bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第57章
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suppose that you attend me for nothing。 I am overwhelming you
with money—in my expansive intentions—if you only knew it！”
And really （he said） he meant it to that degree； that he thought it
much the same as doing it。 If he had had those bits of metal or thin
paper to which mankind attached so much importance； to put in
the doctor’s hand； he would have put them in the doctor’s hand。
Not having them； he substituted the will for the deed。 Very well！ If
he really meant it—if his will were genuine and real： which it
was—it appeared to him that it was the same as coin； and
cancelled the obligation。
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“It may be； partly； because I know nothing of the value of
money；” said Mr Skimpole； “but I often feel this。 It seems so
reasonable！ My butcher says to me； he wants that little bill。 It’s a
part of the pleasant unconscious poetry of the man’s nature； that
he always calls it a ‘little’ bill—to make the payment appear easy to
both of us。 I reply to the butcher； My good friend； if you knew it
you are paid。 You haven’t had the trouble of coming to ask for the
little bill。 You are paid。 I mean it。”
“But； suppose；” said my Guardian； laughing； “he had meant the
meat in the bill； instead of providing it！”
“My dear Jarndyce；” he returned； “you surprise me。 You take
the butcher’s position。 A butcher I once dealt with； occupied that
very ground。 Says he； ‘Sir； why did you eat spring lamb at
eighteen…pence a pound？’ ‘Why did I eat spring lamb at eighteen…
pence a pound； my honest friend？” said I； naturally amazed by the
question。 ‘I like spring lamb！’ This was so far convincing。 ‘Well； sir；
‘says he； ‘I wish I had meant the lamb as you mean the money！”
‘My good fellow；’ said I； ‘pray let us reason like intellectual beings。
How could that be？ It was impossible。 You had got the lamb； and I
have not got the money。 You couldn’t really mean the lamb
without sending it in； whereas I can； and do； really mean the
money without paying it！’ He had not a word。 There was an end of
the subject。”
“Did he take no legal proceedings？” inquired my Guardian。
“Yes； he took legal proceedings；” said Mr Skimpole。 “But； in
that； he was influenced by passion； not by reason。 Passion reminds
me of Boythorn。 He writes me that you and the ladies have
promised him a short visit at his bachelor…house in Lincolnshire。”
“He is a great favourite with my girls；” said Mr Jarndyce； “and I
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have promised for them。”
“Nature forgot to shade him off； I think？” observed Mr
Skimpole to Ada and me。 “A little too boisterous—like the sea？ A
little too vehement—like a bull； who has made up his mind to
consider every colour scarlet？ But； I grant a sledge…hammering
sort of merit in him！”
I should have been surprised if those two could have thought
very highly of one another； Mr Boythorn attaching so much
importance to many things； and Mr Skimpole caring so little for
anything。 Besides which； I had noticed Mr Boythorn more than
once on the point of breaking out into some strong opinion； when
Mr Skimpole was referred to。 Of course I merely joined Ada in
saying that we had been greatly pleased with him。
“He has invited me；” said Mr Skimpole； “and if a child may
trust himself in such hands： which the present child is encouraged
to do； with the united tenderness of two angels to guard him： I
shall go。 He proposes to frank me down and back again。 I suppose
it will cost money？ Shillings perhaps？ Or pounds？ Or something
of that sort？ By the bye。 Coavinses。 You remember our friend
Coavinses； Miss Summerson？”
He asked me； as the subject arose in his mind； in his graceful
light…hearted manner； and without the least embarrassment。
“O yes！” said I。
“Coavinses has been arrested by the great Bailiff；” said Mr
Skimpole。 “He will never do violence to the sunshine any more。”
It quite shocked me to hear it； for； I had already recalled； with
anything but a serious association； the image of the man sitting on
the sofa that night； wiping his head。
“His successor informed me of it yesterday；” said Mr Skimpole。
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“His successor is in my house now—in possession； I think he calls
it。 He came yesterday； on my blue…eyed daughter’s birthday。 I put
it to him； ‘This is unreasonable and inconvenient。 If you had a
blue…eyed daughter you wouldn’t like me to come； uninvited； on
her birthday？’ But； he stayed。”
Mr Skimpole laughed at the pleasant absurdity； and lightly
touched the piano by which he was seated。
“And he told me；” he said； playing little chords where I shall
put full stops； “That Coavinses had left。 Three children。 No
mother。 And that Coavinses’ profession。 Being unpopular。 The
rising Coavinses。 Were at a considerable disadvantage。”
Mr Jarndyce got up； rubbing his head； and began to walk about。
Mr Skimpole played the melody of one of Ada’s favourite songs。
Ada and I both looked at Mr Jarndyce； thinking that we knew
what was passing in his mind。
After walking； and stopping； and several times leaving off
rubbing his head； and beginning again； my Guardian put his hand
upon the keys and stopped Mr Skimpole’s playing。 “I don’t like
this； Skimpole；” he said thoughtfully。
Mr Skimpole； who had quite forgotten the subject； looked up
surprised。
“The man was necessary；” pursued my Guardian； walking
backward and forward in the very short space between the piano
and the end of the room； and rubbing his hair up from the back of
his head as if a high east wind had blown it into that form。 “If we
make such men necessary by our faults and follies； or by our want
of worldly knowledge； or by our misfortunes； we must not revenge
ourselves upon them。 There was no harm in his trade。 He
maintained his children。 One would like to know more about this。”
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“O！ Coavinses？” cried Mr Skimpole； at length perceiving what
he meant。 “Nothing easier。 A walk to Coavinses’ headquarters；
and you can know what you will。”
Mr Jarndyce nodded to us； who were only waiting for the
signal。 “Come！ We will walk that way； my dears。 Why not that way；
as soon as another！” We were quickly ready； and went out。 Mr
Skimpole went with us； and quite enjoyed the expedition。 It was so
new and so refreshing； he said； for him to want Coavinses； instead
of Coavinses wanting him！
He took us； first； to Cursitor Street； Chancery Lane； where
there was a house with barred windows； which he called
Coavinses’ Castle。 On our going into the entry and ringing a bell； a
very hideous boy came out of a sort of office； and looked at us over
a spiked wicket。
“Who did you want？” said the boy； fitting two of the spikes into
his chin。
“There was a follower； or an officer； or something； here；” said
Mr Jarndyce； “who is dead。”
“Yes？” said the boy。 “Well？”
“I want to know his name； if you please？”
“Name of Neckett；” said the boy。
“And his address？”
“Bell Yard；” said the boy。 “Chandler’s shop； left hand side；
name of Blinder。”
“Was he—I don’t know how to shape the question；” murmured
my Guardian—“industrious？”
“Was Neckett？” said the boy。 “Yes； wery much so。 He was
never tired of watching。 He’d set upon a post at a street corner；
eight or ten hours at a stretch； if he undertook to do it。”
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“He might have done worse；” I heard my Guardian soliloquise。
“He might have undertaken to do it； and not done it。 Thank you。
That’s all I want。”
We left the boy； with his head on one side； and his arms on the
gate； fondling and sucking the spikes； and went back to Lincoln’s
Inn； where Mr Skimpole； who had not cared to remain nearer
Coavinses； awaited us。 Then； we all went to Bell Yard； a narrow
alley； at a very short distance。 We soon found the chandler’s shop。
In it； was a good…natured…looking old woman； with a dropsy； or an
asthma； or perhaps both。
“Neckett’s children？” said she； in reply to my inquiry。 “Yes；
surely； miss。 Three pair； if you please。 Door right opposite the top
of the stairs。” And she handed me a key across the counter。
I glanced at the key； and glanced at her； but she took it for
granted that I knew what to do with it。 As it could only be
intended for the children’s door； I came out； without asking
anymore questions； and led the way up the dark stairs。 We went as
quietly as we could； but； four of us made some noise on the aged
boards； and； when we came to the second story； we found we had
disturbed a man who was standing there； looking out of his room。
“Is it Gridley that’s wanted？” he said； fixing his eyes on me with
