bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第129章
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good； but I don’t altogether like your being so bent upon it； in your
present state of mind； I’d rather you took to something else。’ I was
on my guard for a blow； he was that passionate； but he received it
in very good part； and left off directly。 We shook hands； and struck
up a sort of friendship。”
“What was that man？” asked my Guardian； in a new tone of
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interest。
“Why； he began by being a small Shropshire farmer； before
they made a baited bull of him；” said Mr George。
“Was his name Gridley？”
“It was； sir。”
Mr George directed another succession of quick bright glances
at me； as my Guardian and I exchanged a word or two of surprise
at the coincidence； and I therefore explained to him how we knew
the name。 He made me another of his soldierly bows； in
acknowledgment of what he called my condescension。
“I don’t know；” he said； as he looked at me； “what it is that sets
me off again—but—bosh； what’s my head running against！” He
passed one of his heavy hands over his crisp dark hair； as if to
sweep the broken thoughts out of his mind； and sat a little
forward； with one arm akimbo and the other resting on his leg；
looking in a brown study at the ground。
“I am sorry to learn that the same state of mind has got this
Gridley into new troubles； and that he is hiding；” said my
guardian。
“So I am told； sir；” returned Mr George； still musing and
looking on the ground。 “So I am told。”
“You don’t know where？”
“No； sir；” returned the trooper； lifting up his eyes and coming
out of his reverie。 “I can’t say anything about him。 He will be worn
out soon； I expect。 You may file a strong man’s heart away for a
good many years； but it will tell all of a sudden at last。”
Richard’s entrance stopped the conversation。 Mr George rose；
made me another of his soldierly bows； wished my Guardian a
good day； and strode heavily out of the room。
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Bleak House 478
This was the morning of the day appointed for Richard’s
departure。 We had no more purchases to make now； I had
completed all his packing early in the afternoon； and our time was
disengaged until night； when he was to go to Liverpool for
Holyhead。 Jarndyce and Jarndyce being again expected to come
on that day； Richard proposed to me that we should go down to
the Court and hear what passed。 As it was his last day； and he was
eager to go； and I had never been there； I gave my consent； and we
walked down to Westminster； where the Court was then sitting。
We beguiled the way with arrangements concerning the letters
that Richard was to write to me； and the letters that I was to write
to him； and with a great many hopeful projects。 My Guardian
knew where we were going； and therefore was not with us。
When we came to the Court； there was the Lord Chancellor—
the same whom I had seen in his private room in Lincoln’s Inn—
sitting in great state and gravity； on the bench； with the mace and
seals on a red table below him； and an immense flat nosegay； like a
little garden； which scented the whole Court。 Below the table；
again； was a long row of solicitors； with bundles of papers on the
matting at their feet； and then there were the gentlemen of the bar
in wigs and gowns—some awake and some asleep； and one
talking； and nobody paying much attention to what he said。 The
Lord Chancellor leaned back in his very easy chair； with his elbow
on the cushioned arm； and his forehead resting on his hand； some
of those who were present； dozed； some read the newspapers；
some walked about； or whispered in groups： all seemed perfectly
at their ease； by no means in a hurry； very unconcerned； and
extremely comfortable。
To see everything going on so smoothly； and to think of the
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roughness of the suitors’ lives and deaths； to see all that full dress
and ceremony； and to think of the waste； and want； and beggared
misery it represented； to consider that； while the sickness of hope
deferred was raging in so many hearts； this polite show went
calmly on from day to day； and year to year； in such good order
and composure； to behold the Lord Chancellor； and the whole
array of practitioners under him； looking at one another and at the
spectators； as if nobody had ever heard that all over England the
name in which they were assembled was a bitter jest： was held in
universal horror； contempt； and indignation； was known for
something so flagrant and bad； that little short of a miracle could
bring any good out of it to any one： this was so curious and self…
contradictory to me； who had no experience of it； that it was at
first incredible； and I could not comprehend it。 I sat where
Richard put me； and tried to listen； and looked about me； but
there seemed to be no reality in the whole scene； except poor little
Miss Flite； the mad…woman； standing on a bench； and nodding at
it。
Miss Flite soon espied us； and came to where we sat。 She gave
me a gracious welcome to her domain； and indicated； with much
gratification and pride； its principal attractions。 Mr Kenge also
came to speak to us； and did the honours of the place in much the
same way； with the bland modesty of a proprietor。 It was not a
very good day for a visit； he said； he would have preferred the first
day of term； but it was imposing； it was imposing。
When we had been there half an hour or so； the case in
progress—if I may use a phrase so ridiculous in such a
connection—seemed to die out of its own vapidity； without
coming； or being by anybody expected to come； to any result。 The
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Lord Chancellor then threw down a bundle of papers from his
desk to the gentleman below him； and somebody said
“JARNDYCE AND JARNDYCE。” Upon this there was a buzz； and
a laugh； and a general withdrawal of the bystanders； and a
bringing in of great heaps； and piles； and bags and bagfulls of
papers。
I think it came on “for further directions；”—about some bill of
costs； to the best of my understanding； which was confused
enough。 But I counted twenty…three gentlemen in wigs； who said
they wer
