to practise the broadsword exercise。
Thus； vacation succeeded term； and term succeeded vacation。
We sometimes heard of Jarndyce and Jarndyce； as being in the
paper or out of the paper； or as being to be mentioned； or as being
to be spoken to； and it came on； and it went off。 Richard； who was
now in a Professor’s house in London； was able to be with us less
frequently than before； my Guardian still maintained the same
reserve； and so time passed until the commission was obtained；
and Richard received directions with it to join a regiment in
Ireland。
He arrived post…haste with the intelligence one evening； and
had a long conference with my Guardian。 Upwards of an hour
elapsed before my Guardian put his head into the room where Ada
and I were sitting； and said； “Come in； my dears！” We went in； and
found Richard； whom we had last seen in high spirits； leaning on
the chimney…piece； looking mortified and angry。
“Rick and I； Ada；” said Mr Jarndyce； “are not quite of one
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mind。 Come； come； Rick； put a brighter face upon it！”
“You are very hard with me； sir；” said Richard。 “The harder；
because you have been so considerate to me in all other respects；
and have done me kindnesses that I can never acknowledge。 I
never could have been set right without you； sir。”
“Well； well！” said Mr Jarndyce； “I want to set you more right
with yourself。”
“I hope you will excuse my saying； sir；” retur
