bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第148章
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history； and I have it in my power to assure you that you never can
advance my welfare by such means。 You may； perhaps； have
abandoned this project a long time。 If so； excuse my giving you
unnecessary trouble。 If not； I entreat you； on the assurance I have
given you； henceforth to lay it aside。 I beg you do this； for my
peace。”
“I am bound to confess；” said Mr Guppy； “that you express
yourself； miss； with that good sense and right feeling for which I
gave you credit。 Nothing can be more satisfactory than such right
feeling； and if I mistook any intentions on your part just now； I am
prepared to tender a full apology。 I should wish to be understood；
miss； as hereby offering that apology—limiting it； as your own
good sense and right feeling will point out the necessity of； to the
present proceedings。”
I must say for Mr Guppy that the shuffling manner he had had
upon him improved very much。 He seemed truly glad to be able to
do something I asked； and he looked ashamed。
“If you will allow me to finish what I have to say at once； so that
I may have no occasion to resume；” I went on； seeing him about to
speak； “you will do me a kindness； sir。 I come to you as privately as
possible； because you announced this impression of yours to me in
a confidence which I have really wished to respect—and which I
always have respected； as you remember。 I have mentioned my
illness。 There really is no reason why I should hesitate to say that I
know very well that any little delicacy I might have had in making
a request to you； is quite removed。 Therefore I make the entreaty I
have now preferred； and I hope you will have sufficient
consideration for me； to accede to it。”
I must do Mr Guppy the further justice of saying that he had
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looked more and more ashamed； and that he looked most
ashamed； and very earnest； when he now replied with a burning
face：—
“Upon my word and honour； upon my life； upon my soul； Miss
Summerson； as I am a living man； I’ll act according to your wish！
I’ll never go another step in opposition to it。 I’ll take my oath to it；
if it will be any satisfaction to you。 In what I promise at this
present time touching the matters now in question；” continued Mr
Guppy； rapidly； as if he were repeating a familiar form of words； “I
speak the truth； the whole truth； and nothing but the truth； so—”
“I am quite satisfied；” said I； rising at this point； “and I thank
you very much。 Caddy； my dear； I am ready！”
Mr Guppy’s mother returned with Caddy （now making met me
the recipient of her silent laughter and her nudges）； and we took
our leave。 Mr Guppy saw us to the door with the air of one who
was either imperfectly awake or walking in his sleep； and we left
him there； staring。
But in a minute he came after us down the street without any
hat； and with his long hair all blown about； and stopped us； saying
fervently：
“Miss Summerson； upon my honour and soul； you may depend
upon me！”
“I do；” said I； “quite confidently。”
“I beg your pardon； miss；” said Mr Guppy； going with one leg
and staying with the other； “but this lady being present—your own
witness—it might be a satisfaction to your mind （which I should
wish to set at rest） if you was to repeat those admissions。”
“Well； Caddy；” said I； turning to her； “perhaps you will not be
surprised when I tell you； my dear； that there never has been any
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engagement—”
“No proposal or promise of marriage whatsoever；” suggested
Mr Guppy。
“No proposal or promise of marriage whatsoever；” said I；
“between this gentleman—”
“William Guppy of Penton Place； Pentonville； in the county of
Middlesex；” he murmured。
“Between this gentleman； Mr William Guppy； of Penton Place；
Pentonville； in the county of Middlesex； and myself。”
“Thank you； miss；” said Mr Guppy。 “Very full；—er—excuse
me—lady’s name； Christian and surname both？”
I gave them。
“Married woman； I believe？” said Mr Guppy。 “Married woman。
Thank you。 Formerly Caroline Jellyby； spinster； then of Thavies
Inn； within the city of London； but extra…parochial； now of
Newman Street； Oxford Street。 Much obliged。”
He ran home and came running back again。
“Touching that matter； you know； I really and truly am very
sorry that my arrangements in life； combined with circumstances
over which I have no control； should prevent a renewal of what
was wholly terminated some time back；” said Mr Guppy to me；
forlornly and despondently； “but it couldn’t be。 Now could it； you
know？ I only put it to you。”
I replied it certainly could not。 The subject did not admit of a
doubt。 He thanked me； and ran to his mother’s again—and back
again。
“It’s very honourable of you； miss； I am sure；” said Mr Guppy。
“If an altar could be erected in the bowers of friendship—but；
upon my soul； you may rely upon me in every respect； save and
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except the tender passion only！”
The struggle in Mr Guppy’s breast； and the numerous
oscillations it occasioned him between his mother’s door and us；
were sufficiently conspicuous in the windy street （particularly as
his hair wanted cutting）； to make us hurry away。 I did so with a
lightened heart； but when we last looked back； Mr Guppy was still
oscillating in the same troubled state of mind。
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Chapter 39
Attorney And Client
he name of Mr Vholes； preceded by the legend Ground
Floor； is inscribed upon a door…post in Symond’s Inn；
T
Chancery Lane： a little； pale； wall…eyed； woebegone inn；
like a large dust…binn of two compartments and a sifter。 It looks as
if Symond were a sparing man in his day； and constructed his inn
of old building materials； which took kindly to the dry rot and to
dirt and all things decaying and dismal； and perpetuated
Symond’s memory with congenial shabbiness。 Quartered in this
dingy hatchment commemorative of Symond； are the legal
bearings of Mr Vholes。
Mr Vholes’s office； in disposition retiring and in situation
retired； is squeezed up in a corner； and blinks at a dead wall。
Three feet of knotty floored dark passage bring the client to Mr
Vholes’s jet black door； in an angle profoundly dark on the
brightest midsummer morning； and incumbered by a black
bulkhead of cellarage staircase； against which belated civilians
generally strike their brows。 Mr Vholes’s chambers are on so small
a scale that one clerk can open the door without getting off his
stool； while the other who elbows him at the same desk has equal
faculties for poking the fire。 A smell as of unwholesome sheep；
blending with the smell of must and dust； is referable to the
nightly （and often daily） consumption of mutton fat in candles； and
to the fretting of parchment forms and skins in greasy drawers。
The atmosphere is otherwise stale and close。 The place was last
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painted or whitewashed beyond the memory of man； and the two
chimneys smoke； and there is a loose outer surface of soot
everywhere； and the dull cracked windows in their heavy frames
have but one piece of character in them； which is a determination
to be always dirty； and always shut； unless coerced。 This accounts
for the phenomenon of the weaker of the two usually having a
bundle of firewood thrust between its jaws in hot weather。
Mr Vholes is a very respectable man。 He has not a large
business； but he is a very respectable man。 He is allowed by the
greater attorneys who have made good fortunes； or are making
them； to be a most respectable man。 He never misses a chance in
his practice； which is a mark of respectability。 He never takes any
pleasure； which is another mark of respectability。 He is reserved
and serious； which is another mark of respectability。 His digestion
is impaired； which is highly respectable。 And he is making hay of
the grass which is flesh； for his three daughters。 And his father is
dependent on him in the Vale of Taunton。
The one great principle of the English law is； to make business
for itself。 There is no other principle distinctly； certainly； and
consistently maintained through all its narrow turnings。 Viewed
by this light it becomes a coherent scheme； and not the monstrous
maze the laity are apt to think it。 Let them but once clearly
perceive that its grand principle is to make business for itself at
their expense； and surely they will cease to grum
