bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第284节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
image which I did suppose had been eradicated from my art； is not
eradicated。 It’s influence over me is still tremenjous； and yielding
to it I am willing to overlook the circumstances over which none of
us have had any control； and to renew those proposals to Miss
Summerson which I had the honour to make at a former period。 I
beg to lay the ouse in Walcot Square； the business； and myself；
before Miss Summerson for her acceptance。”
“Very magnanimous； indeed； sir；” observed my Guardian。
“Well； sir；” returned Mr Guppy； with candour； “my wish is to be
magnanimous。 I do not consider that in making this offer to Miss
Summerson； I am by any means throwing myself away； neither is
that the opinion of my friends。 Still there are circumstances which
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1184…
Bleak House 1184
I submit may be taken into account as a set…off against any little
drawbacks of mine； and so a fair and equitable balance arrived at。”
“I take upon myself； sir；” said my Guardian； laughing as he
rang the bell； “to reply to your proposals on behalf of Miss
Summerson。 She is very sensible of your handsome intentions；
and wishes you good evening； and wishes you well。”
“Oh！” said Mr Guppy； with a blank look。 “Is that tantamount；
sir； to acceptance； or rejection； or consideration？”
“To decided rejection； if you please；” returned my Guardian。
Mr Guppy looked incredulously at his friend； and at his mother；
who suddenly turned very angry； and at the floor； and at the
ceiling。
“Indeed？” said he。 “Then； Jobling； if you was the friend you
represent yourself； I should think you might hand my mother out
of the gangway； instead of allowing her to remain where she ain’t
wanted。”
But Mrs Guppy positively refused to come out of the gangway。
She wouldn’t hear of it。 “Why； get along with you；” said she to my
Guardian； “what do you mean？ Ain’t my son good enough for you？
You ought to be ashamed of yourself。 Get out with you！”
“My good lady！” returned my Guardian； “it is hardly reasonable
to ask me to get out of my own room。”
“I don’t care for that；” said Mrs Guppy。 “Get out with you。 If we
ain’t good enough for you； go and procure somebody that is good
enough。 Go along and find ’em。”
I was quite unprepared for the rapid manner in which Mrs
Guppy’s power of jocularity merged into a power of taking the
profoundest offence。
“Go along and find somebody that is good enough for you；”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1185…
Bleak House 1185
repeated Mrs Guppy。 “Get out！” Nothing seemed to astonish Mr
Guppy’s mother so much； and to make her so very indignant； as
our not getting out。 “Why don’t you get out？” said Mrs Guppy。
“What are you stopping here for？”
“Mother；” interposed her son； always getting before her； and
pushing her back with one shoulder； as she sidled at my Guardian；
“will you hold your tongue？”
“No； William；” she returned； “I won’t！ not unless he gets out； I
won’t！”
However； Mr Guppy and Mr Jobling together closed on Mr
Guppy’s mother （who began to be quite abusive）； and took her；
very much against her will； downstairs； her voice rising a stair
higher every time her figure got a stair lower； and insisting that we
should immediately go and find somebody who was good enough
for us； and above all things that we should get out。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1186…
Bleak House 1186
Chapter 65
Beginning The World
he term had commenced； and my Guardian found an
intimation from Mr Kenge that the Cause would come on
T
in two days。 As I had sufficient hopes of the will to be in a
flutter about it； Allan and I agreed to go down to the Court that
morning。 Richard was extremely agitated； and was so weak and
low； though his illness was still of the mind； that my dear girl
indeed had sore occasion to be supported。 But she looked
forward—a very little way now—to the help that was to come to
her； and never drooped。
It was at Westminister that the Cause was to come on。 It had
come on there； I dare say； a hundred times before； but I could not
divest myself of an idea that it might lead to some result now。 We
left home directly after breakfast； to be at Westminister Hall in
good time； and walked down there through the lively streets—so
happily and strangely it seemed！—together。
As we were going along； planning what we should do for
Richard and Ada； I heard somebody calling “Esther！ My dear
Esther！ Esther！” And there was Caddy Jellyby； with her head out
of the window of a little carriage which she hired now to go about
in to her pupils （she had so many）； as if she wanted to embrace me
at a hundred yards’ distance。 I had written her a note to tell her of
all that my Guardian had done； but had not had a moment to go
and see her。 Of course we turned back； and the affectionate girl
was in that state of rapture； and was so overjoyed to talk about the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1187…
Bleak House 1187
night when she brought me the flowers； and was so determined to
squeeze my face （bonnet and all） between her hands； and go on in
a wild manner altogether； calling me all kinds of precious names；
and telling Allan I had done I don’t know what for her； that I was
just obliged to get into the little carriage and calm her down； by
letting her say and do exactly what she liked。 Allan； standing at
the window； was as pleased as Caddy； and I was as pleased as
either of them； and I wonder that I got away as I did； rather than
that I came off； laughing； and red； and anything； but tidy； and
looking after Caddy； who looked after us out of the coach…window
as long as she could see us。
This made us some quarter of an hour late； and when we came
to Westminster Hall we found that the day’s business was begun。
Worse than that； we found such an unusual crowd in the Court of
Chancery that it was full to the door； and we could neither see nor
hear what was passing within。 It appeared to be something droll；
for occasionally there was a laugh； and a cry of “Silence！” It
appeared to be something interesting； for every one was pushing
and striving to get nearer。 It appeared to be something that made
the professional gentlemen very merry； for there were several
young counsellors in wigs and whiskers on the outside of the
crowd； and when one of them told the others about it； they put
their hands in their pockets； and quite doubled themselves up
with laughter； and went stamping about the pavement of the hall。
We asked a gentleman by us； if he knew what cause was on？ He
told us Jarndyce and Jarndyce。 We asked him if he knew what was
doing in it？ He said； really no he did not； nobody ever did； but as
well as he could make out； it was over。 Over for the day？ we asked
him。 No he said； over for good。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1188…
Bleak House 1188
Over for good！
When we heard this unaccountable answer； we looked at one
another quite lost in amazement。 Could it be possible that the Will
had set things right at last； and that Richard and Ada were going
to be rich？ It seemed too good to be true。 Alas； it was！
Our suspense was short； for a break up soon
