bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第179节
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dirty little limp girl in a gauzy dress。 Such a precocious little girl；
with such a dowdy bonnet on （that； too； of a gauzy texture）； who
brought her sandled shoes in an old threadbare velvet reticule。
Such mean little boys； when they were not dancing； with string；
and marbles； and cramp…bones in their pockets； and the most
untidy legs and feet—and heels particularly。 I asked Caddy what
had made their parents choose this profession for them？ Caddy
said she didn’t know； perhaps they were designed for teachers；
perhaps for the stage。 They were all people in humble
circumstances； and the melancholy boy’s mother kept a ginger…
beer shop。
We danced for an hour with great gaiety； the melancholy child
doing wonders with his lower extremities； in which there
appeared to be some sense of enjoyment though it never rose
above his waist。 Caddy； while she was observant of her husband；
and was evidently founded upon him； had acquired a grace and
self…possession of her own； which； united to her pretty face and
figure； was uncommonly agreeable。 She already relieved him of
much of the instruction of these young people； and he seldom
interfered； except to walk his part in the figure if he had anything
to do in it。 He always played the tune。 The affectation of the gauzy
child； and her condescension to the boys； was a sight。 And thus we
danced an hour by the clock。
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When the practice was concluded； Caddy’s husband made
himself ready to go out of town to a school； and Caddy ran away to
get ready to go out with me。 I sat in the ball…room in the interval；
contemplating the apprentices。 The two outdoor boys went upon
the staircase to put on their half…boots； and pull the in…door boy’s
hair； as I judged from the nature of his objections。 Returning with
their jackets buttoned； and their pumps stuck in them； they then
produced packets of cold bread and meat； and bivouacked under a
painted lyre on the wall。 The little gauzy child； having whisked her
sandals into the reticule and put on a trodden down pair of shoes；
shook her head into the dowdy bonnet at one shake； and
answering my inquiry whether she liked dancing； by replying；
“not with boys；” tied it across her chin and went home
contemptuous。
“Old Mr Turveydrop is so sorry；” said Caddy； “that he has not
finished dressing yet； and cannot have the pleasure of seeing you
before you go。 You are such a favourite of his； Esther。”
I expressed myself much obliged to him； but did not think it
necessary to add that I readily dispensed with this attention。
“It takes him a long time to dress；” said Caddy； “because he is
very much looked up to in such things； you know； and has a
reputation to support。 You can’t think how kind he is to Pa。 He
talks to Pa； of an evening； about the Prince Regent； and I never
saw Pa so interested。”
There was something in the picture of Mr Turveydrop
bestowing his Deportment on Mr Jellyby； that quite took my fancy。
I asked Caddy if he brought her papa out much？
“No；” said Caddy； “I don’t know that he does that； but he talks
to Pa； and Pa greatly admires him； and listens； and likes it。 Of
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course I am aware that Pa has hardly any claims to Deportment；
but they get on together delightfully。 You can’t think what good
companions they make。 I never saw Pa take snuff before in my
life； but he takes one pinch out of Mr Turveydrop’s box regularly；
and keeps putting it to his nose and taking it away again； all the
evening。
That old Mr Turveydrop should ever； in the chances and
changes of life； have come to the rescue of Mr Jellyby from
Borrioboola Gha； appeared to me to be one of the pleasantest of
oddities。
“As to Peepy；” said Caddy； with a little hesitation； “whom I was
most afraid of—next to having any family of my own； Esther—as
an inconvenience to Mr Turveydrop； the kindness of the old
gentleman to that child is beyond everything。 He asks to see him；
my dear！ He lets him take the newspaper up to him to bed； he
gives him the crusts of his toast to eat； he sends him on little
errands about the house； he tells him to come to me for sixpences。
In short；” said Caddy cheerily； “and not to prose； I am a very
fortunate girl； and ought to be very grateful。 Where are we going；
Esther？”
“To the Old Street Road；” said I； “where I have a few words to
say to the solicitor’s clerk； who was sent to meet me at the coach…
office on the very day when I came to London； and first saw you；
my dear。 Now I think of it； the gentleman brought us to your
house。”
“Then； indeed； I seem to be naturally the person to go with
you；” returned Caddy。
To the Old Street Road we went； and there inquired at Mrs
Guppy’s residence for Mrs Guppy。 Mrs Guppy； occupying the
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parlours； and having indeed been visibly in danger of cracking
herself like a nut in the front parlour door by peeping out before
she was asked for； immediately presented herself； and requested
us to walk in。 She was an old lady in a large cap； with rather a red
nose and rather an unsteady eye； but smiling all over。 Her close
little sitting…room was prepared for a visit； and there was a portrait
of her son in it； which I had almost written here； was more like
than life； it insisted upon him with such obstinacy； and was so
determined not to let him off。
Not only was the portrait there； but we found the original there
too。 He was dressed in a great many colours； and was discovered
at a table reading law…papers with his forefinger to his forehead。
“Miss Summerson；” said Mr Guppy； rising； “this is indeed an
Oasis。 Mother； will you be so good as to put a chair for the other
lady； and get out of the gangway。”
Mrs Guppy； whose incessant smiling gave her quite a waggish
appearance； did as her son requested； and then sat down in a
corner； holding her pocket…handkerchief to her chest； like a
fomentation； with both hands。
I presented Caddy； and Mr Guppy said that any friend of mine
was more than welcome。 I then proceeded to the object of my visit。
“I took the liberty of sending you a note； sir；” said I。
Mr Guppy acknowledged the receipt by taking it out of his
breast…pocket； putting it to his lips； and returning it to his pocket
with a bow。 Mr Guppy’s mother was so diverted that she rolled her
head as she smiled； and made a silent appeal to Caddy with her
elbow。
“Could I speak to you alone for a moment？” said I。
Anything like the jocoseness of Mr Guppy’s mother； now； I
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think I never saw。 She made no sound of laughter； but she rolled
her head； and shook it； and put her handkerchief to her mouth；
and appealed to Caddy with her elbow； and her hand； and her
shoulder； and was so unspeakably entertained altogether that it
was with some difficulty she could marshal Caddy through the
folding…door into her bedroom adjoining。
“Miss Summerson；”
