bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第283节
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He kissed me once again； and now the tears were in his eyes； as
he said more softly：
“Esther； my dearest； after so many years； there is a kind of
parting in this too。 I know that my mistake has caused you some
distress。 Forgive your old Guardian； in restoring him to his old
place in your affections； and blot it out of your memory。 Allan； take
my dear！”
He moved away from under the green roof of leaves； stopping
in the sunlight outside； and turning cheerfully towards us； said：
“I shall be found about here somewhere。 It’s a West wind； little
woman； due West！ Let no one thank me any more； for I am going
to revert to my bachelor habits； and if anybody disregards this
warning； I’ll run away and never come back！”
What happiness was ours that day； what joy； what rest； what
hope； what gratitude； what bliss！ We were to be married before the
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Bleak House 1180
month was out； but when we were to come and take possession of
our own house； was to depend on Richard and Ada。
We all three went home together next day。 As soon as we
arrived in town； Allan went straight to see Richard； and to carry
our joyful news to him and my darling。 Late as it was； I meant to
go to her for a few minutes before lying down to sleep； but I went
home with my Guardian first； to make his tea for him； and to
occupy the old chair by his side； for I did not like to think of its
being empty so soon。
When we came home； we found that a young man had called
three times in the course of that one day； to see me； and that；
having been told； on the occasion of his third call； than I was not
expected to return before ten o’clock at night； he had left word；
“that he would call about then。” He had left his card three times。
MR GUPPY。
As I naturally speculated on the object of these visits； and as I
always associated something ludicrous with the visitor； it fell out
that in laughing about Mr Guppy I told my Guardian of his old
proposal； and his subsequent retraction。 “After that；” said my
Guardian； “we will certainly receive this hero。” So； instructions
were given that Mr Guppy should be shown in； when he came
again； and they were scarcely given when he did come again。
He was embarrassed when he found my Guardian with me； but
recovered himself； and said； “How de do； sir？”
“How do you do； sir？” returned my Guardian。
“Thank you； sir； I am tolerable；” returned Mr Guppy。 “Will you
allow me to introduce my mother； Mrs Guppy of the Old Street
Road； and my particular friend； Mr Weevle。 That is to say； my
friend has gone by the name of Weevle； but his name is really and
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Bleak House 1181
truly Jobling。”
My Guardian begged them to be seated； and they all sat down。
“Tony；” said Mr Guppy to his friend； after an awkward silence。
“Will you open the case？”
“Do it yourself；” returned the friend； rather tartly。
“Well； Mr Jarndyce； sir；” Mr Guppy； after a moment’s
consideration； began； to the great diversion of his mother； which
she displayed by nudging Mr Jobling with her elbow； and winking
at me in a most remarkable manner； “I had an idea that I should
see Miss Summerson by herself； and was not quite prepared for
your esteemed presence。 But Miss Summerson has mentioned to
you； perhaps； that something has passed between us on former
occasions？”
“Miss Summerson；” returned my Guardian smiling； “has made
a communication to that effect to me。”
“That；” said Mr Guppy； “makes matters easier。 Sir； I have come
out of my articles at Kenge and Carboy’s； and I believe with
satisfaction to all parties。 I am now admitted （after undergoing an
examination that’s enough to badger a man blue； touching a pack
of nonsense that he don’t want to know） on the roll of attorneys；
and have taken out my certificate； if it would be any satisfaction to
you to see it。”
“Thank you； Mr Guppy；” returned my Guardian。 “I am quite
willing—I believe I use a legal phrase—to admit the certificate。”
Mr Guppy therefore desisted from taking something out of his
pocket； and proceeded without it。
“I have no capital myself； but my mother has a little property
which takes the form of an annuity；” here Mr Guppy’s mother
rolled her head as if she never could sufficiently enjoy the
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Bleak House 1182
observation； and put her handkerchief to her mouth； and again
winked at me； “and a few pounds for expenses out of pocket in
conducting business； will never be wanting； free of interest； which
is an advantage； you know；” said Mr Guppy； feelingly。
“Certainly an advantage；” returned my Guardian。
“I have some connection；” pursued Mr Guppy； and it lays in the
direction of Walcot Square； Lambeth。 I have therefore taken a
ouse in that locality； which； in the opinion of my friends； is a
hollow bargain （taxes ridiculous； and use of fixtures included in
the rent）； and intend setting up professionally for myself there；
forthwith。”
Here Mr Guppy’s mother fell into an extraordinary passion of
rolling her head； and smiling waggishly at anybody who would
look at her。
“It’s a six…roomer； exclusive of kitchens；” said Mr Guppy； “and
in the opinion of my friends； a commodious tenement。 When I
mention my friends； I refer principally to my friend Jobling； who I
believe has known me；” Mr Guppy looked at him with a
sentimental air； “from boyhood’s hour？”
Mr Jobling confirmed this with a sliding movement of his legs。
“My friend Jobling will render me his assistance in the capacity
of clerk； and will live in the ouse；” said Mr Guppy。 “My mother will
likewise live in the ouse； when her present quarter in the Old
Street Road shall have ceased and expired； and consequently
there will be no want of society。 My friend Jobling is naturally
aristocratic by taste； and besides being acquainted with the
movements of the upper circles； fully backs me in the intentions I
am now developing。”
Mr Jobling said “certainly；” and withdrew a little from the
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Bleak House 1183
elbow of Mr Guppy’s mother。
“Now； I have no occasion to mention to you； sir； you being in
the confidence of Miss Summerson；” said Mr Guppy； “（mother； I
wish you’d be so good as to keep still）； that Miss Summerson’s
image was formerly imprinted on my art； and that I made her a
proposal of marriage。”
“That I have heard；” returned my Guardian。
“Circumstances；” pursued Mr Guppy； “over which I had no
control but quite the contrary； weakened the impression of that
image for a time。 At which time； Miss Summerson’s conduct was
highly genteel； I may even add； magnanimous。”
My Guardian patted me on the shoulder； and seemed much
amused。
“Now； sir；” said Mr Guppy； “I have got into that state of mind
myself； that I wish for a reciprocity of magnanimous behaviour。 I
wish to prove to Miss Summerson that I can rise to a height； of
which perhaps she hardly thought me capable。 I find that the
image which I did suppose had been eradicated from my art； is not
eradicated。 It
