bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第42章
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if she says I didn’t； she’s a Lie！”
He had pulled his pipe out of his mouth to say all this； and he
now turned over on his other side； and smoked again。 Mrs
Pardiggle； who had been regarding him through her spectacles
with a forcible composure； calculated； I could not help thinking； to
increase his antagonism； pulled out a good book； as it were a
constable’s staff； and took the whole family into custody。 I mean
into religious custody； of course； but she really did it； as if she were
an inexorable moral Policeman carrying them all off to a station…
house。
Ada and I were very uncomfortable。 We both felt intrusive and
out of place； and we both thought that Mrs Pardiggle would have
got on infinitely better； if she had not had such a mechanical way
of taking possession of people。 The children sulked and stared； the
family took no notice of us whatever； except when the young man
made the dog bark： which he usually did when Mrs Pardiggle was
most emphatic。 We both felt painfully sensible that between us
and these people there was an iron barrier； which could not be
removed by our new friend。 By whom； or how； it could be
removed； we did not know； but we knew that。 Even what she read
and said； seemed to us to be ill chosen for such auditors； if it had
been imparted ever so modestly and with ever so much tact。 As to
the little book to which the man on the floor had referred； we
acquired a knowledge of it afterwards； and Mr Jarndyce said he
doubted if Robinson Crusoe could have read it； though he had had
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no other on his desolate island。
We were much relieved； under these circumstances； when Mrs
Pardiggle left off。 The man on the floor then turning his head
round again； said morosely；—
“Well！ You’ve done； have you？”
“For today； I have； my friend。 But I am never fatigued。 I shall
come to you again； in your regular order；” returned Mrs Pardiggle
with demonstrative cheerfulness。
“So long as you goes now；” said he； folding his arms and
shutting his eyes with an oath； “you may do wot you like！”
Mrs Pardiggle accordingly rose； and made a little vortex in the
confined room from which the pipe itself very narrowly escaped。
Taking one of her young family in each hand； and telling the
others to follow closely； and expressing her hope that the
brickmaker and all his house would be improved when she saw
them next； she then proceeded to another cottage。 I hope it is not
unkind in me to say that she certainly did make； in this； as in
everything else； a show that was not conciliatory； of doing charity
by wholesale； and of dealing in it to a large extent。
She supposed that we were following her； but as soon as the
space was left clear； we approached the woman sitting by the fire；
to ask if the baby were ill。
She only looked at it as it lay on her lap。 We had observed
before； that when she looked at it she covered her discoloured eye
with her hand； as though she wished to separate any association
with noise and violence and ill…treatment； from the poor little
child。
Ada； whose gentle heart was moved by its appearance； bent
down to touch its little face。 As she did so； I saw what happened
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and drew her back。 The child died。
“O Esther！” cried Ada； sinking on her knees beside it。 “Look
here！ O Esther； my love； the little thing！ The suffering； quiet；
pretty little thing！ I am so sorry for it。 I am so sorry for the mother。
I never saw a sight so pitiful as this before！ O baby； baby！”
Such compassion； such gentleness； as that with which she bent
down weeping； and put her hand upon the mother’s； might have
softened any mother’s heart that ever beat。 The woman at first
gazed at her in astonishment； and then burst into tears。
Presently I took the light burden from her lap； did what I could
to make the baby’s rest the prettier and gentler； laid it on a shelf；
and covered it with my own handkerchief。 We tried to comfort the
mother； and we whispered to her what our Saviour said of
children。 She answered nothing； but sat weeping—weeping very
much。
When I turned； I found that the young man had taken out the
dog； and was standing at the door looking in upon us； with dry
eyes； but quiet。 The girl was quiet too； and sat in a corner looking
on the ground。 The man had risen。 He still smoked his pipe with
an air of defiance； but he was silent。
An ugly woman； very poorly clothed； hurried in while I was
glancing at them； and coming straight up to the mother； said；
“Jenny！ Jenny！” The mother rose on being so addressed； and fell
upon the woman’s neck。
She also had upon her face and arms the marks of ill…usage。 She
had no kind of grace about her； but the grace of sympathy； but
when she condoled with the woman； and her own tears fell； she
wanted no beauty。 I say condoled； but her only words were；
“Jenny！ Jenny！” All the rest was in the tone in which she said
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them。
I thought it very touching to see these two women； coarse and
shabby and beaten； so united； to see what they could be to one
another； to see how they felt for one another； how the heart of
each to each was softened by the hard trials of their lives。 I think
the best side of such people is almost hidden from us。 What the
poor are to the poor is little known； excepting to themselves and
God。
We felt it better to withdraw and leave them uninterrupted。 We
stole out quietly； and without notice from any one except the man。
He was leaning against the wall near the door； and finding that
there was scarcely room for us to pass； went out before us。 He
seemed to want to hide that he did this on our account； but we
perceived that he did； and thanked him。 He made no answer。
Ada was so full of grief of all the way home； and Richard； whom
we found at home； was so distressed to see her in tears （though he
said to me when she was not present； how beautiful it was too！）
that we arranged to return at night with some little comforts； and
repeat our visit at the brickmaker’s house。 We said as little as we
could to Mr Jarndyce； but the wind changed directly。
Richard accompanied us at night to the scene of our morning
expedition。 On our way there； we had to pass a noisy drinking…
house； where a number of men were flocking about the door。
Among them； and promi
