bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第319章
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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’s influence over me is still tremenjous； and yielding
to it I am willing to overlook the circumstances over which none of
us have had any control； and to renew those proposals to Miss
Summerson which I had the honour to make at a former period。 I
beg to lay the ouse in Walcot Square； the business； and myself；
before Miss Summerson for her acceptance。”
“Very magnanimous； indeed； sir；” observed my Guardian。
“Well； sir；” returned Mr Guppy； with candour； “my wish is to be
magnanimous。 I do not consider that in making this offer to Miss
Summerson； I am by any means throwing myself away； neither is
that the opinion of my friends。 Still there are circumstances which
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Bleak House 1184
I submit may be taken into account as a set…off against any little
drawbacks of mine； and so a fair and equitable balance arrived at。”
“I take upon myself； sir；” said my Guardian； laughing as he
rang the bell； “to reply to your proposals on behalf of Miss
Summerson。 She is very sensible of your handsome intentions；
and wishes you good evening； and wishes you well。”
“Oh！” said Mr Guppy； with a blank look。 “Is that tantamount；
sir； to acceptance； or rejection； or consideration？”
“To decided rejection； if you please；” returned my Guardian。
Mr Guppy looked incredulously at his friend； and at his mother；
who suddenly turned very angry； and at the floor； and at the
ceiling。
“Indeed？” said he。 “Then； Jobling； if you was the friend you
represent yourself； I should think you might hand my mother out
of the gangway； instead of allowing her to remain where she ain’t
wanted。”
But Mrs Guppy positively refused to come out of the gangway。
She wouldn’t hear of it。 “Why； get along with you；” said she to my
Guardian； “what do you mean？ Ain’t my son good enough for you？
You ought to be ashamed of yourself。 Get out with you！”
“My good lady！” returned my Guardian； “it is hardly reasonable
to ask me to get out of my own room。”
“I don’t care for that；” said Mrs Guppy。 “Get out with you。 If we
ain’t good enough for you； go and procure somebody that is good
enough。 Go along and find ’em。”
I was quite unprepared for the rapid manner in which Mrs
Guppy’s power of jocularity merged into a power of taking the
profoundest offence。
“Go along and find somebody that is good enough for you；”
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Bleak House 1185
repeated Mrs Guppy。 “Get out！” Nothing seemed to astonish Mr
Guppy’s mother so much； and to make her so very indignant； as
our not getting out。 “Why don’t you get out？” said Mrs Guppy。
“What are you stopping here for？”
“Mother；” interposed her son； always getting before her； and
pushing her back with one shoulder； as she sidled at my Guardian；
“will you hold your tongue？”
“No； William；” she returned； “I won’t！ not unless he gets out； I
won’t！”
However； Mr Guppy and Mr Jobling together closed on Mr
Guppy’s mother （who began to be quite abusive）； and took her；
very much against her will； downstairs； her voice rising a stair
higher every time her figure got a stair lower； and insisting that we
should immediately go and find somebody who was good enough
for us； and above all things that we should get out。
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Chapter 65
Beginning The World
he term had commenced； and my Guardian found an
intimation from Mr Kenge that the Cause would come on
T
in two days。 As I had sufficient hopes of the will to be in a
flutter about it； Allan and I agreed to go down to the Court that
morning。 Richard was extremely agitated； and was so weak and
low； though his illness was still of the mind； that my dear girl
indeed had sore occasion to be supported。 But she looked
forward—a very little way now—to the
