bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第42节
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and I tried to do that very difficult thing—imagine old people
young again； and invested with the graces of youth。 But I fell
asleep before I had succeeded； and dreamed of the days when I
lived in my godmother’s house。 I am not sufficiently acquainted
with such subjects to know whether it is at all remarkable； that I
almost always dreamed of that period of my life。
With the morning； there came a letter from Messrs。 Kenge and
Carboy to Mr Boythorn； informing him that one of their clerks
would wait upon him at noon。 As it was the day of the week on
which I paid the bills； and added up my books； and made all the
household affairs as compact as possible； I remained at home
while Mr Jarndyce； Ada； and Richard； took advantage of a very
fine day to make a little excursion。 Mr Boythorn was to wait for
Kenge and Carboy’s clerk； and then was to go on foot to meet
them on their return。
Well！ I was full of business； examining tradesmen’s books；
adding up columns； paying money； filing receipts； and I daresay
making a great bustle about it； when Mr Guppy was announced
and shown in。 I had had some idea that the clerk who was to be
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sent down； might be the young gentleman who had met me at the
coach…office； and I was glad to see him； because he was associated
with my present happiness。
I scarcely knew him again； he was so uncommonly smart。 He
had an entirely new suit of glossy clothes on； a shining hat； lilac…
kid gloves； a neckerchief of a variety of colours； a large hot…house
flower in his button…hole； and a thick gold ring on his little finger。
Besides which； he quite scented the dining…room with bear’s
grease and other perfumery。 He looked at me with an attention
that quite confused me； when I begged him to take a seat until the
servant should return； and as he sat there； crossing and
uncrossing his legs in a corner； and I asked him if he had had a
pleasant ride； and hoped that Mr Kenge was well； I never looked
at him； but I found him looking at me； in the same scrutinising and
curious way。
When the request was brought to him that he would go upstairs
to Mr Boythorn’s room； I mentioned that he would find lunch
prepared for him when he came down； of which Mr Jarndyce
hoped he would partake。 He said with some embarrassment；
holding the handle of the door； “Shall I have the honour of finding
you here； miss？” I replied yes； I should be there； and he went out
with a bow and another look。
I thought him only awkward and shy； for he was evidently
much embarrassed； and I fancied that the best thing I could do；
would be to wait until I saw that he had everything he wanted； and
then to leave him to himself。 The lunch was soon brought； but it
remained for some time on the table。 The interview with Mr
Boythorn was a long one—and a stormy one too； I should think；
for although his room was at some distance； I heard his loud voice
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rising every now and then like a high wind； and evidently blowing
perfect broadsides of denunciation。
At last Mr Guppy came back； looking something the worse for
the conference。 “My eye； miss；” he said in a low voice； “he’s a
Tartar！”
“Pray take some refreshment； sir；” said I。
Mr Guppy sat down at the table； and began nervously
sharpening the carving…knife on the carving…fork； still looking at
me （as I felt quite sure without looking at him）； in the same
unusual manner。 The sharpening lasted so long； that at last I felt a
kind of obligation on me to raise my eyes； in order that I might
break the spell under which he seemed to labour； of not being able
to leave off。
He immediately looked at the dish； and began to carve。
“What will you take yourself； miss？ You’ll take a morsel of
something？”
“No； thank you；” said I。
“Shan’t I give you a piece of anything at all； miss？” said Mr
Guppy； hurriedly drinking off a glass of wine。
“Nothing； thank you；” said I。 “I have only waited to see that you
have everything you want。 Is there anything I can order for you？”
“No； I am much obliged to you； miss； I’m sure。 I’ve every thing I
can require to make me comfortable—at least I—not
comfortable—I’m never that：” he drank off two more glasses of
wine； one after another。
I thought I had better go。
“I beg your pardon； miss！” said Mr Guppy； rising； when he saw
me rise。 “But would you allow me the favour of a minute’s private
conversation？”
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Not knowing what to say； I sat down again。
“What follows is without prejudice； miss？” said Mr Guppy；
anxiously bringing a chair towards my table。
“I don’t understand what you mean；” said I； wondering。
“It’s one of our law terms； miss。 You won’t make any use of it to
my detriment； at Kenge and Carboy’s； or elsewhere。 If our
conversation shouldn’t lead to anything； I am to be as I was； and
am not to be prejudiced in my situation or worldly prospects。 In
short； it’s in total confidence。”
“I am at a loss； sir；” said I； “to imagine what you can have to
communicate in total confidence to me； whom you have never
seen but once； but I should be very sorry to do you any injury。”
“Thank you； miss。 I’m sure of it—that’s quite sufficient。” All this
time Mr Guppy was either planing his forehead with his
handkerchief； or tightly rubbing the palm of his left hand with the
palm of his right。 “If you would excuse my taking another glass of
wine； miss； I think it might assist me in getting on； without a
continual choke that cannot fail to be mutually unpleasant。”
He did so； and came back again。 I took the opportunity of
moving well behind my table。
“You wouldn’t allow me to offer you one； would you； miss？”
said Mr Guppy； apparently refreshed。
“Not any；” said I。
“Not half a glass？” said Mr Guppy； “quarter？ No！ Then to
proceed。 My present salary； Miss Summerson； at Kenge and
Carboy’s； is two pound a…week。 When I first had the happiness of
looking upon you； it was one…fifteen； and had stood at that figure
for a lengthened period。 A rise of five has since taken place； and a
further rise of five is guaranteed at the expiration of a term not
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exceeding twelve months from the present date。 My mother has a
little property； which takes the form of a small life annuity； upon
which she lives in an independent though unassuming manner； in
the Old Street Road。 She is eminently calculated for a mother…in…
law。 She never interferes； is all for peace； and her disposition easy。
She has her failings—as who has not？—but I never knew her do it
when company was present； at which time you may freely trust
her with wines； spirits； or malt liquors。 My own abode is lodgings
at Penton Place； Pentonville。 It is lowly； but airy； open at the back；
and considered one of the ’ealthiest outlets。 Miss Summerson！ In
the mildest language； I adore you。 Would you be so kind as to
allow me （as I may say） to file a declaration—to make an offer！”
Mr Guppy
