having been told； on the occasion of his third call； than I was not
expected to return before ten o’clock at night； he had left word；
“that he would call about then。” He had left his card three times。
MR GUPPY。
As I naturally speculated on the object of these visits； and as I
always associated something ludicrous with the visitor； it fell out
that in laughing about Mr Guppy I told my Guardian of his old
proposal； and his subsequent retraction。 “After that；” said my
Guardian； “we will certainly receive this hero。” So； instructions
were given that Mr Guppy should be shown in； when he came
again； and they were scarcely given when he did come again。
He was embarrassed when he found my Guardian with me； but
recovered himself； and said； “How de do； sir？”
“How do you do； sir？” returned my Guardian。
“Thank you； sir； I am tolerable；” returned Mr Guppy。 “Will you
allow me to introduce my mother； Mrs Guppy of the Old Street
Road； and my particular friend； Mr Weevle。 That is to say； my
friend has gone by the name of Weevle； but his name is really and
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Bleak House 1181
truly Jobling。”
My Guardian begged them to be seated； and they all sat down。
“Tony；” said Mr Guppy to his friend； after an awkward silence。
“Will you open the case？”
“Do it yourself；” returned the friend； rather tartly。
“Well； Mr Jarndyce； sir；” Mr Guppy； after a moment’s
consideration； began； to the great diversion of his mother； which
she displayed by nudging Mr Jobling with her elbow； and winking
at me in a most remarkable manner； “I had an idea that I should
see Miss Summerson by herself； and was not quite prepared for
your esteemed presence。 But Miss Summerson has mentioned to
you； perhaps； that something has passed between us on former
occasions？”
“Miss Summerson；” returned my Guardian smiling； “has made
a communication to that effect to me。”
“That；” said Mr Guppy； “makes matters easier。 Sir； I have come
out of my articles at Kenge and Carboy’s； and I believe with
satisfaction to all parties。 I am now admitted （after undergoing an
examination that’s enough to badger a man blue； touching a pack
of nonsense that he don’t want to know） on the roll of attorneys；
and have taken out my certificate； if it would be any satisfaction to
you to see it。”
“Thank you； Mr Guppy；” returned my Guardian。 “I am quite
willing—I believe I use a legal phrase—to admit the certificate。”
Mr Guppy therefore desisted from taking something out of his
pocket； and proceeded without it。
“I have no capital myself； but my mother has a little property
which takes the form of an annuity；” here Mr Guppy’s mother
rolled her head as if she never could sufficiently enjoy the
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Bleak House 1182
observation； and put her handkerchief to her mouth； and again
winked at me； “and a few pounds for expenses out of pocket in
conducting business； will never be wanting； free of interest； which
is an advantage； you know；” said Mr Guppy； feelingly。
“Certainly an advantage；” returned my Guardian。
“I have some connection；” pursued Mr Guppy； and it lays in the
direction of Walcot Square； Lambeth。 I have therefore taken a
ouse in that locality； which； in the opinion of my friends； is a
hollow bargain （taxes ridiculous； and use of fixtures included in
the rent）； and intend setting up professionally for myself there；
forthwith。”
Here Mr Guppy’s mother fell into an extraordinary passion of
rolling her head； and smiling waggishly at anybody who would
look at her。
“It’s a six…roomer； exclusive of kitchens；” said Mr Guppy； “and
in the opinion of my friends； a commodious tenement。 When I
mention my friends； I refer principally to my friend Jobling； who I
believe has known me；” Mr Guppy looked at him with a
sentimental air； “from boyhood’s hour？”
Mr Jobling confirmed this with a sliding movement of his legs。
“My friend Jobling will render me his assistance in the capacity
of clerk； and will live in the ouse；” said Mr Guppy。 “My mother will
likewise live in the ouse； when her present quarter in the Old
Street Road shall have ceased and expired； and consequently
there will be no want of society。 My friend Jobling is naturally
aristocratic by taste； and besides being acquainted with the
movements of the upper circles； fully backs me in the intentions I
am now developing。”
Mr Jobling said “certainly；” and withdrew a little from the
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Bleak House 1183
elbow of Mr Guppy’s mother。
“Now； I have no occasion to mention to you； sir； you being in
the confidence of Miss Summerson；” said Mr Guppy； “（mother； I
wish you’d be so good as to keep still）； that Miss Summerson’s
image was formerly imprinted on my art； and that I made her a
proposal of marriage。”
“That I have heard；” returned my Guardian。
“Circumstances；” pursued Mr Guppy； “over which I had no
control but quite the contrary； weakened the impression of that
image for a time。 At which time； Miss Summerson’s conduct was
highly genteel； I may even add； magnanimous。”
My Guardian patted me on the shoulder； and seemed much
amused。
“Now； sir；” said Mr Guppy； “I have got into that state of mind
myself； that I wish for a reciprocity of magnanimous behaviour。 I
wish to prove to Miss Summerson that I can rise to a height； of
which perhaps she hardly thought me capable。 I find that the
image which I did suppose had been eradicated from my art； is not
eradicated。 It’s influence over me is still tremenjous； and yielding
to it I am willing to overlook the circumstances over which none of
us have had any control； and to renew those proposals to Miss
Summerson which I had the honour to make at a former period。 I
beg to lay the ouse in Walcot Square； the business； and myself；
before Miss Summerson for her acceptance。”
“Very magnanimous； indeed； sir；” observed my Guardian。
“Well； sir；” returned Mr Guppy； with candour； “my wish is to be
magnanimous。 I do not consider that in making this offer to Miss
Summerson； I am by any means throwing myself away； neither is
that the opinion of my friends。 Still there are circumstances which
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Bleak House 1184
I submit may be taken into account as a set…off against any little
drawbacks of mine； and so a fair and equitable balance arrived at。”
“I take upon myself； sir；” said my Guardian； laughing as he
rang the bell； “to reply to your proposals on behalf of Miss
Summerson。 She is very sensible of your handsome intentions；
and wishes you good evening； and wishes you well。”
“Oh！” said Mr Guppy； with a blank look。 “Is that tantamount；
sir； to acceptance； or rejection； or consideration？”
“To decided rejection； if you please；” returned my Guardian。
Mr Guppy looked incredulously at his friend； and at his mother；
who suddenly turned very angry； and at the floor； and at the
ceiling。
“Indeed？” said he。 “Then； Jobling； if you was the friend you
represent yourself； I should think you might hand my mother out
of the gangway； instead of allowing her to remain where she ain’t
wanted。”
But Mrs Guppy positively refused to come out of the gangway。
She wouldn’t hear of it。 “Why； get along with you；” said she to my
Guardian； “what do you mean？ Ain’t my son good enough for you？
You ought to be ashamed of yourself。 Get out with you！”
“My good lady！” returned my Guardian； “it is hardly reasonable
to ask me to get out of my own room。”
“I don’t care for that；” said Mrs Guppy。 “Get out with you。 If we
ain’t good enough for you； go and procure somebody that is good
enough。 Go along and find ’em。”
I was quite unprepared for the rapid manner in which Mrs
Guppy’s power of jocularity merged into a power of taking the
profoundest offence。
“Go along and find somebody that is good enough for you；”
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