bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第47章
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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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“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； 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
