Chapter 9

　　Our first important Party. Old Friends and New Friends. Gowing isa little annoying; but his friend, Mr. Stillbrook, turns out to be quiteamusing. Inopportune arrival of Mr. Perkupp, but he is most kind andcomplimentary. Party a great success.

　　November 15. - A red-letter day. Our first important party since wehave been in this house. I got home early from the City. Lupin insistedon having a hired waiter, and stood a half-dozen of champagne². I thinkthis an unnecessary expense, but Lupin said he had had a piece of luck,having made three pounds out a private deal in the City. I hope he won'tgamble in his new situation. The supper-room looked so nice, and Carrietruly said: "We need not be ashamed of its being seen by Mr. Perkupp,should he honour us by coming."I dressed early in case people should arrive punctually at eight o'clock,and was much vexed³ to find my new dress-trousers much too short.

　　Lupin, who is getting beyond his position, found fault with mywearing ordinary boots instead of dress-boots.

　　I replied satirically: "My dear son, I have lived to be above that sortof thing."Lupin burst out laughing, and said: "A man generally was above hisboots."This may be funny, or it may NOT; but I was gratified to find he hadnot discovered the coral had come off one of my studs. Carrie looked apicture, wearing the dress she wore at the Mansion⁴ House. Thearrangement of the drawing-room was excellent. Carrie had hung muslincurtains over the folding-doors, and also over one of the entrances, for wehad removed the door from its hinges.

　　Mr. Peters, the waiter, arrived in good time, and I gave him strictorders not to open another bottle of champagne until the previous one wasempty. Carrie arranged for some sherry and port wine to be placed onthe drawing-room sideboard, with some glasses. By-the- by, our new enlarged and tinted⁵ photographs look very nice on the walls, especially asCarrie has arranged some Liberty silk bows on the four corners of them.

　　The first arrival was Gowing, who, with his usual taste, greeted mewith: "Hulloh, Pooter, why your trousers are too short!"I simply said: "Very likely, and you will find my temper 'sHORT'

　　also."He said: "That won't make your trousers longer, Juggins. Youshould get your missus to put a flounce on them."I wonder I waste my time entering his insulting observations in mydiary.

　　The next arrivals were Mr. and Mrs. Cummings. The former said:

　　"As you didn't say anything about dress, I have come 'half dress.'" He hadon a black frock-coat and white tie. The James', Mr. Merton, and Mr.

　　Stillbrook arrived, but Lupin was restless and unbearable⁶ till his DaisyMutlar and Frank arrived.

　　Carrie and I were rather startled at Daisy's appearance. She had abright-crimson dress on, cut very low in the neck. I do not think such astyle modest. She ought to have taken a lesson from Carrie, and coveredher shoulders with a little lace. Mr. Nackles, Mr. Sprice-Hogg and hisfour daughters came; so did Franching, and one or two of Lupin's newfriends, members of the "Holloway Comedians⁷." Some of these seemedrather theatrical⁸ in their manner, especially one, who was posing all theevening, and leant on our little round table and cracked it. Lupin calledhim "our Henry," and said he was "our lead at the H.C.'s," and was quite asgood in that department as Harry⁹ Mutlar was as the low-comedy merchant.

　　All this is Greek to me.

　　We had some music, and Lupin, who never left Daisy's side for amoment, raved¹⁰ over her singing of a song, called "Some Day." It seemeda pretty song, but she made such grimaces¹¹, and sang, to my mind, so outof tune¹, I would not have asked her to sing again; but Lupin made her singfour songs right off, one after the other.

　　At ten o'clock we went down to supper, and from the way Gowing andCummings ate you would have thought they had not had a meal for amonth. I told Carrie to keep something back in case Mr. Perkupp should come by mere¹² chance. Gowing annoyed me very much by filling a largetumbler of champagne, and drinking it straight off. He repeated thisaction, and made me fear our half-dozen of champagne would not last out.

　　I tried to keep a bottle back, but Lupin got hold of it, and took it to theside-table with Daisy and Frank Mutlar. We went upstairs, and the youngfellows began skylarking. Carrie put a stop to that at once. Stillbrookamused us with a song, "What have you done with your Cousin John?"did not notice that Lupin and Frank had disappeared. I asked Mr. Watson,one of the Holloways, where they were, and he said: "It's a case of 'Oh,what a surprise!'"We were directed to form a circle - which we did. Watson then said:

　　"I have much pleasure in introducing the celebrated¹³ Blondin Donkey."Frank and Lupin then bounded into the room. Lupin had whitened hisface like a clown, and Frank had tied round his waist a large hearthrug.

　　He was supposed to be the donkey, and he looked it. They indulged in avery noisy pantomime, and we were all shrieking¹⁴ with laughter.

　　I turned round suddenly, and then I saw Mr Perkupp standing¹⁵ halfway¹⁶ in the door, he having arrived without our knowing it. I beckoned¹⁷ toCarrie, and we went up to him at once. He would not come right into theroom. I apologised for the foolery, but Mr. Perkupp said: "Oh, it seemsamusing." I could see he was not a bit amused.

　　Carrie and I took him downstairs, but the table was a wreck¹⁸. Therewas not a glass of champagne left - not even a sandwich. Mr. Perkuppsaid he required nothing, but would like a glass of seltzer or soda¹⁹ water.

　　The last syphon was empty. Carrie said: "We have plenty of port wineleft." Mr. Perkupp said, with a smile: "No, thank you. I really requirenothing, but I am most pleased to see you and your husband in your ownhome. Good-night, Mrs. Pooter - you will excuse my very short stay, Iknow." I went with him to his carriage, and he said: "Don't trouble tocome to the office till twelve to-morrow."I felt despondent²⁰ as I went back to the house, and I told Carrie Ithought the party was a failure. Carrie said it was a great success, and Iwas only tired, and insisted on my having some port myself. I drank twoglasses, and felt much better, and we went into the drawing-room, where they had commenced dancing. Carrie and I had a little dance, which Isaid reminded me of old days. She said I was a spooney old thing.

1 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

2 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

3 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

5 tinted   

adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• a pair of glasses with tinted lenses 一副有色镜片眼镜
• a rose-tinted vision of the world 对世界的理想化看法

6 unbearable   

adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的

参考例句：

• It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
• The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。

7 comedians   

n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The voice was rich, lordly, Harvardish, like all the boring radio comedians'imitations. 声音浑厚、威严，俨然是哈佛出身的气派，就跟无线电里所有的滑稽演员叫人已经听腻的模仿完全一样。 来自辞典例句
• He distracted them by joking and imitating movie and radio comedians. 他用开玩笑的方法或者模仿电影及广播中的滑稽演员来对付他们。 来自辞典例句

8 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

9 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

10 raved   

v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说

参考例句：

• Andrew raved all night in his fever. 安德鲁发烧时整夜地说胡话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They raved about her beauty. 他们过分称赞她的美。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 grimaces   

n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Clark winked at the rude child making grimaces. 克拉克先生假装没有看见那个野孩子做鬼脸。 来自辞典例句
• The most ridiculous grimaces were purposely or unconsciously indulged in. 故意或者无心地扮出最滑稽可笑的鬼脸。 来自辞典例句

12 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

13 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

14 shrieking   

v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were all shrieking with laughter. 他们都发出了尖锐的笑声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

16 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

17 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 wreck   

n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难

参考例句：

• Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
• No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。

19 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

20 despondent   

adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的

参考例句：

• He was up for a time and then，without warning,despondent again.他一度兴高采烈，但忽然又情绪低落下来。
• I feel despondent when my work is rejected.作品被拒后我感到很沮丧。