In all its phases, whistling is an interesting subject of study; whether we regard its aptitude2 for expressing personal independence, recklessness, and jollity; its antiquity—having begun no doubt with Adam—or its modes of production; as, when created grandly by the whistling gale3, or exasperatingly4 by the locomotive, or gushingly5 by the lark6, or sweetly by the little birds that “warble in the flowering thorn.”
The peculiar7 phase of this time-honoured music to which we wish to draw the reader’s attention at present, is that which was exemplified one November night (the same November night of which mention has been made in the previous chapter) by a small boy who, in his progress through the streets of London, was arrested suddenly under the shadow of St. Paul’s by the bright glare and the tempting8 fare of a pastry-cook’s window.
Being hungry, the small boy, thrusting his cold hands deep into his empty trouser-pockets, turned his fat little face and round blue eyes full on the window, and stared at the tarts9 and pies like a famishing owl10. Being poor—so poor that he possessed11 not the smallest coin of the realm—he stared in vain; and, being light of heart as well as stout12 of limb, he relieved his feelings by whistling at the food with inexpressible energy.
The air selected by the young musician was Jim Crow—a sable13 melody high in public favour at that time—the familiar strains of which he delivered with shrill14 and tuneful precision, which intensified16 as he continued to gaze, until they rose above the din17 of cabs, vans, and ’busses; above the house-tops, above the walls of the great cathedral, and finally awakened18 the echoes of its roof, which, coming out, from the crevices19 and cornices where they usually slept, went dancing upwards20 on the dome21, and played around the golden cross that glimmered22 like a ghost in the dark wintry sky.
The music also awakened the interest of a tall policeman whose beat that night chanced to be St. Paul’s Churchyard. That sedate23 guardian24 of the night, observing that the small boy slightly impeded25 the thoroughfare, sauntered up to him, and just as he reached that point in the chorus where Mr Crow is supposed to wheel and turn himself about, spun26 him round and gave him a gentle rap on the head with his knuckles27, at the same time advising him to move on.
“Oh!” exclaimed the small boy, looking up with an expression of deep concern on his countenance28, as he backed off the pavement, “I hope I didn’t hurt you, bobby; I really didn’t mean to; but accidents will happen, you know, an’ if you won’t keep your knuckles out of a feller’s way, why—”
“Come,” muttered the policeman, “shut up your potato-trap for fear you catch cold. Your mother wants you; she’s got some pap ready for you.”
“Ha!” exclaimed the small boy, with his head a little on one side, as though he were critically inspecting the portrait of some curious animal, “a prophet it is—a blue-coated prophet in brass29 buttons, all but choked with a leather stock—if not conceit30. A horacle, six fut two in its stockin’s. I say, bobby, whoever brought you up carried you up much too high, both in body and notions. Wot wouldn’t they give for ’im in the Guards, or the hoss-marines, if he was only eight inches wider across the shoulders!”
Seeing that the policeman passed slowly and gravely on without condescending31 to take further notice of him, the small boy bade him an affectionate farewell; said that he would not forget to mention him favourably32 at head-quarters, and then continued his progress through the crowded streets at a smart pace, whistling Jim Crow at the top of his shrill pipe.
The small boy had a long walk before him; but neither his limbs, spirits, nor lips grew weary by the way. Indeed, his energies seemed to increase with every step, if one might judge from the easy swagger of his gait, and the various little touches of pleasantry in which he indulged from time to time; such as pulling the caps over the eyes of boys smaller than himself, winking33 at those who were bigger, uttering Indian war-whoops down alleys34 and lanes that looked as if they could echo, and chaffing all who appeared to be worthy35 of his attentions. Those eccentricities36 of humour, however, did not divert his active mind from the frequent and earnest study of the industrial arts, as these were exhibited and exemplified in shop-windows.
“Jolly stuff that, ain’t it?” observed another small boy, in a coat much too long for him, as they met and stopped in front of a chocolate-shop at the top of Holborn Hill, where a steam-engine was perpetually grinding up such quantities of rich brown chocolate, that it seemed quite unreasonable37, selfish, and dog-in-the-manger-ish of the young man behind the counter to stand there, and neither eat it himself, nor let anyone else touch it.
“Yes, it’s very jolly stuff,” replied the first small boy, regarding his questioner sternly. “I know you’d like some, wouldn’t you? Go in now an’ buy two pen’orth, and I’ll buy the half from you w’en you come out.”
“Walker!” replied the boy in the long coat.
“Just so; and I’d advise you to become a walker too,” retorted the other; “run away now, your master’s bin38 askin’ after you for half an hour, I know, and more.”
Without waiting for a reply, the small boy (our small boy) swaggered away whistling louder than ever.
Passing along Holborn, he continued his way into Oxford39 Street, where the print-shop windows proved irresistibly40 attractive. They seemed also to have the effect of stimulating41 his intellectual and conceptive faculties42, insomuch that he struck out several new, and, to himself, highly entertaining pieces of pleasantry, one of which consisted of asking a taciturn cabman, in the meekest43 of voices:
“Please, sir, you couldn’t tell me wot’s o’clock, could you?”
The cabman observed a twinkle in the boy’s eye; saw through him; in a metaphorical45 sense, and treated him with silent contempt.
“Oh, I beg pardon, sir,” continued the small boy, in the same meek44 tone, as he turned to move humbly46 away; “I forgot to remember that cabbies don’t carry no watches, no, nor change neither, they’re much too wide awake for that!”
A sudden motion of the taciturn cabman caused the small boy to dart47 suddenly to the other side of the crowded street, where he resumed his easy independent air, and his interrupted tune15.
“Can you direct me to Nottin’ Hill Gate, missus?” he inquired of an applewoman, on reaching the neighbourhood of Tottenham Court Road.
“Straight on as you go, boy,” answered the woman, who was busying herself about her stall.
“Very good indeed,” said the small boy, with a patronising air; “quite correctly answered. You’ve learnt geography, I see.”
“What say?” inquired the woman, who was apparently48 a little deaf.
“I was askin’ the price o’ your oranges, missus.”
“One penny apiece,” said the woman, taking up one.
To this the woman vouchsafed50 no reply.
“Come, missus, don’t be cross; wot’s the price o’ yer apples now?”
“Of course I does.”
“Well, then, they’re two a penny.”
“Two a penny!” cried the small boy, with a look of surprise; “why, I’d ’a said they was a penny apiece. Good evenin’, missus; I never buys cheap fruit—cheap and nasty—no, no; good evenin’.”
It seemed as if the current of the small boy’s thoughts had been diverted by this conversation, for he walked for some time with his eyes cast on the ground, and without whistling, but whatever the feelings were that might have been working in his mind, they were speedily put to flight by a facetious52 butcher, who pulled his hat over his eyes as he passed him.
“Now then, pig-sticker, what d’ye mean by that?” he shouted, but as the butcher walked on without deigning53 to reply, he let off his indignation by yelling in at the open door of a tobacco-shop and making off at a brisk run.
From this point in his progress, he became still more hilarious54 and daring in his freaks, and turned aside once or twice into narrow streets, where sounds of shouting or of music promised him fresh excitement.
On turning the corner of one of those streets, he passed a wide doorway55, by the side of which was a knob with the word FIRE in conspicuous56 letters above it, and the word BELL below it. The small boy paused, caught his breath as if a sudden thought had struck him, and glanced round. The street was comparatively quiet; his heart beat high; he seized the bell with both hands, pulled it full out, and bolted!
Now it chanced that one of the firemen of the station happened to be standing57 close to the door, inside, at the time. He, guessing the meaning of the ring at once, darted58 out and gave chase.
The small boy fled on the wings of terror, with his blue eyes starting from their sockets59. The fireman was tall and heavy, but he was also strong and in his prime, so that a short run brought him up with the fugitive60, whom he seized with a grip of iron.
“Now, then, young bottle-imp, what did you mean by that?”
There was such a tone of truthfulness63 in this “couldn’t” that it tickled64 the fireman. His mouth relaxed in a quiet smile, and, releasing his intended victim, he returned to the station, while the small boy darted away in the direction of Oxford Street.
He had scarcely reached the end of the street, however, when a man turned the corner at full speed and ran him down—ran him down so completely that he sent him head-over-heels into the kennel65, and, passing on, darted at the fire-bell of the station, which he began to pull violently.
The man was tall and dishevelled, partially66 clad in blue velvet67, with stockings which had once been white, but were now covered from garter to toe with mud. One shoe clung to his left foot, the other was fixed68 by the heel in a grating over a cellar-window in Tottenham Court Road. Without hat or coat, with his shirt-sleeves torn by those unfortunates into whose arms he had wildly rushed, with his hair streaming backwards69, his eyes blood-shot, his face pale as marble, and perspiration70 running down his cheeks, not even his own most intimate friends would have recognised Hopkins—the staid, softspoken, polite, and gentle Hopkins—had they seen him that night pulling like a maniac71 at the fire-bell.
And, without doubt, Hopkins was a maniac that night—at least he was afflicted72 with temporary insanity73!
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1
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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exasperatingly
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gushingly
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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7
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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tarts
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| n.果馅饼( tart的名词复数 )；轻佻的女人；妓女；小妞 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sedate
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| adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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knuckles
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| 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 | |
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28
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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32
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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33
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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34
alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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35
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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36
eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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37
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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38
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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39
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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40
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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41
stimulating
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| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
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42
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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43
meekest
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的最高级 ) | |
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44
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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45
metaphorical
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| a.隐喻的，比喻的 | |
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46
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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47
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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48
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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49
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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50
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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51
testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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52
facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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53
deigning
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
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54
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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55
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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56
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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57
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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58
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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59
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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60
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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62
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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truthfulness
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| n. 符合实际 | |
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64
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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65
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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66
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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67
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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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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69
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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72
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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