Charles Hazlit, Esquire, was a merchant and a shipowner, a landed proprietor2, a manager of banks, a member of numerous boards and committees, a guardian3 of the poor, a volunteer colonel, and a good-humoured man on the whole, but purse-proud and pompous4. He was also the father of Aileen.
Behold5 him seated in an elegant drawing-room, in a splendid mansion6 at the “west end” (strange that all aristocratic ends would appear to be west ends!) of the seaport7 town which owned him. His blooming daughter sat beside him at a table, on which lay a small, peculiar8, box. He doated on his daughter, and with good reason. Their attention was so exclusively taken up with the peculiar box that they had failed to observe the entrance, unannounced, of a man of rough exterior9, who stood at the door, hat in hand, bowing and coughing attractively, but without success.
“My darling,” said Mr Hazlit, stooping to kiss his child—his only child—who raised her pretty little three-cornered mouth to receive it, “this being your twenty-first birthday, I have at last brought myself to look once again on your sainted mother’s jewel-case, in order that I may present it to you. I have not opened it since the day she died. It is now yours, my child.”
Aileen opened her eyes in mute amazement10. It would seem as though there had been some secret sympathy between her and the man at the door, for he did precisely11 the same thing. He also crushed his hat somewhat convulsively with both hands, but without doing it any damage, as it was a very hard sailor-like hat. He also did something to his lips with his tongue, which looked a little like licking them.
“Oh papa!” exclaimed Aileen, seizing his hand, “how kind; how—”
“Nay, love, no thanks are due to me. It is your mother’s gift. On her deathbed she made me promise to give it you when you came of age, and to train you, up to that age, as far as possible, with a disregard for dress and show. I think your dear mother was wrong,” continued Mr Hazlit, with a mournful smile, “but, whether right or wrong, you can bear me witness that I have sought to fulfil the second part of her dying request, and I now accomplish the first.”
He proceeded to unlock, the fastenings of the little box, which was made of some dark metal resembling iron, and was deeply as well as richly embossed on the lid and sides with quaint12 figures and devices.
Mr Hazlit had acquired a grand, free-handed way of manipulating treasure. Instead of lifting the magnificent jewels carefully from the casket, he tumbled them out like a gorgeous cataract13 of light and colour, by the simple process of turning the box upside down.
“Oh papa, take care!” exclaimed Aileen, spreading her little hands in front of the cataract to stem its progress to the floor, while her two eyes opened in surprise, and shone with a lustre14 that might have made the insensate gems15 envious16. “How exquisite17! How inexpressibly beautiful!—oh my dear, darling mother—!”
She stopped abruptly18, and tears fluttered from her eyes. In a few seconds she continued, pushing the gems away, almost passionately—
“But I cannot wear them, papa. They are worthless to me.”
She was right. She had no need of such gems. Was not her hair golden and her skin alabaster19? Were not her lips coral and her teeth pearls? And were not diamonds of the purest water dropping at that moment from her down-cast eyes?
“True, my child, and the sentiment does your heart credit; they are worthless, utterly20 worthless— mere21 paste”—at this point the face of the man at the door visibly changed for the worse—“mere paste, as regards their power to bring back to us the dear one who wore them. Nevertheless, in a commercial point of view”—here the ears of the man at the door cocked—“they are worth some eight or nine thousand pounds sterling22, so they may as well be taken care of.”
The tongue and lips of the man at the door again became active. He attempted—unsuccessfully, as before—to crush his hat, and inadvertently coughed.
Mr Hazlit’s usually pale countenance23 flushed, and he started up.
“Hallo! My man, how came you here?”
The man looked at the door and hesitated in his attempt to reply to so useless a question.
“How comes it that you enter my house and drawing-room without being announced?” asked Mr Hazlit, drawing himself up.
“’Cause I wanted to see you, an’ I found the door open, an’ there warn’t nobody down stair to announce me,” answered the man in a rather surly tone.
“Oh, indeed?—ah,” said Mr Hazlit, drawing out a large silk handkerchief with a flourish, blowing his nose therewith, and casting it carelessly on the table so as to cover the jewel-box. “Well, as you are now ere, pray what have you got to say to me?”
“Your ship the Seagull has bin’ wrecked24, sir, on Toosday night on the coast of Wales.”
“I received that unpleasant piece of news on Wednesday morning. What has that to do with your visit?”
“Only that I thought you might want divers for to go to the wreck25, an’ I’m a diver—that’s all.”
The man at the door said this in a very surly tone, for the slight tendency to politeness which had begun to manifest itself while the prospect26 of “a job” was hopeful, vanished before the haughty27 manner of the merchant.
“Well, it is just possible that I may require the assistance of divers,” said Mr Hazlit, ringing the bell; “when I do, I can send for you.—John, show this person out.”
The hall-footman, who had been listening attentively28 at the key-hole, and allowed a second or two to elapse before opening the door, bowed with a guilty flush on his face and held the door wide open.
David Maxwell—for it was he—passed out with an angry scowl29, and as he strode with noisy tread across the hall, said something uncommonly30 pithy31 to the footman about “upstarts” and “puppies,” and “people who thought they was made o’ different dirt from others,” accompanied with many other words and expressions which we may not repeat.
To all of this John replied with bland32 smiles and polite bows, hoping that the effects of the interview might not render him feverish33, and reminding him that if it did he was in a better position than most men for cooling himself at the bottom of the sea.
“Farewell,” said John earnestly; “and if you should take a fancy to honour us any day with your company to dinner, do send a line to say you’re coming.”
John did not indulge in this pleasantry until the exasperated34 diver was just outside of the house, and it was well that he was so prudent35, for Maxwell turned round like a tiger and struck with tremendous force at his face. His hard knuckles36 met the panel of the door, in which they left an indelible print, and at the same time sent a sound like a distant cannon37 shot into the library.
“I’m afraid I have been a little too sharp with him,” said Mr Hazlit, assisting his daughter to replace the jewels.
Aileen agreed with him, but as nothing could induce her to condemn38 her father with her lips she made no reply.
“But,” continued the old gentleman, “the rascal39 had no right to enter my house without ringing. He might have been a thief, you know. He looked rough and coarse enough to be one.”
“Oh papa,” said Aileen entreatingly40, “don’t be too hasty in judging those who are sometimes called rough and coarse. I do assure you I’ve met many men in my district who are big and rough and coarse to look at, but who have the feelings and hearts of tender women.”
“I know it, simple one; you must not suppose that I judged him by his exterior; I judged him by his rude manner and conduct, and I do not extend my opinion of him to the whole class to which he belongs.”
It is strange—and illustrative of the occasional perversity41 of human reasoning—that Mr Hazlit did not perceive that he himself had given the diver cause to judge him, Mr Hazlit, very harshly, and the worst of it was that Maxwell did, in his wrath42, extend his opinion of the merchant to the entire class to which he belonged, expressing a deep undertoned hope that the “whole bilin’ of ’em” might end their days in a place where he spent many of his own, namely, at the bottom of the sea. It is to be presumed that he wished them to be there without the benefit of diving-dresses!
“It is curious, however,” continued Mr Hazlit, “that I had been thinking this very morning about making inquiries43 after a diver, one whom I have frequently heard spoken of as an exceedingly able and respectable man—Balding or Bolding or some such name, I think.”
“Oh! Baldwin, Joe Baldwin, as his intimate friends call him,” said Aileen eagerly. “I know him well; he is in my district.”
“What!” exclaimed Mr Hazlit, “not one of your paupers45?”
Aileen burst into a merry laugh. “No, papa, no; not a pauper44 certainly. He’s a well-off diver, and a Wesleyan—a local preacher, I believe—but he lives in my district, and is one of the most zealous46 labourers in it. Oh! If you saw him, papa, with his large burly frame and his rough bronzed kindly47 face, and broad shoulders, and deep bass48 voice and hearty49 laugh.”
The word suggested the act, for Aileen went off again at the bare idea of Joe Baldwin being a pauper—one at whose feet, she said, she delighted to sit and learn.
“Well, I’m glad to have such a good account of him from one so well able to judge,” rejoined her father, “and as I mean to go visit him without delay I’ll be obliged if you’ll give me his address.”
Having received it, the merchant sallied forth50 into those regions of the town where, albeit51 she was not a guardian of the poor, his daughter’s light figure was a much more familiar object than his own.
“Does a diver named Baldwin live here?” asked Mr Hazlit of a figure which he found standing52 in a doorway53 near the end of a narrow passage.
The figure was hazy54 and indistinct by reason of the heavy wreaths of tobacco-smoke wherewith it was enveloped55.
“Yis, sur,” replied the figure; “he lives in the door it the other ind o’ the passage. It’s not over-light here, sur; mind yer feet as ye go, an’ pay attintion to your head, for what betune holes in the floor an’ beams in the ceilin’, tall gintlemen like you, sur, come to grief sometimes.”
Thanking the figure for its civility, Mr Hazlit knocked at the door indicated, but there was no response.
“Sure it’s out they are!” cried the figure from the other end of the passage. “Joe Baldwin’s layin’ a charge under the wreck off the jetty to-day—no doubt that’s what’s kep’ ’im, and it’s washin’-day with Mrs Joe, I belave; but I’m his pardner, sur, an’ if ye’ll step this way, Mrs Machowl’ll be only too glad to see ye, sur, an’ I can take yer orders.”
Not a little amused by this free-and-easy invitation, Mr Hazlit entered a small apartment, which surprised him by its clean and tidy appearance. A pretty little Irishwoman, with a pert little turned-up nose, auburn hair so luxuriant that it could not be kept in order, and a set of teeth that glistened56 in their purity, invited him to sit down, and wiped a chair with her apron57 for his accommodation.
“You’ve got a nice little place here,” remarked the visitor, looking round him.
“Troth, sur, ye wouldn’t have said that if you’d seen it whin we first came to it. Of all the dirty places I iver saw! I belave an Irish pig would have scunnered at it, an’ held his nose till he got out. It’s very well for England, but we was used to cleaner places in the owld country. Hows’iver we’ve got it made respictable now, and we’re not hard to plaze.”
This was a crushing reply. It upset Mr Hazlit’s preconceived ideas regarding the two countries so completely that he was perplexed58. Not being a man of rapid thought he changed the subject:—
“You are a diver, you say?”
“I am, sur.”
“And Mr Baldwin’s partner—if I understand you correctly?”
“Well, we work together—whin we’re not workin’ apart—pritty regular. He took in hand to train me some months gone by, an’ as our two missusses has took a fancy to aich other, we’re likely to hold on for some time—barrin’ accidents, av coorse.”
“Well, then,” said Mr Hazlit, “I came to see Mr Baldwin about a vessel59 of mine, which was wrecked a few days ago on the coast of Wales—”
“Och! The Seagull it is,” exclaimed Rooney.
“The same; and as it is a matter of importance that I should have the wreck visited without delay, I shall be obliged by your sending your partner to my house this evening.”
Rooney promised to send Baldwin up, and took his wife Molly to witness, with much solemnity, that he would not lose a single minute. Thereafter the conversation became general, and at last the merchant left the place much shaken in his previous opinion of Irish character, and deeply impressed with the sagacity of Rooney Machowl.
The result of this visit was that Baldwin was engaged to dive for the cargo60 of the Seagull, and found himself, a few days later, busy at work on the Welsh coast with a staff of men under him, among whom were our friends Rooney Machowl and surly David Maxwell. The latter had at first declined to have anything to do with the job, but, on consideration of the wages, he changed his mind.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
divers
|
|
| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
proprietor
|
|
| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
guardian
|
|
| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
pompous
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
seaport
|
|
| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
exterior
|
|
| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
cataract
|
|
| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
lustre
|
|
| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
gems
|
|
| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
envious
|
|
| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
alabaster
|
|
| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
sterling
|
|
| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
wrecked
|
|
| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
haughty
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
scowl
|
|
| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
uncommonly
|
|
| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
pithy
|
|
| adj.(讲话或文章)简练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
bland
|
|
| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
exasperated
|
|
| adj.恼怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
knuckles
|
|
| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
condemn
|
|
| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
entreatingly
|
|
| 哀求地，乞求地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
perversity
|
|
| n.任性；刚愎自用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
pauper
|
|
| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
paupers
|
|
| n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
zealous
|
|
| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
bass
|
|
| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
albeit
|
|
| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
hazy
|
|
| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
glistened
|
|
| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |