bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第59节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was a Mr Bayham Badger； who had a good practice at Chelsea；
and attended a large public Institution besides。 He was quite
willing to receive Richard into his house； and to superintend his
studies； and as it seemed that those could be pursued
advantageously under Mr Badger’s roof； and Mr Badger liked
Richard； and as Richard said he liked Mr Badger “well enough；”
an agreement was made； the Lord Chancellor’s consent was
obtained； and it was all settled。
On the day when matters were concluded between Richard and
Mr Badger； we were all under engagement to dine at Mr Badger’s
house。 We were to be “merely a family party；” Mrs Badger’s note
said； and we found no lady there but Mrs Badger herself。 She was
surrounded in the drawing…room by various objects； indicative of
her painting a little； playing the piano a little； playing the guitar a
little； playing the harp a little； singing a little； working a little；
reading a little； writing poetry a little； and botanizing a little。 She
was a lady of about fifty； I should think； youthfully dressed； and of
a very fine complexion。 If I add to the little list of her
accomplishments； that she rouged a little； I do not mean that there
was any harm in it。
Mr Bayham Badger himself was a pink； fresh…faced； crisp…
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 244…
Bleak House 244
looking gentleman； with a weak voice； white teeth； light hair； and
surprised eyes： some years younger； I should say； than Mrs
Bayham Badger。 He admired her exceedingly； but principally； and
to begin with； on the curious ground （as it seemed to us） of her
having had three husbands。 We had barely taken our seats； when
he said to Mr Jarndyce quite triumphantly；
“You would hardly suppose that I am Mrs Bayham Badger’s
third！”
“Indeed？” said Mr Jarndyce。
“Her third！” said Mr Badger。 “Mrs Bayham Badger has not the
appearance； Miss Summerson； of a lady who has had two former
husbands？”
I said； “Not at all！”
“And most remarkable men！” said Mr Badger； in a tone of
confidence。 “Captain Swosser of the Royal Navy； who was Mrs
Badger’s first husband； was a very distinguished officer indeed。
The name of Professor Dingo； my immediate predecessor； is one of
European reputation。”
Mrs Badger overheard him； and smiled。
“Yes； my dear！” Mr Badger replied to the smile； “I was
observing to Mr Jarndyce and Miss Summerson； that you had had
two former husbands—both very distinguished men。 And they
found it； as people generally do； difficult to believe。”
“I was barely twenty；” said Mrs Badger； “when I married
Captain Swosser of the Royal Navy。 I was in the Mediterranean
with him； I am quite a Sailor。 On the twelfth anniversary of my
wedding…day； I became the wife of Professor Dingo。”
（“Of European reputation；” added Mr Badger in an undertone。）
“And when Mr Badger and myself were married；” pursued Mrs
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 245…
Bleak House 245
Badger； “we were married on the same day of the year。 I had
become attached to the day。”
“So that Mrs Badger has been married to three husbands—two
of them highly distinguished men；” said Mr Badger； summing up
the facts： “and； each time； upon the twenty…first of March at
Eleven in the forenoon！”
We all expressed our admiration。
“But for Mr Badger’s modesty；” said Mr Jarndyce； “I would
take leave to correct him； and say three distinguished men。”
“Thank you； Mr Jarndyce！ What I always tell him！” observed
Mrs Badger。
“And； my dear；” said Mr Badger； “what do I always tell you？
That without any affectation of disparaging such professional
distinction as I may have attained （which our friend Mr Carstone
will have many opportunities of estimating）； I am not so weak—no；
really；” said Mr Badger to us generally； “so unreasonable—as to
put my reputation on the same footing with such first…rate men as
Captain Swosser and Professor Dingo。 Perhaps you may be
interested； Mr Jarndyce；” continued Mr Bayham Badger； leading
the way into the next drawing…room； “in this portrait of Captain
Swosser。 It was taken on his return home from the African
Station； where he had suffered from the fever of the country。 Mrs
Badger considers it too yellow。 But it’s a very fine head。 A very
fine head！”
We all echoed “A very fine head！”
“I feel when I look at it；” said Mr Badger； “‘that’s a man I
should like to have seen！’ It strikingly bespeaks the first…class man
that Captain Swosser pre…eminently was。 On the other side；
Professor Dingo。 I knew him well—attended him in his last
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 246…
Bleak House 246
illness—a speaking likeness！ Over the piano； Mrs Bayham Badger
when Mrs Swosser。 Over the sofa； Mrs Bayham Badger when Mrs
Dingo。 Of Mrs Bayham Badger in esse； I possess the original； and
have no copy。”
Dinner was now announced； and we went downstairs。 It was a
very genteel entertainment； very handsomely served。 But the
Captain and the Professor still ran in Mr Badger’s head； and； as
Ada and I had the honour of being under his particular care； we
had the full benefit of them。
“Water； Miss Summerson？ Allow me！ Not in that tumbler； pray。
Bring me the Professor’s goblet； James！”
Ada very much admired some artificial flowers； under a glass。
“Astonishing how they keep！” said Mr Badger。
“They were presented to Mrs Bayham Badger when she was in
the Mediterranean。”
He invited Mr Jarndyce to take a glass of claret。
“Not that claret！” he said。 “Excuse me！ This is an occasion； and
on an occasion I produce some very special claret I happen to
have。 （James； Captain Swosser’s wine！） Mr Jarndyce； this is a wine
that was imported by the Captain； we will not say how many years
ago。 You will find it very curious。 My dear； I shall be happy to take
some of this wine with you （Captain Swosser’s claret to your
mistress； James！） My love； your health！”
After dinner； when we ladies retired； we took Mrs Badger’s first
and second husband with us。 Mrs Badger gave us； in the drawing…
room； a Biographical sketch of the life and services of Captain
Swosser before his marriage； and a more minute account of him
dating from the time when he fell in love with her； at a ball on
board the Crippler； given to the officers of that ship when she lay
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 247…
Bleak House 247
in Plymouth Harbour。
“The dear old Crippler！” said Mrs Badger； shaking her head。
“She was a noble vessel。 Trim； ship…shape； all a taunto； as Captain
Swosser used to say。 You must excuse me if I occasionally
introduce a nautical expression； I was quite a sailor once。 Captain
Swosser loved that craft for my sake。 When she was no longer in
commission； he frequently said that if he were rich enough to buy
her old hulk； he would have an inscription let into the timbers of
the quarter…deck where we stood as partners in the dance； to mark
the spot where he fell—raked fore and aft （Captain Swosser used
to say） by the fire from my tops。 It was his naval way of mentioning
my eyes。”
Mrs Badger shook her head； sighed； and looked in the glass。
“It was a great change from Captain Swosser to Professor
Dingo；” she resumed； with a plaintive smile。 “I fe
