bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第124章
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man—which may be improved by cultivation； but can never be
originated—you may still rely on me。 I have been faithful to my
post； since the days of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent； and
I will not desert it now。 No； my son。 If you have ever contemplated
your father’s poor position with a feeling of pride； you may rest
assured that he will do nothing to tarnish it。 For yourself； Prince；
whose character is different （we cannot be all alike； nor is it
advisable that we should）； work； be industrious； earn money； and
extend the connection as much as possible。”
“That you may depend I will do； dear father； with all my heart；”
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replied Prince。
“I have no doubt of it；” said Mr Turveydrop。 “Your qualities are
not shining； my dear child； but they are steady and useful。 And to
both of you； my children； I would merely observe； in the spirit of a
sainted Wooman on whose path I had the happiness of casting； I
believe； some ray of light；—take care of the establishment； take
care of my simple wants； and bless you both！”
Old Mr Turveydrop then became so very gallant； in honour of
the occasion； that I told Caddy we must really go to Thavies Inn at
once if we were to go at all that day。 So we took our departure；
after a very loving farewell between Caddy and her betrothed： and
during our walk she was so happy； and so full of old Mr
Turveydrop’s praises； that I would not have said a word in his
disparagement for any consideration。
The house in Thavies Inn had bills in the windows announcing
that it was to let； and it looked dirtier and gloomier and ghastlier
than ever。 The name of poor Mr Jellyby had appeared in the list of
Bankrupts； but a day or two before； and he was shut up in the
dining…room with two gentlemen； and a heap of blue bags；
account…books； and papers； making the most desperate
endeavours to understand his affairs。 They appeared to me to be
quite beyond his comprehension； for when Caddy took me into the
dining…room by mistake； and we came upon Mr Jellyby in his
spectacles； forlornly fenced into a corner by the great dining…table
and the two gentlemen； he seemed to have given up the whole
thing； and to be speechless and insensible。
Going upstairs to Mrs Jellyby’s room （the children were all
screaming in the kitchen； and there was no servant to be seen）； we
found that lady in the midst of a voluminous correspondence；
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opening； reading； and sorting letters； with a great accumulation of
torn covers on the floor。 She was so preoccupied that at first she
did not know me； though she sat looking at me with that curious；
bright…eyed； far…off look of hers。
“Ah！ Miss Summerson？” she said at last。 “I was thinking of
something so different！ I hope you are well。 I am happy to see you。
Mr Jarndyce and Miss Clare quite well？”
I hoped in return that Mr Jellyby was quite well。
“Why； not quite； my dear；” said Mrs Jellyby； in the calmest
manner。 “He has been unfortunate in his affairs； and is a little out
of spirits。 Happily for me； I am so much engaged that I have no
time to think about it。 We have； at the present moment； one
hundred and seventy families； Miss Summerson； averaging five
persons in each； either gone or going to the left bank of the Niger。”
I thought of the one family so near us； who were neither gone
nor going to the left bank of the Niger； and wondered how she
could be so placid。
“You have brought Caddy back； I see；” observed Mrs Jellyby；
with a glance at her daughter。 “It has become quite a novelty to
see her here。 She has almost deserted her old employment； and in
fact obliges me to employ a boy。”
“I am sure； Ma；—” began Caddy。
“Now you know； Caddy；” her mother mildly interposed； “that I
do employ a boy； who is now at his dinner。 What is the use of your
contradicting？”
“I was not going to contradict； Ma；” returned Caddy。 “I was
only going to say； that surely you wouldn’t have me be a mere
drudge all my life。”
“I believe； my dear；” said Mrs Jellyby； still opening her letters；
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casting her bright eyes smilingly over them； and sorting them as
she spoke； “that you have a business example before you in your
mother。 Besides。 A mere drudge？ If you had any sympathy with
the destinies of the human race； it would raise you high above any
such idea。 But you have none。 I have often told you； Caddy； you
have no such sympathy。”
“Not if it’s Africa； Ma； I have not。”
“Of course you have not。 Now； if I were not happily so much
engaged； Miss Summerson；” said Mrs Jellyby； sweetly casting her
eyes for a moment on me； and considering where to put the
particular letter she had just opened； “this would distress and
disappoint me。 But I have so much to think of； in connection with
Borrioboola…Gha； and it is so necessary I should concentrate
myself； that there is my remedy； you see。”
As Caddy gave me a glance of entreaty； and as Mrs Jellyby was
looking far away into Africa straight through my bonnet and head；
I thought it a good opportunity to come to the subject of my visit；
and to attract Mrs Jellyby’s attention。
“Perhaps；” I began； “you will wonder what has brought me
here to interrupt you。”
“I am always delighted to see Miss Summerson；” said Mrs
Jellyby； pursuing her employment with a placid smile。 “Though I
wish；” and she shook her head； “she was more interested in the
Borrioboolan project。”
“I have come with Caddy；” said I； “because Caddy justly thinks
she ought not to have a secret from her mother； and fancies I shall
encourage and aid her （though I am sure I don’t know how） in
imparting one。”
“Caddy；” said Mrs Jellyby； pausing for a moment in her
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occupation； and then serenely pursuing it after shaking her head；
“you are going to tell me some nonsense。”
Caddy untied the strings of her bonnet； took her bonnet off； and
letting it dangle on the floor by the strings； and crying heartily；
said； “Ma； I am engaged。”
“O； you ridiculous child！” observed Mrs Jellyby； with an
abstracted air； as she looked over the despatch last opened； “what
a goose you are！”
“I am engaged； Ma；” sobbed Caddy； “to young Mr Turveydrop；
at
