It did not occur to young Matterlock as anything extraordinary that in all this vast wilderness1 of lodgings2 and boarding-houses, not one had ever been planned and built as a lodging-house or boarding-house. Every one had been built to accommodate an imaginary and quite impossible family of considerable means and insanitary habits, with cheap abject3 servants packed away in the attics4 and basement, a dining-room, a drawing-room, a parlour and the like. The ground landlords, the architects and builders of the period seem to have been incapable5 of any other idea. Not ten per cent of these hopeful family residences were ever occupied by that vanishing English family; the rest were sub-divided into “floors” from the first, and nearly all of them, even the family houses, were furnished with faded and misfitting second-hand6 furniture. With a plentiful7 lack of imagination, nineteenth-century England had shaped its conduct and future to the forms of an obsolete8 social dream.
Thackeray has embalmed9 for ever this particular phase in our decadent10 and commercialised feudalism for the student of social history. Our concern is wholly and solely11 with Edward Albert, and it is not for us to speculate here, now that London and most of our other big cities such as they were, have been knocked to pieces, how far England may presently reveal a quickened and creative mind, how far it will still continue to be an unchangeable, unimaginative mother or how far it may lapse12 into an unpicturesque decay of muddle13 and misfits. . . . Doober’s, to which young Matterlock finally entrusted14 Edward Albert, had a fairly handsome facade15 in Bendle Street, just south of the Euston Road. Its official name of Scartmore House was painted in resolute16 lettering across its brow. Young Matterlock had inspected it and made the necessary arrangements beforehand. Then he had collected Edward Albert, with a tin box, a cricket bat, an outgrown17 overcoat and a new portmanteau, from the school, and brought him in a slow, sure four-wheeler to his new habitation.
“I think you’ll find it a very nice homely18 place,” he said on the way. “Mrs Doober who runs it seems a thoroughly19 good sort. She’ll introduce you to people and make you feel at home. You’ll soon get used to it. If you fall upon any difficulties you know my address. Your money will come every Saturday from Hooper’s office and you’ll pay the bill that day. The balance over you ought to find enough for clothes, college fees and running-expenses. If you’re careful you can manage. You can’t be too careful.”
Edward Albert made a responsive noise to that familiar phrase..
“I think you ought to get your clothes made to measure. Those cheap ready-mades of Myame’s make you look even worse than you need do. I think Mrs Doober or some one will find you some sort of tailor round the corner. Bespoke20 tailors I think they call them. You see this doesn’t sit on your shoulders, and your sleeve’s so short it shows too much of your wrists. Wrists aren’t exactly your strong point, Tewler. . . . Well, here we are!”
Mrs Doober opened the door, beaming and being as thoroughly a good sort as she knew how. Behind her hovered21 the current slavey summoned to help with the luggage.
The “Hall” of Scartmore House, that is to say its passage entrance, testified that Doober’s was reasonably and miscellaneously full. The place had a dingy22 but nutritious23 smell, and was toned by oil-cloth and marbled paper to a pale mellow24 brown. Colour and odour blended together. A row of hat and coat pegs26 sustained a selection of outer garments above an extensive range of umbrellas and sticks. There was a large hall-stand with a fly-blown mirror and racks for letters and papers.
Largely occluding27 this mellow background was Mrs Doober’s receptive personality. “And this is our young gentleman?” said she. “A student. We’ll do all we can to make you comfortable. You’re not the only student, you’ll find. There’s young Mr Frankincense from University College. Such a clever young man — the highest honours! — and we’ve got a great teacher of elocution, Mr Harold Thump28, and his lady, and a young Indian gentleman.”
She whispered confidentially29 closer to young Matterlock.
“The son of a rajah. He speaks English beautifully.”
She shot an aside at the slavey. “Number thirteen. If they’re too heavy, take them up one at a time. . . . Well then, ask Gawpy to help you. Don’t stand there helpless.”
She restored her amiability30 as she turned back to her clients.
Edward Albert listened confusedly. He was doing his best to keep his unfortunate wrists up his sleeves, and he had already acquired a habit of inaccurate31 attention that would last his lifetime. “We’re a young household,” she was saying.
“There’s only one really old gentleman among us and he’s charming. Such.good stories!. . . . ”
He felt the pressure of young Matterlock’s hand upon his shoulder. 6C You’ll be all right. You’ll feel a little strange at first but you’ll soon settle down to it.”
“Belgians. A family of refugees from Antwerp. So if you want to learn French. . . . ”
“So it’s good-bye and good luck, Tewler.” Matterlock was shaking his hand. And leaving him!
Edward Albert had a wild desire to cry out, “Oh, don’t leave me,” and bolt after his protector before the door closed. Then he was alone with Mrs Doober. Her propitiatory32 manner was now faintly tinged33 with proprietorship34.
“I must show you our common rooms and explain a few of our rules and regulations — because there must be rules and regulations, you know — and then I will take you up to your own apartment. Just a quiet little room it is,” she said, and then added informatively35, “upstairs. It’s number thirteen. I hope you won’t mind that. I’ve sometimes thought of changing it to 12A. But I never have. I do so hope you’ll like it all. We’re all such friends — it’s just like one big family. You must hang up your hat and coat on that peg25. . . . ”
And in this manner Edward Albert entered upon a fresh phase in his life and adapted himself discreetly36 to a new and wider environment. Breakfast was from half-past seven to half-past nine. Then you were supposed to go out and return about six or seven. (But one old gentleman was asleep before the fire in the drawing-room. He woke up, stared for a moment, grunted37, and then composed himself for further slumber38.) Dinner was from seven-thirty to nine-thirty. There was a large dingy dining-room with shaded gas lamps, a big sideboard, a service lift that came up with a rumble39 and a smack40, and a sort of backward extension to a little sitting-room41 behind, and on the first floor there was a diffused42 drawing — room which had once been bisected by folding doors, with armchairs and corners more or less appropriated by books, pieces of knitting, shawls and the like, two fireplaces and a snuggery with two card tables, a chess table, and a sofa at the back. And so upstairs, where Edward Albert was left to unpack43, put his things away in a chest of drawers, and spend a long time studying his wrists in the little looking-glass and meditating44 upon the possibilities of bespoke clothes. If he had long cuffs45; if he got one of those new up and then down collars like what Mr Matterlock wore; if he pulled himself up — so. And a dark suit with a touch of blue in it and creased46 trousers like Mr Matterlock’s. Which fitted. Then it would be different?. . . .
They looked at him at the dinner table when Mrs Doober brought him down — she had to bring him down. They didn’t say so very much to him, but they peeped and looked at him all the time. (He would get those cuffs tomorrow.) People came and went with an extraordinary assurance. Afterwards in the drawing-room a lady said, “You’re a new arrival?” and he said “Yes, Mam.” “And what’s your name?” she said, and he told her quite friendly like, and then he got into a corner and affected47 to read a very nice book, A Guide to the Hotels of Europe, while he watched his fellow boarders unobtrusively.
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1
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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attics
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| n. 阁楼 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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8
obsolete
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| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
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9
embalmed
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| adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
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decadent
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| adj.颓废的，衰落的，堕落的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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12
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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13
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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14
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
facade
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| n.(建筑物的)正面，临街正面；外表 | |
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16
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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outgrown
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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18
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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19
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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20
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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21
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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22
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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23
nutritious
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| adj.有营养的，营养价值高的 | |
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24
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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25
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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26
pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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27
occluding
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| adj.[医]牙合的，咬合的v.堵塞( occlude的现在分词 )；阻隔；吸收（气体） | |
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28
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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29
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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30
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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inaccurate
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| adj.错误的，不正确的，不准确的 | |
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propitiatory
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| adj.劝解的；抚慰的；谋求好感的；哄人息怒的 | |
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33
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
proprietorship
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| n.所有（权）；所有权 | |
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35
informatively
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| adv.提供信息地 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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37
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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38
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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39
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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40
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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41
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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42
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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43
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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44
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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45
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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47
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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