bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第111节
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eyes for a moment on me； and considering where to put the
particular letter she had just opened； “this would distress and
disappoint me。 But I have so much to think of； in connection with
Borrioboola…Gha； and it is so necessary I should concentrate
myself； that there is my remedy； you see。”
As Caddy gave me a glance of entreaty； and as Mrs Jellyby was
looking far away into Africa straight through my bonnet and head；
I thought it a good opportunity to come to the subject of my visit；
and to attract Mrs Jellyby’s attention。
“Perhaps；” I began； “you will wonder what has brought me
here to interrupt you。”
“I am always delighted to see Miss Summerson；” said Mrs
Jellyby； pursuing her employment with a placid smile。 “Though I
wish；” and she shook her head； “she was more interested in the
Borrioboolan project。”
“I have come with Caddy；” said I； “because Caddy justly thinks
she ought not to have a secret from her mother； and fancies I shall
encourage and aid her （though I am sure I don’t know how） in
imparting one。”
“Caddy；” said Mrs Jellyby； pausing for a moment in her
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occupation； and then serenely pursuing it after shaking her head；
“you are going to tell me some nonsense。”
Caddy untied the strings of her bonnet； took her bonnet off； and
letting it dangle on the floor by the strings； and crying heartily；
said； “Ma； I am engaged。”
“O； you ridiculous child！” observed Mrs Jellyby； with an
abstracted air； as she looked over the despatch last opened； “what
a goose you are！”
“I am engaged； Ma；” sobbed Caddy； “to young Mr Turveydrop；
at the Academy； and old Mr Turveydrop （who is a very
gentlemanly man indeed） has given his consent； and I beg and
pray you’ll give us yours； Ma； because I never could be happy
without it。 I never； never could；” sobbed Caddy； quite forgetful of
her general complainings； and of everything but her natural
affection。
“You see again； Miss Summerson；” observed Mrs Jellyby；
serenely； “what a happiness it is to be so much occupied as I am；
and to have this necessity for self…concentration that I have。 Here
is Caddy engaged to a dancing…master’s son—mixed up with
people who have no more sympathy with the destinies of the
human race than she has herself！ This； too； when Mr Quale； one of
the first philanthropists of our time； has mentioned to me that he
was really disposed to be interested in her！”
“Ma； I always hated and detested Mr Quale！” sobbed Caddy。
“Caddy； Caddy！” returned Mrs Jellyby； opening another letter
with the greatest complacency。 “I have no doubt you did。 How
could you do otherwise； being totally destitute of the sympathies
with which he overflows！ Now； if my public duties were not a
favourite child to me； if I were not occupied with large measures
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on a vast scale； these petty details might grieve me very much；
Miss Summerson。 But can I permit the film of a silly proceeding
on the part of Caddy （from whom I expect nothing else）； to
interpose between me and the great African continent？ No。 No；”
repeated Mrs Jellyby； in a calm clear voice； and with an agreeable
smile as she opened more letters and sorted them。 “No； indeed。”
I was so unprepared for the perfect coolness of this reception；
though I might have expected it； that I did not know what to say。
Caddy seemed equally at a loss。 Mrs Jellyby continued to open and
sort letters； and to repeat occasionally； in quite a charming tone of
voice； and with a smile of perfect composure； “No； indeed。”
“I hope； Ma；” sobbed poor Caddy at last； “you are not angry？”
“Oh Caddy； you really are an absurd girl；” returned Mrs
Jellyby； “to ask such questions； after what I have said of the
preoccupation of my mind。”
“And I hope； Ma； you give us your consent； and wish us well？”
said Caddy。
“You are a nonsensical child to have done anything of this
kind；” said Mrs Jellyby； “and a degenerate child； when you might
have devoted yourself to the great public measure。 But the step is
taken； and I have engaged a boy； and there is no more to be said。
Now； pray； Caddy；” said Mrs Jellyby—for Caddy was kissing her；
“don’t delay me in my work； but let me clear off this heavy batch
of papers before the afternoon post comes in！”
I thought I could not do better than take my leave； I was
detained for a moment by Caddy’s saying—“You won’t object to
my bringing him to see you； Ma？”
“O dear me； Caddy；” cried Mrs Jellyby； who had relapsed into
that distant contemplation； “have you begun again？ Bring
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whom？”
“Him； Ma。”
“Caddy； Caddy！” said Mrs Jellyby； quite weary of such little
matters。 “Then you must bring him some evening which is not a
Parent Society night； or a Branch night； or a Ramification night。
You must accommodate the visit to the demands upon my time。
My dear Miss Summerson； it was very kind of you to come here to
help out this silly chit。 Good bye！ When I tell you that I have fifty…
eight new letters from manufacturing families anxious to
understand the details of the Native and Coffee Cultivation
question； this morning； I need not apologise for having very little
leisure。”
I was not surprised by Caddy’s being in low spirits； when we
went downstairs； or by her sobbing afresh on my neck； or by her
saying she would far rather have been scolded than treated with
such indifference； or by her confiding to me that she was so poor
in clothes； that how she was ever to be married creditably she
didn’t know。 I gradually cheered her up； by dwelling on the many
things she would do for her unfortunate father； and for Peepy；
when she had a home of her own： and finally we went downstairs
into the damp dark kitchen； where Peepy and his little brothers
and sisters were grovelling on the stone floor； and where we had
such a game of play with them； that to prevent myself from being
quite torn to pieces I was obliged to fall back on my fairy tales。
From time to time； I heard loud voices in the parlour overhead；
and occasionally a violent tumbling about of the furniture。 The last
effect I am afraid was caused by poor Mr Jellyby’s breaking away
from the dining…table； and making rushes at the window with the
intention of throwing himself into the area； whenever he made any
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new attempt to understand his affairs。
As I rode quietly home at night after the day’s bustle； I thought
a good deal of Caddy’s engagement； and felt confirmed in my
hopes （in spite of the elder Mr Turveydrop）； that she would be the
happier and better for it。 And if there seemed to be but a slender
chance of her and her husband ever finding out what the model of
Deportment really was； why that was all for the best too； and who
would wish them to be wiser？ I did not wish them to be any wiser；
and indeed was half ashamed of not entirely believing in him
myself。 And I looked up at the stars； and thought about travellers
in distant countries and the stars they saw； and hoped I might
always be so blest and happy as to be useful to some one
