bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第110节
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anything。 If you will bless us with your approval and consent；
father； we shall not think of being married until it is quite
agreeable to you； and when we are married； we shall always make
you—of course—our first consideration。 You must ever be the
Head and Master here； father； and we feel how truly unnatural it
would be in us； if we failed to know it； or if we failed to exert
ourselves in every possible way to please you。”
Mr Turveydrop underwent a severe internal struggle； and came
upright on the sofa again； with his cheeks puffing over his stiff
cravat： a perfect model of parental deportment。
“My son！” said Mr Turveydrop。 “My children！ I cannot resist
your prayer。 Be happy！”
His benignity； as he raised his future daughter…in…law and
stretched out his hand to his son （who kissed it with affectionate
respect and gratitude）； was the most confusing sight I ever saw。
“My children；” said Mr Turveydrop； paternally encircling
Caddy with his left arm as she sat beside him； and putting his right
hand gracefully on his hip。 “My son and daughter； your happiness
shall be my care。 I will watch over you。 You shall always live with
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me；” meaning； of course； I will always live with you； “this house is
henceforth as much yours as mine； consider it your home。 May
you long live to share it with me！”
The power of his Deportment was such； that they really were as
much overcome with thankfulness as if； instead of quartering
himself upon them for the rest of his life； he were making some
munificent sacrifice in their favour。
“For myself； my children；” said Mr Turveydrop； “I am falling
into the sear and yellow leaf； and it is impossible to say how long
the last feeble traces of gentlemanly Deportment may linger in this
weaving and spinning age。 But； so long； I will do my duty to
society； and will show myself； as usual； about town。 My wants are
few and simple。 My little apartment here； my few essentials for the
toilet； my frugal morning meal； and my little dinner； will suffice。 I
charge your dutiful affection with the supply of these
requirements； and I charge myself with all the rest。”
They were overpowered afresh by his uncommon generosity。
“My son；” said Mr Turveydrop； “for those little points in which
you are deficient—points of Deportment which are born with a
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；
