Another bright autumnal day, with just breeze enough to fill the sails of the cutter. On his breakfast-table, from the post-office of Ware9, lay a letter, posted over-night, at Gylingden, by his newly revealed good angel, “very truly, his,” Jos. Larkin. It said —
“MY DEAR SIR — The interview with which you this morning honoured me, conveyed more fully10 even than your note implies your wishes on the subject of it. Believe me, I needed no fresh incentive11 to exertion12 in a matter so pregnant with serious results, and shall be only too happy to expend13 thought, time, and money, in securing with promptitude a successful termination of what in dilatory14 or inexperienced hands might possibly prove a most tedious and distressing15 case. I have before me directions of proofs on which I have partially16 acted, and mean in the sequel to do so completely. I may mention that there awaited me on my arrival a letter from my agent, to whom I more particularly referred in the conversation, which you were pleased to invite this morning, conveying information of very high importance, of which I shall be happy to apprise17 you in detail, when next I have the honour of a conference. I am not quite clear as to whether I mentioned this morning a person named Dingwell? —”
“No, you did not,” interpolated Cleve.
“Who,” continued the letter, “resides under circumstances of considerable delicacy18 on his part, at Constantinople, and who has hitherto acted as the correspondent and agent of the Jewish firm, through whom the Dowager Lady Verney and your uncle, the Hon. Kiffyn Fulke Verney, were accustomed, with a punctuality so honourable19 to their feelings, to forward the respective annuities20, which they were so truly considerate, as mutually to allow for the maintenance of the unfortunate deceased. This gentleman, Mr. Dingwell, has been unhappily twice a bankrupt in London, in early life, and there are still heavy judgments21 against him; and as he is the only witness discoverable, competent from his habits of regular communication with your lamented22 uncle for years, to depose23 to his identity and his death; it is unfortunate that there should exist, for the special reasons I have mentioned, considerable risk and difficulty in his undertaking24 to visit London, for the purpose of making the necessary depositions25; and I fear he cannot be induced to take that step without some considerable pecuniary26 sacrifice on your part. This will necessarily form one of the topics for discussion at the proposed conference of the 15th prox.; and it is no small point in our favour satisfactorily to be assured that a witness to the cardinal27 points to which I have referred, is actually produceable, and at this moment in communication with me.
“I have the honour to be, dear Sir,
“Very truly yours,
“JOS. LARKIN.
“The Lodge28, Gylingden.
“P.S. I may mention that the Jewish firm to which I have referred, have addressed to me a letter, apprising29 me of the decease of the Hon. Arthur Verney, a step which, as terminating the annuities on which they received an annual percentage, they would not, I presume, have adopted, had they not been absolutely certain of the event, and confident also that we must, if they were silent, be otherwise apprised30 of it.”
I think our old friend, Jos. Larkin, wrote this letter with several views, one of which was that, in the event of his thinking proper, some years hence, notwithstanding his little flourishes of gratuitous31 service, to unmuzzle the ox who had trod out the corn, and to send in his little bill, it might help to show that he had been duly instructed to act in this matter at least by Mr. Cleve Verney. The other object, that of becoming the channel of negotiating terms with Mr. Dingwell, offered obvious advantages to a gentleman of acquisitive diplomacy32 and ingenious morals.
Cleve, however, had not yet learned to suspect this Christian33 attorney, and the letter on the whole was highly satisfactory.
“Capital man of business, this Mr. Larkin! Who could have expected an answer, and so full an answer, so immediately to his letter? That is the kind of attorney the world sighed for. Eager, prompt, clear, making his clients’ interests his own”— more literally34 sometimes than Cleve was yet aware —“disinterested, spirited, for was he not risking his time, skill, and even money, without having been retained in this matter, and with even a warning that he might possibly never be so? Did he not also come in the livery of religion, and discuss business, as it were, in a white robe and with a palm in his hand? And was it not more unlikely that a man who committed himself every hour to the highest principles should practise the lowest, than a person who shirked the subject of virtue35, and thought religion incongruous with his doings?” Perhaps, Cleve thought, there is a little too much of that solemn flam. But who can object if it helps to keep him straight?
This was a day of surprises. Cleve had gone up to his room to replenish36 his cigar-case, when a chaise drove up to the hall door of Ware, and looking out he beheld37 with a sense of dismay his uncle’s man, Mr. Ridley, descending38 from his seat on the box, and opening the door of the vehicle, from which the thin stiff figure of the Hon. Kiffyn Fulke Verney descended39, and entered the house.
Could the devil have hit upon a more ill-natured plan for defeating the delightful hopes of that day? Why could not that teasing old man stay where he was? Heaven only knows for how many days he might linger at Ware, lecturing Cleve upon themes on which his opinion was not worth a pin, directing him to write foolish letters, and now and then asking him to obleege him by copying papers of which he required duplicates, benumbing him with his chilly40 presence, and teasing him by his exactions.
Cleve groaned41 when he saw this spectacle from his window, and muttered something, I don’t care what.
“Let him send for me if he wants me. I shan’t pretend to have seen him,” was Cleve’s petulant42 resolve. But a knock at his room door, with an invitation from his uncle to visit him in the library, settled the question.
“How d’ye do, Cleve?” and his uncle, who was sitting in a great chair at the table, with some letters, noted43, and folded into long slim parallelograms, already before him, put forth44 a thin hand for him to shake, throwing back his head, and fixing his somewhat dull grey eyes with an imperious sort of curiosity upon him, he said, “Yes — yes — recruiting. I was always in favour of making the most of the recess45, about it. You make the most of it. I saw Winkledon and your friend Colonel Tellerton at Dyce’s yesterday, and talked with ’em about it, and they both agreed with me, we are pretty sure of a stormy session, late sittings, and no end of divisions, and I am glad you are taking your holiday so sensibly. The Wave’s here, isn’t she? And you sail in her a good deal, I dare say, about it, and you’ve got yourself a good deal sunburnt. Yes, the sun does that; and you’re looking very well, about it, I think, very well indeed.”
To save the reader trouble, I mention here, that the Hon. Kiffyn Fulke Verney has a habit of introducing the words “about it,” as everybody is aware who has the honour of knowing him, without relation to their meaning, but simply to caulk46, as it were, the seams of his sentences, to stop them where they open, and save his speech from foundering47 for want of this trifling48 half-pennyworth of oakum.
“Very lonely, sir, Ware is. You’ve come to stay for a little time perhaps.”
“Oh! no. Oh, dear no. My view upon that subject is very decided49 indeed, as you know. I ask myself this question — What good can I possibly do, about it, by residing for any time at Ware, until my income shall have been secured, and my proper position ascertained50 and recognised? I find myself, by the anomalous51 absurdity52 of our existing law, placed in a position, about it, of so much difficulty and hardship, that although the people must feel it very much, and the county regret it, I feel it only due to myself, to wash my hands about it, of the entire thing for the present, and to accept the position of a mere53 private person, which the existing law, in its wisdom, imposes upon me — don’t you see?”
“It certainly is,” acquiesced54 Cleve, “a gross absurdity that there should be no provision for such a state of things.”
“Absurdity! my dear sir, I don’t call it absurdity at all, I call it rank injustice55, and a positive cruelty,” said the feeble voice of this old gentleman with an eager quaver in it, while, as always occurred when he was suddenly called on for what he called his “sentiments” upon this intolerable topic, a pink flush suffused56 his thin temples and narrow forehead. “Here I am, about it, invested by opinion, don’t you see, and a moral constraint57, with the liabilities of a certain position, and yet excluded from its privileges and opportunities. And what, I ask myself, can come of such a thing, except the sort of thing, about it, which we see going on? Don’t you see?”
“Any news of any kind from the East, sir?” asked Cleve.
“Well, now, wait — a — a — I’ll come to it — I’m coming to that. I wrote to you to say that you were to meet me in town, d’ye see, on the fifteenth, and I mean to have a Mr. Larkin, an attorney, a very proper person in his rank of life — a very proper person — about it, to meet us and produce his papers, and make his statement again. And I may tell you that he’s of opinion, and under the impression, that poor Arthur is dead, about it; and now you’ll read this letter — very good, and now this — very good, and now this.”
As he handed these papers over to Cleve in succession, the young gentleman thought his uncle’s air a little grander than usual, and fancied there was a faint simper of triumph discernible under the imposing58 solemnity of his looks.
“A— well, that’s all, at present; and immediately on receiving the first of these I wrote to the consul59 there — a very proper man, very well connected; I was, I may say, instrumental in getting his appointment for him — saying he’d obleege me by instituting inquiry60 and communicating the result, and possibly I may hear before the fifteenth; and I should be very glad, about it, to learn or know something definite, in which case, you see, there would be a natural solution of the complication, and poor Arthur’s death, about it, would clear up the whole thing, as in fact it does in all such cases, don’t you see?”
“Of course, sir, perfectly61.”
“And as to mourning and all that, about it, I don’t quite see my way; no, I don’t; because, d’ye see, I rather think there should be nothing of the kind: but it’s time enough to decide what the house of Verney are to do when I shall have all the circumstances, don’t you see, and everything.”
Cleve acquiesced.
“And if the dissolution comes next autumn — as they apprehend62 it may — you’ll have no annoyance63 from the old quarter — Sir Booth Fanshawe — he’s quite ruined — about it; and he’s been obliged to leave the country; he’s in France, I understand, and I’ve directed our people in town to follow up the proceedings64 as sharply as possible. He has never spared me, egad, and has often distressed65 me very seriously by his malevolent66 and utterly67 wanton opposition68 where he had absolutely no chance whatever, and knew it, nor any object, I give you my honour, except to waste my money, when, owing to the absurd and cruel position I was placed in, he knew very well I could not have a great deal to throw away. I look upon a person of that kind as a mere nuisance; and I look upon it as a matter of dooty and of principle, about it, which one owes to society, don’t you see, to exterminate69 them like vermin. And if you want to stop it, you mustn’t let him off when you’ve got the advantage at last, don’t you see? You must follow it up, and show evil-disposed people that if they choose to play that game they may, but that you won’t let ’em off, about it, and that.”
These were not very pleasant words in Cleve’s ears.
“And, egad, sir, I’ll make an example of that person — I owe it to the principle of fair political warfare70, about it. What business had he to run me into six thousand pounds expense for nothing, when he had not really a hundred pounds at the time he could call his own? And I ask myself, where’s the good of laws if there’s no way of reaching a person who commits, from the worst possible motives71, an outrage72 like that, and goes on doing that sort of thing, about it?”
Here the Hon. Kiffyn Fulke Verney paused for a minute, and then looked at his watch.
“Just ten minutes still left me. I’ll ask you to touch the bell, Cleve. I’m going to the railway — to Llwynan, about it, and to see the people at Heathcote Hall; and I’ve been thinking you ought to turn over in your mind what I said last Easter, when we were at Dawling Hill. If this affair of poor Arthur’s should turn out to be quite true, I think the connection would recommend itself to most people,” he said, grandly, “and in fact you might strengthen yourself very materially, about it. You could not do better than marry Ethel; depend upon it, the connection will serve you. Her uncle, you know — always some of that family — in the Cabinet; and Dorminster, they say — every one says it — Winkledon, for instance, and Colonel Tellers73, about it — they both said the other day he’ll very probably be Minister. Every one says that sort of thing, about it; and it has been my opinion a long time before people generally began to say so, and things of that sort, don’t you see?”
As a general rule, Cleve knew that there was no use in fighting any favourite point with his uncle. He acquiesced and relied upon dilatory opportunities and passive resistance; so now he expressed himself most gratefully for the interest he had always taken in him, and seemed to lend an attentive74 ear, while the Hon. Kiffyn Fulke Verney rambled75 on upon this theme in his wise and quietly dictatorial76 way. It was one of his pleasantest occupations, and secretly pleased his self-love, this management of Cleve Verney — really a promising77 young man — and whom he magnified, as he did everything else that belonged to him, and whose successes in the House, and growth in general estimation, he quietly took to himself as the direct consequence of his own hints and manipulations, and his “keeping the young man straight about it.”
“He has an idea — the young man has — that I know something about it — that I have seen some public life, and known people — and things of that sort. He is a young man who can take a hint, and, egad, I think I’ve kept him pretty straight about it up to this, and put him on a right track, and things; and if I’m spared, I’ll put him on, sir. I know pretty well about things, and you see the people talk to me, and they listen to me, about it, and I make him understand what he’s about, and things.”
And then came the parting. He gave Cleve ten pounds, which Mrs. Jones, the draper’s wife, used to distribute for him among certain poor people of Cardyllian. So his small soul was not destitute78 of kindliness79, after its fashion; and he drove away from Ware, and Cleve stood upon the steps, smiling, and waving his hand, and repeating, “On the fifteenth,” and then suddenly was grave.
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1
acquiesce
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| vi.默许，顺从，同意 | |
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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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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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shingle
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| n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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expend
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| vt.花费，消费，消耗 | |
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14
dilatory
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| adj.迟缓的，不慌不忙的 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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apprise
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| vt.通知，告知 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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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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judgments
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| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
depose
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| vt.免职；宣誓作证 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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depositions
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| 沉积（物）( deposition的名词复数 )； （在法庭上的）宣誓作证； 处置； 罢免 | |
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pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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apprising
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的现在分词 )；评价 | |
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apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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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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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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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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replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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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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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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petulant
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| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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caulk
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| v.堵缝 | |
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foundering
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| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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anomalous
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| adj.反常的；不规则的 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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exterminate
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| v.扑灭，消灭，根绝 | |
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70
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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72
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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73
tellers
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| n.（银行）出纳员( teller的名词复数 )；（投票时的）计票员；讲故事等的人；讲述者 | |
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74
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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75
rambled
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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76
dictatorial
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| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
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77
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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78
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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79
kindliness
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| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
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