bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第14节
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looking； though by no means plain girl； at the writing…table； who
sat biting the feather of her pen and staring at us。 I suppose
nobody ever was in such a state of ink。 And； from her tumbled hair
to her pretty feet； which were disfigured with frayed and broken
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satin slippers trodden down at heel； she really seemed to have no
article of dress upon her； from a pin upwards； that was in its
proper condition or its right place。
“You find me； my dears；” said Mrs Jellyby； snuffing the two
great office candles in tin candlesticks which made the room taste
strongly of hot tallow （the fire had gone out； and there was nothing
in the grate but ashes； a bundle of wood； and a poker）； “you find
me； my dears； as usual； very busy； but that you will excuse。 The
African project at present employs my whole time。 It involves me
in correspondence with public bodies； and with private individuals
anxious for the welfare of their species all over the country。 I am
happy to say it is advancing。 We hope by this time next year to
have from a hundred and fifty to two hundred healthy families
cultivating coffee and educating the natives of Borrioboola…Gha；
on the left bank of the Niger。”
As Ada said nothing； but looked at me； I said it must be very
gratifying。
“It is gratifying；” said Mrs Jellyby。 “It involves the devotion of
all my energies； such as they are； but that is nothing； so that it
succeeds； and I am more confident of success every day。 Do you
know； Miss Summerson； I almost wonder that you never turned
your thoughts to Africa？”
This application of the subject was really so unexpected to me；
that I was quite at a loss how to receive it。 I hinted that the
climate—
“The finest climate in the world！” said Mrs Jellyby。
“Indeed； ma’am？”
“Certainly。 With precaution；” said Mrs Jellyby。
“You may go into Holborn； without precaution； and be run
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over。 You may go into Holborn； with precaution； and never be run
over。 Just so with Africa。”
I said； “No doubt。”—I meant as to Holborn。
“If you would like；” said Mrs Jellyby； putting a number of
papers towards us； “to look over some remarks on that head； and
on the general subject （which have been extensively circulated）；
while I finish a letter I am now dictating—to my eldest daughter；
who is my amanuensis—”
The girl at the table left off biting her pen； and made a return to
our recognition； which was half bashful and half sulky。
“—I shall then have finished for the present；” proceeded Mrs
Jellyby； with a sweet smile； “though my work is never done。
Where are you； Caddy？”
“‘Presents her compliments to Mr Swallow； and begs—’” said
Caddy。
“‘And begs；’” said Mrs Jellyby； dictating； “‘to inform him in
reference to his letter of inquiry on the African project。’—No；
Peepy！ Not on any account！”
Peepy （so self…named） was the unfortunate child who had fallen
downstairs； who now interrupted the correspondence by
presenting himself； with a strip of plaister on his forehead； to
exhibit his wounded knees； in which Ada and I did not know
which to pity most—the bruises or the dirt。 Mrs Jellyby merely
added； with the serene composure with which she said everything；
“Go along； you naughty Peepy！” and fixed her fine eyes on Africa
again。
However； as she at once proceeded with her dictation； and as I
interrupted nothing by doing it； I ventured quietly to stop poor
Peepy as he was going out； and to take him up to nurse。 He looked
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very much astonished at it； and at Ada’s kissing him； but soon fell
fast asleep in my arms； sobbing at longer and longer intervals；
until he was quiet。 I was so occupied with Peepy that I lost the
letter in detail； though I derived such a general impression from it
of the momentous importance of Africa； and the utter
insignificance of all other places and things； that I felt quite
ashamed to have thought so little about it。
“Six o’clock！” said Mrs Jellyby。 “And our dinner hour is
nominally （for we dine at all hours） five！ Caddy； show Miss Clare
and Miss Summerson their rooms。 You will like to make some
change； perhaps？ You will excuse me； I know； being so much
occupied。 O； that very bad child！ Pray put him down； Miss
Summerson！”
I begged permission to retain him； truly saying that he was not
at all troublesome； and carried him upstairs and laid him on my
bed。 Ada and I had two upper rooms； with a door of
communication between。 They were excessively bare and
disorderly； and the curtain to my window was fastened up with a
fork。
“You would like some hot water； wouldn’t you？” said Miss
Jellyby； looking round for a jug with a handle to it； but looking in
vain。
“If it is not being troublesome；” said we。
“O； it’s not the trouble；” returned Miss Jellyby； “the question is；
if there is any。”
The evening was so very cold； and the rooms had such a
marshy smell； that I must confess it was a little miserable； and Ada
was half crying。 We soon laughed； however； and were busily
unpacking； when Miss Jellyby came back to say； that she was
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sorry there was no hot water； but they couldn’t find the kettle； and
the boiler was out of order。
We begged her not to mention it； and made all the haste we
could to get down to the fire again。 But all the little children had
come up to the landing outside； to look at the phenomenon of
Peepy lying on my bed； and our attention was distracted by the
constant apparition of noses and fingers； in situations of danger
between the hinges of the doors。 It was impossible to shut the door
of either room； for my lock； with no knob to it； looked as if it
wanted to be wound up； and though the handle of Ada’s went
round and round with the greatest smoothness； it was attended
with no effect whatever on the door。 Therefore I proposed to the
children that they should come in and be very good at my table；
and I would tell them the story of little Red Riding Hood while I
dressed； which they did； and were as quiet as mice； including
Peepy； who awoke opportunely before the appearance of the wolf。
When we went downstairs we found a mug； with “A Present
from Tunbridge Wells；” on it； lighted up in the staircase window
with a floating wick； and a young woman； with a swelled face
bound up in a flannel bandage； blowing the fire of the drawing…
room （now connected by an open door with Mrs Jellyby’s room）；
and choking dreadfully。 It smoked to that degree in short； that we
all sat coughing and crying with the windows open for half an
hour； during which Mrs Jellyby； with the same sweetness of
temper； directed letters about Africa。 Her being so employed was；
I must say； a great relief to me； for Richard told us that he had
washed
