bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第43节
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allow me （as I may say） to file a declaration—to make an offer！”
Mr Guppy went down on his knees。 I was well behind my table；
and not much frightened。 I said； “Get up from that ridiculous
position immediately； sir； or you will oblige me to break my
implied promise and ring the bell！”
“Hear me out； miss！” said Mr Guppy； folding his hands。
“I cannot consent to hear another word； sir；” I returned；
“unless you get up from the carpet directly； and go and sit down at
the table； as you ought to do if you have any sense at all。”
He looked piteously； but slowly rose and did so。
“Yet what a mockery it is； miss；” he said； with his hand upon his
heart； and shaking his head at me in a melancholy manner over
the tray； “to be stationed behind food at such a moment。 The soul
recoils from food at such a moment； miss。”
“I beg you to conclude；” said I； “you have asked me to hear you
out； and I beg you to conclude。”
“I will； miss；” said Mr Guppy。 “As I love and honour； so likewise
I obey。 Would that I could make Thee the subject of that vow；
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before the shrine！”
“That is quite impossible；” said I； “and entirely out of the
question。”
“I am aware；” said Mr Guppy； leaning forward over the tray；
and regarding me； as I again strangely felt； though my eyes were
not directed to him； with his late intent look； “I am aware that in a
worldly point of view； according to all appearances； my offer is a
poor one。 But； Miss Summerson！ Angel！—No； don’t ring—I have
been brought up in a sharp school； and am accustomed to a
variety of general practice。 Though a young man； I have ferreted
out evidence； got up cases； and seen lots of life。 Blest with your
hand； what means might I not find of advancing your interests；
and pushing your fortunes！ What might I not get to know； nearly
concerning you？ I know nothing now； certainly； but what might I
not； if I had your confidence； and you set me on？”
I told him that he addressed my interest； or what he supposed
to be my interest； quite as unsuccessfully as he addressed my
inclination； and he would now understand that I requested him； if
he pleased； to go away immediately。
“Cruel miss；” said Mr Guppy； “hear but another word！ I think
you must have seen that I was struck with those charms； on the
day when I waited at the Whytorseller。 I think you must have
remarked that I could not forbear a tribute to those charms when I
put up the steps of the ’ackney coach。 It was a feeble tribute to
Thee； but it was well meant。 Thy image has ever since been fixed
in my breast。 I have walked up and down； of an evening； opposite
Jellyby’s house； only to look upon the bricks that once contained
Thee。 This out of today； quite an unnecessary out so far as the
attendance； which was its pretended object； went； was planned by
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me alone for Thee alone。 If I speak of interest； it is only to
recommend myself and my respectful wretchedness。 Love was
before it； and is before it。”
“I should be pained； Mr Guppy；” said I； rising and putting my
hand upon the bell…rope； “to do you or any one who was sincere；
the injustice of slighting any honest feeling； however disagreeably
expressed。 If you have really meant to give me a proof of your good
opinion； though ill…timed and misplaced； I feel that I ought to
thank you。 I have very little reason to be proud； and I am not
proud； I hope；” I think I added； without very well knowing what I
said； “that you will now go away as if you had never been so
exceedingly foolish； and attend to Messrs。 Kenge and Carboy’s
business。”
“Half a minute； miss！” cried Mr Guppy； checking me as I was
about to ring。 “This has been without prejudice？”
“I will never mention it；” said I； “unless you should give me
future occasion to do so。”
“A quarter of a minute； miss！ In case you should think better—
at any time； however distant； that’s no consequence； for my
feelings can never alter—of anything I have said； particularly what
might I not do—Mr William Guppy； eighty…seven； Penton Place；
or； if removed； or dead （of blighted hopes or anything of that sort）；
care of Mrs Guppy； three hundred and two； Old Street Road； will
be sufficient。”
I rang the bell； the servant came； and Mr Guppy； laying his
written card upon the table； and making a dejected bow； departed。
Raising my eyes as he went out； I once more saw him looking at
me after he had passed the door。
I sat there for another hour or more； finishing my books and
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payments； and getting through plenty of business。 Then； I
arranged my desk； and put everything away； and was so composed
and cheerful that I thought I had quite dismissed this unexpected
incident。 But； when I went upstairs to my own room； I surprised
myself by beginning to laugh about it； and then surprised myself
still more by beginning to cry about it。 In short； I was in a flutter
for a little while； and felt as if an old chord had been more coarsely
touched than it ever had been since the days of the dear old doll；
long buried in the garden。
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Chapter 10
The Law…Writer
n the eastern borders of Chancery Lane； that is to say
more particularly in Cook’s Court； Cursitor Street； Mr
O
Snagsby； Law Stationer； pursues his lawful calling。 In the
shade of Cook’s Court； at most times a shady place； Mr Snagsby
has dealt in all sorts of blank forms of legal process； in skins and
rolls of parchment； in paper—foolscap； brief； draft； brown； white；
whitey…brown； and blotting； in stamps； in office…quills； pens； ink；
India…rubber； pounce； pins； pencils； sealing…wax； and wafers； in
red tape； and green ferret； in pocket…books； almanacks； diaries；
and law lists； in string boxes； rulers； inkstands—glass and leaden；
penknives； scissors； bodkins； and other small office cutlery； in
short； in articles too numerous to mention； ever since he was out
of his time； and went into partnership with Peffer。 On that
occasion； Cook’s Court was in a manner revolutionised by the new
inscription in fresh paint； PEFFER and SNAGSBY； displacing the
time… honoured and not easily to be deciphered legend； PEFFER
only。 For smoke； which is the London ivy； had so wreathed itself
round Peffer’s name； and clung to his dwelling…place； that the
affectionate parasite quite overpowered the parent tree。
Peffer is never seen in Cook’s Court now。 He is not expected
there； for he has been recumbent this quarter of a century in the
churchyard of St。 Andrew’s； Holborn； with the wagons and
hackney…coaches roaring past him； all the day and half the night；
like one great dragon。 If he ever steal forth when the dragon is at
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rest； to air himself again in Cook’s Court； until admonished to
return by the crowning of the sanguine cock in the cellar at the
little dairy in Cursitor Street； whose ideas of daylight it would be
curious to ascertain； si
