bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第229节
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“You see；” said Richard； with something pathetic in his manner
of lingering on the point； though it was offhand and unstudied； “to
an upright fellow like you； bringing a friendly face like yours here；
I cannot bear the thought of appearing selfish and mean。 I want to
see Ada righted； Woodcourt； as well as myself； I want to do my
utmost to right her； as well as myself； I venture what I can scrape
together to extricate her； as well as myself。 Do； I beseech you；
think of that！”
Afterwards； when Mr Woodcourt came to reflect on what had
passed； he was so very much impressed by the strength of
Richard’s anxiety on this point； that in telling me generally of his
first visit to Symond’s Inn； he particularly dwelt upon it。 It revived
a fear I had had before； that my dear girl’s little property would be
absorbed by Mr Vholes； and that Richard’s justification to himself
would be sincerely this。 It was just as I began to take care of
Caddy； that the interview took place； and I now return to the time
when Caddy had recovered； and the shade was still between me
and my darling。
I proposed to Ada； that morning； that we should go and see
Richard。 It a little surprised me to find that she hesitated； and was
not so radiantly willing as I had expected。
“My dear；” said I； “you have not had any difference with
Richard since I have been so much away？”
“No； Esther。”
“Not heard of him perhaps？” said I。
“Yes； I have heard of him；” said Ada。
Such tears in her eyes； and such love in her face。 I could not
make my darling out。 Should I go to Richard’s by myself； I said？
No； Ada thought I had better not go by myself。 Would she go with
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me？ Yes； Ada thought she had better go with me。 Should we go
now？ Yes； let us go now。 Well； I could not understand my darling；
with the tears in her eyes and the love in her face！
We were soon equipped； and went out。 It was a sombre day；
and drops of chill rain fell at intervals。 It was one of those
colourless days when everything looks heavy and harsh。 The
houses frowned at us； the dust rose at us； the smoke swooped at
us； nothing made any compromise about itself； or wore a softened
aspect。 I fancied my beautiful girl quite out of place in the rugged
streets； and I thought there were more funerals passing along the
dismal pavements； than I had ever seen before。
We had first to find out Symond’s Inn。 We were going to inquire
in a shop； when Ada said she thought it was near Chancery Lane。
“We are not likely to be far out； my love； if we go in that direction；”
said I。 So to Chancery Lane we went； and there； sure enough； we
saw it written up。 Symond’s Inn。
We had next to find out the number。 “Or Mr Vholes’s office will
do；” I recollected； “for Mr Vholes’s office is next door。” Upon
which Ada said； perhaps that was Mr Vholes’s office in the corner
there。 And it really was。
Then came the question； which of the two next doors？ I was for
going to the one； and my darling was for going to the other； and
my darling was right again。 So； up we went to the second story；
where we came to Richard’s name in great white letters on a
hearse…like panel。
I should have knocked； but Ada said perhaps we had better
turn the handle and go in。 Thus we came to Richard； poring over a
table covered with dusty bundles of papers which seemed to me
like dusty mirrors reflecting his own mind。 Wherever I looked； I
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saw the ominous words that ran in it； repeated。 Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。
He received us very affectionately； and we sat down。 “If you had
come a little earlier；” he said； “you would have found Woodcourt
here。 There never was such a good fellow as Woodcourt is。 He
finds time to look in between whiles； when anybody else with half
his work to do would be thinking about not being able to come。
And he is so cheery； so fresh； so sensible； so earnest； so—
everything that I am not； that the place brightens whenever he
comes； and darkens whenever he goes again。”
“God bless him；” I thought； “for his truth to me！”
“He is not so sanguine； Ada；” continued Richard； casting his
dejected look over the bundles of papers； “as Vholes and I are
usually； but he is only an outsider； and is not in the mysteries。 We
have gone into them； and he has not。 He can’t be expected to know
much of such a labyrinth。”
As his look wandered over the papers again； and he passed his
two hands over his head； I noticed how sunken and how large his
eyes appeared； how dry his lips were； and how his fingernails were
all bitten away。
“Is this a healthy place to live in； Richard； do you think？” said I。
“Why； my dear Minerva；” answered Richard； with his old gay
laugh； “it is neither a rural nor a cheerful place； and when the sun
shines here； you may lay a pretty heavy wager that it is shining
brightly in an open spot。 But it’s well enough for the time。 It’s near
the offices； and near Vholes。”
“Perhaps；” I hinted； “a change from both—”
“—Might do me good？” said Richard； forcing a laugh as he
finished the sentence。 “I shouldn’t wonder！ But it can only come
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in one way now—in one of two ways； I should rather say。 Either
the suit must be ended； Esther； or the suitor。 But it shall be the
suit； the suit； my dear girl！”
These latter words were addressed to Ada； who was sitting
nearest to him。 Her face being turned away from me and towards
him； I could not see it。
“We are doing very well；” pursued Richard。 “Vholes will tell
you so。 We are really spinning along。 Ask Vholes。 We are giving
them no rest。 Vholes knows all their windings and turnings； and
we are upon them everywhere。 We have astonished them already。
We shall rouse up that nest of sleepers； mark my words！”
His hopefulness had long been more painful to me than his
despondency； it was so unlike hopefulness； had something so
fierce in its determination to be it； was so hungry and eager； and
yet so conscious of being forced and unsustainable； that it had
long touched me to the heart。 But the commentary upon it now
indelibly written in his handsome face； made it far more
distressing than it used to be。 I say indelibly； for I felt persuaded
that if the fatal cause could have been for ever terminated；
according to his brightest visions； in that same hour； the traces of
the premature anxiety； self…reproach； and disappointment it had
occasioned him； would have remained upon his features to the
hour of his death。
“The sight of our dear little woman；” said Richard： Ada still
remaining silent and quiet： “is so natural to me； and her
compassionate face is so like the face of old days—”
Ah！ No； no。 I smiled and shook my head。
“—So exactly like the face of old days；” said Richard in his
cordial voice； and taking my hand with the brotherly regard which
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