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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 577…
Bleak House 577
often enough： and when she is told it； she only gives me a placid
look； as if I was I don’t know what—a steeple in the distance；” said
Caddy； with a sudden idea； “and then she shakes her head； and
says ‘O Caddy； Caddy； what a teaze you are！’ and goes on with the
Borrioboola letters。”
“And about your wardrobe； Caddy？” said I。 For she was under
no restraint with us。
“Well； my dear Esther；” she returned； drying her eyes； “I must
do the best I can； and trust to my dear Prince never to have an
unkind remembrance of my coming so shabbily to him。 If the
question concerned an outfit for Borrioboola； Ma would know all
about it； and would be quite excited。 Being what it is； she neither
knows nor cares。”
Caddy was not at all deficient in natural affection for her
mother； but mentioned this with tears； as an undeniable fact：
which I am afraid it was。 We were so sorry for the poor dear girl；
and found so much to admire in the good disposition which had
survived under such discouragement； that we both at once （I mean
Ada and I） proposed a little scheme； that made her perfectly joyful。
This was； her staying with us for three weeks； my staying with her
for one； and our all three contriving and cutting out； and
repairing； and sewing； and saving； and doing the very best we
could think of； to make the most of her stock。 My Guardian being
as pleased with the idea as Caddy was； we took her home next day
to arrange the matter； and brought her out again in triumph； with
her boxes； and all the purchases that could be squeezed out of a
ten…pound note； which Mr Jellyby had found in the Docks I
suppose； but which he at all events gave her。 What my Guardian
would not have given her； if we had encouraged him； it would be
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 578
difficult to say； but we thought it right to compound for no more
than her wedding…dress and bonnet。 He agreed to this
compromise； and if Caddy had ever been happy in her life； she
was happy when we sat down to work。
She was clumsy enough with her needle； poor girl； and pricked
her fingers as much as she had been used to ink them。 She could
not help reddening a little； now and then； partly with the smart；
and partly with vexation at being able to do no better： but she soon
got over that； and began to improve rapidly。 So； day after day； she；
and my darling； and my little maid Charley； and a milliner out of
the town； and I； sat hard at work； as pleasantly as possible。
Over and above this； Caddy was very anxious “to learn
housekeeping；” as she said。 Now； Mercy upon us！ the idea of her
learning housekeeping of a person of my vast experience was such
a joke； that I laughed； and coloured up； and fell into a comical
confusion when she proposed it。 However； I said； “Caddy； I am
sure you are very welcome to learn anything that you can learn of
me； my dear；” and I showed her all my books and methods； and all
my fidgety ways。 You would have supposed that I was showing her
some wonderful inventions by her study of them； and if you had
seen her； whenever I jingled my housekeeping keys； get up and
attend me； certainly you might have thought that there never was
a greater impostor than I； with a blinder follower than Caddy
Jellyby。
So； what with working and housekeeping； and lessons to
Charley； and backgammon in the evening with my Guardian； and
duets with Ada； the three weeks slipped fast away。 Then I went
home with Caddy； to see what could be done there； and Ada and
Charley remained behind； to take care of my Guardian。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 579
When I say I went home with Caddy； I mean to the furnished
lodging in Hatton Garden。 We went to Newman Street two or
three times； where preparations were in progress too； a good
many； I observed； for enchancing the comforts of old Mr
Turveydrop； and a few for putting the newly married couple away
cheaply at the top of the house； but our great point was to make
the furnished lodging decent for the wedding breakfast； and to
imbue Mrs Jellyby beforehand with some faint sense of the
occasion。
The latter was the more difficult thing of the two； because Mrs
Jellyby and an unwholesome boy occupied the front sitting…room
（the back one was a mere closet）； and it was littered down with
waste paper and Borrioboolan documents； as an untidy stable
might be littered with straw。 Mrs Jellyby sat there all day；
drinking strong coffee； dictating and holding Borrioboolan
interviews by appointment。 The unwholesome boy； who seemed to
me to be going into a decline； took his meals out of the house。
When Mr Jellyby came home； he usually groaned and went down
into the kitchen。 There he got something to eat； if the servant
would give him anything； and then feeling that he was in the way；
went out and walked about Hatton Garden in the wet。 The poor
children scrambled up and tumbled down the house； as they had
always been accustomed to do。
The production of these devoted little sacrifices； in any
presentable condition； being quite out of the question at a week’s
notice； I proposed to Caddy that we should make them as happy as
we could； on her marriage morning； in the attic where they all
slept； and should confine our greatest efforts to her mama and her
mama’s room； and a clean breakfast。 In truth； Mrs Jellyby
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 580
required a good deal of attention； the lattice…work up her back
having widened considerably since I first knew her； and her hair
looking like the mane of a dustman’s horse。
Thinking that the display of Caddy’s wardrobe would be the
best means of approaching the subject； I invited Mrs Jellyby to
come and look at it spread out on Caddy’s bed； in the evening；
after the unwholesome boy was gone。
“My dear Miss Summerson；” said she； rising from her desk；
with her usual sweetness of temper； “these are really ridiculous
preparations； though your assisting them is a proof of your
kindness。 There is something so inexpressibly absurd to me； in the
idea of Caddy being married！ O Caddy； you silly； silly； silly puss！”
She came upstairs with us notwithstanding； and looked at the
clothes in her customary far…off manner。