Bleak House Charles Dickens (classic books to read .TXT) đ
- Author: Charles Dickens
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âThat is certainly what I endeavour to do, sir,â returns Mr. Snagsby.
âNo, you donât do yourself justice. It anât what you endeavour to do,â says Mr. Bucket, shaking hands with him and blessing him in the tenderest manner, âitâs what you do. Thatâs what I estimate in a man in your way of business.â
Mr. Snagsby makes a suitable response and goes homeward so confused by the events of the evening that he is doubtful of his being awake and outâ âdoubtful of the reality of the streets through which he goesâ âdoubtful of the reality of the moon that shines above him. He is presently reassured on these subjects by the unchallengeable reality of Mrs. Snagsby, sitting up with her head in a perfect beehive of curl-papers and nightcap, who has dispatched Guster to the police-station with official intelligence of her husbandâs being made away with, and who within the last two hours has passed through every stage of swooning with the greatest decorum. But as the little woman feelingly says, many thanks she gets for it!
XXIII Estherâs NarrativeWe came home from Mr. Boythornâs after six pleasant weeks. We were often in the park and in the woods and seldom passed the lodge where we had taken shelter without looking in to speak to the keeperâs wife; but we saw no more of Lady Dedlock, except at church on Sundays. There was company at Chesney Wold; and although several beautiful faces surrounded her, her face retained the same influence on me as at first. I do not quite know even now whether it was painful or pleasurable, whether it drew me towards her or made me shrink from her. I think I admired her with a kind of fear, and I know that in her presence my thoughts always wandered back, as they had done at first, to that old time of my life.
I had a fancy, on more than one of these Sundays, that what this lady so curiously was to me, I was to herâ âI mean that I disturbed her thoughts as she influenced mine, though in some different way. But when I stole a glance at her and saw her so composed and distant and unapproachable, I felt this to be a foolish weakness. Indeed, I felt the whole state of my mind in reference to her to be weak and unreasonable, and I remonstrated with myself about it as much as I could.
One incident that occurred before we quitted Mr. Boythornâs house, I had better mention in this place.
I was walking in the garden with Ada when I was told that someone wished to see me. Going into the breakfast-room where this person was waiting, I found it to be the French maid who had cast off her shoes and walked through the wet grass on the day when it thundered and lightened.
âMademoiselle,â she began, looking fixedly at me with her too-eager eyes, though otherwise presenting an agreeable appearance and speaking neither with boldness nor servility, âI have taken a great liberty in coming here, but you know how to excuse it, being so amiable, mademoiselle.â
âNo excuse is necessary,â I returned, âif you wish to speak to me.â
âThat is my desire, mademoiselle. A thousand thanks for the permission. I have your leave to speak. Is it not?â she said in a quick, natural way.
âCertainly,â said I.
âMademoiselle, you are so amiable! Listen then, if you please. I have left my Lady. We could not agree. My Lady is so high, so very high. Pardon! Mademoiselle, you are right!â Her quickness anticipated what I might have said presently but as yet had only thought. âIt is not for me to come here to complain of my Lady. But I say she is so high, so very high. I will not say a word more. All the world knows that.â
âGo on, if you please,â said I.
âAssuredly; mademoiselle, I am thankful for your politeness. Mademoiselle, I have an inexpressible desire to find service with a young lady who is good, accomplished, beautiful. You are good, accomplished, and beautiful as an angel. Ah, could I have the honour of being your domestic!â
âI am sorryâ ââ I began.
âDo not dismiss me so soon, mademoiselle!â she said with an involuntary contraction of her fine black eyebrows. âLet me hope a moment! Mademoiselle, I know this service would be more retired than that which I have quitted. Well! I wish that. I know this service would be less distinguished than that which I have quitted. Well! I wish that, I know that I should win less, as to wages here. Good. I am content.â
âI assure you,â said I, quite embarrassed by the mere idea of having such an attendant, âthat I keep no maidâ ââ
âAh, mademoiselle, but why not? Why not, when you can have one so devoted to you! Who would be enchanted to serve you; who would be so true, so zealous, and so faithful every day! Mademoiselle, I wish with all my heart to serve you. Do not speak of money at present. Take me as I am. For nothing!â
She was so singularly earnest that I drew back, almost afraid of her. Without appearing to notice it, in her ardour she still pressed herself upon me, speaking in a rapid subdued voice, though always with a certain grace and propriety.
âMademoiselle, I come from the South country where we are quick and where we like and dislike very strong. My Lady was too high for me; I was too high for her. It is doneâ âpastâ âfinished! Receive me as your domestic, and I will serve you well. I will do more for you than you figure
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