‘Pecksniff,’ said Jonas, taking off his hat, to see that the black crape band was all right; and finding that it was, putting it on again, complacently1; ‘what do you mean to give your daughters when they marry?’
‘My dear Mr Jonas,’ cried the affectionate parent, with an ingenuous2 smile, ‘what a very singular inquiry3!’
‘Now, don’t you mind whether it’s a singular inquiry or a plural4 one,’ retorted Jonas, eyeing Mr Pecksniff with no great favour, ‘but answer it, or let it alone. One or the other.’
‘Hum! The question, my dear friend,’ said Mr Pecksniff, laying his hand tenderly upon his kinsman’s knee, ‘is involved with many considerations. What would I give them? Eh?’
‘Ah! what would you give ‘em?’ repeated Jonas.
‘Why, that, ‘said Mr Pecksniff, ‘would naturally depend in a great measure upon the kind of husbands they might choose, my dear young friend.’
Mr Jonas was evidently disconcerted, and at a loss how to proceed. It was a good answer. It seemed a deep one, but such is the wisdom of simplicity5!’
‘My standard for the merits I would require in a son-in-law,’ said Mr Pecksniff, after a short silence, ‘is a high one. Forgive me, my dear Mr Jonas,’ he added, greatly moved, ‘if I say that you have spoiled me, and made it a fanciful one; an imaginative one; a prismatically tinged6 one, if I may be permitted to call it so.’
‘Indeed, my dear friend,’ said Mr Pecksniff, ‘you may well inquire. The heart is not always a royal mint, with patent machinery8 to work its metal into current coin. Sometimes it throws it out in strange forms, not easily recognized as coin at all. But it is sterling9 gold. It has at least that merit. It is sterling gold.’
‘Aye!’ said Mr Pecksniff, warming with his subject ‘it is. To be plain with you, Mr Jonas, if I could find two such sons-in-law as you will one day make to some deserving man, capable of appreciating a nature such as yours, I would—forgetful of myself—bestow upon my daughters portions reaching to the very utmost limit of my means.’
This was strong language, and it was earnestly delivered. But who can wonder that such a man as Mr Pecksniff, after all he had seen and heard of Mr Jonas, should be strong and earnest upon such a theme; a theme that touched even the worldly lips of undertakers with the honey of eloquence11!
Mr Jonas was silent, and looked thoughtfully at the landscape. For they were seated on the outside of the coach, at the back, and were travelling down into the country. He accompanied Mr Pecksniff home for a few days’ change of air and scene after his recent trials.
‘Well,’ he said, at last, with captivating bluntness, ‘suppose you got one such son-in-law as me, what then?’
Mr Pecksniff regarded him at first with inexpressible surprise; then gradually breaking into a sort of dejected vivacity12, said:
‘Then well I know whose husband he would be!’
‘Whose?’ asked Jonas, drily.
‘My eldest13 girl’s, Mr Jonas,’ replied Pecksniff, with moistening eyes. ‘My dear Cherry’s; my staff, my scrip, my treasure, Mr Jonas. A hard struggle, but it is in the nature of things! I must one day part with her to a husband. I know it, my dear friend. I am prepared for it.’
‘Ecod! you’ve been prepared for that a pretty long time, I should think,’ said Jonas.
‘Many have sought to bear her from me,’ said Mr Pecksniff. ‘All have failed. “I never will give my hand, papa”—those were her words—“unless my heart is won.” She has not been quite so happy as she used to be, of late. I don’t know why.’
Again Mr Jonas looked at the landscape; then at the coachman; then at the luggage on the roof; finally at Mr Pecksniff.
‘I suppose you’ll have to part with the other one, some of these days?’ he observed, as he caught that gentleman’s eye.
‘Probably,’ said the parent. ‘Years will tame down the wildness of my foolish bird, and then it will be caged. But Cherry, Mr Jonas, Cherry—’
‘Oh, ah!’ interrupted Jonas. ‘Years have made her all right enough. Nobody doubts that. But you haven’t answered what I asked you. Of course, you’re not obliged to do it, you know, if you don’t like. You’re the best judge.’
There was a warning sulkiness in the manner of this speech, which admonished14 Mr Pecksniff that his dear friend was not to be trifled with or fenced off, and that he must either return a straight-forward reply to his question, or plainly give him to understand that he declined to enlighten him upon the subject to which it referred. Mindful in this dilemma15 of the caution old Anthony had given him almost with his latest breath, he resolved to speak to the point, and so told Mr Jonas (enlarging upon the communication as a proof of his great attachment16 and confidence), that in the case he had put; to wit, in the event of such a man as he proposing for his daughter’s hand, he would endow her with a fortune of four thousand pounds.
‘I should sadly pinch and cramp18 myself to do so,’ was his fatherly remark; ‘but that would be my duty, and my conscience would reward me. For myself, my conscience is my bank. I have a trifle invested there—a mere19 trifle, Mr Jonas—but I prize it as a store of value, I assure you.’
The good man’s enemies would have divided upon this question into two parties. One would have asserted without scruple20 that if Mr Pecksniff’s conscience were his bank, and he kept a running account there, he must have overdrawn21 it beyond all mortal means of computation. The other would have contended that it was a mere fictitious22 form; a perfectly23 blank book; or one in which entries were only made with a peculiar24 kind of invisible ink to become legible at some indefinite time; and that he never troubled it at all.
‘It would sadly pinch and cramp me, my dear friend,’ repeated Mr Pecksniff, ‘but Providence25—perhaps I may be permitted to say a special Providence—has blessed my endeavours, and I could guarantee to make the sacrifice.’
A question of philosophy arises here, whether Mr Pecksniff had or had not good reason to say that he was specially26 patronized and encouraged in his undertakings27. All his life long he had been walking up and down the narrow ways and by-places, with a hook in one hand and a crook28 in the other, scraping all sorts of valuable odds29 and ends into his pouch30. Now, there being a special Providence in the fall of a sparrow, it follows (so Mr Pecksniff, and only such admirable men, would have reasoned), that there must also be a special Providence in the alighting of the stone or stick, or other substance which is aimed at the sparrow. And Mr Pecksniff’s hook, or crook, having invariably knocked the sparrow on the head and brought him down, that gentleman may have been led to consider himself as specially licensed31 to bag sparrows, and as being specially seized and possessed32 of all the birds he had got together. That many undertakings, national as well as individual—but especially the former—are held to be specially brought to a glorious and successful issue, which never could be so regarded on any other process of reasoning, must be clear to all men. Therefore the precedents33 would seem to show that Mr Pecksniff had (as things go) good argument for what he said and might be permitted to say it, and did not say it presumptuously34, vainly, or arrogantly35, but in a spirit of high faith and great wisdom.
Mr Jonas, not being much accustomed to perplex his mind with theories of this nature, expressed no opinion on the subject. Nor did he receive his companion’s announcement with one solitary36 syllable37, good, bad, or indifferent. He preserved this taciturnity for a quarter of an hour at least, and during the whole of that time appeared to be steadily38 engaged in subjecting some given amount to the operation of every known rule in figures; adding to it, taking from it, multiplying it, reducing it by long and short division; working it by the rule-of-three direct and inversed39; exchange or barter40; practice; simple interest; compound interest; and other means of arithmetical calculation. The result of these labours appeared to be satisfactory, for when he did break silence, it was as one who had arrived at some specific result, and freed himself from a state of distressing41 uncertainty42.
‘Come, old Pecksniff!’—Such was his jocose43 address, as he slapped that gentleman on the back, at the end of the stage—‘let’s have something!’
‘With all my heart,’ said Mr Pecksniff.
‘Let’s treat the driver,’ cried Jonas.
‘If you think it won’t hurt the man, or render him discontented with his station—certainly,’ faltered44 Mr Pecksniff.
Jonas only laughed at this, and getting down from the coach-top with great alacrity45, cut a cumbersome46 kind of caper47 in the road. After which, he went into the public-house, and there ordered spirituous drink to such an extent, that Mr Pecksniff had some doubts of his perfect sanity48, until Jonas set them quite at rest by saying, when the coach could wait no longer:
‘I’ve been standing49 treat for a whole week and more, and letting you have all the delicacies50 of the season. You shall pay for this Pecksniff.’ It was not a joke either, as Mr Pecksniff at first supposed; for he went off to the coach without further ceremony, and left his respected victim to settle the bill.
But Mr Pecksniff was a man of meek51 endurance, and Mr Jonas was his friend. Moreover, his regard for that gentleman was founded, as we know, on pure esteem52, and a knowledge of the excellence53 of his character. He came out from the tavern54 with a smiling face, and even went so far as to repeat the performance, on a less expensive scale, at the next ale-house. There was a certain wildness in the spirits of Mr Jonas (not usually a part of his character) which was far from being subdued55 by these means, and, for the rest of the journey, he was so very buoyant—it may be said, boisterous—that Mr Pecksniff had some difficulty in keeping pace with him.
They were not expected—oh dear, no! Mr Pecksniff had proposed in London to give the girls a surprise, and had said he wouldn’t write a word to prepare them on any account, in order that he and Mr Jonas might take them unawares, and just see what they were doing, when they thought their dear papa was miles and miles away. As a consequence of this playful device, there was nobody to meet them at the finger-post, but that was of small consequence, for they had come down by the day coach, and Mr Pecksniff had only a carpetbag, while Mr Jonas had only a portmanteau. They took the portmanteau between them, put the bag upon it, and walked off up the lane without delay; Mr Pecksniff already going on tiptoe as if, without this precaution, his fond children, being then at a distance of a couple of miles or so, would have some filial sense of his approach.
It was a lovely evening in the spring-time of the year; and in the soft stillness of the twilight56, all nature was very calm and beautiful. The day had been fine and warm; but at the coming on of night, the air grew cool, and in the mellowing57 distance smoke was rising gently from the cottage chimneys. There were a thousand pleasant scents58 diffused59 around, from young leaves and fresh buds; the cuckoo had been singing all day long, and was but just now hushed; the smell of earth newly-upturned, first breath of hope to the first labourer after his garden withered60, was fragrant61 in the evening breeze. It was a time when most men cherish good resolves, and sorrow for the wasted past; when most men, looking on the shadows as they gather, think of that evening which must close on all, and that to-morrow which has none beyond.
‘Precious dull,’ said Mr Jonas, looking about. ‘It’s enough to make a man go melancholy62 mad.’
‘We shall have lights and a fire soon,’ observed Mr Pecksniff.
‘We shall need ‘em by the time we get there,’ said Jonas. ‘Why the devil don’t you talk? What are you thinking of?’
‘To tell you the truth, Mr Jonas,’ said Pecksniff with great solemnity, ‘my mind was running at that moment on our late dear friend, your departed father.’
Mr Jonas immediately let his burden fall, and said, threatening him with his hand:
‘drop that, Pecksniff!’
Mr Pecksniff not exactly knowing whether allusion63 was made to the subject or the portmanteau, stared at his friend in unaffected surprise.
‘drop it, I say!’ cried Jonas, fiercely. ‘Do you hear? drop it, now and for ever. You had better, I give you notice!’
‘It was quite a mistake,’ urged Mr Pecksniff, very much dismayed; ‘though I admit it was foolish. I might have known it was a tender string.’
‘Don’t talk to me about tender strings,’ said Jonas, wiping his forehead with the cuff64 of his coat. ‘I’m not going to be crowed over by you, because I don’t like dead company.’
Mr Pecksniff had got out the words ‘Crowed over, Mr Jonas!’ when that young man, with a dark expression in his countenance65, cut him short once more:
‘Mind!’ he said. ‘I won’t have it. I advise you not to revive the subject, neither to me nor anybody else. You can take a hint, if you choose as well as another man. There’s enough said about it. Come along!’
Taking up his part of the load again, when he had said these words, he hurried on so fast that Mr Pecksniff, at the other end of the portmanteau, found himself dragged forward, in a very inconvenient66 and ungraceful manner, to the great detriment67 of what is called by fancy gentlemen ‘the bark’ upon his shins, which were most unmercifully bumped against the hard leather and the iron buckles68. In the course of a few minutes, however, Mr Jonas relaxed his speed, and suffered his companion to come up with him, and to bring the portmanteau into a tolerably straight position.
It was pretty clear that he regretted his late outbreak, and that he mistrusted its effect on Mr Pecksniff; for as often as that gentleman glanced towards Mr Jonas, he found Mr Jonas glancing at him, which was a new source of embarrassment69. It was but a short-lived one, though, for Mr Jonas soon began to whistle, whereupon Mr Pecksniff, taking his cue from his friend, began to hum a tune17 melodiously70.
‘Pretty nearly there, ain’t we?’ said Jonas, when this had lasted some time.
‘Close, my dear friend,’ said Mr Pecksniff.
‘What’ll they be doing, do you suppose?’ asked Jonas.
‘Impossible to say,’ cried Mr Pecksniff. ‘Giddy truants72! They may be away from home, perhaps. I was going to—he! he! he!—I was going to propose,’ said Mr Pecksniff, ‘that we should enter by the back way, and come upon them like a clap of thunder, Mr Jonas.’
It might not have been easy to decide in respect of which of their manifold properties, Jonas, Mr Pecksniff, the carpet-bag, and the portmanteau, could be likened to a clap of thunder. But Mr Jonas giving his assent73 to this proposal, they stole round into the back yard, and softly advanced towards the kitchen window, through which the mingled74 light of fire and candle shone upon the darkening night.
Truly Mr Pecksniff is blessed in his children—in one of them, at any rate. The prudent75 Cherry—staff and scrip, and treasure of her doting76 father—there she sits, at a little table white as driven snow, before the kitchen fire, making up accounts! See the neat maiden77, as with pen in hand, and calculating look addressed towards the ceiling and bunch of keys within a little basket at her side, she checks the housekeeping expenditure78! From flat-iron, dish-cover, and warming-pan; from pot and kettle, face of brass79 footman, and black-leaded stove; bright glances of approbation80 wink81 and glow upon her. The very onions dangling82 from the beam, mantle83 and shine like cherubs’ cheeks. Something of the influence of those vegetables sinks into Mr Pecksniff’s nature. He weeps.
It is but for a moment, and he hides it from the observation of his friend—very carefully—by a somewhat elaborate use of his pocket-handkerchief, in fact; for he would not have his weakness known.
‘Pleasant,’ he murmured, ‘pleasant to a father’s feelings! My dear girl! Shall we let her know we are here, Mr Jonas?’
‘Why, I suppose you don’t mean to spend the evening in the stable, or the coach-house,’ he returned.
‘That, indeed, is not such hospitality as I would show to you, my friend,’ cried Mr Pecksniff, pressing his hand. And then he took a long breath, and tapping at the window, shouted with stentorian84 blandness85:
‘Boh!’
Cherry dropped her pen and screamed. But innocence86 is ever bold, or should be. As they opened the door, the valiant87 girl exclaimed in a firm voice, and with a presence of mind which even in that trying moment did not desert her, ‘Who are you? What do you want? Speak! or I will call my Pa.’
Mr Pecksniff held out his arms. She knew him instantly, and rushed into his fond embrace.
‘It was thoughtless of us, Mr Jonas, it was very thoughtless,’ said Pecksniff, smoothing his daugther’s hair. ‘My darling, do you see that I am not alone!’
Not she. She had seen nothing but her father until now. She saw Mr Jonas now, though; and blushed, and hung her head down, as she gave him welcome.
But where was Merry? Mr Pecksniff didn’t ask the question in reproach, but in a vein88 of mildness touched with a gentle sorrow. She was upstairs, reading on the parlour couch. Ah! Domestic details had no charms for her. ‘But call her down,’ said Mr Pecksniff, with a placid89 resignation. ‘Call her down, my love.’
She was called and came, all flushed and tumbled from reposing90 on the sofa; but none the worse for that. No, not at all. Rather the better, if anything.
‘Oh my goodness me!’ cried the arch girl, turning to her cousin when she had kissed her father on both cheeks, and in her frolicsome91 nature had bestowed92 a supernumerary salute93 upon the tip of his nose, ‘You here, fright! Well, I’m very thankful that you won’t trouble me much!’
‘What! you’re as lively as ever, are you?’ said Jonas. ‘Oh! You’re a wicked one!’
‘There, go along!’ retorted Merry, pushing him away. ‘I’m sure I don’t know what I shall ever do, if I have to see much of you. Go along, for gracious’ sake!’
Mr Pecksniff striking in here, with a request that Mr Jonas would immediately walk upstairs, he so far complied with the young lady’s adjuration94 as to go at once. But though he had the fair Cherry on his arm, he could not help looking back at her sister, and exchanging some further dialogue of the same bantering95 description, as they all four ascended96 to the parlour; where—for the young ladies happened, by good fortune, to be a little later than usual that night—the tea-board was at that moment being set out.
Mr Pinch was not at home, so they had it all to themselves, and were very snug97 and talkative, Jonas sitting between the two sisters, and displaying his gallantry in that engaging manner which was peculiar to him. It was a hard thing, Mr Pecksniff said, when tea was done, and cleared away, to leave so pleasant a little party, but having some important papers to examine in his own apartment, he must beg them to excuse him for half an hour. With this apology he withdrew, singing a careless strain as he went. He had not been gone five minutes, when Merry, who had been sitting in the window, apart from Jonas and her sister, burst into a half-smothered laugh, and skipped towards the door.
‘Hallo!’ cried Jonas. ‘Don’t go.’
‘Oh, I dare say!’ rejoined Merry, looking back. ‘You’re very anxious I should stay, fright, ain’t you?’
‘Yes, I am,’ said Jonas. ‘Upon my word I am. I want to speak to you.’ But as she left the room notwithstanding, he ran out after her, and brought her back, after a short struggle in the passage which scandalized Miss Cherry very much.
‘Upon my word, Merry,’ urged that young lady, ‘I wonder at you! There are bounds even to absurdity99, my dear.’
‘Thank you, my sweet,’ said Merry, pursing up her rosy100 Lips. ‘Much obliged to it for its advice. Oh! do leave me alone, you monster, do!’ This entreaty101 was wrung102 from her by a new proceeding103 on the part of Mr Jonas, who pulled her down, all breathless as she was, into a seat beside him on the sofa, having at the same time Miss Cherry upon the other side.
‘Now,’ said Jonas, clasping the waist of each; ‘I have got both arms full, haven’t I?’
‘One of them will be black and blue to-morrow, if you don’t let me go,’ cried the playful Merry.
‘Ah! I don’t mind your pinching,’ grinned Jonas, ‘a bit.’
‘Pinch him for me, Cherry, pray,’ said Mercy. ‘I never did hate anybody so much as I hate this creature, I declare!’
‘No, no, don’t say that,’ urged Jonas, ‘and don’t pinch either, because I want to be serious. I say—Cousin Charity—’
‘Well! what?’ she answered sharply.
‘I want to have some sober talk,’ said Jonas; ‘I want to prevent any mistakes, you know, and to put everything upon a pleasant understanding. That’s desirable and proper, ain’t it?’
‘She’ll not believe what I am going to say, will she, cousin?’ said Jonas, timidly squeezing Miss Charity.
‘Really, Mr Jonas, I don’t know, until I hear what it is. It’s quite impossible!’
‘Why, you see,’ said Jonas, ‘her way always being to make game of people, I know she’ll laugh, or pretend to—I know that, beforehand. But you can tell her I’m in earnest, cousin; can’t you? You’ll confess you know, won’t you? You’ll be honourable105, I’m sure,’ he added persuasively106.
No answer. His throat seemed to grow hotter and hotter, and to be more and more difficult of control.
‘You see, Cousin Charity,’ said Jonas, ‘nobody but you can tell her what pains I took to get into her company when you were both at the boarding-house in the city, because nobody’s so well aware of it, you know. Nobody else can tell her how hard I tried to get to know you better, in order that I might get to know her without seeming to wish it; can they? I always asked you about her, and said where had she gone, and when would she come, and how lively she was, and all that; didn’t I, cousin? I know you’ll tell her so, if you haven’t told her so already, and—and—I dare say you have, because I’m sure you’re honourable, ain’t you?’
Still not a word. The right arm of Mr Jonas—the elder sister sat upon his right—may have been sensible of some tumultuous throbbing107 which was not within itself; but nothing else apprised108 him that his words had had the least effect.
‘Even if you kept it to yourself, and haven’t told her,’ resumed Jonas, ‘it don’t much matter, because you’ll bear honest witness now; won’t you? We’ve been very good friends from the first; haven’t we? and of course we shall be quite friends in future, and so I don’t mind speaking before you a bit. Cousin Mercy, you’ve heard what I’ve been saying. She’ll confirm it, every word; she must. Will you have me for your husband? Eh?’
As he released his hold of Charity, to put this question with better effect, she started up and hurried away to her own room, marking her progress as she went by such a train of passionate109 and incoherent sound, as nothing but a slighted woman in her anger could produce.
‘Let me go away. Let me go after her,’ said Merry, pushing him off, and giving him—to tell the truth—more than one sounding slap upon his outstretched face.
‘Not till you say yes. You haven’t told me. Will you have me for your husband?’
‘No, I won’t. I can’t bear the sight of you. I have told you so a hundred times. You are a fright. Besides, I always thought you liked my sister best. We all thought so.’
‘But that wasn’t my fault,’ said Jonas.
‘Yes it was; you know it was.’
‘Any trick is fair in love,’ said Jonas. ‘She may have thought I liked her best, but you didn’t.’
‘I did!’
‘No, you didn’t. You never could have thought I liked her best, when you were by.’
‘There’s no accounting110 for tastes,’ said Merry; ‘at least I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t know what I mean. Let me go to her.’
‘Say “Yes,” and then I will.’
‘If I ever brought myself to say so, it should only be that I might hate and tease you all my life.’
‘That’s as good,’ cried Jonas, ‘as saying it right out. It’s a bargain, cousin. We’re a pair, if ever there was one.’
This gallant98 speech was succeeded by a confused noise of kissing and slapping; and then the fair but much dishevelled Merry broke away, and followed in the footsteps of her sister.
Now whether Mr Pecksniff had been listening—which in one of his character appears impossible; or divined almost by inspiration what the matter was—which, in a man of his sagacity is far more probable; or happened by sheer good fortune to find himself in exactly the right place, at precisely111 the right time—which, under the special guardianship112 in which he lived might very reasonably happen; it is quite certain that at the moment when the sisters came together in their own room, he appeared at the chamber113 door. And a marvellous contrast it was—they so heated, noisy, and vehement114; he so calm, so self-possessed, so cool and full of peace, that not a hair upon his head was stirred.
‘Children!’ said Mr Pecksniff, spreading out his hands in wonder, but not before he had shut the door, and set his back against it. ‘Girls! Daughters! What is this?’
‘The wretch115; the apostate116; the false, mean, odious71 villain117; has before my very face proposed to Mercy!’ was his eldest daughter’s answer.
‘Who has proposed to Mercy!’ asked Mr Pecksniff.
‘He has. That thing, Jonas, downstairs.’
‘Jonas proposed to Mercy?’ said Mr Pecksniff. ‘Aye, aye! Indeed!’
‘Have you nothing else to say?’ cried Charity. ‘Am I to be driven mad, papa? He has proposed to Mercy, not to me.’
‘Oh, fie! For shame!’ said Mr Pecksniff, gravely. ‘Oh, for shame! Can the triumph of a sister move you to this terrible display, my child? Oh, really this is very sad! I am sorry; I am surprised and hurt to see you so. Mercy, my girl, bless you! See to her. Ah, envy, envy, what a passion you are!’
Uttering this apostrophe in a tone full of grief and lamentation118, Mr Pecksniff left the room (taking care to shut the door behind him), and walked downstairs into the parlour. There he found his intended son-in-law, whom he seized by both hands.
‘Jonas!’ cried Mr Pecksniff. ‘Jonas! the dearest wish of my heart is now fulfilled!’
‘Very well; I’m glad to hear it,’ said Jonas. ‘That’ll do. I say! As it ain’t the one you’re so fond of, you must come down with another thousand, Pecksniff. You must make it up five. It’s worth that, to keep your treasure to yourself, you know. You get off very cheap that way, and haven’t a sacrifice to make.’
The grin with which he accompanied this, set off his other attractions to such unspeakable advantage, that even Mr Pecksniff lost his presence of mind for a moment, and looked at the young man as if he were quite stupefied with wonder and admiration119. But he quickly regained120 his composure, and was in the very act of changing the subject, when a hasty step was heard without, and Tom Pinch, in a state of great excitement, came darting121 into the room.
On seeing a stranger there, apparently122 engaged with Mr Pecksniff in private conversation, Tom was very much abashed123, though he still looked as if he had something of great importance to communicate, which would be a sufficient apology for his intrusion.
‘Mr Pinch,’ said Pecksniff, ‘this is hardly decent. You will excuse my saying that I think your conduct scarcely decent, Mr Pinch.’
‘I beg your pardon, sir,’ replied Tom, ‘for not knocking at the door.’
‘Rather beg this gentleman’s pardon, Mr Pinch,’ said Pecksniff. ‘I know you; he does not.—My young man, Mr Jonas.’
The son-in-law that was to be gave him a slight nod—not actively124 disdainful or contemptuous, only passively; for he was in a good humour.
‘Could I speak a word with you, sir, if you please?’ said Tom. ‘It’s rather pressing.’
‘It should be very pressing to justify125 this strange behaviour, Mr Pinch,’ returned his master. ‘Excuse me for one moment, my dear friend. Now, sir, what is the reason of this rough intrusion?’
‘I am very sorry, sir, I am sure,’ said Tom, standing, cap in hand, before his patron in the passage; ‘and I know it must have a very rude appearance—’
‘It has a very rude appearance, Mr Pinch.’
‘Yes, I feel that, sir; but the truth is, I was so surprised to see them, and knew you would be too, that I ran home very fast indeed, and really hadn’t enough command over myself to know what I was doing very well. I was in the church just now, sir, touching126 the organ for my own amusement, when I happened to look round, and saw a gentleman and lady standing in the aisle127 listening. They seemed to be strangers, sir, as well as I could make out in the dusk; and I thought I didn’t know them; so presently I left off, and said, would they walk up into the organ-loft, or take a seat? No, they said, they wouldn’t do that; but they thanked me for the music they had heard. In fact,’ observed Tom, blushing, ‘they said, “Delicious music!” at least, she did; and I am sure that was a greater pleasure and honour to me than any compliment I could have had. I—I—beg your pardon sir;’ he was all in a tremble, and dropped his hat for the second time ‘but I—I’m rather flurried, and I fear I’ve wandered from the point.’
‘If you will come back to it, Thomas,’ said Mr Pecksniff, with an icy look, ‘I shall feel obliged.’
‘Yes, sir,’ returned Tom, ‘certainly. They had a posting carriage at the porch, sir, and had stopped to hear the organ, they said. And then they said—she said, I mean, “I believe you live with Mr Pecksniff, sir?” I said I had that honour, and I took the liberty, sir,’ added Tom, raising his eyes to his benefactor’s face, ‘of saying, as I always will and must, with your permission, that I was under great obligations to you, and never could express my sense of them sufficiently128.’
‘That,’ said Mr Pecksniff, ‘was very, very wrong. Take your time, Mr Pinch.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ cried Tom. ‘On that they asked me—she asked, I mean—“Wasn’t there a bridle129 road to Mr Pecksniff’s house?”’
Mr Pecksniff suddenly became full of interest.
‘“Without going by the Dragon?” When I said there was, and said how happy I should be to show it ‘em, they sent the carriage on by the road, and came with me across the meadows. I left ‘em at the turnstile to run forward and tell you they were coming, and they’ll be here, sir, in—in less than a minute’s time, I should say,’ added Tom, fetching his breath with difficulty.
‘Now, who,’ said Mr Pecksniff, pondering, ‘who may these people be?’
‘Bless my soul, sir!’ cried Tom, ‘I meant to mention that at first, I thought I had. I knew them—her, I mean—directly. The gentleman who was ill at the Dragon, sir, last winter; and the young lady who attended him.’
Tom’s teeth chattered130 in his head, and he positively131 staggered with amazement132, at witnessing the extraordinary effect produced on Mr Pecksniff by these simple words. The dread133 of losing the old man’s favour almost as soon as they were reconciled, through the mere fact of having Jonas in the house; the impossibility of dismissing Jonas, or shutting him up, or tying him hand and foot and putting him in the coal-cellar, without offending him beyond recall; the horrible discordance134 prevailing135 in the establishment, and the impossibility of reducing it to decent harmony with Charity in loud hysterics, Mercy in the utmost disorder136, Jonas in the parlour, and Martin Chuzzlewit and his young charge upon the very doorsteps; the total hopelessness of being able to disguise or feasibly explain this state of rampant137 confusion; the sudden accumulation over his devoted138 head of every complicated perplexity and entanglement139 for his extrication140 from which he had trusted to time, good fortune, chance, and his own plotting, so filled the entrapped141 architect with dismay, that if Tom could have been a Gorgon142 staring at Mr Pecksniff, and Mr Pecksniff could have been a Gorgon staring at Tom, they could not have horrified143 each other half so much as in their own bewildered persons.
‘Dear, dear!’ cried Tom, ‘what have I done? I hoped it would be a pleasant surprise, sir. I thought you would like to know.’
But at that moment a loud knocking was heard at the hall door.
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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2
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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3
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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4
plural
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| n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的 | |
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5
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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6
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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8
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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9
sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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10
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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11
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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12
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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13
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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14
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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15
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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16
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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17
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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18
cramp
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| n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚 | |
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19
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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20
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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21
overdrawn
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| 透支( overdraw的过去分词 )； (overdraw的过去分词) | |
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22
fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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23
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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24
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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25
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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26
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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27
undertakings
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| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
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28
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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29
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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30
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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31
licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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32
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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33
precedents
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| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
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34
presumptuously
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| adv.自以为是地，专横地，冒失地 | |
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35
arrogantly
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| adv.傲慢地 | |
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36
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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37
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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38
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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39
inversed
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| 倒生的 | |
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40
barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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41
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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42
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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43
jocose
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| adj.开玩笑的，滑稽的 | |
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44
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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45
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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46
cumbersome
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| adj.笨重的，不便携带的 | |
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47
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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48
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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49
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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50
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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51
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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52
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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53
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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54
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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55
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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56
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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57
mellowing
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| 软化，醇化 | |
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58
scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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59
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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60
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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61
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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62
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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63
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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64
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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65
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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66
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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67
detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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68
buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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69
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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70
melodiously
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71
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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72
truants
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| n.旷课的小学生( truant的名词复数 )；逃学生；逃避责任者；懒散的人 | |
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73
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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74
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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75
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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76
doting
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| adj.溺爱的，宠爱的 | |
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77
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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78
expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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79
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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80
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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81
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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82
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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83
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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84
stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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85
blandness
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| n.温柔，爽快 | |
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86
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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87
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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88
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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89
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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90
reposing
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
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91
frolicsome
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| adj.嬉戏的，闹着玩的 | |
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92
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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94
adjuration
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| n.祈求，命令 | |
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95
bantering
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| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
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96
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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98
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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99
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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100
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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101
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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102
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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103
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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104
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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105
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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106
persuasively
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| adv.口才好地；令人信服地 | |
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107
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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108
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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109
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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110
accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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111
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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112
guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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113
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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114
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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115
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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116
apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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117
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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118
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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119
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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120
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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122
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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125
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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126
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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127
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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128
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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129
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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130
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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131
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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132
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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133
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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134
discordance
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| n.不调和，不和，不一致性；不整合；假整合 | |
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135
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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136
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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137
rampant
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| adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的 | |
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138
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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139
entanglement
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| n.纠缠，牵累 | |
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140
extrication
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| n.解脱；救出，解脱 | |
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141
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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142
gorgon
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| n.丑陋女人，蛇发女怪 | |
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143
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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