bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第147章
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course I am aware that Pa has hardly any claims to Deportment；
but they get on together delightfully。 You can’t think what good
companions they make。 I never saw Pa take snuff before in my
life； but he takes one pinch out of Mr Turveydrop’s box regularly；
and keeps putting it to his nose and taking it away again； all the
evening。
That old Mr Turveydrop should ever； in the chances and
changes of life； have come to the rescue of Mr Jellyby from
Borrioboola Gha； appeared to me to be one of the pleasantest of
oddities。
“As to Peepy；” said Caddy； with a little hesitation； “whom I was
most afraid of—next to having any family of my own； Esther—as
an inconvenience to Mr Turveydrop； the kindness of the old
gentleman to that child is beyond everything。 He asks to see him；
my dear！ He lets him take the newspaper up to him to bed； he
gives him the crusts of his toast to eat； he sends him on little
errands about the house； he tells him to come to me for sixpences。
In short；” said Caddy cheerily； “and not to prose； I am a very
fortunate girl； and ought to be very grateful。 Where are we going；
Esther？”
“To the Old Street Road；” said I； “where I have a few words to
say to the solicitor’s clerk； who was sent to meet me at the coach…
office on the very day when I came to London； and first saw you；
my dear。 Now I think of it； the gentleman brought us to your
house。”
“Then； indeed； I seem to be naturally the person to go with
you；” returned Caddy。
To the Old Street Road we went； and there inquired at Mrs
Guppy’s residence for Mrs Guppy。 Mrs Guppy； occupying the
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parlours； and having indeed been visibly in danger of cracking
herself like a nut in the front parlour door by peeping out before
she was asked for； immediately presented herself； and requested
us to walk in。 She was an old lady in a large cap； with rather a red
nose and rather an unsteady eye； but smiling all over。 Her close
little sitting…room was prepared for a visit； and there was a portrait
of her son in it； which I had almost written here； was more like
than life； it insisted upon him with such obstinacy； and was so
determined not to let him off。
Not only was the portrait there； but we found the original there
too。 He was dressed in a great many colours； and was discovered
at a table reading law…papers with his forefinger to his forehead。
“Miss Summerson；” said Mr Guppy； rising； “this is indeed an
Oasis。 Mother； will you be so good as to put a chair for the other
lady； and get out of the gangway。”
Mrs Guppy； whose incessant smiling gave her quite a waggish
appearance； did as her son requested； and then sat down in a
corner； holding her pocket…handkerchief to her chest； like a
fomentation； with both hands。
I presented Caddy； and Mr Guppy said that any friend of mine
was more than welcome。 I then proceeded to the object of my visit。
“I took the liberty of sending you a note； sir；” said I。
Mr Guppy acknowledged the receipt by taking it out of his
breast…pocket； putting it to his lips； and returning it to his pocket
with a bow。 Mr Guppy’s mother was so diverted that she rolled her
head as she smiled； and made a silent appeal to Caddy with her
elbow。
“Could I speak to you alone for a moment？” said I。
Anything like the jocoseness of Mr Guppy’s mother； now； I
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think I never saw。 She made no sound of laughter； but she rolled
her head； and shook it； and put her handkerchief to her mouth；
and appealed to Caddy with her elbow； and her hand； and her
shoulder； and was so unspeakably entertained altogether that it
was with some difficulty she could marshal Caddy through the
folding…door into her bedroom adjoining。
“Miss Summerson；” said Mr Guppy； “you will excuse the
waywardness of a parent ever mindful of a son’s happiness。 My
mother； though highly exasperating to the feelings； is actuated by
maternal dictates。”
I could have hardly have believed that anybody could in a
moment have turned so red； or changed so much； as Mr Guppy did
when I now put up my veil。
“I asked the favour of seeing you for a few moments here；” said
I； “in preference to calling at Mr Kenge’s； because； remembering
what you said on an occasion when you spoke to me in confidence；
I feared I might otherwise cause you some embarrassment； Mr
Guppy。”
I caused him embarrassment enough as it was； I am sure。 I
never saw such faltering； such confusion； such amazement and
apprehension。
“Miss Summerson；” stammered Mr Guppy； “I—I—beg your
pardon； but in our profession—we—we—find it necessary to be
explicit。 You have referred to an occasion； miss； when I—when I
did myself the honour of making a declaration which—”
Something seemed to rise in his throat that he could not possibly
swallow。 He put his hand there； coughed； made faces； tried again
to swallow it； coughed again； made faces again； looked all around
the room； and fluttered his papers。
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“A kind of giddy sensation has come upon me； miss；” he
explained； “which rather knocks me over。 I—er—a little subject to
this sort of thing—er—By George！”
I gave him a little time to recover。 He consumed it in putting his
hand to his forehead and taking it away again； and in backing his
chair into the corner behind him。
“My intention was to remark； miss；” said Mr Guppy； “—dear
me—something bronchial； I think—hem！—to remark that you was
so good on that occasion； as to repel and repudiate that
declaration。 You—you wouldn’t perhaps object to admit that？
Though no witnesses are present； it might be a satisfaction to—to
your mind—if you was to put in that admission。”
“There can be no doubt；” said I； “that I declined your proposal
without any reservation or qualification whatever； Mr Guppy。”
“Thank you miss；” he returned； measuring the table with his
troubled hands。 “So far that’s satisfactory； and it does you credit。
Er—this is certainly bronchial！—must be in the tubes—er—you
wouldn’t perhaps be offended if I was to mention—not that it’s
necessary； for your own good sense or any person’s sense must
show ’em that—if I was to mention that such declaration on my
part was final； and there terminated？”
“I quite understand that；” said I。
“Perhaps—er—it may not be worth the form； but it might be a
satisfaction to your mind—perhaps you wouldn’t object to admit
that； miss？” said Mr Guppy。
“I admit it most fully and freely；” said I。
“Thank you；” returned Mr Guppy。 “Very honourable； I am sure。
I regret that my arrangements in life； combined with
circumstances over which I have no control； will put it out of my
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power ever to fall back upon that offer； or to renew it in any shape
or form whatever； but it will ever be a retrospect entwined—er—
with friendship’s bowers。” Mr Guppy’s bronchitis came to his
relief； and stopped his measurement of the table。
“I may now perhaps mention what I wished to say to you？” I
began。
“I shall be honoured； I am sure；” said Mr Guppy。 “I am so
persuaded that your own good sense and right feeling； miss； will—
will keep you as square as possible—that I can have nothing but
pleasure； I am sure； in hearing any observation you may wish to
offer。”
“You were so good as to imply； on that occasion—”
“Excuse me； miss；” said Mr Guppy； “but we had better not
travel out of the record into implication。 I cannot admit that I
implied anything。”
“You said on that occasion；” I recommenced； “that you might
possibly have the means of advancing my interests； and promoting
my fortunes； by making discoveries of which I should be the
subject。 I presume that you founded that belief upon your general
knowledge of my being an orphan girl； indebted for everything to
the benevolence of Mr Jarndyce。 Now； the beginning and the end
of what I have come to beg of you is； Mr Guppy； that you will have
the kindness to relinquish all idea of so serving me。 I have thought
of this sometimes； and I have thought of it most lately—since I
have been ill。 At length I have decided； in case you should at any
time recall that purpose； and act upon it any way； to come to you；
and assure you that you are altogether mistaken。 You could make
no discovery in reference to me that would do me the least service；
or give me the least pleasure。 I am acquainted with my personal
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