bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第304章
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resumed。
“Mr Woodcourt is his disinterested friend；” I answered。
“But I mean in professional attendance； medical attendance。”
“That can do little for an unhappy mind；” said I。
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“Just so；” said Mr Vholes。
So slow； so eager； so bloodless and gaunt； I felt as if Richard
were wasting away beneath the eyes of this adviser； and there
were something of the Vampire in him。
“Miss Summerson；” said Mr Vholes； very slowly rubbing his
gloved hands； as if； to his cold sense of touch； they were much the
same in black kid or out of it； “this was an ill…advised marriage of
Mr C’s。”
I begged he would excuse me for discussing it。 They had been
engaged when they were both very young； I told him （a little
indignantly）； and when the prospect before them was much fairer
and brighter。 When Richard had not yielded himself to the
unhappy influence which now darkened his life。
“Just so；” assented Mr Vholes again。 “Still； with a view to
everything being openly carried on； I will； with your permission；
Miss Summerson； observe to you that I consider this a very ill…
advised marriage； indeed。 I owe the opinion； not only to Mr C’s
connections； against whom I should naturally wish to protect
myself； but also to my own reputation—dear to myself； as a
professional man aiming to keep respectable； dear to my three
girls at home； for whom I am striving to realise some little
independence； dear； I will even say； to my aged father； whom it is
my privilege to support。”
“It would become a very different marriage； a much happier
and better marriage； another marriage altogether； Mr Vholes；”
said I； “if Richard were persuaded to turn his back on the fatal
pursuit in which you are engaged with him。”
Mr Vholes； with a noiseless cough—or rather gasp—into one of
his black gloves； inclined his head as if he did not wholly dispute
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even that。
“Miss Summerson；” he said； “it may be so； and I freely admit
that the young lady who has taken Mr C’s name upon herself in so
ill…advised a manner—you will I am sure not quarrel with me for
throwing out that remark again； as a duty I owe to Mr C’s
connections—is a highly genteel young lady。 Business has
prevented me from mixing much with general society； in any but a
professional character； still I trust I am competent to perceive that
she is a highly genteel young lady。 As to beauty； I am not a judge
of that myself； and I never did give much attention to it from a boy；
but I dare say the young lady is equally eligible； in that point of
view。 She is considered so （I have heard） among the clerks in the
Inn； and it is a point more in their way than in mine。 In reference
to Mr C。’s pursuit of his interests—”
“O！ His interests； Mr Vholes！”
“Pardon me；” returned Mr Vholes； going on in exactly the same
inward and dispassionate manner。 “Mr C takes certain interests
under certain wills disputed in the suit。 It is a term we use。 In
reference to Mr C’s pursuit of his interests； I mentioned to you；
Miss Summerson； the first time I had the pleasure of seeing you； in
my desire that everything should be openly carried on—I used
those words； for I happened afterwards to note them in my diary；
which is producible at any time—I mentioned to you that Mr C
had laid down the principle of watching his own interests； and that
when a client of mine laid down a principle which was not of an
immoral （that is to say； unlawful） nature； it devolved upon me to
carry it out。 I have carried it out； I do carry it out。 But I will not
smooth things over； to any connection of Mr C’s； on any account。
As open as I was to Mr Jarndyce； I am to you。 I regard it in the
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light of a professional duty to be so； though it can be charged to no
one。 I openly say； unpalatable as it may be； that I consider Mr； C’s
affairs in a very bad way； that I consider Mr C himself in a very
bad way； and that I regard this as an exceedingly ill…advised
marriage。—Am I here； sir？ Yes； I thank you； I am here； Mr C； and
enjoying the pleasure of some agreeable conversation with Miss
Summerson； for which I have to thank you very much； sir！”
He broke off thus； in answer to Richard； who addressed him as
he came into the room。 By this time I too well understood Mr
Vholes’s scrupulous way of saving himself and his respectability；
not to feel that our worst fears did but keep pace with his client’s
progress。
We sat down to dinner； and I had an opportunity of observing
Richard； anxiously。 I was not disturbed by Mr Vholes （who took off
his gloves to dine）； though he sat opposite to me at the small table；
for I doubt if； looking up at all； he once removed his eyes from his
host’s face。 I found Richard thin and languid； slovenly in his dress；
abstracted in his manner； forcing his spirits now and then； and at
other intervals relapsing into a dull thoughtfulness。 About his
large bright eyes that used to be so merry； there was a wanness
and a restlessness that changed them altogether。 I cannot use the
expression that he looked old。 There is a ruin of youth which is not
like age； and into such a ruin； Richard’s youth and youthful beauty
had all fallen away。
He ate little； and seemed indifferent what it was； showed
himself to be much more impatient than he used to be； and was
quick； even with Ada。 I thought； at first； that his old light…hearted
manner was all gone； but it shone out of him sometimes； as I had
occasionally known little momentary glimpses of my own old face
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to look out upon me from the glass。 His laugh had not quite left
him either； but it was like the echo of a joyful sound； and that is
always sorrowful。
Yet he was as glad as ever in his old affectionate way； to have
me there； and we talked of the old times pleasantly。 These did not
appear to be interesting to Mr Vholes； though he occasionally
made a gasp which I believe was his smile。 He rose shortly after
dinner； and said that with the permission of the ladies he would
retire to his office。
“Always devoted to business； Vholes！” cried Richard。
“Yes； Mr C；” he returned； “the interests of clients are never to
be neglected； sir。 They are paramount
