bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第58节
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which another choice would be likely to escape。”
“Truly；” said Mr Kenge。 “And Mr Richard Carstone； who has so
meritoriously acquitted himself in the—shall I say the classic
shades？—in which his youth had been passed； will； no doubt；
apply the habits； if not the principles and practice； of versification
in that tongue in which a poet was said （unless I mistake） to be
born； not made； to the more eminently practical field of action on
which he enters。”
“You may rely upon it；” said Richard； in his offhand manner；
“that I shall go at it； and do my best。”
“Very well； Mr Jarndyce！” said Mr Kenge； gently nodding his
head。 “Really； when we are assured by Mr Richard that he means
to go at it； and to do his best；” nodding feelingly and smoothly over
those expressions； “I would submit to you； that we have only to
inquire into the best mode of carrying out the object of his
ambition。 Now； with reference to placing Mr Richard with some
sufficiently eminent practitioner。 Is there any one in view at
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present？”
“No one； Rick； I think？” said my Guardian。
“No one； sir；” said Richard。
“Quite so！” observed Mr Kenge。 “As to situation； now。 Is there
any particular feeling on that head？”
“N…no；” said Richard。
“Quite so！” observed Mr Kenge again。
“I should like a little variety；” said Richard； “—I mean a good
range of experience。”
“Very requisite； no doubt；” returned Mr Kenge。 “I think this
may be easily arranged； Mr Jarndyce？ We have only； in the first
place； to discover a sufficiently eligible practitioner； and； as soon
as we make our want—and； shall I add； our ability to pay a
premium？—known； our only difficulty will be in the selection of
one from a large number。 We have only； in the second place； to
observe those little formalities which are rendered necessary by
our time of life； and our being under the guardianship of the
Court。 We shall soon be—shall I say； in Mr Richard’s own light…
hearted manner； ‘going at it’—to our heart’s content。 It is a
coincidence；” said Mr Kenge； with a tinge of melancholy in his
smile； “one of those coincidences which may or may not require
an explanation beyond our present limited faculties； that I have a
cousin in the medical profession。 He might be deemed eligible by
you； and might be disposed to respond to this proposal。 I can
answer for him as little as for you； but he might！”
As this was an opening in the prospect； it was arranged that Mr
Kenge should see his cousin。 And as Mr Jarndyce had before
proposed to take us to London for a few weeks； it was settled next
day that we should make our visit at once； and combine Richard’s
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business with it。
Mr Boythorn leaving us within a week； we took up our abode at
a cheerful lodging near Oxford Street； over an upholsterer’s shop。
London was a great wonder to us； and we were out for hours and
hours at a time； seeing the sights； which appeared to be less
capable of exhaustion than we were。 We made the round of the
principal theatres； too； with great delight； and saw all the plays
that were worth seeing。 I mention this； because it was at the
theatre that I began to be made uncomfortable again； by Mr
Guppy。
I was sitting in front of the box one night with Ada； and Richard
was in the place he liked best； behind Ada’s chair； when；
happening to look down into the pit； I saw Mr Guppy； with his hair
flattened down upon his head； and woe depicted in his face；
looking up at me。 I felt； all through the performance； that he never
looked at the actors； but constantly looked at me； and always with
a carefully prepared expression of the deepest misery and the
profoundest dejection。
It quite spoiled my pleasure for that night； because it was so
very embarrassing and so very ridiculous。 But； from that time
forth； we never went to the play without my seeing Mr Guppy in
the pit； always with his hair straight and flat； his shirt…collar
turned down； and a general feebleness about him。 If he were not
there when we went in； and I began to hope he would not come；
and yielded myself for a little while to the interest of the scene； I
was certain to encounter his languishing eyes when I least
expected it； and； from that time； to be quite sure that they were
fixed upon me all the evening。
I really cannot express how uneasy this made me。 If he would
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only have brushed up his hair； or turned up his collar； it would
have been bad enough； but to know that that absurd figure was
always gazing at me； and always in that demonstrative state of
despondency； put such a constraint upon me that I did not like to
laugh at the play； or to cry at it； or to move or to speak。 I seemed
able to do nothing naturally。 As to escaping Mr Guppy by going to
the back of the box； I could not bear to do that； because I knew
Richard and Ada relied on having me next them； and that they
could never have talked together so happily if anybody else had
been in my place。 So there I sat； not knowing where to look—for
wherever I looked； I knew Mr Guppy’s eyes were following me—
and thinking of the dreadful expense to which this young man was
putting himself on my account。
Sometimes； I thought of telling Mr Jarndyce。 Then I feared that
the young man would lose his situation； and that I might ruin him。
Sometimes； I thought of confiding in Richard； but was deterred by
the possibility of his fighting Mr Guppy； and giving him black eyes。
Sometimes； I thought； should I frown at him； or shake my head。
Then I felt I could not do it。 Sometimes； I considered whether I
should write to his mother； but that ended in my being convinced
that to open a correspondence would be to make the matter worse。
I always came to the conclusion； finally； that I could do nothing。
Mr Guppy’s perseverance； all this time； not only produced him
regularly at any theatre to which we went； but caused him to
appear in the crowd as we were coming out； and even to get up
behind our fly—where I am sure I saw him； two or three times；
struggling among the most dreadful spikes。 After we got home； he
haunted a post opposite our house。 The upholsterer’s where we
lodged； being at the corner of two streets； and my bedroom
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window being opposite the post； I was afraid to go near the
window when I went upstairs； lest I should see him （as I did one
moonlight night） leaning against the post； and evidently catching
cold。 If Mr Guppy had not been； fortunately for me； engaged in the
daytime； I really should have had no rest from him。
While we were making this round of gaieties； in which Mr
Guppy so extraordinarily participated； the business which had
helped to bring us to town was not neglected。 Mr Kenge’s cousin
was a Mr Bayham Badger； who had a good practice at Chelsea；
and attended a large public
