It was mid-day, and high water in the English port for which the Screw was bound, when, borne in gallantly2 upon the fullness of the tide, she let go her anchor in the river.
Bright as the scene was; fresh, and full of motion; airy, free, and sparkling; it was nothing to the life and exultation3 in the breasts of the two travellers, at sight of the old churches, roofs, and darkened chimney stacks of Home. The distant roar that swelled4 up hoarsely5 from the busy streets, was music in their ears; the lines of people gazing from the wharves7, were friends held dear; the canopy8 of smoke that overhung the town was brighter and more beautiful to them than if the richest silks of Persia had been waving in the air. And though the water going on its glistening9 track, turned, ever and again, aside to dance and sparkle round great ships, and heave them up; and leaped from off the blades of oars6, a shower of diving diamonds; and wantoned with the idle boats, and swiftly passed, in many a sportive chase, through obdurate10 old iron rings, set deep into the stone-work of the quays11; not even it was half so buoyant, and so restless, as their fluttering hearts, when yearning12 to set foot, once more, on native ground.
A year had passed since those same spires13 and roofs had faded from their eyes. It seemed to them, a dozen years. Some trifling14 changes, here and there, they called to mind; and wondered that they were so few and slight. In health and fortune, prospect15 and resource, they came back poorer men than they had gone away. But it was home. And though home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke16, or spirit answered to, in strongest conjuration.
Being set ashore17, with very little money in their pockets, and no definite plan of operation in their heads, they sought out a cheap tavern18, where they regaled upon a smoking steak, and certain flowing mugs of beer, as only men just landed from the sea can revel19 in the generous dainties of the earth. When they had feasted, as two grateful-tempered giants might have done, they stirred the fire, drew back the glowing curtain from the window, and making each a sofa for himself, by union of the great unwieldy chairs, gazed blissfully into the street.
Even the street was made a fairy street, by being half hidden in an atmosphere of steak, and strong, stout20, stand-up English beer. For on the window-glass hung such a mist, that Mr Tapley was obliged to rise and wipe it with his handkerchief, before the passengers appeared like common mortals. And even then, a spiral little cloud went curling up from their two glasses of hot grog, which nearly hid them from each other.
It was one of those unaccountable little rooms which are never seen anywhere but in a tavern, and are supposed to have got into taverns21 by reason of the facilities afforded to the architect for getting drunk while engaged in their construction. It had more corners in it than the brain of an obstinate22 man; was full of mad closets, into which nothing could be put that was not specially23 invented and made for that purpose; had mysterious shelvings and bulkheads, and indications of staircases in the ceiling; and was elaborately provided with a bell that rung in the room itself, about two feet from the handle, and had no connection whatever with any other part of the establishment. It was a little below the pavement, and abutted24 close upon it; so that passengers grated against the window-panes with their buttons, and scraped it with their baskets; and fearful boys suddenly coming between a thoughtful guest and the light, derided25 him, or put out their tongues as if he were a physician; or made white knobs on the ends of their noses by flattening26 the same against the glass, and vanished awfully27, like spectres.
Martin and Mark sat looking at the people as they passed, debating every now and then what their first step should be.
‘We want to see Miss Mary, of course,’ said Mark.
‘Of course,’ said Martin. ‘But I don’t know where she is. Not having had the heart to write in our distress—you yourself thought silence most advisable—and consequently, never having heard from her since we left New York the first time, I don’t know where she is, my good fellow.’
‘My opinion is, sir,’ returned Mark, ‘that what we’ve got to do is to travel straight to the Dragon. There’s no need for you to go there, where you’re known, unless you like. You may stop ten mile short of it. I’ll go on. Mrs Lupin will tell me all the news. Mr Pinch will give me every information that we want; and right glad Mr Pinch will be to do it. My proposal is: To set off walking this afternoon. To stop when we are tired. To get a lift when we can. To walk when we can’t. To do it at once, and do it cheap.’
‘Unless we do it cheap, we shall have some difficulty in doing it at all,’ said Martin, pulling out the bank, and telling it over in his hand.
‘The greater reason for losing no time, sir,’ replied Mark. ‘Whereas, when you’ve seen the young lady; and know what state of mind the old gentleman’s in, and all about it; then you’ll know what to do next.’
‘No doubt,’ said Martin. ‘You are quite right.’
They were raising their glasses to their lips, when their hands stopped midway, and their gaze was arrested by a figure which slowly, very slowly, and reflectively, passed the window at that moment.
Mr Pecksniff. Placid28, calm, but proud. Honestly proud. Dressed with peculiar29 care, smiling with even more than usual blandness30, pondering on the beauties of his art with a mild abstraction from all sordid31 thoughts, and gently travelling across the disc, as if he were a figure in a magic lantern.
As Mr Pecksniff passed, a person coming in the opposite direction stopped to look after him with great interest and respect, almost with veneration32; and the landlord bouncing out of the house, as if he had seen him too, joined this person, and spoke to him, and shook his head gravely, and looked after Mr Pecksniff likewise.
Martin and Mark sat staring at each other, as if they could not believe it; but there stood the landlord, and the other man still. In spite of the indignation with which this glimpse of Mr Pecksniff had inspired him, Martin could not help laughing heartily33. Neither could Mark.
‘We must inquire into this!’ said Martin. ‘Ask the landlord in, Mark.’
Mr Tapley retired34 for that purpose, and immediately returned with their large-headed host in safe convoy35.
‘Pray, landlord!’ said Martin, ‘who is that gentleman who passed just now, and whom you were looking after?’
The landlord poked36 the fire as if, in his desire to make the most of his answer, he had become indifferent even to the price of coals; and putting his hands in his pockets, said, after inflating37 himself to give still further effect to his reply:
‘That, gentlemen, is the great Mr Pecksniff! The celebrated38 architect, gentlemen!’
He looked from one to the other while he said it, as if he were ready to assist the first man who might be overcome by the intelligence.
‘The great Mr Pecksniff, the celebrated architect, gentlemen.’ said the landlord, ‘has come down here, to help to lay the first stone of a new and splendid public building.’
‘Is it to be built from his designs?’ asked Martin.
‘The great Mr Pecksniff, the celebrated architect, gentlemen,’ returned the landlord, who seemed to have an unspeakable delight in the repetition of these words, ‘carried off the First Premium39, and will erect40 the building.’
‘Who lays the stone?’ asked Martin.
‘Our member has come down express,’ returned the landlord. ‘No scrubs would do for no such a purpose. Nothing less would satisfy our Directors than our member in the House of Commons, who is returned upon the Gentlemanly Interest.’
‘Which interest is that?’ asked Martin.
‘What, don’t you know!’ returned the landlord.
It was quite clear the landlord didn’t. They always told him at election time, that it was the Gentlemanly side, and he immediately put on his top-boots, and voted for it.
‘When does the ceremony take place?’ asked Martin.
‘This day,’ replied the landlord. Then pulling out his watch, he added, impressively, ‘almost this minute.’
Martin hastily inquired whether there was any possibility of getting in to witness it; and finding that there would be no objection to the admittance of any decent person, unless indeed the ground were full, hurried off with Mark, as hard as they could go.
They were fortunate enough to squeeze themselves into a famous corner on the ground, where they could see all that passed, without much dread41 of being beheld42 by Mr Pecksniff in return. They were not a minute too soon, for as they were in the act of congratulating each other, a great noise was heard at some distance, and everybody looked towards the gate. Several ladies prepared their pocket handkerchiefs for waving; and a stray teacher belonging to the charity school being much cheered by mistake, was immensely groaned43 at when detected.
‘Perhaps he has Tom Pinch with him,’ Martin whispered Mr Tapley.
‘It would be rather too much of a treat for him, wouldn’t it, sir?’ whispered Mr Tapley in return.
There was no time to discuss the probabilities either way, for the charity school, in clean linen44, came filing in two and two, so much to the self-approval of all the people present who didn’t subscribe45 to it, that many of them shed tears. A band of music followed, led by a conscientious46 drummer who never left off. Then came a great many gentlemen with wands in their hands, and bows on their breasts, whose share in the proceedings47 did not appear to be distinctly laid down, and who trod upon each other, and blocked up the entry for a considerable period. These were followed by the Mayor and Corporation, all clustering round the member for the Gentlemanly Interest; who had the great Mr Pecksniff, the celebrated architect on his right hand, and conversed48 with him familiarly as they came along. Then the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the gentlemen their hats, and the charity children shrieked49, and the member for the Gentlemanly Interest bowed.
Silence being restored, the member for the Gentlemanly Interest rubbed his hands, and wagged his head, and looked about him pleasantly; and there was nothing this member did, at which some lady or other did not burst into an ecstatic waving of her pocket handkerchief. When he looked up at the stone, they said how graceful50! when he peeped into the hole, they said how condescending51! when he chatted with the Mayor, they said how easy! when he folded his arms they cried with one accord, how statesman-like!
Mr Pecksniff was observed too, closely. When he talked to the Mayor, they said, Oh, really, what a courtly man he was! When he laid his hand upon the mason’s shoulder, giving him directions, how pleasant his demeanour to the working classes; just the sort of man who made their toil52 a pleasure to them, poor dear souls!
But now a silver trowel was brought; and when the member for the Gentlemanly Interest, tucking up his coat-sleeve, did a little sleight53 of hand with the mortar54, the air was rent, so loud was the applause. The workman-like manner in which he did it was amazing. No one could conceive where such a gentlemanly creature could have picked the knowledge up.
When he had made a kind of dirt-pie under the direction of the mason, they brought a little vase containing coins, the which the member for the Gentlemanly Interest jingled55, as if he were going to conjure56. Whereat they said how droll57, how cheerful, what a flow of spirits! This put into its place, an ancient scholar read the inscription58, which was in Latin; not in English; that would never do. It gave great satisfaction; especially every time there was a good long substantive59 in the third declension, ablative case, with an adjective to match; at which periods the assembly became very tender, and were much affected60.
And now the stone was lowered down into its place, amidst the shouting of the concourse. When it was firmly fixed61, the member for the Gentlemanly Interest struck upon it thrice with the handle of the trowel, as if inquiring, with a touch of humour, whether anybody was at home. Mr Pecksniff then unrolled his Plans (prodigious plans they were), and people gathered round to look at and admire them.
Martin, who had been fretting62 himself—quite unnecessarily, as Mark thought—during the whole of these proceedings, could no longer restrain his impatience63; but stepping forward among several others, looked straight over the shoulder of the unconscious Mr Pecksniff, at the designs and plans he had unrolled. He returned to Mark, boiling with rage.
‘Why, what’s the matter, sir?’ cried Mark.
‘Matter! This is my building.’
‘Your building, sir!’ said Mark.
‘My grammar-school. I invented it. I did it all. He has only put four windows in, the villain64, and spoilt it!’
Mark could hardly believe it at first, but being assured that it was really so, actually held him to prevent his interference foolishly, until his temporary heat was past. In the meantime, the member addressed the company on the gratifying deed which he had just performed.
He said that since he had sat in Parliament to represent the Gentlemanly Interest of that town; and he might add, the Lady Interest, he hoped, besides (pocket handkerchiefs); it had been his pleasant duty to come among them, and to raise his voice on their behalf in Another Place (pocket handkerchiefs and laughter), often. But he had never come among them, and had never raised his voice, with half such pure, such deep, such unalloyed delight, as now. ‘The present occasion,’ he said, ‘will ever be memorable65 to me; not only for the reasons I have assigned, but because it has afforded me an opportunity of becoming personally known to a gentleman—’
Here he pointed66 the trowel at Mr Pecksniff, who was greeted with vociferous67 cheering, and laid his hand upon his heart.
‘To a gentleman who, I am happy to believe, will reap both distinction and profit from this field; whose fame had previously68 penetrated69 to me—as to whose ears has it not!—but whose intellectual countenance70 I never had the distinguished71 honour to behold72 until this day, and whose intellectual conversation I had never before the improving pleasure to enjoy.’
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Everybody seemed very glad of this, and applauded more than ever.
‘But I hope my Honourable73 Friend,’ said the Gentlemanly member—of course he added “if he will allow me to call him so,” and of course Mr Pecksniff bowed—‘will give me many opportunities of cultivating the knowledge of him; and that I may have the extraordinary gratification of reflecting in after-time that I laid on this day two first stones, both belonging to structures which shall last my life!’
Great cheering again. All this time, Martin was cursing Mr Pecksniff up hill and down dale.
‘My friends!’ said Mr Pecksniff, in reply. ‘My duty is to build, not speak; to act, not talk; to deal with marble, stone, and brick; not language. I am very much affected. God bless you!’
This address, pumped out apparently74 from Mr Pecksniff’s very heart, brought the enthusiasm to its highest pitch. The pocket handkerchiefs were waved again; the charity children were admonished75 to grow up Pecksniffs, every boy among them; the Corporation, gentlemen with wands, member for the Gentlemanly Interest, all cheered for Mr Pecksniff. Three cheers for Mr Pecksniff! Three more for Mr Pecksniff! Three more for Mr Pecksniff, gentlemen, if you please! One more, gentlemen, for Mr Pecksniff, and let it be a good one to finish with!
In short, Mr Pecksniff was supposed to have done a great work and was very kindly76, courteously77, and generously rewarded. When the procession moved away, and Martin and Mark were left almost alone upon the ground, his merits and a desire to acknowledge them formed the common topic. He was only second to the Gentlemanly member.
‘Compare the fellow’s situation to-day with ours!’ said Martin bitterly.
‘Lord bless you, sir!’ cried Mark, ‘what’s the use? Some architects are clever at making foundations, and some architects are clever at building on ‘em when they’re made. But it’ll all come right in the end, sir; it’ll all come right!’
‘And in the meantime—’ began Martin.
‘In the meantime, as you say, sir, we have a deal to do, and far to go. So sharp’s the word, and Jolly!’
‘You are the best master in the world, Mark,’ said Martin, ‘and I will not be a bad scholar if I can help it, I am resolved! So come! Best foot foremost, old fellow!’
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1
derives
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| v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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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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obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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quays
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| 码头( quay的名词复数 ) | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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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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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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taverns
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| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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abutted
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| v.（与…）邻接( abut的过去式和过去分词 )；（与…）毗连；接触；倚靠 | |
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derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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blandness
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| n.温柔，爽快 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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inflating
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| v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的现在分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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premium
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| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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43
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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44
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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49
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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51
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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52
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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53
sleight
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| n.技巧，花招 | |
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54
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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55
jingled
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| 喝醉的 | |
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56
conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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57
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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59
substantive
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| adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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62
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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63
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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64
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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65
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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66
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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67
vociferous
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| adj.喧哗的，大叫大嚷的 | |
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68
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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69
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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70
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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71
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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72
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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73
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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75
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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76
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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77
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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