No light task is his, namely that of professional beggar. For he is Secretary and Treasurer2 to the Hunt, and on him falls the onus3 of collecting as well as receiving subscriptions5. Long practice has made him[Pg 36] an adept6 in the art of "cornering" a defaulter, for he has been in office for fifteen years, and it is his boast that if a pound is to be got he is the man to get it.
On one occasion he was sorely put about by a man (I was going to say a gentleman, but his conduct precludes7 the use of the term), who came down from town and established himself in the country, bringing with him a large stud of hunters. Naturally the Secretary fixed8 his eagle eye on so promising9 a subject, and after a month or so began to hint at a subscription4, which of course was promised but never came.
Well, the season was drawing to a close and no cheque had been received from the stranger, who, by-the-way, had not forgotten to find fault with everything and everybody; moreover Mr. Boulter had heard by a side-wind that half the large stud were gone, and the rest, accompanied by their owner, would shortly follow. This, coupled with the oft-repeated question at the covert-side of[Pg 37] "Holloa, Boulter, got his coin yet?" put our Secretary on his mettle10. So one off-day he rode over to the inn and interviewed the individual, asking him point blank for his cheque, as he (Mr. B.) was making up the accounts. The answer was not propitious11, for the snob12 replied: "I have not got my cheque-book with me, but here are two sovereigns, which is quite sufficient for such a provincial13 pack as yours."
Boulter pocketed the sovereigns and retired14, meditating15 revenge. At last, however, he hit on a plan.
The meet on the following Monday was fixed for Bindley Park, and the first draw was a long wood, at one end of which lay the house of a market-gardener and small farmer. The only way from the Park to the wood was through the farmyard-gate and out into the field, unless you jumped the fence into the market-garden. Mr. Boulter accordingly took the owner of the said gate into his confidence, as well as those of the[Pg 38] field he could trust, and on the day of the meet the gate was found to be locked, and no one knew where the farmer had gone. To lift it off the hinges was impossible, and old Tom, with a twinkle in his eye, said: "Dang it all; but we mun go round," and forthwith made a pretence16 of trotting17 off.
"Never heard such a thing in my life," said the non-subscriber, falling into the trap. "Dashed piece of impudence18; sort of thing one might expect in this benighted19 country. I'm dashed if I'm going round; I shall go through the beggar's garden;" and he proceeded to put his threat into execution by riding at the hedge.
As he rose at the fence the farmer's face was seen peeping round the gate, and as the horse descended20 into the garden a terrific smash was heard, followed by a loud altercation21 with, "Damage to my glass and pots and that there bed of young stuff," etc. etc. The next morning the owner of the large stud was presented with a bill of costs to the amount[Pg 39] of ￡20, which, after a deal of blustering22, he paid, fifteen sovereigns finding their way into Mr. Boulter's cash-box, the remaining five amply repaying the market-gardener for the loss of two broken and useless lights, a few cabbage-stalks, and a selection of old pots, which he, together with the Secretary, had placed under the hedge at likely spots.
Thus did Mr. Boulter score, and he enjoys nothing so much as telling the story of how he trapped the stranger, though, by-the-way, the same story increases in dramatic incident year by year.
Most amusing it is to watch the reception of the Secretary as he rides up on his famous jumping cob. Those who have paid up greet him with: "Morning, Boulter; you're looking very fit;" and sometimes, when perchance he is arrayed more gorgeously than usual as to his headpiece, "What! a new hat? Dash it all, but that's the second this season; there'll be no money left if you go buying hats like this out of the fund. Here,[Pg 40] Lappington" (to the Master), "here's the Secretary been embezzling23 again, and broken out into another new topper." While those who have as yet not forwarded their subscription nod him a good-morning, and then somehow their steeds, which up to the present have been behaving in a most rational manner, suddenly get excited, and it requires the undivided attention of their riders to prevent them running away.
In fact, they do run away until they manage to place a convenient distance between themselves and the jumping cob. The Secretary, however, is fully24 up to all these little dodges25, and generally brings down confusion on one or other member by saying with a chuckle26: "Dear me, So-and-so, what a funny thing it is, your horse is always fidgety when I come near him. One would think he was afraid of being asked for a subscription, and forgets that his master has paid." After a pause: "By Jove, no! I'm wrong and the horse is right. Your cheque has not come[Pg 41] yet. What a sensible beast the animal is!" He says this is a most infallible remedy, and that the following morning he invariably finds a letter on his table enclosing the required article, and apologising for forgetfulness.
Perhaps the secret of his success lies in his great popularity, for his cheery manners and jovial27 smile have endeared him to all. Among the farmers' wives he is worshipped, and though they one and all swear that "Next time they are not a-going to be talked over about that poultry-bill," it is always the same. Before the Secretary rides or drives away from the homestead the bill is forgotten, and all the children are crowing after him to tell them one more "'tory."
One good dame28 in particular is most emphatic29 on the subject of his powers of persuasion30. "You see, my dear," says she, "I sends in a bill for two turkeys, six couple of ducks, just a-fatting too, three couple of hens, and a whole brood of chickens. When I sees Mr. Boulter a-coming up I says to myself says[Pg 42] I, 'Now, Mrs. Styles, don't you go for to be bamboozled31.' But, laws! afore he's been in the place half an hour I've nearly busted32 myself a-larfin', and I finds myself a-drinking a dish of tea with him, and as fully persuaded as how it's my place to keep the turkeys for them beastly foxes as I don't know what; and then the blessed bill goes in the fire, and I'm a loser of close on twenty-eight shillings. But then I knowed him as a lad, bless 'im; and there's never a Christmas but what a hamper33 of game and a bottle of sherry comes to the farm; so there's no bones broke."
With all his wheedling34 powers, Mr. Boulter is a thorough sportsman. There is not an earth in the country that he does not know as well as his own house; and he is equally well acquainted with the run of every fox. Every hound he knows by name, and can give you chapter and verse for both pedigree and performance.
A sure find for breakfast, dinner, or lunch, too, is The Grange, and for a bottle of real[Pg 43] old '47 port never drawn35 blank. Unbounded hospitality is the order in that establishment, where throughout the season Mrs. Boulter takes care that something is always on the table "in case the hounds should come that way." Talking of Mrs. Boulter, there is a piece of chaff36 against her husband that the day he was married he not only got a subscription to the hounds out of the parson, but by exercising his persuasive37 powers actually got off the fees!
The annual hunt-dinner is a great day for the Secretary. On that occasion he takes the vice-chair, and proposes the health of Sir John, the Master, in a speech which poor Mrs. B. has to listen to off and on for the three previous days. Once the meek38 little woman did rebel. The speech she had put up with, but when her lord and master returned home at two o'clock, exceedingly jovial, and kept her awake till six o'clock by alternately treating her to "John Peel," and informing her, with a somewhat foolish laugh, that[Pg 44] "they called me besht f'ller in shworld, drunk m'very good shealth, 'pon m'shoul," she thought it was a little too much; and when the orator39 awoke next day, headachey, chippy, and penitent40, she gave him a piece of her mind which so astonished him that he has never exceeded again, and now returns at eleven sharp.
Sometimes during the summer months Boulter is to be seen struggling with a pile of luggage at a foreign railway station, looking as miserable41 as a man can look, and heavily handicapped as to the language of the country in which his wife has elected to travel. But the trip never lasts long. Some business connected with the hunt invariably calls him back, and on a hot August day you will find him at the kennels42 chatting with Tom Wilding over the prospects43 of the coming season or the young entry, and anxiously longing44 for the "beastly harvest" to be over, and for November leaves to fall.
[Pg 45]
If not there he will be riding round looking up Velveteens and his satellites, and endeavouring to imbue45 them with the motto of "Live and let live," as applicable to the fox.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
flannel
|
|
| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
treasurer
|
|
| n.司库，财务主管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
onus
|
|
| n.负担；责任 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
subscription
|
|
| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
subscriptions
|
|
| n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
adept
|
|
| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
precludes
|
|
| v.阻止( preclude的第三人称单数 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
mettle
|
|
| n.勇气，精神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
propitious
|
|
| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
snob
|
|
| n.势利小人，自以为高雅、有学问的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
provincial
|
|
| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
meditating
|
|
| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
pretence
|
|
| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
trotting
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
impudence
|
|
| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
benighted
|
|
| adj.蒙昧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
altercation
|
|
| n.争吵，争论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
blustering
|
|
| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
embezzling
|
|
| v.贪污，盗用（公款）( embezzle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
dodges
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
jovial
|
|
| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
dame
|
|
| n.女士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
emphatic
|
|
| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
bamboozled
|
|
| v.欺骗，使迷惑( bamboozle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
busted
|
|
| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hamper
|
|
| vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
wheedling
|
|
| v.骗取（某物），哄骗（某人干某事）( wheedle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
chaff
|
|
| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
persuasive
|
|
| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
orator
|
|
| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
penitent
|
|
| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
kennels
|
|
| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
prospects
|
|
| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
imbue
|
|
| v.灌输(某种强烈的情感或意见)，感染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |