and falls into a contemplation of the fire as if it were her fire at
Chesney Wold； and she had never left it。 Sir Leicester； quite
unconscious； reads on through his double eyeglass； occasionally
stopping to remove his glass and express approval； as “Very true
indeed；” “Very properly put；” “I have frequently made the same
remark myself；” invariably losing his place after each observation；
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and going up and down the column to find it again。
Sir Leicester is reading； with infinite gravity and state； when
the door opens； and the Mercury in powder makes this strange
announcement：
“The young man； my Lady； of the name Guppy。”
Sir Leicester pauses； stares； repeats in a killing voice：—
“The young man of the name of Guppy？”
Looking round he beholds the young man of the name of
Guppy； much discomfited； and not presenting a very impressive
letter of introduction in his manner and appearance。
“Pray；” says Sir Leicester to Mercury； “what do you mean by
announcing with this abruptness a young man of the name of
Guppy？”
“I beg your pardon； Sir Leicester； but my Lady said she would
see the young man whenever he called。 I was not aware that you
were here； Sir Leicester。”
With this apology； Mercury directs a scornful and indignant
look at the young man of the name of Guppy； which plainly says；
“What do you come calling here for； and getting me into a row？”
“It’s quite right。 I gave him those directions；” says my Lady。
“Let the young man wait。”
“By no means； my Lady。 Since he has your orders to come； I
will not interrupt you。” Sir Leicester in his gallantry retires； rather
declining to accept a bow from the young man as he goes out； and
majestically supposing him to be some shoemaker of intrusive
appearance。
Lady Dedlock looks imperiously at her visitor； when the servant
has left the room； casting her eyes over him from head to foot。 She
suffers him to stand by the door； and asks him what he wants？
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Bleak House 560
“That your ladyship would have the kindness to oblige me with
a little conversation；” returns Mr Guppy； embarrassed。
“You are； of course； the person who has written me so many
letters？”
“Several； your ladyship。 Several； before your ladyship
condescended to favour me with an answer。”
“And could you not take the same means of rendering a
conversation unnecessary？ Can you not still？”
Mr Guppy screws his mouth into a silent “No！” and shakes his
head。
“You have been strangely importunate。 If it should appear；
after all； that what you have to say does not concern me—and I
don’t know how it can； and don’t expect that it will—you will allow
me to cut you short with but little ceremony。 Say what you have
say； if you please。”
My Lady； with a careless toss of her screen； turns herself
towards the fire again； sitting almost with her back to the young
man of the name of Guppy。
“With your ladyship’s permission； then；” says the young man； “I
will now enter on my business。 Hem！ I am； as I told your ladyship
in my first letter； in the law。 Being in the law； I have learnt the
habit of not committing myself in writing； and therefore I did not
mention to your ladyship the name of the firm with which I am
connected； and in which my standing—and I may add income—is
tolerably good。 I may now state to your ladyship； in confidence；
that the name of that firm is Kenge Carboy； of Lincoln’s Inn；
which may not be altogether unknown to your ladyship in
connection with the case in Chancery of Jarndyce and Jarndyce。”
My Lady’s figure begins to be expressive of some attention。 She
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Bleak House 561
has ceased to toss the screen； and holds it as if she were listening。
“Now； I may say to your ladyship at once；” says Mr Guppy； a
little emboldened； “it is no matter arising out of Jarndyce and
Jarndyce that made me so desirous to speak to your ladyship；
which conduct I have no doubt did appear； and does appear；
obtrusive—in fact； almost blackguardly。” After waiting for a
moment to receive some assurance to the contrary； and not
receiving any； Mr Guppy proceeds。 “If it had been Jarndyce and
Jarndyce； I should have gone at once to your ladyship’s solicitor；
Mr Tulkinghorn of the Fields。 I have the pleasure of being
acquainted with Mr Tulkinghorn；—at least we move when we
meet one another—and if it had been any business of that sort； I
should have gone to him。”
My Lady turns a little round； and says “You had better sit
down。”
“Thank you ladyship。” Mr Guppy does so。 “Now； your
ladyship；” Mr Guppy refers to a slip of paper on which he has
made small notes of his line of argument； and which seems to
involve him in the densest obscurity whenever he looks at it： “I—O
yes！—I place myself entirely in your ladyship’s hands。 If your
ladyship were to make any complaint to Kenge and Carboy； or to
Mr Tulkinghorn； of the present visit； I should be placed in a very
disagreeable situation。 That I openly admit。 Consequently； I rely
upon your ladyship’s honour。”
My Lady； with a disdainful gesture of the hand that holds the
screen； assures him of his being worth no complaint from her。
“Thank； your ladyship；” says Mr Guppy； “quite satisfactory。
Now—I—dash it！—The fact is； that I put down a head or two here
of the order of the points I thought of touching upon； and they’re
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Bleak House 562
written short； and I can’t quite make out what they mean。 If your
ladyship will excuse me taking it to the window half a moment； I—
”
Mr Guppy going to the window tumbles into a pair of love…
birds； to whom he says in his confusion； “I beg your pardon； I am
sure。” This does not tend to the greater legibility of his notes。 He
murmurs； growing warm and red； and holding a slip of paper now
close to eyes； now a long way off。 “C。S。 What’s C。S。 for？ O！ ‘E。S！’ O；
I know！ Yes； to be sure！” And comes back enlightened。
“I am not aware；” says Mr Guppy； standing midway between
my Lady and his chair； “whether your ladyship ever happened to
hear of； or to see； a young lady of the name of Miss Esther
Summerson。”
My Lady’s eyes look at him full。 “I saw a young lady of that
name not long ago。 This past autumn。”
“Now； did it strike your ladyship that she was like anybody？”
asks Mr Guppy； crossing his arms； holding his head on one side；
and scratching the corner of his mouth with his memoranda。
My Lady removes her eyes from him no more。
“No。”
“Not like your ladyship’s family？”
“No。”
“I think your ladyship；” said Mr Guppy； “can hardly remember
Miss Summerson’s face？”
“I remember the young lady very well。 What has this to do with
me？”
“Your ladyship； I do assure you； that having Miss Summerson’s
image imprinted on my art—which I mention in confidence—I
found； when I had the honour of going over your ladyship’s
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Bleak House 563
mansion of Chesney Wold； while on a short out in the county of
Lincolnshire with a friend； such a resemblance between Miss
Esther Summerson and your ladyship’s own portrait； that it
completely knocked me over； so much so； that I didn’t at the
moment even know what it was that knocked me over。 And now I
have the honour of beholding your ladyship near （I have often；
since that； taken the liberty of looking at your ladyship in your
carriage in the park； when I dare say you was not aware of me； but
I never saw your ladyship so near）； it’s really more surprising than
I thought it。”
Young man of the name of Guppy！ There have been times when
ladies lived in strongholds； and had unscrup
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