按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and to conquer what was amiss in himself； and to acquire the very
soul of decision； that he made my heart ache keenly； sorely。 For； I
thought how would this end； how could this end； when so soon
and so surely all his manly qualities were touched by the fatal
blight that ruined everything it rested on！
I spoke to Richard with all the earnestness I felt； and all the
hope I could not quite feel then； and implored him； for Ada’s sake；
not to put any trust in Chancery。 To all I said； Richard readily
assented； riding over the Court and everything else in his easy
way； and drawing the brightest pictures of the character he was to
settle into—alas； when the grievous suit should loose its hold upon
him！ We had a long talk； but it always came back to that； in
substance。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 451…
Bleak House 451
At last； we came to Soho Square； where Caddy Jellyby had
appointed to wait for me； as a quiet place in the neighbourhood of
Newman…street。 Caddy was in the garden in the centre and
hurried out as soon as I appeared。 After a few cheerful words；
Richard left us together。
“Prince has a pupil over the way； Esther；” said Caddy； “and got
the key for us。 So； if you will walk round and round here with me；
we can lock ourselves in； and I can tell you comfortably what I
wanted to see your dear good face about。”
“Very well； my dear；” said I。 “Nothing could be better。” So
Caddy； after affectionately squeezing the dear good face as she
called it； locked the gate； and took my arm； and we began to walk
round the garden very cosily。
“You see； Esther；” said Caddy； who thoroughly enjoyed a little
confidence； “after you spoke to me about its being wrong to marry
without Ma’s knowledge； or even to keep Ma long in the dark
respecting our engagement—though I don’t believe Ma cares
much for me； I must say—I thought it right to mention your
opinions to Prince。 In the first place； because I want to profit by
everything you tell me； and in the second place； because I have no
secrets from Prince。”
“I hope he approved； Caddy？”
“O； my dear！ I assure you he would approve of anything you
could say。 You have no idea what an opinion he has of you！”
“Indeed？”
“Esther； it’s enough to make anybody but me jealous；” said
Caddy； laughing and shaking her head； “but it only makes me
joyful； for you are the first friend I ever had； and the best friend I
ever can have； and nobody can respect and love you too much to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 452…
Bleak House 452
please me。”
“Upon my word； Caddy；” said I； “you are in the general
conspiracy to keep me in a good humour。 Well； my dear？”
“Well！ I am going to tell you；” replied Caddy； crossing her
hands confidentially upon my arm。 “So we talked a good deal
about it； and so I said to Prince； ‘Prince； as Miss Summerson—’”
“I hope you didn’t say ‘Miss Summerson？’”
“No。 I didn’t！” cried Caddy； greatly pleased； and with the
brightest of faces。 “I said； ‘Esther。’ I said to Prince； ‘As Esther is
decidedly of that opinion； Prince； and has expressed it to me； and
always hints it when she writes those kind notes； which you are so
fond of hearing me read to you； I am prepared to disclose the truth
to Ma whenever you think proper。 And I think； Prince；’ said I； ‘that
Esther thinks that I should be in a better； and truer； and more
honourable position altogether； if you did the same to your Papa。’”
“Yes； my dear；” said I。 “Esther certainly does think so。”
“So I was right； you see！” exclaimed Caddy。 “Well！ this troubled
Prince a good deal； not because he had the least doubt about it；
but he is so considerate of the feelings of old Mr Turveydrop； and
he had his apprehensions that old Mr Turveydrop might break his
heart； or faint away； or be very much overcome in some affecting
manner or other； if he made such an announcement。 He feared old
Mr Turveydrop might consider it undutiful； and might receive too
great a shock。 For； old Mr Turveydrop’s deportment is very
beautiful you know； Esther；” added Caddy； “and his feelings are
extremely sensitive。”
“Are they； my dear？”
“O； extremely sensitive。 Prince says so。 Now； this has caused
my darling child—I didn’t mean to use the expression to you；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 453…
Bleak House 453
Esther；” Caddy apologised； her face suffused with blushes； “but I
generally call Prince my darling child。”
I laughed； and Caddy laughed and blushed； and went on。
“This has caused him； Esther—”
“Caused whom； my dear？”
“O you tiresome thing！” said Caddy； laughing； with her pretty
face on fire。 “My darling child； if you insist upon it！—This has；
caused him weeks of uneasiness； and has made him delay； from
day to day； in a very anxious manner。 At last he said to me； ‘Caddy；
if Miss Summerson； who is a great favourite with my father； could
be prevailed upon to be present when I broke the subject； I think I
could do it。’ So I promised I would ask you。 And I made up my
mind； besides；” said Caddy； looking at me hopefully but timidly；
“that if you consented； I would ask you afterwards to come with
me to Ma。 This is what I meant； when I said in my note that I had a
great favour and a great assistance to beg of you。 And if you
thought you could grant it； Esther； we should both be very
grateful。”
“Let me see； Caddy；” said I； pretending to consider。 “Really I
think I could do a greater thing than that； if the need were
pressing。 I am at your service and the darling child’s； my dear；
whenever you like。”
Caddy was quite transported by this reply of mine； being； I
believe； as susceptible to the least kindness or encouragement as
any tender heart that ever beat in this world； and after another
turn or two round the garden； during which she put on an entirely
new pair of gloves； and made herself as resplendent as possible
that she might do no avoidable discredit to the Master of
Deportment； we went to Newman Street direct。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 454…
Bleak House 454
Prince was teaching； of course。 We found him engaged with a
not very hopeful pupil—a stubborn little girl with a sulky
forehead；