bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第180节
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was with some difficulty she could marshal Caddy through the
folding…door into her bedroom adjoining。
“Miss Summerson；” said Mr Guppy； “you will excuse the
waywardness of a parent ever mindful of a son’s happiness。 My
mother； though highly exasperating to the feelings； is actuated by
maternal dictates。”
I could have hardly have believed that anybody could in a
moment have turned so red； or changed so much； as Mr Guppy did
when I now put up my veil。
“I asked the favour of seeing you for a few moments here；” said
I； “in preference to calling at Mr Kenge’s； because； remembering
what you said on an occasion when you spoke to me in confidence；
I feared I might otherwise cause you some embarrassment； Mr
Guppy。”
I caused him embarrassment enough as it was； I am sure。 I
never saw such faltering； such confusion； such amazement and
apprehension。
“Miss Summerson；” stammered Mr Guppy； “I—I—beg your
pardon； but in our profession—we—we—find it necessary to be
explicit。 You have referred to an occasion； miss； when I—when I
did myself the honour of making a declaration which—”
Something seemed to rise in his throat that he could not possibly
swallow。 He put his hand there； coughed； made faces； tried again
to swallow it； coughed again； made faces again； looked all around
the room； and fluttered his papers。
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“A kind of giddy sensation has come upon me； miss；” he
explained； “which rather knocks me over。 I—er—a little subject to
this sort of thing—er—By George！”
I gave him a little time to recover。 He consumed it in putting his
hand to his forehead and taking it away again； and in backing his
chair into the corner behind him。
“My intention was to remark； miss；” said Mr Guppy； “—dear
me—something bronchial； I think—hem！—to remark that you was
so good on that occasion； as to repel and repudiate that
declaration。 You—you wouldn’t perhaps object to admit that？
Though no witnesses are present； it might be a satisfaction to—to
your mind—if you was to put in that admission。”
“There can be no doubt；” said I； “that I declined your proposal
without any reservation or qualification whatever； Mr Guppy。”
“Thank you miss；” he returned； measuring the table with his
troubled hands。 “So far that’s satisfactory； and it does you credit。
Er—this is certainly bronchial！—must be in the tubes—er—you
wouldn’t perhaps be offended if I was to mention—not that it’s
necessary； for your own good sense or any person’s sense must
show ’em that—if I was to mention that such declaration on my
part was final； and there terminated？”
“I quite understand that；” said I。
“Perhaps—er—it may not be worth the form； but it might be a
satisfaction to your mind—perhaps you wouldn’t object to admit
that； miss？” said Mr Guppy。
“I admit it most fully and freely；” said I。
“Thank you；” returned Mr Guppy。 “Very honourable； I am sure。
I regret that my arrangements in life； combined with
circumstances over which I have no control； will put it out of my
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power ever to fall back upon that offer； or to renew it in any shape
or form whatever； but it will ever be a retrospect entwined—er—
with friendship’s bowers。” Mr Guppy’s bronchitis came to his
relief； and stopped his measurement of the table。
“I may now perhaps mention what I wished to say to you？” I
began。
“I shall be honoured； I am sure；” said Mr Guppy。 “I am so
persuaded that your own good sense and right feeling； miss； will—
will keep you as square as possible—that I can have nothing but
pleasure； I am sure； in hearing any observation you may wish to
offer。”
“You were so good as to imply； on that occasion—”
“Excuse me； miss；” said Mr Guppy； “but we had better not
travel out of the record into implication。 I cannot admit that I
implied anything。”
“You said on that occasion；” I recommenced； “that you might
possibly have the means of advancing my interests； and promoting
my fortunes； by making discoveries of which I should be the
subject。 I presume that you founded that belief upon your general
knowledge of my being an orphan girl； indebted for everything to
the benevolence of Mr Jarndyce。 Now； the beginning and the end
of what I have come to beg of you is； Mr Guppy； that you will have
the kindness to relinquish all idea of so serving me。 I have thought
of this sometimes； and I have thought of it most lately—since I
have been ill。 At length I have decided； in case you should at any
time recall that purpose； and act upon it any way； to come to you；
and assure you that you are altogether mistaken。 You could make
no discovery in reference to me that would do me the least service；
or give me the least pleasure。 I am acquainted with my personal
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history； and I have it in my power to assure you that you never can
advance my welfare by such means。 You may； perhaps； have
abandoned this project a long time。 If so； excuse my giving you
unnecessary trouble。 If not； I entreat you； on the assurance I have
given you； henceforth to lay it aside。 I beg you do this； for my
peace。”
“I am bound to confess；” said Mr Guppy； “that you express
yourself； miss； with that good sense and right feeling for which I
gave you credit。 Nothing can be more satisfactory than such right
feeling； and if I mistook any intentions on your part just now； I am
prepared to tender a full apology。 I should wish to be understood；
miss； as hereby offering that apology—limiting it； as your own
good sense and right feeling will point out the necessity of； to the
present proceedings。”
I must say for Mr Guppy that the shuffling manner he had had
upon him improved very much。 He seemed truly glad to be able to
do something I asked； and he looked ashamed。
“If you will allow me to finish what I have to say at once； so that
I may have no occasion to resume；” I went on； seeing him about to
speak； “you will do me a kindness； sir。 I come to you as privately as
possible； because you announced this impression of yours to me in
a confidence which I have really wished to respect—and which I
always have respected； as you remember。 I have mentioned my
illness。 There really is no reason why I should hesitate to say that I
know very well that any little delicacy I might have had in making
a request to you； is quite removed。 Therefore I make the entreaty I
have now preferred； and I hope you will have sufficient
consideration for me； to accede to it。”
I must do Mr Guppy the further justice of saying that he had
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looked more and more ashamed； and that he looked most
ashamed； and very earnest； when he now replied with a burning
face：—
“Upon my word and honour； upon my life； upon my soul； Miss
Summerson； as I am a living man； I’ll act according to your wish！
I’ll never go another step in opposition to it。 I’ll take my oath to it；
if it will be any satisfaction to you。 In what I promise at this
present time touching the matters now in question；” continued Mr
Guppy； rapidly； as if he were repeating a familiar form of words； “I
speak the truth； the whole t
