bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第223章
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more； was all wrong in point of political economy： but it was very
agreeable。 We had our little festivities on those occasions； and
exchanged social ideas。 She brought her young husband home one
day； and they and their young fledglings have their nest upstairs。 I
dare say； at some time or other； Sentiment and Comedy will bring
their husbands home； and have their nests upstairs； too。 So we get
on； we don’t know how； but somehow。”
She looked very young indeed； to be the mother of two
children； and I could not help pitying both her and them。 It was
evident that the three daughters had grown up as they could； and
had had just as little hap…hazard instruction as qualified them to
be their father’s playthings in his idlest hours。 His pictorial tastes
were consulted； I observed； in their respective styles of wearing
their hair； the Beauty daughter being in the classic manner； the
Sentiment daughter luxuriant and flowing； and the Comedy
daughter in the arch style； with a good deal of sprightly forehead；
and vivacious little curls dotted about the corners of her eyes。
They were dressed to correspond； though in a most untidy and
negligent way。
Ada and I conversed with these young ladies； and found them
wonderfully like their father。 In the meanwhile Mr Jarndyce （who
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had been rubbing his head to a great extent； and hinting at a
change in the wind） talked with Mrs Skimpole in a corner； where
we could not help hearing the chink of money。 Mr Skimpole had
previously volunteered to go home with us； and had withdrawn to
dress himself for the purpose。
“My roses；” he said； when he came back； “take care of mamma。
She is poorly today。 By going home with Mr Jarndyce for a day or
two； I shall hear the larks sing； and preserve my amiability。 It has
been tried； you know； and would be tried again if I remained at
home。
“That bad man！” said the Comedy daughter。
“At the very time when he knew papa was lying down by his
wallflowers； looking at the blue sky；” Laura complained。
“And when the smell of hay was in the air！” said Arethusa。
“It showed a want of poetry in the man；” Mr Skimpole
assented； but with perfect good…humour。 “It was coarse。 There
was an absence of the finer touches of humanity in it！ My
daughters have taken great offence；” he explained to us； “at an
honest man—”
“Not honest； papa。 Impossible！” they all three protested。
“At a rough kind of fellow—a sort of human hedgehog rolled
up；” said Mr Skimpole； “who is a baker in this neighbourhood； and
from whom we borrowed a couple of armchairs。 We wanted a
couple of armchairs； and we hadn’t got them； and therefore of
course we looked to a man who had got them； to lend them out。
When they were worn out； he wanted them back。 He had them
back。 He was contented； you will say。 Not at all。 He objected to
their being worn。 I reasoned with him； and pointed out his
mistake。 I said； ‘Can you； at your time of life； be so headstrong； my
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Bleak House 825
friend； as to persist that an armchair is a thing to put upon a shelf
and look at？ That it is an object to contemplate； to survey from a
distance； to consider from a point of sight？ Don’t you know that
these armchairs were borrowed to be sat upon？’ He was
unreasonable and unpersuadable； and used intemperate language。
Being as patient as I am at this minute； I addressed another
appeal to him。 I said； ‘Now； my good man； however our business
capacities may vary； we are all children of one great mother；
Nature。 On this blooming summer morning here you see me’ （I
was on the sofa） ‘with flowers before me； fruit upon the table； the
cloudless sky above me； the air full of fragrance； contemplating
Nature。 I entreat you； by our common brotherhood； not to
interpose between me and a subject so sublime； the absurd figure
of an angry baker！’ But he did；” said Mr Skimpole； raising his
laughing eyebrows in playful astonishment； “he did interpose that
ridiculous figure； and he does and he will again。 And therefore I
am very glad to get out of his way； and to go home with my friend
Jarndyce。”
It seemed to escape his consideration that Mrs Skimpole and
the daughters remained behind to encounter the baker； but this
was so old a story to all of them that it had become a matter of
course。 He took leave of his family with a tenderness as airy and
graceful as any other aspect in which he showed himself； and rode
away with us in perfect harmony of mind。 We had an opportunity
of seeing through some open doors； as we went downstairs； that
his own apartment was a palace to the rest of the house。
I could have no anticipation； and I had none； that something
very startling to me at the moment； and ever memorable to me in
what ensued from it； was to happen before this day was out。 Our
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guest was in such spirits on the way home； that I could do nothing
but listen to him and wonder at him； nor was I alone in this； for
Ada yielded to the same fascination。 As to my Guardian； the wind；
which had threatened to become fixed in the east when we left
Somers Town； veered completely round； before we were a couple
of miles from it。
Whether of questionable childishness or not； in any other
matters； Mr Skimpole had a child’s enjoyment of change and
bright weather。 In no way wearied by his sallies on the road； he
was in the drawing…room before any of us； and I heard him at the
piano while I was yet looking after my housekeeping； singing
refrains of barcaroles and drinking songs； Italian and German； by
the score。
We were all assembled shortly before dinner； and he was still at
the piano idly picking out in his luxurious way little strains of
music； and talking between whiles of finishing some sketches of
the ruined old Verulam wall； tomorrow； which he had begun a
year or two ago and had got tired of； when a card was brought in；
and my Guardian read aloud in a surprised voice：—
“Sir Leicester Dedlock！”
The visitor was in the room while it was yet turning round with
me； and before I had the power to stir。 If I had had it； I should
have hurried away。 I had not even the presence of mind； in my
giddiness； to retire to Ada in the window； or to see the window； or
to know where it
