This facetious4 probability was so congenial to the dwarf5’s humour, and so exquisitely6 amusing to him, that he laughed as he went along until the tears ran down his cheeks; and more than once, when he found himself in a bye-street, vented7 his delight in a shrill8 scream, which greatly terrifying any lonely passenger, who happened to be walking on before him expecting nothing so little, increased his mirth, and made him remarkably9 cheerful and light-hearted.
In this happy flow of spirits, Mr Quilp reached Tower Hill, when, gazing up at the window of his own sitting-room10, he thought he descried11 more light than is usual in a house of mourning. Drawing nearer, and listening attentively12, he could hear several voices in earnest conversation, among which he could distinguish, not only those of his wife and mother-in-law, but the tongues of men.
‘Ha!’ cried the jealous dwarf, ‘What’s this! Do they entertain visitors while I’m away!’
A smothered13 cough from above, was the reply. He felt in his pockets for his latch-key, but had forgotten it. There was no resource but to knock at the door.
‘A light in the passage,’ said Quilp, peeping through the keyhole. ‘A very soft knock; and, by your leave, my lady, I may yet steal upon you unawares. Soho!’
A very low and gentle rap received no answer from within. But after a second application to the knocker, no louder than the first, the door was softly opened by the boy from the wharf14, whom Quilp instantly gagged with one hand, and dragged into the street with the other.
‘You’ll throttle15 me, master,’ whispered the boy. ‘Let go, will you.’
‘Who’s up stairs, you dog?’ retorted Quilp in the same tone. ‘Tell me. And don’t speak above your breath, or I’ll choke you in good earnest.’
The boy could only point to the window, and reply with a stifled16 giggle17, expressive18 of such intense enjoyment19, that Quilp clutched him by the throat and might have carried his threat into execution, or at least have made very good progress towards that end, but for the boy’s nimbly extricating20 himself from his grasp, and fortifying21 himself behind the nearest post, at which, after some fruitless attempts to catch him by the hair of the head, his master was obliged to come to a parley22.
‘Will you answer me?’ said Quilp. ‘What’s going on, above?’
‘You won’t let one speak,’ replied the boy. ‘They — ha, ha, ha! — they think you’re — you’re dead. Ha ha ha!’
‘Dead!’ cried Quilp, relaxing into a grim laugh himself. ‘No. Do they? Do they really, you dog?’
‘They think you’re — you’re drowned,’ replied the boy, who in his malicious23 nature had a strong infusion24 of his master. ‘You was last seen on the brink25 of the wharf, and they think you tumbled over. Ha ha!’
The prospect26 of playing the spy under such delicious circumstances, and of disappointing them all by walking in alive, gave more delight to Quilp than the greatest stroke of good fortune could possibly have inspired him with. He was no less tickled27 than his hopeful assistant, and they both stood for some seconds, grinning and gasping28 and wagging their heads at each other, on either side of the post, like an unmatchable pair of Chinese idols29.
‘Not a word,’ said Quilp, making towards the door on tiptoe. ‘Not a sound, not so much as a creaking board, or a stumble against a cobweb. Drowned, eh, Mrs Quilp! Drowned!’
So saying, he blew out the candle, kicked off his shoes, and groped his way up stairs; leaving his delighted young friend in an ecstasy30 of summersets on the pavement.
The bedroom-door on the staircase being unlocked, Mr Quilp slipped in, and planted himself behind the door of communication between that chamber31 and the sitting-room, which standing32 ajar to render both more airy, and having a very convenient chink (of which he had often availed himself for purposes of espial, and had indeed enlarged with his pocket-knife), enabled him not only to hear, but to see distinctly, what was passing.
Applying his eye to this convenient place, he descried Mr Brass33 seated at the table with pen, ink, and paper, and the case-bottle of rum — his own case-bottle, and his own particular Jamaica — convenient to his hand; with hot water, fragrant34 lemons, white lump sugar, and all things fitting; from which choice materials, Sampson, by no means insensible to their claims upon his attention, had compounded a mighty35 glass of punch reeking36 hot; which he was at that very moment stirring up with a teaspoon37, and contemplating38 with looks in which a faint assumption of sentimental39 regret, struggled but weakly with a bland40 and comfortable joy. At the same table, with both her elbows upon it, was Mrs Jiniwin; no longer sipping41 other people’s punch feloniously with teaspoons42, but taking deep draughts43 from a jorum of her own; while her daughter — not exactly with ashes on her head, or sackcloth on her back, but preserving a very decent and becoming appearance of sorrow nevertheless — was reclining in an easy chair, and soothing44 her grief with a smaller allowance of the same glib45 liquid. There were also present, a couple of water-side men, bearing between them certain machines called drags; even these fellows were accommodated with a stiff glass a-piece; and as they drank with a great relish46, and were naturally of a red-nosed, pimple-faced, convivial47 look, their presence rather increased than detracted from that decided48 appearance of comfort, which was the great characteristic of the party.
‘If I could poison that dear old lady’s rum and water,’ murmured Quilp, ‘I’d die happy.’
‘Ah!’ said Mr Brass, breaking the silence, and raising his eyes to the ceiling with a sigh, ‘Who knows but he may be looking down upon us now! Who knows but he may be surveying of us from — from somewheres or another, and contemplating us with a watchful49 eye! Oh Lor!’
Here Mr Brass stopped to drink half his punch, and then resumed; looking at the other half, as he spoke50, with a dejected smile.
‘I can almost fancy,’ said the lawyer shaking his head, ‘that I see his eye glistening51 down at the very bottom of my liquor. When shall we look upon his like again? Never, never!’ One minute we are here’ — holding his tumbler before his eyes —‘the next we are there’— gulping52 down its contents, and striking himself emphatically a little below the chest —‘in the silent tomb. To think that I should be drinking his very rum! It seems like a dream.’
With the view, no doubt, of testing the reality of his position, Mr Brass pushed his tumbler as he spoke towards Mrs Jiniwin for the purpose of being replenished53; and turned towards the attendant mariners54.
‘The search has been quite unsuccessful then?’
‘Quite, master. But I should say that if he turns up anywhere, he’ll come ashore55 somewhere about Grinidge to-morrow, at ebb56 tide, eh, mate?’
The other gentleman assented57, observing that he was expected at the Hospital, and that several pensioners58 would be ready to receive him whenever he arrived.
‘Then we have nothing for it but resignation,’ said Mr Brass; ‘nothing but resignation and expectation. It would be a comfort to have his body; it would be a dreary59 comfort.’
‘Oh, beyond a doubt,’ assented Mrs Jiniwin hastily; ‘if we once had that, we should be quite sure.’
‘With regard to the descriptive advertisement,’ said Sampson Brass, taking up his pen. ‘It is a melancholy60 pleasure to recall his traits. Respecting his legs now —?’
‘Crooked61, certainly,’ said Mrs Jiniwin. ‘Do you think they WERE crooked?’ said Brass, in an insinuating62 tone. ‘I think I see them now coming up the street very wide apart, in nankeen’ pantaloons a little shrunk and without straps63. Ah! what a vale of tears we live in. Do we say crooked?’
‘I think they were a little so,’ observed Mrs Quilp with a sob64.
‘Legs crooked,’ said Brass, writing as he spoke. ‘Large head, short body, legs crooked —’
Very crooked,’ suggested Mrs Jiniwin.
‘We’ll not say very crooked, ma’am,’ said Brass piously65. ‘Let us not bear hard upon the weaknesses of the deceased. He is gone, ma’am, to where his legs will never come in question. — We will content ourselves with crooked, Mrs Jiniwin.’
‘I thought you wanted the truth,’ said the old lady. ‘That’s all.’
‘Bless your eyes, how I love you,’ muttered Quilp. ‘There she goes again. Nothing but punch!’
‘This is an occupation,’ said the lawyer, laying down his pen and emptying his glass, ‘which seems to bring him before my eyes like the Ghost of Hamlet’s father, in the very clothes that he wore on work-a-days. His coat, his waistcoat, his shoes and stockings, his trousers, his hat, his wit and humour, his pathos66 and his umbrella, all come before me like visions of my youth. His linen67!’ said Mr Brass smiling fondly at the wall, ‘his linen which was always of a particular colour, for such was his whim68 and fancy — how plain I see his linen now!’
‘You had better go on, sir,’ said Mrs Jiniwin impatiently.
‘True, ma’am, true,’ cried Mr Brass. ‘Our faculties69 must not freeze with grief. I’ll trouble you for a little more of that, ma’am. A question now arises, with relation to his nose.’
‘Flat,’ said Mrs Jiniwin.
‘Aquiline!’ cried Quilp, thrusting in his head, and striking the feature with his fist. ‘Aquiline, you hag. Do you see it? Do you call this flat? Do you? Eh?’
‘Oh capital, capital!’ shouted Brass, from the mere70 force of habit. ‘Excellent! How very good he is! He’s a most remarkable71 man — so extremely whimsical! Such an amazing power of taking people by surprise!’
Quilp paid no regard whatever to these compliments, nor to the dubious72 and frightened look into which the lawyer gradually subsided73, nor to the shrieks74 of his wife and mother-in-law, nor to the latter’s running from the room, nor to the former’s fainting away. Keeping his eye fixed75 on Sampson Brass, he walked up to the table, and beginning with his glass, drank off the contents, and went regularly round until he had emptied the other two, when he seized the case-bottle, and hugging it under his arm, surveyed him with a most extraordinary leer.
‘Not yet, Sampson,’ said Quilp. ‘Not just yet!’
‘Oh very good indeed!’ cried Brass, recovering his spirits a little. ‘Ha ha ha! Oh exceedingly good! There’s not another man alive who could carry it off like that. A most difficult position to carry off. But he has such a flow of good-humour, such an amazing flow!’
‘Good night,’ said the dwarf, nodding expressively76.
‘Good night, sir, good night,’ cried the lawyer, retreating backwards77 towards the door. ‘This is a joyful78 occasion indeed, extremely joyful. Ha ha ha! oh very rich, very rich indeed, remarkably so!’
Waiting until Mr Brass’s ejaculations died away in the distance (for he continued to pour them out, all the way down stairs), Quilp advanced towards the two men, who yet lingered in a kind of stupid amazement79.
‘Have you been dragging the river all day, gentlemen?’ said the dwarf, holding the door open with great politeness.
‘And yesterday too, master.’
‘Dear me, you’ve had a deal of trouble. Pray consider everything yours that you find upon the — upon the body. Good night!’
The men looked at each other, but had evidently no inclination80 to argue the point just then, and shuffled81 out of the room. The speedy clearance82 effected, Quilp locked the doors; and still embracing the case-bottle with shrugged-up shoulders and folded arms, stood looking at his insensible wife like a dismounted nightmare.
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收听单词发音
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1
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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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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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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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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smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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15
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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16
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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21
fortifying
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| 筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品） | |
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parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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23
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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infusion
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| n.灌输 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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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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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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29
idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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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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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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teaspoon
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| n.茶匙 | |
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38
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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41
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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42
teaspoons
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| n.茶匙( teaspoon的名词复数 )；一茶匙的量 | |
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43
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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44
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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45
glib
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| adj.圆滑的，油嘴滑舌的 | |
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46
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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47
convivial
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| adj.狂欢的，欢乐的 | |
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48
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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49
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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50
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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51
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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52
gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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53
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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54
mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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55
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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56
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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57
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pensioners
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| n.领取退休、养老金或抚恤金的人( pensioner的名词复数 ) | |
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59
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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61
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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62
insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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63
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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64
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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65
piously
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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66
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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67
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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68
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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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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70
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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72
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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73
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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74
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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75
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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76
expressively
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| ad.表示(某事物)地；表达地 | |
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77
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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78
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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79
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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80
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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81
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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82
clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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