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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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right”； it became advisable to take Mr Kenge into council。 Mr
Kenge； therefore； came down to dinner one day； and leaned back
in his chair； and turned his eyeglasses over and over； and spoke in
a sonorous voice； and did exactly what I remember to have seen
him do when I was a little girl。
“Ah！” said Mr Kenge。 “Yes。 Well！ A very good profession； Mr
Jarndyce； a very good profession。”
“The course of study and preparation requires to be diligently
pursued；” observed my Guardian； with a glance at Richard。
“O； no doubt；” said Mr Kenge。 “Diligently。”
“But that being the case； more or less； with all pursuits that are
worth much；” said Mr Jarndyce； “it is not a special consideration
which another choice would be likely to escape。”
“Truly；” said Mr Kenge。 “And Mr Richard Carstone； who has so
meritoriously acquitted himself in the—shall I say the classic
shades？—in which his youth had been passed； will； no doubt；
apply the habits； if not the principles and practice； of versification
in that tongue in which a poet was said （unless I mistake） to be
born； not made； to the more eminently practical field of action on
which he enters。”
“You may rely upon it；” said Richard； in his offhand manner；
“that I shall go at it； and do my best。”
“Very well； Mr Jarndyce！” said Mr Kenge； gently nodding his
head。 “Really； when we are assured by Mr Richard that he means
to go at it； and to do his best；” nodding feelingly and smoothly over
those expressions； “I would submit to you； that we have only to
inquire into the best mode of carrying out the object of his
ambition。 Now； with reference to placing Mr Richard with some
sufficiently eminent practitioner。 Is there any one in view at
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present？”
“No one； Rick； I think？” said my Guardian。
“No one； sir；” said Richard。
“Quite so！” observed Mr Kenge。 “As to situation； now。 Is there
any particular feeling on that head？”
“N…no；” said Richard。
“Quite so！” observed Mr Kenge again。
“I should like a little variety；” said Richard； “—I mean a good
range of experience。”
“Very requisite； no doubt；” returned Mr Kenge。 “I think this
may be easily arranged； Mr Jarndyce？ We have only； in the first
place； to discover a sufficiently eligible practitioner； and； as soon
as we make our want—and； shall I add； our ability to pay a
premium？—known； our only difficulty will be in the selection of
one from a large number。 We have only； in the second place； to
observe those little formalities which are rendered necessary by
our time of life； and our being under the guardianship of the
Court。 We shall soon be—shall I say； in Mr Richard’s own light…
hearted manner； ‘going at it’—to our heart’s content。 It is a
coincidence；” said Mr Kenge； with a tinge of melancholy in his
smile； “one of those coincidences which may or may not require
an explanation beyond our present limited faculties； that I have a
cousin in the medical profession。 He might be deemed eligible by
you； and might be disposed to respond to this proposal。 I can
answer for him as little as for you； but he might！”
As this was an opening in the prospect； it was arranged that Mr
Kenge should see his cousin。 And as Mr Jarndyce had before
proposed to take us to London for a few weeks； it was settled next
day that we should make our visit at once； and combine Richard’s
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business with it。
Mr Boythorn leaving us within a week； we took up our abode at
a cheerful lodging near Oxford Street； over an upholsterer’s shop。
London was a great wonder to us； and we were out for hours and
hours at a time； seeing the sights； which appeared to be less
capable of exhaustion than we were。 We made the round of the
principal theatres； too； with great delight； and saw all the plays
that were worth seeing。 I mention this； because it was at the
theatre that I began to be made uncomfortable again； by Mr
Guppy。
I was sitting in front of the box one night with Ada； and Richard
was in the place he liked best； behind Ada’s chair； when；
happening to look down into the pit； I saw Mr Guppy； with his hair
flattened down upon his head； and woe depicted in his face；
looking up at me。 I felt； all through the performance； that he never
looked at the actors； but constantly looked at me； and always with
a carefully prepared expression of the deepest misery and the
profoundest dejection。
It quite spoiled my pleasure for that night； because it was so
very embarrassing and so very ridiculous。 But； from that time
forth； we never went to the play without my seeing Mr Guppy in
the pit； always with his hair straight and flat； his shirt…collar
turned down； and a general feebleness about him。 If he were not
there when we went in； and I began to hope he would not come；
and yielded myself for a little while to the interest of the scene； I
was certain to encounter his languishing eyes when I least
expected it； and； from that time； to be quite sure that they were
fixed upon me all the evening。
I really cannot express how uneasy this made me。 If he would
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only have brushed up his hair； or turned up his collar； it would
have been bad enough； but to know that that absurd figure was
always gazing at me； and always in that demonstrative state of
despondency； put such a constraint upon me that I did not like to
laugh at the play； or to cry at it； or to move or to speak。 I seemed
able to do nothing naturally。 As to escaping Mr Guppy by going to
the back of the box； I could not bear to do that； because I knew
Richard and Ada relied on having me next them； and that they
could never have talked together so happily if anybody else had
been in my place。 So there I sat； not knowing where to look—for
wherever I looked； I knew Mr Guppy’s eyes were following me—
and thinking of the dreadful expense to which this young man was
putting himself on my account。
Sometimes； I thought of telling Mr Jarndyce。 Then I feared that
the young man would lose his situation； and that I might ruin him。
Sometimes； I thought of confiding in Richar