bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第115节
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“You don’t know where？”
“No； sir；” returned the trooper； lifting up his eyes and coming
out of his reverie。 “I can’t say anything about him。 He will be worn
out soon； I expect。 You may file a strong man’s heart away for a
good many years； but it will tell all of a sudden at last。”
Richard’s entrance stopped the conversation。 Mr George rose；
made me another of his soldierly bows； wished my Guardian a
good day； and strode heavily out of the room。
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This was the morning of the day appointed for Richard’s
departure。 We had no more purchases to make now； I had
completed all his packing early in the afternoon； and our time was
disengaged until night； when he was to go to Liverpool for
Holyhead。 Jarndyce and Jarndyce being again expected to come
on that day； Richard proposed to me that we should go down to
the Court and hear what passed。 As it was his last day； and he was
eager to go； and I had never been there； I gave my consent； and we
walked down to Westminster； where the Court was then sitting。
We beguiled the way with arrangements concerning the letters
that Richard was to write to me； and the letters that I was to write
to him； and with a great many hopeful projects。 My Guardian
knew where we were going； and therefore was not with us。
When we came to the Court； there was the Lord Chancellor—
the same whom I had seen in his private room in Lincoln’s Inn—
sitting in great state and gravity； on the bench； with the mace and
seals on a red table below him； and an immense flat nosegay； like a
little garden； which scented the whole Court。 Below the table；
again； was a long row of solicitors； with bundles of papers on the
matting at their feet； and then there were the gentlemen of the bar
in wigs and gowns—some awake and some asleep； and one
talking； and nobody paying much attention to what he said。 The
Lord Chancellor leaned back in his very easy chair； with his elbow
on the cushioned arm； and his forehead resting on his hand； some
of those who were present； dozed； some read the newspapers；
some walked about； or whispered in groups： all seemed perfectly
at their ease； by no means in a hurry； very unconcerned； and
extremely comfortable。
To see everything going on so smoothly； and to think of the
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Bleak House 479
roughness of the suitors’ lives and deaths； to see all that full dress
and ceremony； and to think of the waste； and want； and beggared
misery it represented； to consider that； while the sickness of hope
deferred was raging in so many hearts； this polite show went
calmly on from day to day； and year to year； in such good order
and composure； to behold the Lord Chancellor； and the whole
array of practitioners under him； looking at one another and at the
spectators； as if nobody had ever heard that all over England the
name in which they were assembled was a bitter jest： was held in
universal horror； contempt； and indignation； was known for
something so flagrant and bad； that little short of a miracle could
bring any good out of it to any one： this was so curious and self…
contradictory to me； who had no experience of it； that it was at
first incredible； and I could not comprehend it。 I sat where
Richard put me； and tried to listen； and looked about me； but
there seemed to be no reality in the whole scene； except poor little
Miss Flite； the mad…woman； standing on a bench； and nodding at
it。
Miss Flite soon espied us； and came to where we sat。 She gave
me a gracious welcome to her domain； and indicated； with much
gratification and pride； its principal attractions。 Mr Kenge also
came to speak to us； and did the honours of the place in much the
same way； with the bland modesty of a proprietor。 It was not a
very good day for a visit； he said； he would have preferred the first
day of term； but it was imposing； it was imposing。
When we had been there half an hour or so； the case in
progress—if I may use a phrase so ridiculous in such a
connection—seemed to die out of its own vapidity； without
coming； or being by anybody expected to come； to any result。 The
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Lord Chancellor then threw down a bundle of papers from his
desk to the gentleman below him； and somebody said
“JARNDYCE AND JARNDYCE。” Upon this there was a buzz； and
a laugh； and a general withdrawal of the bystanders； and a
bringing in of great heaps； and piles； and bags and bagfulls of
papers。
I think it came on “for further directions；”—about some bill of
costs； to the best of my understanding； which was confused
enough。 But I counted twenty…three gentlemen in wigs； who said
they were “in it；” and none of them appeared to understand it
much better than I。 They chatted about it with the Lord
Chancellor； and contradicted and explained among themselves；
and some of them said it was this way； and some of them said it
was that way； and some of them jocosely proposed to read huge
volumes of affidavits； and there was more buzzing and laughing；
and everybody concerned was in a state of idle entertainment； and
nothing could be made of it by anybody。 After an hour or so of this；
and a good many speeches being begun and cut short； it was
“referred back for the present；” as Mr Kenge said； and the papers
were bundled up again； before the clerks had finished bringing
them in。
I glanced at Richard； on the termination of these hopeless
proceedings； and was shocked so see the worn look of his
handsome young face。 “It can’t last for ever； Dame Durden。 Better
luck next time！” was all he said。
I had seen Mr Guppy bringing in papers； and arranging them
for Mr Kenge； and he had seen me and made me a forlorn bow；
which rendered me desirous to get out of the Court。 Richard had
given me his arm and was taking me away； when Mr Guppy came
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up。
“I beg your pardon； Mr Carstone；” said he in a whisper； “and
Miss Summerson’s also； but there’s a lady here； a friend of mine；
who knows her； and wishes to have the pleasure of shaking
hands。” As he spoke； I saw before me； as if she had started into
bodily shape from my remembrance； Mrs Rachael of my
godmother’s house。
“How do you do； Esther？” said she。 “Do you recollect me？”
I gave her my hand； and told her yes； and that she was very
little altered。
“I wonder you remember those times； Esther；” she returned
with her old asperity。 “They are changed now。 Well！ I am glad to
see you； and glad you are not too proud to know me。” But； indeed
she seemed disappointed that I was not。
“Proud； Mrs Rachael！” I remonstrated。
“I am married； Esther；” she returned； coldly correcting me；
“and am Mrs Chadband。 Well！ I wish you good day； and I hope
you’ll do well。”
Mr Guppy； who had been attentive to this short dialogue；
heaved a sigh in my ear； and elbowed his own and Mrs Rachael’s
way through the confused
