bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第91节
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received that young lady in London； when she first came here
from the establishment to which you have alluded。 Allow me to
have the pleasure of taking you by the hand。”
Mr Chadband； at last seeing his opportunity； makes his
accustomed signal； and rises with a smoking head； which he dabs
with his pocket…handkerchief。 Mrs Snagsby whispers “Hush！”
“My friends；” says Chadband； “we have partaken； in
moderation” （which was certainly not the case so far as he was
concerned）； “of the comforts which have been provided for us。
May this house live upon the fatness of the land； may corn and
wine be plentiful therein； may it grow； may it thrive； may it
prosper； may it advance； may it proceed； may it press forward！
But； my friends； have we partaken of anything else？ We have。 My
friends； of what else have we partaken？ Of spiritual profit？ Yes。
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From whence have we derived that spiritual profit？ My young
friend； stand forth！”
Jo； thus apostrophised； gives a slouch backward； and another
slouch forward； and another slouch to each side； and confronts the
eloquent Chadband； with evident doubts of his intentions。
“My dear friend；” says Chadband； “you are to us a pearl； you
are to us a diamond； you are to us a gem； you are to us a jewel。
And why； my young friend？”
“I don’t know；” replies Jo。 “I don’t know nothink。”
“My young friend；” says Chadband； “it is because you know
nothing that you are to us a gem and jewel。 For what are you； my
young friend？ Are you a beast of the field？ No。 A bird of the air？
No。 A fish of the sea or river？ No。 You are a human boy； my young
friend。 A human boy。 O glorious to be a human boy！ And why
glorious； my young friend？ Because you are capable of receiving
the lessons of wisdom； because you are capable of profiting by this
discourse which I now deliver for your good； because you are not a
stick； or a staff； or a stock； or a stone； or a post； or a pillar。
O running stream of sparkling joy
To be a soaring human boy！
And do you cool yourself in that stream now； my young friend？
No。 Why do you not cool yourself in that stream now？ Because you
are in a state of darkness； because you are in a state of obscurity；
because you are in a state of sinfulness； because you are in a state
of bondage。 My young friend； what is bondage？ Let us； in a spirit
of love； inquire。”
At this threatening stage of the discourse； Jo； who seems to
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have been gradually going out of his mind； smears his right arm
over his face； and gives a terrible yawn。 Mrs Snagsby indignantly
expresses her belief that he is a limb of the archfiend。
“My friends；” says Mr Chadband； with his persecuted chin
folding itself into its fat smile again； as he looks round； “it is right
that I should be humbled； it is right that I should be tired； it is
right that I should be mortified； it is right that I should be
corrected。 I stumbled； on Sabbath last； when I thought with pride
of my three hours’ improving。 The account is now favourably
balanced： my creditor has accepted a composition。 O let us be
joyful； joyful！ O let us be joyful！”
Great sensation on the part of Mrs Snagsby。
“My friends；” says Chadband； looking round him in conclusion；
“I will not proceed with my young friend now。 Will you come
tomorrow； my young friend； and inquire of this good lady where I
am to be found to deliver a discourse untoe you； and will you come
like the thirsty swallow upon the next day； and upon the day after
that； and upon the day after that； and upon many pleasant days； to
hear discourses？” （This； with a cow…like lightness。）
Jo； whose immediate object seems to be to get away on any
terms； gives a shuffling nod。 Mr Guppy then throws him a penny；
and Mr Snagsby calls to Guster to see him safely out of the house。
But； before he goes downstairs； Mr Snagsby loads him with some
broken meats from the table； which he carries away； hugging in
his arms。
So； Mr Chadband—of whom the persecutors say that it is no
wonder he should go on for any length of time uttering such
abominable nonsense； but that the wonder rather is that he should
ever leave off； having once the audacity to begin—retires into
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private life until he invests a little capital of supper in the oil…trade。
Jo moves on； through the long vacation； down to Blackfriars
Bridge； where he finds a baking stony corner； wherein to settle to
his repast。
And there he sits； munching and gnawing； and looking up at
the great Cross on the summit of St。 Paul’s Cathedral； glittering
above a red and violet…tinted cloud of smoke。 From the boy’s face
one might suppose that sacred emblem to be； in his eyes； the
crowning confusion of the great； confused city； so golden； so high
up； so far out of his reach。 There he sits； the sun going down； the
river running fast； the crowd flowing by him in two streams—
everything moving on to some purpose and to one end—until he is
stirred up； and told to “move on” too。
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Chapter 20
A New Lodger
he long vacation saunters on towards term…time； like an
idle river very leisurely strolling down a flat country to the
T
sea。 Mr Guppy saunters along with it congenially。 He has
blunted the blade of his penknife； and broken the point off； by
sticking that instrument into his desk in every direction。 Not that
he bears the desk any ill will； but he must do something； and it
must be something of an exciting nature； which will lay neither his
physical nor his intellectual energies under too heavy
contribution。 He finds that nothing agrees with him so well； as to
make little gyrations on one leg of his stool； and stab his desk； and
gape。
Kenge and Carboy are out of town； and the articled clerk has
taken out a shooting license； and gone down to his father’s； and Mr
Guppy’s two fellow stipendiaries are away on leave。 Mr Guppy；
and Mr Richard Carstone； divide the dignity of the office。 But Mr
Carstone is for the time being established in Kenge’s room；
whereat Mr Guppy chafes。 So exceedingly； that he with bitter
sarcasm informs his mother； in the confidential moments when he
sups with her off a lobster and lettuce； in the Old Street Road； that
he is afraid the office is hardly good enough for swells； and that if
he had known there was a swell coming； he would have got it
painted。
Mr Guppy suspects everybody who enters on the occupation of
a stool in Kenge and Carboy’s office； of entertaining； as a matter of
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course； sinister designs upon him。 He is clear that every such
person wants to depose him。 If he be ever asked how； why； when；
or wherefore； he shuts up one eye and shakes his head。 On the
strength of these profound views； he in the most
