Mr. Robinson had already established himself as an author in his own line, and was supporting himself decently by his own unaided abilities, when he first met Maryanne Brown in the Regent's Park. She was then walking with her sister, and resolutely7 persisted in disregarding all those tokens of admiration8 which he found himself unable to restrain.
There certainly was a dash about Maryanne Brown that at certain moments was invincible9. Hooped10 petticoats on the back of her sister looked like hoops11, and awkward hoops. They were angular, lopsided, and lumpy. But Maryanne wore her hoops as a duchess wears her crinoline. Her well-starched muslin dress would swell13 off from her waist in a manner that was irresistible14 to George Robinson. "Such grouping!" as he said to his friend Walker. "Such a flow of drapery! such tournure! Ah, my dear fellow, the artist's eye sees these things at a glance." And then, walking at a safe distance, he kept his eyes on them.
"I'm sure that fellow's following us," said Sarah Jane, looking back at him with all her scorn.
"There's no law against that, I suppose," said Maryanne, tartly15. So much as that Mr. Robinson did succeed in hearing.
The girls entered their mother's house; but as they did so, Maryanne lingered for a moment in the doorway16. Was it accident, or was it not? Did the fair girl choose to give her admirer one chance, or was it that she was careful not to crush her starch12 by too rapid an entry?
"I shall be in Regent's Park on Sunday afternoon," whispered Robinson, as he passed by the house, with his hand to his mouth. It need hardly be said that the lady vouchsafed17 him no reply.
On the following Sunday George Robinson was again in the park, and after wandering among its rural shades for half a day, he was rewarded by seeing the goddess of his idolatry. Miss Brown was there with a companion, but not with Sarah Jane. He had already, as though by instinct, conceived in his heart as powerful an aversion for one sister as affection for the other, and his delight was therefore unbounded when he saw that she he loved was there, while she he hated was away.
'Twere long to tell, at the commencement of this narrative18, how a courtship was commenced and carried on; how Robinson sighed, at first in vain and then not in vain; how good-natured was Miss Twizzle, the bosom19 friend of Maryanne; and how Robinson for a time walked and slept and fed on roses.
There was at that time a music class held at a certain elegant room near Osnaburgh Church in the New Road, at which Maryanne and her friend Miss Twizzle were accustomed to attend. Those lessons were sometimes prosecuted20 in the evening, and those evening studies sometimes resulted in a little dance. We may say that after a while that was their habitual21 tendency, and that the lady pupils were permitted to introduce their male friends on condition that the gentlemen paid a shilling each for the privilege. It was in that room that George Robinson passed the happiest hours of his chequered existence. He was soon expert in all the figures of the mazy dance, and was excelled by no one in the agility23 of his step or the endurance of his performances. It was by degrees rumoured24 about that he was something higher than he seemed to be, and those best accustomed to the place used to call him the Poet. It must be remembered that at this time Mrs. McCockerell was still alive, and that as Sarah Jane had then become Mrs. Jones, Maryanne was her mother's favourite, and destined25 to receive all her mother's gifts. Of the name and person of William Brisket, George Robinson was then in happy ignorance, and the first introduction between them took place in the Hall of Harmony.
'Twas about eleven o'clock in the evening, when the light feet of the happy dancers had already been active for some hour or so in the worship of their favourite muse26, that Robinson was standing27 up with his arm round his fair one's waist, immediately opposite to the door of entrance. His right arm still embraced her slight girdle, whilst with his left hand he wiped the perspiration28 from his brow. She leaned against him palpitating, for the motion of the music had been quick, and there had been some amicable29 contest among the couples. It is needless to say that George Robinson and Maryanne Brown had suffered no defeat. At that moment a refreshing30 breeze of the night air was wafted31 into the room from the opened door, and Robinson, looking up, saw before him a sturdy, thickset man, with mottled beefy face, and by his side there stood a spectre. "It's your sister," whispered he to Maryanne, in a tone of horror.
"Oh, laws! there's Bill," said she, and then she fainted. The gentleman with the mottled face was indeed no other than Mr. Brisket, the purveyor32 of meat, for whose arms Mrs. McCockerell had destined the charms of her younger daughter. Conduct baser than that of Mrs. Jones on this occasion is not perhaps recorded in history. She was no friend of Brisket's. She had it not at heart to forward her mother's views. At this period of their lives she and her mother never met. But she had learned her sister's secret, and having it in her power to crush her sister's happiness, had availed herself of the opportunity.
"There he is," said she, quite aloud, so that the whole room should hear. "He's a bill-sticker!" and she pointed33 the finger of scorn at her sister's lover.
"I'm one who have always earned my own living," said Robinson, "and never had occasion to hang on to any one." This he said knowing that Jones's lodgings34 were paid for by Mr. Brown.
Hereupon Mr. Brisket walked across the room, and as he walked there was a cloud of anger on his brow. "Perhaps, young man," he said,—and as he spoke35 he touched Robinson on the shoulder,—"perhaps, young man, you wouldn't mind having a few words with me outside the door."
"Sir," said the other with some solemnity, "I am not aware that I have the honour of your acquaintance."
"I'm William Brisket, butcher," said he; "and if you don't come out when I asks you, by jingo, I'll carry you."
The lady had fainted. The crowd of dancers was standing round, with inquiring faces. That female spectre repeated the odious36 words, still pointing at him with her finger, "He's a bill-sticker!" Brisket was full fourteen stone, whereas Robinson might perhaps be ten. What was Robinson to do? "Are you going to walk out, or am I going to carry you?" said the Hercules of the slaughter-house.
"I will do anything," said Robinson, "to relieve a lady's embarrassment37."
They walked out on to the landing-place, whither not a few of the gentlemen and some of the ladies followed them.
"I say, young man," said Brisket, "do you know who that young woman is?"
"I certainly have the honour of her acquaintance," said Robinson.
"But perhaps you haven't the honour of knowing that she's my wife,—as is to be. Now you know it." And then the coarse monster eyed him from head to foot. "Now you may go home to your mother," said he. "But don't tell her anything of it, because it's a secret."
He was fifteen stone at least, and Robinson was hardly ten. Oh, how vile22 is the mastery which matter still has over mind in many of the concerns of life! How can a man withstand the assault of a bull? What was Robinson to do? He walked downstairs into the street, leaving Maryanne behind with the butcher.
Some days after this he contrived38 a meeting with his love, and he then learned the history of that engagement. "She hated Brisket," she said. "He was odious to her. He was always greasy39 and smelt40 of meat;—but he had a respectable business."
"And is my Maryanne mercenary?" asked Robinson.
"Now, George," said she, "it's no use you scolding me, and I won't be scolded. Ma says that I must be civil to him, and I'm not going to quarrel with ma. At any rate not yet."
"But surely, Maryanne—"
"It's no good you surelying me, George, for I won't be surelyed. If you don't like me you can leave me."
"Maryanne, I adore you."
"That's all very well, and I hope you do; but why did you make a row with that man the other night?"
"But, dearest love, he made the row with me."
"And when you did make it," continued Maryanne, "why didn't you see it out?" Robinson did not find it easy to answer this accusation41. That matter has still dominion42 over mind, though the days are coming when mind shall have dominion over matter, was a lesson which, in after days, it would be sweet to teach her. But at the present moment the time did not serve for such teaching. "A man must look after his own, George, or else he'll go to the wall," she said, with a sneer43. And then he parted from her in anger.
But his love did not on that account wax cool, and so in his misery44 he had recourse to their mutual45 friend, Miss Twizzle. "The truth is this," said Miss Twizzle, "I believe she'd take him, because he's respectable and got a business."
"He's horribly vulgar," said Robinson.
"Oh, bother!" said Miss Twizzle. "I know nothing about that. He's got a business, and whoever marries Brisket won't have to look for a bed to sleep on. But there's a hitch46 about the money."
Then Mr. Robinson learned the facts. Mrs. McCockerell, as she was still called, had promised to give her daughter five hundred pounds as her marriage portion, but Mr. Brisket would not go to the altar till he got the money. "He wanted to extend himself," he said, "and would not marry till he saw his way." Hence had arisen that delay which Maryanne had solaced47 by her attendance at the music-hall.
"But if you're in earnest," said Miss Twizzle, "don't you be down on your luck. Go to old Brown, and make friends with him. He'll stand up for you, because he knows his wife favours Brisket."
George Robinson did go to Mr. Brown, and on the father the young man's eloquence48 was not thrown away. "She shall be yours, Mr. Robinson," he said, after the first fortnight. "But we must be very careful with Mrs. B."
After the second fortnight Mrs. B. was no more! And in this way it came to pass that George Robinson was present as Mr. Brown's adviser49 when that scheme respecting the haberdashery was first set on foot.
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1
livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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fluency
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| n.流畅，雄辩，善辩 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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7
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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10
hooped
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| adj.以环作装饰的；带横纹的；带有环的 | |
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hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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12
starch
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| n.淀粉；vt.给...上浆 | |
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13
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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16
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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17
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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18
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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27
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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28
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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29
amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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30
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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31
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
purveyor
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| n.承办商，伙食承办商 | |
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33
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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35
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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36
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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38
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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40
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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41
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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42
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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43
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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44
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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45
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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46
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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47
solaced
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| v.安慰，慰藉( solace的过去分词 ) | |
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48
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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49
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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