bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第79章
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him a thrill of joy。 To be informed what the Galaxy Gallery of
British Beauty is about； and means to be about； and what Galaxy
marriages are on the tapis； and what Galaxy rumours are in
circulation； is to become acquainted with the most glorious
destinies of mankind。 Mr Weevle reverts from this intelligence； to
the Galaxy portraits implicated； and seems to know the originals；
and to be known of them。
For the rest he is a quiet lodger； full of handy shifts and devices
as before mentioned； able to cook and clean for himself； as well as
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to carpenter； and developing social inclinations after the shades of
evening have fallen on the court。 At those times； when he is not
visited by Mr Guppy； or by a small light in his likeness quenched
in a dark hat； he comes out of his dull room—where he has
inherited the deal wilderness of desk bespattered with a rain of
ink—and talks to Krook； or is “very free；” as they call it in the
court； commendingly； with any one disposed for conversation。
Wherefore； Mrs Piper； who leads the court； is impelled to offer two
remarks to Mrs Perkins： Firstly； that if her Johnny was to have
whiskers； she could wish ’em to be identically like that young
man’s； and secondly； Mark my words； Mrs Perkins； ma’am； don’t
you be surprised Lord bless you； if that young man comes in at last
for old Krook’s money！
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Chapter 21
The Smallweed Family
n a rather ill…favoured and ill…savoured neighbourhood；
though one of its rising grounds bears the name of Mount
I
Pleasant； the Elfin Smallweed； christened Bartholomew； and
known on the domestic hearth as Bart； passes that limited portion
of his time on which the office and its contingencies have no claim。
He dwells in a little narrow street； always solitary； shady； and sad；
closely bricked in on all sides like a tomb； but where there yet
lingers the stump of an old forest tree； whose flavour is about as
fresh and natural as the Smallweed smack of youth。
There has been only one child in the Smallweed family for
several generations。 Little old men and women there have been；
but no child； until Mrs Smallweed’s grandmother； now living；
became weak in her intellect； and fell （for the first time） into a
childish state。 With such infantine graces as a total want of
observation； memory； understanding and interest； and an eternal
disposition to fall asleep over the fire and into it； Mr Smallweed’s
grandmother has undoubtedly brightened the family。
Mr Smallweed’s grandfather is likewise of the party。 He is in a
helpless condition as to his lower； and nearly so as to his upper
limbs； but his mind is unimpaired。 It holds； as well as it ever held；
the first four rules of arithmetic； and a certain small collection of
the hardest facts。 In respect of ideality； reverence； wonder； and
other such phrenological attributes； it is no worse off than it used
to be。 Everything that Mr Smallweed’s grandfather ever put away
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in his mind was a grub at first； and is a grub at last。 In all his life
he has never bred a single butterfly。
The father of this pleasant grandfather； of the neighbourhood of
Mount Pleasant； was a horny…skinned； two…legged； money…getting
species of spider； who spun webs to catch unwary flies； and retired
into holes until they were entrapped。 The name of this old pagan’s
God was Compound Interest。 He lived for it； married it； died of it。
Meeting with a heavy loss in an honest little enterprise in which all
the loss was intended to have been on the other side； he broke
something—something necessary to his existence； therefore it
couldn’t have been his heart—and made an end of his career。 As
his character was not good； and he had been bred at a Charity
School； in a complete course； according to question and answer； of
those ancient people the Amorites and Hittites； he was frequently
quoted as an example of the failure of education。
His spirit shone through his son； to whom he had always
preached of “going out” early in life； and whom he made a clerk in
a sharp scrivener’s office at twelve years old。 There； the young
gentleman improved his mind； which was of a lean and anxious
character； and； developing the family gifts； gradually elevated
himself into the discounting profession。 Going out early in life and
marrying late； as his father had done before him； he too begat a
lean and anxious…minded son； who； in his turn； going out early in
life and marrying late； became the father of Bartholomew and
Judith Smallweed； twins。 During the whole time consumed in the
slow growth of this family tree； the house of Smallweed； always
early to go out and late to marry； has strengthened itself in its
practical character； has discarded all amusements；
discountenanced all storybooks； fairy…tales； fictions； and fables；
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and banished all levities whatsoever。 Hence the gratifying fact；
that it has had no child born to it； and that the complete little men
and women whom it has produced； have been observed to bear a
likeness to old monkeys with something depressing on their
minds。
At the present time； in the dark little parlour certain feet below
the level of the street—a grim； hard； uncouth parlour； only
ornamented with the coarsest of baize table…covers； and the
hardest of sheet…iron tea…trays； and offering in its decorative
character no bad allegorical representation of Grandfather
Smallweed’s mind—seated in two black horsehair porter’s chairs；
one on each side of the fireplace； the superannuated Mr and Mrs
Smallweed wile away the rosy hours。 On the stove are a couple of
trivets for the pots and kettles which it is Grandfather
Smallweed’s usual occupation to watch； and projecting from the
chimney…piece between them is a sort of brass gallows for roasting；
which he also superintends when it is in action。 Under the
venerable Mr Smallweeds seat； and guarded by his spindle legs； is
a drawer in his chair； reported to contain property to a fabulous
amount。 Beside him is a spare cushion； with which he is always
provided； in order that he may have something to throw at the
venerable partner of his respected age whenever she makes an
allusion to money—a subject on which he is particularly sensitive。
“And where’s Bart？” Grandfather Smallweed inquires of Judy；
Bart’s twin…sister。
“He an’t come in yet；” says Judy。
“It’s his tea time； isn’t it？”
“No。”
“How much do you mean to say it wants then？”
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“Ten minutes。”
“Hey？”
“Ten minutes。”—（Loud on the part of Judy。）
“Ho！” says Grandfather Smallweed。 “Ten minutes。”
Grandmother Smallweed； who has been mumbling and shaking
her head at the trivets； hearing figures mentioned； connects them
with money； and screeches； like a horrible old parrot without any
plumage； “Ten ten…pound notes！”
Grandfather Smallweed immediately throws the cushion at her。
“Drat you； be quite！” says the good old man。
The effect of this act of jaculation is twofold。 It not only doubles
up Mrs Smallweed’s head against the side of her porter’s chair；
and causes her to present； when extricated by her grand…daughter；
a highly unbecoming state of cap； but the necessary exertion
recoils on Mr Smallweed himself； whom it throws back into his
porter’s chair； like a broken puppet。 The excellent old gentleman
being； at these times； a mere clothes…bag with a black skull…cap on
the top of it； does not present a very animated appearance； until
he has undergone the two operations at the hands of his grand…
daughter； of being shaken up like a great bottle； and poked and
punched like a great bolster。 Some indication of a neck being
developed in him by these means； he and the sharer of his life’s
evening again sit fronting one another in their two porter’s chairs；
like a couple of sentinels long forgotten on their post by the Black
Serjeant； Death。
Judy the twin is worthy company for these associates。 She is so
indubitably sister to Mr Smallweed the younger； that the two
kneaded into one would hardly make a young person of average
proportions； while she so happily exemplifies the before…
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mentioned family likeness to the monkey tribe； that； attired in a
spangled robe and cap； she might walk about the table—land
