bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第176节
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This note brought Richard to us very soon； but it made little
change in him； if any。 We would fairly try； he said； who was right
and who was wrong—he would show us—we should see！ He was
animated and glowing； as if Ada’s tenderness had gratified him；
but I could only hope； with a sigh； that the letter might have some
stronger effect upon his mind on re…perusal； than it assuredly had
then。
As they were to remain with us that day； and had taken their
places to return by the coach next morning； I sought an
opportunity of speaking to Mr Skimpole。 Our out…of…door life easily
threw one in my way； and I delicately said； that there was a
responsibility in encouraging Richard。
“Responsibility； my dear Miss Summerson；” he repeated；
catching at the word with the pleasantest smile； “I am the last man
in the world for such a thing。 I never was responsible in my life—I
can’t be。”
“I am afraid everybody is obliged to be；” said I； timidly enough；
he being so much older and more cleverer than I。
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“No； really？” said Mr Skimpole； receiving this new light with a
most agreeable jocularity of surprise。 “But every man’s not obliged
to be solvent？ I am not。 I never was。 See； my dear Miss
Summerson；” he took a handful of loose silver and halfpence from
his pocket； “there’s so much money。 I have not an idea how much。
I have not the power of counting。 Call it four and nine…pence—call
it four pound nine。 They tell me I owe more than that。 I dare say I
do。 I dare say I owe as much as good…natured people will let me
owe。 If they don’t stop； why should I？ There you have Harold
Skimpole in little。 If that’s responsibility； I am responsible。”
The perfect ease of manner with which he put the money up
again； and looked at me with a smile on his refined face； as if he
had been mentioning a curious little fact about somebody else；
almost made me feel as if he really had nothing to do with it。
“Now when you mention responsibility；” he resumed； “I am
disposed to say； that I never had the happiness of knowing any one
whom I should consider so refreshingly responsible as yourself。
You appear to me to be the very touchstone of responsibility。
When I see you； my dear Miss Summerson； intent upon the perfect
working of the whole little orderly system of which you are the
centre； I feel inclined to say to myself—in fact I do say to myself；
very often—that’s responsibility。”
It was difficult； after this； to explain what I meant； but I
persisted so far as to say； that we all hoped he would check and
not confirm Richard in the sanguine views he entertained just
then。
“Most willingly；” he retorted； “if I could。 But； my dear Miss
Summerson； I have no art； no disguise。 If he takes me by the hand；
and leads me through Westminister Hall in an airy procession
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after Fortune； I must go。 If he says； ‘Skimpole； join the dance！’ I
must join it。 Common sense wouldn’t； I know； but I have no
common sense。”
“It was very unfortunate for Richard；” I said。
“Do you think so！” returned Mr Skimpole。 “Don’t say that； don’t
say that。 Let us suppose him keeping company with Common
Sense—an excellent man—a good deal wrinkled—dreadfully
practical—change for a ten…pound note in every pocket—ruled
account…book in his hand—say； upon the whole； resembling a tax…
gatherer。 Our dear Richard； sanguine； ardent； overleaping
obstacles； bursting with poetry like a young bud； says to this
highly respectable companion； ‘I see a golden prospect before me；
it’s very bright； it’s very beautiful； it’s very joyous； here I go；
bounding over the landscape to come at it！’ The respectable
companion instantly knocks him down with the ruled account…
book； tells him； in a literal prosaic way； that he sees no such thing；
shows him it’s nothing but fees； fraud； horsehair wigs； and black
gowns。 Now you know that’s a painful change；—sensible in the
last degree； I have no doubt； but disagreeable。 I can’t do it。 I
haven’t got the ruled account…book； I have none of the tax…
gathering elements in my composition； I am not at all respectable；
and I don’t want to be。 Odd perhaps； but so it is！”
It was idle to say more； so I proposed that we should join Ada
and Richard； who were a little in advance； and I gave up Mr
Skimpole in despair。 He had been over the Hall in the course of
the morning； and whimsically described the family pictures as we
walked。 There were such portentous shepherdesses among the
Ladies Dedlock dead and gone； he told us； that peaceful crooks
became weapons of assault in their hands。 They tended their
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flocks severely in buckram and powder； and put their sticking…
plaster patches on to terrify commoners； as the chiefs of some
other tribes put on their war…paint。 There was a Sir Somebody
Dedlock； with a battle； a sprung…mine； volumes of smoke； flashes
of lightning； a town on fire； and a stormed fort； all in full action
between his horse’s two hind legs： showing； he supposed； how
little a Dedlock made of such trifles。 The whole race he
represented as having evidently been； in life； what he called
“stuffed people；”—a large collection； glassy eyed； set up in the
most approved manner on their various twigs and perches； very
correct； perfectly free from animation； and always in glass cases。
I was not so easy now； during any reference to the name； but
that I felt it a relief when Richard； with an exclamation of surprise；
hurried away to meet a stranger； whom he first descried coming
slowly towards us。
“Dear me！” said Mr Skimpole。 “Vholes！”
We asked if that were a friend of Richard’s。
“Friend and legal adviser；” said Mr Skimpole。 “Now； my dear
Miss Summerson； if you want common sense； responsibility； and
respectability； all united—if you want an exemplary man—Vholes
is the man。”
We had not known； we said； that Richard was assisted by any
gentleman of that name。
“When he emerged from legal infancy；” returned Mr Skimpole；
“he parted from our conversational friend Kenge； and took up； I
believe； with Vholes。 Indeed； I know he did； because I introduced
him to Vholes。”
“Had you known him long？” asked Ada。
“Vholes？ My dear Miss Clare； I had had that kind of
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acquaintance with him which I have had with several gentlemen
of his profession。 He had done something or other； in a very
agreeable； civil manner—taken proceedings； I think； is the
expression—which ended in the proceeding of his taking me。
Somebody was so good as to step in and pay the money—
something and fourpence was the amount； I forget the pounds and
shillings； but I know it ended with fourpence； because it struck me
at the time as being so odd that I could owe anybody fourpence—
and after that； I brought them
