bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第17节
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things on。”
Ada said she would go too； and was soon astir。 I made a
proposal to Peepy； in default of being able to do anything better
for him； that he should let me wash him； and afterwards lay him
down on my bed again。 To this he submitted with the best grace
possible； staring at me during the whole operation； as if he never
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had been； and never could again be； so astonished in his life—
looking very miserable also； certainly； but making no complaint；
and going snugly to sleep as soon as it was over。 At first I was in
two minds about taking such a liberty； but I soon reflected that
nobody in the house was likely to notice it。
What with the bustle of despatching Peepy； and the bustle of
getting myself ready； and helping Ada； I was soon quite in a glow。
We found Miss Jellyby trying to warm herself at the fire in the
writing…room； which Priscilla was then lighting with a smutty
parlour candlestick—throwing the candle in to make it burn
better。 Everything was just as we had left it last night； and was
evidently intended to remain so。 Below stairs the dinner…cloth had
not been taken away； but had been left ready for breakfast。
Crumbs； dust； and waste paper were all over the house。 Some
pewter…pots and a milk…can hung on the area railings； the door
stood open； and we met the cook round the corner coming out of a
public…house； wiping her mouth。 She mentioned； as she passed us；
that she had been to see what o’clock it was。
But before we met the cook we met Richard； who was dancing
up and down Thavies Inn to warm his feet。 He was agreeably
surprised to see us stirring so soon； and said he would gladly share
our walk。 So he took care of Ada； and Miss Jellyby and I went first。
I may mention that Miss Jellyby had relapsed into her sulky
manner； and that I really should not have thought she liked me
much； unless she had told me so。
“Where would you wish to go？” she asked。
“Anywhere； my dear；” I replied。
“Anywhere’s nowhere；” said Miss Jellyby； stopping perversely。
“Let us go somewhere at any rate；” said I。
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She then walked me on very fast。
“I don’t care！” she said。 “Now； you are my witness； Miss
Summerson； I say I don’t care—but if he was to come to our house
with his great shining lumpy forehead； night after night； till he was
as old as Methuselah； I wouldn’t have anything to say to him。 Such
Asses as he and Ma make of themselves！”
“My dear！” I remonstrated； in allusion to the epithet； and the
vigorous emphasis Miss Jellyby set upon it。 “Your duty as a
child—”
“O！ don’t talk of duty as a child； Miss Summerson； where’s Ma’s
duty as a parent？ All made over to the public and Africa； I
suppose！ Then let the public and Africa show duty as a child； it’s
much more their affair than mine。 You are shocked； I dare say！
Very well； so am I shocked too； so we are both shocked； and
there’s an end of it！”
She walked me on faster yet。
“But for all that； I say again he may come； and come； and come；
and I won’t have anything to say to him。 I can’t bear him。 If there’s
any stuff in the world that I hate and detest； it’s the stuff he and
Ma talk。 I wonder the very paving stones opposite our house can
have the patience to stay there； and be a witness of such
inconsistencies and contradictions as all that sounding nonsense；
and Ma’s management！”
I could not but understand her to refer to Mr Quale； the young
gentleman who had appeared after dinner yesterday。 I was saved
the disagreeable necessity of pursuing the subject； by Richard and
Ada coming up at a round pace； laughing； and asking us if we
meant to run a race？ Thus interrupted； Miss Jellyby became
silent； and walked moodily on at my side； while I admired the long
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successions and varieties of streets； the quantity of people already
going to and fro； the number of vehicles passing and repassing； the
busy preparations in the setting forth of shop windows and the
sweeping out of shops； and the extraordinary creatures in rags；
secretly groping among the sweep…out rubbish for pins and other
refuse。
“So； cousin；” said the cheerful voice of Richard to Ada； behind
me； “we are never to get out of Chancery！ We have come by
another way to our place of meeting yesterday； and—by the Great
Seal； here’s the old lady again！”
Truly； there she was； immediately in front of us； curtseying； and
smiling； and saying； with her yesterday’s air of patronage：
“The wards in Jarndyce！ Ve…ry happy； I am sure！”
“You are out early； ma’am；” said I； as she curtseyed to me。
“Ye…es！ I usually walk here early。 Before the Court sits。 It’s
retired。 I collect my thoughts here for the business of the day；”
said the old lady； mincingly。 “The business of the day requires a
great deal of thought。 Chancery justice is so ve…ry difficult to
follow。”
“Who’s this； Miss Summerson？” whispered Miss Jellyby；
drawing my arm tighter through her own。
The little old lady’s hearing was remarkably quick。 She
answered for herself directly。
“A suitor； my child。 At your service。 I have the honour to attend
court regularly。 With my documents。 Have I the pleasure of
addressing another of the youthful parties in Jarndyce？” said the
old lady； recovering herself； with her head on one side； from a very
low curtsey。
Richard； anxious to atone for his thoughtlessness of yesterday；
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good…naturedly explained that Miss Jellyby was not connected
with the suit。
“Ha！” said the old lady。 “She does not expect a judgment？ She
will still grow old。 But not so old。 O dear； no！ This is the garden of
Lincoln’s Inn。 I call it my garden。 It is quite a bower in the
summer…time。 Where the birds sing melodiously。 I pass the greater
part of the long vacation here。 In contemplation。 You find the long
vacation exceedingly long； don’t you？”
We said yes； as she seemed to expect us to say so。
“When the leaves are falling from the trees； and there are no
more flowers in bloom to make up into nosegays for the Lord
Chancellor’s court；” said the old lady； “the vacation is fulfilled； and
the sixth seal； mentioned in the Revelations； again prevails。 Pray
come and see my lodging。 It will be a good omen for me。 Youth；
and hope； and beauty； are very seldom there。 It is a long long time
since I had a visit from either。”
She had taken my hand； and； leading me and Miss Jellyby
away； beckoned Richard and Ada to come too。 I did not know how
to excuse myself； and looked to Richard for aid。 As he was half
amused and half curious； and all in doubt how to get rid of the old
lady without offence； she continued to lead us away； and he and
Ada continued to follow； our strange conductress informing us all
the time； with much smiling condescension； that she lived close
by。
It was quite true； as it soon appeared。 She lived so close by； that
we had not time to have done humouring her for a few moments；
before she was at home。 Slipping us out at a little side gate； the old
lady stopped most unexpectedly in
