bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第128节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
respectable man now。 Joe Pouch’s widow might have done me
good—there was something in her—and something of her—but I
couldn’t make up my mind to it。 If I had had the luck to meet with
such a wife as Mat found！”
Mrs Bagnet； who seems in a virtuous way to be under little
reserve with a good sort of fellow； but to be another good sort of
fellow herself for that matter； receives this compliment by flicking
Mr George in the face with a head of greens； and taking her tub
into the little room behind the shop。
“Why； Quebec； my poppet；” says George； following； on
invitation； into that apartment。 “And little Malta； too！ Come and
kiss your Bluffy！”
These young ladies—not supposed to have been actually
christened by the names applied to them； though always so called
in the family； from the places of their birth in barracks—are
respectively employed on three…legged stools： the younger （some
five or six years old）； in learning her letters out of a penny primer：
the elder （eight or nine perhaps）； in teaching her； and sewing with
great assiduity。 Both hail Mr George with acclamations as an old
friend； and after some kissing and romping plant their stools
beside him。
“And how’s young Woolwich？” says Mr George。
“Ah！ There now！” cries Mrs Bagnet； turning about from her
saucepans （for she is cooking dinner）； with a bright flush on her
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 533…
Bleak House 533
face。 Would you believe it？ Got an engagement at the Theayter；
with his father； to play the fife in a military piece。”
“Well done； my godson！” cries Mr George； slapping his thigh。
“I believe you！” says Mrs Bagnet。 “He’s a Briton。 That’s what
Woolwich is。 A Briton。”
“And Mat blows away at his bassoon； and you’re respectable
civilians one and all；” says Mr George。 Family people。 Children
growing up。 Mat’s old mother in Scotland； and your old father
somewhere else； corresponded with； and helped a little； and—well；
well！ To be sure； I don’t know why I shouldn’t be wished a
hundred mile away； for I have not much to do with all this！”
Mr George is becoming thoughtful； sitting before the fire in the
whitewashed room； which has a sanded floor； and a barrack smell；
and contains nothing superfluous； and has not a visible speck of
dirt or dust in it； from the faces of Quebec and Malta to the bright
tin pots and pannikins upon the dresser…shelves；—Mr George is
becoming thoughtful； sitting here while Mrs Bagnet is busy； when
Mr Bagnet and young Woolwich opportunely come home。 Mr
Bagnet is an ex…artillery man； tall and upright； with shaggy
eyebrows； and whiskers like the fibres of a cocoa…nut； not a hair
upon his head； and a torrid complexion。 His voice； short； deep； and
resonant； is not at all unlike the tones of the instrument to which
he is devoted。 Indeed there may be generally observed in him an
unbending； unyielding； brass…bound air； as if he were himself the
bassoon of the human orchestra。 Young Woolwich is the type and
model of a young drummer。
Both father and son salute the trooper heartily。 He saying； in
due season； that he has come to advise with Mr Bagnet； Mr Bagnet
hospitably declares that he will hear of no business until after
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 534…
Bleak House 534
dinner； and that his friend shall not partake of his counsel； without
first partaking of boiled pork and greens。 The trooper yielding to
this invitation； he and Mr Bagnet； not to embarrass the domestic
preparations； go forth to take a turn up and down the little street；
which they promenade with measured tread and folded arms； as if
it were a rampart。
“George；” says Mr Bagnet。 “You know me。 It’s my old girl that
advises。 She has the head。 But I never own to it before her。
Discipline must be maintained。 Wait till the greens is off her mind。
Then； we’ll consult。 Whatever the old girl says； do—do it！”
“I intend to； Mat；” replies the other。 “I would sooner take her
opinion than that of a college。”
“College；” returns Mr Bagnet； in short sentences； bassoon…like。
“What college could you leave—in another quarter of the world—
with nothing but a grey cloak and an umbrella—to make its way
home to Europe？ The old girl would do it tomorrow。 Did it once！”
“You are right；” says Mr George。
“What college；” pursues Bagnet； “could you set up in life—with
two penn’orth of white lime—a penn’orth of fuller’s earth—
ha’porth of sand—and the rest of the change out of sixpence in
money？ That’s what the old girl started on。 In the present
business。”
“I am rejoiced to hear it’s thriving； Mat。”
“The old girl；” says Mr Bagnet； acquiescing； “saves。 Has a
stocking somewhere。 With money in it。 I never saw it。 But I know
she’s got it。 Wait till the greens is off her mind。 Then she’ll set you
up。”
“She is a treasure！” exclaims Mr George。
“She’s more。 But I never own to it before her。 Discipline must
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 535…
Bleak House 535
be maintained。 It was the old girl that brought out my musical
abilities。 I should have been in the artillery now； but for the old
girl。 Six years I hammered at the fiddle。 Ten at the flute。 The old
girl said it wouldn’t do； intention good； but want of flexibility； try
the bassoon。 The old girl borrowed a bassoon from the
bandmaster of the Rifle Regiment。 I practised in the trenches。 Got
on； got another； got a living by it！”
George remarks that she looks as fresh as a rose； and as sound
as an apple。
“The old girl；” says Mr Bagnet in reply； “is a thoroughly fine
woman。 Consequently； she is like a thoroughly fine day。 Gets finer
as she gets on。 I never saw the old girl’s equal。 But I never own to
it before her。 Discipline must be maintained！”
Proceeding to converse on indifferent matters； they walk up
and down the little street； keeping step and time； until summoned
by Quebec and Malta to do justice to the pork and greens； over
which Mrs Bagnet； like a military chaplain； says a short grace。 In
the distribution of these comestibles； as in every other household
duty； Mrs Bagnet develops an exact system； sitting with every dish
before her； allotting to every portion of pork its own portion of pot…
liquor； greens； potatoes； and even mustard； and serving it out
complete。 Having likewise served out the beer from a can； and
thus supplied the mess with all things necessary； Mrs Bagnet
proceeds to satisfy her own hunger； which is in a healthy state。
The kit of the mess； if the table furniture may be so denominated；
is chiefly composed of utensils of horn and tin； that have done duty
in several parts of the world。 Young Woolwich’s knife； in
particular； which is of the oyster kind； with the additional feature
of a strong shutting…up movement which frequently balks the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 536…
Bleak House 536
appetite of that young musician； is mentioned as having gone in
various hands the complete round of foreign service。
The dinner done； Mrs Bagnet； assisted by the younger branches
（who polish their own cups and platters； knives and forks）； makes
all the dinner garniture shine as brightly as before； and puts it all
away； first sweeping the hearth to the end that Mr Bagnet and the
visitor may not be retarded in the smok
