"Not if it's Africa, Ma, I have not."
"Of course you have not. Now, if I were not happily so much engaged, Miss Summerson," said Mrs. Jellyby, sweetly casting her eyes for a moment on me and considering where to put the particular letter she had just opened, "this would distress and disappoint me. But I have so much to think of, in connexion with Borrioboola-Gha and it is so necessary I should concentrate myself that there is my remedy, you see."
As Caddy gave me a glance of entreaty, and as Mrs. Jellyby was looking far away into Africa straight through my bonnet and head, I thought it a good opportunity to come to the subject of my visit and to attract Mrs. Jellyby's attention.
"Perhaps," I began, "you will wonder what has brought me here to interrupt you."
"I am always delighted to see Miss Summerson," said Mrs. Jellyby, pursuing her employment with a placid smile. "Though I wish," and she shook her head, "she was more interested in the Borrioboolan project."
"I have come with Caddy," said I, "because Caddy justly thinks she ought not to have a secret from her mother and fancies I shall encourage and aid her (though I am sure I don't know how) in imparting one."
"Caddy," said Mrs. Jellyby, pausing for a moment in her occupation and then serenely pursuing it after shaking her head, "you are going to tell me some nonsense."

"Not if it's Africa, Ma, I have not."
"Of course you have not. Now, if I were not happily so much engaged, Miss Summerson," said Mrs. Jellyby, "this would distress and disappoint me. But I have so much to think of in connexion with Borrioboola-Gha that there is my remedy, you see."
Caddy gave me a glance of entreaty, and I thought it a good opportunity to come to the subject of my visit.
"Perhaps," I began, "you will wonder what has brought me here."
"I am always delighted to see Miss Summerson," said Mrs. Jellyby, sorting letters with a placid smile.
"I have come with Caddy," said I, "because Caddy justly thinks she ought not to have a secret from her mother and fancies I shall aid her in imparting one."
"Caddy," said Mrs. Jellyby, pausing for a moment to shake her head, "you are going to tell me some nonsense."
