bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第63节
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going to say； we really are going on worse than ever。 Pa will be a
bankrupt before long； and then I hope Ma will be satisfied。
There’ll be nobody but Ma to thank for it。”
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We said we hoped Mr Jellyby’s affairs were not in so bad a state
as that。
“It’s of no use hoping； though it’s very kind of you！” returned
Miss Jellyby； shaking her head。 “Pa told me； only yesterday
morning； （and dreadfully unhappy he is；） that he couldn’t weather
the storm。 I should be surprised if he could。 When all our
tradesmen send into our house any stuff they like； and the
servants do what they like with it； and I have no time to improve
things if I knew how； and Ma don’t care about anything； I should
like to make out how Pa is to weather the storm。 I declare if I was
Pa I’d run away！”
“My dear！” said I； smiling。 “Your papa； no doubt； considers his
family。”
“O yes； his family is all very fine； Miss Summerson；” replied
Miss Jellyby； “but what comfort is his family to him？ His family is
nothing but bills； dirt； waste； noise； tumbles downstairs； confusion；
and wretchedness。 His scrambling home； from week’s…end to
week’s…end； is like one great washing…day—only nothing’s
washed！”
Miss Jellyby tapped her foot upon the floor； and wiped her eyes。
“I am sure I pity Pa to that degree；” she said； “and am so angry
with Ma； that I can’t find words to express myself！ However； I am
not going to bear it； I am determined。 I won’t be a slave all my life；
and I won’t submit to be proposed to by Mr Quale。 A pretty thing；
indeed； to marry a Philanthropist。 As if I hadn’t had enough of
that！” said poor Miss Jellyby。
I must confess that I could not help feeling rather angry with
Mrs Jellyby； myself； seeing and hearing this neglected girl； and
knowing how much of bitterly satirical truth there was in what she
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said。
“If it wasn’t that we had been intimate when you stopped at our
house；” pursued Miss Jellyby； “I should have been ashamed to
come here today； for I know what a figure I must seem to you two。
But； as it is； I made up my mind to call： especially as I am not
likely to see you again； the next time you come to town。”
She said this with such great significance that Ada and I
glanced at one another； foreseeing something more。
“No！” said Miss Jellyby； shaking her head。 “Not at all likely！ I
know I may trust you two。 I am sure you won’t betray me。 I am
engaged。”
“Without their knowledge at home？” said I。
“Why； good gracious me； Miss Summerson；” she returned；
justifying herself in a fretful but not angry manner； “how can it be
otherwise？ You know what Ma is—and I needn’t make poor Pa
more miserable by telling him。”
“But would it not be adding to his unhappiness to marry
without his knowledge or consent； my dear？” said I。
“No；” said Miss Jellyby； softening。 “I hope not。 I should try to
make him happy and comfortable when he came to see me； and
Peepy and the others should take it in turns to come and stay with
me； and they should have some care taken of them； then。”
There was a good deal of affection in poor Caddy。 She softened
more and more while saying this； and cried so much over the
unwonted little home…picture she had raised in her mind； that
Peepy； in his cave under the piano； was touched； and turned
himself over on his back with loud lamentations。 It was not until I
had brought him to kiss his sister； and had restored him to his
place in my lap； and had shown him that Caddy was laughing （she
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laughed expressly for the purpose）； that we could recall his peace
of mind； even then； it was for some time conditional on his taking
us in turns by the chin； and smoothing our faces all over with his
hand。 At last； as his spirits were not yet equal to the piano； we put
him on a chair to look out of window； and Miss Jellyby； holding
him by one leg； resumed her confidence。
“It began in your coming to our house；” she said。
We naturally asked how？
“I felt I was so awkward；” she replied； “that I made up my mind
to be improved in that respect； at all events； and to learn to dance。
I told Ma I was ashamed of myself； and I must be taught to dance。
Ma looked at me in that provoking way of hers as if I wasn’t in
sight； but； I was quite determined to be taught to dance； and so I
went to Mr Turveydrop’s Academy in Newman Street。”
“And was it there； my dear—” I began。
“Yes； it was there；” said Caddy； “and I am engaged to Mr
Turveydrop。 There are two Mr Turveydrops； father and son。 My
Mr Turveydrop is the son； of course。 I only wish I had been better
brought up； and was likely to make him a better wife； for I am very
fond of him。”
“I am sorry to hear this；” said I； “I must confess。”
“I don’t know why you should be sorry；” she retorted a little
anxiously； “but I am engaged to Mr Turveydrop； whether or no；
and he is very fond of me。 It’s a secret as yet； even on his side；
because old Mr Turveydrop has a share in the connection； and it
might break his heart； or give him some other shock； if he was told
of it abruptly。 Old Mr Turveydrop is a very gentlemanly man
indeed—very gentlemanly。”
“Does his wife know of it？” asked Ada。
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“Old Mr Turveydrop’s wife； Miss Clare？” returned Miss Jellyby；
opening her eyes。 “There’s no such person。 He is a widower。”
We were here interrupted by Peepy； whose leg had undergone
so much on account of his sister’s unconsciously jerking it like a
bell…rope whenever she was emphatic； that the afflicted child now
bemoaned his sufferings with a very low…spirited noise。 As he
appealed to me for compassion； and as I was only a listener； I
undertook to hold him。 Miss Jellyby proceeded； after begging
Peepy’s pardon with a kiss； and assuring him that she hadn’t
meant to do it。
“That’s the state of the case；” said Caddy。 “If I ever blame
myself； I shall think it’s Ma’s fault。 We are to be married whenever
we can； and then I shall go to Pa at the office and write to Ma。 It
won’t much agitate Ma： I am only pen and ink to her。 One great
comfort is；” said Caddy； with a sob； “that I shall never hear of
Africa after I am married。 Young Mr Turveydrop hates it for my
sake； and if old Mr Turveydrop knows there is such a place； it’s as
much as he does。”
“It was he who was very gentlemanly； I think？” said I。
“Very gentlemanly； indeed；” said Caddy。 “He is celebrated
almost everywhere； for his Deportment。”
“Does he teach？” asked Ada。
“No； he don’t teach anything in particular；” replied Caddy。 “But
his Deportment is beautiful。”
Caddy went on to say； with considerable hesitation and
reluctance； that there was one thing more she wished us to know；
and felt we ought to know； and which she hoped would not offend
us。 It was； that she had improved her acquaintance with Miss
Flite； the little crazy old lady； and that she frequently went there
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