Chapter 45 - Page 2

Vholes?”

Doing anything but that, Mr Vholes observed:

“I have been saying that I have reason to know, Miss Summerson, as Mr C’s professional adviser, that Mr C’s circumstances are at the present moment in an embarrassed state. Not so much in point of amount, as owing to the peculiar and pressing nature of liabilities Mr C has incurred, and the means he has of liquidating or meeting the same. I have staved off many little matters for Mr C; but there is a limit to staving off, and we have reached it. I have made some advances out of pocket to accommodate these unpleasantnesses, but I necessarily look to being repaid, for I do not pretend to be a man of capital, and I have a father to support in the Vale of Taunton, besides striving to realize some little independence for three dear girls at home. My apprehension is, Mr C’s circumstances being such, lest it should end in his obtaining leave to part with his commission; which at all events is desirable to be made known to his connexions.”

Mr Vholes, who had looked at me while speaking, here emerged into the silence he could hardly be said to have broken, so stifled was his tone; and looked before him again.

“Imagine the poor fellow without even his present resource,” said my guardian to me. “Yet what can I do? You know him, Esther. He would never accept of help from me, now. To offer it, or hint at it would be to drive him to an extremity, if nothing else did.”

Mr Vholes hereupon addressed me again.

“What Mr Jarndyce remarks, miss, is no doubt the case, and is the difficulty. I do not see that anything is to be done. I do not say that anything is to be done. Far from it. I merely come down here under the seal of confidence and mention it, in order that everything may be openly carried on, and that it may not be said afterwards that everything was not openly carried on. My wish is that everything should be openly carried on. I desire to leave a good name behind me. If I consulted merely my own interests with Mr C, I should not be here. So insurmountable, as you must well know, would be his objections. This is not a professional attendance. This can he charged to nobody. I have no interest in it, except as a member of society and a father — and a son,” said Mr Vholes, who had nearly forgotten that point.

It appeared to us that Mr Vholes said neither more nor less than the truth, in intimating that he sought to divide the responsibility, such as it was, of knowing Richard’s situation. I could only suggest that I should go down to Deal, where Richard was then stationed, and see him, and try if it were possible to avert the worst. Without consulting Mr Vholes on this point, I took my guardian aside to propose it, while Mr Vholes gauntly stalked to the fire, and warmed his funeral gloves.

The fatigue of the journey formed