bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第57节
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boyish inclination； or a strong impulse； Richard answered； well； he
really had tried very often； and he couldn’t make out。
“How much of this indecision of character；” Mr Jarndyce said
to me； “is chargeable on that incomprehensible heap of
uncertainty and procrastination on which he has been thrown
from his birth； I don’t pretend to say； but that Chancery； among its
other sins； is responsible for some of it； I can plainly see。 It has
engendered or confirmed in him a habit of putting off—and
trusting to this； that； and the other chance； without knowing what
chance—and dismissing everything as unsettled； uncertain； and
confused。 The character of much older and steadier people may be
even changed by the circumstances surrounding them。 It would be
too much to expect that a boy’s； in its formation； should be the
subject of such influences； and escape them。”
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I felt this to be true； though； if I may venture to mention what I
thought besides； I thought it much to be regretted that Richard’s
education had not counteracted those influences； or directed his
character。 He had been eight years at a public school； and had
learnt； I understood； to make Latin Verses of several sorts； in the
most admirable manner。 But I never heard that it had been
anybody’s business to find out what his natural bent was； or where
his failings lay； or to adapt any kind of knowledge to him。 He had
been adapted to the Verses； and had learnt the art of making them
to such perfection； that if he had remained at school until he was
of age； I suppose he could only have gone on making them over
and over again； unless he had enlarged his education by forgetting
how to do it。 Still； although I had no doubt that they were very
beautiful； and very improving； and very sufficient for a great many
purposes of life； and always remembered all through life； I did
doubt whether Richard would not have profited by some one
studying him a little； instead of his studying them quite so much。
To be sure； I know nothing of the subject； and do not even now
know whether the young gentlemen of classic Rome or Greece
made verses to the same extent—or whether the young gentlemen
of any country ever did。
“I haven’t the least idea；” said Richard musing； “what I had
better be。 Except that I am quite sure I don’t want to go into the
Church； it’s a toss…up。”
“You have no inclination in Mr Kenge’s way？” suggested Mr
Jarndyce。
“I don’t know that； sir！” replied Richard。 “I am fond of boating。
Articled clerks go a good deal on the water。 It’s a capital
profession！”
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Bleak House 237
“Surgeon—” suggested Mr Jarndyce。
“That’s the thing； sir！” cried Richard。
I doubt if he had ever once thought of it before。
“That’s the thing； sir；” repeated Richard； with the greatest
enthusiasm。 “We have got it at last。 M。R。C。S。！”
He was not to be laughed out of it； though he laughed at it
heartily。 He said he had chosen his profession； and the more he
thought of it； the more he thought that his destiny was clear； the
art of healing was the art of all others for him。 Mistrusting that he
only came to this conclusion； because； having never had much
chance of finding out for himself what he was fitted for； and
having never been guided to the discovery； he was taken by the
newest idea； and was glad to get rid of the trouble of
consideration； I wondered whether the Latin Verses often ended
in this； or whether Richard’s was a solitary case。
Mr Jarndyce took great pains to talk with him； seriously； and to
put it to his good sense not to deceive himself in so important a
matter。 Richard was a little grave after these interviews； but
invariably told Ada and me “that it was all right；” and then began
to talk about something else。
“By Heaven！” cried Mr Boythorn； who interested himself
strongly in the subject—though I need not say that； for he could do
nothing weakly； “I rejoice to find a young gentleman of spirit and
gallantry devoting himself to that noble profession！ The more
spirit there is in it； the better for mankind； and the worse for those
mercenary task…masters and low tricksters who delight in putting
that illustrious art at a disadvantage in the world。 By all that is
base and despicable；” cried Mr Boythorn； “the treatment of
Surgeons aboard ship is such； that I would submit the legs—both
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legs—of every member of the Admiralty Board to a compound
fracture； and render it a transportable offence in any qualified
practitioner to set them； if the system were not wholly changed in
eight…and…forty hours！”
“Wouldn’t you give them a week？” asked Mr Jarndyce。
“No！” cried Mr Boythorn； firmly。 “Not on any consideration！
Eight…and…forty hours！ As to Corporations； Parishes； Vestry…
Boards； and similar gatherings of jolter…headed clods； who
assemble to exchange such speeches that； by Heaven！ they ought
to be worked in quicksilver mines for the short remainder of their
miserable existence； if it were only to prevent their detestable
English from contaminating a language spoken in the presence of
the Sun—as to those fellows； who meanly take advantage of the
ardour of gentlemen in the pursuit of knowledge； to recompense
the inestimable services of the best years of their lives； their long
study； and their expensive education； with pittances too small for
the acceptance of clerks； I would have the necks of every one of
them wrung； and their skulls arranged in Surgeons’ Hall for the
contemplation of the whole profession—in order that its younger
members might understand from actual measurement； in early
life； how thick skulls may become！”
He wound up this vehement declaration by looking round upon
us with a most agreeable smile； and suddenly thundering； Ha； ha；
ha！ over and over again； until anybody else might have been
expected to be quite subdued by the exertion。
As Richard still continued to say that he was fixed in his choice；
after repeated periods for consideration had been recommended
by Mr Jarndyce； and had expired； and as he still continued to
assure Ada and me； in the same final manner； that it was “all
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right”； it became advisable to take Mr Kenge into council。 Mr
Kenge； therefore； came down to dinner one day； and leaned back
in his chair； and turned his eyeglasses over and over； and spoke in
a sonorous voice； and did exactly what I remember to have seen
him do when I was a little girl。
“Ah！” said Mr Kenge。 “Yes。 Well！ A very good profession； Mr
Jarndyce； a very good profession。”
“The course of study and preparation requires to be diligently
pursued；” observed my Guardian； with a glance at Richard。
“O； no doubt；” said Mr Kenge。 “Diligently。”
“But that being the case； more or less； with all pursuits that are
worth much；” said Mr Jarndyce； “it is not a special consideration
which another choice would be likely to escape。”
“Truly；” said Mr Kenge。 “And Mr Richard Carstone；
