Foremost among those leaving cards at the eminently aristocratic door before it is quite painted, are the Veneerings: out of breath, one might imagine, from the impetuosity of their rush to the eminently aristocratic steps. One copper-plate Mrs Veneering, two copper-plate Mr Veneerings, and a connubial4 copper-plate Mr and Mrs Veneering, requesting the honour of Mr and Mrs Boffin’s company at dinner with the utmost Analytical5 solemnities. The enchanting6 Lady Tippins leaves a card. Twemlow leaves cards. A tall custard-coloured phaeton tooling up in a solemn manner leaves four cards, to wit, a couple of Mr Podsnaps, a Mrs Podsnap, and a Miss Podsnap. All the world and his wife and daughter leave cards. Sometimes the world’s wife has so many daughters, that her card reads rather like a Miscellaneous Lot at an Auction7; comprising Mrs Tapkins, Miss Tapkins, Miss Frederica Tapkins, Miss Antonina Tapkins, Miss Malvina Tapkins, and Miss Euphemia Tapkins; at the same time, the same lady leaves the card of Mrs Henry George Alfred Swoshle, NEE Tapkins; also, a card, Mrs Tapkins at Home, Wednesdays, Music, Portland Place.
Miss Bella Wilfer becomes an inmate8, for an indefinite period, of the eminently aristocratic dwelling9. Mrs Boffin bears Miss Bella away to her Milliner’s and Dressmaker’s, and she gets beautifully dressed. The Veneerings find with swift remorse10 that they have omitted to invite Miss Bella Wilfer. One Mrs Veneering and one Mr and Mrs Veneering requesting that additional honour, instantly do penance11 in white cardboard on the hall table. Mrs Tapkins likewise discovers her omission12, and with promptitude repairs it; for herself; for Miss Tapkins, for Miss Frederica Tapkins, for Miss Antonina Tapkins, for Miss Malvina Tapkins, and for Miss Euphemia Tapkins. Likewise, for Mrs Henry George Alfred Swoshle NEE Tapkins. Likewise, for Mrs Tapkins at Home, Wednesdays, Music, Portland Place.
Tradesmen’s books hunger, and tradesmen’s mouths water, for the gold dust of the Golden Dustman. As Mrs Boffin and Miss Wilfer drive out, or as Mr Boffin walks out at his jog-trot pace, the fishmonger pulls off his hat with an air of reverence13 founded on conviction. His men cleanse14 their fingers on their woollen aprons15 before presuming to touch their foreheads to Mr Boffin or Lady. The gaping16 salmon17 and the golden mullet lying on the slab18 seem to turn up their eyes sideways, as they would turn up their hands if they had any, in worshipping admiration19. The butcher, though a portly and a prosperous man, doesn’t know what to do with himself; so anxious is he to express humility20 when discovered by the passing Boffins taking the air in a mutton grove22. Presents are made to the Boffin servants, and bland23 strangers with businesscards meeting said servants in the street, offer hypothetical corruption24. As, ‘Supposing I was to be favoured with an order from Mr Boffin, my dear friend, it would be worth my while’— to do a certain thing that I hope might not prove wholly disagreeable to your feelings.
But no one knows so well as the Secretary, who opens and reads the letters, what a set is made at the man marked by a stroke of notoriety. Oh the varieties of dust for ocular use, offered in exchange for the gold dust of the Golden Dustman! Fifty-seven churches to be erected25 with half-crowns, forty-two parsonage houses to be repaired with shillings, seven-and-twenty organs to be built with halfpence, twelve hundred children to be brought up on postage stamps. Not that a half-crown, shilling, halfpenny, or postage stamp, would be particularly acceptable from Mr Boffin, but that it is so obvious he is the man to make up the deficiency. And then the charities, my Christian26 brother! And mostly in difficulties, yet mostly lavish27, too, in the expensive articles of print and paper. Large fat private double letter, sealed with ducal coronet. ‘Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire. My Dear Sir — Having consented to preside at the forthcoming Annual Dinner of the Family Party Fund, and feeling deeply impressed with the immense usefulness of that noble Institution and the great importance of its being supported by a List of Stewards28 that shall prove to the public the interest taken in it by popular and distinguished30 men, I have undertaken to ask you to become a Steward29 on that occasion. Soliciting31 your favourable33 reply before the 14th instant, I am, My Dear Sir, Your faithful Servant, LINSEED. P.S. The Steward’s fee is limited to three Guineas.’ Friendly this, on the part of the Duke of Linseed (and thoughtful in the postscript), only lithographed by the hundred and presenting but a pale individuality of an address to Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, in quite another hand. It takes two noble Earls and a Viscount, combined, to inform Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, in an equally flattering manner, that an estimable lady in the West of England has offered to present a purse containing twenty pounds, to the Society for Granting Annuities34 to Unassuming Members of the Middle Classes, if twenty individuals will previously35 present purses of one hundred pounds each. And those benevolent36 noblemen very kindly37 point out that if Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, should wish to present two or more purses, it will not be inconsistent with the design of the estimable lady in the West of England, provided each purse be coupled with the name of some member of his honoured and respected family.
These are the corporate38 beggars. But there are, besides, the individual beggars; and how does the heart of the Secretary fail him when he has to cope with THEM! And they must be coped with to some extent, because they all enclose documents (they call their scraps39 documents; but they are, as to papers deserving the name, what minced40 veal41 is to a calf), the non-return of which would be their ruin. That is say, they are utterly42 ruined now, but they would be more utterly ruined then. Among these correspondents are several daughters of general officers, long accustomed to every luxury of life (except spelling), who little thought, when their gallant43 fathers waged war in the Peninsula, that they would ever have to appeal to those whom Providence44, in its inscrutable wisdom, has blessed with untold45 gold, and from among whom they select the name of Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, for a maiden46 effort in this wise, understanding that he has such a heart as never was. The Secretary learns, too, that confidence between man and wife would seem to obtain but rarely when virtue47 is in distress48, so numerous are the wives who take up their pens to ask Mr Boffin for money without the knowledge of their devoted49 husbands, who would never permit it; while, on the other hand, so numerous are the husbands who take up their pens to ask Mr Boffin for money without the knowledge of their devoted wives, who would instantly go out of their senses if they had the least suspicion of the circumstance. There are the inspired beggars, too. These were sitting, only yesterday evening, musing50 over a fragment of candle which must soon go out and leave them in the dark for the rest of their nights, when surely some Angel whispered the name of Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, to their souls, imparting rays of hope, nay51 confidence, to which they had long been strangers! Akin21 to these are the suggestively-befriended beggars. They were partaking of a cold potato and water by the flickering52 and gloomy light of a lucifer-match, in their lodgings53 (rent considerably54 in arrear55, and heartless landlady56 threatening expulsion ‘like a dog’ into the streets), when a gifted friend happening to look in, said, ‘Write immediately to Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire,’ and would take no denial. There are the nobly independent beggars too. These, in the days of their abundance, ever regarded gold as dross58, and have not yet got over that only impediment in the way of their amassing59 wealth, but they want no dross from Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire; No, Mr Boffin; the world may term it pride, paltry60 pride if you will, but they wouldn’t take it if you offered it; a loan, sir — for fourteen weeks to the day, interest calculated at the rate of five per cent per annum, to be bestowed61 upon any charitable institution you may name — is all they want of you, and if you have the meanness to refuse it, count on being despised by these great spirits. There are the beggars of punctual business-habits too. These will make an end of themselves at a quarter to one P.M. on Tuesday, if no Postoffice order is in the interim62 received from Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire; arriving after a quarter to one P.M. on Tuesday, it need not be sent, as they will then (having made an exact memorandum63 of the heartless circumstances) be ‘cold in death.’ There are the beggars on horseback too, in another sense from the sense of the proverb. These are mounted and ready to start on the highway to affluence64. The goal is before them, the road is in the best condition, their spurs are on, the steed is willing, but, at the last moment, for want of some special thing — a clock, a violin, an astronomical65 telescope, an electrifying66 machine — they must dismount for ever, unless they receive its equivalent in money from Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire. Less given to detail are the beggars who make sporting ventures. These, usually to be addressed in reply under initials at a country post-office, inquire in feminine hands, Dare one who cannot disclose herself to Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, but whose name might startle him were it revealed, solicit32 the immediate57 advance of two hundred pounds from unexpected riches exercising their noblest privilege in the trust of a common humanity?
In such a Dismal67 Swamp does the new house stand, and through it does the Secretary daily struggle breast-high. Not to mention all the people alive who have made inventions that won’t act, and all the jobbers68 who job in all the jobberies jobbed; though these may be regarded as the Alligators69 of the Dismal Swamp, and are always lying by to drag the Golden Dustman under.
But the old house. There are no designs against the Golden Dustman there? There are no fish of the shark tribe in the Bower70 waters? Perhaps not. Still, Wegg is established there, and would seem, judged by his secret proceedings71, to cherish a notion of making a discovery. For, when a man with a wooden leg lies prone72 on his stomach to peep under bedsteads; and hops73 up ladders, like some extinct bird, to survey the tops of presses and cupboards; and provides himself an iron rod which he is always poking74 and prodding75 into dust-mounds; the probability is that he expects to find something.
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1
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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connubial
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| adj.婚姻的，夫妇的 | |
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analytical
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| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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aprons
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| 围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份） | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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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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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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30
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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soliciting
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| v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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solicit
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| vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意) | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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annuities
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| n.养老金；年金( annuity的名词复数 )；（每年的）养老金；年金保险；年金保险投资 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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corporate
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| adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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minced
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| v.切碎( mince的过去式和过去分词 )；剁碎；绞碎；用绞肉机绞（食物，尤指肉） | |
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veal
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| n.小牛肉 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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50
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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51
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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52
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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arrear
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| n.欠款 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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57
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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dross
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| n.渣滓；无用之物 | |
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amassing
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 ) | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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affluence
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| n.充裕，富足 | |
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astronomical
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| adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的 | |
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66
electrifying
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| v.使电气化( electrify的现在分词 )；使兴奋 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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jobbers
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| n.做零活的人( jobber的名词复数 )；营私舞弊者；股票经纪人；证券交易商 | |
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alligators
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| n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 ) | |
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70
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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71
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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hops
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| 跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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74
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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prodding
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| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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