bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第39章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
wanted money； they wanted coals； they wanted soup； they wanted
interest； they wanted autographs； they wanted flannel； they
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 143…
Bleak House 143
wanted whatever Mr Jarndyce had—or had not。 Their objects
were as various as their demands。 They were going to raise new
buildings； they were going to pay off debts on old buildings； they
were going to establish in a picturesque building （engraving of
proposed West Elevation attached） the Sisterhood of Mediaeval
Marys； they were going to give a testimonial to Mrs Jellyby； they
were going to have their Secretary’s portrait painted； and
presented to his mother…in…law； whose deep devotion to him was
well known； they were going to get up everything； I really believe；
from five hundred thousand tracts to an annuity； and from a
marble monument to a silver teapot。 They took a multitude of
titles。 They were the Women of England； the Daughters of Britain；
the Sisters of all the Cardinal Virtues separately； the Females of
America； the Ladies of a hundred denominations。 They appeared
to be always excited about canvassing and electing。 They seemed
to our poor wits； and according to their own accounts； to be
constantly polling people by tens of thousands； yet never bringing
their candidates in for anything。 It made our heads ache to think；
on the whole； what feverish lives they must lead。
Among the ladies who were most distinguished for this
rapacious benevolence （if I may use the expression）； was a Mrs
Pardiggle； who seemed； as I judged from the number of her letters
to Mr Jarndyce； to be almost as powerful a correspondent as Mrs
Jellyby herself。 We observed that the wind always changed； when
Mrs Pardiggle became the subject of conversation： and that it
invariably interrupted Mr Jarndyce； and prevented his going any
farther； when he had remarked that there were two classes of
charitable people； one； the people who did a little and made a
great deal of noise； the other； the people who did a great deal and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 144…
Bleak House 144
made no noise at all。 We were therefore curious to see Mrs
Pardiggle； suspecting her to be a type of the former class； and
were glad when she called one day with her five young sons。
She was a formidable style of lady； with spectacles； a prominent
nose； and a loud voice； who had the effect of wanting a great deal
of room。 And she really did； for she knocked down little chairs
with her skirts that were quite a great way off。 As only Ada and I
were at home； we received her timidly； for she seemed to come in
like cold weather； and to make the little Pardiggles blue as they
followed。
“These； young ladies；” said Mrs Pardiggle； with great volubility；
after the first salutations； “are my five boys。 You may have seen
their names in a printed subscription list （perhaps more than one）；
in the possession of our esteemed friend Mr Jarndyce。 Egbert； my
eldest （twelve）； is the boy who sent out his pocket…money； to the
amount of five…and…three…pence； to the Tockahoopo Indians。
Oswald my second （ten…and…a…half）； is the child who contributed
two…and…nine…pence to the Great National Smithers Testimonial。
Francis； my third （nine）； one…and…sixpence halfpenny； Felix； my
fourth （seven）； eight…pence to the Superannuated Widows； Alfred；
my youngest （five）； has voluntarily enrolled himself in the Infant
Bonds of Joy； and is pledged never； through life； to use tobacco in
any form。”
We had never seen such dissatisfied children。 It was not merely
that they were weazened and shrivelled—though they were
certainly that too—but they looked absolutely ferocious with
discontent。 At the mention of the Tockahoopo Indians； I could
really have supposed Egbert to be one of the most baleful
members of that tribe； he gave me such a savage frown。 The face
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 145…
Bleak House 145
of each child； as the amount of his contribution was mentioned；
darkened in a peculiarly vindictive manner； but his was by far the
worst。 I must except； however； the little recruit into the Infant
Bonds of Joy； who was stolidly and evenly miserable。
“You have been visiting； I understand；” said Mrs Pardiggle； “at
Mrs Jellyby’s？”
We said yes； we had passed one night there。
“Mrs Jellyby；” pursued the lady； always speaking in the same
demonstrative； loud； hard tone； so that her voice impressed my
fancy as if it had a sort of spectacles on too—and I may take the
opportunity of remarking that her spectacles were made the less
engaging by her eyes being what Ada called “choking eyes；”
meaning very prominent： “Mrs Jellyby is a benefactor to society；
and deserves a helping hand。 My boys have contributed to the
African project—Egbert one…and…six； being the entire allowance of
nine weeks； Oswald； one…and…a…penny…halfpenny； being the same；
the rest； according to their little means。 Nevertheless； I do not go
with Mrs Jellyby in all things。 I do not go with Mrs Jellyby in her
treatment of her young family。 It has been noticed。 It has been
observed that her young family are excluded from participation in
the objects to which she is devoted。 She may be right； she may be
wrong； but； right or wrong； this is not my course with my young
family。 I take them everywhere。”
I was afterwards convinced （and so was Ada） that from the ill…
conditioned eldest child； these words extorted a sharp yell。 He
turned it off into a yawn； but it began as a yell。
“They attend Matins with me （very prettily done）； at half…past
six o’clock in the morning all the year round； including of course
the depth of winter；” said Mrs Pardiggle rapidly； “and they are
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 146…
Bleak House 146
with me during the revolving duties of the day。 I am a School lady；
I am a Visiting lady； I am a Reading lady； I am a Distributing lady；
I am on the Local Linen Box Committee； and many general
Committees； and my canvassing alone is very extensive—perhaps
no one’s more so。 But they are my companions everywhere； and
by these means they acquire that knowledge of the poor； and that
capacity of doing charitable business in general—in short； that
taste for the sort of thing—which will render them in after life a
service to their neighbours； and a satisfaction
