This visit was not intended for Mr Swiveller, but for his friend and employer Mr Sampson Brass3. Both gentlemen however were from home, nor was the life and light of law, Miss Sally, at her post either. The fact of their joint4 desertion of the office was made known to all comers by a scrap5 of paper in the hand-writing of Mr Swiveller, which was attached to the bell-handle, and which, giving the reader no clue to the time of day when it was first posted, furnished him with the rather vague and unsatisfactory information that that gentleman would ‘return in an hour.’
‘There’s a servant, I suppose,’ said the dwarf6, knocking at the house-door. ‘She’ll do.’
After a sufficiently7 long interval8, the door was opened, and a small voice immediately accosted9 him with, ‘Oh please will you leave a card or message?’
‘Eh?’ said the dwarf, looking down, (it was something quite new to him) upon the small servant.
To this, the child, conducting her conversation as upon the occasion of her first interview with Mr Swiveller, again replied, ‘Oh please will you leave a card or message?’
‘I’ll write a note,’ said the dwarf, pushing past her into the office; ‘and mind your master has it directly he comes home.’ So Mr Quilp climbed up to the top of a tall stool to write the note, and the small servant, carefully tutored for such emergencies, looked on with her eyes wide open, ready, if he so much as abstracted a wafer, to rush into the street and give the alarm to the police.
As Mr Quilp folded his note (which was soon written: being a very short one) he encountered the gaze of the small servant. He looked at her, long and earnestly.
‘How are you?’ said the dwarf, moistening a wafer with horrible grimaces10.
The small servant, perhaps frightened by his looks, returned no audible reply; but it appeared from the motion of her lips that she was inwardly repeating the same form of expression concerning the note or message.
‘Do they use you ill here? is your mistress a Tartar?’ said Quilp with a chuckle11.
In reply to the last interrogation, the small servant, with a look of infinite cunning mingled12 with fear, screwed up her mouth very tight and round, and nodded violently. Whether there was anything in the peculiar13 slyness of her action which fascinated Mr Quilp, or anything in the expression of her features at the moment which attracted his attention for some other reason; or whether it merely occurred to him as a pleasant whim14 to stare the small servant out of countenance15; certain it is, that he planted his elbows square and firmly on the desk, and squeezing up his cheeks with his hands, looked at her fixedly16.
‘Where do you come from?’ he said after a long pause, stroking his chin.
‘I don’t know.’
‘What’s your name?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Nonsense!’ retorted Quilp. ‘What does your mistress call you when she wants you?’
‘A little devil,’ said the child.
She added in the same breath, as if fearful of any further questioning, ‘But please will you leave a card or message?’
These unusual answers might naturally have provoked some more inquiries17. Quilp, however, without uttering another word, withdrew his eyes from the small servant, stroked his chin more thoughtfully than before, and then, bending over the note as if to direct it with scrupulous18 and hair-breadth nicety, looked at her, covertly19 but very narrowly, from under his bushy eyebrows20. The result of this secret survey was, that he shaded his face with his hands, and laughed slyly and noiselessly, until every vein21 in it was swollen22 almost to bursting. Pulling his hat over his brow to conceal23 his mirth and its effects, he tossed the letter to the child, and hastily withdrew.
Once in the street, moved by some secret impulse, he laughed, and held his sides, and laughed again, and tried to peer through the dusty area railings as if to catch another glimpse of the child, until he was quite tired out. At last, he travelled back to the Wilderness24, which was within rifle-shot of his bachelor retreat, and ordered tea in the wooden summer-house that afternoon for three persons; an invitation to Miss Sally Brass and her brother to partake of that entertainment at that place, having been the object both of his journey and his note.
It was not precisely25 the kind of weather in which people usually take tea in summer-houses, far less in summer-houses in an advanced state of decay, and overlooking the slimy banks of a great river at low water. Nevertheless, it was in this choice retreat that Mr Quilp ordered a cold collation26 to be prepared, and it was beneath its cracked and leaky roof that he, in due course of time, received Mr Sampson and his sister Sally.
‘You’re fond of the beauties of nature,’ said Quilp with a grin. ‘Is this charming, Brass? Is it unusual, unsophisticated, primitive27?’
‘It’s delightful28 indeed, sir,’ replied the lawyer.
‘Cool?’ said Quilp.
‘N-not particularly so, I think, sir,’ rejoined Brass, with his teeth chattering29 in his head.
‘Perhaps a little damp and ague-ish?’ said Quilp.
‘Just damp enough to be cheerful, sir,’ rejoined Brass. ‘Nothing more, sir, nothing more.’
‘And Sally?’ said the delighted dwarf. ‘Does she like it?’
‘She’ll like it better,’ returned that strong-minded lady, ‘when she has tea; so let us have it, and don’t bother.’
‘Sweet Sally!’ cried Quilp, extending his arms as if about to embrace her. ‘Gentle, charming, overwhelming Sally.’
‘He’s a very remarkable30 man indeed!’ soliloquised Mr Brass. ‘He’s quite a Troubadour, you know; quite a Troubadour!’
These complimentary31 expressions were uttered in a somewhat absent and distracted manner; for the unfortunate lawyer, besides having a bad cold in his head, had got wet in coming, and would have willingly borne some pecuniary32 sacrifice if he could have shifted his present raw quarters to a warm room, and dried himself at a fire. Quilp, however — who, beyond the gratification of his demon33 whims34, owed Sampson some acknowledgment of the part he had played in the mourning scene of which he had been a hidden witness, marked these symptoms of uneasiness with a delight past all expression, and derived35 from them a secret joy which the costliest36 banquet could never have afforded him.
It is worthy37 of remark, too, as illustrating38 a little feature in the character of Miss Sally Brass, that, although on her own account she would have borne the discomforts39 of the Wilderness with a very ill grace, and would probably, indeed, have walked off before the tea appeared, she no sooner beheld40 the latent uneasiness and misery41 of her brother than she developed a grim satisfaction, and began to enjoy herself after her own manner. Though the wet came stealing through the roof and trickling42 down upon their heads, Miss Brass uttered no complaint, but presided over the tea equipage with imperturbable43 composure. While Mr Quilp, in his uproarious hospitality, seated himself upon an empty beer-barrel, vaunted the place as the most beautiful and comfortable in the three kingdoms, and elevating his glass, drank to their next merry-meeting in that jovial44 spot; and Mr Brass, with the rain plashing down into his tea-cup, made a dismal45 attempt to pluck up his spirits and appear at his ease; and Tom Scott, who was in waiting at the door under an old umbrella, exulted46 in his agonies, and bade fair to split his sides with laughing; while all this was passing, Miss Sally Brass, unmindful of the wet which dripped down upon her own feminine person and fair apparel, sat placidly47 behind the tea-board, erect48 and grizzly49, contemplating50 the unhappiness of her brother with a mind at ease, and content, in her amiable51 disregard of self, to sit there all night, witnessing the torments52 which his avaricious53 and grovelling54 nature compelled him to endure and forbade him to resent. And this, it must be observed, or the illustration would be incomplete, although in a business point of view she had the strongest sympathy with Mr Sampson, and would have been beyond measure indignant if he had thwarted55 their client in any one respect.
In the height of his boisterous56 merriment, Mr Quilp, having on some pretence57 dismissed his attendant sprite for the moment, resumed his usual manner all at once, dismounted from his cask, and laid his hand upon the lawyer’s sleeve.
‘A word,’ said the dwarf, ‘before we go farther. Sally, hark’ee for a minute.’
Miss Sally drew closer, as if accustomed to business conferences with their host which were the better for not having air.
‘Business,’ said the dwarf, glancing from brother to sister. ‘Very private business. Lay your heads together when you’re by yourselves.’
‘Certainly, sir,’ returned Brass, taking out his pocket-book and pencil. ‘I’ll take down the heads if you please, sir. Remarkable documents,’ added the lawyer, raising his eyes to the ceiling, ‘most remarkable documents. He states his points so clearly that it’s a treat to have ’em! I don’t know any act of parliament that’s equal to him in clearness.’
‘I shall deprive you of a treat,’ said Quilp. ‘Put up your book. We don’t want any documents. So. There’s a lad named Kit58 —’
Miss Sally nodded, implying that she knew of him.
‘Kit!’ said Mr Sampson. —‘Kit! Ha! I’ve heard the name before, but I don’t exactly call to mind — I don’t exactly —’
‘You’re as slow as a tortoise, and more thick-headed than a rhinoceros,’ returned his obliging client with an impatient gesture.
‘He’s extremely pleasant!’ cried the obsequious59 Sampson. ‘His acquaintance with Natural History too is surprising. Quite a Buffoon60, quite!’
There is no doubt that Mr Brass intended some compliment or other; and it has been argued with show of reason that he would have said Buffon, but made use of a superfluous61 vowel62. Be this as it may, Quilp gave him no time for correction, as he performed that office himself by more than tapping him on the head with the handle of his umbrella.
‘Don’t let’s have any wrangling,’ said Miss Sally, staying his hand. ‘I’ve showed you that I know him, and that’s enough.’
‘She’s always foremost!’ said the dwarf, patting her on the back and looking contemptuously at Sampson. ‘I don’t like Kit, Sally.’
‘Nor I,’ rejoined Miss Brass.
‘Nor I,’ said Sampson.
‘Why, that’s right!’ cried Quilp. ‘Half our work is done already. This Kit is one of your honest people; one of your fair characters; a prowling prying63 hound; a hypocrite; a double-faced, white-livered, sneaking64 spy; a crouching65 cur to those that feed and coax66 him, and a barking yelping67 dog to all besides.’
‘Fearfully eloquent68!’ cried Brass with a sneeze. ‘Quite appalling69!’
‘Come to the point,’ said Miss Sally, ‘and don’t talk so much.’
‘Right again!’ exclaimed Quilp, with another contemptuous look at Sampson, ‘always foremost! I say, Sally, he is a yelping, insolent70 dog to all besides, and most of all, to me. In short, I owe him a grudge71.’ ‘That’s enough, sir,’ said Sampson.
‘No, it’s not enough, sir,’ sneered72 Quilp; ‘will you hear me out? Besides that I owe him a grudge on that account, he thwarts73 me at this minute, and stands between me and an end which might otherwise prove a golden one to us all. Apart from that, I repeat that he crosses my humour, and I hate him. Now, you know the lad, and can guess the rest. Devise your own means of putting him out of my way, and execute them. Shall it be done?’
‘It shall, sir,’ said Sampson.
‘Then give me your hand,’ retorted Quilp. ‘Sally, girl, yours. I rely as much, or more, on you than him. Tom Scott comes back. Lantern, pipes, more grog, and a jolly night of it!’
No other word was spoken, no other look exchanged, which had the slightest reference to this, the real occasion of their meeting. The trio were well accustomed to act together, and were linked to each other by ties of mutual74 interest and advantage, and nothing more was needed. Resuming his boisterous manner with the same ease with which he had thrown it off, Quilp was in an instant the same uproarious, reckless little savage75 he had been a few seconds before. It was ten o’clock at night before the amiable Sally supported her beloved and loving brother from the Wilderness, by which time he needed the utmost support her tender frame could render; his walk being from some unknown reason anything but steady, and his legs constantly doubling up in unexpected places.
Overpowered, notwithstanding his late prolonged slumbers76, by the fatigues77 of the last few days, the dwarf lost no time in creeping to his dainty house, and was soon dreaming in his hammock. Leaving him to visions, in which perhaps the quiet figures we quitted in the old church porch were not without their share, be it our task to rejoin them as they sat and watched.
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收听单词发音
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1
bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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3
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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4
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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5
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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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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7
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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8
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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9
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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10
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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11
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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12
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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13
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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14
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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15
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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16
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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19
covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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22
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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23
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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24
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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25
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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26
collation
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| n.便餐；整理 | |
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27
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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28
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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29
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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30
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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31
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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32
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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35
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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36
costliest
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| adj.昂贵的( costly的最高级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的 | |
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37
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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illustrating
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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39
discomforts
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| n.不舒适( discomfort的名词复数 )；不愉快，苦恼 | |
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40
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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41
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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42
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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43
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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44
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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45
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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46
exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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48
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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49
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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50
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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51
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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52
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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53
avaricious
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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54
grovelling
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| adj.卑下的，奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节，奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 )；趴 | |
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55
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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56
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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57
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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58
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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60
buffoon
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| n.演出时的丑角 | |
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61
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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62
vowel
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| n.元音；元音字母 | |
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63
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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64
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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65
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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66
coax
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| v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取 | |
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67
yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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68
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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69
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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70
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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71
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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72
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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74
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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76
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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