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again, but it’s useless. Ma and Africa, together, upset the
whole house directly. We never have a servant who don’t
drink. Ma’s ruinous to everything.’
Mr. Jellyby could not hear what she said, but he seemed
very low indeed and shed tears, I thought.
‘My heart aches for him; that it does!’ sobbed Caddy. ‘I
can’t help thinking to-night, Esther, how dearly I hope to be
happy with Prince, and how dearly Pa hoped, I dare say, to
be happy with Ma. What a disappointed life!’
‘My dear Caddy!’ said Mr. Jellyby, looking slowly round
from the wail. It was the first time, I think, I ever heard him
say three words together.
‘Yes, Pa!’ cried Caddy, going to him and embracing him
affectionately.
‘My dear Caddy,’ said Mr. Jellyby. ‘Never have—‘
‘Not Prince, Pa?’ faltered Caddy. ‘Not have Prince?’
‘Yes, my dear,’ said Mr. Jellyby. ‘Have him, certainly. But,
never have—‘
I mentioned in my account of our first visit in Thavies
Inn that Richard described Mr. Jellyby as frequently open-
ing his mouth after dinner without saying anything. It was
a habit of his. He opened his mouth now a great many times
and shook his head in a melancholy manner.
‘What do you wish me not to have? Don’t have what, dear
Pa?’ asked Caddy, coaxing him, with her arms round his
neck.
‘Never have a mission, my dear child.’
Mr. Jellyby groaned and laid his head against the wall
again, and this was the only time I ever heard him make any

628 Bleak House