There is a repose4 about Lant Street, in the Borough, which sheds a gentle melancholy5 upon the soul. There are always a good many houses to let in the street: it is a by-street too, and its dulness is soothing6. A house in Lant Street would not come within the denomination7 of a first-rate residence, in the strict acceptation of the term; but it is a most desirable spot nevertheless. If a man wished to abstract himself from the world — to remove himself from within the reach of temptation — to place himself beyond the possibility of any inducement to look out of the window — we should recommend him by all means go to Lant Street.
In this happy retreat are colonised a few clear-starchers, a sprinkling of journeymen bookbinders, one or two prison agents for the Insolvent8 Court, several small housekeepers9 who are employed in the Docks, a handful of mantua-makers, and a seasoning10 of jobbing tailors. The majority of the inhabitants either direct their energies to the letting of furnished apartments, or devote themselves to the healthful and invigorating pursuit of mangling11. The chief features in the still life of the street are green shutters12, lodging-bills, brass13 door-plates, and bell-handles; the principal specimens14 of animated15 nature, the pot-boy, the muffin youth, and the baked-potato man. The population is migratory16, usually disappearing on the verge17 of quarter-day, and generally by night. His Majesty’s revenues are seldom collected in this happy valley; the rents are dubious18; and the water communication is very frequently cut off.
Mr. Bob Sawyer embellished19 one side of the fire, in his first-floor front, early on the evening for which he had invited Mr. Pickwick, and Mr. Ben Allen the other. The preparations for the reception of visitors appeared to be completed. The umbrellas in the passage had been heaped into the little corner outside the back-parlour door; the bonnet20 and shawl of the landlady21’s servant had been removed from the bannisters; there were not more than two pairs of pattens on the street-door mat; and a kitchen candle, with a very long snuff, burned cheerfully on the ledge22 of the staircase window. Mr. Bob Sawyer had himself purchased the spirits at a wine vaults23 in High Street, and had returned home preceding the bearer thereof, to preclude24 the possibility of their delivery at the wrong house. The punch was ready-made in a red pan in the bedroom; a little table, covered with a green baize cloth, had been borrowed from the parlour, to play at cards on; and the glasses of the establishment, together with those which had been borrowed for the occasion from the public-house, were all drawn25 up in a tray, which was deposited on the landing outside the door.
Notwithstanding the highly satisfactory nature of all these arrangements, there was a cloud on the countenance26 of Mr. Bob Sawyer, as he sat by the fireside. There was a sympathising expression, too, in the features of Mr. Ben Allen, as he gazed intently on the coals, and a tone of melancholy in his voice, as he said, after a long silence —‘Well, it is unlucky she should have taken it in her head to turn sour, just on this occasion. She might at least have waited till to-morrow.’
‘That’s her malevolence27 — that’s her malevolence,’ returned Mr. Bob Sawyer vehemently28. ‘She says that if I can afford to give a party I ought to be able to pay her confounded “little bill.”’ ‘How long has it been running?’ inquired Mr. Ben Allen. A bill, by the bye, is the most extraordinary locomotive engine that the genius of man ever produced. It would keep on running during the longest lifetime, without ever once stopping of its own accord.
‘Only a quarter, and a month or so,’ replied Mr. Bob Sawyer.
Ben Allen coughed hopelessly, and directed a searching look between the two top bars of the stove.
‘It’ll be a deuced unpleasant thing if she takes it into her head to let out, when those fellows are here, won’t it?’ said Mr. Ben Allen at length.
‘Horrible,’ replied Bob Sawyer, ‘horrible.’ A low tap was heard at the room door. Mr. Bob Sawyer looked expressively29 at his friend, and bade the tapper come in; whereupon a dirty, slipshod girl in black cotton stockings, who might have passed for the neglected daughter of a superannuated30 dustman in very reduced circumstances, thrust in her head, and said —
‘Please, Mister Sawyer, Missis Raddle wants to speak to you.’
Before Mr. Bob Sawyer could return any answer, the girl suddenly disappeared with a jerk, as if somebody had given her a violent pull behind; this mysterious exit was no sooner accomplished31, than there was another tap at the door — a smart, pointed32 tap, which seemed to say, ‘Here I am, and in I’m coming.’
Mr, Bob Sawyer glanced at his friend with a look of abject33 apprehension34, and once more cried, ‘Come in.’
The permission was not at all necessary, for, before Mr. Bob Sawyer had uttered the words, a little, fierce woman bounced into the room, all in a tremble with passion, and pale with rage.
‘Now, Mr. Sawyer,’ said the little, fierce woman, trying to appear very calm, ‘if you’ll have the kindness to settle that little bill of mine I’ll thank you, because I’ve got my rent to pay this afternoon, and my landlord’s a-waiting below now.’ Here the little woman rubbed her hands, and looked steadily35 over Mr. Bob Sawyer’s head, at the wall behind him.
‘I am very sorry to put you to any inconvenience, Mrs. Raddle,’ said Bob Sawyer deferentially36, ‘but —’
‘Oh, it isn’t any inconvenience,’ replied the little woman, with a shrill37 titter. ‘I didn’t want it particular before to-day; leastways, as it has to go to my landlord directly, it was as well for you to keep it as me. You promised me this afternoon, Mr. Sawyer, and every gentleman as has ever lived here, has kept his word, Sir, as of course anybody as calls himself a gentleman does.’ Mrs. Raddle tossed her head, bit her lips, rubbed her hands harder, and looked at the wall more steadily than ever. It was plain to see, as Mr. Bob Sawyer remarked in a style of Eastern allegory on a subsequent occasion, that she was ‘getting the steam up.’
‘I am very sorry, Mrs. Raddle,’ said Bob Sawyer, with all imaginable humility38, ‘but the fact is, that I have been disappointed in the City to-day.’— Extraordinary place that City. An astonishing number of men always ARE getting disappointed there.
‘Well, Mr. Sawyer,’ said Mrs. Raddle, planting herself firmly on a purple cauliflower in the Kidderminster carpet, ‘and what’s that to me, Sir?’
‘I— I— have no doubt, Mrs. Raddle,’ said Bob Sawyer, blinking this last question, ‘that before the middle of next week we shall be able to set ourselves quite square, and go on, on a better system, afterwards.’
This was all Mrs. Raddle wanted. She had bustled40 up to the apartment of the unlucky Bob Sawyer, so bent41 upon going into a passion, that, in all probability, payment would have rather disappointed her than otherwise. She was in excellent order for a little relaxation42 of the kind, having just exchanged a few introductory compliments with Mr. R. in the front kitchen.
‘Do you suppose, Mr. Sawyer,’ said Mrs. Raddle, elevating her voice for the information of the neighbours —‘do you suppose that I’m a-going day after day to let a fellar occupy my lodgings as never thinks of paying his rent, nor even the very money laid out for the fresh butter and lump sugar that’s bought for his breakfast, and the very milk that’s took in, at the street door? Do you suppose a hard-working and industrious43 woman as has lived in this street for twenty year (ten year over the way, and nine year and three-quarters in this very house) has nothing else to do but to work herself to death after a parcel of lazy idle fellars, that are always smoking and drinking, and lounging, when they ought to be glad to turn their hands to anything that would help ’em to pay their bills? Do you —’
‘My good soul,’ interposed Mr. Benjamin Allen soothingly44.
‘Have the goodness to keep your observashuns to yourself, Sir, I beg,’ said Mrs. Raddle, suddenly arresting the rapid torrent45 of her speech, and addressing the third party with impressive slowness and solemnity. ‘I am not aweer, Sir, that you have any right to address your conversation to me. I don’t think I let these apartments to you, Sir.’
‘No, you certainly did not,’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘Very good, Sir,’ responded Mrs. Raddle, with lofty politeness. ‘Then p’raps, Sir, you’ll confine yourself to breaking the arms and legs of the poor people in the hospitals, and keep yourself TO yourself, Sir, or there may be some persons here as will make you, Sir.’
‘But you are such an unreasonable46 woman,’ remonstrated47 Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘I beg your parding, young man,’ said Mrs. Raddle, in a cold perspiration48 of anger. ‘But will you have the goodness just to call me that again, sir?’
‘I didn’t make use of the word in any invidious sense, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Benjamin Allen, growing somewhat uneasy on his own account.
‘I beg your parding, young man,’ demanded Mrs. Raddle, in a louder and more imperative49 tone. ‘But who do you call a woman? Did you make that remark to me, sir?’
‘Why, bless my heart!’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘Did you apply that name to me, I ask of you, sir?’ interrupted Mrs. Raddle, with intense fierceness, throwing the door wide open.
‘Why, of course I did,’ replied Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘Yes, of course you did,’ said Mrs. Raddle, backing gradually to the door, and raising her voice to its loudest pitch, for the special behoof of Mr. Raddle in the kitchen. ‘Yes, of course you did! And everybody knows that they may safely insult me in my own ‘ouse while my husband sits sleeping downstairs, and taking no more notice than if I was a dog in the streets. He ought to be ashamed of himself (here Mrs. Raddle sobbed) to allow his wife to be treated in this way by a parcel of young cutters and carvers of live people’s bodies, that disgraces the lodgings (another sob), and leaving her exposed to all manner of abuse; a base, faint-hearted, timorous50 wretch51, that’s afraid to come upstairs, and face the ruffinly creatures — that’s afraid — that’s afraid to come!’ Mrs. Raddle paused to listen whether the repetition of the taunt52 had roused her better half; and finding that it had not been successful, proceeded to descend53 the stairs with sobs54 innumerable; when there came a loud double knock at the street door; whereupon she burst into an hysterical55 fit of weeping, accompanied with dismal56 moans, which was prolonged until the knock had been repeated six times, when, in an uncontrollable burst of mental agony, she threw down all the umbrellas, and disappeared into the back parlour, closing the door after her with an awful crash.
‘Does Mr. Sawyer live here?’ said Mr. Pickwick, when the door was opened.
‘Yes,’ said the girl, ‘first floor. It’s the door straight afore you, when you gets to the top of the stairs.’ Having given this instruction, the handmaid, who had been brought up among the aboriginal57 inhabitants of Southwark, disappeared, with the candle in her hand, down the kitchen stairs, perfectly58 satisfied that she had done everything that could possibly be required of her under the circumstances.
Mr. Snodgrass, who entered last, secured the street door, after several ineffectual efforts, by putting up the chain; and the friends stumbled upstairs, where they were received by Mr. Bob Sawyer, who had been afraid to go down, lest he should be waylaid59 by Mrs. Raddle.
‘How are you?’ said the discomfited60 student. ‘Glad to see you — take care of the glasses.’ This caution was addressed to Mr. Pickwick, who had put his hat in the tray.
‘Dear me,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘I beg your pardon.’
‘Don’t mention it, don’t mention it,’ said Bob Sawyer. ‘I’m rather confined for room here, but you must put up with all that, when you come to see a young bachelor. Walk in. You’ve seen this gentleman before, I think?’ Mr. Pickwick shook hands with Mr. Benjamin Allen, and his friends followed his example. They had scarcely taken their seats when there was another double knock.
‘I hope that’s Jack61 Hopkins!’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘Hush. Yes, it is. Come up, Jack; come up.’
A heavy footstep was heard upon the stairs, and Jack Hopkins presented himself. He wore a black velvet62 waistcoat, with thunder-and-lightning buttons; and a blue striped shirt, with a white false collar.
‘You’re late, Jack?’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘Been detained at Bartholomew’s,’ replied Hopkins.
‘Anything new?’
‘No, nothing particular. Rather a good accident brought into the casualty ward39.’
‘What was that, sir?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick.
‘Only a man fallen out of a four pair of stairs’ window; but it’s a very fair case indeed.’
‘Do you mean that the patient is in a fair way to recover?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick. ‘No,’ replied Mr. Hopkins carelessly. ‘No, I should rather say he wouldn’t. There must be a splendid operation, though, to-morrow — magnificent sight if Slasher does it.’
‘You consider Mr. Slasher a good operator?’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Best alive,’ replied Hopkins. ‘Took a boy’s leg out of the socket63 last week — boy ate five apples and a gingerbread cake — exactly two minutes after it was all over, boy said he wouldn’t lie there to be made game of, and he’d tell his mother if they didn’t begin.’
‘Dear me!’ said Mr. Pickwick, astonished.
‘Pooh! That’s nothing, that ain’t,’ said Jack Hopkins. ‘Is it, Bob?’
‘Nothing at all,’ replied Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘By the bye, Bob,’ said Hopkins, with a scarcely perceptible glance at Mr. Pickwick’s attentive64 face, ‘we had a curious accident last night. A child was brought in, who had swallowed a necklace.’
‘Swallowed what, Sir?’ interrupted Mr. Pickwick. ‘A necklace,’ replied Jack Hopkins. ‘Not all at once, you know, that would be too much — you couldn’t swallow that, if the child did — eh, Mr. Pickwick? ha, ha!’ Mr. Hopkins appeared highly gratified with his own pleasantry, and continued —‘No, the way was this. Child’s parents were poor people who lived in a court. Child’s eldest65 sister bought a necklace — common necklace, made of large black wooden beads66. Child being fond of toys, cribbed the necklace, hid it, played with it, cut the string, and swallowed a bead67. Child thought it capital fun, went back next day, and swallowed another bead.’
‘Bless my heart,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘what a dreadful thing! I beg your pardon, Sir. Go on.’
‘Next day, child swallowed two beads; the day after that, he treated himself to three, and so on, till in a week’s time he had got through the necklace — five-and-twenty beads in all. The sister, who was an industrious girl, and seldom treated herself to a bit of finery, cried her eyes out, at the loss of the necklace; looked high and low for it; but, I needn’t say, didn’t find it. A few days afterwards, the family were at dinner — baked shoulder of mutton, and potatoes under it — the child, who wasn’t hungry, was playing about the room, when suddenly there was heard a devil of a noise, like a small hailstorm. “Don’t do that, my boy,” said the father. “I ain’t a-doin’ nothing,” said the child. “Well, don’t do it again,” said the father. There was a short silence, and then the noise began again, worse than ever. “If you don’t mind what I say, my boy,” said the father, “you’ll find yourself in bed, in something less than a pig’s whisper.” He gave the child a shake to make him obedient, and such a rattling68 ensued as nobody ever heard before. “Why, damme, it’s IN the child!” said the father, “he’s got the croup in the wrong place!” “No, I haven’t, father,” said the child, beginning to cry, “it’s the necklace; I swallowed it, father.”— The father caught the child up, and ran with him to the hospital; the beads in the boy’s stomach rattling all the way with the jolting69; and the people looking up in the air, and down in the cellars, to see where the unusual sound came from. He’s in the hospital now,’ said Jack Hopkins, ‘and he makes such a devil of a noise when he walks about, that they’re obliged to muffle70 him in a watchman’s coat, for fear he should wake the patients.’
‘That’s the most extraordinary case I ever heard of,’ said Mr. Pickwick, with an emphatic71 blow on the table.
‘Oh, that’s nothing,’ said Jack Hopkins. ‘Is it, Bob?’
‘Certainly not,’ replied Bob Sawyer.
‘Very singular things occur in our profession, I can assure you, Sir,’ said Hopkins.
‘So I should be disposed to imagine,’ replied Mr. Pickwick.
Another knock at the door announced a large-headed young man in a black wig72, who brought with him a scorbutic youth in a long stock. The next comer was a gentleman in a shirt emblazoned with pink anchors, who was closely followed by a pale youth with a plated watchguard. The arrival of a prim73 personage in clean linen74 and cloth boots rendered the party complete. The little table with the green baize cover was wheeled out; the first instalment of punch was brought in, in a white jug75; and the succeeding three hours were devoted76 to VINGT–ET–UN at sixpence a dozen, which was only once interrupted by a slight dispute between the scorbutic youth and the gentleman with the pink anchors; in the course of which, the scorbutic youth intimated a burning desire to pull the nose of the gentleman with the emblems77 of hope; in reply to which, that individual expressed his decided78 unwillingness79 to accept of any ‘sauce’ on gratuitous80 terms, either from the irascible young gentleman with the scorbutic countenance, or any other person who was ornamented81 with a head.
When the last ‘natural’ had been declared, and the profit and loss account of fish and sixpences adjusted, to the satisfaction of all parties, Mr. Bob Sawyer rang for supper, and the visitors squeezed themselves into corners while it was getting ready.
it was not so easily got ready as some people may imagine. First of all, it was necessary to awaken82 the girl, who had fallen asleep with her face on the kitchen table; this took a little time, and, even when she did answer the bell, another quarter of an hour was consumed in fruitless endeavours to impart to her a faint and distant glimmering83 of reason. The man to whom the order for the oysters85 had been sent, had not been told to open them; it is a very difficult thing to open an oyster84 with a limp knife and a two-pronged fork; and very little was done in this way. Very little of the beef was done either; and the ham (which was also from the German-sausage shop round the corner) was in a similar predicament. However, there was plenty of porter in a tin can; and the cheese went a great way, for it was very strong. So upon the whole, perhaps, the supper was quite as good as such matters usually are.
After supper, another jug of punch was put upon the table, together with a paper of cigars, and a couple of bottles of spirits. Then there was an awful pause; and this awful pause was occasioned by a very common occurrence in this sort of place, but a very embarrassing one notwithstanding.
The fact is, the girl was washing the glasses. The establishment boasted four: we do not record the circumstance as at all derogatory to Mrs. Raddle, for there never was a lodging-house yet, that was not short of glasses. The landlady’s glasses were little, thin, blown-glass tumblers, and those which had been borrowed from the public-house were great, dropsical, bloated articles, each supported on a huge gouty leg. This would have been in itself sufficient to have possessed86 the company with the real state of affairs; but the young woman of all work had prevented the possibility of any misconception arising in the mind of any gentleman upon the subject, by forcibly dragging every man’s glass away, long before he had finished his beer, and audibly stating, despite the winks88 and interruptions of Mr. Bob Sawyer, that it was to be conveyed downstairs, and washed forthwith.
It is a very ill wind that blows nobody any good. The prim man in the cloth boots, who had been unsuccessfully attempting to make a joke during the whole time the round game lasted, saw his opportunity, and availed himself of it. The instant the glasses disappeared, he commenced a long story about a great public character, whose name he had forgotten, making a particularly happy reply to another eminent89 and illustrious individual whom he had never been able to identify. He enlarged at some length and with great minuteness upon divers90 collateral91 circumstances, distantly connected with the anecdote92 in hand, but for the life of him he couldn’t recollect93 at that precise moment what the anecdote was, although he had been in the habit of telling the story with great applause for the last ten years.
‘Dear me,’ said the prim man in the cloth boots, ‘it is a very extraordinary circumstance.’
‘I am sorry you have forgotten it,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, glancing eagerly at the door, as he thought he heard the noise of glasses jingling94; ‘very sorry.’
‘So am I,’ responded the prim man, ‘because I know it would have afforded so much amusement. Never mind; I dare say I shall manage to recollect it, in the course of half an hour or so.’
The prim man arrived at this point just as the glasses came back, when Mr. Bob Sawyer, who had been absorbed in attention during the whole time, said he should very much like to hear the end of it, for, so far as it went, it was, without exception, the very best story he had ever heard. The sight of the tumblers restored Bob Sawyer to a degree of equanimity95 which he had not possessed since his interview with his landlady. His face brightened up, and he began to feel quite convivial96.
‘Now, Betsy,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, with great suavity97, and dispersing98, at the same time, the tumultuous little mob of glasses the girl had collected in the centre of the table —‘now, Betsy, the warm water; be brisk, there’s a good girl.’
‘You can’t have no warm water,’ replied Betsy.
‘No warm water!’ exclaimed Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘No,’ said the girl, with a shake of the head which expressed a more decided negative than the most copious99 language could have conveyed. ‘Missis Raddle said you warn’t to have none.’
The surprise depicted100 on the countenances101 of his guests imparted new courage to the host.
‘Bring up the warm water instantly — instantly!’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, with desperate sternness.
‘No. I can’t,’ replied the girl; ‘Missis Raddle raked out the kitchen fire afore she went to bed, and locked up the kittle.’
‘Oh, never mind; never mind. Pray don’t disturb yourself about such a trifle,’ said Mr. Pickwick, observing the conflict of Bob Sawyer’s passions, as depicted in his countenance, ‘cold water will do very well.’
‘Oh, admirably,’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘My landlady is subject to some slight attacks of mental derangement,’ remarked Bob Sawyer, with a ghastly smile; ‘I fear I must give her warning.’
‘No, don’t,’ said Ben Allen.
‘I fear I must,’ said Bob, with heroic firmness. ‘I’ll pay her what I owe her, and give her warning to-morrow morning.’ Poor fellow! how devoutly102 he wished he could!
Mr. Bob Sawyer’s heart-sickening attempts to rally under this last blow, communicated a dispiriting influence to the company, the greater part of whom, with the view of raising their spirits, attached themselves with extra cordiality to the cold brandy-and-water, the first perceptible effects of which were displayed in a renewal103 of hostilities104 between the scorbutic youth and the gentleman in the shirt. The belligerents105 vented87 their feelings of mutual106 contempt, for some time, in a variety of frownings and snortings, until at last the scorbutic youth felt it necessary to come to a more explicit107 understanding on the matter; when the following clear understanding took place. ‘Sawyer,’ said the scorbutic youth, in a loud voice.
‘Well, Noddy,’ replied Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘I should be very sorry, Sawyer,’ said Mr. Noddy, ‘to create any unpleasantness at any friend’s table, and much less at yours, Sawyer — very; but I must take this opportunity of informing Mr. Gunter that he is no gentleman.’
‘And I should be very sorry, Sawyer, to create any disturbance108 in the street in which you reside,’ said Mr. Gunter, ‘but I’m afraid I shall be under the necessity of alarming the neighbours by throwing the person who has just spoken, out o’ window.’
‘What do you mean by that, sir?’ inquired Mr. Noddy.
‘What I say, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter.
‘I should like to see you do it, Sir,’ said Mr. Noddy.
‘You shall FEEL me do it in half a minute, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter.
‘I request that you’ll favour me with your card, Sir,’ said Mr. Noddy.
‘I’ll do nothing of the kind, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter.
‘Why not, Sir?’ inquired Mr. Noddy.
‘Because you’ll stick it up over your chimney-piece, and delude109 your visitors into the false belief that a gentleman has been to see you, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter.
‘Sir, a friend of mine shall wait on you in the morning,’ said Mr. Noddy.
‘Sir, I’m very much obliged to you for the caution, and I’ll leave particular directions with the servant to lock up the spoons,’ replied Mr. Gunter.
At this point the remainder of the guests interposed, and remonstrated with both parties on the impropriety of their conduct; on which Mr. Noddy begged to state that his father was quite as respectable as Mr. Gunter’s father; to which Mr. Gunter replied that his father was to the full as respectable as Mr. Noddy’s father, and that his father’s son was as good a man as Mr. Noddy, any day in the week. As this announcement seemed the prelude110 to a recommencement of the dispute, there was another interference on the part of the company; and a vast quantity of talking and clamouring ensued, in the course of which Mr. Noddy gradually allowed his feelings to overpower him, and professed111 that he had ever entertained a devoted personal attachment112 towards Mr. Gunter. To this Mr. Gunter replied that, upon the whole, he rather preferred Mr. Noddy to his own brother; on hearing which admission, Mr. Noddy magnanimously rose from his seat, and proffered113 his hand to Mr. Gunter. Mr. Gunter grasped it with affecting fervour; and everybody said that the whole dispute had been conducted in a manner which was highly honourable114 to both parties concerned.
‘Now,’ said Jack Hopkins, ‘just to set us going again, Bob, I don’t mind singing a song.’ And Hopkins, incited115 thereto by tumultuous applause, plunged116 himself at once into ‘The King, God bless him,’ which he sang as loud as he could, to a novel air, compounded of the ‘Bay of Biscay,’ and ‘A Frog he would.’ The chorus was the essence of the song; and, as each gentleman sang it to the tune117 he knew best, the effect was very striking indeed.
It was at the end of the chorus to the first verse, that Mr. Pickwick held up his hand in a listening attitude, and said, as soon as silence was restored —
‘Hush! I beg your pardon. I thought I heard somebody calling from upstairs.’
A profound silence immediately ensued; and Mr. Bob Sawyer was observed to turn pale.
‘I think I hear it now,’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Have the goodness to open the door.’
The door was no sooner opened than all doubt on the subject was removed.
‘Mr. Sawyer! Mr. Sawyer!’ screamed a voice from the two-pair landing.
‘It’s my landlady,’ said Bob Sawyer, looking round him with great dismay. ‘Yes, Mrs. Raddle.’
‘What do you mean by this, Mr. Sawyer?’ replied the voice, with great shrillness118 and rapidity of utterance119. ‘Ain’t it enough to be swindled out of one’s rent, and money lent out of pocket besides, and abused and insulted by your friends that dares to call themselves men, without having the house turned out of the window, and noise enough made to bring the fire-engines here, at two o’clock in the morning? — Turn them wretches120 away.’
‘You ought to be ashamed of yourselves,’ said the voice of Mr. Raddle, which appeared to proceed from beneath some distant bed-clothes.
‘Ashamed of themselves!’ said Mrs. Raddle. ‘Why don’t you go down and knock ’em every one downstairs? You would if you was a man.’ ‘I should if I was a dozen men, my dear,’ replied Mr. Raddle pacifically, ‘but they have the advantage of me in numbers, my dear.’
‘Ugh, you coward!’ replied Mrs. Raddle, with supreme121 contempt. ‘DO you mean to turn them wretches out, or not, Mr. Sawyer?’
‘They’re going, Mrs. Raddle, they’re going,’ said the miserable122 Bob. ‘I am afraid you’d better go,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer to his friends. ‘I thought you were making too much noise.’
‘It’s a very unfortunate thing,’ said the prim man. ‘Just as we were getting so comfortable too!’ The prim man was just beginning to have a dawning recollection of the story he had forgotten.
‘It’s hardly to be borne,’ said the prim man, looking round. ‘Hardly to be borne, is it?’
‘Not to be endured,’ replied Jack Hopkins; ‘let’s have the other verse, Bob. Come, here goes!’
‘No, no, Jack, don’t,’ interposed Bob Sawyer; ‘it’s a capital song, but I am afraid we had better not have the other verse. They are very violent people, the people of the house.’
‘Shall I step upstairs, and pitch into the landlord?’ inquired Hopkins, ‘or keep on ringing the bell, or go and groan123 on the staircase? You may command me, Bob.’
‘I am very much indebted to you for your friendship and good-nature, Hopkins,’ said the wretched Mr. Bob Sawyer, ‘but I think the best plan to avoid any further dispute is for us to break up at once.’
‘Now, Mr. Sawyer,’ screamed the shrill voice of Mrs. Raddle, ‘are them brutes124 going?’
‘They’re only looking for their hats, Mrs. Raddle,’ said Bob; ‘they are going directly.’
‘Going!’ said Mrs. Raddle, thrusting her nightcap over the banisters just as Mr. Pickwick, followed by Mr. Tupman, emerged from the sitting-room125. ‘Going! what did they ever come for?’
‘My dear ma’am,’ remonstrated Mr. Pickwick, looking up.
‘Get along with you, old wretch!’ replied Mrs. Raddle, hastily withdrawing the nightcap. ‘Old enough to be his grandfather, you willin! You’re worse than any of ’em.’
Mr. Pickwick found it in vain to protest his innocence126, so hurried downstairs into the street, whither he was closely followed by Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Snodgrass. Mr. Ben Allen, who was dismally127 depressed128 with spirits and agitation129, accompanied them as far as London Bridge, and in the course of the walk confided130 to Mr. Winkle, as an especially eligible131 person to intrust the secret to, that he was resolved to cut the throat of any gentleman, except Mr. Bob Sawyer, who should aspire132 to the affections of his sister Arabella. Having expressed his determination to perform this painful duty of a brother with proper firmness, he burst into tears, knocked his hat over his eyes, and, making the best of his way back, knocked double knocks at the door of the Borough Market office, and took short naps on the steps alternately, until daybreak, under the firm impression that he lived there, and had forgotten the key.
The visitors having all departed, in compliance133 with the rather pressing request of Mrs. Raddle, the luckless Mr. Bob Sawyer was left alone, to meditate134 on the probable events of to-morrow, and the pleasures of the evening.
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lodgings
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borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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5
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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6
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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7
denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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8
insolvent
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| adj.破产的，无偿还能力的 | |
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9
housekeepers
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| n.（女）管家( housekeeper的名词复数 ) | |
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10
seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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11
mangling
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| 重整 | |
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12
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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13
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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14
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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15
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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16
migratory
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| n.候鸟，迁移 | |
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17
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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18
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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19
embellished
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| v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
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20
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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21
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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22
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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23
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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24
preclude
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| vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍 | |
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25
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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26
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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27
malevolence
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| n.恶意，狠毒 | |
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28
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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29
expressively
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| ad.表示(某事物)地；表达地 | |
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30
superannuated
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| adj.老朽的，退休的；v.因落后于时代而废除，勒令退学 | |
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31
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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32
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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33
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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34
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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35
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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36
deferentially
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| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
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37
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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38
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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39
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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40
bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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41
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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42
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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43
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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44
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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45
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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46
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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47
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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48
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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49
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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50
timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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51
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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52
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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53
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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54
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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55
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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56
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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57
aboriginal
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| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
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58
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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59
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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61
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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62
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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63
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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64
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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65
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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66
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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67
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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68
rattling
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|
| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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69
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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70
muffle
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| v.围裹；抑制；发低沉的声音 | |
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71
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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72
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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73
prim
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|
| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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74
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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75
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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76
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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77
emblems
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| n.象征，标记( emblem的名词复数 ) | |
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78
decided
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|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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79
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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80
gratuitous
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|
| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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81
ornamented
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|
| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
awaken
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|
| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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83
glimmering
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|
| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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84
oyster
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|
| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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85
oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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86
possessed
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|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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87
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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88
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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89
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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90
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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91
collateral
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| adj.平行的；旁系的；n.担保品 | |
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92
anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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93
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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94
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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95
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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96
convivial
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| adj.狂欢的，欢乐的 | |
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97
suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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98
dispersing
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| adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式 | |
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99
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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100
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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101
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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102
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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103
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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104
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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105
belligerents
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| n.交战的一方（指国家、集团或个人）( belligerent的名词复数 ) | |
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106
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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107
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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108
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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109
delude
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| vt.欺骗；哄骗 | |
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110
prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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111
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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112
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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113
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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115
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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117
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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118
shrillness
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| 尖锐刺耳 | |
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119
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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120
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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121
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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122
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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123
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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124
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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125
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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126
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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127
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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128
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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129
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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130
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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131
eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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132
aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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133
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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134
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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