065 - Beginning the World

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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

flutter 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

in 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

read 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

up 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

them 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

listening 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

been 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

very 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

have 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

up 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

morning 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

me 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

at 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

over 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

said 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

us 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

my 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

to 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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