065 - Beginning the World

0:00President Barack Obama. Virginia, we are counting on you. Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. But you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st. Help put our elections back on a level playing field and let voters decide not politicians. Vote yes by April 21st. Paid for by Virginians for fair elections. Do you want better internet? Cox internet of 300 megabytes has the speed, fast and reliable speeds that you seek. Perfect for streaming and gaming and working from home. All for only $45 per month when you add cox mobile. Include the team of Wi-Fi and guarantee the price of two years in your plan. Do not expect it. Change today to cox. Require cox mobile guarantee the price. Include the price of two speed cars. Do not expect 20 months after 20 months. This is Alex Cantrowitz. I'm the host of Big Technology podcast a longtime reporter and

1:04an on air contributor to CNBC. If you're like me, you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. Each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech and outsiders trying to influence it. Asking where this is all going. They come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your career choices, and meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology podcast wherever you get your podcasts. This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Bleak House by Charles Dickens Chapter 65. Beginning the world. The term had commenced and my guardian found an intimation from Mr. Kenji that the cause would come on in two days. As I had sufficient hopes of the will to be in a

2:07flutter about it, Alan and I agreed to go down to the court that morning. Richard was extremely agitated and was so weak and low, though his illness was still of the mind that my dear girl indeed had sore occasion to be supported. But she looked forward a very little way now to the help that was to come to her and never drooped. It was at Westminster that the cause was to come on. It had come on there, I dare say a hundred times before, but I could not divest myself of an idea that it might lead to some result now. We left home directly after breakfast to be at Westminster Hall in good time and walked down there through the lively streets so happily and strangely it seemed together. As we were going along, planning what we should do for Richard and Ada, I heard somebody calling, Esther, my dear Esther, Esther, and there was Carrie Jellybee, with her head out of the window of a little carriage which she hired now to go about

3:13in to her pupils she had so many, as if she wanted to embrace me at a hundred yards distance. I had written her a note to tell her of all that my guardian had done, but had not had a moment to go and see her. Of course we turned back and the affectionate girl was in that state of rapture and was so overjoyed to talk about the night when she brought me the flowers and was so determined to squeeze my face, bon at an all between her hands and go on in a wild manner altogether, calling me all kinds of precious names and telling Alan I had done I don't know what for her that I was just obliged to get into the little carriage and calm her down by letting her say and do exactly what she liked. Alan standing at the window was as pleased as Carrie and I was as pleased as either of them and I wonder that I got away as I did rather than that I came off laughing and

4:15read anything but tidy and looking after Carrie who looked after us out of the coach window as long as she could see us. This made us some quarter of an hour late and when we came to Westminster Hall we found that the day's business was begun. Worse than that we found such an unusual crowd in the court of chanceery that it was full to the door and we could neither see nor hear what was passing within. It appeared to be something drawl for occasionally there was a laugh and a cry of silence. It appeared to be something interesting for everyone was pushing and striving to get nearer. It appeared to be something that made the professional gentleman very merry for there were several young councillors in wigs and whiskers on the outside of the crowd and when one of them told the others about it they put their hands in their pockets and quite doubted themselves

5:18up with laughter and went stamping about in the pavement of the hall. We asked the gentleman by us if he knew what cause was on he told us jaundice and jaundice we asked him if he knew what was doing in it he said really no he did not nobody ever did but as well as he could make out it was over over for the day we asked him no he said over for good over for good when we heard this unaccountable answer we looked at one another quite lost in amazement could it be possible if the will had set things right at last and that Richard and Ada were going to be rich it seemed too good to be true or last it was our suspense was short for a break up soon took place in the crowd and the people came streaming out looking flushed and hot and bringing a quantity of bad air with

6:19them still they were all exceedingly amused and were more like people coming out from a face or a juggler than from a court of justice we stood aside watching for any countenance we knew and presently great bundles of paper began to be carried out bundles and bags bundles too large to be got into any bags immense masses of papers of all shapes and no shapes which the bear staggered under and threw down for the time being anyhow on the whole pavement while they went back to bring out more even these clocks were laughing we glanced at the papers and seeing jaundice and jaundice everywhere asked an official looking person who was standing in the midst of them whether the cause was over yes he said it was all up with it at last and burst out laughing too at this juncture we perceived Mr. Kenji coming out of court with an affable dignity upon him

7:24listening to Mr. Vols who was deferential and carried his own bag Mr. Vols was the first to see us here is Miss Summerson sir he said and Mr. Woodcourt oh indeed yes truly said Mr. Kenji raising his hat to me with polished politeness how do you do glad to see you Mr. jaundice is not here no he never came there I reminded him really return Mr. Kenji it is as well that he is not here today for his shall I say in my good friend's absence his indomitable singularity of opinion might have been strengthened perhaps not reasonably but might have been strengthened pray what has been done today asked Alan I beg your pardon said Mr. Kenji with excessive urbanity what has been done today what has been done repeated Mr. Kenji quite so yes why not much has been done not much we have

8:30been checked brought up suddenly I would say upon the shall I term it threshold is this will consider a genuine document sir said Alan will you tell us that most certainly if I could said Mr. Kenji but we have not gone into that we have not gone into that we have not gone into that repeated Mr. Vols as if his low inward voice were an echo you are to reflect Mr. Woodcourt observed Mr. Kenji using his silver trowel persuasively and smoothingly that this has been a great cause that this has been a protracted cause that this has been a complex cause jaundice and jaundice has been termed not in aptly a monument of chanceary practice and patience has sat upon it a long said Alan very well indeed sir return Mr. Kenji with a certain condescending laugh he had

9:36very well you are further to reflect Mr. Woodcourt becoming dignified almost to severity that on the numerous difficulties contingencies masterly fictions and forms of procedure in this great cause there has been expended study ability eloquence knowledge intellect Mr. Woodcourt high intellect for many years the I would say the flower of the bar and the I would presume to add the matured or terminal fruits of the wool sack have been lavished upon jaundice and jaundice if the public have the benefit and if the country have the adornment of this great grasp it must be paid for in money or money's worth sir Mr. Kenji said Alan appearing enlightened all in a moment excuse me our time presses do I understand that the whole estate is found to

10:36have been absorbed in costs him I believe so return Mr. Kenji Mr. Vols what do you say I believe so said Mr. Vols and that thus the suit lapses and melts away probably return Mr. Kenji Mr. Vols probably said Mr. Vols my dearest life whispered Alan this will break Richard's heart there was such a shock of apprehension in his face and he knew Richard so perfectly and I too had seen so much of his gradual decay that what my dear girl had said to me in the fullness of her of her foreboding love sounded like a nail in my ears in case you should be wanting Mr. C sir said Mr. Vols coming after us you'll find him in court I left him there resting himself a little good day sir good day Miss Somerson as he gave me that slowly devouring look of his while twisting

11:43up the strings of his bag before he hastened with it after Mr. Kenji the benign and shadow of whose conversational presence he seemed afraid to leave he gave one gasp as if he had swallowed the last morsel of his client and his black buttoned up on wholesome figure glided away to the low door at the end of the hall my dear love said Alan leave to me for a little while the charge you gave go home with this intelligence and come to aid us by and by I would not let him take me to a coach but entreated him to go to Richard without a moment's delay and leave me to do as he wished hurrying home I found my guardian and told him gradually with what news I had returned little woman said he quite unmoved for himself to have done with the suit on any terms is a greater blessing than I had looked for but my poor young cousins we talked about them all the

12:50morning and discussed what it was possible to do in the afternoon my guardian walked with me to Simon's in and left me at the door I went upstairs when my darling heard my footsteps she came out in the small passage and threw her arms round my neck but she composed herself directly and said that Richard had asked for me several times Alan had found him sitting in the corner of the court she told me like a stone figure on being roused he had broken away and made as if he would have spoken in a fierce voice to the judge he was stopped by his mouth being full of blood and Alan had brought him home he was lying on a sofa with his eyes closed when I went in there were restoratives on the table the room was made as area as possible and was darkened and was very orderly and quiet Alan stood behind him watching him gravely his face appeared to

13:52me to be quite destitute of color and now that I saw him without his seeing me I saw fully for the first time how worn away he was but he looked handsome or then I had seen him look for many a day sat down by his side in silence opening his eyes by and by he said in a weak voice but with his old smile Dame Durden kissed me my dear it was a great comfort and surprise to me to find him in his low state cheerful and looking forward he was happier he said in our intended marriage then he could find words to tell me my husband had been a guardian angel to him and Ada and he blessed us both and wished us all the joy that life could yield us I almost felt as if my own heart would have broken when I saw him take my husband's hand and hold it to his breast we spoke of the future as much as possible and he said several times that he must be present

14:57at our marriage if he could stand upon his feet Ada would contrive to take him somehow he said yes surely dearest Richard but as my darling answered him thus hopefully so serene and beautiful with the help that was to come to her so near I knew I knew it was not good for him to talk too much and when he was silent we were silent too sitting beside him I made a pretense of working for my dear as he had always been used to joke about my being busy Ada leaned upon his pillow holding his head upon her arm he dozed off in and whenever he awoke without seeing him said first of all where is woodcourt evening had come on when I lifted up my eyes and saw my guardian standing in the little hall who is that Dame Durden Richard asked me the door was behind him but he had observed in my face that someone was there I looked to Alan for advice and as he nodded yes bent

16:04over Richard and told him my guardian saw what passed came softly by me in a moment and laid his hand on Richards oh sir said Richard you are a good man you are a good man and burst into tears for the first time my guardian the picture of a good man sat down in my place keeping his hand on Richards my dear Rick said he the clouds have cleared away and it is bright now we can see now we were all bewildered Rick more or less what matters and how are you my dear boy I am very weak sir but I hope I shall be stronger I have to begin the world I truly well said cried my guardian I will not begin it in the old way now said Richard with a sad smile I have learned a lesson now sir it was a hard one but you shall be assured indeed that I have learned it very well

17:07said my guardian comforting him well well well dear boy I was thinking sir resume Richard that there is nothing on earth I should so much like to see as their house Dame Durden's and Woodcourt's house if I could be removed there when I begin to recover my strengths I feel as if I should get well there sooner than anywhere why so have I been thinking too Rick said my guardian and our little woman likewise she and I have been talking of it this very day I dare say her husband won't object what do you think Richard smiled and lifted his arm to touch him as he stood behind the head of the couch I say nothing of Ada said Richard but I think of her and have thought of her very much look at her and see her here sir bending over this pillow when she has so much need to rest upon it herself my dear love my poor girl he clasped her in his arms and none of

18:08us spoke he gradually released her and she looked upon us and looked up to heaven and moved her lips when I get to bleak house said Richard I shall have much to tell you sir and you will have much to show me you will go won't you undoubtedly dear Rick thank you like you like you said Richard but it's all like you they have been telling me how you planned it and how you remembered all esters familiar tastes and ways it will be like coming to the old bleak house again and you will come there too I hope Rick I am a solitary man now you know and it will be a charity to come to me a charity to come to me my love he repeated to Ada as he gently passed his hand over her golden hair and put a lock of it to his lips I think he vowed within himself to cherish her if she were left alone it was a troubled dream said Richard clasping both

19:11my guardians hands eagerly nothing more Rick nothing more and you being a good man can pass it as such and forgiven pity the dreamer and be lenient and encouraging when he wakes indeed I can but what am I but another dreamer Rick I will begin the world said Richard with a light in his eyes my husband drew a little nearer towards Ada and I saw him solemnly lift up his hand to warn my guardian when shall I go from this place to that pleasant country where the old times are where I shall have the strength to tell what Ada has been to me where I shall be able to recall my many faults and blindnesses where I shall prepare myself to be a guide to my unborn child said Richard when shall I go dear Rick when you are strong enough return my guardian Ada my darling he sought to raise himself a little Alan raised him so that she could hold him

20:15to her bosom which was what he wanted I have done you many wrongs my own I have fallen like a poor stray shadow on your way I have married you to poverty and trouble I have scattered your means to the winds you will forgive me all this my Ada before I begin the world a smile irradiated his face as she bent down to kiss him he slowly laid his face down upon her bosom drew his arms close around her neck and with one parting sob began the world not this world oh not this the world that sets this right when all was still at a late hour poor crazed misflight came weeping to me and told me she had given her birds their liberty end of chapter 65

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