tothe
rescue
of
Mr.
Jellyby
from
Borrioboola
Gha
,
appeared
to
me
to
be
one
of
the
pleasantest
of
oddities
.
“
As
to
Peepy
,
”
said
Caddy
,
with
a
little
hesitation
,
“
whom
I
was
most
afraid
of
—
next
to
having
any
family
of
my
own
,
Esther
—
as
an
inconvenience
to
Mr.
Turveydrop
,
the
kindness
of
the
old
gentleman
to
that
child
is
beyond
everything
.
He
asks
to
see
him
,
my
dear
!
He
lets
him
take
the
newspaper
up
to
him
in
bed
;
he
gives
him
the
crusts
of
his
toast
to
eat
;
he
sends
him
on
little
errands
about
the
house
;
he
tells
him
to
come
to
me
for
sixpences
.
In
short
,
”
said
Caddy
,
cheerily
,
“
and
not
to
prose
,
I
am
a
very
fortunate
girl
,
and
ought
to
be
very
grateful
.
Where
are
we
going
,
Esther
?
”
“
To
the
Old
Street
Road
,
”
said
I
;
“
where
I
have
a
few
words
to
say
to
the
solicitor
's
clerk
,
who
was
sent
to
meet
me
at
the
coach-office
on
the
very
day
when
I
came
to
London
,
and
first
saw
you
,
my
dear
.
Now
I
think
of
it
,
the
gentleman
who
brought
us
to
your
house
.
”
“
Then
,
indeed
,
I
seem
to
be
naturally
the
person
to
go
with
you
,
”
returned
Caddy
.
To
the
Old
Street
Road
we
went
,
and
there
inquired
at
Mrs.
Guppy
's
residence
for
Mrs.
Guppy
.
Mrs.
Guppy
,
occupying
the
parlors
,
and
having
indeed
been
visibly
in
danger
of
cracking
herself
like
a
nut
in
the
front
parlor
door
by
peeping
out
before
she
was
asked
for
,
immediately
presented
herself
,
and
requested
us
to
walk
in
.
She
was
an
old
lady
in
a
large
cap
,
with
rather
a
red
nose
and
rather
an
unsteady
eye
,
but
smiling
all
over
.
Her
close
little
sitting-room
was
prepared
for
a
visit
;
and
there
was
a
portrait
of
her
son
in
it
,
which
,
I
had
almost
written
here
,
was
more
like
than
life
:
it
insisted
upon
him
with
such
obstinacy
,
and
was
so
determined
not
to
let
him
off
.
Not
only
was
the
portrait
there
,
but
we
found
the
original
there
too
.
He
was
dressed
in
a
great
many
colors
,
and
was
discovered
at
a
table
reading
law-papers
with
his
forefinger
to
his
forehead
.
“
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
,
rising
,
“
this
is
indeed
an
Oasis
.
Mother
,
will
you
be
so
good
as
to
put
a
chair
for
the
other
lady
,
and
get
out
of
the
gang-way
.
”
Mrs.
Guppy
,
whose
incessant
smiling
gave
her
quite
a
waggish
appearance
,
did
as
her
son
requested
;
and
then
sat
down
in
a
corner
,
holding
her
pocket-handkerchief
to
her
chest
,
like
a
fomentation
,
with
both
hands
.
I
presented
Caddy
,
and
Mr.
Guppy
said
that
any
friend
of
mine
was
more
than
welcome
.
I
then
proceeded
to
the
object
of
my
visit
.
“
I
took
the
liberty
of
sending
you
a
note
,
sir
,
”
said
I
.
Mr.
Guppy
acknowledged
its
receipt
by
taking
it
out
of
his
breast
pocket
,
putting
it
to
his
lips
,
and
returning
it
to
his
pocket
with
a
bow
.
Mr.
Guppy
's
mother
was
so
diverted
that
she
rolled
her
head
as
she
smiled
,
and
made
a
silent
appeal
to
Caddy
with
her
elbow
.
“
Could
I
speak
to
you
alone
for
a
moment
?
”
said
I
.
Anything
like
the
jocoseness
of
Mr.
Guppy
's
mother
now
,
I
think
I
never
saw
.
She
made
no
sound
of
laughter
;
but
she
rolled
her
head
,
and
shook
it
,
and
put
her
handkerchief
to
her
mouth
,
and
appealed
to
Caddy
with
her
elbow
,
and
her
hand
,
and
her
shoulder
,
and
was
so
unspeakably
entertained
altogether
that
it
was
with
some
difficulty
she
could
marshal
Caddy
through
the
little
folding-door
into
her
bed-room
adjoining
.
“
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
,
“
you
will
excuse
the
waywardness
of
a
parent
ever
mindful
of
a
son
's
appiness
.
My
mother
,
though
highly
exasperating
to
the
feelings
,
is
actuated
by
maternal
dictates
.
”
I
could
hardly
have
believed
that
anybody
could
in
a
moment
have
turned
so
red
,
or
changed
so
much
,
as
Mr.
Guppy
did
when
I
now
put
up
my
veil
.
“
I
asked
the
favor
of
seeing
you
for
a
few
moments
here
,
”
said
I
,
“
in
preference
to
calling
at
Mr.
Kenge
's
,
because
,
remembering
what
you
said
on
an
occasion
when
you
spoke
to
me
in
confidence
,
I
feared
I
might
otherwise
cause
you
some
embarrassment
,
Mr.
Guppy
.
”
I
caused
him
embarrassment
enough
as
it
was
,
I
am
sure
.
I
never
saw
such
faltering
,
such
confusion
,
such
amazement
and
apprehension
.
“
Miss
Summerson
,
”
stammered
Mr.
Guppy
,
“
I
—
I
—
beg
your
pardon
,
but
in
our
profession
—
we
—
we
—
find
it
necessary
to
be
explicit
.
You
have
referred
to
an
occasion
,
miss
,
when
I
—
when
I
did
myself
the
honor
of
making
a
declaration
which
—
”
Something
seemed
to
rise
in
his
throat
that
he
could
not
possibly
swallow
.
He
put
his
hand
there
,
coughed
,
made
faces
,
tried
again
to
swallow
it
,
coughed
again
,
made
faces
again
,
looked
all
round
the
room
,
and
fluttered
his
papers
.
“
A
kind
of
a
giddy
sensation
has
come
upon
me
,
miss
,
”
he
explained
,
“
which
rather
knocks
me
over
.
I
—
er
—
a
little
subject
to
this
sort
of
thing
—
er
—
By
George
!
”
I
gave
him
a
little
time
to
recover
.
He
consumed
it
in
putting
his
hand
to
his
forehead
and
taking
it
away
again
,
and
in
backing
his
chair
into
the
corner
behind
him
.
“
My
intention
was
to
remark
,
miss
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
,
“
—
dear
me
—
something
bronchial
,
I
think
—
hem
!
—
to
remark
that
you
was
so
good
on
that
occasion
as
to
repel
and
repudiate
that
declaration
.
You
—
you
would
n't
perhaps
object
to
admit
that
?
Though
no
witnesses
are
present
,
it
might
be
a
satisfaction
to
—
to
your
mind
—
if
you
was
to
put
in
that
admission
.
”
“
There
can
be
no
doubt
,
”
said
I
,
“
that
I
declined
your
proposal
without
any
reservation
or
qualification
whatever
,
Mr.
Guppy
.
”
“
Thank
you
miss
,
”
he
returned
,
measuring
the
table
with
his
troubled
hands
.
“
So
far
that
's
satisfactory
,
and
it
does
you
credit
.
Er
—
this
is
certainly
bronchial
!
—
must
be
in
the
tubes
—
er
—
you
would
n't
perhaps
be
offended
if
I
was
to
mention
—
not
that
it
's
necessary
,
for
your
own
good
sense
or
any
person
's
sense
must
shew
'
em
that
—
if
I
was
to
mention
that
such
declaration
on
my
part
was
final
,
and
there
terminated
?
”
“
I
quite
understand
that
,
”
said
I
.
“
Perhaps
—
er
—
it
may
not
be
worth
the
form
,
but
it
might
be
a
satisfaction
to
your
mind
—
perhaps
you
would
n't
object
to
admit
that
,
miss
?
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
.
“
I
admit
it
most
fully
and
freely
,
”
said
I
.
“
Thank
you
,
”
returned
Mr.
Guppy
.
“
Very
honorable
,
I
am
sure
.
I
regret
that
my
arrangements
in
life
,
combined
with
circumstances
over
which
I
have
no
control
,
will
put
it
out
of
my
power
ever
to
fall
back
upon
that
offer
,
or
to
renew
it
in
any
shape
or
form
whatever
;
but
it
will
ever
be
a
retrospect
entwined
—
er
—
with
friendship
's
bowers
.
”
Mr.
Guppy
's
bronchitis
came
to
his
relief
,
and
stopped
his
measurement
of
the
table
.
“
I
may
now
perhaps
mention
what
I
wished
to
say
to
you
?
”
I
began
.
“
I
shall
be
honored
,
I
am
sure
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
.
“
I
am
so
persuaded
that
your
own
good
sense
and
right
feeling
,
miss
,
will
—
will
keep
you
as
square
as
possible
—
that
I
can
have
nothing
but
pleasure
,
I
am
sure
,
in
hearing
any
observations
you
may
wish
to
offer
.
“
You
were
so
good
as
to
imply
,
on
that
occasion
—
”
“
Excuse
me
,
miss
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
,
“
but
we
had
better
not
travel
out
of
the
record
into
implication
.
I
cannot
admit
that
I
implied
anything
.
”
“
You
said
on
that
occasion
,
”
I
recommenced
,
“
that
you
might
possibly
have
the
means
of
advancing
my
interests
,
and
promoting
my
fortunes
,
by
making
discoveries
of
which
I
should
be
the
subject
.
I
presume
that
you
founded
that
belief
upon
your
general
knowledge
of
my
being
an
orphan
girl
,
indebted
for
everything
to
the
benevolence
of
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
Now
,
the
beginning
and
the
end
of
what
I
have
come
to
beg
of
you
is
,
Mr.
Guppy
,
that
you
will
have
the
kindness
to
relinquish
all
idea
of
so
serving
me
.
I
have
thought
of
this
sometimes
,
and
I
have
thought
of
it
most
,
lately
—
since
I
have
been
ill.
At
length
I
have
decided
,
in
case
you
should
at
any
time
recal
that
purpose
,
and
act
upon
it
in
any
way
,
to
come
to
you
,
and
assure
you
that
you
are
altogether
mistaken
.
You
could
make
no
discovery
in
reference
to
me
that
would
do
me
the
least
service
,
or
give
me
the
least
pleasure
.
I
am
acquainted
with
my
personal
history
;
and
I
have
it
in
my
power
to
assure
you
that
you
never
can
advance
my
welfare
by
such
means
.
You
may
,
perhaps
,
have
abandoned
this
project
a
long
time
.
If
so
,
excuse
my
giving
you
unnecessary
trouble
.
If
not
,
I
entreat
you
,
on
the
assurance
I
have
given
you
,
henceforth
to
lay
it
aside
.
I
beg
you
to
do
this
,
for
my
peace
.
”
“
I
am
bound
to
confess
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
,
“
that
you
express
yourself
,
miss
,
with
that
good
sense
and
right
feeling
for
which
I
gave
you
credit
.
Nothing
can
be
more
satisfactory
than
such
right
feeling
,
and
if
I
mistook
any
intentions
on
your
part
just
now
,
I
am
prepared
to
tender
a
full
apology
.
I
should
wish
to
be
understood
,
miss
,
as
hereby
offering
that
apology
—
limiting
it
,
as
your
own
good
sense
and
right
feeling
will
point
out
the
necessity
of
,
to
the
present
proceedings
.
”
I
must
say
for
Mr.
Guppy
that
the
shuffling
manner
he
had
had
upon
him
improved
very
much
.
He
seemed
truly
glad
to
be
able
to
do
something
I
asked
,
and
he
looked
ashamed
.
“
If
you
will
allow
me
to
finish
what
I
have
to
say
at
once
,
so
that
I
may
have
no
occasion
to
resume
,
”
I
went
on
,
seeing
him
about
to
speak
,
“
you
will
do
me
a
kindness
sir
.
I
come
to
you
as
privately
as
possible
,
because
you
announced
this
impression
of
yours
to
me
in
a
confidence
which
I
have
really
wished
to
respect
—
and
which
I
always
have
respected
,
as
you
remember
.
I
have
mentioned
my
illness
.
There
really
is
no
reason
why
I
should
hesitate
to
say
that
I
know
very
well
that
any
little
delicacy
I
might
have
had
in
making
a
request
to
you
,
is
quite
removed
.
Therefore
I
make
the
entreaty
I
have
now
preferred
;
and
I
hope
you
will
have
sufficient
consideration
for
me
,
to
accede
to
it
.
”
I
must
do
Mr.
Guppy
the
further
justice
of
saying
that
he
had
looked
more
and
more
ashamed
,
and
that
he
looked
most
ashamed
,
and
very
earnest
,
when
he
now
replied
with
a
burning
face
:
“
Upon
my
word
and
honor
,
upon
my
life
,
upon
my
soul
,
Miss
Summerson
,
as
I
am
a
living
man
,
I
'll
act
according
to
your
wish
!
I
'll
never
go
another
step
in
opposition
to
it
.
I
'll
take
my
oath
to
it
,
if
it
will
be
any
satisfaction
to
you
.
In
what
I
promise
at
this
present
time
touching
the
matters
now
in
question
,
”
continued
Mr.
Guppy
,
rapidly
,
as
if
he
were
repeating
a
familiar
form
of
words
,
“
I
speak
the
truth
,
the
whole
truth
,
and
nothing
but
the
truth
,
so
—
”
“
I
am
quite
satisfied
,
”
said
I
,
rising
at
this
point
,
“
and
I
thank
you
very
much
.
Caddy
,
my
dear
,
I
am
ready
!
”
Mr.
Guppy
's
mother
returned
with
Caddy
(
now
making
me
the
recipient
of
her
silent
laughter
and
her
nudges
)
,
and
we
took
our
leave
Mr.
Guppy
saw
us
to
the
door
with
the
air
of
one
who
was
either
imperfectly
awake
or
walking
in
his
sleep
;
and
we
left
him
there
,
staring
.
But
in
a
minute
he
came
after
us
down
the
street
without
any
hat
,
and
with
his
long
hair
all
blown
about
,
and
stopped
us
,
saying
fervently
:
“
Miss
Summerson
,
upon
my
honor
and
soul
,
you
may
depend
upon
me
!
“
I
do
,
”
said
I
,
“
quite
confidently
.
”
“
I
beg
your
pardon
,
miss
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
,
going
with
one
leg
and
staying
with
the
other
,
“
but
this
lady
being
present
—
your
own
witness
—
it
might
be
a
satisfaction
to
your
mind
(
which
I
should
wish
to
set
at
rest
)
if
you
was
to
repeat
those
admissions
.
”
“
Well
,
Caddy
,
”
said
I
,
turning
to
her
,
“
perhaps
you
will
not
be
surprised
when
I
tell
you
,
my
dear
,
that
there
never
has
been
any
engagement
—
”
“
No
proposal
or
promise
of
marriage
whatsoever
,
”
suggested
Mr.
Guppy
.
“
No
proposal
or
promise
of
marriage
whatsoever
,
”
said
I
,
“
between
this
gentleman
—
”
“
William
Guppy
of
Penton
Place
,
Pentonville
,
in
the
county
of
Middlesex
,
”
he
murmured
.
“
Between
this
gentleman
,
Mr.
William
Guppy
of
Penton
Place
,
Pentonville
,
in
the
county
of
Middlesex
,
and
myself
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
miss
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
.
“
Very
full
,
—
er
—
excuse
me
—
lady
's
name
,
christian
and
surname
both
?
”
I
gave
them
.
“
Married
woman
,
I
believe
?
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
.
“
Married
woman
.
Thank
you
.
Formerly
Caroline
Jellyby
,
spinster
,
then
of
Thavies
Inn
,
within
the
city
of
London
,
but
extra-parochial
;
now
of
Newman-street
,
Oxford-street
.
Much
obliged
.
”
He
ran
home
and
came
running
back
again
.
“
Touching
that
matter
,
you
know
,
I
really
and
truly
am
very
sorry
that
my
arrangements
in
life
,
combined
with
circumstances
over
which
I
have
no
control
,
should
prevent
a
renewal
of
what
was
wholly
terminated
some
time
back
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
to
me
,
forlornly
and
despondently
,
“
but
it
could
n't
be
.
Now
could
it
,
you
know
!
I
only
put
it
to
you
.
”
I
replied
it
certainly
could
not
.
The
subject
did
not
admit
of
a
doubt
.
He
thanked
me
,
and
ran
to
his
mother
's
again
—
and
back
again
.
“
It
's
very
honorable
of
you
,
miss
,
I
am
sure
,
”
said
Mr.
Guppy
.
“
If
an
altar
could
be
erected
in
the
bowers
of
friendship
—
but
,
upon
my
soul
,
you
may
rely
upon
me
in
every
respect
,
save
and
except
the
tender
passion
only
!
”
The
struggle
in
Mr.
Guppy
's
breast
,
and
the
numerous
oscillations
it
occasioned
him
between
his
mother
's
door
and
us
,
were
sufficiently
conspicuous
in
the
windy
street
(
particularly
as
his
hair
wanted
cutting
)
,
to
make
us
hurry
away
.
I
did
so
with
a
lightened
heart
;
but
when
we
last
looked
back
,
Mr.
Guppy
was
still
oscillating
in
the
same
troubled
state
of
mind
.
CHAPTER
XXXIX
.
ATTORNEY
AND
CLIENT
.
THE
name
of
MR.
VHOLES
,
preceded
by
the
legend
GROUND
FLOOR
,
is
inscribed
upon
a
doorpost
in
Symond
's
Inn
,
Chancery
Lane
:
a
little
,
pale
,
wall-eyed
,
woe-begone
inn
,
like
a
large
dustbinn
of
two
compartments
and
a
sifter
.
It
looks
as
if
Symond
were
a
sparing
man
in
his
day
,
and
constructed
his
inn
of
old
building
materials
,
which
took
kindly
to
the
dry
rot
and
to
dirt
and
all
things
decaying
and
dismal
,
and
perpetuated
Symond
's
memory
with
congenial
shabbiness
.
Quartered
in
this
dingy
hatchment
commemorative
of
Symond
,
are
the
legal
bearings
of
Mr.
Vholes
.
Mr.
Vholes
's
office
,
in
disposition
retiring
and
in
situation
retired
,
is
squeezed
up
in
a
corner
,
and
blinks
at
a
dead
wall
.
Three
feet
of
knotty
floored
dark
passage
bring
the
client
to
Mr.
Vholes
's
jet
black
door
,
in
an
angle
profoundly
dark
on
the
brightest
midsummer
morning
,
and
encumbered
by
a
black
bulk-head
of
cellarage
staircase
,
against
which
belated
civilians
generally
strike
their
brows
.
Mr.
Vholes
's
chambers
are
on
so
small
a
scale
,
that
one
clerk
can
open
the
door
without
getting
off
his
stool
,
while
the
other
who
elbows
him
at
the
same
desk
has
equal
facilities
for
poking
the
fire
.
A
smell
as
of
unwholesome
sheep
,
blending
with
the
smell
of
must
and
dust
,
is
referable
to
the
nightly
(
and
often
daily
)
consumption
of
mutton
fat
in
candles
,
and
to
the
fretting
of
parchment
forms
and
skins
in
greasy
drawers
.
The
atmosphere
is
otherwise
stale
and
close
.
The
place
was
last
painted
or
whitewashed
beyond
the
memory
of
man
,
and
the
two
chimneys
smoke
,
and
there
is
a
loose
outer
surface
of
soot
everywhere
,
and
the
dull
cracked
windows
in
their
heavy
frames
have
but
one
piece
of
character
in
them
,
which
is
a
determination
to
be
always
dirty
,
and
always
shut
,
unless
coerced
.
This
accounts
for
the
phenomenon
of
the
weaker
of
the
two
usually
having
a
bundle
of
firewood
thrust
between
its
jaws
in
hot
weather
.
Mr.
Vholes
is
a
very
respectable
man
.
He
has
not
a
large
business
,
but
he
is
a
very
respectable
man
.
He
is
allowed
by
the
greater
attorneys
who
have
made
good
fortunes
,
or
are
making
them
,
to
be
a
most
respectable
man
.
He
never
misses
a
chance
in
his
practice
;
which
is
a
mark
of
respectability
.
He
never
takes
any
pleasure
;
which
is
another
mark
of
respectability
.
He
is
reserved
and
serious
;
which
is
another
mark
of
respectability
.
His
digestion
is
impaired
,
which
is
highly
respectable
.
And
he
is
making
hay
of
the
grass
which
is
flesh
,
for
his
three
daughters
.
And
his
father
is
dependent
on
him
in
the
Vale
of
Taunton
.
The
one
great
principle
of
the
English
law
is
,
to
make
business
for
itself
.
There
is
no
other
principle
distinctly
,
certainly
,
and
consistently
maintained
through
all
its
narrow
turnings
.
Viewed
by
this
light
it
becomes
a
coherent
scheme
,
and
not
the
monstrous
maze
the
laity
are
apt
to
think
it
.
Let
them
but
once
clearly
perceive
that
its
grand
principle
is
to
make
business
for
itself
at
their
expense
,
and
surely
they
will
cease
to
grumble
.
But
,
not
perceiving
this
quite
plainly
—
only
seeing
it
by
halves
in
a
confused
way
—
the
laity
sometimes
suffer
in
peace
and
pocket
,
with
a
bad
grace
,
and
do
grumble
very
much
.
Then
this
respectability
of
Mr.
Vholes
is
brought
into
powerful
play
against
them
.
“
Repeal
this
statute
,
my
good
sir
?
”
says
Mr.
Kenge
,
to
a
smarting
client
,
“
repeal
it
,
my
dear
sir
?
Never
,
with
my
consent
.
Alter
this
law
,
sir
,
and
what
will
be
the
effect
of
your
rash
proceeding
on
a
class
of
practitioners
very
worthily
represented
,
allow
me
to
say
to
you
,
by
the
opposite
attorney
in
the
case
,
Mr.
Vholes
?
Sir
,
that
class
of
practitioners
would
be
swept
from
the
face
of
the
earth
.
Now
you
cannot
afford
—
I
would
say
,
the
social
system
cannot
afford
—
to
lose
an
order
of
men
like
Mr.
Vholes
.
Diligent
,
persevering
,
steady
,
acute
in
business
.
My
dear
sir
,
I
understand
your
present
feelings
against
the
existing
state
of
things
,
which
I
grant
to
be
a
little
hard
in
your
case
;
but
I
can
never
raise
my
voice
for
the
demolition
of
a
class
of
men
like
Mr.
Vholes
.
”
The
respectability
of
Mr.
Vholes
has
even
been
cited
with
crushing
effect
before
Parliamentary
committees
,
as
in
the
following
blue
minutes
of
a
distinguished
attorney
's
evidence
.
“
Question
(
number
five
hundred
and
seventeen
thousand
eight
hundred
and
sixty-nine
)
.
If
I
understand
you
,
these
forms
of
practice
indisputably
occasion
delay
?
Answer
.
Yes
,
some
delay
.
Question
.
And
great
expense
?
Answer
.
Most
assuredly
they
cannot
be
gone
through
for
nothing
.
Question
.
And
unspeakable
vexation
?
Answer
.
I
am
not
prepared
to
say
that
.
They
have
never
given
me
any
vexation
;
quite
the
contrary
.
Question
.
But
you
think
that
their
abolition
would
damage
a
class
of
practitioners
?
Answer
.
I
have
no
doubt
of
it
.
Question
.
Can
you
instance
any
type
of
that
class
?
Answer
.
Yes
.
I
would
unhesitatingly
mention
Mr.
Vholes
.
He
would
be
ruined
.
Question
.
Mr.
Vholes
is
considered
,
in
the
profession
,
a
respectable
man
?
Answer
”
—
which
proved
fatal
to
the
enquiry
for
ten
years
—
“
Mr
.
Vholes
is
considered
,
in
the
profession
,
a
most
respectable
man
.
”
So
in
familiar
conversation
,
private
authorities
no
less
disinterested
will
remark
that
they
do
n't
know
what
this
age
is
coming
to
;
that
we
are
plunging
down
precipices
;
that
now
here
is
something
else
gone
;
that
these
changes
are
death
to
people
like
Vholes
:
a
man
of
undoubted
respectability
,
with
a
father
in
the
Vale
of
Taunton
,
and
three
daughters
at
home
.
Take
a
few
steps
more
in
this
direction
,
say
they
,
and
what
is
to
become
of
Vholes
's
father
?
Is
he
to
perish
?
And
of
Vholes
's
daughters
?
Are
they
to
be
shirt-makers
,
or
governesses
?
As
though
,
Mr.
Vholes
and
his
relations
being
minor
cannibal
chiefs
,
and
it
being
proposed
to
abolish
cannibalism
,
indignant
champions
were
to
put
the
case
thus
:
Make
man-eating
unlawful
,
and
you
starve
the
Vholeses
!
In
a
word
,
Mr.
Vholes
,
with
his
three
daughters
and
his
father
in
the
Vale
of
Taunton
,
is
continually
doing
duty
,
like
a
piece
of
timber
,
to
shore
up
some
decayed
foundation
that
has
become
a
pit-fall
and
a
nuisance
.
And
with
a
great
many
people
,
in
a
great
many
instances
,
the
question
is
never
one
of
a
change
from
Wrong
to
Right
(
which
is
quite
an
extraneous
consideration
)
,
but
is
always
one
of
injury
or
advantage
to
that
eminently
respectable
legion
,
Vholes
.
The
Chancellor
is
,
within
these
ten
minutes
,
“
up
”
for
the
long
vacation
.
Mr.
Vholes
,
and
his
young
client
,
and
several
blue
bags
hastily
stuffed
,
out
of
all
regularity
of
form
,
as
the
larger
sort
of
serpents
are
in
their
first
gorged
state
,
have
returned
to
the
official
den
.
Mr.
Vholes
,
quiet
and
unmoved
,
as
a
man
of
so
much
respectability
ought
to
be
,
takes
off
his
close
black
gloves
as
if
he
were
skinning
his
hands
,
lifts
off
his
tight
hat
as
if
he
were
scalping
himself
,
and
sits
down
at
his
desk
.
The
client
throws
his
hat
and
gloves
upon
the
ground
—
tosses
them
anywhere
,
without
looking
after
them
or
caring
where
they
go
;
flings
himself
into
a
chair
,
half
sighing
and
half
groaning
;
rests
his
aching
head
upon
his
hand
,
and
looks
the
portrait
of
Young
Despair
.
“
Again
nothing
done
!
”
says
Richard
.
“
Nothing
,
nothing
done
!
”
“
Do
n't
say
nothing
done
,
sir
,
”
returns
the
placid
Vholes
.
“
That
is
scarcely
fair
,
sir
,
scarcely
fair
!
”
“
Why
,
what
is
done
?
”
says
Richard
,
turning
gloomily
upon
him
.
“
That
may
not
be
the
whole
question
,
”
returns
Vholes
.
“
The
question
may
branch
off
into
what
is
doing
,
what
is
doing
?
”
“
And
what
is
doing
?
”
asks
the
moody
client
.
Vholes
,
sitting
with
his
arms
on
his
desk
,
quietly
bringing
the
tips
of
his
five
right
fingers
to
meet
the
tips
of
his
five
left
fingers
,
and
quietly
separating
them
again
,
and
fixedly
and
slowly
looking
at
his
client
,
replies
:
“
A
good
deal
is
doing
,
sir
.
We
have
put
our
shoulders
to
the
wheel
,
Mr.
Carstone
,
and
the
wheel
is
going
round
.
”
“
Yes
,
with
Ixion
on
it
.
How
am
I
to
get
through
the
next
four
or
five
accursed
months
?
”
exclaims
the
young
man
,
rising
from
his
chair
and
walking
about
the
room
.
“
Mr.
C
,
”
returns
Vholes
,
following
him
close
with
his
eyes
wherever
he
goes
,
“
your
spirits
are
hasty
,
and
I
am
sorry
for
it
on
your
account
.
Excuse
me
if
I
recommend
you
not
to
chafe
so
much
,
not
to
be
so
impetuous
,
not
to
wear
yourself
out
so
.
You
should
have
more
patience
.
You
should
sustain
yourself
better
.
”
“
I
ought
to
imitate
you
,
in
fact
,
Mr.
Vholes
?
”
says
Richard
,
sitting
down
again
with
an
impatient
laugh
,
and
beating
the
Devil
's
Tattoo
with
his
boot
on
the
patternless
carpet
.
“
Sir
,
”
returns
Vholes
,
always
looking
at
the
client
,
as
if
he
were
making
a
lingering
meal
of
him
with
his
eyes
as
well
as
with
his
professional
appetite
.
“
Sir
,
”
returns
Vholes
,
with
his
inward
manner
of
speech
and
his
bloodless
quietude
;
“
I
should
not
have
had
the
presumption
to
propose
myself
as
a
model
,
for
your
imitation
or
any
man
's
.
Let
me
but
leave
a
good
name
to
my
three
daughters
,
and
that
is
enough
for
me
;
I
am
not
a
self-seeker
.
But
,
since
you
mention
me
so
pointedly
,
I
will
acknowledge
that
I
should
like
to
impart
to
you
a
little
of
my
—
come
sir
,
you
are
disposed
to
call
it
insensibility
,
and
I
am
sure
I
have
no
objection
—
say
insensibility
—
a
little
of
my
insensibility
.
”
“
Mr.
Vholes
,
”
explains
the
client
,
somewhat
abashed
,
“
I
had
no
intention
to
accuse
you
of
insensibility
.
”
“
I
think
you
had
,
sir
,
without
knowing
it
,
”
returns
the
equable
Vholes
.
“
Very
naturally
.
It
is
my
duty
to
attend
to
your
interests
with
a
cool
head
,
and
I
can
quite
understand
that
to
your
excited
feelings
I
may
appear
,
at
such
times
as
the
present
,
insensible
.
My
daughters
may
know
me
better
;
my
aged
father
may
know
me
better
.
But
they
have
known
me
much
longer
than
you
have
,
and
the
confiding
eye
of
affection
is
not
the
distrustful
eye
of
business
.
Not
that
I
complain
,
sir
,
of
the
eye
of
business
being
distrustful
;
quite
the
contrary
.
In
attending
to
your
interests
,
I
wish
to
have
all
possible
checks
upon
me
;
it
is
right
that
I
should
have
them
;
I
court
inquiry
.
But
your
interests
demand
that
I
should
be
cool
and
methodical
,
Mr.
Carstone
;
and
I
cannot
be
otherwise
—
no
,
sir
,
not
even
to
please
you
.
”
Mr.
Vholes
,
after
glancing
at
the
official
cat
who
is
patiently
watching
a
mouse
's
hole
,
fixes
his
charmed
gaze
again
on
his
young
client
,
and
proceeds
in
his
buttoned-up
half-audible
voice
,
as
if
there
were
an
unclean
spirit
in
him
that
will
neither
come
out
nor
speak
out
:
“
What
are
you
to
do
,
sir
,
you
inquire
,
during
the
vacation
.
I
should
hope
you
gentlemen
of
the
army
may
find
many
means
of
amusing
yourselves
,
if
you
give
your
minds
to
it
.
If
you
had
asked
me
what
I
was
to
do
,
during
the
vacation
,
I
could
have
answered
you
more
readily
.
I
am
to
attend
to
your
interests
.
I
am
to
be
found
here
,
day
by
day
,
attending
to
your
interests
.
That
is
my
duty
,
Mr.
C
;
and
term
time
or
vacation
makes
no
difference
to
me
.
If
you
wish
to
consult
me
as
to
your
interests
,
you
will
find
me
here
at
all
times
alike
.
Other
professional
men
go
out
of
town
.
I
do
n't
.
Not
that
I
blame
them
for
going
;
I
merely
say
,
I
do
n't
go
.
This
desk
is
your
rock
,
sir
!
”
Mr.
Vholes
gives
it
a
rap
,
and
it
sounds
as
hollow
as
a
coffin
.
Not
to
Richard
,
though
.
There
is
encouragement
in
the
sound
to
him
.
Perhaps
Mr.
Vholes
knows
there
is
.
“
I
am
perfectly
aware
,
Mr.
Vholes
,
”
says
Richard
,
more
familiarly
and
good-humouredly
,
“
that
you
are
the
most
reliable
fellow
in
the
world
;
and
that
to
have
to
do
with
you
,
is
to
have
to
do
with
a
man
of
business
who
is
not
to
be
hoodwinked
.
But
put
yourself
in
my
case
,
dragging
on
this
dislocated
life
,
sinking
deeper
and
deeper
into
difficulty
every
day
,
continually
hoping
and
continually
disappointed
,
conscious
of
change
upon
change
for
the
worse
in
myself
,
and
of
no
change
for
the
better
in
anything
else
;
and
you
will
find
it
a
dark-looking
case
sometimes
,
as
I
do
.
”
“
You
know
,
”
says
Mr.
Vholes
,
“
that
I
never
give
hopes
,
sir
.
I
told
you
from
the
first
,
Mr.
C
,
that
I
never
give
hopes
.
Particularly
in
a
case
like
this
,
where
the
greater
part
of
the
costs
comes
out
of
the
estate
,
I
should
not
be
considerate
of
my
good
name
,
if
I
gave
hopes
.
It
might
seem
as
if
costs
were
my
object
.
Still
,
when
you
say
there
is
no
change
for
the
better
,
I
must
,
as
a
bare
matter
of
fact
,
deny
that
.
”
“
Aye
?
”
returns
Richard
,
brightening
.
“
But
how
do
you
make
it
out
.
”
“
Mr.
Carstone
,
you
are
represented
by
—
”
“
You
said
just
now
—
a
rock
.
”
“
Yes
,
sir
,
”
says
Mr.
Vholes
,
gently
shaking
his
head
and
rapping
the
hollow
desk
,
with
a
sound
as
if
ashes
were
falling
on
ashes
,
and
dust
on
dust
,
“
a
rock
.
That
's
something
.
You
are
separately
represented
,
and
no
longer
hidden
and
lost
in
the
interests
of
others
.
That
'
s
something
.
The
suit
does
not
sleep
;
we
wake
it
up
,
we
air
it
,
we
walk
it
about
.
That
'
s
something
.
It
's
not
all
Jarndyce
,
in
fact
as
well
as
in
name
.
That
'
s
something
.
Nobody
has
it
all
his
own
way
now
,
sir
.
And
that
'
s
something
,
surely
.
”
Richard
,
his
face
flushing
suddenly
,
strikes
the
desk
with
his
clenched
hand
.
“
Mr.
Vholes
!
If
any
man
had
told
me
,
when
I
first
went
to
John
Jarndyce
's
house
,
that
he
was
anything
but
the
disinterested
friend
he
seemed
—
that
he
was
what
he
has
gradually
turned
out
to
be
—
I
could
have
found
no
words
strong
enough
to
repel
the
slander
;
I
could
not
have
defended
him
too
ardently
.
So
little
did
I
know
of
the
world
!
Whereas
,
now
,
I
do
declare
to
you
that
he
becomes
to
me
the
embodiment
of
the
suit
;
that
,
in
place
of
its
being
an
abstraction
,
it
is
John
Jarndyce
;
that
the
more
I
suffer
,
the
more
indignant
I
am
with
him
;
that
every
new
delay
,
and
every
new
disappointment
,
is
only
a
new
injury
from
John
Jarndyce
's
hand
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
”
says
Vholes
.
“
Do
n't
say
so
.
We
ought
to
have
patience
,
all
of
us
.
Besides
,
I
never
disparage
,
sir
.
I
never
disparage
.
”
“
Mr.
Vholes
,
”
returns
the
angry
client
.
“
You
know
as
well
as
I
,
that
he
would
have
strangled
the
suit
if
he
could
.
”
“
He
was
not
active
in
it
,
”
Mr.
Vholes
admits
,
with
an
appearance
of
reluctance
.
“
He
certainly
was
not
active
in
it
.
But
however
,
but
however
,
he
might
have
had
amiable
intentions
.
Who
can
read
the
heart
,
Mr.
C
!
”
“
You
can
,
”
returns
Richard
.
“
I
,
Mr.
C
?
”
“
Well
enough
to
know
what
his
intentions
were
.
Are
,
or
are
not
,
our
interests
conflicting
?
Tell
—
me
—
that
!
”
says
Richard
,
accompanying
his
last
three
words
with
three
raps
on
his
rock
of
trust
.
“
Mr.
C
,
”
returns
Vholes
,
immovable
in
attitude
and
never
winking
his
hungry
eyes
,
“
I
should
be
wanting
in
my
duty
as
your
professional
adviser
,
I
should
be
departing
from
my
fidelity
to
your
interests
,
if
I
represented
those
interests
as
identical
with
the
interests
of
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
They
are
no
such
thing
,
sir
.
I
never
impute
motives
;
I
both
have
,
and
am
,
a
father
,
and
I
never
impute
motives
.
But
I
must
not
shrink
from
a
professional
duty
,
even
if
it
sows
dissension
in
families
.
I
understand
you
to
be
now
consulting
me
professionally
,
as
to
your
interests
?
You
are
so
?
I
reply
then
,
they
are
not
identical
with
those
of
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
”
“
Of
course
they
are
not
!
”
cries
Richard
.
“
You
found
that
out
,
long
ago
.
”
“
Mr.
C
,
”
returns
Vholes
,
“
I
wish
to
say
no
more
of
any
third
party
than
is
necessary
.
I
wish
to
leave
my
good
name
unsullied
,
together
with
any
little
property
of
which
I
may
become
possessed
through
industry
and
perseverance
,
to
my
daughters
Emma
,
Jane
,
and
Caroline
.
I
also
desire
to
live
in
amity
with
my
professional
brethren
.
When
Mr.
Skimpole
did
me
the
honor
,
sir
—
I
will
not
say
the
very
high
honor
,
for
I
never
stoop
to
flattery
—
of
bringing
us
together
in
this
room
,
I
mentioned
to
you
that
I
could
offer
no
opinion
or
advice
as
to
your
interests
,
while
those
interests
were
intrusted
to
another
member
of
the
profession
.
And
I
spoke
in
such
terms
as
I
was
bound
to
speak
,
of
Kenge
and
Carboy
's
office
,
which
stands
high
.
You
,
sir
,
thought
fit
to
withdraw
your
interests
from
that
keeping
nevertheless
,
and
to
offer
them
to
me
.
You
brought
them
with
clean
hands
,
sir
,
and
I
accepted
them
with
clean
hands
.
Those
interests
are
now
paramount
in
this
office
.
My
digestive
functions
,
as
you
may
have
heard
me
mention
,
are
not
in
a
good
state
,
and
rest
might
improve
them
;
but
I
shall
not
rest
,
sir
,
while
I
am
your
representative
.
Whenever
you
want
me
,
you
will
find
me
here
.
Summon
me
anywhere
,
and
I
will
come
.
During
the
long
vacation
,
sir
,
I
shall
devote
my
leisure
to
studying
your
interests
more
and
more
closely
,
and
to
making
arrangements
for
moving
heaven
and
earth
(
including
,
of
course
,
the
Chancellor
)
after
Michaelmas
Term
;
and
when
I
ultimately
congratulate
you
,
sir
,
”
says
Mr.
Vholes
,
with
the
severity
of
a
determined
man
,
“
when
I
ultimately
congratulate
you
,
sir
,
with
all
my
heart
,
on
your
accession
to
fortune
—
which
,
but
that
I
never
give
hopes
,
I
might
say
something
further
about
—
you
will
owe
me
nothing
,
beyond
whatever
little
balance
may
be
then
outstanding
of
the
costs
as
between
solicitor
and
client
,
not
included
in
the
taxed
costs
allowed
out
of
the
estate
.
I
pretend
to
no
claim
upon
you
,
Mr.
C
,
but
for
the
zealous
and
active
discharge
—
not
the
languid
and
routine
discharge
,
sir
:
that
much
credit
I
stipulate
for
—
of
my
professional
duty
.
My
duty
prosperously
ended
,
all
between
us
is
ended
.
”
Vholes
finally
adds
,
by
way
of
rider
to
this
declaration
of
his
principles
,
that
as
Mr.
Carstone
is
about
to
rejoin
his
regiment
,
perhaps
Mr.
C
will
favor
him
with
an
order
on
his
agent
for
twenty
pounds
on
account
.
“
For
there
have
been
many
little
consultations
and
attendances
of
late
,
sir
,
”
observes
Vholes
,
turning
over
the
leaves
of
his
Diary
,
“
and
these
things
mount
up
,
and
I
do
n't
profess
to
be
a
man
of
capital
.
When
we
first
entered
on
our
present
relations
,
I
stated
to
you
openly
—
it
is
a
principle
of
mine
that
there
never
can
be
too
much
openness
between
solicitor
and
client
—
that
I
was
not
a
man
of
capital
;
and
that
if
capital
was
your
object
,
you
had
better
leave
your
papers
in
Kenge
's
office
.
No
,
Mr.
C
,
you
will
find
none
of
the
advantages
,
or
disadvantages
,
of
capital
here
,
sir
.
This
,
”
Vholes
gives
the
desk
one
hollow
blow
again
,
“
is
your
rock
;
it
pretends
to
be
nothing
more
.
”
The
client
,
with
his
dejection
insensibly
relieved
,
and
his
vague
hopes
rekindled
,
takes
pen
and
ink
and
writes
the
draft
:
not
without
perplexed
consideration
and
calculation
of
the
date
it
may
bear
,
implying
scant
effects
in
the
agent
's
hands
.
All
the
while
,
Vholes
,
buttoned
up
in
body
and
mind
,
looks
at
him
attentively
.
All
the
while
,
Vholes
's
official
cat
watches
the
mouse
's
hole
.
Lastly
,
the
client
,
shaking
hands
,
beseeches
Mr.
Vholes
,
for
Heaven
's
sake
and
Earth
's
sake
,
to
do
his
utmost
,
to
“
pull
him
through
”
the
Court
of
Chancery
.
Mr.
Vholes
,
who
never
gives
hopes
,
lays
his
palm
upon
the
client
's
shoulder
,
and
answers
with
a
smile
,
“
Always
here
,
sir
.
Personally
,
or
by
letter
,
you
will
always
find
me
here
,
sir
,
with
my
shoulder
to
the
wheel
.
”
Thus
they
part
;
and
Vholes
,
left
alone
,
employs
himself
in
carrying
sundry
little
matters
out
of
his
Diary
into
his
draft
bill
book
,
for
the
ultimate
behoof
of
his
three
daughters
.
So
might
an
industrious
fox
,
or
bear
,
make
up
his
account
of
chickens
or
stray
travellers
with
an
eye
to
his
cubs
;
not
to
disparage
by
that
word
the
three
raw-visaged
,
lank
,
and
buttoned-up
maidens
,
who
dwell
with
the
parent
Vholes
in
an
earthy
cottage
situated
in
a
damp
garden
at
Kennington
.
Richard
,
emerging
from
the
heavy
shade
of
Symond
's
Inn
into
the
sunshine
of
Chancery
Lane
—
for
there
happens
to
be
sunshine
there
to-day
—
walks
thoughtfully
on
,
and
turns
into
Lincoln
's
Inn
,
and
passes
under
the
shadow
of
the
Lincoln
's
Inn
trees
.
On
many
such
loungers
have
the
speckled
shadows
of
those
trees
often
fallen
;
on
the
like
bent
head
,
the
bitten
nail
,
the
lowering
eye
,
the
lingering
step
,
the
purposeless
and
dreamy
air
,
the
good
consuming
and
consumed
,
the
life
turned
sour
.
This
lounger
is
not
shabby
yet
,
but
that
may
come
.
Chancery
,
which
knows
no
wisdom
but
in
Precedent
,
is
very
rich
in
such
Precedents
;
and
why
should
one
be
different
from
ten
thousand
?
Yet
the
time
is
so
short
since
his
depreciation
began
,
that
as
he
saunters
away
,
reluctant
to
leave
the
spot
for
some
long
months
together
,
though
he
hates
it
,
Richard
himself
may
feel
his
own
case
as
if
it
were
a
startling
one
.
While
his
heart
is
heavy
with
corroding
care
,
suspense
,
distrust
,
and
doubt
,
it
may
have
room
for
some
sorrowful
wonder
when
he
recals
how
different
his
first
visit
there
,
how
different
he
,
how
different
all
the
colors
of
his
mind
.
But
injustice
breeds
injustice
;
the
fighting
with
shadows
and
being
defeated
by
them
,
necessitates
the
setting
up
of
substances
to
combat
;
from
the
impalpable
suit
which
no
man
alive
can
understand
,
the
time
for
that
being
long
gone
by
,
it
has
become
a
gloomy
relief
to
turn
to
the
palpable
figure
of
the
friend
who
would
have
saved
him
from
this
ruin
,
and
make
him
his
enemy
.
Richard
has
told
Vholes
the
truth
.
Is
he
in
a
hardened
or
a
softened
mood
,
he
still
lays
his
injuries
equally
at
that
door
;
he
was
thwarted
,
in
that
quarter
,
of
a
set
purpose
,
and
that
purpose
could
only
originate
in
the
one
subject
that
is
resolving
his
existence
into
itself
;
besides
,
it
is
a
justification
to
him
in
his
own
eyes
to
have
an
embodied
antagonist
and
oppressor
.
Is
Richard
a
monster
in
all
this
,
—
or
would
Chancery
be
found
rich
in
such
Precedents
too
,
if
they
could
be
got
for
citation
from
the
Recording
Angel
?
Two
pairs
of
eyes
not
unused
to
such
people
look
after
him
,
as
,
biting
his
nails
and
brooding
,
he
crosses
the
square
,
and
is
swallowed
up
by
the
shadow
of
the
southern
gateway
.
Mr.
Guppy
and
Mr.
Weevle
are
the
possessors
of
those
eyes
,
and
they
have
been
leaning
in
conversation
against
the
low
stone
parapet
under
the
trees
.
He
passed
close
by
them
,
seeing
nothing
but
the
ground
.
“
William
,
”
says
Mr.
Weevle
,
adjusting
his
whiskers
;
“
there
's
combustion
going
on
there
!
It
's
not
a
case
of
Spontaneous
,
but
it
's
smouldering
combustion
it
is
.
”
“
Ah
!
”
says
Mr.
Guppy
,
“
he
would
n't
keep
out
of
Jarndyce
,
and
I
suppose
he
's
over
head
and
ears
in
debt
.
I
never
knew
much
of
him
.
He
was
as
high
as
the
Monument
when
he
was
on
trial
at
our
place
.
A
good
riddance
to
me
,
whether
as
clerk
or
client
!
Well
,
Tony
,
that
as
I
was
mentioning
is
what
they
're
up
to
.
”
Mr.
Guppy
,
refolding
his
arms
,
resettles
himself
against
the
parapet
,
as
resuming
a
conversation
of
interest
.
“
They
are
still
up
to
it
,
sir
,
”
says
Mr.
Guppy
,
“
still
taking
stock
,
still
examining
papers
,
still
going
over
the
heaps
and
heaps
of
rubbish
.
At
this
rate
they
'll
be
at
it
these
seven
years
.
”
“
And
Small
is
helping
?
”
“
Small
left
us
at
a
week
's
notice
.
Told
Kenge
,
his
grandfather
's
business
was
too
much
for
the
old
gentleman
,
and
he
could
better
himself
by
undertaking
it
.
There
had
been
a
coolness
between
myself
and
Small
on
account
of
his
being
so
close
.
But
he
said
you
and
I
began
it
;
and
as
he
had
me
there
—
for
we
did
—
I
put
our
acquaintance
on
the
old
footing
.
That
's
how
I
come
to
know
what
they
're
up
to
.
”
“
You
have
n't
looked
in
at
all
?
”
“
Tony
,
”
says
Mr.
Guppy
,
a
little
disconcerted
,
“
to
be
unreserved
with
you
,
I
do
n't
greatly
relish
the
house
,
except
in
your
company
,
and
therefore
I
have
not
;
and
therefore
I
proposed
this
little
appointment
for
our
fetching
away
your
things
.
There
goes
the
hour
by
the
clock
!
Tony
;
”
Mr.
Guppy
becomes
mysteriously
and
tenderly
eloquent
;
“
it
is
necessary
that
I
should
impress
upon
your
mind
once
more
,
that
circumstances
over
which
I
have
no
control
,
have
made
a
melancholy
alteration
in
my
most
cherished
plans
,
and
in
that
unrequited
image
which
I
formerly
mentioned
to
you
as
a
friend
.
That
image
is
shattered
,
and
that
idol
is
laid
low
.
My
only
wish
now
,
in
connexion
with
the
objects
which
I
had
an
idea
of
carrying
out
in
the
court
,
with
your
aid
as
a
friend
,
is
to
let
'
em
alone
and
bury
'
em
in
oblivion
.
Do
you
think
it
possible
,
do
you
think
it
at
all
likely
(
I
put
it
to
you
,
Tony
,
as
a
friend
)
,
from
your
knowledge
of
that
capricious
and
deep
old
character
who
fell
a
prey
to
the
—
Spontaneous
element
;
do
you
,
Tony
,
think
it
at
all
likely
that
,
on
second
thoughts
,
he
put
those
letters
away
anywhere
,
after
you
saw
him
alive
,
and
that
they
were
not
destroyed
that
night
?
”
Mr.
Weevle
reflects
for
some
time
.
Shakes
his
head
.
Decidedly
thinks
not
.
“
Tony
,
”
says
Mr.
Guppy
,
as
they
walk
towards
the
court
,
“
once
again
understand
me
,
as
a
friend
.
Without
entering
into
further
explanations
,
I
may
repeat
that
the
idol
is
down
.
I
have
no
purpose
to
serve
now
,
but
burial
in
oblivion
.
To
that
I
have
pledged
myself
.
I
owe
it
to
myself
,
and
I
owe
it
to
the
shattered
image
,
as
also
to
the
circumstances
over
which
I
have
no
control
.
If
you
was
to
express
to
me
by
a
gesture
,
by
a
wink
,
that
you
saw
lying
anywhere
in
your
late
lodgings
,
any
papers
that
so
much
as
looked
like
the
papers
in
question
,
I
would
pitch
them
into
the
fire
,
sir
,
on
my
own
responsibility
.
”
Mr.
Weevle
nods
.
Mr.
Guppy
,
much
elevated
in
his
own
opinion
by
having
delivered
these
observations
,
with
an
air
in
part
forensic
and
in
part
romantic
—
this
gentleman
having
a
passion
for
conducting
anything
in
the
form
of
an
examination
,
or
delivering
anything
in
the
form
of
a
summing
up
or
a
speech
—
accompanies
his
friend
with
dignity
to
the
court
.
Never
,
since
it
has
been
a
court
,
has
it
had
such
a
Fortunatus
's
purse
of
gossip
as
in
the
proceedings
at
the
rag
and
bottle
shop
.
Regularly
,
every
morning
at
eight
,
is
the
elder
Mr.
Smallweed
brought
down
to
the
corner
and
carried
in
,
accompanied
by
Mrs.
Smallweed
,
Judy
,
and
Bart
;
and
regularly
,
all
day
,
do
they
all
remain
there
until
nine
at
night
,
solaced
by
gipsy
dinners
,
not
abundant
in
quantity
,
from
the
cook
's
shop
;
rummaging
and
searching
,
digging
,
delving
,
and
diving
among
the
treasures
of
the
late
lamented
.
What
those
treasures
are
,
they
keep
so
secret
,
that
the
court
is
maddened
.
In
its
delirium
it
imagines
guineas
pouring
out
of
teapots
,
crown-pieces
overflowing
punch-bowls
,
old
chairs
and
mattresses
stuffed
with
Bank
of
England
notes
.
It
possesses
itself
of
the
sixpenny
history
(
with
highly-coloured
folding
frontispiece
)
of
Mr.
Daniel
Dancer
and
his
sister
,
and
also
of
Mr.
Elwes
,
of
Suffolk
,
and
transfers
all
the
facts
from
those
authentic
narratives
to
Mr.
Krook
.
Twice
when
the
dustman
is
called
in
to
carry
off
a
cartload
of
old
paper
,
ashes
,
and
broken
bottles
,
the
whole
court
assembles
and
pries
into
the
baskets
as
they
come
forth
.
Many
times
the
two
gentlemen
who
write
with
the
ravenous
little
pens
on
the
tissue
paper
are
seen
prowling
in
the
neighbourhood
—
shy
of
each
other
,
their
late
partnership
being
dissolved
.
The
Sol
skilfully
carries
a
vein
of
the
prevailing
interest
through
the
Harmonic
nights
.
Little
Swills
,
in
what
are
professionally
known
as
“
patter
”
allusions
to
the
subject
,
is
received
with
loud
applause
;
and
the
same
vocalist
“
gags
”
in
the
regular
business
like
a
man
inspired
.
Even
Miss
M
.
Melvilleson
,
in
the
revived
Caledonian
melody
of
“
We
're
a
'
nodding
,
”
points
the
sentiment
that
“
the
dogs
love
broo
”
(
whatever
the
nature
of
that
refreshment
may
be
)
with
such
archness
,
and
such
a
turn
of
the
head
towards
next
door
,
that
she
is
immediately
understood
to
mean
,
Mr.
Smallweed
loves
to
find
money
,
and
is
nightly
honored
with
a
double
encore
.
For
all
this
,
the
court
discovers
nothing
;
and
,
as
Mrs.
Piper
and
Mrs.
Perkins
now
communicate
to
the
late
lodger
whose
appearance
is
the
signal
for
a
general
rally
,
it
is
in
one
continual
ferment
to
discover
everything
,
and
more
.
Mr.
Weevle
and
Mr.
Guppy
,
with
every
eye
in
the
court
's
head
upon
them
,
knock
at
the
closed
door
of
the
late
lamented
's
house
,
in
a
high
state
of
popularity
.
But
,
being
contrary
to
the
court
's
expectation
admitted
,
they
immediately
become
unpopular
,
and
are
considered
to
mean
no
good
.
The
shutters
are
more
or
less
closed
all
over
the
house
,
and
the
ground-floor
is
sufficiently
dark
to
require
candles
.
Introduced
into
the
back
shop
by
Mr.
Smallweed
the
younger
,
they
,
fresh
from
the
sunlight
,
can
at
first
see
nothing
save
darkness
and
shadows
;
but
they
gradually
discern
the
elder
Mr.
Smallweed
,
seated
in
his
chair
upon
the
brink
of
a
well
or
grave
of
waste
paper
;
the
virtuous
Judy
groping
therein
,
like
a
female
sexton
;
and
Mrs.
Smallweed
on
the
level
ground
in
the
vicinity
,
snowed
up
in
a
heap
of
paper
fragments
,
print
and
manuscript
,
which
would
appear
to
be
the
accumulated
compliments
that
have
been
sent
flying
at
her
in
the
course
of
the
day
.
The
whole
party
,
Small
included
,
are
blackened
with
dust
and
dirt
,
and
present
a
fiendish
appearance
not
relieved
by
the
general
aspect
of
the
room
.
There
is
more
litter
and
lumber
in
it
than
of
old
,
and
it
is
dirtier
if
possible
;
likewise
,
it
is
ghostly
with
traces
of
its
dead
inhabitant
,
and
even
with
his
chalked
writing
on
the
wall
.
On
the
entrance
of
visitors
,
Mr.
Smallweed
and
Judy
simultaneously
fold
their
arms
,
and
stop
in
their
researches
.
“
Aha
!
”
croaks
the
old
gentleman
.
“
How
de
do
,
gentlemen
,
how
de
do
!
Come
to
fetch
your
property
,
Mr.
Weevle
?
That
's
well
,
that
's
well
.
Ha
!
ha
!
We
should
have
been
forced
to
sell
you
up
,
sir
,
to
pay
your
warehouse
room
,
if
you
had
left
it
here
much
longer
.
You
feel
quite
at
home
here
,
again
,
I
daresay
?
Glad
to
see
you
,
glad
to
see
you
!
”
Mr.
Weevle
,
thanking
him
,
casts
an
eye
about
.
Mr.
Guppy
's
eye
follows
Mr.
Weevle
's
eye
.
Mr.
Weevle
's
eye
comes
back
without
any
new
intelligence
in
it
.
Mr.
Guppy
's
eye
comes
back
,
and
meets
Mr.
Smallweed
's
eye
.
That
engaging
old
gentleman
is
still
murmuring
,
like
some
wound-up
instrument
running
down
,
“
How
de
do
,
sir
—
how
de
—
how
—
.
”
And
then
having
run
down
,
he
lapses
into
grinning
silence
,
as
Mr.
Guppy
starts
at
seeing
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
standing
in
the
darkness
opposite
,
with
his
hands
behind
him
.
“
Gentleman
so
kind
as
to
act
as
my
solicitor
,
”
says
Grandfather
Smallweed
.
“
I
am
not
the
sort
of
client
for
a
gentleman
of
such
note
;
but
he
is
so
good
!
”
Mr.
Guppy
slightly
nudging
his
friend
to
take
another
look
,
makes
a
shuffling
bow
to
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
,
who
returns
it
with
an
easy
nod
.
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
is
looking
on
as
if
he
had
nothing
else
to
do
,
and
were
rather
amused
by
the
novelty
.
“
A
good
deal
of
property
here
,
sir
,
I
should
say
,
”
Mr.
Guppy
observes
to
Mr.
Smallweed
.
“
Principally
rags
and
rubbish
,
my
dear
friend
!
rags
and
rubbish
!
Me
and
Bart
,
and
my
granddaughter
Judy
,
are
endeavouring
to
make
out
an
inventory
of
what
's
worth
anything
to
sell
.
But
we
have
n't
come
to
much
as
yet
,
we
—
have
n't
—
come
—
to
—
hah
!
”
Mr.
Smallweed
has
run
down
again
;
while
Mr.
Weevle
's
eye
,
attended
by
Mr.
Guppy
's
eye
,
has
again
gone
round
the
room
and
come
back
.
“
Well
,
sir
,
”
says
Mr.
Weevle
.
“
We
wo
n't
intrude
any
longer
,
if
you
'll
allow
us
to
go
up-stairs
.
”
“
Anywhere
,
my
dear
sir
,
anywhere
!
You
're
at
home
.
Make
yourself
so
,
pray
!
”
As
they
go
up-stairs
,
Mr.
Guppy
lifts
his
eyebrows
inquiringly
,
and
looks
at
Tony
.
Tony
shakes
his
head
.
They
find
the
old
room
very
dull
and
dismal
,
with
the
ashes
of
the
fire
that
was
burning
on
that
memorable
night
yet
in
the
discolored
grate
.
They
have
a
great
disinclination
to
touch
any
object
,
and
carefully
blow
the
dust
from
it
first
.
Nor
are
they
desirous
to
prolong
their
visit
:
packing
the
few
moveables
with
all
possible
speed
,
and
never
speaking
above
a
whisper
.
“
Look
here
,
”
says
Tony
,
recoiling
.
“
Here
's
that
horrible
cat
coming
in
!
”
Mr.
Guppy
retreats
behind
a
chair
.
“
Small
told
me
of
her
.
She
went
leaping
,
and
bounding
and
tearing
about
,
that
night
,
like
a
Dragon
,
and
got
out
on
the
house-top
,
and
roamed
about
up
there
for
a
fortnight
,
then
came
tumbling
down
the
chimney
very
thin
.
Did
you
ever
see
such
a
brute
?
Looks
as
if
she
knew
all
about
it
,
do
n't
she
?
Almost
looks
as
if
she
was
Krook
.
Shoohco
!
Get
out
,
you
goblin
!
”
Lady
Jane
in
the
doorway
,
with
her
tiger-snarl
from
ear
to
ear
,
and
her
club
of
a
tail
,
shows
no
intention
of
obeying
;
but
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
stumbling
over
her
,
she
spits
at
his
rusty
legs
,
and
swearing
wrathfully
,
takes
her
arched
back
upstairs
.
Possibly
to
roam
the
housetops
again
,
and
return
by
the
chimney
.
“
Mr.
Guppy
,
”
says
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
,
“
could
I
have
a
word
with
you
?
”
Mr.
Guppy
is
engaged
in
collecting
the
Galaxy
Gallery
of
British
Beauty
from
the
wall
,
and
depositing
those
works
of
art
in
their
old
ignoble
band-box
.
“
Sir
,
”
he
returns
,
reddening
,
“
I
wish
to
act
with
courtesy
towards
every
member
of
the
profession
,
and
especially
,
I
am
sure
,
towards
a
member
of
it
so
well
known
as
yourself
—
I
will
truly
add
,
sir
,
so
distinguished
as
yourself
.
Still
,
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
,
sir
,
I
must
stipulate
that
if
you
have
any
word
with
me
,
that
word
is
spoken
in
the
presence
of
my
friend
.
”
“
Oh
,
indeed
?
”
says
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
.
“
Yes
,
sir
.
My
reasons
