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。”
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“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。 “Don’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。”
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“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 honour； sir—I will not
say the very high honour； for I never stoop to flattery—of bringing
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Bleak House 763
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；
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perhaps Mr C。 will favour 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 don’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
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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 today—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
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