bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第233章
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indeed had sore occasion to be supported。 But she looked
forward—a very little way now—to the help that was to come to
her； and never drooped。
It was at Westminister that the Cause was to come on。 It had
come on there； I dare say； a hundred times before； but I could not
divest myself of an idea that it might lead to some result now。 We
left home directly after breakfast； to be at Westminister Hall in
good time； and walked down there through the lively streets—so
happily and strangely it seemed！—together。
As we were going along； planning what we should do for
Richard and Ada； I heard somebody calling “Esther！ My dear
Esther！ Esther！” And there was Caddy Jellyby； with her head out
of the window of a little carriage which she hired now to go about
in to her pupils （she had so many）； as if she wanted to embrace me
at a hundred yards’ distance。 I had written her a note to tell her of
all that my Guardian had done； but had not had a moment to go
and see her。 Of course we turned back； and the affectionate girl
was in that state of rapture； and was so overjoyed to talk about the
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night when she brought me the flowers； and was so determined to
squeeze my face （bonnet and all） between her hands； and go on in
a wild manner altogether； calling me all kinds of precious names；
and telling Allan I had done I don’t know what for her； that I was
just obliged to get into the little carriage and calm her down； by
letting her say and do exactly what she liked。 Allan； standing at
the window； was as pleased as Caddy； and I was as pleased as
either of them； and I wonder that I got away as I did； rather than
that I came off； laughing； and red； and anything； but tidy； and
looking after Caddy； who looked after us out of the coach…window
as long as she could see us。
This made us some quarter of an hour late； and when we came
to Westminster Hall we found that the day’s business was begun。
Worse than that； we found such an unusual crowd in the Court of
Chancery that it was full to the door； and we could neither see nor
hear what was passing within。 It appeared to be something droll；
for occasionally there was a laugh； and a cry of “Silence！” It
appeared to be something interesting； for every one was pushing
and striving to get nearer。 It appeared to be something that made
the professional gentlemen very merry； for there were several
young counsellors in wigs and whiskers on the outside of the
crowd； and when one of them told the others about it； they put
their hands in their pockets； and quite doubled themselves up
with laughter； and went stamping about the pavement of the hall。
We asked a gentleman by us； if he knew what cause was on？ He
told us Jarndyce and Jarndyce。 We asked him if he knew what was
doing in it？ He said； really no he did not； nobody ever did； but as
well as he could make out； it was over。 Over for the day？ we asked
him。 No he said； over for good。
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Over for good！
When we heard this unaccountable answer； we looked at one
another quite lost in amazement。 Could it be possible that the Will
had set things right at last； and that Richard and Ada were going
to be rich？ It seemed too good to be true。 Alas； it was！
Our suspense was short； for a break up soon took place in the
crowd； and the people came streaming out looking flushed and
hot； and bringing a quantity of bad air with them。 Still they were
all exceedingly amused； and were more like people coming out
from a Farce or a Juggler than from a court of Justice。 We stood
aside； watching for any countenance we knew； and presently great
bundles of paper began to be carried out—bundles in bags；
bundles too large to be got into any bags； immense masses of
papers of all shapes and no shapes； which the bearers staggered
under； and threw down for the time being； anyhow； on the Hall
pavement； while they went back to bring out more。 Even these
clerks were laughing。 We glanced at these papers； and seeing
Jarndyce and Jarndyce everywhere； asked an official…looking
person who was standing in the midst of them； whether the cause
was over。 “Yes；” he said； “it was all up with it at last！” and burst
out laughing too。
At this juncture； we perceived Mr Kenge coming out of court
with an affable dignity upon him； listening to Mr Vholes； who was
deferential； and carried his own bag。 Mr Vholes was the first to see
us。 “Here is Miss Summerson； sir；” he said。 “And Mr Woodcourt。”
“O； indeed！ Yes。 Truly！” said Mr Kenge； raising his hat to me
with polished politeness。 “How do you do？ Glad to see you。 Mr
Jarndyce is not here？”
No。 He never came there； I reminded him。
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“Really；” returned Mr Kenge； “it is as well that he is not here
today； for his—shall I say； in my good friend’s absence； his
indomitable singularity of opinion？—might have been
strengthened； perhaps； not reasonably； but might have been
strengthened。”
“Pray what has been done today？” asked Allan。
“I beg your pardon？” said Mr Kenge； with excessive urbanity。
“What has been done today？”
“What has been done；” repeated Mr Kenge。 “Quite so。 Yes。
Why； not much has been done； not much。 We have been
checked—brought up suddenly； I would say—upon the—shall I
term it threshold？”
“Is this Will considered a genuine document； sir？” said Allan；
“will you tell us that？”
“Most certainly； if I could；” said Mr Kenge； “but we have not
gone into that； we have not gone into that。”
“We have not gone into that；” repeated Mr Vholes； as if his low
inward voice were an echo。
“You are to reflect； Mr Woodcourt；” observed Mr Kenge； using
his silver trowel； persuasively and smoothingly； “that this has been
a great cause； that this has been a protracted cause； that this has
been a complex cause。 Jarndyce and Jarndyce has been termed；
not inaptly； a Monument of Chancery practice。”
“And Patience has sat upon it a long time；” said Allan。
“Very well indeed； sir；” returned Mr Kenge； with a certain
condescending laugh he had。 “Very well！ You are further to
reflect； Mr Woodcourt；” becoming dignified to severity； “that on
the numerous difficulties； contingencies； masterly fictions； and
forms of procedure in this great cause； there has been expended
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study； ability； eloquence； knowledge； intellect； Mr Woodcourt； high
intellect。 For many years； the—a—I would say the flower of the
Bar； and the—a—I would presume to add； the matured autumnal
fruits of the Woolsack—have been lavished upon Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。 If the public have the benefit； and if the country have
the adornment； of this great Grasp； it must be paid for； in money
or money’s worth； sir。”
“Mr Kenge；” said Allan； appearing enlightened all in a moment。
“Excuse me； our time presses。 Do I understand that the whole
estate is found to have been absorbed in costs？”
“Hem！ I believe so；” returned Mr Kenge。 “Mr Vholes； what do
you say？”
“I believe so；” said Mr Vholes。
“And that thus the suit lapses and melts away？”
“Probably；” returned Mr Kenge。 “Mr Vholes？”
“Probably；” said Mr Vholes。
“My dearest life；” whispered Allan； “this will break Richard’s
heart！”
There was such a shock of apprehension in his face； and he
knew Richard so perfectly； and I too had seen so much of his
gradual decay； that what my dear girl had said to me in the fulness
of her foreboding love； sounded like a knell in my ears。
“In case you should be wanting Mr C； sir；” said Mr Vholes；
coming after us； “you’ll find him in court。 I left him there resting
himself a little。 Good day； sir； good day； Miss Summerson。” As he
gave me that slowly devouring look of his； while twisting up the
strings of his bag； before he hastened with it； after Mr Kenge； the
benignant shadow of whose conversational presence he seemed
afraid to leave； he gave one gasp as if he had swallowed the last
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morsel of this client； and his black buttoned…up unwholesome
figure glided away to the low door at the end of the hall。
“My dear love；” said Allan； “leave to me for a little while； the
charge you gave me。 Go home with this intelligence； and come to
Ada’s by…and…by。”
I would not let him take me to a coach； but entreated him to go
to Richard without a moment’s delay； and leave me to do as he
wished。 Hurrying home； I found my Guardian； and told him
gradually with what news I had returned。 “Little woman；” said he；
quite unmoved for himself； “to have done with the suit on any
