bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第141节
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endured among them； indeed； Miss Wisk informed us； with great
indignation； before we sat down to breakfast； that the idea of
woman’s mission lying chiefly in the narrow sphere of home was
an outrageous slander on the part of her Tyrant； Man。 One other
singularity was； that nobody with a mission—except Mr Quale；
whose mission； as I think I have formerly said； was to be in
ecstasies with everybody’s mission—cared at all for anybody’s
mission。 Mrs Pardiggle being as clear that the only one infallible
course was her course of pouncing upon the poor； and applying
benevolence to them like a strait waistcoat； as Miss Wisk was that
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the only practical thing for the world was the emancipation of
Woman from the thraldom of her Tyrant； Man。 Mrs Jellyby； all the
while； sat smiling at the limited vision that could see anything but
Borrioboola…Gha。
But I am anticipating now the purport of our conversation on
the ride home； instead of first marrying Caddy。 We all went to
church； and Mr Jellyby gave her away。 Of the air with which old
Mr Turveydrop； with his hat under his left arm； （the inside
presented at the clergyman like a cannon；） and his eyes creasing
themselves up into his wig； stood； stiff and high…shouldered；
behind us bridesmaids during the ceremony； and afterwards
saluted us； I could never say enough to do it justice。 Miss Wisk；
whom I cannot report as prepossessing in appearance； and whose
manner was grim； listened to the proceedings； as part of Woman’s
wrongs； with a disdainful face。 Mrs Jellyby； with her calm smile
and her bright eyes； looked the least concerned of all the company。
We duly came back to breakfast； and Mrs Jellyby sat at the
head of the table； and Mr Jellyby at the foot。 Caddy had previously
stolen upstairs； to hug the children again； and tell them that her
name was Turveydrop。 But this piece of information； instead of
being an agreeable surprise to Peepy； threw him on his back in
such transports of kicking grief； that I could do nothing on being
sent for； but accede to the proposal that he should be admitted to
the breakfast table。 So he came down； and sat in my lap； and Mrs
Jellyby； after saying； in reference to the state of his pinafore； “O
you naughty Peepy； what a shocking little pig you are！” was not at
all discomposed。 He was very good； except that he brought down
Noah with him （out of an ark I had given him before we went to
church）； and would dip him head first into the wine…glasses； and
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then put him in his mouth。
My Guardian； with his sweet temper and his quick perception
and his amiable face； made something agreeable even out of the
ungenial company。 None of them seemed able to talk about
anything but his or her； own one subject； and none of them
seemed able to talk about even that； as part of a world in which
there was anything else； but my Guardian turned it all to the
merry encouragement of Caddy； and the honour of the occasion；
and brought us through the breakfast nobly。 What we should have
done without him； I am afraid to think； for； all the company
despising the bride and bridegroom； and old Mr Turveydrop—and
old Mr Turveydrop； in virtue of his Deportment； considering
himself vastly superior to all the company—it was a very
unpromising case。
At last the time came when poor Caddy was to go； and when all
her property was packed on the hired coach and pair that was to
take her and her husband to Gravesend。 It affected us to see
Caddy clinging； then； to her deplorable home； and hanging on her
mother’s neck with the greatest tenderness。
“I am very sorry I couldn’t go on writing from dictation； Ma；”
sobbed Caddy。 “I hope you forgive me now？”
“O Caddy； Caddy！” said Mrs Jellyby； “I have told you over and
over again that I have engaged a boy； and there’s an end of it。”
“You are sure you are not the least angry with me； Ma？ Say you
are sure before I go away； Ma？”
“You foolish Caddy；” returned Mrs Jellyby； “do I look angry； or
have I inclination to be angry； or time to be angry？ How can you？”
“Take a little care of Pa while I am gone； mama！”
Mrs Jellyby positively laughed at the fancy。 “You romantic
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child；” said she； lightly patting Caddy’s back。 “Go along。 I am
excellent friends with you。 Now； good bye； Caddy； and be very
happy！”
Then Caddy hung upon her father； and nursed his cheek
against hers as if he were some poor dull child in pain。 All this
took place in the hall。 Her father released her； took out his pocket…
handkerchief； and sat down on the stairs with his head against the
walls。 I hope he found some consolation in walls。 I almost think he
did。
And then Prince took her arm in his； and turned with great
emotion and respect to his father； whose Deportment at that
moment was overwhelming。
“Thank you over and over again； father！” said Prince； kissing
his hand。 “I am very grateful for all your kindness and
consideration regarding our marriage； and so； I can assure you； is
Caddy。”
“Very；” sobbed Caddy。 “Ve…ry！”
“My dear son；” said Mr Turveydrop； “and dear daughter； I have
done my duty。 If the spirit of a sainted Wooman hovers above us；
and looks down on the occasion； that； and your constant affection；
will be my recompense。 You will not fail in your duty； my son and
daughter； I believe？”
“Dear father； never！” cried Prince。
“Never； never； dear Mr Turveydrop！” said Caddy。
“This；” returned Mr Turveydrop； “is as it should be。 My
children； my home is yours； my heart is yours； my all is yours。 I
will never leave you； nothing but Death shall part us。 My dear son；
you contemplate an absence of a week； I think？”
“A week； dear father。 We shall return home this day week。”
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“My dear child；” said Mr Turveydrop； “let me； even under the
present exceptional circumstances； recommend strict punctuality。
It is highly important to keep the connection together； and
schools； if at all neglected； are apt to take offence。”
“This day week； father； we shall be sure to be home to dinner。”
“Good！” said Mr Turveydrop。 “You will find fires； my dear
Caroline； in your own room； and dinner prepared in my
apartment。 Yes； yes； Prince！” anticipating some self…denying
objection on his son’s part with a great air。 “You and our Caroline
will be strange in the upper part of the premises； and will；
therefore； dine that day in my apartment。 Now； bless ye！”
They drove away； and whether I wondered most at Mrs Jellyby；
or at Mr Turveydrop； I did not know。 Ada and my Guardian were
in the same condition when we came to talk it over。 But before we
drove away； too； I received a most unexpected and eloquent
compliment from Mr Jellyby。 He came up to me in the hall； took
both my hands； pressed them earnestly； and opened his mouth
twice。 I was so sure of his meaning； that I said； quite flurried； “You
are very welcome； sir。 Pray don’t mention it！”
“I hope this marriage is for the best； Guardian？” said I； when
we three were on our roa
