The term had commenced, and my guardian1 found an intimation fromMr. Kenge that the cause would come on in two days. As I hadsufficient hopes of the will to be in a flutter about it, Allan andI agreed to go down to the court that morning. Richard wasextremely agitated2 and was so weak and low, though his illness wasstill of the mind, that my dear girl indeed had sore occasion to besupported. But she looked forward--a very little way now--to thehelp that was to come to her, and never drooped3.
It was at Westminster that the cause was to come on. It had comeon there, I dare say, a hundred times before, but I could notdivest myself of an idea that it MIGHT lead to some result now. Weleft home directly after breakfast to be at Westminster Hall ingood time and walked down there through the lively streets--sohappily and strangely it seemed!--together.
As we were going along, planning what we should do for Richard andAda, I heard somebody calling "Esther! My dear Esther! Esther!"And there was Caddy Jellyby, with her head out of the window of alittle carriage which she hired now to go about in to her pupils(she had so many), as if she wanted to embrace me at a hundredyards' distance. I had written her a note to tell her of all thatmy guardian had done, but had not had a moment to go and see her.
Of course we turned back, and the affectionate girl was in thatstate of rapture4, and was so overjoyed to talk about the night whenshe brought me the flowers, and was so determined5 to squeeze myface (bonnet and all) between her hands, and go on in a wild manneraltogether, calling me all kinds of precious names, and tellingAllan I had done I don't know what for her, that I was just obligedto get into the little carriage and caln her down by letting hersay and do exactly what she liked. Allan, standing6 at the window,was as pleased as Caddy; and I was as pleased as either of them;and I wonder that I got away as I did, rather than that I came offlaughing, and red, and anything but tidy, and looking after Caddy,who looked after us out of the coach-window as long as she couldsee us.
This made us some quarter of an hour late, and when we came toWestminster Hall we found that the day's business was begun. Worsethan that, we found such an unusual crowd in the Court of Chancerythat it was full to the door, and we could neither see nor hearwhat was passing within. It appeared to be something droll8, foroccasionally there was a laugh and a cry of "Silence!" It appearedto be something interesting, for every one was pushing and strivingto get nearer. It appeared to be something that made theprofessional gentlemen very merry, for there were several youngcounsellors in wigs9 and whiskers on the outside of the crowd, andwhen one of them told the others about it, they put their hands intheir pockets, and quite doubled themselves up with laughter, andwent stamping about the pavement of the Hall.
We asked a gentleman by us if he knew what cause was on. He toldus Jarndyce and Jarndyce. We asked him if he knew what was doingin it. He said really, no he did not, nobody ever did, but as wellas he could make out, it was over. Over for the day? we asked him.
No, he said, over for good.
Over for good!
When we heard this unaccountable answer, we looked at one anotherquite lost in amazement10. Could it be possible that the will hadset things right at last and that Richard and Ada were going to berich? It seemed too good to be true. Alas11 it was!
Our suspense12 was short, for a break-up soon took place in thecrowd, and the people came streaming out looking flushed and hotand bringing a quantity of bad air with them. Still they were allexceedingly amused and were more like people coming out from afarce or a juggler13 than from a court of justice. We stood aside,watching for any countenance14 we knew, and presently great bundlesof paper began to be carried out--bundles in bags, bundles toolarge to be got into any bags, immense masses of papers of allshapes and no shapes, which the bearers staggered under, and threwdown for the time being, anyhow, on the Hall pavement, while theywent back to bring out more. Even these clerks were laughing. Weglanced at the papers, and seeing Jarndyce and Jarndyce everywhere,asked an official-looking person who was standing in the midst ofthem whether the cause was over. Yes, he said, it was all up withit at last, and burst out laughing too.
At this juncture15 we perceived Mr. Kenge coming out of court with anaffable dignity upon him, listening to Mr. Vholes, who wasdeferential and carried his own bag. Mr. Vholes was the first tosee us. "Here is Miss Summerson, sir," he said. "And Mr.
Woodcourt.""Oh, indeed! Yes. Truly!" said Mr. Kenge, raising his hat to mewith polished politeness. "How do you do? Glad to see you. Mr.
Jarndyce is not here?"No. He never came there, I reminded him.
"Really," returned Mr. Kenge, "it is as well that he is NOT hereto-day, for his--shall I say, in my good friend's absence, hisindomitable singularity of opinion?--might have been strengthened,perhaps; not reasonably, but might have been strengthened.""Pray what has been done to-day?" asked Allan.
"I beg your pardon?" said Mr. Kenge with excessive urbanity.
"What has been done to-day?""What has been done," repeated Mr. Kenge. "Quite so. Yes. Why,not much has been done; not much. We have been checked--brought upsuddenly, I would say--upon the--shall I term it threshold?""Is this will considered a genuine document, sir?" said Allan.
"Will you tell us that?""Most certainly, if I could," said Mr. Kenge; "but we have not goneinto that, we have not gone into that.""We have not gone into that," repeated Mr. Vholes as if his lowinward voice were an echo.
"You are to reflect, Mr. Woodcourt," observed Mr. Kenge, using hissilver trowel persuasively16 and smoothingly, "that this has been agreat cause, that this has been a protracted17 cause, that this hasbeen a complex cause. Jarndyce and Jarndyce has been termed, notinaptly, a monument of Chancery practice.""And patience has sat upon it a long time," said Allan.
"Very well indeed, sir," returned Mr. Kenge with a certaincondeseending laugh he had. "Very well! You are further toreflect, Mr. Woodcourt," becoming dignified18 almost to severity,"that on the numerous difficulties, contingencies19, masterlyfictions, and forms of procedure in this great cause, there hasbeen expended20 study, ability, eloquence21, knowledge, intellect, Mr.
Woodcourt, high intellect. For many years, the--a--I would say theflower of the bar, and the--a--I would presume to add, the maturedautumnal fruits of the woolsack--have been lavished22 upon Jarndyceand Jarndyce. If the public have the benefit, and if the countryhave the adornment23, of this great grasp, it must be paid for inmoney or money's worth, sir.""Mr. Kenge," said Allan, appearing enlightened all in a moment.
"Excuse me, our time presses. Do I understand that the wholeestate is found to have been absorbed in costs?""Hem7! I believe so," returned Mr. Kenge. "Mr. Vholes, what do YOUsay?""I believe so," said Mr. Vholes.
"And that thus the suit lapses24 and melts away?""Probably," returned Mr. Kenge. "Mr. Vholes?""Probably," said Mr. Vholes.
"My dearest life," whispered Allan, "this will break Richard'sheart!"There was such a shock of apprehension25 in his face, and he knewRichard so perfectly26, and I too had seen so much of his gradualdecay, that what my dear girl had said to me in the fullness of herforeboding love sounded like a knell27 in my ears.
"In case you should be wanting Mr. C., sir," said Mr. Vholes,coming after us, "you'll find him in court. I left him thereresting himself a little. Good day, sir; good day, MissSummerson." As he gave me that slowly devouring28 look of his, whiletwisting up the strings29 of his bag before he hastened with it afterMr. Kenge, the benignant shadow of whose conversational30 presence heseemed afraid to leave, he gave one gasp31 as if he had swallowed thelast morsel32 of his client, and his black buttoned-up unwholesomefigure glided33 away to the low door at the end of the Hall.
"My dear love," said Allan, "leave to me, for a little while, thecharge you gave me. Go home with this intelligence and come toAda's by and by!"I would not let him take me to a coach, but entreated34 him to go toRichard without a moment's delay and leave me to do as he wished.
Hurrying home, I found my guardian and told him gradually with whatnews I had returned. "Little woman," said he, quite unmoved forhimself, "to have done with the suit on any terms is a greaterblessing than I had looked for. But my poor young cousins!"We talked about them all the morning and discussed what it waspossible to do. In the afternoon my guardian walked with me toSymond's Inn and left me at the door. I went upstairs. When mydarling heard my footsteps, she came out into the small passage andthrew her arms round my neck, but she composed herself direcfly andsaid that Richard had asked for me several times. Allan had foundhim sitting in the corner of the court, she told me, like a stonefigure. On being roused, he had broken away and made as if hewould have spoken in a fierce voice to the judge. He was stoppedby his mouth being full of blood, and Allan had brought him home.
He was lying on a sofa with his eyes closed when I went in. Therewere restoratives on the table; the room was made as airy aspossible, and was darkened, and was very orderly and quiet. Allanstood behind him watching him gravely. His face appeared to me tobe quite destitute36 of colour, and now that I saw him without hisseeing me, I fully37 saw, for the first time, how worn away he was.
But he looked handsomer than I had seen him look for many a day.
I sat down by his side in silence. Opening his eyes by and by, hesaid in a weak voice, but with his old smile, "Dame38 Durden, kissme, my dear!"It was a great comfort and surprise to me to find him in his lowstate cheerful and looking forward. He was happier, he said, inour intended marriage than he could find words to tell me. Myhusband had been a guardian angel to him and Ada, and he blessed usboth and wished us all the joy that life could yield us. I almostfelt as if my own heart would have broken when I saw him take myhusband's hand and hold it to his breast.
We spoke35 of the future as much as possible, and he said severaltimes that he must be present at our marriage if he could standupon his feet. Ada would contrive39 to take him, somehow, he said.
"Yes, surely, dearest Richard!" But as my darling answered himthus hopefully, so serene40 and beautiful, with the help that was tocome to her so near--I knew--I knew!
It was not good for him to talk too much, and when he was silent,we were silent too. Sitting beside him, I made a pretence41 ofworking for my dear, as he had always been used to joke about mybeing busy. Ada leaned upon his pillow, holding his head upon herarm. He dozed42 often, and whenever he awoke without seeing him,said first of all, "Where is Woodcourt?"Evening had come on when I lifted up my eyes and saw my guardianstanding in the little hall. "Who is that, Dame Durden?" Richardasked me. The door was behind him, but he had observed in my facethat some one was there.
I looked to Allan for advice, and as he nodded "Yes," bent43 overRichard and told him. My guardian saw what passed, came softly byme in a moment, and laid his hand on Richard's. "Oh, sir," saidRichard, "you are a good man, you are a good man!" and burst intotears for the first time.
My guardian, the picture of a good man, sat down in my place,keeping his hand on Richard's.
"My dear Rick," said he, "the clouds have cleared away, and it isbright now. We can see now. We were all bewildered, Rick, more orless. What matters! And how are you, my dear boy?""I am very weak, sir, but I hope I shall be stronger. I have tobegin the world.""Aye, truly; well said!" cried my guardian.
"I will not begin it in the old way now," said Richard with a sadsmile. "I have learned a lesson now, sir. It was a hard one, butyou shall be assured, indeed, that I have learned it.""Well, well," said my guardian, comforting him; "well, well, well,dear boy!""I was thinking, sir," resumed Richard, "that there is nothing onearth I should so much like to see as their house--Dame Durden'sand Woodcourt's house. If I could be removed there when I begin torecover my strength, I feel as if I should get well there soonerthan anywhere.""Why, so have I been thinking too, Rick," said my guardian, "andour little woman likewise; she and I have been talking of it thisvery day. I dare say her husband won't object. What do youthink?"Richard smiled and lifted up his arm to touch him as he stoodbehind the head of the couch.
"I say nothing of Ada," said Richard, "but I think of her, and havethought of her very much. Look at her! See her here, sir, bendingover this pillow when she has so much need to rest upon it herself,my dear love, my poor girl!"He clasped her in his arms, and none of us spoke. He graduallyreleased her, and she looked upon us, and looked up to heaven, andmoved her lips.
"When I get down to Bleak44 House," said Richard, "I shall have muchto tell you, sir, and you will have much to show me. You will go,won't you?""Undoubtedly45, dear Rick.""Thank you; like you, like you," said Richard. "But it's all likeyou. They have been telling me how you planned it and how youremembered all Esther's familiar tastes and ways. It will be likecoming to the old Bleak House again.""And you will come there too, I hope, Rick. I am a solitary46 mannow, you know, and it will be a charity to come to me. A charityto come to me, my love!" he repeated to Ada as he gently passed hishand over her golden hair and put a lock of it to his lips. (Ithink he vowed47 within himself to cherish her if she were leftalone.)"It was a troubled dream?" said Richard, clasping both myguardian's hands eagerly.
"Nothing more, Rick; nothing more.""And you, being a good man, can pass it as such, and forgive andpity the dreamer, and be lenient48 and encouraging when he wakes?""Indeed I can. What am I but another dreamer, Rick?""I will begin the world!" said Richard with a light in his eyes.
My husband drew a little nearer towards Ada, and I saw him solemnlylift up his hand to warn my guardian.
"When shall I go from this place to that pleasant country where theold times are, where I shall have strength to tell what Ada hasbeen to me, where I shall be able to recall my many faults andblindnesses, where I shall prepare myself to be a guide to myunborn child?" said Richard. "When shall I go?""Dear Rick, when you are strong enough," returned my guardian.
"Ada, my darling!"He sought to raise himself a little. Allan raised him so that shecould hold him on her bosom49, which was what he wanted.
"I have done you many wrongs, my own. I have fallen like a poorstray shadow on your way, I have married you to poverty andtrouble, I have scattered50 your means to the winds. You willforgive me all this, my Ada, before I begin the world?"A smile irradiated his face as she bent to kiss him. He slowlylaid his face down upon her bosom, drew his arms closer round herneck, and with one parting sob51 began the world. Not this world,oh, not this! The world that sets this right.
When all was still, at a late hour, poor crazed Miss Flite cameweeping to me and told me she had given her birds their liberty.
收听单词发音 |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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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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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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juggler
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| n. 变戏法者, 行骗者 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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persuasively
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| adv.口才好地；令人信服地 | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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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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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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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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knell
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| n.丧钟声；v.敲丧钟 | |
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devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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strings
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conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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dame
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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