The supper is going on behind the screen. There is no need to draw the supper. We all know that sort of transaction: the squabbling, and gobbling, and popping of champagne1; the smell of musk2 and lobster-salad; the dowagers chumping away at plates of raised pie; the young lassies nibbling3 at little titbits, which the dexterous4 young gentlemen procure5. Three large men, like doctors of divinity, wait behind the table, and furnish everything that appetite can ask for. I never, for my part, can eat any supper for wondering at those men. I believe if you were to ask them for mashed6 turnips7, or a slice of crocodile, those astonishing people would serve you. What a contempt they must have for the guttling crowd to whom they minister — those solemn pastry-cook’s men! How they must hate jellies, and game-pies, and champagne, in their hearts! How they must scorn my poor friend Grundsell behind the screen, who is sucking at a bottle!
GEORGE GRUNDSELL,
GREEN-GROCER AND SALESMAN,
9, LITTLE POCKLINGTON BUILDINGS,
LATE CONFIDENTIAL8 SERVANT IN THE FAMILY OF
THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.
Carpets Beat. — Knives and Boots cleaned per contract. — Errands faithfully performed — G. G. attends Ball and Dinner parties, and from his knowledge of the most distinguished9 Families in London, confidently recommends his services to the distinguished neighbourhood of Pocklington Square.
This disguised green-grocer is a very well-known character in the neighborhood of Pocklington Square. He waits at the parties of the gentry10 in the neighborhood, and though, of course, despised in families where a footman is kept, is a person of much importance in female establishments.
Miss Jonas always employs him at her parties, and says to her page, “Vincent, send the butler, or send Desborough to me;” by which name she chooses to designate G. G.
When the Miss Frumps have post-horses to their carriage, and pay visits, Grundsell always goes behind. Those ladies have the greatest confidence in him, have been godmothers to fourteen of his children, and leave their house in his charge when they go to Bognor for the summer. He attended those ladies when they were presented at the last drawing-room of her Majesty11 Queen Charlotte.
Mr. Grundsell’s state costume is a blue coat and copper12 buttons, a white waistcoat, and an immense frill and shirt-collar. He was for many years a private watchman, and once canvassed13 for the office of parish clerk of St. Peter’s Pocklington. He can be intrusted with untold14 spoons; with anything, in fact, but liquor; and it was he who brought round the cards for MRS. PERKINS’S BALL.
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1
champagne
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n.香槟酒;微黄色 | |
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2
musk
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n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物,香猫 | |
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3
nibbling
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v.啃,一点一点地咬(吃)( nibble的现在分词 );啃出(洞),一点一点咬出(洞);慢慢减少;小口咬 | |
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4
dexterous
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adj.灵敏的;灵巧的 | |
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5
procure
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vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
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6
mashed
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a.捣烂的 | |
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7
turnips
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芜青( turnip的名词复数 ); 芜菁块根; 芜菁甘蓝块根; 怀表 | |
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8
confidential
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adj.秘(机)密的,表示信任的,担任机密工作的 | |
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9
distinguished
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adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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10
gentry
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n.绅士阶级,上层阶级 | |
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11
majesty
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n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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12
copper
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n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的 | |
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13
canvassed
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v.(在政治方面)游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 );调查(如选举前选民的)意见;为讨论而提出(意见等);详细检查 | |
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14
untold
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adj.数不清的,无数的 | |
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