bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第130章
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costs； to the best of my understanding； which was confused
enough。 But I counted twenty…three gentlemen in wigs； who said
they were “in it；” and none of them appeared to understand it
much better than I。 They chatted about it with the Lord
Chancellor； and contradicted and explained among themselves；
and some of them said it was this way； and some of them said it
was that way； and some of them jocosely proposed to read huge
volumes of affidavits； and there was more buzzing and laughing；
and everybody concerned was in a state of idle entertainment； and
nothing could be made of it by anybody。 After an hour or so of this；
and a good many speeches being begun and cut short； it was
“referred back for the present；” as Mr Kenge said； and the papers
were bundled up again； before the clerks had finished bringing
them in。
I glanced at Richard； on the termination of these hopeless
proceedings； and was shocked so see the worn look of his
handsome young face。 “It can’t last for ever； Dame Durden。 Better
luck next time！” was all he said。
I had seen Mr Guppy bringing in papers； and arranging them
for Mr Kenge； and he had seen me and made me a forlorn bow；
which rendered me desirous to get out of the Court。 Richard had
given me his arm and was taking me away； when Mr Guppy came
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up。
“I beg your pardon； Mr Carstone；” said he in a whisper； “and
Miss Summerson’s also； but there’s a lady here； a friend of mine；
who knows her； and wishes to have the pleasure of shaking
hands。” As he spoke； I saw before me； as if she had started into
bodily shape from my remembrance； Mrs Rachael of my
godmother’s house。
“How do you do； Esther？” said she。 “Do you recollect me？”
I gave her my hand； and told her yes； and that she was very
little altered。
“I wonder you remember those times； Esther；” she returned
with her old asperity。 “They are changed now。 Well！ I am glad to
see you； and glad you are not too proud to know me。” But； indeed
she seemed disappointed that I was not。
“Proud； Mrs Rachael！” I remonstrated。
“I am married； Esther；” she returned； coldly correcting me；
“and am Mrs Chadband。 Well！ I wish you good day； and I hope
you’ll do well。”
Mr Guppy； who had been attentive to this short dialogue；
heaved a sigh in my ear； and elbowed his own and Mrs Rachael’s
way through the confused little crowd of people coming in and
going out； which we were in the midst of； and which the change in
the business had brought together。 Richard and I were making
our way through it； and I was yet in the first chill of the late
unexpected recognition； when I saw； coming towards us； but not
seeing us； no less a person than Mr George。 He made nothing of
the people about him as he tramped on； staring over their heads
into the body of the Court。
“George！” said Richard； as I called his attention to him。
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Bleak House 482
“You are well met； sir；” he returned。 “And you； miss。 Could you
point a person out for me； I want？ I don’t understand these
places。”
Turning as he spoke； and making an easy way for us； he
stopped when we were out of the press； in a corner behind a great
red curtain。
“There’s a little cracked old woman；” he began； “that—”
I put up my finger； for Miss Flite was close by me； having kept
beside me all the time； and having called the attention of several of
her legal acquaintance to me （as I had overheard to my confusion）；
by whispering in their ears； “Hush！ Fitz…Jarndyce on my left！”
“Hem！” said Mr George。 “You remember； miss； that we passed
some conversation on a certain man this morning？—Gridley；” in a
low whisper behind his hand。
“Yes；” said I。
“He is hiding at my place。 I couldn’t mention it。 Hadn’t his
authority。 He is on his last march； miss； and has a whim to see her。
He says they can feel for one another； and she has been almost as
good as a friend to him here。 I came down to look for her； for when
I sat by Gridley this afternoon； I seemed to hear the roll of the
muffled drums。”
“Shall I tell her？” said I。
“Would you be so good？” he returned； with a glance of
something like apprehension at Miss Flite。 “It’s a Providence I met
you； miss； I doubt if I should have known how to get on with that
lady。” And he put one hand in his breast； and stood upright in a
martial attitude； as I informed little Miss Flite； in her ear； of the
purport of his kind errand。
“My angry friend from Shropshire！ Almost as celebrated as
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Bleak House 483
myself！” she exclaimed。 “Now really！ My dear； I will wait upon
him with the greatest pleasure。”
“He is living concealed at Mr George’s；” said I。 “Hush！ This is
Mr George。”
“In…deed！” returned Miss Flite。 “Very proud to have the
honour！ A military man； my dear。 You know； a perfect General！”
she whispered to me。
Poor Miss Flite deemed it necessary to be so courtly and polite；
as a mark of her respect for the army； and to courtesy so very
often； that it was no easy matter to get her out of the Court。 When
this was at last done； and addressing Mr George； as “General；” she
gave him her arm to the great entertainment of some idlers who
were looking on； he was so discomposed； and begged me so
respectfully “not to desert him；” that I could not make up my mind
to do it； especially as Miss Flite was always tractable with me； and
as she too said； “Fitz…Jarndyce； my dear； you will accompany us； of
course。” As Richard seemed quite willing； and even anxious； that
we should see them safely to their destination； we agreed to do so。
And as Mr George informed us that Gridley’s mind had run on Mr
Jarndyce all the afternoon； after hearing of their interview in the
morning； I wrote a hasty note in pencil to my Guardian to say
where we were gone； and why。 Mr George sealed it at a coffee…
house； that it might lead to no discovery； and we sent it off by a
ticket…porter。
We then took a hackney coach； and drove away to the
neighbourhood of Leicester Square。 We walked through some
narrow courts； for which Mr George apologised； and soon came to
the Shooting Gallery； the door of which was closed。 As he pulled a
bell…handle which hung by a chain to the door…post； a very
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