bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第146章
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make her husband jealous。 But he was； in his way； just as bad—I
mean as good； and in short it was the old story； and nobody would
leave me any possibility of doing anything meritorious。
The elder Mr Turveydrop was in bed； I found； and Caddy was
milling his chocolate； which a melancholy little boy who was an
apprentice—it seemed such a curious thing to be apprenticed to
the trade of dancing—was waiting to carry upstairs。 Her father…in…
law was extremely kind and considerate； Caddy told me； and they
lived most happily together。 （When she spoke of their living
together； she meant that the old gentleman had all the good things
and all the good lodging； while she and her husband had what
they could get； and were poked into two corner rooms over the
Mews。） “And how is your mama； Caddy？” said I。
“Why； I hear of her； Esther；” replied Caddy； “through Pa； but I
see very little of her。 We are good friends； I am glad to say； but Ma
thinks there is something absurd in my having married a dancing…
master； and she is rather afraid of its extending to her。”
It struck me that if Mrs Jellyby had discharged her own natural
duties and obligations； before she swept the horizon with a
telescope in search of others； she would have taken the best
precautions against becoming absurd； but I need scarcely observe
that I kept this to myself。
“And your papa； Caddy？”
“He comes here every evening；” returned Caddy； “and is so
fond of sitting in the corner there； that it’s a treat to see him。”
Looking at the corner； I plainly perceived the mark of Mr
Jellyby’s head against the wall。 It was consolatory to know that he
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had found such a resting…place for it。
“And you； Caddy；” said I； “you are always busy； I’ll be bound？”
“Well； my dear；” returned Caddy； “I am indeed； for to tell you a
grand secret； I am qualifying myself to give lessons。 Prince’s
health is not strong and I want to be able to assist him。 What with
schools； and classes here； and private pupils； and the apprentices；
he really has too much to do； poor fellow！”
The notion of the apprentices was still so odd to me； that I
asked Caddy； if there were many of them？
“Four；” said Caddy。 “One indoor； and three out。 They are very
good children； only when they get together they will play—
children…like—instead of attending to their work。 So the little boy
you saw just now waltzes by himself in the empty kitchen； and we
distribute the others as well as we can。”
“That is only for their steps； of course？” said I。
“Only for their steps；” said Caddy。 “In that way they practise so
many hours at a time； whatever steps they happen to be upon。
They dance in the academy； and at this time of year we do Figures
at five every morning。”
“Why； what a laborious life！” I exclaimed。
“I assure you； my dear；” returned Caddy； smiling； “when the
outdoor apprentices ring us up in the morning （the bell rings into
our room； not to disturb old Mr Turveydrop）； and when I put up
the window； and see them standing on the doorstep with their
little pumps under their arms； I am actually reminded of the
Sweeps。”
All this presented the art to me in a singular light； to be sure。
Caddy enjoyed the effect of her communication； and cheerfully
recounted the particulars of her own studies。
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“You see； my dear； to save expense； I ought to know something
of the Piano； and I ought to know something of the Kit too； and
consequently I have to practise those two instruments as well as
the details of our profession。 If Ma had been like anybody else； I
might have had some little musical knowledge to begin upon。
However； I hadn’t any； and that part of the work is； at first； a little
discouraging； I must allow。 But I have a very good ear； and I am
used to drudgery—I have to thank Ma for that； at all events—and
where there’s a will there’s a way； you know； Esther； the world
over。” Saying these words； Caddy laughingly sat down at a little
jingling square piano； and really rattled off a quadrille with great
spirit。 Then she good…humouredly and blushingly got up again；
and while she still laughed herself； said； “Don’t laugh at me；
please； that’s a dear girl！”
I would sooner have cried； but I did neither。 I encouraged her
and praised her with all my heart。 For I conscientiously believed；
dancing…master’s wife though she was； and dancing…mistress
though in her limited ambition she aspired to be； she had struck
out a natural； wholesome； loving course of industry and
perseverance that was quite as good as a Mission。
“My dear；” said Caddy； delighted； “you can’t think how you
cheer me。 I shall owe you； you don’t know how much。 What
changes； Esther； even in my small world！ You recollect that first
night when I was so unpolite and inky？ Who would have thought；
then； of my ever teaching people to dance； of all other possibilities
and impossibilities！”
Her husband； who had left us while we had this chat； now
coming back； preparatory to exercising the apprentices in the ball…
room； Caddy informed me she was quite at my disposal。 But it was
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not my time yet； I was glad to tell her； for I should have been
vexed to take her away then。 Therefore we three adjourned to the
apprentices together； and I made one in the dance。
The apprentices were the queerest little people。 Besides the
melancholy boy； who； I hoped； had not been made so by waltzing
alone in the empty kitchen； there were two other boys； and one
dirty little limp girl in a gauzy dress。 Such a precocious little girl；
with such a dowdy bonnet on （that； too； of a gauzy texture）； who
brought her sandled shoes in an old threadbare velvet reticule。
Such mean little boys； when they were not dancing； with string；
and marbles； and cramp…bones in their pockets； and the most
untidy legs and feet—and heels particularly。 I asked Caddy what
had made their parents choose this profession for them？ Caddy
said she didn’t know； perhaps they were designed for teachers；
perhaps for the stage。 They were all people in humble
circumstances； and the melancholy boy’s mother kept a ginger…
beer shop。
We danced for an hour with great gaiety； the melancholy child
doing wonders with his lower extremities； in which there
appeared to be some sense of enjoyment though it never rose
above his waist。 Caddy； while she was observant of her husband；
and was evidently founded upon him； had acquired a grace and
self…possession of her own； which； united to her pretty face and
figure； was uncommonly agreeable。 She already relieved him of
much of the instruction of these young people； and he seldom
interfered； except to walk his part in the figure if he had anything
to do in it。 He always played the tune。 The affectation of the gauzy
child； and her condescension to the boys； was a sight。 And thus we
danced an hour by the clock。
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When the practice was concluded； Caddy’s husband made
himself ready to go out of town to a school； and Caddy ran away to
get ready to go out with me。 I sat in the ball…room in the interval；
contemplating the apprentices。 The two outdoor boys went upon
the staircase to put on their half…boots； and pull the in…door boy’s
hair； as I judged from the nature of his objections。 Returning with
their jackets buttoned； and their pumps stuck in them； they then
produced packets of cold bread and meat； and bivouacked under a
painted lyre on the wall。 The little gauzy child； having whisked her
sandals into the reticule and put on a trodden down pair of shoes；
shook her head into the dowdy bonnet at one shake； and
answering my inquiry whether she liked dancing； by replying；
“not with boys；” tied it across her chin and went home
contemptuous。
“Old Mr Turveydrop is so sorry；” said Caddy； “that he has not
finished dressing yet； and cannot have the pleasure of seeing you
before you go。 You are such a favourite of his； Esther。”
I expressed myself much obliged to him； but did not think it
necessary to add that I readily dispensed with this attention。
“It takes him a long time to dress；” said Caddy； “because he is
very much looked up to in such things； you know； and has a
reputation to support。 You can’t think how kind he is to Pa。 He
talks to Pa； of an evening； about the Prince Regent； and I never
saw Pa so interested。”
There was something in the picture of Mr Turveydrop
bestowing his Deportment on Mr Jellyby； that quite took my fancy。
I asked Caddy if he brought her papa out much？
“No；” said Caddy； “I don’t know that he does that； but he talks
to Pa； and Pa greatly admires him； and listens； and likes it。 Of
Charles Dickens
