bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第69节
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moon of a face that they seemed to have been originally made for
somebody else； was not at first sight prepossessing； yet； he was
scarcely seated； before Mr Quale asked Ada and me； not inaudibly；
whether he was not a great creature—which he certainly was；
flabbily speaking； though Mr Quale meant in intellectual beauty—
and whether we were not struck by his massive configuration of
brow？ In short； we heard of a great many Missions of various
sorts； among this set of people； but； nothing respecting them was
half so clear to us； as that it was Mr Quale’s mission to be in
ecstasies with everybody else’s mission； and that it was the most
popular mission of all。
Mr Jarndyce had fallen into this company； in the tenderness of
his heart and his earnest desire to do all the good in his power； but
that he felt it to be too often an unsatisfactory company； where
benevolence took spasmodic forms； where charity was assumed；
as a regular uniform； by loud professors and speculators in cheap
notoriety； vehement in profession； restless and vain in action；
servile in the last degree of meanness to the great； adulatory of
one another； and intolerable to those who were anxious quietly to
help the weak from falling； rather than with a great deal of bluster
and self…laudation to raise them up a little way when they were
down； he plainly told us。 When a testimonial was originated to Mr
Quale； by Mr Gusher （who had already got one； originated by Mr
Quale）； and when Mr Gusher spoke for an hour and a half on the
subject to a meeting； including two charity schools of small boys
and girls； who were specially reminded of the widow’s mite； and
requested to come forward with half…pence and be acceptable
sacrifices； I think the wind was in the east for three whole weeks。
I mention this； because I am coming to Mr Skimpole again。 It
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seemed to me； that his offhand professions of childishness and
carelessness were a great relief to my Guardian； by contrast with
such things； and were the more readily believed in； since； to find
one perfectly undesigning and candid man； among many
opposites； could not fail to give him pleasure。 I should be sorry to
imply that Mr Skimpole divined this； and was politic： I really never
understood him well enough to know。 What he was to my
Guardian； he certainly was to the rest of the world。
He had not been very well； and thus； though he lived in
London； we had seen nothing of him until now。 He appeared one
morning； in his usual agreeable way； and as full of pleasant spirits
as ever。
Well； he said； here he was！ He had been bilious； but rich men
were often bilious； and therefore he had been persuading himself
that he was a man of property。 So he was； in a certain point of
view—in his expansive intentions。 He had been enriching his
medical attendant in the most lavish manner。 He had always
doubled； and sometimes quadrupled his fees。 He had said to the
doctor； “Now； my dear doctor； it is quite a delusion on your part to
suppose that you attend me for nothing。 I am overwhelming you
with money—in my expansive intentions—if you only knew it！”
And really （he said） he meant it to that degree； that he thought it
much the same as doing it。 If he had had those bits of metal or thin
paper to which mankind attached so much importance； to put in
the doctor’s hand； he would have put them in the doctor’s hand。
Not having them； he substituted the will for the deed。 Very well！ If
he really meant it—if his will were genuine and real： which it
was—it appeared to him that it was the same as coin； and
cancelled the obligation。
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“It may be； partly； because I know nothing of the value of
money；” said Mr Skimpole； “but I often feel this。 It seems so
reasonable！ My butcher says to me； he wants that little bill。 It’s a
part of the pleasant unconscious poetry of the man’s nature； that
he always calls it a ‘little’ bill—to make the payment appear easy to
both of us。 I reply to the butcher； My good friend； if you knew it
you are paid。 You haven’t had the trouble of coming to ask for the
little bill。 You are paid。 I mean it。”
“But； suppose；” said my Guardian； laughing； “he had meant the
meat in the bill； instead of providing it！”
“My dear Jarndyce；” he returned； “you surprise me。 You take
the butcher’s position。 A butcher I once dealt with； occupied that
very ground。 Says he； ‘Sir； why did you eat spring lamb at
eighteen…pence a pound？’ ‘Why did I eat spring lamb at eighteen…
pence a pound； my honest friend？” said I； naturally amazed by the
question。 ‘I like spring lamb！’ This was so far convincing。 ‘Well； sir；
‘says he； ‘I wish I had meant the lamb as you mean the money！”
‘My good fellow；’ said I； ‘pray let us reason like intellectual beings。
How could that be？ It was impossible。 You had got the lamb； and I
have not got the money。 You couldn’t really mean the lamb
without sending it in； whereas I can； and do； really mean the
money without paying it！’ He had not a word。 There was an end of
the subject。”
“Did he take no legal proceedings？” inquired my Guardian。
“Yes； he took legal proceedings；” said Mr Skimpole。 “But； in
that； he was influenced by passion； not by reason。 Passion reminds
me of Boythorn。 He writes me that you and the ladies have
promised him a short visit at his bachelor…house in Lincolnshire。”
“He is a great favourite with my girls；” said Mr Jarndyce； “and I
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have promised for them。”
“Nature forgot to shade him off； I think？” observed Mr
Skimpole to Ada and me。 “A little too boisterous—like the sea？ A
little too vehement—like a bull； who has made up his mind to
consider every colour scarlet？ But； I grant a sledge…hammering
sort of merit in him！”
I should have been surprised if those two could have thought
very highly of one another； Mr Boythorn attaching so much
importance to many things； and Mr Skimpole caring so little for
anything。 Besides which； I had noticed Mr Boythorn more than
once on the point of breaking out into some strong opinion； when
Mr Skimpole was referred to。 Of course I merely joined Ada in
saying that we had been greatly pleased with him。
“He has invited me；” said Mr Skimpole； “and if a child may
trust himself in such hands： which the present child is encouraged
to do； with the united tenderness of two angels to guard him： I
shall go。 He proposes to frank me down and back again。 I suppose
it will cost money？ Shillings perhaps？ Or pounds？ Or something
of that sort？ By the bye。 Coavinses。 You remember our friend
Coavinses； Miss Summerson？”
He asked me； as the subject arose in his mind； in his graceful
light…hearted manner； and without the least embarrassment。
“O yes！” said I。
“Coavinses has been arrested by the great Bailiff；” said Mr
Skimpole。 “He will never do violence to the sunshine any more。”
It quite shocked me to hear it； for； I had already recalled； with
anything but a serious association； the image of the man sit
