bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第14章
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to have the honour！ It is a good omen for youth； and hope； and
beauty； when they find themselves in this place； and don’t know
what’s to come of it。”
“Mad！” whispered Richard； not thinking she could hear him。
“Right！ Mad； young gentleman；” she returned so quickly that
he was quite abashed。 “I was a ward myself。 I was not mad at that
time；” curtseying low； and smiling between every little sentence。
“I had youth； and hope。 I believe； beauty。 It matters very little
now。 Neither of the three served； or saved me。 I have the honour
to attend court regularly。 With my documents。 I expect a
judgement。 Shortly。 On the Day of Judgement。 I have discovered
that the sixth seal mentioned in the Revelations is the Great Seal。
It has been open a long time！ Pray accept my blessing。”
As Ada was a little frightened； I said； to humour the poor old
lady； that we were much obliged to her。
“Ye…es！” she said mincingly。 “I imagine so。 And here is
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Conversation Kenge。 With his documents！ How does your
honourable worship do？”
“Quite well； quite well！ Now don’t be troublesome； that’s a good
soul！” said Mr Kenge； leading the way back。
“By no means；” said the poor old lady； keeping up with Ada and
me。 “Anything but troublesome。 I shall confer estates on both；—
which is not being troublesome； I trust？ I expect a judgment。
Shortly。 On the Day of Judgment。 This is a good omen for you。
Accept my blessing！”
She stopped at the bottom of the steep； broad flight of stairs；
but we looked back as we went up； and she was still there； saying；
still with a curtsey and a smile between every little sentence；
“Youth。 And hope。 And beauty。 And Chancery。 And Conversation
Kenge！ Ha！ Pray accept my blessing！”
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Chapter 4
Telescopic Philanthropy
e were to pass the night； Mr Kenge told us when we
Warrived in his room； at Mrs Jellyby’s； and then he
turned to me； and said he took it for granted I knew
who Mrs Jellyby was？
“I really don’t； sir；” I returned。 “Perhaps Mr Carstone—or Miss
Clare—”
But no； they knew nothing whatever about Mrs Jellyby。
“In…deed！ Mrs Jellyby；” said Mr Kenge； standing with his back
to the fire； and casting his eyes over the dusty hearth…rug； as if it
were Mrs Jellyby’s biography； “is a lady of very remarkable
strength of character； who devotes herself entirely to the public。
She has devoted herself to an extensive variety of public subjects；
at various times； and is at present （until something else attracts
her） devoted to the subject of Africa； with a view to the general
cultivation of the coffee berry—and the natives—and the happy
settlement； on the banks of the African rivers； of our
superabundant home population。 Mr Jarndyce； who is desirous to
aid in any work that is considered likely to be a good work； and
who is much sought after by philanthropists； has； I believe； a very
high opinion of Mrs Jellyby。”
Mr Kenge； adjusting his cravat； then looked at us。
“And Mr Jellyby； sir？” suggested Richard。
“Ah！ Mr Jellyby；” said Mr Kenge； “is—a—I don’t know that I
can describe him to you better than by saying that he is the
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husband of Mrs Jellyby。”
“A nonentity； sir？” said Richard； with a droll look。
“I don’t say that；” returned Mr Kenge； gravely。 “I can’t say；
that； indeed； for I know nothing whatever of Mr Jellyby。 I never； to
my knowledge； had the pleasure of seeing Mr Jellyby。 He may be a
very superior man； but he is； so to speak merged—Merged—in the
more shining qualities of his wife。” Mr Kenge proceeded to tell us
that as the road to Bleak House would have been very long； dark；
and tedious； on such an evening； and as we had been travelling
already。 Mr Jarndyce had himself proposed this arrangement。 A
carriage would be at Mrs Jellyby’s to convey us out of town； early
in the forenoon of tomorrow。
He then rang a little bell； and the young gentleman came in。
Addressing him by the name of Guppy； Mr Kenge inquired
whether Miss Summerson’s boxes and the rest of the baggage had
been “sent round。” Mr Guppy said yes； they had been sent round；
and a coach was waiting to take us round too； as soon as we
pleased。
“Then it only remains；” said Mr Kenge； shaking hands with us；
“for me to express my lively satisfaction in （good day； Miss Clare！）
the arrangement this day concluded； and my （good bye to you；
Miss Summerson！） lively hope that it will conduce to the
happiness； the （glad to have had the honour of making your
acquaintance； Mr Carstone！） welfare； the advantage in all points of
view； of all concerned！ Guppy； see the party safely there。”
“Where is ‘there；’ Mr Guppy？” said Richard； as we went
downstairs。
“No distance；” said Mr Guppy； “round in Thavies Inn； you
know。”
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“I can’t say I know where it is； for I come from Winchester； and
am strange in London。”
“Only round the corner；” said Mr Guppy。 “We just twist up
Chancery Lane； and cut along Holborn； and there we are in four
minutes’ time； as near as a toucher。 This is about a London
particular now； ain’t it； miss？” He seemed quite delighted with it
on my account。
“The fog is very dense； indeed！” said I。
“Not that it affects you； though； I am sure；” said Mr Guppy；
putting up the steps。 “On the contrary； it seems to do you good；
miss； judging from your appearance。”
I knew he meant well in paying me this compliment； so I
laughed at myself for blushing at it； when he had shut the door
and got upon the box； and we all three laughed； and chatted about
our inexperience； and the strangeness of London； until we turned
up under an archway； to our destination： a narrow street of high
houses； like an oblong cistern to hold the fog。 There was a
confused little crowd of people； principally children； gathered
about the house at which we stopped； which had a tarnished brass
plate on the door； with the inscription； JELLYBY。
“Don’t be frightened！” said Mr Guppy；
