RELATES HOW Mr. PICKWICK, WITH THEASSISTANCE OF SAMUEL WELLER, ESSAYEDTO SOFTEN1 THE HEART OF Mr. BENJAMINALLEN, AND TO MOLLIFY THE WRATH2 OFMr. ROBERT SAWYERr. Ben Allen and Mr. Bob Sawyer sat together in thelittle surgery behind the shop, discussing minced3 vealand future prospects5, when the discourse6, notunnaturally, turned upon the practice acquired by Bob theaforesaid, and his present chances of deriving7 a competentindependence from the honourable8 profession to which he haddevoted himself.
‘Which, I think,’ observed Mr. Bob Sawyer, pursuing the threadof the subject―‘which, I think, Ben, are rather dubious9.’
‘What’s rather dubious?’ inquired Mr. Ben Allen, at the sametime sharpening his intellect with a draught10 of beer. ‘What’sdubious?’
‘Why, the chances,’ responded Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘I forgot,’ said Mr. Ben Allen. ‘The beer has reminded me that Iforgot, Bob―yes; they are dubious.’
‘It’s wonderful how the poor people patronise me,’ said Mr. BobSawyer reflectively. ‘They knock me up, at all hours of the night;they take medicine to an extent which I should have conceivedimpossible; they put on blisters11 and leeches12 with a perseveranceworthy of a better cause; they make additions to their families, in amanner which is quite awful. Six of those last-named littlepromissory notes, all due on the same day, Ben, and all intrustedto me!’
‘It’s very gratifying, isn’t it?’ said Mr. Ben Allen, holding hisplate for some more minced veal4.
‘Oh, very,’ replied Bob; ‘only not quite so much so as theconfidence of patients with a shilling or two to spare would be.
This business was capitally described in the advertisement, Ben. Itis a practice, a very extensive practice―and that’s all.’
‘Bob,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, laying down his knife and fork, andfixing his eyes on the visage of his friend, ‘Bob, I’ll tell you what itis.’
‘What is it?’ inquired Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘You must make yourself, with as little delay as possible, masterof Arabella’s one thousand pounds.’
‘Three per cent. consolidated14 bank annuities15, now standing16 inher name in the book or books of the governor and company of theBank of England,’ added Bob Sawyer, in legal phraseology.
‘Exactly so,’ said Ben. ‘She has it when she comes of age, ormarries. She wants a year of coming of age, and if you plucked upa spirit she needn’t want a month of being married.’
‘She’s a very charming and delightful17 creature,’ quoth Mr.
Robert Sawyer, in reply; ‘and has only one fault that I know of,Ben. It happens, unfortunately, that that single blemish18 is a wantof taste. She don’t like me.’
‘It’s my opinion that she don’t know what she does like,’ saidMr. Ben Allen contemptuously.
‘Perhaps not,’ remarked Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘But it’s my opinionthat she does know what she doesn’t like, and that’s of moreimportance.’
‘I wish,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, setting his teeth together, andspeaking more like a savage19 warrior20 who fed on raw wolf’s fleshwhich he carved with his fingers, than a peaceable younggentleman who ate minced veal with a knife and fork―‘I wish Iknew whether any rascal21 really has been tampering22 with her, andattempting to engage her affections. I think I should assassinatehim, Bob.’
‘I’d put a bullet in him, if I found him out,’ said Mr. Sawyer,stopping in the course of a long draught of beer, and lookingmalignantly out of the porter pot. ‘If that didn’t do his business, I’dextract it afterwards, and kill him that way.’
Mr. Benjamin Allen gazed abstractedly on his friend for someminutes in silence, and then said―‘You have never proposed to her, point-blank, Bob?’
‘No. Because I saw it would be of no use,’ replied Mr. RobertSawyer.
‘You shall do it, before you are twenty-four hours older,’
retorted Ben, with desperate calmness. ‘She shall have you, or I’llknow the reason why. I’ll exert my authority.’
‘Well,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, ‘we shall see.’
‘We shall see, my friend,’ replied Mr. Ben Allen fiercely. Hepaused for a few seconds, and added in a voice broken by emotion,‘You have loved her from a child, my friend. You loved her whenwe were boys at school together, and, even then, she was waywardand slighted your young feelings. Do you recollect23, with all theeagerness of a child’s love, one day pressing upon her acceptance,two small caraway-seed biscuits and one sweet apple, neatlyfolded into a circular parcel with the leaf of a copy-book?’
‘I do,’ replied Bob Sawyer.
‘She slighted that, I think?’ said Ben Allen.
‘She did,’ rejoined Bob. ‘She said I had kept the parcel so longin the pockets of my corduroys, that the apple was unpleasantlywarm.’
‘I remember,’ said Mr. Allen gloomily. ‘Upon which we ate itourselves, in alternate bites.’
Bob Sawyer intimated his recollection of the circumstance lastalluded to, by a melancholy24 frown; and the two friends remainedfor some time absorbed, each in his own meditations25.
While these observations were being exchanged between Mr.
Bob Sawyer and Mr. Benjamin Allen; and while the boy in thegrey livery, marvelling26 at the unwonted prolongation of thedinner, cast an anxious look, from time to time, towards the glassdoor, distracted by inward misgivings27 regarding the amount ofminced veal which would be ultimately reserved for his individualcravings; there rolled soberly on through the streets of Bristol, aprivate fly, painted of a sad green colour, drawn28 by a chubby29 sortof brown horse, and driven by a surly-looking man with his legsdressed like the legs of a groom30, and his body attired31 in the coat ofa coachman. Such appearances are common to many vehiclesbelonging to, and maintained by, old ladies of economic habits;and in this vehicle sat an old lady who was its mistress andproprietor.
‘Martin!’ said the old lady, calling to the surly man, out of thefront window.
‘Well?’ said the surly man, touching32 his hat to the old lady.
‘Mr. Sawyer’s,’ said the old lady.
‘I was going there,’ said the surly man.
The old lady nodded the satisfaction which this proof of thesurly man’s foresight33 imparted to her feelings; and the surly mangiving a smart lash34 to the chubby horse, they all repaired to Mr.
Bob Sawyer’s together.
‘Martin!’ said the old lady, when the fly stopped at the door ofMr. Robert Sawyer, late Nockemorf.
‘Well?’ said Martin.
‘Ask the lad to step out, and mind the horse.’
‘I’m going to mind the horse myself,’ said Martin, laying hiswhip on the roof of the fly.
‘I can’t permit it, on any account,’ said the old lady; ‘yourtestimony will be very important, and I must take you into thehouse with me. You must not stir from my side during the wholeinterview. Do you hear?’
‘I hear,’ replied Martin.
‘Well; what are you stopping for?’
‘Nothing,’ replied Martin. So saying, the surly man leisurelydescended from the wheel, on which he had been poising35 himselfon the tops of the toes of his right foot, and having summoned theboy in the grey livery, opened the coach door, flung down thesteps, and thrusting in a hand enveloped36 in a dark wash-leatherglove, pulled out the old lady with as much unconcern in hismanner as if she were a bandbox.
‘Dear me!’ exclaimed the old lady. ‘I am so flurried, now I havegot here, Martin, that I’m all in a tremble.’
Mr. Martin coughed behind the dark wash-leather gloves, butexpressed no sympathy; so the old lady, composing herself, trottedup Mr. Bob Sawyer’s steps, and Mr. Martin followed. Immediatelyon the old lady’s entering the shop, Mr. Benjamin Allen and Mr.
Bob Sawyer, who had been putting the spirits-and-water out ofsight, and upsetting nauseous drugs to take off the smell of thetobacco smoke, issued hastily forth38 in a transport of pleasure andaffection.
‘My dear aunt,’ exclaimed Mr. Ben Allen, ‘how kind of you tolook in upon us! Mr. Sawyer, aunt; my friend Mr. Bob Sawyerwhom I have spoken to you about, regarding―you know, aunt.’
And here Mr. Ben Allen, who was not at the momentextraordinarily sober, added the word ‘Arabella,’ in what wasmeant to be a whisper, but which was an especially audible anddistinct tone of speech which nobody could avoid hearing, ifanybody were so disposed.
‘My dear Benjamin,’ said the old lady, struggling with a greatshortness of breath, and trembling from head to foot, ‘don’t bealarmed, my dear, but I think I had better speak to Mr. Sawyer,alone, for a moment. Only for one moment.’
‘Bob,’ said Mr. Allen, ‘will you take my aunt into the surgery?’
‘Certainly,’ responded Bob, in a most professional voice. ‘Stepthis way, my dear ma’am. Don’t be frightened, ma’am. We shall beable to set you to rights in a very short time, I have no doubt,ma’am. Here, my dear ma’am. Now then!’ With this, Mr. BobSawyer having handed the old lady to a chair, shut the door, drewanother chair close to her, and waited to hear detailed40 thesymptoms of some disorder41 from which he saw in perspective along train of profits and advantages.
The first thing the old lady did, was to shake her head a greatmany times, and began to cry.
‘Nervous,’ said Bob Sawyer complacently42. ‘Camphor-julep andwater three times a day, and composing draught at night.’
‘I don’t know how to begin, Mr. Sawyer,’ said the old lady. ‘It isso very painful and distressing43.’
‘You need not begin, ma’am,’ rejoined Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘I cananticipate all you would say. The head is in fault.’
‘I should be very sorry to think it was the heart,’ said the oldlady, with a slight groan44.
‘Not the slightest danger of that, ma’am,’ replied Bob Sawyer.
‘The stomach is the primary cause.’
‘Mr. Sawyer!’ exclaimed the old lady, starting.
‘Not the least doubt of it, ma’am,’ rejoined Bob, lookingwondrous wise. ‘Medicine, in time, my dear ma’am, would haveprevented it all.’
‘Mr. Sawyer,’ said the old lady, more flurried than before, ‘thisconduct is either great impertinence to one in my situation, sir, orit arises from your not understanding the object of my visit. If ithad been in the power of medicine, or any foresight I could haveused, to prevent what has occurred, I should certainly have doneso. I had better see my nephew at once,’ said the old lady, twirlingher reticule indignantly, and rising as she spoke39.
‘Stop a moment, ma’am,’ said Bob Sawyer; ‘I’m afraid I havenot understood you. What is the matter, ma’am?’
‘My niece, Mr. Sawyer,’ said the old lady: ‘your friend’s sister.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ said Bob, all impatience46; for the old lady,although much agitated47, spoke with the most tantalisingdeliberation, as old ladies often do. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Left my home, Mr. Sawyer, three days ago, on a pretended visitto my sister, another aunt of hers, who keeps the large boarding-school, just beyond the third mile-stone, where there is a verylarge laburnum-tree and an oak gate,’ said the old lady, stoppingin this place to dry her eyes.
‘Oh, devil take the laburnum-tree, ma’am!’ said Bob, quiteforgetting his professional dignity in his anxiety. ‘Get on a littlefaster; put a little more steam on, ma’am, pray.’
‘This morning,’ said the old lady slowly―‘this morning, she―’
‘She came back, ma’am, I suppose,’ said Bob, with greatanimation. ‘Did she come back?’
‘No, she did not; she wrote,’ replied the old lady.
‘What did she say?’ inquired Bob eagerly.
‘She said, Mr. Sawyer,’ replied the old lady―‘and it is this Iwant to prepare Benjamin’s mind for, gently and by degrees; shesaid that she was―I have got the letter in my pocket, Mr. Sawyer,but my glasses are in the carriage, and I should only waste yourtime if I attempted to point out the passage to you, without them;she said, in short, Mr. Sawyer, that she was married.’
‘What!’ said, or rather shouted, Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘Married,’ repeated the old lady.
Mr. Bob Sawyer stopped to hear no more; but darting48 from thesurgery into the outer shop, cried in a stentorian49 voice, ‘Ben, myboy, she’s bolted!’
Mr. Ben Allen, who had been slumbering50 behind the counter,with his head half a foot or so below his knees, no sooner heardthis appalling51 communication, than he made a precipitate52 rush atMr. Martin, and, twisting his hand in the neck-cloth of thattaciturn servitor, expressed an obliging intention of choking himwhere he stood. This intention, with a promptitude often the effectof desperation, he at once commenced carrying into execution,with much vigour53 and surgical54 skill.
Mr. Martin, who was a man of few words and possessed55 butlittle power of eloquence56 or persuasion57, submitted to thisoperation with a very calm and agreeable expression ofcountenance, for some seconds; finding, however, that itthreatened speedily to lead to a result which would place it beyondhis power to claim any wages, board or otherwise, in all time tocome, he muttered an inarticulate remonstrance58 and felled Mr.
Benjamin Allen to the ground. As that gentleman had his handsentangled in his cravat59, he had no alternative but to follow him tothe floor. There they both lay struggling, when the shop dooropened, and the party was increased by the arrival of two mostunexpected visitors, to wit, Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Samuel Weller.
The impression at once produced on Mr. Weller’s mind by whathe saw, was, that Mr. Martin was hired by the establishment ofSawyer, late Nockemorf, to take strong medicine, or to go into fitsand be experimentalised upon, or to swallow poison now and thenwith the view of testing the efficacy of some new antidotes60, or to dosomething or other to promote the great science of medicine, andgratify the ardent61 spirit of inquiry62 burning in the bosoms63 of its twoyoung professors. So, without presuming to interfere64, Sam stoodperfectly still, and looked on, as if he were mightily65 interested inthe result of the then pending66 experiment. Not so, Mr. Pickwick.
He at once threw himself on the astonished combatants, with hisaccustomed energy, and loudly called upon the bystanders tointerpose.
This roused Mr. Bob Sawyer, who had been hitherto quiteparalysed by the frenzy67 of his companion. With that gentleman’sassistance, Mr. Pickwick raised Ben Allen to his feet. Mr. Martinfinding himself alone on the floor, got up, and looked about him.
‘Mr. Allen,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘what is the matter, sir?’
‘Never mind, sir!’ replied Mr. Allen, with haughty68 defiance69.
‘What is it?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick, looking at Bob Sawyer. ‘Ishe unwell?’
Before Bob could reply, Mr. Ben Allen seized Mr. Pickwick bythe hand, and murmured, in sorrowful accents, ‘My sister, my dearsir; my sister.’
‘Oh, is that all!’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘We shall easily arrange thatmatter, I hope. Your sister is safe and well, and I am here, my dearsir, to―’
‘Sorry to do anythin’ as may cause an interruption to such werypleasant proceedin’s, as the king said wen he dissolved theparliament,’ interposed Mr. Weller, who had been peepingthrough the glass door; ‘but there’s another experiment here, sir.
Here’s a wenerable old lady a-lyin’ on the carpet waitin’ fordissection, or galwinism, or some other rewivin’ and scientificinwention.’
‘I forgot,’ exclaimed Mr. Ben Allen. ‘It is my aunt.’
‘Dear me!’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Poor lady! Gently Sam, gently.’
‘Strange sitivation for one o’ the family,’ observed Sam Weller,hoisting the aunt into a chair. ‘Now depitty sawbones, bring outthe wollatilly!’
The latter observation was addressed to the boy in gray, who,having handed over the fly to the care of the street-keeper, hadcome back to see what all the noise was about. Between the boy ingray, and Mr. Bob Sawyer, and Mr. Benjamin Allen (who havingfrightened his aunt into a fainting fit, was affectionately solicitousfor her recovery) the old lady was at length restored toconsciousness; then Mr. Ben Allen, turning with a puzzledcountenance to Mr. Pickwick, asked him what he was about to say,when he had been so alarmingly interrupted.
‘We are all friends here, I presume?’ said Mr. Pickwick, clearinghis voice, and looking towards the man of few words with the surlycountenance, who drove the fly with the chubby horse.
This reminded Mr. Bob Sawyer that the boy in grey waslooking on, with eyes wide open, and greedy ears. The incipientchemist having been lifted up by his coat collar, and droppedoutside the door, Bob Sawyer assured Mr. Pickwick that he mightspeak without reserve.
‘Your sister, my dear sir,’ said Mr. Pickwick, turning toBenjamin Allen, ‘is in London; well and happy.’
‘Her happiness is no object to me, sir,’ said Benjamin Allen,with a flourish of the hand.
‘Her husband is an object to me, sir,’ said Bob Sawyer. ‘He shallbe an object to me, sir, at twelve paces, and a pretty object I’llmake of him, sir―a mean-spirited scoundrel!’ This, as it stood,was a very pretty denunciation, and magnanimous withal; but Mr.
Bob Sawyer rather weakened its effect, by winding70 up with somegeneral observations concerning the punching of heads andknocking out of eyes, which were commonplace by comparison.
‘Stay, sir,’ said Mr. Pickwick; ‘before you apply those epithets71 tothe gentleman in question, consider, dispassionately, the extent ofhis fault, and above all remember that he is a friend of mine.’
‘What!’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘His name!’ cried Ben Allen. ‘Hisname!’
‘Mr. Nathaniel Winkle,’ said Mr, Pickwick.
Mr. Benjamin Allen deliberately72 crushed his spectacles beneaththe heel of his boot, and having picked up the pieces, and put theminto three separate pockets, folded his arms, bit his lips, andlooked in a threatening manner at the bland73 features of Mr.
Pickwick.
‘Then it’s you, is it, sir, who have encouraged and broughtabout this match?’ inquired Mr. Benjamin Allen at length.
‘And it’s this gentleman’s servant, I suppose,’ interrupted theold lady, ‘who has been skulking74 about my house, andendeavouring to entrap75 my servants to conspire76 against theirmistress.―Martin!’
‘Well?’ said the surly man, coming forward.
‘Is that the young man you saw in the lane, whom you told meabout, this morning?’
Mr. Martin, who, as it has already appeared, was a man of fewwords, looked at Sam Weller, nodded his head, and growled77 forth,‘That’s the man.’ Mr. Weller, who was never proud, gave a smile offriendly recognition as his eyes encountered those of the surlygroom, and admitted in courteous78 terms, that he had ‘knowed himafore.’
‘And this is the faithful creature,’ exclaimed Mr. Ben Allen,‘whom I had nearly suffocated79!―Mr. Pickwick, how dare youallow your fellow to be employed in the abduction of my sister? Idemand that you explain this matter, sir.’
‘Explain it, sir!’ cried Bob Sawyer fiercely.
‘It’s a conspiracy,’ said Ben Allen.
‘A regular plant,’ added Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘A disgraceful imposition,’ observed the old lady.
‘Nothing but a do,’ remarked Martin.
‘Pray hear me,’ urged Mr. Pickwick, as Mr. Ben Allen fell into achair that patients were bled in, and gave way to his pocket-handkerchief. ‘I have rendered no assistance in this matter,beyond being present at one interview between the young peoplewhich I could not prevent, and from which I conceived mypresence would remove any slight colouring of impropriety that itmight otherwise have had; this is the whole share I have had in thetransaction, and I had no suspicion that an immediate37 marriagewas even contemplated80. Though, mind,’ added Mr. Pickwick,hastily checking himself―‘mind, I do not say I should haveprevented it, if I had known that it was intended.’
‘You hear that, all of you; you hear that?’ said Mr. BenjaminAllen.
‘I hope they do,’ mildly observed Mr. Pickwick, looking round,‘and,’ added that gentleman, his colour mounting as he spoke, ‘Ihope they hear this, sir, also. That from what has been stated tome, sir, I assert that you were by no means justified81 in attemptingto force your sister’s inclinations82 as you did, and that you shouldrather have endeavoured by your kindness and forbearance tohave supplied the place of other nearer relations whom she hadnever known, from a child. As regards my young friend, I mustbeg to add, that in every point of worldly advantage he is, at least,on an equal footing with yourself, if not on a much better one, andthat unless I hear this question discussed with becoming temperand moderation, I decline hearing any more said upon thesubject.’
‘I wish to make a wery few remarks in addition to wot has beenput for’ard by the honourable gen’l’m’n as has jist give over,’ saidMr. Weller, stepping forth, ‘wich is this here: a indiwidual incompany has called me a feller.’
‘That has nothing whatever to do with the matter, Sam,’
interposed Mr. Pickwick. ‘Pray hold your tongue.’
‘I ain’t a-goin’ to say nothin’ on that ’ere pint83, sir,’ replied Sam,‘but merely this here. P’raps that gen’l’m’n may think as there wosa priory ’tachment; but there worn’t nothin’ o’ the sort, for theyoung lady said in the wery beginnin’ o’ the keepin’ company, thatshe couldn’t abide84 him. Nobody’s cut him out, and it ‘ud ha’ beenjist the wery same for him if the young lady had never seen Mr.
Vinkle. That’s what I wished to say, sir, and I hope I’ve now madethat ’ere gen’l’m’n’s mind easy.
A short pause followed these consolatory85 remarks of Mr. Weller.
Then Mr. Ben Allen rising from his chair, protested that he wouldnever see Arabella’s face again; while Mr. Bob Sawyer, despiteSam’s flattering assurance, vowed86 dreadful vengeance87 on thehappy bridegroom.
But, just when matters were at their height, and threatening toremain so, Mr. Pickwick found a powerful assistant in the old lady,who, evidently much struck by the mode in which he hadadvocated her niece’s cause, ventured to approach Mr. BenjaminAllen with a few comforting reflections, of which the chief were,that after all, perhaps, it was well it was no worse; the least saidthe soonest mended, and upon her word she did not know that itwas so very bad after all; what was over couldn’t be begun, andwhat couldn’t be cured must be endured; with various otherassurances of the like novel and strengthening description. To allof these, Mr. Benjamin Allen replied that he meant no disrespectto his aunt, or anybody there, but if it were all the same to them,and they would allow him to have his own way, he would ratherhave the pleasure of hating his sister till death, and after it.
At length, when this determination had been announced half ahundred times, the old lady suddenly bridling88 up and looking verymajestic, wished to know what she had done that no respect wasto be paid to her years or station, and that she should be obliged tobeg and pray, in that way, of her own nephew, whom sheremembered about five-and-twenty years before he was born, andwhom she had known, personally, when he hadn’t a tooth in hishead; to say nothing of her presence on the first occasion of hishaving his hair cut, and assistance at numerous other times andceremonies during his babyhood, of sufficient importance to founda claim upon his affection, obedience89, and sympathies, for ever.
While the good lady was bestowing90 this objurgation on Mr. BenAllen, Bob Sawyer and Mr. Pickwick had retired91 in closeconversation to the inner room, where Mr. Sawyer was observedto apply himself several times to the mouth of a black bottle, underthe influence of which, his features gradually assumed a cheerfuland even jovial92 expression. And at last he emerged from the room,bottle in hand, and, remarking that he was very sorry to say hehad been making a fool of himself, begged to propose the healthand happiness of Mr. and Mrs. Winkle, whose felicity, so far fromenvying, he would be the first to congratulate them upon. Hearingthis, Mr. Ben Allen suddenly arose from his chair, and, seizing theblack bottle, drank the toast so heartily93, that, the liquor beingstrong, he became nearly as black in the face as the bottle. Finally,the black bottle went round till it was empty, and there was somuch shaking of hands and interchanging of compliments, thateven the metal-visaged Mr. Martin condescended94 to smile.
‘And now,’ said Bob Sawyer, rubbing his hands, ‘we’ll have ajolly night.’
‘I am sorry,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘that I must return to my inn. Ihave not been accustomed to fatigue95 lately, and my journey hastired me exceedingly.’
‘You’ll take some tea, Mr. Pickwick?’ said the old lady, withirresistible sweetness.
‘Thank you, I would rather not,’ replied that gentleman. Thetruth is, that the old lady’s evidently increasing admiration96 wasMr. Pickwick’s principal inducement for going away. He thoughtof Mrs. Bardell; and every glance of the old lady’s eyes threw himinto a cold perspiration97.
As Mr. Pickwick could by no means be prevailed upon to stay, itwas arranged at once, on his own proposition, that Mr. BenjaminAllen should accompany him on his journey to the elder Mr.
Winkle’s, and that the coach should be at the door, at nine o’clocknext morning. He then took his leave, and, followed by SamuelWeller, repaired to the Bush. It is worthy13 of remark, that Mr.
Martin’s face was horribly convulsed as he shook hands with Samat parting, and that he gave vent45 to a smile and an oathsimultaneously; from which tokens it has been inferred by thosewho were best acquainted with that gentleman’s peculiarities98, thathe expressed himself much pleased with Mr. Weller’s society, andrequested the honour of his further acquaintance.
‘Shall I order a private room, sir?’ inquired Sam, when theyreached the Bush.
‘Why, no, Sam,’ replied Mr. Pickwick; ‘as I dined in the coffee-room, and shall go to bed soon, it is hardly worth while. See whothere is in the travellers’ room, Sam.’
Mr. Weller departed on his errand, and presently returned tosay that there was only a gentleman with one eye; and that he andthe landlord were drinking a bowl of bishop99 together.
‘I will join them,’ said Mr. Pickwick.
‘He’s a queer customer, the vun-eyed vun, sir,’ observed Mr.
Weller, as he led the way. ‘He’s a-gammonin’ that ’ere landlord, heis, sir, till he don’t rightly know wether he’s a-standing on the solesof his boots or the crown of his hat.’
The individual to whom this observation referred, was sitting atthe upper end of the room when Mr. Pickwick entered, and wassmoking a large Dutch pipe, with his eye intently fixed100 on theround face of the landlord; a jolly-looking old personage, to whomhe had recently been relating some tale of wonder, as was testifiedby sundry101 disjointed exclamations102 of, ‘Well, I wouldn’t havebelieved it! The strangest thing I ever heard! Couldn’t havesupposed it possible!’ and other expressions of astonishmentwhich burst spontaneously from his lips, as he returned the fixedgaze of the one-eyed man.
‘Servant, sir,’ said the one-eyed man to Mr. Pickwick. ‘Finenight, sir.’
‘Very much so indeed,’ replied Mr. Pickwick, as the waiterplaced a small decanter of brandy, and some hot water before him.
While Mr. Pickwick was mixing his brandy-and-water, the one-eyed man looked round at him earnestly, from time to time, and atlength said―‘I think I’ve seen you before.’
‘I don’t recollect you,’ rejoined Mr. Pickwick.
‘I dare say not,’ said the one-eyed man. ‘You didn’t know me,but I knew two friends of yours that were stopping at the Peacockat Eatanswill, at the time of the election.’
‘Oh, indeed!’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick.
‘Yes,’ rejoined the one-eyed man. ‘I mentioned a littlecircumstance to them about a friend of mine of the name of TomSmart. Perhaps you’ve heard them speak of it.’
‘Often,’ rejoined Mr. Pickwick, smiling. ‘He was your uncle, Ithink?’
‘No, no; only a friend of my uncle’s,’ replied the one-eyed man.
‘He was a wonderful man, that uncle of yours, though,’
remarked the landlord shaking his head.
‘Well, I think he was; I think I may say he was,’ answered theone-eyed man. ‘I could tell you a story about that same uncle,gentlemen, that would rather surprise you.’
‘Could you?’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Let us hear it, by all means.’
The one-eyed bagman ladled out a glass of negus from the bowl,and drank it; smoked a long whiff out of the Dutch pipe; and then,calling to Sam Weller who was lingering near the door, that heneedn’t go away unless he wanted to, because the story was nosecret, fixed his eye upon the landlord’s, and proceeded, in thewords of the next chapter.
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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minced
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| v.切碎( mince的过去式和过去分词 )；剁碎；绞碎；用绞肉机绞（食物，尤指肉） | |
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veal
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| n.小牛肉 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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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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deriving
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| v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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blisters
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| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
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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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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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consolidated
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| a.联合的 | |
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15
annuities
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| n.养老金；年金( annuity的名词复数 )；（每年的）养老金；年金保险；年金保险投资 | |
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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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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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18
blemish
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| v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点 | |
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19
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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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21
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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22
tampering
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| v.窜改( tamper的现在分词 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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23
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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24
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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25
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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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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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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30
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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poising
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| 使平衡( poise的现在分词 )； 保持（某种姿势）； 抓紧； 使稳定 | |
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36
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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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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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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50
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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51
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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52
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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53
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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54
surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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57
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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59
cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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antidotes
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| 解药( antidote的名词复数 )； 解毒剂； 对抗手段； 除害物 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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66
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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67
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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68
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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69
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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71
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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72
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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73
bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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74
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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75
entrap
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| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
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76
conspire
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| v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致 | |
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77
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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79
suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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80
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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81
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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82
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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83
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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84
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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85
consolatory
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| adj.慰问的，可藉慰的 | |
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86
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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87
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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88
bridling
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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89
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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90
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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91
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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93
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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94
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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95
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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96
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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97
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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98
peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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99
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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100
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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101
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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102
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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