bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第173节
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gold；” said Richard。 “He is such a cheery fellow。 No worldliness
about him。 Fresh and green…hearted！”
I certainly did not see the proof of Mr Skimpole’s unworldliness
in his having his expenses paid by Richard； but I made no remark
about that。 Indeed； he came in； and turned our conversation。 He
was charmed to see me； said he had been shedding delicious tears
of joy and sympathy； at intervals for six weeks； on my account； had
never been so happy as in hearing of my progress； began to
understand the mixture of good and evil in the world now； felt that
he appreciated health the more； when somebody else was ill；
didn’t know but what it might be in the scheme of things that A
should squint to make B happier in looking straight； or that C
should carry a wooden leg； to make D better satisfied with his
flesh and blood in a silk stocking。
“My dear Miss Summerson； here is our friend Richard；” said
Mr Skimpole； “full of the brightest visions of the future； which he
evokes out of the darkness of Chancery。 Now that’s delightful；
that’s inspiriting； that’s full of poetry！ In old times； the woods and
solitudes were made joyous to the shepherd by the imaginary
piping and dancing of Pan and the Nymphs。 This present
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shepherd； our pastoral Richard； brightens the dull Inns of Court
by making Fortune and her train sport through them to the
melodious notes of a judgment from the bench。 That’s very
pleasant； you know！ Some ill…conditioned growling fellow may say
to me； ‘What’s the use of these legal and equitable abuses？ How do
you defend them？’ I reply； ‘My growling friend； I don’t defend
them； but they are very agreeable to me。 There is a shepherd…
youth； a friend of mine； who transmutes them into something
highly fascinating to my simplicity。 I don’t say it is for this that
they exist—for I am a child among you worldly grumblers； and not
called upon to account to you or myself for anything—but it may
be so。’”
I began seriously to think that Richard could scarcely have
found a worse friend than this。 It made me uneasy that at such a
time； when he most required some right principle and purpose； he
should have this captivating looseness and putting…off of
everything； this airy dispensing with all principle and purpose； at
his elbow。 I thought I could understand how such a nature as my
Guardian’s； experienced in the world； and forced to contemplate
the miserable evasions and contentions of the family misfortune；
found an immense relief in Mr Skimpole’s avowal of his
weaknesses and display of guileless candour； but I could not
satisfy myself that it was as artless as it seemed； or that it did not
serve Mr Skimpole’s idle turn quite as well as any other part； and
with less trouble。
They both walked back with me； and Mr Skimpole leaving us at
the gate； I walked softly in with Richard； and said； “Ada； my love； I
have brought a gentleman to visit you。” It was not difficult to read
the blushing； startled face。 She loved him dearly； and he knew it；
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and I knew it。 It was a very transparent business； that meeting as
cousins only。
I almost mistrusted myself； as growing quite wicked in my
suspicions； but I was not so sure that Richard loved her dearly。 He
admired her very much—any one must have done that—and I
dare say； would have renewed their youthful engagement with
great pride and ardour； but that he knew how she would respect
her promise to my Guardian。 Still； I had a tormenting idea that the
influence upon him extended even here； that he was postponing
his best truth and earnestness； in this as in all things； until
Jarndyce and Jarndyce should be off his mind。 Ah me！ what
Richard would have been without that blight I never shall know
now！
He told Ada； in his most ingenuous way； that he had not come
to make any secret inroad on the terms she had accepted （rather
too implicitly and confidingly； he thought） from Mr Jarndyce； that
he had come openly to see her； and to see me； and to justify
himself for the present terms on which he stood with Mr Jarndyce。
As the dear old infant would be with us directly； he begged that I
would make an appointment for the morning； when he might set
himself right； through the means of an unreserved conversation
with me。 I proposed to walk with him in the park at seven o’clock；
and this was arranged。 Mr Skimpole soon afterwards appeared；
and made us merry for an hour。 He particularly requested to see
Little Coavinses （meaning Charley）； and told her； with a
patriarchal air； that he had given her late father all the business in
his power； and that if one of her little brothers would make haste
to get set…up in the same profession； he hoped he should still be
able to put a good deal of employment in his way。
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“For I am constantly being taken in these nets；” said Mr
Skimpole； looking beamingly at us over a glass of wine…and…water；
“and am constantly being bailed out—like a boat。 Or paid off—like
a ship’s company。 Somebody always does it for me。 I can’t do it；
you know； for I never have any money。 But Somebody does it。 I
get out by Somebody’s means； I am not like the starling； I get out。
If you were to ask me who Somebody is； upon my word I couldn’t
tell you。 Let us drink to Somebody。 God bless him！”
Richard was a little late in the morning； but I had not to wait for
him long； and we turned into the park。 The air was bright and
dewy； and the sky without a cloud。 The birds sang delightfully； the
sparkles in the fern； the grass； and trees； were exquisite to see； the
richness of the woods seemed to have increased twenty…fold since
yesterday； as if in the still night when they had looked so massively
hushed in sleep； Nature； through all the minute details of every
wonderful leaf； had been more wakeful than usual for the glory of
that day。
“This is a lovely place；” said Richard； looking round。 “None of
the jar and discord of law…suits here！”
But there was other trouble。
“I tell you what； my dear girl；” said Richard； “when I get affairs
in general settled； I shall come down here； I think； and rest。”
“Would it not be better to rest now？” I asked。
“Oh； as to resting now；” said Richard； “or as to doing anything
very definite now； that’s not easy。 In short it can’t be done； I can’t
do it at least。”
“Why not？” said I。
“You know why not； Esther。 If you were living in an unfinished
house； liable to have the roof put on or taken off—to be from top to
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bottom pulled down or built up—tomorrow； next day； next week；
next month； next year—you would find it hard to rest or settle。 So
do I。 Now？ There’s no now for us suitors。”
I could almost have believed in the attraction on which my poor
little wandering friend had expatiated； when I saw again the
darkened look of last night。 Terrible to think； it had in it also； a
shade of that unfortunate man who had died。
“My dear Richard；” said I； “this is a bad beginning of our
conversation。”
“I knew you would tell me so； Dame Durden。”
“And not I alone； dear Richard。 It
