‘Miss Twinkleton was so uneasy, Miss Rosa,’ he explained to her, ‘and came round to Ma and me with your note, in such a state of wonder, that, to quiet her, I volunteered on this service by the very first train to be caught in the morning. I wished at the time that you had come to me; but now I think it best that you did AS you did, and came to your guardian2.’
‘I did think of you,’ Rosa told him; ‘but Minor3 Canon Corner was so near him —’
‘I understand. It was quite natural.’
‘I have told Mr. Crisparkle,’ said Mr. Grewgious, ‘all that you told me last night, my dear. Of course I should have written it to him immediately; but his coming was most opportune4. And it was particularly kind of him to come, for he had but just gone.’
‘Have you settled,’ asked Rosa, appealing to them both, ‘what is to be done for Helena and her brother?’
‘Why really,’ said Mr. Crisparkle, ‘I am in great perplexity. If even Mr. Grewgious, whose head is much longer than mine, and who is a whole night’s cogitation5 in advance of me, is undecided, what must I be!’
The Unlimited6 here put her head in at the door — after having rapped, and been authorised to present herself — announcing that a gentleman wished for a word with another gentleman named Crisparkle, if any such gentleman were there. If no such gentleman were there, he begged pardon for being mistaken.
‘Such a gentleman is here,’ said Mr. Crisparkle, ‘but is engaged just now.’
‘Is it a dark gentleman?’ interposed Rosa, retreating on her guardian.
‘No, Miss, more of a brown gentleman.’
‘You are sure not with black hair?’ asked Rosa, taking courage.
‘Quite sure of that, Miss. Brown hair and blue eyes.’
‘Perhaps,’ hinted Mr. Grewgious, with habitual7 caution, ‘it might be well to see him, reverend sir, if you don’t object. When one is in a difficulty or at a loss, one never knows in what direction a way out may chance to open. It is a business principle of mine, in such a case, not to close up any direction, but to keep an eye on every direction that may present itself. I could relate an anecdote8 in point, but that it would be premature9.’
‘If Miss Rosa will allow me, then? Let the gentleman come in,’ said Mr. Crisparkle.
The gentleman came in; apologised, with a frank but modest grace, for not finding Mr. Crisparkle alone; turned to Mr. Crisparkle, and smilingly asked the unexpected question: ‘Who am I?’
‘You are the gentleman I saw smoking under the trees in Staple10 Inn, a few minutes ago.’
‘True. There I saw you. Who else am I?’
Mr. Crisparkle concentrated his attention on a handsome face, much sunburnt; and the ghost of some departed boy seemed to rise, gradually and dimly, in the room.
The gentleman saw a struggling recollection lighten up the Minor Canon’s features, and smiling again, said: ‘What will you have for breakfast this morning? You are out of jam.’
‘Wait a moment!’ cried Mr. Crisparkle, raising his right hand. ‘Give me another instant! Tartar!’
The two shook hands with the greatest heartiness11, and then went the wonderful length — for Englishmen — of laying their hands each on the other’s shoulders, and looking joyfully12 each into the other’s face.
‘My old fag!’ said Mr. Crisparkle.
‘My old master!’ said Mr. Tartar.
‘You saved me from drowning!’ said Mr. Crisparkle.
‘After which you took to swimming, you know!’ said Mr. Tartar.
‘God bless my soul!’ said Mr. Crisparkle.
‘Amen!’ said Mr. Tartar.
And then they fell to shaking hands most heartily14 again.
‘Imagine,’ exclaimed Mr. Crisparkle, with glistening15 eyes: ‘Miss Rosa Bud and Mr. Grewgious, imagine Mr. Tartar, when he was the smallest of juniors, diving for me, catching16 me, a big heavy senior, by the hair of the head, and striking out for the shore with me like a water-giant!’
‘Imagine my not letting him sink, as I was his fag!’ said Mr. Tartar. ‘But the truth being that he was my best protector and friend, and did me more good than all the masters put together, an irrational17 impulse seized me to pick him up, or go down with him.’
‘Hem! Permit me, sir, to have the honour,’ said Mr. Grewgious, advancing with extended hand, ‘for an honour I truly esteem18 it. I am proud to make your acquaintance. I hope you didn’t take cold. I hope you were not inconvenienced by swallowing too much water. How have you been since?’
It was by no means apparent that Mr. Grewgious knew what he said, though it was very apparent that he meant to say something highly friendly and appreciative19.
If Heaven, Rosa thought, had but sent such courage and skill to her poor mother’s aid! And he to have been so slight and young then!
‘I don’t wish to be complimented upon it, I thank you; but I think I have an idea,’ Mr. Grewgious announced, after taking a jog-trot20 or two across the room, so unexpected and unaccountable that they all stared at him, doubtful whether he was choking or had the cramp21 —‘I think I have an idea. I believe I have had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Tartar’s name as tenant22 of the top set in the house next the top set in the corner?’
‘Yes, sir,’ returned Mr. Tartar. ‘You are right so far.’
‘I am right so far,’ said Mr. Grewgious. ‘Tick that off;’ which he did, with his right thumb on his left. ‘Might you happen to know the name of your neighbour in the top set on the other side of the party-wall?’ coming very close to Mr. Tartar, to lose nothing of his face, in his shortness of sight.
‘Landless.’
‘Tick that off,’ said Mr. Grewgious, taking another trot, and then coming back. ‘No personal knowledge, I suppose, sir?’
‘Slight, but some.’
‘Tick that off,’ said Mr. Grewgious, taking another trot, and again coming back. ‘Nature of knowledge, Mr. Tartar?’
‘I thought he seemed to be a young fellow in a poor way, and I asked his leave — only within a day or so — to share my flowers up there with him; that is to say, to extend my flower-garden to his windows.’
‘Would you have the kindness to take seats?’ said Mr. Grewgious. ‘I have an idea!’
They complied; Mr. Tartar none the less readily, for being all abroad; and Mr. Grewgious, seated in the centre, with his hands upon his knees, thus stated his idea, with his usual manner of having got the statement by heart.
‘I cannot as yet make up my mind whether it is prudent23 to hold open communication under present circumstances, and on the part of the fair member of the present company, with Mr. Neville or Miss Helena. I have reason to know that a local friend of ours (on whom I beg to bestow24 a passing but a hearty25 malediction26, with the kind permission of my reverend friend) sneaks27 to and fro, and dodges28 up and down. When not doing so himself, he may have some informant skulking29 about, in the person of a watchman, porter, or such-like hanger-on of Staple. On the other hand, Miss Rosa very naturally wishes to see her friend Miss Helena, and it would seem important that at least Miss Helena (if not her brother too, through her) should privately30 know from Miss Rosa’s lips what has occurred, and what has been threatened. Am I agreed with generally in the views I take?’
‘I entirely31 coincide with them,’ said Mr. Crisparkle, who had been very attentive32.
‘As I have no doubt I should,’ added Mr. Tartar, smiling, ‘if I understood them.’
‘Fair and softly, sir,’ said Mr. Grewgious; ‘we shall fully13 confide33 in you directly, if you will favour us with your permission. Now, if our local friend should have any informant on the spot, it is tolerably clear that such informant can only be set to watch the chambers34 in the occupation of Mr. Neville. He reporting, to our local friend, who comes and goes there, our local friend would supply for himself, from his own previous knowledge, the identity of the parties. Nobody can be set to watch all Staple, or to concern himself with comers and goers to other sets of chambers: unless, indeed, mine.’
‘I begin to understand to what you tend,’ said Mr. Crisparkle, ‘and highly approve of your caution.’
‘I needn’t repeat that I know nothing yet of the why and wherefore,’ said Mr. Tartar; ‘but I also understand to what you tend, so let me say at once that my chambers are freely at your disposal.’
‘There!’ cried Mr. Grewgious, smoothing his head triumphantly35, ‘now we have all got the idea. You have it, my dear?’
‘I think I have,’ said Rosa, blushing a little as Mr. Tartar looked quickly towards her.
‘You see, you go over to Staple with Mr. Crisparkle and Mr. Tartar,’ said Mr. Grewgious; ‘I going in and out, and out and in alone, in my usual way; you go up with those gentlemen to Mr. Tartar’s rooms; you look into Mr. Tartar’s flower-garden; you wait for Miss Helena’s appearance there, or you signify to Miss Helena that you are close by; and you communicate with her freely, and no spy can be the wiser.’
‘I am very much afraid I shall be —’
‘Be what, my dear?’ asked Mr. Grewgious, as she hesitated. ‘Not frightened?’
‘No, not that,’ said Rosa, shyly; ‘in Mr. Tartar’s way. We seem to be appropriating Mr. Tartar’s residence so very coolly.’
‘I protest to you,’ returned that gentleman, ‘that I shall think the better of it for evermore, if your voice sounds in it only once.’
Rosa, not quite knowing what to say about that, cast down her eyes, and turning to Mr. Grewgious, dutifully asked if she should put her hat on? Mr. Grewgious being of opinion that she could not do better, she withdrew for the purpose. Mr. Crisparkle took the opportunity of giving Mr. Tartar a summary of the distresses36 of Neville and his sister; the opportunity was quite long enough, as the hat happened to require a little extra fitting on.
Mr. Tartar gave his arm to Rosa, and Mr. Crisparkle walked, detached, in front.
‘Poor, poor Eddy37!’ thought Rosa, as they went along.
Mr. Tartar waved his right hand as he bent38 his head down over Rosa, talking in an animated39 way.
‘It was not so powerful or so sun-browned when it saved Mr. Crisparkle,’ thought Rosa, glancing at it; ‘but it must have been very steady and determined40 even then.’
Mr. Tartar told her he had been a sailor, roving everywhere for years and years.
‘When are you going to sea again?’ asked Rosa.
‘Never!’
Rosa wondered what the girls would say if they could see her crossing the wide street on the sailor’s arm. And she fancied that the passers-by must think her very little and very helpless, contrasted with the strong figure that could have caught her up and carried her out of any danger, miles and miles without resting.
She was thinking further, that his far-seeing blue eyes looked as if they had been used to watch danger afar off, and to watch it without flinching41, drawing nearer and nearer: when, happening to raise her own eyes, she found that he seemed to be thinking something about them.
This a little confused Rosebud42, and may account for her never afterwards quite knowing how she ascended43 (with his help) to his garden in the air, and seemed to get into a marvellous country that came into sudden bloom like the country on the summit of the magic bean-stalk. May it flourish for ever!
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1
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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2
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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4
opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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cogitation
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| n.仔细思考，计划，设计 | |
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6
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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7
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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8
anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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9
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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10
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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11
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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15
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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16
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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17
irrational
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| adj.无理性的，失去理性的 | |
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18
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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19
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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20
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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21
cramp
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| n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚 | |
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22
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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23
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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malediction
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| n.诅咒 | |
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27
sneaks
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| abbr.sneakers (tennis shoes) 胶底运动鞋（网球鞋）v.潜行( sneak的第三人称单数 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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28
dodges
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| n.闪躲( dodge的名词复数 )；躲避；伎俩；妙计v.闪躲( dodge的第三人称单数 )；回避 | |
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29
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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30
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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34
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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35
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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36
distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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37
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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38
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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39
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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40
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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41
flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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42
rosebud
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| n.蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女 | |
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43
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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