bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第27章
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Jarndyce。
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“And have the children looked after themselves at all； sir？”
inquired Richard。
“Why； just as you may suppose；” said Mr Jarndyce： his
countenance suddenly falling。 “It is said that the children of the
very poor are not brought up； but dragged up。 Harold Skimpole’s
children have tumbled up somehow or other。—The wind’s getting
round again； I am afraid。 I feel it rather！”
Richard observed that the situation was exposed on a sharp
night。
“It is exposed；” said Mr Jarndyce。 “No doubt that’s the cause。
Bleak House has an exposed sound。 But you are coming my way。
Come along！”
Our luggage having arrived； and being all at hand； I was
dressed in a few minutes； and engaged in putting my worldly
goods away； when a maid （not the one in attendance upon Ada；
but another whom I had not seen） brought a basket into my room；
with two bunches of keys in it； all labelled。
“For you； miss； if you please；” said she。
“For me？” said I。
“The housekeeping keys； miss。”
I showed my surprise； for she added； with some little surprise
on her own part： “I was told to bring them as soon as you was
alone； miss。 Miss Summerson； if I don’t deceive myself？”
“Yes；” said I。 “That is my name。”
“The large bunch is the housekeeping； and the little bunch is
the cellars； miss。 Any time you was pleased to appoint tomorrow
morning； I was to show you the presses and things they belong to。”
I said I would be ready at half…past six： and； after she was gone；
stood looking at the basket； quite lost in the magnitude of my
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trust。 Ada found me thus； and had such a delightful confidence in
me when I showed her the keys and told her about them； that it
would have been insensibility and ingratitude not to feel
encouraged。 I knew； to be sure； that it was the dear girl’s kindness；
but I liked to be so pleasantly cheated。
When we went downstairs； we were presented to Mr Skimpole；
who was standing before the fire； telling Richard how fond he
used to be； in his school…time； of football。 He was a little bright
creature； with a rather large head； but a delicate face； and a sweet
voice； and there was a perfect charm in him。 All he said was so
free from effort and spontaneous； and was said with such a
captivating gaiety； that it was fascinating to hear him talk。 Being of
a more slender figure than Mr Jarndyce； and having a richer
complexion； with browner hair； he looked younger。 Indeed； he had
more the appearance； in all respects； of a damaged young man；
than a well…preserved elderly one。 There was an easy negligence
in his manner； and even in his dress （his hair carelessly disposed；
and his neck…kerchief loose and flowing； as I have seen artists
paint their own portraits）； which I could not separate from the
idea of a romantic youth who had undergone some unique process
of depreciation。 It struck me as being not at all like the manner or
appearance of a man who had advanced in life； by the usual road
of years； cares； and experiences。
I gathered from the conversation； that Mr Skimpole had been
educated for the medical profession； and had once lived in his
professional capacity； in the household of a German prince。 He
told us； however； that as he had always been a mere child in point
of weights and measures； and had never known anything about
them （except that they disgusted him）； he had never been able to
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prescribe with the requisite accuracy of detail。 In fact； he said； he
had no head for detail。 And he told us； with great humour； that
when he was wanted to bleed the prince； or physic any of his
people； he was generally found lying on his back in bed； reading
the newspapers； or making fancy…sketches in pencil； and couldn’t
come。 The prince； at last； objecting to this； “in which；” said Mr
Skimpole； in the frankest manner； “he was perfectly right；” the
engagement terminated； and Mr Skimpole having （as he added
with delightful gaiety） “nothing to live upon but love； fell in love；
and married； and surrounded himself with rosy cheeks。” His good
friend Jarndyce and some other of his good friends then helped
him； in quicker or slower succession； to several openings in life；
but to no purpose； for he must confess to two of the oldest
infirmities in the world： one was； that he had no idea of time； the
other； that he had no idea of money。 In consequence of which； he
never kept an appointment； never could transact any business；
and never knew the value of anything！ Well！ So he had got on in
life； and here he was！ He was very fond of reading the papers； very
fond of making fancy…sketches with a pencil； very fond of nature；
very fond of art。 All he asked of society was； to let him live。 That
wasn’t much。 His wants were few。 Give him the papers；
conversation； music； mutton； coffee； landscape； fruit in the season；
a few sheets of Bristol…board； and a little claret； and he asked no
more。 He was a mere child in the world； but he didn’t cry for the
moon。 He said to the world； “Go your several ways in peace！ Wear
red coats； blue coats； lawn…sleeves； put pens behind your ears；
wear aprons； go after glory； holiness； commerce； trade； any object
you prefer； only—let Harold Skimpole live！”
All this； and a great deal more； he told us； not only with the
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utmost brilliancy and enjoyment； but with a certain vivacious
candour—speaking of himself as if he were not at all his own
affair； as if Skimpole were a third person； as if he knew that
Skimpole had his singularities； but still had his claims too； which
were the general business of the community； and must not be
slighted。 He was quite enchanting。 If I felt at all confused at that
early time； in endeavouring to reconcile anything he said with
anything I had thought about the duties and accountabilities of life
（which I am far from sure of）； I was confused by not exactly
understanding why he was free of them。 That he was free of them；
I scarcely doubted； he was so very clear about it himself。
“I covet nothing；” said Mr Skimpole； in the same light
