bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第256节
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premises of Toughey without causing any noise or trouble。 Then
says he； lifting up his eyebrows in the gayest way； ‘it’s no use
mentioning a fypunnote to me； my friend； because I’m a mere
child in such matters； and have no idea of money。’ Of course I
understood what his taking it so easy meant； and being now quite
sure he was the man for me； I wrapped the note round a little
stone and threw it up to him。 Well！ He laughs and beams； and
looks as innocent as you like； and says； ‘But I don’t know the value
of these things。 What am I to do with this？’ ‘Spend it； sir；’ says I。
‘But I shall be taken in；’ he says； ‘they won’t give me the right
change； I shall lose it； it’s no use to me。’ Lord you never saw such a
face as he carried it with！ Of course he told me where to find
Toughey； and I found him。”
I regarded this as very treacherous on the part of Mr Skimpole；
towards my Guardian； and as passing the usual bounds of his
childish innocence。
“Bounds； my dear？” returned Mr Bucket。 “Bounds？ Now； Miss
Summerson； I’ll give you a piece of advice that your husband will
find useful when you are happily married and have got a family
about you。 Whenever a person says to you that they are as
innocent as can be in all concerning money； look well after your
own money； for they are dead certain to collar it； if they can。
Whenever a person proclaims to you ‘In worldly matters I’m a
child；’ you consider that that person is only a…crying off from being
held accountable； and that you have got that person’s number； and
it’s Number One。 Now； I am not a poetical man myself； except in a
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vocal way when it goes round a company； but I’m a practical one；
and that’s my experience。 So’s this rule。 Fast and loose in one
thing。 Fast and loose in everything。 I never knew it fail。 No more
will you。 Nor no one。 With which caution to the unwary； my dear； I
take the liberty of pulling this here bell； and so go back to our
business。”
I believe it had not been for a moment out of his mind； any
more than it had been out of my mind； or out of his face。 The
whole household were amazed to see me； without any notice； at
that time in the morning； and so accompanied； and their surprise
was not diminished by my inquiries。 No one； however； had been
there。 It could not be doubted that this was the truth。
“Then； Miss Summerson；” said my companion； “we can’t be too
soon at the cottage where those brickmakers are to be found。 Most
inquiries there I leave to you； if you will be so good as to make ’em。
The naturalest way is the best way； and the naturalest way is your
own way。”
We set off again immediately。 On arriving at the cottage； we
found it shut up； and apparently deserted； but one of the
neighbours who knew me； and who came out when I was trying to
make some one hear； informed me that the two women and their
husbands now lived together in another house； made of loose
rough bricks； which stood on the margin of the piece of ground
where the kilns were； and where the long rows of bricks were
drying。 We lost no time in repairing to this place； which was within
a few hundred yards； and as the door stood ajar； I pushed it open。
There were only three of them sitting at breakfast； the child
lying asleep on a bed in the corner。 It was Jenny； the mother of the
dead child； who was absent。 The other woman rose on seeing me；
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and the men； though they were； as usual； sulky and silent； each
gave me a morose nod of recognition。 A look passed between them
when Mr Bucket followed me in； and I was surprised to see that
the woman evidently knew him。
I had asked leave to enter of course。 Liz （the only name by
which I knew her） rose to give me her own chair； but I sat down on
a stool near the fire； and Mr Bucket took a corner of the bedstead。
Now that I had to speak； and was among people with whom I was
not familiar； I became conscious of being hurried and giddy。 It was
very difficult to begin； and I could not help bursting into tears。
“Liz；” said I； “I have come a long way in the night and through
the snow； to inquire after a lady—”
“Who has been here you know；” Mr Bucket struck in；
addressing the whole group； with a composed propitiatory face；
“that’s the lady the young lady means。 The lady that was here last
night； you know。”
“And who told you as there was anybody here？” inquired
Jenny’s husband； who had made a surly stop in his eating； to
listen； and now measured him with his eye。
“A person of the name of Michael Jackson； in a blue welveteen
waistcoat with a double row of mother of pearl buttons；” Mr
Bucket immediately answered。
“He had as good mind his own business； whoever he is；”
growled the man。
“He’s out of employment I believe；” said Mr Bucket；
apologetically for Michael Jackson； “and so gets talking。”
The woman had not resumed her chair； but stood faltering with
her hand upon its broken back； looking at me。 I thought she would
have spoken to me privately； if she had dared。 She was still in this
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attitude of uncertainty； when her husband； who was eating with a
lump of bread and fat in one hand； and his clasp…knife in the other；
struck the handle of his knife violently on the table； and told her
with an oath to mind her business at any rate； and sit down。
“I should like to have seen Jenny very much；” said I； “for I am
sure she would have told me all she could about this lady； whom I
am very anxious indeed—you cannot think how anxious—to
overtake。 Will Jenny be here soon？ Where is she？”
The woman had a great desire to answer； but the man； with
another oath； openly kicked at her foot with his heavy boot。 He left
it to Jenny’s husband to say what he chose； and after a dogged
silence the latter turned his shaggy head towards me。
“I’m not partial to gentlefolks coming into my place； as you’ve
heerd me say afore now； I think； miss。 I let their places be； and it’s
curous they can’t let my place be。 There’d be a pretty shine made
if I was to go a…wisiting them； I think。 Howsoever； I don’t so much
complain of you as of some others； and I’m agreeable to make you
a civil answer； though I give notice that I’m not a going to be
drawed like a badger。 Will Jenny be here soon？ No she won’t。
Where is she？ She’s gone up to Lunnun。”
“Did she go last night？” I asked。
“Did she go last night？ Ah！ she went last night；” he answered；
with a sulky jerk of his head。
“But was she here when the lady came？ And what did the lady
say to her？ And where is the lady gone？ I beg and pray you to be
so kind as to tell me；” said I； “for I am in great distress to know。”
“If my master would let me speak； and not say a word of
harm—” the womanly timidly began。
“Your master；” said her husband； muttering an imprecation
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with slow emphasis； “will break your neck； if you meddle with wot
don’t concern you。”
After another silence； the husband of the absent woman；
turning to me again； answered me with
