The name of Mr. Vholes, preceded by the legend Ground-Floor, isinscribed upon a door-post in Symond's Inn, Chancery Lane--alittle, pale, wall-eyed, woebegone inn like a large dust-binn oftwo compartments1 and a sifter2. It looks as if Symond were asparing man in his way and constructed his inn of old buildingmaterials which took kindly3 to the dry rot and to dirt and allthings decaying and dismal4, and perpetuated5 Symond's memory withcongenial shabbiness. Quartered in this dingy6 hatchmentcommemorative of Symond are the legal bearings of Mr. Vholes.
Mr. Vholes's office, in disposition7 retiring and in situationretired, is squeezed up in a corner and blinks at a dead wall.
Three feet of knotty-floored dark passage bring the client to Mr.
Vholes's jet-black door, in an angle profoundly dark on thebrightest midsummer morning and encumbered8 by a black bulk-head ofcellarage staircase against which belated civilians9 generallystrike their brows. Mr. Vholes's chambers10 are on so small a scalethat one clerk can open the door without getting off his stool,while the other who elbows him at the same desk has equalfacilities for poking11 the fire. A smell as of unwholesome sheepblending with the smell of must and dust is referable to thenightly (and often daily) consumption of mutton fat in candles andto the fretting12 of parchment forms and skins in greasy13 drawers.
The atmosphere is otherwise stale and close. The place was lastpainted or whitewashed14 beyond the memory of man, and the twochimneys smoke, and there is a loose outer surface of sootevervwhere, and the dull cracked windows in their heavy frames havebut one piece of character in them, which is a determination to bealways dirty and always shut unless coerced15. This accounts for thephenomenon of the weaker of the two usually having a bundle offirewood thrust between its jaws16 in hot weather.
Mr. Vholes is a very respectable man. He has not a large business,but he is a very respectable man. He is allowed by the greaterattorneys who have made good fortunes or are making them to be amost respectable man. He never misses a chance in his practice,which is a mark of respectability. He never takes any pleasure,which is another mark of respectability. He is reserved andserious, which is another mark of respectability. His digestion17 isimpaired, which is highly respectable. And he is making hay of thegrass which is flesh, for his three daughters. And his father isdependent on him in the Vale of Taunton.
The one great principle of the English law is to make business foritself. There is no other principle distinctly, certainly, andconsistently maintained through all its narrow turnings. Viewed bythis light it becomes a coherent scheme and not the monstrous19 mazethe laity20 are apt to think it. Let them but once clearly perceivethat its grand principle is to make business for itself at theirexpense, and surely they will cease to grumble21.
But not perceiving this quite plainly--only seeing it by halves ina confused way--the laity sometimes suffer in peace and pocket,with a bad grace, and DO grumble very much. Then thisrespectability of Mr. Vholes is brought into powerful play againstthem. "Repeal22 this statute23, my good sir?" says Mr. Kenge to asmarting client. "Repeal it, my dear sir? Never, with my consent.
Alter this law, sir, and what will be the effect of your rashproceeding on a class of practitioners24 very worthily25 represented,allow me to say to you, by the opposite attorney in the case, Mr.
Vholes? Sir, that class of practitioners would be swept from theface of the earth. Now you cannot afford--I will say, the socialsystem cannot afford--to lose an order of men like Mr. Vholes.
Diligent, persevering26, steady, acute in business. My dear sir, Iunderstand your present feelings against the existing state ofthings, which I grant to be a little hard in your case; but I cannever raise my voice for the demolition27 of a class of men like Mr.
Vholes." The respectability of Mr. Vholes has even been cited withcrushing effect before Parliamentary committees, as in thefollowing blue minutes of a distinguished28 attorney's evidence.
"Question (number five hundred and seventeen thousand eight hundredand sixty-nine): If I understand you, these forms of practiceindisputably occasion delay? Answer: Yes, some delay. Question:
And great expense? Answer: Most assuredly they cannot be gonethrough for nothing. Question: And unspeakable vexation? Answer:
I am not prepared to say that. They have never given ME anyvexation; quite the contrary. Question: But you think that theirabolition would damage a class of practitioners? Answer: I have nodoubt of it. Question: Can you instance any type of that class?
Answer: Yes. I would unhesitatingly mention Mr. Vholes. He wouldbe ruined. Question: Mr. Vholes is considered, in the profession,a respectable man? Answer: "--which proved fatal to the inquiryfor ten years--"Mr. Vholes is considered, in the profession, a MOSTrespectable man."So in familiar conversation, private authorities no lessdisinterested will remark that they don't know what this age iscoming to, that we are plunging32 down precipices33, that now here issomething else gone, that these changes are death to people likeVholes--a man of undoubted respectability, with a father in theVale of Taunton, and three daughters at home. Take a few stepsmore in this direction, say they, and what is to become of Vholes'sfather? Is he to perish? And of Vholes's daughters? Are they tobe shirt-makers, or governesses? As though, Mr. Vholes and hisrelations being minor34 cannibal chiefs and it being proposed toabolish cannibalism35, indignant champions were to put the case thus:
Make man-eating unlawful, and you starve the Vholeses!
In a word, Mr. Vholes, with his three daughters and his father inthe Vale of Taunton, is continually doing duty, like a piece oftimber, to shore up some decayed foundation that has become apitfall and a nuisance. And with a great many people in a greatmany instances, the question is never one of a change from wrong toright (which is quite an extraneous36 consideration), but is alwaysone of injury or advantage to that eminently37 respectable legion,Vholes.
The Chancellor38 is, within these ten minutes, "up" for the longvacation. Mr. Vholes, and his young client, and several blue bagshastily stuffed out of all regularity39 of form, as the larger sortof serpents are in their first gorged40 state, have returned to theofficial den18. Mr. Vholes, quiet and unmoved, as a man of so muchrespectability ought to be, takes off his close black gloves as ifhe were skinning his hands, lifts off his tight hat as if he werescalping himself, and sits down at his desk. The client throws hishat and gloves upon the ground--tosses them anywhere, withoutlooking after them or caring where they go; flings himself into achair, half sighing and half groaning41; rests his aching head uponhis hand and looks the portrait of young despair.
"Again nothing done!" says Richard. "Nothing, nothing done!""Don't say nothing done, sir," returns the placid42 Vholes. "That isscarcely fair, sir, scarcely fair!""Why, what IS done?" says Richard, turning gloomily upon him.
"That may not be the whole question," returns Vholes, "The questionmay branch off into what is doing, what is doing?""And what is doing?" asks the moody43 client.
Vholes, sitting with his arms on the desk, quietly bringing thetips of his five right fingers to meet the tips of his five leftfingers, and quietly separating them again, and fixedly44 and slowlylooking at his client, replies, "A good deal is doing, sir. Wehave put our shoulders to the wheel, Mr. Carstone, and the wheel isgoing round.""Yes, with Ixion on it. How am I to get through the next four orfive accursed months?" exclaims the young man, rising from hischair and walking about the room.
"Mr. C.," returns Vholes, following him close with his eyeswherever he goes, "your spirits are hasty, and I am sorry for it onyour account. Excuse me if I recommend you not to chafe45 so much,not to be so impetuous, not to wear yourself out so. You shouldhave more patience. You should sustain yourself better.""I ought to imitate you, in fact, Mr. Vholes?" says Richard,sitting down again with an impatient laugh and beating the devil'stattoo with his boot on the patternless carpet.
"Sir," returns Vholes, always looking at the client as if he weremaking a lingering meal of him with his eyes as well as with hisprofessional appetite. "Sir," returns Vholes with his inwardmanner of speech and his bloodless quietude, "I should not have hadthe presumption46 to propose myself as a model for your imitation orany man's. Let me but leave the good name to my three daughters,and that is enough for me; I am not a self-seeker. But since youmention me so pointedly47, I will acknowledge that I should like toimpart to you a little of my--come, sir, you are disposed to callit insensibility, and I am sure I have no objection--sayinsensibility--a little of my insensibility.""Mr. Vholes," explains the client, somewhat abashed48, "I had nointention to accuse you of insensibility.""I think you had, sir, without knowing it," returns the equableVholes. "Very naturally. It is my duty to attend to yourinterests with a cool head, and I can quite understand that to yourexcited feelings I may appear, at such times as the present,insensible. My daughters may know me better; my aged49 father mayknow me better. But they have known me much longer than you have,and the confiding50 eye of affection is not the distrustful eye ofbusiness. Not that I complain, sir, of the eye of business beingdistrustful; quite the contrary. In attending to your interests, Iwish to have all possible checks upon me; it is right that I shouldhave them; I court inquiry30. But your interests demand that Ishould be cool and methodical, Mr. Carstone; and I cannot beotherwise--no, sir, not even to please you."Mr. Vholes, after glancing at the official cat who is patientlywatching a mouse's hole, fixes his charmed gaze again on his youngclient and proceeds in his buttoned-up, half-audible voice as ifthere were an unclean spirit in him that will neither come out norspeak out, "What are you to do, sir, you inquire, during thevacation. I should hope you gentlemen of the army may find manymeans of amusing yourselves if you give your minds to it. If youhad asked me what I was to do during the vacation, I could haveanswered you more readily. I am to attend to your interests. I amto be found here, day by day, attending to your interests. That ismy duty, Mr. C., and term-time or vacation makes no difference tome. If you wish to consult me as to your interests, you will findme here at all times alike. Other professional men go out of town.
I don't. Not that I blame them for going; I merely say I don't go.
This desk is your rock, sir!"Mr. Vholes gives it a rap, and it sounds as hollow as a coffin51.
Not to Richard, though. There is encouragement in the sound tohim. Perhaps Mr. Vholes knows there is.
"I am perfectly52 aware, Mr. Vholes," says Richard, more familiarlyand good-humouredly, "that you are the most reliable fellow in theworld and that to have to do with you is to have to do with a manof business who is not to be hoodwinked. But put yourself in mycase, dragging on this dislocated life, sinking deeper and deeperinto difficulty every day, continually hoping and continuallydisappointed, conscious of change upon change for the worse inmyself, and of no change for the better in anything else, and youwill find it a dark-looking case sometimes, as I do.""You know," says Mr. Vholes, "that I never give hopes, sir. I toldyou from the first, Mr. C., that I never give hopes. Particularlyin a case like this, where the greater part of the costs comes outof the estate, I should not be considerate of my good name if Igave hopes. It might seem as if costs were my object. Still, whenyou say there is no change for the better, I must, as a bare matterof fact, deny that.""Aye?" returns Richard, brightening. "But how do you make it out?""Mr. Carstone, you are represented by--""You said just now--a rock.""Yes, sir," says Mr. Vholes, gently shaking his head and rappingthe hollow desk, with a sound as if ashes were falling on ashes,and dust on dust, "a rock. That's something. You are separatelyrepresented, and no longer hidden and lost in the interests ofothers. THAT'S something. The suit does not sleep; we wake it up,we air it, we walk it about. THAT'S something. It's not allJarndyce, in fact as well as in name. THAT'S something. Nobodyhas it all his own way now, sir. And THAT'S something, surely."Richard, his face flushing suddenly, strikes the desk with hisclenched hand.
"Mr. Vholes! If any man had told me when I first went to JohnJarndyce's house that he was anything but the disinterested31 friendhe seemed--that he was what he has gradually turned out to be--Icould have found no words strong enough to repel54 the slander55; Icould not have defended him too ardently56. So little did I know ofthe world! Whereas now I do declare to you that he becomes to methe embodiment of the suit; that in place of its being anabstraction, it is John Jarndyce; that the more I suffer, the moreindignant I am with him; that every new delay and every newdisappointment is only a new injury from John Jarndyce's hand.""No, no," says vholes. "Don't say so. We ought to have patience,all of us. Besides, I never disparage57, sir. I never disparage.""Mr. Vholes," returns the angry client. "You know as well as Ithat he would have strangled the suit if he could.""He was not active in it," Mr. Vholes admits with an appearance ofreluctance. "He certainly was not active in it. But however, buthowever, he might have had amiable58 intentions. Who can read theheart, Mr. C.!""You can," returns Richard.
"I, Mr. C.?""Well enough to know what his intentions were. Are or are not ourinterests conflicting? Tell--me--that!" says Richard, accompanyinghis last three words with three raps on his rock of trust.
"Mr. C.," returns Vholes, immovable in attitude and never winkinghis hungry eyes, "I should be wanting in my duty as yourprofessional adviser59, I should be departing from my fidelity60 toyour interests, if I represented those interests as identical withthe interests of Mr. Jarndyce. They are no such thing, sir. Inever impute61 motives62; I both have and am a father, and I neverimpute motives. But I must not shrink from a professional duty,even if it sows dissensions in families. I understand you to benow consulting me professionally as to your interests? You are so?
I reply, then, they are not identical with those of Mr. Jarndyce.""Of course they are not!" cries Richard. "You found that out longago.""Mr. C.," returns Vholes, "I wish to say no more of any third partythan is necessary. I wish to leave my good name unsullied,together with any little property of which I may become possessedthrough industry and perseverance63, to my daughters Emma, Jane, andCaroline. I also desire to live in amity64 with my professionalbrethren. When Mr. Skimpole did me the honour, sir--I will not saythe very high honour, for I never stoop to flattery--of bringing ustogether in this room, I mentioned to you that I could offer noopinion or advice as to your interests while those interests wereentrusted to another member of the profession. And I spoke65 in suchterms as I was bound to speak of Kenge and Carboy's office, whichstands high. You, sir, thought fit to withdraw your interests fromthat keeping nevertheless and to offer them to me. You broughtthem with clean hands, sir, and I accepted them with clean hands.
Those interests are now paramount66 in this office. My digestivefunctions, as you may have heard me mention, are not in a goodstate, and rest might improve them; but I shall not rest, sir,while I am your representative. Whenever you want me, you willfind me here. Summon me anywhere, and I will come. During thelong vacation, sir, I shall devote my leisure to studying yourinterests more and more closely and to making arrangements formoving heaven and earth (including, of course, the Chancellor)after Michaelmas term; and when I ultimately congratulate you,sir," says Mr. Vholes with the severity of a determined67 man, "whenI ultimately congratulate you, sir, with all my heart, on youraccession to fortune--which, but that I never give hopes, I mightsay something further about--you will owe me nothing beyondwhatever little balance may be then outstanding of the costs asbetween solicitor69 and client not included in the taxed costsallowed out of the estate. I pretend to no claim upon you, Mr. C.,but for the zealous70 and active discharge--not the languid androutine discharge, sir: that much credit I stipulate71 for--of myprofessional duty. My duty prosperously ended, all between us isended."Vholes finally adds, by way of rider to this declaration of hisprinciples, that as Mr. Carstone is about to rejoin his regiment,perhaps Mr. C. will favour him with an order on his agent fortwenty pounds on account.
"For there have been many little consultations72 and attendances oflate, sir," observes Vholes, turning over the leaves of his diary,"and these things mount up, and I don't profess29 to be a man ofcapital. When we first entered on our present relations I statedto you openly--it is a principle of mine that there never can betoo much openness between solicitor and client--that I was not aman of capital and that if capital was your object you had betterleave your papers in Kenge's office. No, Mr. C., you will findnone of the advantages or disadvantages of capital here, sir.
This," Vholes gives the desk one hollow blow again, "is your rock;it pretends to be nothing more."The client, with his dejection insensibly relieved and his vaguehopes rekindled73, takes pen and ink and writes the draft, notwithout perplexed74 consideration and calculation of the date it maybear, implying scant75 effects in the agent's hands. All the while,Vholes, buttoned up in body and mind, looks at him attentively76.
All the while, Vholes's official cat watches the mouse's hole.
Lastly, the client, shaking hands, beseeches77 Mr. Vholes, forheaven's sake and earth's sake, to do his utmost to "pull himthrough" the Court of Chancery. Mr. Vholes, who never gives hopes,lays his palm upon the client's shoulder and answers with a smile,"Always here, sir. Personally, or by letter, you will always findme here, sir, with my shoulder to the wheel." Thus they part, andVholes, left alone, employs himself in carrying sundry78 littlematters out of his diary into his draft bill book for the ultimatebehoof of his three daughters. So might an industrious79 fox or bearmake up his account of chickens or stray travellers with an eye tohis cubs80, not to disparage by that word the three raw-visaged,lank, and buttoned-up maidens81 who dwell with the parent Vholes inan earthy cottage situated82 in a damp garden at Kennington.
Richard, emerging from the heavy shade of Symond's Inn into thesunshine of Chancery Lane--for there happens to be sunshine thereto-day--walks thoughtfully on, and turns into Lincoln's Inn, andpasses under the shadow of the Lincoln's Inn trees. On many suchloungers have the speckled shadows of those trees often fallen; onthe like bent83 head, the bitten nail, the lowering eye, thelingering step, the purposeless and dreamy air, the good consumingand consumed, the life turned sour. This lounger is not shabbyyet, but that may come. Chancery, which knows no wisdom but inprecedent, is very rich in such precedents84; and why should one bedifferent from ten thousand?
Yet the time is so short since his depreciation85 began that as hesaunters away, reluctant to leave the spot for some long monthstogether, though he hates it, Richard himself may feel his own caseas if it were a startling one. While his heart is heavy withcorroding care, suspense86, distrust, and doubt, it may have room forsome sorrowful wonder when he recalls how different his first visitthere, how different he, how different all the colours of his mind.
But injustice87 breeds injustice; the fighting with shadows and beingdefeated by them necessitates88 the setting up of substances tocombat; from the impalpable suit which no man alive can understand,the time for that being long gone by, it has become a gloomy reliefto turn to the palpable figure of the friend who would have savedhim from this ruin and make HIM his enemy. Richard has told Vholesthe truth. Is he in a hardened or a softened89 mood, he still layshis injuries equally at that door; he was thwarted90, in thatquarter, of a set purpose, and that purpose could only originate inthe one subject that is resolving his existence into itself;besides, it is a justification91 to him in his own eyes to have anembodied antagonist92 and oppressor.
Is Richard a monster in all this, or would Chancery be found richin such precedents too if they could be got for citation93 from theRecording Angel?
Two pairs of eyes not unused to such people look after him, as,biting his nails and brooding, he crosses the square and isswallowed up by the shadow of the southern gateway94. Mr. Guppy andMr. Weevle are the possessors of those eyes, and they have beenleaning in conversation against the low stone parapet under thetrees. He passes close by them, seeing nothing but the ground.
"William," says Mr. Weevle, adjusting his whiskers, "there'scombustion going on there! It's not a case of spontaneous, butit's smouldering combustion95 it is.""Ah!" says Mr. Guppy. "He wouldn't keep out of Jarndyce, and Isuppose he's over head and ears in debt. I never knew much of him.
He was as high as the monument when he was on trial at our place.
A good riddance to me, whether as clerk or client! Well, Tony,that as I was mentioning is what they're up to."Mr. Guppy, refolding his arms, resettles himself against theparapet, as resuming a conversation of interest.
"They are still up to it, sir," says Mr. Guppy, "still takingstock, still examining papers, still going over the heaps and heapsof rubbish. At this rate they'll be at it these seven years.""And Small is helping96?""Small left us at a week's notice. Told Kenge his grandfather'sbusiness was too much for the old gentleman and he could betterhimself by undertaking97 it. There had been a coolness betweenmyself and Small on account of his being so close. But he said youand I began it, and as he had me there--for we did--I put ouracquaintance on the old footing. That's how I come to know whatthey're up to.""You haven't looked in at all?""Tony," says Mr. Guppy, a little disconcerted, "to be unreservedwith you, I don't greatly relish98 the house, except in your company,and therefore I have not; and therefore I proposed this littleappointment for our fetching away your things. There goes the hourby the clock! Tony"--Mr. Guppy becomes mysteriously and tenderlyeloquent--"it is necessary that I should impress upon your mindonce more that circumstances over which I have no control have madea melancholy99 alteration100 in my most cherished plans and in thatunrequited image which I formerly101 mentioned to you as a friend.
That image is shattered, and that idol102 is laid low. My only wishnow in connexion with the objects which I had an idea of carryingout in the court with your aid as a friend is to let 'em alone andbury 'em in oblivion. Do you think it possible, do you think it atall likely (I put it to you, Tony, as a friend), from yourknowledge of that capricious and deep old character who fell a preyto the--spontaneous element, do you, Tony, think it at all likelythat on second thoughts he put those letters away anywhere, afteryou saw him alive, and that they were not destroyed that night?"Mr. Weevle reflects for some time. Shakes his head. Decidedlythinks not.
"Tony," says Mr. Guppy as they walk towards the court, "once againunderstand me, as a friend. Without entering into furtherexplanations, I may repeat that the idol is down. I have nopurpose to serve now but burial in oblivion. To that I havepledged myself. I owe it to myself, and I owe it to the shatteredimage, as also to the circumstances over which I have no control.
If you was to express to me by a gesture, by a wink53, that you sawlying anywhere in your late lodgings103 any papers that so much aslooked like the papers in question, I would pitch them into thefire, sir, on my own responsibility."Mr. Weevle nods. Mr. Guppy, much elevated in his own opinion byhaving delivered these observations, with an air in part forensicand in part romantic--this gentleman having a passion forconducting anything in the form of an examination, or deliveringanything in the form of a summing up or a speech--accompanies hisfriend with dignity to the court.
Never since it has been a court has it had such a Fortunatus' purseof gossip as in the proceedings104 at the rag and bottle shop.
Regularly, every morning at eight, is the elder Mr. Smallweedbrought down to the corner and carried in, accompanied by Mrs.
Smallweed, Judy, and Bart; and regularly, all day, do they allremain there until nine at night, solaced105 by gipsy dinners, notabundant in quantity, from the cook's shop, rummaging106 andsearching, digging, delving107, and diving among the treasures of thelate lamented108. What those treasures are they keep so secret thatthe court is maddened. In its delirium109 it imagines guineas pouringout of tea-pots, crown-pieces overflowing110 punch-bowls, old chairsand mattresses111 stuffed with Bank of England notes. It possessesitself of the sixpenny history (with highly coloured foldingfrontispiece) of Mr. Daniel Dancer and his sister, and also of Mr.
Elwes, of Suffolk, and transfers all the facts from those authenticnarratives to Mr. Krook. Twice when the dustman is called in tocarry off a cartload of old paper, ashes, and broken bottles, thewhole court assembles and pries112 into the baskets as they comeforth. Many times the two gentlemen who write with the ravenouslittle pens on the tissue-paper are seen prowling in theneighbourhood--shy of each other, their late partnership113 beingdissolved. The Sol skilfully114 carries a vein115 of the prevailinginterest through the Harmonic nights. Little Swills116, in what areprofessionally known as "patter" allusions117 to the subject, isreceived with loud applause; and the same vocalist "gags" in theregular business like a man inspired. Even Miss M. Melvilleson, inthe revived Caledonian melody of "We're a-Nodding," points thesentiment that "the dogs love broo" (whatever the nature of thatrefreshment may be) with such archness and such a turn of the headtowards next door that she is immediately understood to mean Mr.
Smallweed loves to find money, and is nightly honoured with adouble encore. For all this, the court discovers nothing; and asMrs. Piper and Mrs. Perkins now communicate to the late lodger118 whoseappearance is the signal for a general rally, it is in onecontinual ferment119 to discover everything, and more.
Mr. Weevle and Mr. Guppy, with every eye in the court's head uponthem, knock at the closed door of the late lamented's house, in ahigh state of popularity. But being contrary to the court'sexpectation admitted, they immediately become unpopular and areconsidered to mean no good.
The shutters120 are more or less closed all over the house, and theground-floor is sufficiently121 dark to require candles. Introducedinto the back shop by Mr. Smallweed the younger, they, fresh fromthe sunlight, can at first see nothing save darkness and shadows;but they gradually discern the elder Mr. Smallweed seated in hischair upon the brink122 of a well or grave of waste-paper, thevirtuous Judy groping therein like a female sexton, and Mrs.
Smallweed on the level ground in the vicinity snowed up in a heapof paper fragments, print, and manuscript which would appear to bethe accumulated compliments that have been sent flying at her inthe course of the day. The whole party, Small included, areblackened with dust and dirt and present a fiendish appearance notrelieved by the general aspect of the room. There is more litterand lumber123 in it than of old, and it is dirtier if possible;likewise, it is ghostly with traces of its dead inhabitant and evenwith his chalked writing on the wall.
On the entrance of visitors, Mr. Smallweed and Judy simultaneouslyfold their arms and stop in their researches.
"Aha!" croaks124 the old gentleman. "How de do, gentlemen, how de do!
Come to fetch your property, Mr. Weevle? That's well, that's well.
Ha! Ha! We should have been forced to sell you up, sir, to payyour warehouse125 room if you had left it here much longer. You feelquite at home here again, I dare say? Glad to see you, glad to seeyou!"Mr. Weevle, thanking him, casts an eye about. Mr. Guppy's eyefollows Mr. Weevle's eye. Mr. Weevle's eye comes back without anynew intelligence in it. Mr. Guppy's eye comes back and meets Mr.
Smallweed's eye. That engaging old gentleman is still murmuring,like some wound-up instrument running down, "How de do, sir--howde--how--" And then having run down, he lapses126 into grinningsilence, as Mr. Guppy starts at seeing Mr. Tulkinghorn standing68 inthe darkness opposite with his hands behind him.
"Gentleman so kind as to act as my solicitor," says GrandfatherSmallweed. "I am not the sort of client for a gentleman of suchnote, but he is so good!"Mr. Guppy, slightly nudging his friend to take another look, makesa shuffling127 bow to Mr. Tulkinghorn, who returns it with an easynod. Mr. Tulkinghorn is looking on as if he had nothing else to doand were rather amused by the novelty.
"A good deal of property here, sir, I should say," Mr. Guppyobserves to Mr. Smallweed.
"Principally rags and rubbish, my dear friend! Rags and rubbish!
Me and Bart and my granddaughter Judy are endeavouring to make outan inventory128 of what's worth anything to sell. But we haven't cometo much as yet; we--haven't--come--to--hah!"Mr. Smallweed has run down again, while Mr. Weevle's eye, attendedby Mr. Guppy's eye, has again gone round the room and come back.
"Well, sir," says Mr. Weevle. "We won't intrude129 any longer ifyou'll allow us to go upstairs.""Anywhere, my dear sir, anywhere! You're at home. Make yourselfso, pray!"As they go upstairs, Mr. Guppy lifts his eyebrows130 inquiringly andlooks at Tony. Tony shakes his head. They find the old room verydull and dismal, with the ashes of the fire that was burning onthat memorable131 night yet in the discoloured grate. They have agreat disinclination to touch any object, and carefully blow thedust from it first. Nor are they desirous to prolong their visit,packing the few movables with all possible speed and never speakingabove a whisper.
"Look here," says Tony, recoiling132. "Here's that horrible catcoming in!"Mr. Guppy retreats behind a chair. "Small told me of her. Shewent leaping and bounding and tearing about that night like adragon, and got out on the house-top, and roamed about up there fora fortnight, and then came tumbling down the chimney very thin.
Did you ever see such a brute133? Looks as if she knew all about it,don't she? Almost looks as if she was Krook. Shoohoo! Get out,you goblin!"Lady Jane, in the doorway134, with her tiger snarl135 from ear to ear andher club of a tail, shows no intention of obeying; but Mr.
Tulkinghorn stumbling over her, she spits at his rusty136 legs, andswearing wrathfully, takes her arched back upstairs. Possibly toroam the house-tops again and return by the chimney.
"Mr. Guppy," says Mr. Tulkinghorn, "could I have a word with you?"Mr. Guppy is engaged in collecting the Galaxy137 Gallery of BritishBeauty from the wall and depositing those works of art in their oldignoble band-box. "Sir," he returns, reddening, "I wish to actwith courtesy towards every member of the profession, andespecially, I am sure, towards a member of it so well known asyourself--I will truly add, sir, so distinguished as yourself.
Still, Mr. Tulkinghorn, sir, I must stipulate that if you have anyword with me, that word is spoken in the presence of my friend.""Oh, indeed?" says Mr. Tulkinghorn.
"Yes, sir. My reasons are not of a personal nature at all, butthey are amply sufficient for myself.""No doubt, no doubt." Mr. Tulkinghorn is as imperturbable138 as thehearthstone to which he has quietly walked. "The matter is not ofthat consequence that I need put you to the trouble of making anyconditions, Mr. Guppy." He pauses here to smile, and his smile isas dull and rusty as his pantaloons. "You are to be congratulated,Mr. Guppy; you are a fortunate young man, sir.""Pretty well so, Mr. Tulkinghorn; I don't complain.""Complain? High friends, free admission to great houses, andaccess to elegant ladies! Why, Mr. Guppy, there are people inLondon who would give their ears to be you."Mr. Guppy, looking as if he would give his own reddening and stillreddening ears to be one of those people at present instead ofhimself, replies, "Sir, if I attend to my profession and do what isright by Kenge and Carboy, my friends and acquaintances are of noconsequence to them nor to any member of the profession, notexcepting Mr. Tulkinghorn of the Fields. I am not under anyobligation to explain myself further; and with all respect for you,sir, and without offence--I repeat, without offence--""Oh, certainly!""--I don't intend to do it.""Quite so," says Mr. Tulkinghorn with a calm nod. "Very good; Isee by these portraits that you take a strong interest in thefashionable great, sir?"He addresses this to the astounded139 Tony, who admits the softimpeachment.
"A virtue140 in which few Englishmen are deficient," observes Mr.
Tulkinghorn. He has been standing on the hearthstone with his backto the smoked chimney-piece, and now turns round with his glassesto his eyes. "Who is this? 'Lady Dedlock.' Ha! A very goodlikeness in its way, but it wants force of character. Good day toyou, gentlemen; good day!"When he has walked out, Mr. Guppy, in a great perspiration141, nerveshimself to the hasty completion of the taking down of the GalaxyGallery, concluding with Lady Dedlock.
"Tony," he says hurriedly to his astonished companion, "let us bequick in putting the things together and in getting out of thisplace. It were in vain longer to conceal142 from you, Tony, thatbetween myself and one of the members of a swan-like aristocracywhom I now hold in my hand, there has been undivulged communicationand association. The time might have been when I might haverevealed it to you. It never will be more. It is due alike to theoath I have taken, alike to the shattered idol, and alike tocircumstances over which I have no control, that the whole shouldbe buried in oblivion. I charge you as a friend, by the interestyou have ever testified in the fashionable intelligence, and by anylittle advances with which I may have been able to accommodate you,so to bury it without a word of inquiry!"This charge Mr. Guppy delivers in a state little short of forensiclunacy, while his friend shows a dazed mind in his whole head ofhair and even in his cultivated whiskers.
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compartments
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| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
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sifter
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| n.（用于筛撒粉状食物的）筛具，撒粉器；滤器；罗圈；罗 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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perpetuated
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| vt.使永存（perpetuate的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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civilians
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| 平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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coerced
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| v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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laity
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| n.俗人；门外汉 | |
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grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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repeal
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| n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消 | |
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statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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practitioners
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| n.习艺者，实习者( practitioner的名词复数 )；从业者（尤指医师） | |
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worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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demolition
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| n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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cannibalism
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| n.同类相食；吃人肉 | |
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extraneous
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| adj.体外的；外来的；外部的 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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gorged
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| v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的过去式和过去分词 )；作呕 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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chafe
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| v.擦伤；冲洗；惹怒 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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51
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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53
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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disparage
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| v.贬抑，轻蔑 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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impute
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| v.归咎于 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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63
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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65
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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stipulate
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| vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证 | |
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consultations
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| n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找 | |
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rekindled
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| v.使再燃( rekindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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beseeches
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的第三人称单数 ) | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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80
cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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precedents
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| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
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85
depreciation
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| n.价值低落，贬值，蔑视，贬低 | |
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86
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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87
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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necessitates
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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citation
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| n.引用，引证，引用文；传票 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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combustion
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| n.燃烧；氧化；骚动 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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98
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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101
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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102
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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103
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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solaced
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| v.安慰，慰藉( solace的过去分词 ) | |
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rummaging
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的现在分词 )； 海关检查 | |
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delving
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| v.深入探究，钻研( delve的现在分词 ) | |
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108
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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110
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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mattresses
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| 褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 ) | |
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112
pries
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的第三人称单数 )；撬开 | |
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113
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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114
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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115
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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116
swills
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| v.冲洗( swill的第三人称单数 )；猛喝；大口喝；（使）液体流动 | |
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117
allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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118
lodger
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| n.寄宿人，房客 | |
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119
ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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120
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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121
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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122
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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123
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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124
croaks
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的第三人称单数 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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125
warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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126
lapses
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| n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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127
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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128
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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129
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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130
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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131
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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132
recoiling
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| v.畏缩( recoil的现在分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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133
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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134
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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135
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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136
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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138
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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139
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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141
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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142
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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