I have not been able to do justice (only a Lawrence could do that) to my respected friend Mrs. Perkins, in this picture; but Larkins’s portrait is considered very like. Adolphus Larkins has been long connected with Mr. Perkins’s City establishment, and is asked to dine twice or thrice per annum. Evening-parties are the great enjoyment1 of this simple youth, who, after he has walked from Kentish Town to Thames Street, and passed twelve hours in severe labor2 there, and walked back again to Kentish Town, finds no greater pleasure than to attire3 his lean person in that elegant evening costume which you see, to walk into town again, and to dance at anybody’s house who will invite him. Islington, Pentonville, Somers Town, are the scenes of many of his exploits; and I have seen this good-natured fellow performing figure-dances at Notting-hill, at a house where I am ashamed to say there was no supper, no negus even to speak of, nothing but the bare merits of the polka in which Adolphus revels4. To describe this gentleman’s infatuation for dancing, let me say, in a word, that he will even frequent boarding-house hops5, rather than not go.
He has clogs6, too, like Minchin: but nobody laughs at HIM. He gives himself no airs; but walks into a house with a knock and a demeanor7 so tremulous and humble8, that the servants rather patronize him. He does not speak, or have any particular opinions, but when the time comes, begins to dance. He bleats9 out a word or two to his partner during this operation, seems very weak and sad during the whole performance, and, of course, is set to dance with the ugliest women everywhere.
The gentle, kind spirit! when I think of him night after night, hopping10 and jigging11, and trudging12 off to Kentish Town, so gently, through the fogs, and mud, and darkness: I do not know whether I ought to admire him, because his enjoyments13 are so simple, and his dispositions14 so kindly15; or laugh at him, because he draws his life so exquisitely16 mild. Well, well, we can’t be all roaring lions in this world; there must be SOME lambs, and harmless, kindly, gregarious17 creatures for eating and shearing18. See! even good-natured Mrs. Perkins is leading up the trembling Larkins to the tremendous Miss Bunion!

点击
收听单词发音

1
enjoyment
![]() |
|
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
labor
![]() |
|
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
attire
![]() |
|
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
revels
![]() |
|
n.作乐( revel的名词复数 );狂欢;着迷;陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 );狂欢;着迷;陶醉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
hops
![]() |
|
跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
clogs
![]() |
|
木屐; 木底鞋,木屐( clog的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
demeanor
![]() |
|
n.行为;风度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
humble
![]() |
|
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
bleats
![]() |
|
v.(羊,小牛)叫( bleat的第三人称单数 );哭诉;发出羊叫似的声音;轻声诉说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
hopping
![]() |
|
n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
jigging
![]() |
|
n.跳汰选,簸选v.(使)上下急动( jig的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12
trudging
![]() |
|
vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的现在分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13
enjoyments
![]() |
|
愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 ); 令人愉快的事物; 享有; 享受 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14
dispositions
![]() |
|
安排( disposition的名词复数 ); 倾向; (财产、金钱的)处置; 气质 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15
kindly
![]() |
|
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16
exquisitely
![]() |
|
adv.精致地;强烈地;剧烈地;异常地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17
gregarious
![]() |
|
adj.群居的,喜好群居的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18
shearing
![]() |
|
n.剪羊毛,剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 );切断;剪切 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |