HOW Mr. WINKLE, WHEN HE STEPPED OUT OFTHE FRYING-PAN, WALKED GENTLY ANDCOMFORTABLY INTO THE FIREhe ill-starred gentleman who had been the unfortunatecause of the unusual noise and disturbance1 which alarmedthe inhabitants of the Royal Crescent in manner and formalready described, after passing a night of great confusion andanxiety, left the roof beneath which his friends still slumbered,bound he knew not whither. The excellent and consideratefeelings which prompted Mr. Winkle to take this step can never betoo highly appreciated or too warmly extolled2. ‘If,’ reasoned Mr.
Winkle with himself―‘if this Dowler attempts (as I have no doubthe will) to carry into execution his threat of personal violenceagainst myself, it will be incumbent3 on me to call him out. He has awife; that wife is attached to, and dependent on him. Heavens! If Ishould kill him in the blindness of my wrath4, what would be myfeelings ever afterwards!’ This painful consideration operated sopowerfully on the feelings of the humane5 young man, as to causehis knees to knock together, and his countenance6 to exhibitalarming manifestations7 of inward emotion. Impelled8 by suchreflections, he grasped his carpet-bag, and creeping stealthilydownstairs, shut the detestable street door with as little noise aspossible, and walked off. Bending his steps towards the RoyalHotel, he found a coach on the point of starting for Bristol, and,thinking Bristol as good a place for his purpose as any other hecould go to, he mounted the box, and reached his place ofdestination in such time as the pair of horses, who went the wholestage and back again, twice a day or more, could be reasonablysupposed to arrive there. He took up his quarters at the Bush, anddesigning to postpone9 any communication by letter with Mr.
Pickwick until it was probable that Mr. Dowler’s wrath might havein some degree evaporated, walked forth10 to view the city, whichstruck him as being a shade more dirty than any place he had everseen. Having inspected the docks and shipping11, and viewed thecathedral, he inquired his way to Clifton, and being directedthither, took the route which was pointed12 out to him. But as thepavements of Bristol are not the widest or cleanest upon earth, soits streets are not altogether the straightest or least intricate; andMr. Winkle, being greatly puzzled by their manifold windings13 andtwistings, looked about him for a decent shop in which he couldapply afresh for counsel and instruction.
His eye fell upon a newly-painted tenement14 which had beenrecently converted into something between a shop and a privatehouse, and which a red lamp, projecting over the fanlight of thestreet door, would have sufficiently15 announced as the residence ofa medical practitioner16, even if the word ‘Surgery’ had not beeninscribed in golden characters on a wainscot ground, above thewindow of what, in times bygone, had been the front parlour.
Thinking this an eligible18 place wherein to make his inquiries19, Mr.
Winkle stepped into the little shop where the gilt20-labelled drawersand bottles were; and finding nobody there, knocked with a half-crown on the counter, to attract the attention of anybody whomight happen to be in the back parlour, which he judged to be theinnermost and peculiar21 sanctum of the establishment, from therepetition of the word surgery on the door―painted in whiteletters this time, by way of taking off the monotony.
At the first knock, a sound, as of persons fencing with fire-irons,which had until now been very audible, suddenly ceased; at thesecond, a studious-looking young gentleman in green spectacles,with a very large book in his hand, glided22 quietly into the shop,and stepping behind the counter, requested to know the visitor’spleasure.
‘I am sorry to trouble you, sir,’ said Mr. Winkle, ‘but will youhave the goodness to direct me to―’
‘Ha! ha! ha!’ roared the studious young gentleman, throwingthe large book up into the air, and catching23 it with great dexterityat the very moment when it threatened to smash to atoms all thebottles on the counter. ‘Here’s a start!’
There was, without doubt; for Mr. Winkle was so very muchastonished at the extraordinary behaviour of the medicalgentleman, that he involuntarily retreated towards the door, andlooked very much disturbed at his strange reception.
‘What, don’t you know me?’ said the medical gentleman. Mr.
Winkle murmured, in reply, that he had not that pleasure.
‘Why, then,’ said the medical gentleman, ‘there are hopes forme yet; I may attend half the old women in Bristol, if I’ve decentluck. Get out, you mouldy old villain24, get out!’ With this adjuration,which was addressed to the large book, the medical gentlemankicked the volume with remarkable25 agility26 to the farther end of theshop, and, pulling off his green spectacles, grinned the identicalgrin of Robert Sawyer, Esquire, formerly27 of Guy’s Hospital in theBorough, with a private residence in Lant Street.
‘You don’t mean to say you weren’t down upon me?’ said Mr.
Bob Sawyer, shaking Mr. Winkle’s hand with friendly warmth.
‘Upon my word I was not,’ replied Mr. Winkle, returning hispressure.
‘I wonder you didn’t see the name,’ said Bob Sawyer, calling hisfriend’s attention to the outer door, on which, in the same whitepaint, were traced the words ‘Sawyer, late Nockemorf.’
‘It never caught my eye,’ returned Mr. Winkle.
‘Lord, if I had known who you were, I should have rushed out,and caught you in my arms,’ said Bob Sawyer; ‘but upon my life, Ithought you were the King’s-taxes.’
‘No!’ said Mr. Winkle.
‘I did, indeed,’ responded Bob Sawyer, ‘and I was just going tosay that I wasn’t at home, but if you’d leave a message I’d be sureto give it to myself; for he don’t know me; no more does theLighting and Paving. I think the Church-rates guesses who I am,and I know the Water-works does, because I drew a tooth of hiswhen I first came down here. But come in, come in!’ Chattering28 inthis way, Mr. Bob Sawyer pushed Mr. Winkle into the back room,where, amusing himself by boring little circular caverns29 in thechimney-piece with a red-hot poker30, sat no less a person than Mr.
Benjamin Allen.
‘Well!’ said Mr. Winkle. ‘This is indeed a pleasure I did notexpect. What a very nice place you have here!’
‘Pretty well, pretty well,’ replied Bob Sawyer. ‘I passed, soonafter that precious party, and my friends came down with theneedful for this business; so I put on a black suit of clothes, and apair of spectacles, and came here to look as solemn as I could.’
‘And a very snug31 little business you have, no doubt?’ said Mr.
Winkle knowingly.
‘Very,’ replied Bob Sawyer. ‘So snug, that at the end of a fewyears you might put all the profits in a wine-glass, and cover ’emover with a gooseberry leaf.’
‘You cannot surely mean that?’ said Mr. Winkle. ‘The stockitself―’
‘Dummies, my dear boy,’ said Bob Sawyer; ‘half the drawershave nothing in ’em, and the other half don’t open.’
‘Nonsense!’ said Mr. Winkle.
‘Fact―honour!’ returned Bob Sawyer, stepping out into theshop, and demonstrating the veracity32 of the assertion by divershard pulls at the little gilt knobs on the counterfeit33 drawers.
‘Hardly anything real in the shop but the leeches34, and they aresecond-hand.’
‘I shouldn’t have thought it!’ exclaimed Mr. Winkle, muchsurprised.
‘I hope not,’ replied Bob Sawyer, ‘else where’s the use ofappearances, eh? But what will you take? Do as we do? That’sright. Ben, my fine fellow, put your hand into the cupboard, andbring out the patent digester.’
Mr. Benjamin Allen smiled his readiness, and produced fromthe closet at his elbow a black bottle half full of brandy.
‘You don’t take water, of course?’ said Bob Sawyer.
‘Thank you,’ replied Mr. Winkle. ‘It’s rather early. I should liketo qualify it, if you have no objection.’
‘None in the least, if you can reconcile it to your conscience,’
replied Bob Sawyer, tossing off, as he spoke36, a glass of the liquorwith great relish37. ‘Ben, the pipkin!’
Mr. Benjamin Allen drew forth, from the same hiding-place, asmall brass38 pipkin, which Bob Sawyer observed he prided himselfupon, particularly because it looked so business-like. The water inthe professional pipkin having been made to boil, in course oftime, by various little shovelfuls of coal, which Mr. Bob Sawyertook out of a practicable window-seat, labelled ‘Soda Water,’ Mr.
Winkle adulterated his brandy; and the conversation wasbecoming general, when it was interrupted by the entrance intothe shop of a boy, in a sober grey livery and a gold-laced hat, witha small covered basket under his arm, whom Mr. Bob Sawyerimmediately hailed with, ‘Tom, you vagabond, come here.’
The boy presented himself accordingly.
‘You’ve been stopping to “over” all the posts in Bristol, you idleyoung scamp!’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘No, sir, I haven’t,’ replied the boy.
‘You had better not!’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, with a threateningaspect. ‘Who do you suppose will ever employ a professional man,when they see his boy playing at marbles in the gutter40, or flyingthe garter in the horse-road? Have you no feeling for yourprofession, you groveller41? Did you leave all the medicine?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘The powders for the child, at the large house with the newfamily, and the pills to be taken four times a day at the ill-tempered old gentleman’s with the gouty leg?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Then shut the door, and mind the shop.’
‘Come,’ said Mr. Winkle, as the boy retired42, ‘things are not quiteso bad as you would have me believe, either. There is somemedicine to be sent out.’
Mr. Bob Sawyer peeped into the shop to see that no strangerwas within hearing, and leaning forward to Mr. Winkle, said, in alow tone―‘He leaves it all at the wrong houses.’
Mr. Winkle looked perplexed43, and Bob Sawyer and his friendlaughed.
‘Don’t you see?’ said Bob. ‘He goes up to a house, rings the areabell, pokes44 a packet of medicine without a direction into theservant’s hand, and walks off. Servant takes it into the dining-parlour; master opens it, and reads the label: “Draught to be takenat bedtime―pills as before―lotion as usual―the powder. FromSawyer’s, late Nockemorf’s. Physicians’ prescriptions45 carefullyprepared,” and all the rest of it. Shows it to his wife―she reads thelabel; it goes down to the servants―they read the label. Next day,boy calls: “Very sorry―his mistake―immense business―greatmany parcels to deliver―Mr. Sawyer’s compliments―lateNockemorf.” The name gets known, and that’s the thing, my boy,in the medical way. Bless your heart, old fellow, it’s better than allthe advertising46 in the world. We have got one four-ounce bottlethat’s been to half the houses in Bristol, and hasn’t done yet.’
‘Dear me, I see,’ observed Mr. Winkle; ‘what an excellent plan!’
‘Oh, Ben and I have hit upon a dozen such,’ replied BobSawyer, with great glee. ‘The lamplighter has eighteenpence aweek to pull the night-bell for ten minutes every time he comesround; and my boy always rushes into the church just before thepsalms, when the people have got nothing to do but look about’em, and calls me out, with horror and dismay depicted47 on hiscountenance. “Bless my soul,” everybody says, “somebody takensuddenly ill! Sawyer, late Nockemorf, sent for. What a businessthat young man has!”’
At the termination of this disclosure of some of the mysteries ofmedicine, Mr. Bob Sawyer and his friend, Ben Allen, threwthemselves back in their respective chairs, and laughedboisterously. When they had enjoyed the joke to their heart’scontent, the discourse48 changed to topics in which Mr. Winkle wasmore immediately interested.
We think we have hinted elsewhere, that Mr. Benjamin Allenhad a way of becoming sentimental49 after brandy. The case is not apeculiar one, as we ourself can testify, having, on a few occasions,had to deal with patients who have been afflicted50 in a similarmanner. At this precise period of his existence, Mr. BenjaminAllen had perhaps a greater predisposition to maudlinism than hehad ever known before; the cause of which malady51 was brieflythis. He had been staying nearly three weeks with Mr. BobSawyer; Mr. Bob Sawyer was not remarkable for temperance, norwas Mr. Benjamin Allen for the ownership of a very strong head;the consequence was that, during the whole space of time justmentioned, Mr. Benjamin Allen had been wavering betweenintoxication partial, and intoxication52 complete.
‘My dear friend,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, taking advantage of Mr.
Bob Sawyer’s temporary absence behind the counter, whither hehad retired to dispense53 some of the second-hand35 leeches,previously referred to; ‘my dear friend, I am very miserable54.’
Mr. Winkle professed55 his heartfelt regret to hear it, and beggedto know whether he could do anything to alleviate56 the sorrows ofthe suffering student.
‘Nothing, my dear boy, nothing,’ said Ben. ‘You recollectArabella, Winkle? My sister Arabella―a little girl, Winkle, withblack eyes―when we were down at Wardle’s? I don’t knowwhether you happened to notice her―a nice little girl, Winkle.
Perhaps my features may recall her countenance to yourrecollection?’
Mr. Winkle required nothing to recall the charming Arabella tohis mind; and it was rather fortunate he did not, for the features ofher brother Benjamin would unquestionably have proved but anindifferent refresher to his memory. He answered, with as muchcalmness as he could assume, that he perfectly57 remembered theyoung lady referred to, and sincerely trusted she was in goodhealth.
‘Our friend Bob is a delightful58 fellow, Winkle,’ was the onlyreply of Mr. Ben Allen.
‘Very,’ said Mr. Winkle, not much relishing59 this closeconnection of the two names.
‘I designed ’em for each other; they were made for each other,sent into the world for each other, born for each other, Winkle,’
said Mr. Ben Allen, setting down his glass with emphasis. ‘There’sa special destiny in the matter, my dear sir; there’s only five years’
difference between ’em, and both their birthdays are in August.’
Mr. Winkle was too anxious to hear what was to follow toexpress much wonderment at this extraordinary coincidence,marvellous as it was; so Mr. Ben Allen, after a tear or two, went onto say that, notwithstanding all his esteem60 and respect andveneration for his friend, Arabella had unaccountably andundutifully evinced the most determined61 antipathy62 to his person.
‘And I think,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, in conclusion. ‘I think there’sa prior attachment63.’
‘Have you any idea who the object of it might be?’ asked Mr.
Winkle, with great trepidation64.
Mr. Ben Allen seized the poker, flourished it in a warlikemanner above his head, inflicted65 a savage66 blow on an imaginaryskull, and wound up by saying, in a very expressive67 manner, thathe only wished he could guess; that was all.
‘I’d show him what I thought of him,’ said Mr. Ben Allen. Andround went the poker again, more fiercely than before.
All this was, of course, very soothing68 to the feelings of Mr.
Winkle, who remained silent for a few minutes; but at lengthmustered up resolution to inquire whether Miss Allen was in Kent.
‘No, no,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, laying aside the poker, and lookingvery cunning; ‘I didn’t think Wardle’s exactly the place for aheadstrong girl; so, as I am her natural protector and guardian,our parents being dead, I have brought her down into this part ofthe country to spend a few months at an old aunt’s, in a nice, dull,close place. I think that will cure her, my boy. If it doesn’t, I’ll takeher abroad for a little while, and see what that’ll do.’
‘Oh, the aunt’s is in Bristol, is it?’ faltered69 Mr. Winkle.
‘No, no, not in Bristol,’ replied Mr. Ben Allen, jerking his thumbover his right shoulder; ‘over that way―down there. But, hush,here’s Bob. Not a word, my dear friend, not a word.’
Short as this conversation was, it roused in Mr. Winkle thehighest degree of excitement and anxiety. The suspected priorattachment rankled70 in his heart. Could he be the object of it?
Could it be for him that the fair Arabella had looked scornfully onthe sprightly71 Bob Sawyer, or had he a successful rival? Hedetermined to see her, cost what it might; but here aninsurmountable objection presented itself, for whether theexplanatory ‘over that way,’ and ‘down there,’ of Mr. Ben Allen,meant three miles off, or thirty, or three hundred, he could in nowise guess.
But he had no opportunity of pondering over his love just then,for Bob Sawyer’s return was the immediate39 precursor72 of thearrival of a meat-pie from the baker’s, of which that gentlemaninsisted on his staying to partake. The cloth was laid by anoccasional charwoman, who officiated in the capacity of Mr. BobSawyer’s housekeeper73; and a third knife and fork having beenborrowed from the mother of the boy in the grey livery (for Mr.
Sawyer’s domestic arrangements were as yet conducted on alimited scale), they sat down to dinner; the beer being served up,as Mr. Sawyer remarked, ‘in its native pewter.’
After dinner, Mr. Bob Sawyer ordered in the largest mortar74 inthe shop, and proceeded to brew75 a reeking76 jorum of rum-punchtherein, stirring up and amalgamating77 the materials with a pestlein a very creditable and apothecary-like manner. Mr. Sawyer,being a bachelor, had only one tumbler in the house, which wasassigned to Mr. Winkle as a compliment to the visitor, Mr. BenAllen being accommodated with a funnel78 with a cork79 in thenarrow end, and Bob Sawyer contented80 himself with one of thosewide-lipped crystal vessels81 inscribed17 with a variety of cabalisticcharacters, in which chemists are wont82 to measure out their liquiddrugs in compounding prescriptions. These preliminariesadjusted, the punch was tasted, and pronounced excellent; and ithaving been arranged that Bob Sawyer and Ben Allen should beconsidered at liberty to fill twice to Mr. Winkle’s once, they startedfair, with great satisfaction and good-fellowship.
There was no singing, because Mr. Bob Sawyer said it wouldn’tlook professional; but to make amends83 for this deprivation84 therewas so much talking and laughing that it might have been heard,and very likely was, at the end of the street. Which conversationmaterially lightened the hours and improved the mind of Mr. BobSawyer’s boy, who, instead of devoting the evening to his ordinaryoccupation of writing his name on the counter, and rubbing it outagain, peeped through the glass door, and thus listened andlooked on at the same time.
The mirth of Mr. Bob Sawyer was rapidly ripening85 into thefurious, Mr. Ben Allen was fast relapsing into the sentimental, andthe punch had well-nigh disappeared altogether, when the boyhastily running in, announced that a young woman had just comeover, to say that Sawyer late Nockemorf was wanted directly, acouple of streets off. This broke up the party. Mr. Bob Sawyer,understanding the message, after some twenty repetitions, tied awet cloth round his head to sober himself, and, having partiallysucceeded, put on his green spectacles and issued forth. Resistingall entreaties86 to stay till he came back, and finding it quiteimpossible to engage Mr. Ben Allen in any intelligibleconversation on the subject nearest his heart, or indeed on anyother, Mr. Winkle took his departure, and returned to the Bush.
The anxiety of his mind, and the numerous meditations87 whichArabella had awakened88, prevented his share of the mortar ofpunch producing that effect upon him which it would have hadunder other circumstances. So, after taking a glass of soda-waterand brandy at the bar, he turned into the coffee-room, dispiritedrather than elevated by the occurrences of the evening. Sitting infront of the fire, with his back towards him, was a tallishgentleman in a greatcoat: the only other occupant of the room. Itwas rather a cool evening for the season of the year, and thegentleman drew his chair aside to afford the new-comer a sight ofthe fire. What were Mr. Winkle’s feelings when, in doing so, hedisclosed to view the face and figure of the vindictive89 andsanguinary Dowler!
Mr. Winkle’s first impulse was to give a violent pull at thenearest bell-handle, but that unfortunately happened to beimmediately behind Mr. Dowler’s head. He had made one steptowards it, before he checked himself. As he did so, Mr. Dowlervery hastily drew back.
‘Mr. Winkle, sir. Be calm. Don’t strike me. I won’t bear it. Ablow! Never!’ said Mr. Dowler, looking meeker90 than Mr. Winklehad expected in a gentleman of his ferocity.
‘A blow, sir?’ stammered91 Mr. Winkle.
‘A blow, sir,’ replied Dowler. ‘Compose your feelings. Sit down.
Hear me.’
‘Sir,’ said Mr. Winkle, trembling from head to foot, ‘before Iconsent to sit down beside, or opposite you, without the presenceof a waiter, I must be secured by some further understanding. Youused a threat against me last night, sir, a dreadful threat, sir.’ HereMr. Winkle turned very pale indeed, and stopped short.
‘I did,’ said Dowler, with a countenance almost as white as Mr.
Winkle’s. ‘Circumstances were suspicious. They have beenexplained. I respect your bravery. Your feeling is upright.
Conscious innocence92. There’s my hand. Grasp it.’
‘Really, sir,’ said Mr. Winkle, hesitating whether to give hishand or not, and almost fearing that it was demanded in order thathe might be taken at an advantage, ‘really, sir, I―’
‘I know what you mean,’ interposed Dowler. ‘You feelaggrieved. Very natural. So should I. I was wrong. I beg yourpardon. Be friendly. Forgive me.’ With this, Dowler fairly forcedhis hand upon Mr. Winkle, and shaking it with the utmostvehemence, declared he was a fellow of extreme spirit, and he hada higher opinion of him than ever.
‘Now,’ said Dowler, ‘sit down. Relate it all. How did you findme? When did you follow? Be frank. Tell me.’
‘It’s quite accidental,’ replied Mr. Winkle, greatly perplexed bythe curious and unexpected nature of the interview. ‘Quite.’
‘Glad of it,’ said Dowler. ‘I woke this morning. I had forgottenmy threat. I laughed at the accident. I felt friendly. I said so.’
‘To whom?’ inquired Mr. Winkle.
‘To Mrs. Dowler. “You made a vow,” said she. “I did,” said I. “Itwas a rash one,” said she. “It was,” said I. “I’ll apologise. Where ishe?”’
‘Who?’ inquired Mr. Winkle.
‘You,’ replied Dowler. ‘I went downstairs. You were not to befound. Pickwick looked gloomy. Shook his head. Hoped noviolence would be committed. I saw it all. You felt yourselfinsulted. You had gone, for a friend perhaps. Possibly for pistols.
“High spirit,” said I. “I admire him.”’
Mr. Winkle coughed, and beginning to see how the land lay,assumed a look of importance.
‘I left a note for you,’ resumed Dowler. ‘I said I was sorry. So Iwas. Pressing business called me here. You were not satisfied. Youfollowed. You required a verbal explanation. You were right. It’sall over now. My business is finished. I go back to-morrow. Joinme.’
As Dowler progressed in his explanation, Mr. Winkle’scountenance grew more and more dignified94. The mysteriousnature of the commencement of their conversation was explained;Mr. Dowler had as great an objection to duelling as himself; inshort, this blustering95 and awful personage was one of the mostegregious cowards in existence, and interpreting Mr. Winkle’sabsence through the medium of his own fears, had taken the samestep as himself, and prudently96 retired until all excitement offeeling should have subsided97.
As the real state of the case dawned upon Mr. Winkle’s mind,he looked very terrible, and said he was perfectly satisfied; but atthe same time, said so with an air that left Mr. Dowler noalternative but to infer that if he had not been, something mosthorrible and destructive must inevitably98 have occurred. Mr.
Dowler appeared to be impressed with a becoming sense of Mr.
Winkle’s magnanimity and condescension99; and the twobelligerents parted for the night, with many protestations ofeternal friendship.
About half-past twelve o’clock, when Mr. Winkle had beenrevelling some twenty minutes in the full luxury of his first sleep,he was suddenly awakened by a loud knocking at his chamberdoor, which, being repeated with increased vehemence93, causedhim to start up in bed, and inquire who was there, and what thematter was.
‘Please, sir, here’s a young man which says he must see youdirectly,’ responded the voice of the chambermaid.
‘A young man!’ exclaimed Mr. Winkle.
‘No mistake about that ’ere, sir,’ replied another voice throughthe keyhole; ‘and if that wery same interestin’ young creetur ain’tlet in vithout delay, it’s wery possible as his legs vill enter afore hiscountenance.’ The young man gave a gentle kick at one of thelower panels of the door, after he had given utterance100 to thishint, as if to add force and point to the remark.
‘Is that you, Sam?’ inquired Mr. Winkle, springing out of bed.
‘Quite unpossible to identify any gen’l’m’n vith any degree o’
mental satisfaction, vithout lookin’ at him, sir,’ replied the voicedogmatically.
Mr. Winkle, not much doubting who the young man was,unlocked the door; which he had no sooner done than Mr. SamuelWeller entered with great precipitation, and carefully relocking iton the inside, deliberately101 put the key in his waistcoat pocket; and,after surveying Mr. Winkle from head to foot, said―‘You’re a wery humorous young gen’l’m’n, you air, sir!’
‘What do you mean by this conduct, Sam?’ inquired Mr. Winkleindignantly. ‘Get out, sir, this instant. What do you mean, sir?’
‘What do I mean,’ retorted Sam; ‘come, sir, this is rayther toorich, as the young lady said when she remonstrated102 with thepastry-cook, arter he’d sold her a pork pie as had got nothin’ butfat inside. What do I mean! Well, that ain’t a bad ’un, that ain’t.’
‘Unlock that door, and leave this room immediately, sir,’ saidMr. Winkle.
‘I shall leave this here room, sir, just precisely103 at the wery samemoment as you leaves it,’ responded Sam, speaking in a forciblemanner, and seating himself with perfect gravity. ‘If I find itnecessary to carry you away, pick-a-back, o’ course I shall leave itthe least bit o’ time possible afore you; but allow me to express ahope as you won’t reduce me to extremities104; in saying wich, Imerely quote wot the nobleman said to the fractious pennywinkle,ven he vouldn’t come out of his shell by means of a pin, and heconseqvently began to be afeered that he should be obliged tocrack him in the parlour door.’ At the end of this address, whichwas unusually lengthy105 for him, Mr. Weller planted his hands onhis knees, and looked full in Mr. Winkle’s face, with an expressionof countenance which showed that he had not the remotestintention of being trifled with.
‘You’re a amiably-disposed young man, sir, I don’t think,’
resumed Mr. Weller, in a tone of moral reproof106, ‘to go inwolvingour precious governor in all sorts o’ fanteegs, wen he’s made uphis mind to go through everythink for principle. You’re far worsenor Dodson, sir; and as for Fogg, I consider him a born angel toyou!’ Mr. Weller having accompanied this last sentiment with anemphatic slap on each knee, folded his arms with a look of greatdisgust, and threw himself back in his chair, as if awaiting thecriminal’s defence.
‘My good fellow,’ said Mr. Winkle, extending his hand―histeeth chattering all the time he spoke, for he had been standing,during the whole of Mr. Weller’s lecture, in his night-gear―‘mygood fellow, I respect your attachment to my excellent friend, andI am very sorry indeed to have added to his causes for disquiet107.
There, Sam, there!’
‘Well,’ said Sam, rather sulkily, but giving the proffered108 hand arespectful shake at the same time―‘well, so you ought to be, and Iam very glad to find you air; for, if I can help it, I won’t have himput upon by nobody, and that’s all about it.’
‘Certainly not, Sam,’ said Mr. Winkle. ‘There! Now go to bed,Sam, and we’ll talk further about this in the morning.’
‘I’m wery sorry,’ said Sam, ‘but I can’t go to bed.’
‘Not go to bed!’ repeated Mr. Winkle.
‘No,’ said Sam, shaking his head. ‘Can’t be done.’
‘You don’t mean to say you’re going back to-night, Sam?’ urgedMr. Winkle, greatly surprised.
‘Not unless you particklerly wish it,’ replied Sam; ‘but I mustn’tleave this here room. The governor’s orders wos peremptory109.’
‘Nonsense, Sam,’ said Mr. Winkle, ‘I must stop here two orthree days; and more than that, Sam, you must stop here too, toassist me in gaining an interview with a young lady―Miss Allen,Sam; you remember her―whom I must and will see before I leaveBristol.’
But in reply to each of these positions, Sam shook his head withgreat firmness, and energetically replied, ‘It can’t be done.’
After a great deal of argument and representation on the part ofMr. Winkle, however, and a full disclosure of what had passed inthe interview with Dowler, Sam began to waver; and at length acompromise was effected, of which the following were the mainand principal conditions:―That Sam should retire, and leave Mr. Winkle in theundisturbed possession of his apartment, on the condition that hehad permission to lock the door on the outside, and carry off thekey; provided always, that in the event of an alarm of fire, or otherdangerous contingency110, the door should be instantly unlocked.
That a letter should be written to Mr. Pickwick early nextmorning, and forwarded per Dowler, requesting his consent toSam and Mr. Winkle’s remaining at Bristol, for the purpose andwith the object already assigned, and begging an answer by thenext coach; if favourable111, the aforesaid parties to remainaccordingly, and if not, to return to Bath immediately on thereceipt thereof. And, lastly, that Mr. Winkle should be understoodas distinctly pledging himself not to resort to the window,fireplace, or other surreptitious mode of escape in the meanwhile.
These stipulations having been concluded, Sam locked the doorand departed.
He had nearly got downstairs, when he stopped, and drew thekey from his pocket.
‘I quite forgot about the knockin’ down,’ said Sam, half turningback. ‘The governor distinctly said it was to be done. Amazin’
stupid o’ me, that ’ere! Never mind,’ said Sam, brightening up, ‘it’seasily done to-morrow, anyvays.’
Apparently much consoled by this reflection, Mr. Weller oncemore deposited the key in his pocket, and descending112 theremainder of the stairs without any fresh visitations of conscience,was soon, in common with the other inmates113 of the house, buriedin profound repose114.
收听单词发音 |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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extolled
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| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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5
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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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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manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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14
tenement
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| n.公寓；房屋 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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practitioner
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| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
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17
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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18
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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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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20
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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21
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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22
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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23
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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26
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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27
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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28
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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29
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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30
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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31
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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32
veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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33
counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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34
leeches
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| n.水蛭( leech的名词复数 )；蚂蟥；榨取他人脂膏者；医生 | |
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35
second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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36
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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37
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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38
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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39
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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40
gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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41
groveller
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42
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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44
pokes
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| v.伸出( poke的第三人称单数 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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45
prescriptions
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| 药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划 | |
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46
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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47
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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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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49
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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50
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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52
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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53
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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54
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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56
alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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57
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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58
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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59
relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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60
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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61
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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62
antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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63
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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64
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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65
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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66
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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67
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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68
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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69
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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70
rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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72
precursor
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| n.先驱者；前辈；前任；预兆；先兆 | |
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73
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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74
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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75
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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76
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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77
amalgamating
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| v.（使）（金属）汞齐化( amalgamate的现在分词 )；（使）合并；联合；结合 | |
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78
funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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79
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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80
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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81
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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82
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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83
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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84
deprivation
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| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
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85
ripening
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成 | |
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86
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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87
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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88
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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89
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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90
meeker
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的比较级 ) | |
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91
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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93
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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94
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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95
blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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96
prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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97
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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98
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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99
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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100
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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101
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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102
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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103
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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104
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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105
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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106
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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107
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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108
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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109
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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110
contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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111
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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112
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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113
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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114
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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