HOW THE PICKWICKIANS MADE ANDCULTIVATED THE ACQUAINTANCE OF ACOUPLE OF NICE YOUNG MEN BELONGINGTO ONE OF THE LIBERAL PROFESSIONS; HOWTHEY DISPORTED1 THEMSELVES ON THE ICE;AND HOW THEIR VISIT CAME TO ACONCLUSIONell, Sam,’ said Mr. Pickwick, as that favoured servitorentered his bed-chamber, with his warm water, onthe morning of Christmas Day, ‘still frosty?’
‘Water in the wash-hand basin’s a mask o’ ice, sir,’ respondedSam.
‘Severe weather, Sam,’ observed Mr. Pickwick.
‘Fine time for them as is well wropped up, as the Polar bearsaid to himself, ven he was practising his skating,’ replied Mr.
Weller.
‘I shall be down in a quarter of an hour, Sam,’ said Mr.
Pickwick, untying2 his nightcap.
‘Wery good, sir,’ replied Sam. ‘There’s a couple o’ sawbonesdownstairs.’
‘A couple of what!’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick, sitting up in bed.
‘A couple o’ sawbones,’ said Sam.
‘What’s a sawbones?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick, not quite certainwhether it was a live animal, or something to eat.
‘What! Don’t you know what a sawbones is, sir?’ inquired Mr.
Weller. ‘I thought everybody know’d as a sawbones was asurgeon.’
‘Oh, a surgeon, eh?’ said Mr. Pickwick, with a smile.
‘Just that, sir,’ replied Sam. ‘These here ones as is below,though, ain’t reg’lar thoroughbred sawbones; they’re only intrainin’.’
‘In other words they’re medical students, I suppose?’ said Mr.
Pickwick.
‘I am glad of it,’ said Mr. Pickwick, casting his nightcapenergetically on the counterpane. ‘They are fine fellows―very finefellows; with judgments4 matured by observation and reflection;and tastes refined by reading and study. I am very glad of it.’
‘They’re a-smokin’ cigars by the kitchen fire,’ said Sam.
‘Ah!’ observed Mr. Pickwick, rubbing his hands, ‘overflowingwith kindly5 feelings and animal spirits. Just what I like to see.’
‘And one on ’em,’ said Sam, not noticing his master’sinterruption, ‘one on ’em’s got his legs on the table, and is a-drinking brandy neat, vile6 the t’other one―him in the barnacles―has got a barrel o’ oysters7 atween his knees, which he’s a-openin’
like steam, and as fast as he eats ’em, he takes a aim vith the shellsat young dropsy, who’s a sittin’ down fast asleep, in the chimbleycorner.’
‘Eccentricities of genius, Sam,’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘You mayretire.’
Sam did retire accordingly. Mr. Pickwick at the expiration8 ofthe quarter of an hour, went down to breakfast.
‘Here he is at last!’ said old Mr. Wardle. ‘Pickwick, this is MissAllen’s brother, Mr. Benjamin Allen. Ben we call him, and so mayyou, if you like. This gentleman is his very particular friend, Mr.―’
‘Mr. Bob Sawyer,’ interposed Mr. Benjamin Allen; whereuponMr. Bob Sawyer and Mr. Benjamin Allen laughed in concert.
Mr. Pickwick bowed to Bob Sawyer, and Bob Sawyer bowed toMr. Pickwick. Bob and his very particular friend then appliedthemselves most assiduously to the eatables before them; and Mr.
Pickwick had an opportunity of glancing at them both.
Mr. Benjamin Allen was a coarse, stout9, thick-set young man,with black hair cut rather short, and a white face cut rather long.
He was embellished10 with spectacles, and wore a whiteneckerchief. Below his single-breasted black surtout, which wasbuttoned up to his chin, appeared the usual number of pepper-and-salt coloured legs, terminating in a pair of imperfectlypolished boots. Although his coat was short in the sleeves, itdisclosed no vestige11 of a linen12 wristband; and although there wasquite enough of his face to admit of the encroachment13 of a shirtcollar, it was not graced by the smallest approach to thatappendage. He presented, altogether, rather a mildewyappearance, and emitted a fragrant14 odour of full-flavoured Cubas.
Mr. Bob Sawyer, who was habited in a coarse, blue coat, which,without being either a greatcoat or a surtout, partook of the natureand qualities of both, had about him that sort of slovenlysmartness, and swaggering gait, which is peculiar15 to younggentlemen who smoke in the streets by day, shout and scream inthe same by night, call waiters by their Christian16 names, and dovarious other acts and deeds of an equally facetious17 description.
He wore a pair of plaid trousers, and a large, rough, double-breasted waistcoat; out of doors, he carried a thick stick with a bigtop. He eschewed18 gloves, and looked, upon the whole, somethinglike a dissipated Robinson Crusoe.
Such were the two worthies19 to whom Mr. Pickwick wasintroduced, as he took his seat at the breakfast-table on Christmasmorning.
‘Splendid morning, gentlemen,’ said Mr. Pickwick.
Mr. Bob Sawyer slightly nodded his assent to the proposition,and asked Mr. Benjamin Allen for the mustard.
‘Have you come far this morning, gentlemen?’ inquired Mr.
Pickwick.
‘Blue Lion at Muggleton,’ briefly20 responded Mr. Allen.
‘You should have joined us last night,’ said Mr. Pickwick.
‘So we should,’ replied Bob Sawyer, ‘but the brandy was toogood to leave in a hurry; wasn’t it, Ben?’
‘Certainly,’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen; ‘and the cigars were notbad, or the pork-chops either; were they, Bob?’
‘Decidedly not,’ said Bob. The particular friends resumed theirattack upon the breakfast, more freely than before, as if therecollection of last night’s supper had imparted a new relish21 to themeal.
‘Peg away, Bob,’ said Mr. Allen, to his companion,encouragingly.
‘So I do,’ replied Bob Sawyer. And so, to do him justice, he did.
‘Nothing like dissecting22, to give one an appetite,’ said Mr. BobSawyer, looking round the table.
Mr. Pickwick slightly shuddered23.
‘By the bye, Bob,’ said Mr. Allen, ‘have you finished that legyet?’
‘Nearly,’ replied Sawyer, helping24 himself to half a fowl25 as hespoke. ‘It’s a very muscular one for a child’s.’
‘Is it?’ inquired Mr. Allen carelessly.
‘Very,’ said Bob Sawyer, with his mouth full.
‘I’ve put my name down for an arm at our place,’ said Mr. Allen.
‘We’re clubbing for a subject, and the list is nearly full, only wecan’t get hold of any fellow that wants a head. I wish you’d take it.’
‘No,’ replied ‘Bob Sawyer; ‘can’t afford expensive luxuries.’
‘Nonsense!’ said Allen.
‘Can’t, indeed,’ rejoined Bob Sawyer, ‘I wouldn’t mind a brain,but I couldn’t stand a whole head.’
‘Hush27, hush, gentlemen, pray,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘I hear theladies.’
As Mr. Pickwick spoke26, the ladies, gallantly28 escorted by Messrs.
Snodgrass, Winkle, and Tupman, returned from an early walk.
‘Why, Ben!’ said Arabella, in a tone which expressed moresurprise than pleasure at the sight of her brother.
‘Come to take you home to-morrow,’ replied Benjamin.
Mr. Winkle turned pale.
‘Don’t you see Bob Sawyer, Arabella?’ inquired Mr. BenjaminAllen, somewhat reproachfully. Arabella gracefully29 held out herhand, in acknowledgment of Bob Sawyer’s presence. A thrill ofhatred struck to Mr. Winkle’s heart, as Bob Sawyer inflicted30 onthe proffered31 hand a perceptible squeeze.
‘Ben, dear!’ said Arabella, blushing; ‘have―have―you beenintroduced to Mr. Winkle?’
‘I have not been, but I shall be very happy to be, Arabella,’
replied her brother gravely. Here Mr. Allen bowed grimly to Mr.
Winkle, while Mr. Winkle and Mr. Bob Sawyer glanced mutualdistrust out of the corners of their eyes.
The arrival of the two new visitors, and the consequent checkupon Mr. Winkle and the young lady with the fur round her boots,would in all probability have proved a very unpleasantinterruption to the hilarity32 of the party, had not the cheerfulness ofMr. Pickwick, and the good humour of the host, been exerted tothe very utmost for the common weal. Mr. Winkle graduallyinsinuated himself into the good graces of Mr. Benjamin Allen,and even joined in a friendly conversation with Mr. Bob Sawyer;who, enlivened with the brandy, and the breakfast, and thetalking, gradually ripened33 into a state of extreme facetiousness,and related with much glee an agreeable anecdote34, about theremoval of a tumour35 on some gentleman’s head, which heillustrated by means of an oyster-knife and a half-quartern loaf, tothe great edification of the assembled company. Then the wholetrain went to church, where Mr. Benjamin Allen fell fast asleep;while Mr. Bob Sawyer abstracted his thoughts from worldlymatters, by the ingenious process of carving36 his name on the seatof the pew, in corpulent letters of four inches long.
‘Now,’ said Wardle, after a substantial lunch, with the agreeableitems of strong beer and cherry-brandy, had been done amplejustice to, ‘what say you to an hour on the ice? We shall haveplenty of time.’
‘Capital!’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘Prime!’ ejaculated Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘You skate, of course, Winkle?’ said Wardle.
‘Ye-yes; oh, yes,’ replied Mr. Winkle. ‘I―I―am rather out ofpractice.’
‘Oh, do skate, Mr. Winkle,’ said Arabella. ‘I like to see it somuch.’
‘Oh, it is so graceful,’ said another young lady. A third younglady said it was elegant, and a fourth expressed her opinion that itwas ‘swan-like.’
‘I should be very happy, I’m sure,’ said Mr. Winkle, reddening;‘but I have no skates.’
This objection was at once overruled. Trundle had a couple ofpair, and the fat boy announced that there were half a dozen moredownstairs; whereat Mr. Winkle expressed exquisite37 delight, andlooked exquisitely38 uncomfortable.
Old Wardle led the way to a pretty large sheet of ice; and the fatboy and Mr. Weller, having shovelled39 and swept away the snowwhich had fallen on it during the night, Mr. Bob Sawyer adjustedhis skates with a dexterity40 which to Mr. Winkle was perfectlymarvellous, and described circles with his left leg, and cut figuresof eight, and inscribed41 upon the ice, without once stopping forbreath, a great many other pleasant and astonishing devices, tothe excessive satisfaction of Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Tupman, and theladies; which reached a pitch of positive enthusiasm, when oldWardle and Benjamin Allen, assisted by the aforesaid Bob Sawyer,performed some mystic evolutions, which they called a reel.
All this time, Mr. Winkle, with his face and hands blue with thecold, had been forcing a gimlet into the sole of his feet, and puttinghis skates on, with the points behind, and getting the straps42 into avery complicated and entangled43 state, with the assistance of Mr.
Snodgrass, who knew rather less about skates than a Hindoo. Atlength, however, with the assistance of Mr. Weller, the unfortunateskates were firmly screwed and buckled44 on, and Mr. Winkle wasraised to his feet.
‘Now, then, sir,’ said Sam, in an encouraging tone; ‘off vith you,and show ’em how to do it.’
‘Stop, Sam, stop!’ said Mr. Winkle, trembling violently, andclutching hold of Sam’s arms with the grasp of a drowning man.
‘How slippery it is, Sam!’
‘Not an uncommon45 thing upon ice, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller.
‘Hold up, sir!’
This last observation of Mr. Weller’s bore reference to ademonstration Mr. Winkle made at the instant, of a frantic46 desireto throw his feet in the air, and dash the back of his head on theice.
‘These―these―are very awkward skates; ain’t they, Sam?’
inquired Mr. Winkle, staggering.
‘I’m afeerd there’s a orkard gen’l’m’n in ’em, sir,’ replied Sam.
‘Now, Winkle,’ cried Mr. Pickwick, quite unconscious that therewas anything the matter. ‘Come; the ladies are all anxiety.’
‘Yes, yes,’ replied Mr. Winkle, with a ghastly smile. ‘I’mcoming.’
‘Just a-goin’ to begin,’ said Sam, endeavouring to disengagehimself. ‘Now, sir, start off!’
‘Stop an instant, Sam,’ gasped47 Mr. Winkle, clinging mostaffectionately to Mr. Weller. ‘I find I’ve got a couple of coats athome that I don’t want, Sam. You may have them, Sam.’
‘Thank’ee, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller.
‘Never mind touching48 your hat, Sam,’ said Mr. Winkle hastily.
‘You needn’t take your hand away to do that. I meant to havegiven you five shillings this morning for a Christmas box, Sam. I’llgive it you this afternoon, Sam.’
‘You’re wery good, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller.
‘Just hold me at first, Sam; will you?’ said Mr. Winkle. ‘There―that’s right. I shall soon get in the way of it, Sam. Not too fast,Sam; not too fast.’
Mr. Winkle, stooping forward, with his body half doubled up,was being assisted over the ice by Mr. Weller, in a very singularand un-swan-like manner, when Mr. Pickwick most innocentlyshouted from the opposite bank―‘Sam!’
‘Sir?’
‘Here. I want you.’
‘Let go, sir,’ said Sam. ‘Don’t you hear the governor a-callin’?
Let go, sir.’
With a violent effort, Mr. Weller disengaged himself from thegrasp of the agonised Pickwickian, and, in so doing, administereda considerable impetus49 to the unhappy Mr. Winkle. With anaccuracy which no degree of dexterity or practice could haveinsured, that unfortunate gentleman bore swiftly down into thecentre of the reel, at the very moment when Mr. Bob Sawyer wasperforming a flourish of unparalleled beauty. Mr. Winkle struckwildly against him, and with a loud crash they both fell heavilydown. Mr. Pickwick ran to the spot. Bob Sawyer had risen to hisfeet, but Mr. Winkle was far too wise to do anything of the kind, inskates. He was seated on the ice, making spasmodic efforts tosmile; but anguish50 was depicted51 on every lineament of hiscountenance.
‘Are you hurt?’ inquired Mr. Benjamin Allen, with greatanxiety.
‘Not much,’ said Mr. Winkle, rubbing his back very hard. ‘I wishyou’d let me bleed you,’ said Mr. Benjamin, with great eagerness.
‘No, thank you,’ replied Mr. Winkle hurriedly.
‘I really think you had better,’ said Allen.
‘Thank you,’ replied Mr. Winkle; ‘I’d rather not.’
‘What do you think, Mr. Pickwick?’ inquired Bob Sawyer.
Mr. Pickwick was excited and indignant. He beckoned53 to Mr.
Weller, and said in a stern voice, ‘Take his skates off.’
‘No; but really I had scarcely begun,’ remonstrated54 Mr. Winkle.
‘Take his skates off,’ repeated Mr. Pickwick firmly.
The command was not to be resisted. Mr. Winkle allowed Samto obey it, in silence.
‘Lift him up,’ said Mr. Pickwick. Sam assisted him to rise.
Mr. Pickwick retired55 a few paces apart from the bystanders;and, beckoning56 his friend to approach, fixed57 a searching look uponhim, and uttered in a low, but distinct and emphatic58 tone, theseremarkable words―‘You’re a humbug59, sir.’
‘A what?’ said Mr. Winkle, starting.
‘A humbug, sir. I will speak plainer, if you wish it. An impostor,sir.’
With those words, Mr. Pickwick turned slowly on his heel, andrejoined his friends.
While Mr. Pickwick was delivering himself of the sentiment justrecorded, Mr. Weller and the fat boy, having by their jointendeavours cut out a slide, were exercising themselves thereupon,in a very masterly and brilliant manner. Sam Weller, in particular,was displaying that beautiful feat60 of fancy-sliding which iscurrently denominated ‘knocking at the cobbler’s door,’ and whichis achieved by skimming over the ice on one foot, and occasionallygiving a postman’s knock upon it with the other. It was a good longslide, and there was something in the motion which Mr. Pickwick,who was very cold with standing61 still, could not help envying.
‘It looks a nice warm exercise that, doesn’t it?’ he inquired ofWardle, when that gentleman was thoroughly62 out of breath, byreason of the indefatigable63 manner in which he had converted hislegs into a pair of compasses, and drawn64 complicated problems onthe ice.
‘Ah, it does, indeed,’ replied Wardle. ‘Do you slide?’
‘I used to do so, on the gutters65, when I was a boy,’ replied Mr.
Pickwick.
‘Try it now,’ said Wardle.
‘Oh, do, please, Mr. Pickwick!’ cried all the ladies.
‘I should be very happy to afford you any amusement,’ repliedMr. Pickwick, ‘but I haven’t done such a thing these thirty years.’
‘Pooh! pooh! Nonsense!’ said Wardle, dragging off his skateswith the impetuosity which characterised all his proceedings66.
‘Here; I’ll keep you company; come along!’ And away went thegood-tempered old fellow down the slide, with a rapidity whichcame very close upon Mr. Weller, and beat the fat boy all tonothing.
Mr. Pickwick paused, considered, pulled off his gloves and putthem in his hat; took two or three short runs, baulked himself asoften, and at last took another run, and went slowly and gravelydown the slide, with his feet about a yard and a quarter apart,amidst the gratified shouts of all the spectators.
‘Keep the pot a-bilin’, sir!’ said Sam; and down went Wardleagain, and then Mr. Pickwick, and then Sam, and then Mr. Winkle,and then Mr. Bob Sawyer, and then the fat boy, and then Mr.
Snodgrass, following closely upon each other’s heels, and runningafter each other with as much eagerness as if their futureprospects in life depended on their expedition.
It was the most intensely interesting thing, to observe themanner in which Mr. Pickwick performed his share in theceremony; to watch the torture of anxiety with which he viewedthe person behind, gaining upon him at the imminent67 hazard oftripping him up; to see him gradually expend68 the painful force hehad put on at first, and turn slowly round on the slide, with hisface towards the point from which he had started; to contemplatethe playful smile which mantled69 on his face when he hadaccomplished the distance, and the eagerness with which heturned round when he had done so, and ran after his predecessor,his black gaiters tripping pleasantly through the snow, and hiseyes beaming cheerfulness and gladness through his spectacles.
And when he was knocked down (which happened upon theaverage every third round), it was the most invigorating sight thatcan possibly be imagined, to behold70 him gather up his hat, gloves,and handkerchief, with a glowing countenance52, and resume hisstation in the rank, with an ardour and enthusiasm that nothingCould abate71.
The sport was at its height, the sliding was at the quickest, thelaughter was at the loudest, when a sharp smart crack was heard.
There was a quick rush towards the bank, a wild scream from theladies, and a shout from Mr. Tupman. A large mass of icedisappeared; the water bubbled up over it; Mr. Pickwick’s hat,gloves, and handkerchief were floating on the surface; and thiswas all of Mr. Pickwick that anybody could see.
Dismay and anguish were depicted on every countenance; themales turned pale, and the females fainted; Mr. Snodgrass and Mr.
Winkle grasped each other by the hand, and gazed at the spotwhere their leader had gone down, with frenzied72 eagerness; whileMr. Tupman, by way of rendering73 the promptest assistance, and atthe same time conveying to any persons who might be withinhearing, the clearest possible notion of the catastrophe74, ran offacross the country at his utmost speed, screaming ‘Fire!’ with allhis might.
It was at this moment, when old Wardle and Sam Weller wereapproaching the hole with cautious steps, and Mr. Benjamin Allenwas holding a hurried consultation75 with Mr. Bob Sawyer on theadvisability of bleeding the company generally, as an improvinglittle bit of professional practice―it was at this very moment, thata face, head, and shoulders, emerged from beneath the water, anddisclosed the features and spectacles of Mr. Pickwick.
‘Keep yourself up for an instant―for only one instant!’ bawledMr. Snodgrass.
‘Yes, do; let me implore76 you―for my sake!’ roared Mr. Winkle,deeply affected77. The adjuration78 was rather unnecessary; theprobability being, that if Mr. Pickwick had declined to keephimself up for anybody else’s sake, it would have occurred to himthat he might as well do so, for his own.
‘Do you feel the bottom there, old fellow?’ said Wardle.
‘Yes, certainly,’ replied Mr. Pickwick, wringing79 the water fromhis head and face, and gasping80 for breath. ‘I fell upon my back. Icouldn’t get on my feet at first.’
The clay upon so much of Mr. Pickwick’s coat as was yet visible,bore testimony81 to the accuracy of this statement; and as the fearsof the spectators were still further relieved by the fat boy’ssuddenly recollecting82 that the water was nowhere more than fivefeet deep, prodigies83 of valour were performed to get him out. Aftera vast quantity of splashing, and cracking, and struggling, Mr.
Pickwick was at length fairly extricated84 from his unpleasantposition, and once more stood on dry land.
‘Oh, he’ll catch his death of cold,’ said Emily.
‘Dear old thing!’ said Arabella. ‘Let me wrap this shawl roundyou, Mr. Pickwick.’
‘Ah, that’s the best thing you can do,’ said Wardle; ‘and whenyou’ve got it on, run home as fast as your legs can carry you, andjump into bed directly.’ A dozen shawls were offered on theinstant. Three or four of the thickest having been selected, Mr.
Pickwick was wrapped up, and started off, under the guidance ofMr. Weller; presenting the singular phenomenon of an elderlygentleman, dripping wet, and without a hat, with his arms bounddown to his sides, skimming over the ground, without any clearly-defined purpose, at the rate of six good English miles an hour.
But Mr. Pickwick cared not for appearances in such an extremecase, and urged on by Sam Weller, he kept at the very top of hisspeed until he reached the door of Manor85 Farm, where Mr.
Tupman had arrived some five minutes before, and had frightenedthe old lady into palpitations of the heart by impressing her withthe unalterable conviction that the kitchen chimney was on fire―acalamity which always presented itself in glowing colours to theold lady’s mind, when anybody about her evinced the smallestagitation.
Mr. Pickwick paused not an instant until he was snug86 in bed.
Sam Weller lighted a blazing fire in the room, and took up hisdinner; a bowl of punch was carried up afterwards, and a grandcarouse held in honour of his safety. Old Wardle would not hear ofhis rising, so they made the bed the chair, and Mr. Pickwickpresided. A second and a third bowl were ordered in; and whenMr. Pickwick awoke next morning, there was not a symptom ofrheumatism about him; which proves, as Mr. Bob Sawyer veryjustly observed, that there is nothing like hot punch in such cases;and that if ever hot punch did fail to act as a preventive, it wasmerely because the patient fell into the vulgar error of not takingenough of it.
The jovial87 party broke up next morning. Breakings-up arecapital things in our school-days, but in after life they are painfulenough. Death, self-interest, and fortune’s changes, are every daybreaking up many a happy group, and scattering88 them far andwide; and the boys and girls never come back again. We do notmean to say that it was exactly the case in this particular instance;all we wish to inform the reader is, that the different members ofthe party dispersed89 to their several homes; that Mr. Pickwick andhis friends once more took their seats on the top of the Muggletoncoach; and that Arabella Allen repaired to her place of destination,wherever it might have been―we dare say Mr. Winkle knew, butwe confess we don’t―under the care and guardianship90 of herbrother Benjamin, and his most intimate and particular friend,Mr. Bob Sawyer.
Before they separated, however, that gentleman and Mr.
Benjamin Allen drew Mr. Pickwick aside with an air of somemystery; and Mr. Bob Sawyer, thrusting his forefinger91 betweentwo of Mr. Pickwick’s ribs92, and thereby93 displaying his nativedrollery, and his knowledge of the anatomy94 of the human frame, atone95 and the same time, inquired―‘I say, old boy, where do you hang out?’ Mr. Pickwick repliedthat he was at present suspended at the George and Vulture.
‘I wish you’d come and see me,’ said Bob Sawyer.
‘Nothing would give me greater pleasure,’ replied Mr. Pickwick.
‘There’s my lodgings,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, producing a card.
‘Lant Street, Borough96; it’s near Guy’s, and handy for me, youknow. Little distance after you’ve passed St. George’s Church―turns out of the High Street on the right hand side the way.’
‘I shall find it,’ said Mr. Pickwick.
‘Come on Thursday fortnight, and bring the other chaps withyou,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer; ‘I’m going to have a few medicalfellows that night.’
Mr. Pickwick expressed the pleasure it would afford him tomeet the medical fellows; and after Mr. Bob Sawyer had informedhim that he meant to be very cosy97, and that his friend Ben was tobe one of the party, they shook hands and separated.
We feel that in this place we lay ourself open to the inquirywhether Mr. Winkle was whispering, during this briefconversation, to Arabella Allen; and if so, what he said; andfurthermore, whether Mr. Snodgrass was conversing98 apart withEmily Wardle; and if so, what he said. To this, we reply, thatwhatever they might have said to the ladies, they said nothing atall to Mr. Pickwick or Mr. Tupman for eight-and-twenty miles, andthat they sighed very often, refused ale and brandy, and lookedgloomy. If our observant lady readers can deduce any satisfactoryinferences from these facts, we beg them by all means to do so.
收听单词发音 |
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disported
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| v.嬉戏，玩乐，自娱( disport的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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untying
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| untie的现在分词 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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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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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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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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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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vestige
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| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
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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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encroachment
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| n.侵入，蚕食 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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eschewed
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| v.（尤指为道德或实际理由而）习惯性避开，回避( eschew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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dissecting
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| v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的现在分词 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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tumour
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| n.(tumor)(肿)瘤，肿块 | |
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carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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39
shovelled
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| v.铲子( shovel的过去式和过去分词 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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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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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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gutters
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| （路边）排水沟( gutter的名词复数 )； 阴沟； （屋顶的）天沟； 贫贱的境地 | |
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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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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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expend
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| vt.花费，消费，消耗 | |
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mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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adjuration
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| n.祈求，命令 | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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83
prodigies
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| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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86
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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88
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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96
borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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