bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第48章
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capable of exhaustion than we were。 We made the round of the
principal theatres； too； with great delight； and saw all the plays
that were worth seeing。 I mention this； because it was at the
theatre that I began to be made uncomfortable again； by Mr
Guppy。
I was sitting in front of the box one night with Ada； and Richard
was in the place he liked best； behind Ada’s chair； when；
happening to look down into the pit； I saw Mr Guppy； with his hair
flattened down upon his head； and woe depicted in his face；
looking up at me。 I felt； all through the performance； that he never
looked at the actors； but constantly looked at me； and always with
a carefully prepared expression of the deepest misery and the
profoundest dejection。
It quite spoiled my pleasure for that night； because it was so
very embarrassing and so very ridiculous。 But； from that time
forth； we never went to the play without my seeing Mr Guppy in
the pit； always with his hair straight and flat； his shirt…collar
turned down； and a general feebleness about him。 If he were not
there when we went in； and I began to hope he would not come；
and yielded myself for a little while to the interest of the scene； I
was certain to encounter his languishing eyes when I least
expected it； and； from that time； to be quite sure that they were
fixed upon me all the evening。
I really cannot express how uneasy this made me。 If he would
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only have brushed up his hair； or turned up his collar； it would
have been bad enough； but to know that that absurd figure was
always gazing at me； and always in that demonstrative state of
despondency； put such a constraint upon me that I did not like to
laugh at the play； or to cry at it； or to move or to speak。 I seemed
able to do nothing naturally。 As to escaping Mr Guppy by going to
the back of the box； I could not bear to do that； because I knew
Richard and Ada relied on having me next them； and that they
could never have talked together so happily if anybody else had
been in my place。 So there I sat； not knowing where to look—for
wherever I looked； I knew Mr Guppy’s eyes were following me—
and thinking of the dreadful expense to which this young man was
putting himself on my account。
Sometimes； I thought of telling Mr Jarndyce。 Then I feared that
the young man would lose his situation； and that I might ruin him。
Sometimes； I thought of confiding in Richard； but was deterred by
the possibility of his fighting Mr Guppy； and giving him black eyes。
Sometimes； I thought； should I frown at him； or shake my head。
Then I felt I could not do it。 Sometimes； I considered whether I
should write to his mother； but that ended in my being convinced
that to open a correspondence would be to make the matter worse。
I always came to the conclusion； finally； that I could do nothing。
Mr Guppy’s perseverance； all this time； not only produced him
regularly at any theatre to which we went； but caused him to
appear in the crowd as we were coming out； and even to get up
behind our fly—where I am sure I saw him； two or three times；
struggling among the most dreadful spikes。 After we got home； he
haunted a post opposite our house。 The upholsterer’s where we
lodged； being at the corner of two streets； and my bedroom
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window being opposite the post； I was afraid to go near the
window when I went upstairs； lest I should see him （as I did one
moonlight night） leaning against the post； and evidently catching
cold。 If Mr Guppy had not been； fortunately for me； engaged in the
daytime； I really should have had no rest from him。
While we were making this round of gaieties； in which Mr
Guppy so extraordinarily participated； the business which had
helped to bring us to town was not neglected。 Mr Kenge’s cousin
was a Mr Bayham Badger； who had a good practice at Chelsea；
and attended a large public Institution besides。 He was quite
willing to receive Richard into his house； and to superintend his
studies； and as it seemed that those could be pursued
advantageously under Mr Badger’s roof； and Mr Badger liked
Richard； and as Richard said he liked Mr Badger “well enough；”
an agreement was made； the Lord Chancellor’s consent was
obtained； and it was all settled。
On the day when matters were concluded between Richard and
Mr Badger； we were all under engagement to dine at Mr Badger’s
house。 We were to be “merely a family party；” Mrs Badger’s note
said； and we found no lady there but Mrs Badger herself。 She was
surrounded in the drawing…room by various objects； indicative of
her painting a little； playing the piano a little； playing the guitar a
little； playing the harp a little； singing a little； working a little；
reading a little； writing poetry a little； and botanizing a little。 She
was a lady of about fifty； I should think； youthfully dressed； and of
a very fine complexion。 If I add to the little list of her
accomplishments； that she rouged a little； I do not mean that there
was any harm in it。
Mr Bayham Badger himself was a pink； fresh…faced； crisp…
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looking gentleman； with a weak voice； white teeth； light hair； and
surprised eyes： some years younger； I should say； than Mrs
Bayham Badger。 He admired her exceedingly； but principally； and
to begin with； on the curious ground （as it seemed to us） of her
having had three husbands。 We had barely taken our seats； when
he said to Mr Jarndyce quite triumphantly；
“You would hardly suppose that I am Mrs Bayham Badger’s
third！”
“Indeed？” said Mr Jarndyce。
“Her third！” said Mr Badger。 “Mrs Bayham Badger has not the
appearance； Miss Summerson； of a lady who has had two former
husbands？”
I said； “Not at all！”
“And most remarkable men！” said Mr Badger； in a tone of
confidence。 “Captain Swosser of the Royal Navy； who was Mrs
Badger’s first husband； was a very distinguished officer indeed。
The name of Professor Dingo； my immediate predecessor； is one of
European reputation。”
Mrs Badger overheard him； and smiled。
“Yes； my dear！” Mr Badger replied to the smile； “I was
observing to Mr Jarndyce and Miss Summerson； that you had had
two former husbands—both very distinguished men。 And they
found it； as people generally do； difficult to believe。”
“I was barely twenty；” said Mrs Badger； “when I married
Captain Swosser of the Royal Navy。 I was in the Mediterranean
with him； I am quite a Sailor。 On the twelfth anniversary of my
wedding…day； I became the wife of Professor Dingo。”
（“Of European reputation；” added Mr Badger in an undertone。）
“And when Mr Badger and myself were married；” pursued Mrs
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Badger； “we were married on the same day of the year。 I had
become attached to the day。”
“So that Mrs Badger has been married to three husbands—two
of them highly distinguished men；” said Mr Badger； summing up
the facts： “and； each time； upon the twenty…first of March at
Eleven in the forenoon！”
We all expressed our admiration。
“But for Mr Badger’s modesty；” said Mr Jarndyce； “I would
take leave to correct him； and say three distinguished men。”
“Thank you； Mr Jarndyce！ What I always tell him！” observed
Mrs Badger。
“And； my dear；” said Mr Badger； “what do I always tell you？
That without any affectation of disparaging such professional
distinction as I may have attained （which our friend Mr Carstone
will have many opportunities of estimating）； I am not so weak—no；
really；” said Mr Badger to us generally； “so unreasonable—as to
put my reputation on the same footing with such first…rate men as
Captain Swosser and Professor Dingo。 Perhaps you may be
interested； Mr Jarndyce；” continued Mr Bayham Badger； leading
the way into the next drawing…room； “in this portrait of Captain
Swosser。 It was taken on his return home from the African
Station； where he had suffered from the fever of the country。 Mrs
Badger considers it too yellow。 But it’s a very fine head。 A very
fine head！”
We all echoed “A very fine head！”
“I feel when I look at it；” said Mr Badger； “‘that’s a man I
should like to have seen！’ It strikingly bespeaks the first…class man
that Captain Swosser pre…eminently was。 On the other side；
Professor Dingo。 I knew him well—attended him in his last
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illness—a speaking likeness！ Over the piano； Mrs Bayham Badger
when Mrs Swosser。 Over the sof
