bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第64节
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 265
early in the morning； and met her lover for a few minutes before
breakfast—only for a few minutes。 “I go there； at other times；” said
Caddy； “but Prince does not come then。 Young Mr Turveydrop’s
name is Prince； I wish it wasn’t； because it sounds like a dog； but
of course he didn’t christen himself。 Old Mr Turveydrop had him
christened Prince； in remembrance of the Prince Regent。 Old Mr
Turveydrop adored the Prince Regent on account of his
Deportment。 I hope you won’t think the worse of me for having
made these little appointments at Miss Flite’s； where I first went
with you； because I like the poor thing for her own sake and I
believe she likes me。 If you could see young Mr Turveydrop； I am
sure you would think well of him—at least； I am sure you couldn’t
possibly think any ill of him。 I am going there now； for my lesson。 I
couldn’t ask you to go with me； Miss Summerson； but if you
would；” said Caddy； who had said all this； earnestly and
tremblingly； “I should be very glad—very glad。”
It happened that we had arranged with my Guardian to go to
Miss Flite’s that day。 We had told him of our former visit； and our
account had interested him； but something had always happened
to prevent our going there again。 As I trusted that I might have
sufficient influence with Miss Jellyby to prevent her taking any
very rash step； if I fully accepted the confidence she was so willing
to place in me； poor girl； I proposed that she and I and Peepy
should go to the Academy； and afterwards meet my Guardian and
Ada at Miss Flite’s—whose name I now learnt for the first time。
This was on condition that Miss Jellyby and Peepy should come
back with us to dinner。 The last article of the agreement being
joyfully acceded to by both； we smartened Peepy up a little； with
the assistance of a few pins； some soap and water； and a
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Bleak House 266
hairbrush； and went out： bending our steps towards Newman
Street； which was very near。
I found the Academy established in a sufficiently dingy house at
the corner of an archway； with busts in all the staircase windows。
In the same house there were also established； as I gathered from
the plates on the door； a drawing…master； a coal…merchant （there
was； certainly； no room for his coals）； and a lithographic artist。 On
the plate which； in size and situation； took precedence of all the
rest； I read； Mr TURVEYDROP。 The door was open； and the hall
was blocked up by a grand piano； a harp； and several other
musical instruments in cases； all in progress of removal； and all
looking rakish in the daylight。 Miss Jellyby informed me that the
Academy had been lent； last night； for a concert。
We went upstairs—it had been quite a fine house once； when it
was anybody’s business to keep it clean and fresh； and nobody’s
business to smoke in it all day—and into Mr Turveydrop’s great
room； which was built out into a mews at the back； and was
lighted by a skylight。 It was a bare； resounding room； smelling of
stables； with cane forms along the walls； and the walls ornamented
at regular intervals with painted lyres； and little cut…glass
branches for candles； which seemed to be shedding their old…
fashioned drops as other branches might shed autumn leaves。
Several young lady pupils； ranging from thirteen or fourteen years
of age to two or three and twenty； were assembled； and I was
looking among them for their instructor； when Caddy； pinching
my arm； repeated the ceremony of introduction。 “Miss
Summerson； Mr Prince Turveydrop！”
I curtseyed to a little blue…eyed fair man of youthful
appearance； with flaxen hair parted in the middle； and curling at
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Bleak House 267
the ends all round his head。 He had a little fiddle； which we used
to call at school a kit； under his left arm； and its little bow in the
same band。 His little dancing shoes were particularly diminutive；
and he had a little innocent； feminine manner； which not only
appealed to me in an amiable way； but made this singular effect
upon me： that I received the impression that he was like his
mother； and that his mother had not been much considered or
well used。”
“I am very happy to see Miss Jellyby’s friend；” he said； bowing
low to me。 “I began to fear；” with timid tenderness； “as it was past
the usual time； that Miss Jellyby was not coming。”
“I beg you will have the goodness to attribute that to me； who
have detained her； and to receive my excuses； sir；” said I。
“O dear！” said he。
“And pray；” I entreated； “do not allow me to be the cause of any
more delay。”
With that apology I withdrew to a seat between Peepy （who；
being well used to it； had already climbed into a corner place） and
an old lady of a censorious countenance； whose two nieces were in
the class； and who was very indignant with Peepy’s boots。 Prince
Turveydrop then tinkled the strings of his kit with his fingers； and
the young ladies stood up to dance。 Just then； there appeared from
a side…door； old Mr Turveydrop； in the full lustre of his
Deportment。
He was a fat old gentleman with a false complexion； false teeth；
false whiskers； and a wig。 He had a fur collar； and he had a padded
breast to his coat； which only wanted a star or a broad blue ribbon
to be complete。 He was pinched in； and swelled out； and got up；
and strapped down； as much as he could possibly bear。 He had
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Bleak House 268
such a neckcloth on （puffing his very eyes out of their natural
shape）； and his chin and even his ears so sunk into it； that it
seemed as though he must inevitably double up； if it were cast
loose。 He had； under his arm； a hat of great size and weight；
shelving downward from the crown to the brim； and in his hand a
pair of white gloves； with which he flapped it； as he stood poised
on one leg； in a high…shouldered； round…elbowed state of elegance
not to be surpassed。 He had a cane； he had an eyeglass； he had a
snuff…box； he had rings； he had wristbands； he had everything but
any touch of nature； he was not like youth； he was not like age； he
was like nothing in the world but a model of Deportment。
“Father！ A visitor。 Miss Jellyby’s friend； Miss Summerson。”
“Distinguished；” said Mr Turveydrop； “by Miss Summerson’s
presence。” As he bowed to me in that tight state； I almost believe I
saw creases come into the whites of his eyes。
“My father；” said the son； aside to me； with quite an affecting
belief in him； “is a celebrated character。 My father is greatly
admired。”
“Go on； Prince！ Go on！” said Mr Turveydrop； standing with his
back to the fire； and waving his gloves condescendingly。 “Go on；
my son！”
At this command； or by this gracious permission； the lesson
went on。 Prince Turveydrop； sometimes； played the kit； dancing；
sometimes played the piano； standing： sometimes hummed the
tune with what little breath he could spare； while he set a pupil
right； always conscientiously moved with the least proficient
through every step and every part of the figure； and never rested
fo
