There was ample time to note these particulars, for besides that they were sufficiently obvious without very close observation, some moments elapsed before any one broke silence. The child advanced timidly towards her brother and put her hand in his, the dwarf (if we may call him so) glanced keenly at all present, and the curiosity-dealer, who plainly had not expected his uncouth16 visitor, seemed disconcerted and embarrassed.
‘Ah!’ said the dwarf, who with his hand stretched out above his eyes had been surveying the young man attentively17, ‘that should be your grandson, neighbour!’
‘Say rather that he should not be,’ replied the old man. ‘But he is.’
‘And that?’ said the dwarf, pointing to Dick Swiveller.
‘Some friend of his, as welcome here as he,’ said the old man.
‘And that?’ inquired the dwarf, wheeling round and pointing straight at me.
‘A gentleman who was so good as to bring Nell home the other night when she lost her way, coming from your house.’
The little man turned to the child as if to chide18 her or express his wonder, but as she was talking to the young man, held his peace, and bent19 his head to listen.
‘Well, Nelly,’ said the young fellow aloud. ‘Do they teach you to hate me, eh?’
‘No, no. For shame. Oh, no!’ cried the child.
‘To love me, perhaps?’ pursued her brother with a sneer20.
‘To do neither,’ she returned. ‘They never speak to me about you. Indeed they never do.’
‘I dare be bound for that,’ he said, darting21 a bitter look at the grandfather. ‘I dare be bound for that Nell. Oh! I believe you there!’
‘But I love you dearly, Fred,’ said the child.
‘No doubt!’
‘I do indeed, and always will,’ the child repeated with great emotion, ‘but oh! If you would leave off vexing22 him and making him unhappy, then I could love you more.’
‘I see!’ said the young man, as he stooped carelessly over the child, and having kissed her, pushed her from him: ‘There — get you away now you have said your lesson. You needn’t whimper. We part good friends enough, if that’s the matter.’
He remained silent, following her with his eyes, until she had gained her little room and closed the door; and then turning to the dwarf, said abruptly24,
‘Harkee, Mr —’
‘Meaning me?’ returned the dwarf. ‘Quilp is my name. You might remember. It’s not a long one — Daniel Quilp.’
‘Harkee, Mr Quilp, then,’ pursued the other, ‘You have some influence with my grandfather there.’
‘Some,’ said Mr Quilp emphatically.
‘And are in a few of his mysteries and secrets.’
‘A few,’ replied Quilp, with equal dryness.
‘Then let me tell him once for all, through you, that I will come into and go out of this place as often as I like, so long as he keeps Nell here; and that if he wants to be quit of me, he must first be quit of her. What have I done to be made a bugbear of, and to be shunned25 and dreaded27 as if I brought the plague? He’ll tell you that I have no natural affection; and that I care no more for Nell, for her own sake, than I do for him. Let him say so. I care for the whim23, then, of coming to and fro and reminding her of my existence. I WILL see her when I please. That’s my point. I came here to-day to maintain it, and I’ll come here again fifty times with the same object and always with the same success. I said I would stop till I had gained it. I have done so, and now my visit’s ended. Come Dick.’
‘Stop!’ cried Mr Swiveller, as his companion turned toward the door. ‘Sir!’
‘Sir, I am your humble28 servant,’ said Mr Quilp, to whom the monosyllable was addressed.
‘Before I leave the gay and festive30 scene, and halls of dazzling light, sir,’ said Mr Swiveller, ‘I will with your permission, attempt a slight remark. I came here, sir, this day, under the impression that the old min was friendly.’
‘Proceed, sir,’ said Daniel Quilp; for the orator31 had made a sudden stop.
‘Inspired by this idea and the sentiments it awakened32, sir, and feeling as a mutual33 friend that badgering, baiting, and bullying34, was not the sort of thing calculated to expand the souls and promote the social harmony of the contending parties, I took upon myself to suggest a course which is THE course to be adopted to the present occasion. Will you allow me to whisper half a syllable29, sir?’
Without waiting for the permission he sought, Mr Swiveller stepped up to the dwarf, and leaning on his shoulder and stooping down to get at his ear, said in a voice which was perfectly35 audible to all present,
‘The watch-word to the old min is — fork.’
‘Is what?’ demanded Quilp.
‘Is fork, sir, fork,’ replied Mr Swiveller slapping his picket36. ‘You are awake, sir?’
The dwarf nodded. Mr Swiveller drew back and nodded likewise, then drew a little further back and nodded again, and so on. By these means he in time reached the door, where he gave a great cough to attract the dwarf’s attention and gain an opportunity of expressing in dumb show, the closest confidence and most inviolable secrecy37. Having performed the serious pantomime that was necessary for the due conveyance38 of these idea, he cast himself upon his friend’s track, and vanished.
‘Humph!’ said the dwarf with a sour look and a shrug39 of his shoulders, ‘so much for dear relations. Thank God I acknowledge none! Nor need you either,’ he added, turning to the old man, ‘if you were not as weak as a reed, and nearly as senseless.’
‘What would you have me do?’ he retorted in a kind of helpless desperation. ‘It is easy to talk and sneer. What would you have me do?’
‘What would I do if I was in your case?’ said the dwarf.
‘Something violent, no doubt.’
‘You’re right there,’ returned the little man, highly gratified by the compliment, for such he evidently considered it; and grinning like a devil as he rubbed his dirty hands together. ‘Ask Mrs Quilp, pretty Mrs Quilp, obedient, timid, loving Mrs Quilp. But that reminds me — I have left her all alone, and she will be anxious and know not a moment’s peace till I return. I know she’s always in that condition when I’m away, thought she doesn’t dare to say so, unless I lead her on and tell her she may speak freely and I won’t be angry with her. Oh! well-trained Mrs Quilp.
The creature appeared quite horrible with his monstrous40 head and little body, as he rubbed his hands slowly round, and round, and round again — with something fantastic even in his manner of performing this slight action — and, dropping his shaggy brows and cocking his chin in the air, glanced upward with a stealthy look of exultation41 that an imp12 might have copied and appropriated to himself.
‘Here,’ he said, putting his hand into his breast and sidling up to the old man as he spoke42; ‘I brought it myself for fear of accidents, as, being in gold, it was something large and heavy for Nell to carry in her bag. She need be accustomed to such loads betimes thought, neighbor, for she will carry weight when you are dead.’
‘Heaven send she may! I hope so,’ said the old man with something like a groan43.’
‘Hope so!’ echoed the dwarf, approaching close to his ear; ‘neighbour, I would I knew in what good investment all these supplies are sunk. But you are a deep man, and keep your secret close.’
‘My secret!’ said the other with a haggard look. ‘Yes, you’re right — I— I— keep it close — very close.’
He said no more, but taking the money turned away with a slow, uncertain step, and pressed his hand upon his head like a weary and dejected man. the dwarf watched him sharply, while he passed into the little sitting-room44 and locked it in an iron safe above the chimney-piece; and after musing45 for a short space, prepared to take his leave, observing that unless he made good haste, Mrs Quilp would certainly be in fits on his return.
‘And so, neighbour,’ he added, ‘I’ll turn my face homewards, leaving my love for Nelly and hoping she may never lose her way again, though her doing so HAS procured46 me an honour I didn’t expect.’ With that he bowed and leered at me, and with a keen glance around which seemed to comprehend every object within his range of vision, however, small or trivial, went his way.
I had several times essayed to go myself, but the old man had always opposed it and entreated47 me to remain. As he renewed his entreaties48 on our being left along, and adverted49 with many thanks to the former occasion of our being together, I willingly yielded to his persuasions50, and sat down, pretending to examine some curious miniatures and a few old medals which he placed before me. It needed no great pressing to induce me to stay, for if my curiosity has been excited on the occasion of my first visit, it certainly was not diminished now.
Nell joined us before long, and bringing some needle-work to the table, sat by the old man’s side. It was pleasant to observe the fresh flowers in the room, the pet bird with a green bough51 shading his little cage, the breath of freshness and youth which seemed to rustle52 through the old dull house and hover53 round the child. It was curious, but not so pleasant, to turn from the beauty and grace of the girl, to the stooping figure, care-worn face, and jaded54 aspect of the old man. As he grew weaker and more feeble, what would become of this lonely litle creature; poor protector as he was, say that he died — what we be her fate, then?
The old man almost answered my thoughts, as he laid his hand on hers, and spoke aloud.
‘I’ll be of better cheer, Nell,’ he said; ‘there must be good fortune in store for thee — I do not ask it for myself, but thee. Such miseries55 must fall on thy innocent head without it, that I cannot believe but that, being tempted56, it will come at last!’
She looked cheerfully into his face, but made no answer.
‘When I think,’ said he, ‘of the many years — many in thy short life — that thou has lived with me; of my monotonous57 existence, knowing no companions of thy own age nor any childish pleasures; of the solitutde in which thou has grown to be what thou art, and in which thou hast lived apart from nearly all thy kind but one old man; I sometimes fear I have dealt hardly by thee, Nell.’
‘Grandfather!’ cried the child in unfeigned surprise.
‘Not in intention — no no,’ said he. ‘I have ever looked forward to the time that should enable thee to mix among the gayest and prettiest, and take thy station with the best. But I still look forward, Nell, I still look forward, and if I should be forced to leave thee, meanwhile, how have I fitted thee for struggles with the world? The poor bird yonder is as well qualified58 to encounter it, and be turned adrift upon its mercies — Hark! I hear Kit59 outside. Go to him, Nell, go to him.’
She rose, and hurrying away, stopped, turned back, and put her arms about the old man’s neck, then left him and hurried away again — but faster this time, to hide her falling tears.
‘A word in your ear, sir,’ said the old man in a hurried whisper. ‘I have been rendered uneasy by what you said the other night, and can only plead that I have done all for the best — that it is too late to retract60, if I could (though I cannot)— and that I hope to triumph yet. All is for her sake. I have borne great poverty myself, and would spare her the sufferings that poverty carries with it. I would spare her the miseries that brought her mother, my own dear child, to an early grave. I would leave her — not with resources which could be easily spent or squandered61 away, but with what would place her beyond the reach of want for ever. you mark me sir? She shall have no pittance62, but a fortune — Hush63! I can say no more than that, now or at any other time, and she is here again!’
The eagerness with which all this was poured into my ear, the trembling of the hand with which he clasped my arm, the strained and starting eyes he fixed64 upon me, the wild vehemence65 and agitation66 of his manner, filled me with amazement67. All that I had heard and seen, and a great part of what he had said himself, led me to suppose that he was a wealthy man. I could form no comprehension of his character, unless he were one of those miserable68 wretches69 who, having made gain the sole end and object of their lives and having succeeded in amassing70 great riches, are constantly tortured by the dread26 of poverty, and best by fears of loss and ruin. Many things he had said which I had been at a loss to understand, were quite reconcilable with the idea thus presented to me, and at length I concluded that beyond all doubt he was one of this unhappy race.
The opinion was not the result of hasty consideration, for which indeed there was no opportunity at that time, as the child came directly, and soon occupied herself in preparations for giving Kit a writing lesson, of which it seemed he had a couple every week, and one regularly on that evening, to the great mirth and enjoyment71 both of himself and his instructress. To relate how it was a long time before his modesty72 could be so far prevailed upon as it admit of his sitting down in the parlour, in the presence of an unknown gentleman — how, when he did set down, he tucked up his sleeves and squared his elbows and put his face close to the copy-book and squinted73 horribly at the lines — how, from the very first moment of having the pen in his hand, he began to wallow in blots74, and to daub himself with ink up to the very roots of his hair — how, if he did by accident form a letter properly, he immediately smeared75 it out again with his arm in his preparations to make another — how, at every fresh mistake, there was a fresh burst of merriment from the child and louder and not less hearty76 laugh from poor Kit himself — and how there was all the way through, notwithstanding, a gentle wish on her part to teach, and an anxious desire on his to learn — to relate all these particulars would no doubt occupy more space and time than they deserve. It will be sufficient to say that the lesson was given — that evening passed and night came on — that the old man again grew restless and impatient — that he quitted the house secretly at the same hour as before — and that the child was once more left alone within its gloomy walls.
And now that I have carried this history so far in my own character and introduced these personages to the reader, I shall for the convenience of the narrative77 detach myself from its further course, and leave those who have prominent and necessary parts in it to speak and act for themselves.
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1
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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frowzy
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| adj.不整洁的；污秽的 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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chide
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| v.叱责；谴责 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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vexing
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| adj.使人烦恼的，使人恼火的v.使烦恼( vex的现在分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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27
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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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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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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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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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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46
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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47
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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adverted
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| 引起注意（advert的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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persuasions
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| n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰 | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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53
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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54
jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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55
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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56
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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60
retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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61
squandered
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| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
pittance
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| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
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63
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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64
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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65
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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66
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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amassing
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 ) | |
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71
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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72
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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73
squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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74
blots
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| 污渍( blot的名词复数 )； 墨水渍； 错事； 污点 | |
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75
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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76
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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77
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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