Page:Bleak House.djvu/58

 “Ye-es !” she said mincingly. “I imagine so. And here is Conversation Kenge. With his documents ! How does your honorable worship do?”

“Quite well, quite well ! Now don't be troublesome, that's a good soul !” said Mr. Kenge, leading the way back.

“By no means,” said the poor old lady, keeping up with Ada and me. “Anything but troublesome. I shall confer estates on both,—which is not being troublesome, I trust ? I expect a judgment. Shortly. On the Day of Judgment, This is a good omen for you. Accept my blessing !”

She stopped at the bottom of the steep, broad flight of stairs ; but we looked back as we went up, and she was still there, saying, still with a curtsey and a smile between every little sentence, “Youth. And hope. And beauty. And Chancery. And Conversation Kenge ! Ha ! Pray accept my blessing !”

 

were to pass the night, Mr. Kenge told us when we arrived in his room, at Mrs. Jellyby's ; and then he turned to me, and said he took it for granted I knew who Mrs. Jellyby was ?

“I really don't, sir," I returned. " Perhaps Mr. Carstone—or Miss Clare”

But no, they knew nothing whatever about Mrs. Jellyby.

“In-deed ! Mrs. Jellyby,” said Mr. Kenge, standing with his back to the fire, and casting his eyes over the dusty hearth-rug as if it were Mrs. Jellyby's biography, “is a lady of very remarkable strength of character, who devotes herself entirely to the public. She has devoted herself to an extensive variety of public subjects, at various times, and is at present (until something else attracts her) devoted to the subject of Africa ; with a view to the general cultivation of the coffee berry—and the natives—and the happy settlement, on the banks of the African rivers, of our superabundant home population. Mr. Jarndyce, who is desirous to aid in any work that is considered likely to be a good work, and who is much sought after by philanthropists, has, I believe, a very high opinion of Mrs. Jellyby.”

Mr. Kenge, adjusting his cravat, then looked at us.

“And Mr. Jellyby, sir?” suggested Richard.

“Ah! Mr. Jellyby,” said Mr. Kenge, “is—a—I don't know that I can describe him to you better than by saying that he is the husband of Mrs. Jellyby.”

“A nonentity, sir ?” said Richard with a droll look.

“I don't say that,” returned Mr. Kenge, gravely. “I can't say that, indeed, for I know nothing whatever of Mr. Jellyby, I never, to my knowledge, had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Jellyby. He may be a very superior man ; but he is, so to speak, merged—Merged—in the more shining qualities of his wife.” Mr. Kenge proceeded to tell us that as