bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第285节
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to be rich？ It seemed too good to be true。 Alas； it was！
Our suspense was short； for a break up soon took place in the
crowd； and the people came streaming out looking flushed and
hot； and bringing a quantity of bad air with them。 Still they were
all exceedingly amused； and were more like people coming out
from a Farce or a Juggler than from a court of Justice。 We stood
aside； watching for any countenance we knew； and presently great
bundles of paper began to be carried out—bundles in bags；
bundles too large to be got into any bags； immense masses of
papers of all shapes and no shapes； which the bearers staggered
under； and threw down for the time being； anyhow； on the Hall
pavement； while they went back to bring out more。 Even these
clerks were laughing。 We glanced at these papers； and seeing
Jarndyce and Jarndyce everywhere； asked an official…looking
person who was standing in the midst of them； whether the cause
was over。 “Yes；” he said； “it was all up with it at last！” and burst
out laughing too。
At this juncture； we perceived Mr Kenge coming out of court
with an affable dignity upon him； listening to Mr Vholes； who was
deferential； and carried his own bag。 Mr Vholes was the first to see
us。 “Here is Miss Summerson； sir；” he said。 “And Mr Woodcourt。”
“O； indeed！ Yes。 Truly！” said Mr Kenge； raising his hat to me
with polished politeness。 “How do you do？ Glad to see you。 Mr
Jarndyce is not here？”
No。 He never came there； I reminded him。
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“Really；” returned Mr Kenge； “it is as well that he is not here
today； for his—shall I say； in my good friend’s absence； his
indomitable singularity of opinion？—might have been
strengthened； perhaps； not reasonably； but might have been
strengthened。”
“Pray what has been done today？” asked Allan。
“I beg your pardon？” said Mr Kenge； with excessive urbanity。
“What has been done today？”
“What has been done；” repeated Mr Kenge。 “Quite so。 Yes。
Why； not much has been done； not much。 We have been
checked—brought up suddenly； I would say—upon the—shall I
term it threshold？”
“Is this Will considered a genuine document； sir？” said Allan；
“will you tell us that？”
“Most certainly； if I could；” said Mr Kenge； “but we have not
gone into that； we have not gone into that。”
“We have not gone into that；” repeated Mr Vholes； as if his low
inward voice were an echo。
“You are to reflect； Mr Woodcourt；” observed Mr Kenge； using
his silver trowel； persuasively and smoothingly； “that this has been
a great cause； that this has been a protracted cause； that this has
been a complex cause。 Jarndyce and Jarndyce has been termed；
not inaptly； a Monument of Chancery practice。”
“And Patience has sat upon it a long time；” said Allan。
“Very well indeed； sir；” returned Mr Kenge； with a certain
condescending laugh he had。 “Very well！ You are further to
reflect； Mr Woodcourt；” becoming dignified to severity； “that on
the numerous difficulties； contingencies； masterly fictions； and
forms of procedure in this great cause； there has been expended
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Bleak House 1190
study； ability； eloquence； knowledge； intellect； Mr Woodcourt； high
intellect。 For many years； the—a—I would say the flower of the
Bar； and the—a—I would presume to add； the matured autumnal
fruits of the Woolsack—have been lavished upon Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。 If the public have the benefit； and if the country have
the adornment； of this great Grasp； it must be paid for； in money
or money’s worth； sir。”
“Mr Kenge；” said Allan； appearing enlightened all in a moment。
“Excuse me； our time presses。 Do I understand that the whole
estate is found to have been absorbed in costs？”
“Hem！ I believe so；” returned Mr Kenge。 “Mr Vholes； what do
you say？”
“I believe so；” said Mr Vholes。
“And that thus the suit lapses and melts away？”
“Probably；” returned Mr Kenge。 “Mr Vholes？”
“Probably；” said Mr Vholes。
“My dearest life；” whispered Allan； “this will break Richard’s
heart！”
There was such a shock of apprehension in his face； and he
knew Richard so perfectly； and I too had seen so much of his
gradual decay； that what my dear girl had said to me in the fulness
of her foreboding love； sounded like a knell in my ears。
“In case you should be wanting Mr C； sir；” said Mr Vholes；
coming after us； “you’ll find him in court。 I left him there resting
himself a little。 Good day； sir； good day； Miss Summerson。” As he
gave me that slowly devouring look of his； while twisting up the
strings of his bag； before he hastened with it； after Mr Kenge； the
benignant shadow of whose conversational presence he seemed
afraid to leave； he gave one gasp as if he had swallowed the last
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Bleak House 1191
morsel of this client； and his black buttoned…up unwholesome
figure glided away to the low door at the end of the hall。
“My dear love；” said Allan； “leave to me for a little while； the
charge you gave me。 Go home with this intelligence； and come to
Ada’s by…and…by。”
I would not let him take me to a coach； but entreated him to go
to Richard without a moment’s delay； and leave me to do as he
wished。 Hurrying home； I found my Guardian； and told him
gradually with what news I had returned。 “Little woman；” said he；
quite unmoved for himself； “to have done with the suit on any
terms； is a greater blessing than I had looked for。 But my poor
young cousins！”
We talked about them all the morning； and discussed what it
was possible to do。 In the afternoon； my Guardian walked with me
to Symond’s Inn； and left me at the door。 I went upstairs。 When
my darling heard my footsteps； she came out into the small
passage and threw her arms round my neck； but she composed
herself directly； and said that Richard had asked for me several
times。 Allan had found him sitting in a corner of the court； she told
me； like a stone figure。 On being roused； he had broken away； and
made as if he would have spoken in a fierce voice to the judge。 He
was stopped by his mouth being full of blood； and Allan had
brought him home。
He was lying on the sofa with his eyes closed； when I went in。
There were restoratives on the table； the room was made as airy as
possible； and was darkened； and was very orderly and quiet。 Allan
stood behind him； watching him gravely。 His face appeared to me
to be quite destitute of colour； and； now that I saw him without his
seeing me； I fully saw； for the first time； how worn away he was。
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But he looked handsomer than I had seen him look for many a
day。
I sat down by his side in silence。 Opening his eyes by…and…by； he
said； in a weak voice； but with his old smile； “Dame Durden； kiss
me； my dear！”
It was a great comfort and surprise to me to find him in his low
state cheerful and looking forward。 He was happier； he said； in our
intended marriage； than he could find words to tell me。 My
husband
