bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第254章
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pocket and play a chord or two to astonish the baby—which I
never knew it to do in the least degree； for my tiny namesake
never noticed it at all。
Then there was Mrs Jellyby。 She would come occasionally with
her usual distraught manner； and sit calmly looking miles beyond
her grandchild； as if her attention were absorbed by a young
Borrioboolan on its native shores。 As bright…eyed as ever； as
serene； and as untidy； she would say； “Well； Caddy； child； and how
do you do today？” And then would sit amiably smiling； and taking
no notice of the reply； or would sweetly glide off into a calculation
of the number of letters she had lately received and answered； or
of the coffee…bearing power of Borrioboola…Gha。 This she would
always do with a serene contempt for our limited sphere of action；
not to be disguised。
Then there was old Mr Turveydrop； who was from morning to
night and from night to morning the subject of innumerable
precautions。 If the baby cried； it was nearly stifled lest the noise
should make him uncomfortable。 If the fire wanted stirring in the
night； it was surreptitiously done lest his rest should be broken。 If
Caddy required any little comfort that the house contained； she
first carefully discussed whether he was likely to require it； too。 In
return for this consideration； he would come into the room once a
day； all but blessing it—showing a condescension； and a
patronage； and a grace of manner； in dispensing the light of his
high…shouldered presence； from which I might have supposed him
（if I had not known better） to have been the benefactor of Caddy’s
life。
“My Caroline” he would say； making the nearest approach that
he could to bending over her。 “Tell me that you are better today。”
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“O much better； thank you； Mr Turveydrop；” Caddy would
reply。
“Delighted！ Enchanted！ And our dear Miss Summerson。 She is
not quite prostrated by fatigue？” Here he would crease up his
eyelids； and kiss his fingers to me； though I am happy to say he
had ceased to be particular in his attentions； since I had been so
altered。
“Not at all；” I would assure him。
“Charming！ We must take care of our dear Caroline； Miss
Summerson。 We must spare nothing that will restore her。 We
must nourish her。 My dear Caroline；” he would turn to his
daughter…in…law with infinite generosity and protection； “want for
nothing； my love。 Frame a wish and gratify it； my daughter。
Everything this house contains； everything my room contains； is at
your service； my dear。 Do not；” he would sometimes add； in a
burst of Deportment； “even allow my simple requirements to be
considered； if they should at any time interfere with your own； my
Caroline。 Your necessities are greater than mine。”
He had established such a long prescriptive right to this
Deportment （his son’s inheritance from his mother）； that I several
times knew both Caddy and her husband to be melted to tears by
these affectionate self…sacrifices。
“Nay； my dears；” he would remonstrate； and when I saw
Caddy’s thin arm about his fat neck as he said it； I would be
melted too； though not by the same process； “Nay； nay！ I have
promised never to leave ye。 Be dutiful and affectionate towards
me； and I ask no other return。 Now； bless ye！ I am going to the
Park。”
He would take the air there； presently； and get an appetite for
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his hotel dinner。 I hope I do old Mr Turveydrop no wrong； but I
never saw any better traits in him than these I faithfully record；
except that he certainly conceived a liking for Peepy； and would
take the child out walking with great pomp—always； on those
occasions； sending him home before he went to dinner himself；
and occasionally with a halfpenny in his pocket。 But； even this
disinterestedness was attended with no inconsiderable cost； to my
knowledge； for before Peepy was sufficiently decorated to walk
hand in hand with the professor of Deportment； he had to be
newly dressed； at the expense of Caddy and her husband； from top
to toe。
Last of our visitors； there was Mr Jellyby。 Really when he used
to come in of an evening； and ask Caddy in his meek voice how she
was； and then sit down with his head against the wall； and make
no attempt to say anything more； I liked him very much。 If he
found me bustling about； doing any little thing； he sometimes half
took his coat off； as if with an intention of helping by a great
exertion； but he never got any further。 His sole occupation was to
sit with his head against the wall； looking hard at the thoughtful
baby； and I could not quite divest my mind of a fancy that they
understood one another。
I have not counted Mr Woodcourt among our visitors； because
he was now Caddy’s regular attendant。 She soon began to improve
under his care； but he was so gentle； so skilful； so unwearying in
the pains he took； that it is not to be wondered at； I am sure。 I saw
a good deal of Mr Woodcourt during this time； though not so much
as might be supposed； for； knowing Caddy to be safe in his hands；
I often slipped home at about the hours when he was expected。 We
frequently met； notwithstanding。 I was quite reconciled to myself
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now； but I still felt glad to think that he was sorry for me； and he
still was sorry for me I believed。 He helped Mr Badger in his
professional engagements； which were numerous； and had as yet
no settled projects for the future。
It was when Caddy began to recover； that I began to notice a
change in my dear girl。 I cannot say how it first presented itself to
me； because I observed it in many slight particulars； which were
nothing in themselves； and only became something when they
were pieced together。 But I made it out； by putting them together；
that Ada was not so frankly cheerful with me as she used to be。
Her tenderness for me was as loving and true as ever； I did not for
a moment doubt that； but there was a quiet sorrow about her
which she did not confide to me； and in which I traced some
hidden regret。
Now I could not understand this； and I was so anxious for the
happiness of my own pet； that it caused me some uneasiness； and
set me thinking often。 At length； feeling sure that Ada suppressed
this something from me； lest it should make me unhappy too； it
came into my head that she was a li
