Mr. SOLOMON PELL, ASSISTED BY A SELECTCOMMITTEE OF COACHMEN, ARRANGES THEAFFAIRS OF THE ELDER Mr. WELLERamivel,’ said Mr. Weller, accosting1 his son on themorning after the funeral, ‘I’ve found it, Sammy. Ithought it wos there.’
‘Thought wot wos there?’ inquired Sam.
‘Your mother-in-law’s vill, Sammy,’ replied Mr. Weller. ‘Inwirtue o’ vich, them arrangements is to be made as I told you on,last night, respectin’ the funs.’
‘Wot, didn’t she tell you were it wos?’ inquired Sam.
‘Not a bit on it, Sammy,’ replied Mr. Weller. ‘We wos a adjestin’
our little differences, and I wos a-cheerin’ her spirits and bearin’
her up, so that I forgot to ask anythin’ about it. I don’t know as Ishould ha’ done it, indeed, if I had remembered it,’ added Mr.
Weller, ‘for it’s a rum sort o’ thing, Sammy, to go a-hankerin’ arteranybody’s property, ven you’re assistin’ ’em in illness. It’s likehelping an outside passenger up, ven he’s been pitched off acoach, and puttin’ your hand in his pocket, vile2 you ask him, vith asigh, how he finds his-self, Sammy.’
With this figurative illustration of his meaning, Mr. Wellerunclasped his pocket-book, and drew forth3 a dirty sheet of letter-paper, on which were inscribed4 various characters crowdedtogether in remarkable5 confusion.
‘This here is the dockyment, Sammy,’ said Mr. Weller. ‘I foundit in the little black tea-pot, on the top shelf o’ the bar closet. Sheused to keep bank-notes there, ’fore she vos married, Samivel. I’veseen her take the lid off, to pay a bill, many and many a time. Poorcreetur, she might ha’filled all the tea-pots in the house vith vills,and not have inconwenienced herself neither, for she took werylittle of anythin’ in that vay lately, ’cept on the temperance nights,ven they just laid a foundation o’ tea to put the spirits atop on!’
‘What does it say?’ inquired Sam.
‘Jist vot I told you, my boy,’ rejoined his parent. ‘Two hundredpound vurth o’ reduced counsels to my son-in-law, Samivel, andall the rest o’ my property, of ev’ry kind and description votsoever,to my husband, Mr. Tony Veller, who I appint as my soleeggzekiter.’
‘That’s all, is it?’ said Sam.
‘That’s all,’ replied Mr. Weller. ‘And I s’pose as it’s all right andsatisfactory to you and me as is the only parties interested, ve mayas vell put this bit o’ paper into the fire.’
‘Wot are you a-doin’ on, you lunatic?’ said Sam, snatching thepaper away, as his parent, in all innocence7, stirred the firepreparatory to suiting the action to the word. ‘You’re a niceeggzekiter, you are.’
‘Vy not?’ inquired Mr. Weller, looking sternly round, with thepoker in his hand.
‘Vy not?’ exclaimed Sam.’’Cos it must be proved, and probated,and swore to, and all manner o’ formalities.’
‘You don’t mean that?’ said Mr. Weller, laying down the poker8.
Sam buttoned the will carefully in a side pocket; intimating by alook, meanwhile, that he did mean it, and very seriously too.
‘Then I’ll tell you wot it is,’ said Mr. Weller, after a shortmeditation, ‘this is a case for that ’ere confidential9 pal10 o’ theChancellorship’s. Pell must look into this, Sammy. He’s the manfor a difficult question at law. Ve’ll have this here brought aforethe Solvent12 Court, directly, Samivel.’
‘I never did see such a addle-headed old creetur!’ exclaimedSam irritably13; ‘Old Baileys, and Solvent Courts, and alleybis, andev’ry species o’ gammon alvays a-runnin’ through his brain. You’dbetter get your out o’ door clothes on, and come to town about thisbisness, than stand a-preachin’ there about wot you don’tunderstand nothin’ on.’
‘Wery good, Sammy,’ replied Mr. Weller, ‘I’m quite agreeable toanythin’ as vill hexpedite business, Sammy. But mind this here,my boy, nobody but Pell―nobody but Pell as a legal adwiser.’
‘I don’t want anybody else,’ replied Sam. ‘Now, are you a-comin’?’
‘Vait a minit, Sammy,’ replied Mr. Weller, who, having tied hisshawl with the aid of a small glass that hung in the window, wasnow, by dint14 of the most wonderful exertions15, struggling into hisupper garments. ‘Vait a minit’ Sammy; ven you grow as old asyour father, you von’t get into your veskit quite as easy as you donow, my boy.’
‘If I couldn’t get into it easier than that, I’m blessed if I’d vearvun at all,’ rejoined his son.
‘You think so now,’ said Mr. Weller, with the gravity of age, ‘butyou’ll find that as you get vider, you’ll get viser. Vidth and visdom,Sammy, alvays grows together.’
As Mr. Weller delivered this infallible maxim―the result ofmany years’ personal experience and observation―he contrived,by a dexterous16 twist of his body, to get the bottom button of hiscoat to perform its office. Having paused a few seconds to recoverbreath, he brushed his hat with his elbow, and declared himselfready.
‘As four heads is better than two, Sammy,’ said Mr. Weller, asthey drove along the London Road in the chaise-cart, ‘and as allthis here property is a wery great temptation to a legal gen’l’m’n,ve’ll take a couple o’ friends o’ mine vith us, as’ll be wery soondown upon him if he comes anythin’ irreg’lar; two o’ them as sawyou to the Fleet that day. They’re the wery best judges,’ added Mr.
Weller, in a half-whisper―‘the wery best judges of a horse, youever know’d.’
‘And of a lawyer too?’ inquired Sam.
‘The man as can form a ackerate judgment17 of a animal, canform a ackerate judgment of anythin’,’ replied his father, sodogmatically, that Sam did not attempt to controvert18 the position.
In pursuance of this notable resolution, the services of themottled-faced gentleman and of two other very fat coachmen―selected by Mr. Weller, probably, with a view to their width andconsequent wisdom―were put into requisition; and this assistancehaving been secured, the party proceeded to the public-house inPortugal Street, whence a messenger was despatched to theInsolvent Court over the way, requiring Mr. Solomon Pell’simmediate attendance.
The messenger fortunately found Mr. Solomon Pell in court,regaling himself, business being rather slack, with a cold collationof an Abernethy biscuit and a saveloy. The message was no soonerwhispered in his ear than he thrust them in his pocket amongvarious professional documents, and hurried over the way withsuch alacrity19 that he reached the parlour before the messengerhad even emancipated20 himself from the court.
‘Gentlemen,’ said Mr. Pell, touching21 his hat, ‘my service to youall. I don’t say it to flatter you, gentlemen, but there are not fiveother men in the world, that I’d have come out of that court for, to-day.’
‘So busy, eh?’ said Sam.
‘Busy!’ replied Pell; ‘I’m completely sewn up, as my friend thelate Lord Chancellor11 many a time used to say to me, gentlemen,when he came out from hearing appeals in the House of Lords.
Poor fellow; he was very susceptible22 to fatigue23; he used to feelthose appeals uncommonly24. I actually thought more than oncethat he’d have sunk under ‘em; I did, indeed.’
Here Mr. Pell shook his head and paused; on which, the elderMr. Weller, nudging his neighbour, as begging him to mark theattorney’s high connections, asked whether the duties in questionproduced any permanent ill effects on the constitution of his noblefriend.
‘I don’t think he ever quite recovered them,’ replied Pell; ‘infact I’m sure he never did. “Pell,” he used to say to me many atime, “how the blazes you can stand the head-work you do, is amystery to me.”―“Well,” I used to answer, “I hardly know how Ido it, upon my life.”―“Pell,” he’d add, sighing, and looking at mewith a little envy―friendly envy, you know, gentlemen, merefriendly envy; I never minded it―“Pell, you’re a wonder; awonder.” Ah! you’d have liked him very much if you had knownhim, gentlemen. Bring me three-penn’orth of rum, my dear.’
Addressing this latter remark to the waitress, in a tone ofsubdued grief, Mr. Pell sighed, looked at his shoes and the ceiling;and, the rum having by that time arrived, drank it up.
‘However,’ said Pell, drawing a chair to the table, ‘a professionalman has no right to think of his private friendships when his legalassistance is wanted. By the bye, gentlemen, since I saw you herebefore, we have had to weep over a very melancholy25 occurrence.’
Mr. Pell drew out a pocket-handkerchief, when he came to theword weep, but he made no further use of it than to wipe away aslight tinge26 of rum which hung upon his upper lip.
‘I saw it in the Advertiser, Mr. Weller,’ continued Pell. ‘Bless mysoul, not more than fifty-two! Dear me―only think.’
These indications of a musing27 spirit were addressed to themottled-faced man, whose eyes Mr. Pell had accidentally caught;on which, the mottled-faced man, whose apprehension28 of mattersin general was of a foggy nature, moved uneasily in his seat, andopined that, indeed, so far as that went, there was no saying howthings was brought about; which observation, involving one ofthose subtle propositions which it is difficult to encounter inargument, was controverted29 by nobody.
‘I have heard it remarked that she was a very fine woman, Mr.
Weller,’ said Pell, in a sympathising manner.
‘Yes, sir, she wos,’ replied the elder Mr. Weller, not muchrelishing this mode of discussing the subject, and yet thinking thatthe attorney, from his long intimacy30 with the late Lord Chancellor,must know best on all matters of polite breeding. ‘She wos a weryfine ’ooman, sir, ven I first know’d her. She wos a widder, sir, atthat time.’
‘Now, it’s curious,’ said Pell, looking round with a sorrowfulsmile; ‘Mrs. Pell was a widow.’
‘That’s very extraordinary,’ said the mottled-faced man.
‘Well, it is a curious coincidence,’ said Pell.
‘Not at all,’ gruffly remarked the elder Mr. Weller. ‘Morewidders is married than single wimin.’
‘Very good, very good,’ said Pell, ‘you’re quite right, Mr. Weller.
Mrs. Pell was a very elegant and accomplished31 woman; hermanners were the theme of universal admiration32 in ourneighbourhood. I was proud to see that woman dance; there wassomething so firm and dignified33, and yet natural, in her motion.
Her cutting, gentlemen, was simplicity34 itself. Ah! well, well!
Excuse my asking the question, Mr. Samuel,’ continued theattorney in a lower voice, ‘was your mother-in-law tall?’
‘Not wery,’ replied Sam.
‘Mrs. Pell was a tall figure,’ said Pell, ‘a splendid woman, with anoble shape, and a nose, gentlemen, formed to command and bemajestic. She was very much attached to me―very much―highlyconnected, too. Her mother’s brother, gentlemen, failed for eighthundred pounds, as a law stationer.’
‘Vell,’ said Mr. Weller, who had grown rather restless duringthis discussion, ‘vith regard to bis’ness.’
The word was music to Pell’s ears. He had been revolving35 in hismind whether any business was to be transacted36, or whether hehad been merely invited to partake of a glass of brandy-and-water,or a bowl of punch, or any similar professional compliment, andnow the doubt was set at rest without his appearing at all eager forits solution. His eyes glistened37 as he laid his hat on the table, andsaid―‘What is the business upon which―um? Either of thesegentlemen wish to go through the court? We require an arrest; afriendly arrest will do, you know; we are all friends here, Isuppose?’
‘Give me the dockyment, Sammy,’ said Mr. Weller, taking thewill from his son, who appeared to enjoy the interview amazingly.
‘Wot we rekvire, sir, is a probe o’ this here.’
‘Probate, my dear sir, probate,’ said Pell.
‘Well, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller sharply, ‘probe and probe it, iswery much the same; if you don’t understand wot I mean, sir, Ides-say I can find them as does.’
‘No offence, I hope, Mr. Weller,’ said Pell meekly38. ‘You are theexecutor, I see,’ he added, casting his eyes over the paper.
‘I am, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller.
‘These other gentlemen, I presume, are legatees, are they?’
inquired Pell, with a congratulatory smile.
‘Sammy is a leg-at-ease,’ replied Mr. Weller; ‘these othergen’l’m’n is friends o’ mine, just come to see fair; a kind ofumpires.’
‘Oh!’ said Pell, ‘very good. I have no objections, I’m sure. I shallwant a matter of five pound of you before I begin, ha! ha! ha!’
It being decided39 by the committee that the five pound might beadvanced, Mr. Weller produced that sum; after which, a longconsultation about nothing particular took place, in the coursewhereof Mr. Pell demonstrated to the perfect satisfaction of thegentlemen who saw fair, that unless the management of thebusiness had been intrusted to him, it must all have gone wrong,for reasons not clearly made out, but no doubt sufficient. Thisimportant point being despatched, Mr. Pell refreshed himself withthree chops, and liquids both malt and spirituous, at the expenseof the estate; and then they all went away to Doctors’ Commons.
The next day there was another visit to Doctors’ Commons, anda great to-do with an attesting40 hostler, who, being inebriated,declined swearing anything but profane41 oaths, to the great scandalof a proctor and surrogate. Next week, there were more visits toDoctors’ Commons, and there was a visit to the Legacy42 Duty Officebesides, and there were treaties entered into, for the disposal ofthe lease and business, and ratifications43 of the same, andinventories to be made out, and lunches to be taken, and dinnersto be eaten, and so many profitable things to be done, and such amass44 of papers accumulated that Mr. Solomon Pell, and the boy,and the blue bag to boot, all got so stout45 that scarcely anybodywould have known them for the same man, boy, and bag, that hadloitered about Portugal Street, a few days before.
At length all these weighty matters being arranged, a day wasfixed for selling out and transferring the stock, and of waiting withthat view upon Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, stock-broker, ofsomewhere near the bank, who had been recommended by Mr.
Solomon Pell for the purpose.
It was a kind of festive46 occasion, and the parties were attiredaccordingly. Mr. Weller’s tops were newly cleaned, and his dresswas arranged with peculiar47 care; the mottled-faced gentlemanwore at his button-hole a full-sized dahlia with several leaves; andthe coats of his two friends were adorned48 with nosegays of laureland other evergreens49. All three were habited in strict holidaycostume; that is to say, they were wrapped up to the chins, andwore as many clothes as possible, which is, and has been, a stage-coachman’s idea of full dress ever since stage-coaches wereinvented.
Mr. Pell was waiting at the usual place of meeting at theappointed time; even he wore a pair of gloves and a clean shirt,much frayed50 at the collar and wristbands by frequent washings.
‘A quarter to two,’ said Pell, looking at the parlour clock. ‘If weare with Mr. Flasher at a quarter past, we shall just hit the besttime.’
‘What should you say to a drop o’ beer, gen’l’m’n?’ suggestedthe mottled-faced man. ‘And a little bit o’ cold beef,’ said thesecond coachman.
‘Or a oyster51,’ added the third, who was a hoarse52 gentleman,supported by very round legs.
‘Hear, hear!’ said Pell; ‘to congratulate Mr. Weller, on hiscoming into possession of his property, eh? Ha! ha!’
‘I’m quite agreeable, gen’l’m’n,’ answered Mr. Weller. ‘Sammy,pull the bell.’
Sammy complied; and the porter, cold beef, and oysters53 beingpromptly produced, the lunch was done ample justice to. Whereeverybody took so active a part, it is almost invidious to make adistinction; but if one individual evinced greater powers thananother, it was the coachman with the hoarse voice, who took animperial pint6 of vinegar with his oysters, without betraying theleast emotion.
‘Mr. Pell, sir,’ said the elder Mr. Weller, stirring a glass ofbrandy-and-water, of which one was placed before everygentleman when the oyster shells were removed―‘Mr. Pell, sir, itwos my intention to have proposed the funs on this occasion, butSamivel has vispered to me―’
Here Mr. Samuel Weller, who had silently eaten his oysterswith tranquil54 smiles, cried, ‘Hear!’ in a very loud voice.
‘―Has vispered to me,’ resumed his father, ‘that it vould bebetter to dewote the liquor to vishin’ you success and prosperity,and thankin’ you for the manner in which you’ve brought this herebusiness through. Here’s your health, sir.’
‘Hold hard there,’ interposed the mottled-faced gentleman, withsudden energy; ‘your eyes on me, gen’l’m’n!’
Saying this, the mottled-faced gentleman rose, as did the othergentlemen. The mottled-faced gentleman reviewed the company,and slowly lifted his hand, upon which every man (including himof the mottled countenance) drew a long breath, and lifted histumbler to his lips. In one instant, the mottled-faced gentlemandepressed his hand again, and every glass was set down empty. Itis impossible to describe the thrilling effect produced by thisstriking ceremony. At once dignified, solemn, and impressive, itcombined every element of grandeur55.
‘Well, gentlemen,’ said Mr. Pell, ‘all I can say is, that such marksof confidence must be very gratifying to a professional man. I don’twish to say anything that might appear egotistical, gentlemen, butI’m very glad, for your own sakes, that you came to me; that’s all. Ifyou had gone to any low member of the profession, it’s my firmconviction, and I assure you of it as a fact, that you would havefound yourselves in Queer Street before this. I could have wishedmy noble friend had been alive to have seen my management ofthis case. I don’t say it out of pride, but I think―However,gentlemen, I won’t trouble you with that. I’m generally to be foundhere, gentlemen, but if I’m not here, or over the way, that’s myaddress. You’ll find my terms very cheap and reasonable, and noman attends more to his clients than I do, and I hope I know alittle of my profession besides. If you have any opportunity ofrecommending me to any of your friends, gentlemen, I shall bevery much obliged to you, and so will they too, when they come toknow me. Your healths, gentlemen.’
With this expression of his feelings, Mr. Solomon Pell laid threesmall written cards before Mr. Weller’s friends, and, looking at theclock again, feared it was time to be walking. Upon this hint Mr.
Weller settled the bill, and, issuing forth, the executor, legatee,attorney, and umpires, directed their steps towards the city.
The office of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, of the Stock Exchange,was in a first floor up a court behind the Bank of England; thehouse of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was at Brixton, Surrey; thehorse and stanhope of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, were at anadjacent livery stable; the groom56 of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, wason his way to the West End to deliver some game; the clerk ofWilkins Flasher, Esquire, had gone to his dinner; and so WilkinsFlasher, Esquire, himself, cried, ‘Come in,’ when Mr. Pell and hiscompanions knocked at the counting-house door.
‘Good-morning, sir,’ said Pell, bowing obsequiously57. ‘We wantto make a little transfer, if you please.’
‘Oh, just come in, will you?’ said Mr. Flasher. ‘Sit down aminute; I’ll attend to you directly.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ said Pell, ‘there’s no hurry. Take a chair, Mr.
Weller.’
Mr. Weller took a chair, and Sam took a box, and the umpirestook what they could get, and looked at the almanac and one or two papers which were wafered against the wall, with as muchopen-eyed reverence58 as if they had been the finest efforts of theold masters.
‘Well, I’ll bet you half a dozen of claret on it; come!’ said WilkinsFlasher, Esquire, resuming the conversation to which Mr. Pell’sentrance had caused a momentary59 interruption.
This was addressed to a very smart young gentleman who worehis hat on his right whisker, and was lounging over the desk,killing flies with a ruler. Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was balancinghimself on two legs of an office stool, spearing a wafer-box with apenknife, which he dropped every now and then with greatdexterity into the very centre of a small red wafer that was stuckoutside. Both gentlemen had very open waistcoats and very rollingcollars, and very small boots, and very big rings, and very littlewatches, and very large guard-chains, and symmetricalinexpressibles, and scented60 pocket-handkerchiefs.
‘I never bet half a dozen!’ said the other gentleman. ‘I’ll take adozen.’
‘Done, Simmery, done!’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.
‘P. P., mind,’ observed the other.
‘Of course,’ replied Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. Wilkins Flasher,Esquire, entered it in a little book, with a gold pencil-case, and theother gentleman entered it also, in another little book withanother gold pencil-case.
‘I see there’s a notice up this morning about Boffer,’ observedMr. Simmery. ‘Poor devil, he’s expelled the house!’
‘I’ll bet you ten guineas to five, he cuts his throat,’ said WilkinsFlasher, Esquire.
‘Done,’ replied Mr. Simmery.
‘Stop! I bar,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, thoughtfully.
‘Perhaps he may hang himself.’
‘Very good,’ rejoined Mr. Simmery, pulling out the gold pencil-case again. ‘I’ve no objection to take you that way. Say, makesaway with himself.’
‘Kills himself, in fact,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.
‘Just so,’ replied Mr. Simmery, putting it down. ‘“Flasher―tenguineas to five, Boffer kills himself.” Within what time shall wesay?’
‘A fortnight?’ suggested Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.
‘Con-found it, no,’ rejoined Mr. Simmery, stopping for aninstant to smash a fly with the ruler. ‘Say a week.’
‘Split the difference,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. ‘Make it tendays.’
‘Well; ten days,’ rejoined Mr. Simmery.
So it was entered down on the little books that Boffer was to killhimself within ten days, or Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was to handover to Frank Simmery, Esquire, the sum of ten guineas; and thatif Boffer did kill himself within that time, Frank Simmery,Esquire, would pay to Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, five guineas,instead.
‘I’m very sorry he has failed,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.
‘Capital dinners he gave.’
‘Fine port he had too,’ remarked Mr. Simmery. ‘We are going tosend our butler to the sale to-morrow, to pick up some of thatsixty-four.’
‘The devil you are!’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. ‘My man’sgoing too. Five guineas my man outbids your man.’
‘Done.’
Another entry was made in the little books, with the goldpencil-cases; and Mr. Simmery, having by this time killed all theflies and taken all the bets, strolled away to the Stock Exchange tosee what was going forward.
Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, now condescended61 to receive Mr.
Solomon Pell’s instructions, and having filled up some printedforms, requested the party to follow him to the bank, which theydid: Mr. Weller and his three friends staring at all they beheld62 inunbounded astonishment63, and Sam encountering everything witha coolness which nothing could disturb.
Crossing a courtyard which was all noise and bustle64, andpassing a couple of porters who seemed dressed to match the redfire engine which was wheeled away into a corner, they passedinto an office where their business was to be transacted, andwhere Pell and Mr. Flasher left them standing65 for a few moments,while they went upstairs into the Will Office.
‘Wot place is this here?’ whispered the mottled-facedgentleman to the elder Mr. Weller.
‘Counsel’s Office,’ replied the executor in a whisper.
‘Wot are them gen’l’men a-settin’ behind the counters?’ askedthe hoarse coachman.
‘Reduced counsels, I s’pose,’ replied Mr. Weller. ‘Ain’t they thereduced counsels, Samivel?’
‘Wy, you don’t suppose the reduced counsels is alive, do you?’
inquired Sam, with some disdain66. ‘How should I know?’ retortedMr. We ller; ‘I thought they looked wery like it. Wot are they,then?’
‘Clerks,’ replied Sam.
‘Wot are they all a-eatin’ ham sangwidges for?’ inquired hisfather.
‘’Cos it’s in their dooty, I suppose,’ replied Sam, ‘it’s a part o’
the system; they’re alvays a-doin’ it here, all day long!’ Mr. Wellerand his friends had scarcely had a moment to reflect upon thissingular regulation as connected with the monetary67 system of thecountry, when they were rejoined by Pell and Wilkins Flasher,Esquire, who led them to a part of the counter above which was around blackboard with a large ‘W.’ on it.
‘Wot’s that for, sir?’ inquired Mr. Weller, directing Pell’sattention to the target in question.
‘The first letter of the name of the deceased,’ replied Pell.
‘I say,’ said Mr. Weller, turning round to the umpires, there’ssomethin’ wrong here. We’s our letter―this won’t do.’
The referees68 at once gave it as their decided opinion that thebusiness could not be legally proceeded with, under the letter W.,and in all probability it would have stood over for one day at least,had it not been for the prompt, though, at first sight, undutifulbehaviour of Sam, who, seizing his father by the skirt of the coat,dragged him to the counter, and pinned him there, until he hadaffixed his signature to a couple of instruments; which, from Mr.
Weller’s habit of printing, was a work of so much labour and time,that the officiating clerk peeled and ate three Ribstone pippinswhile it was performing.
As the elder Mr. Weller insisted on selling out his portionforthwith, they proceeded from the bank to the gate of the StockExchange, to which Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, after a shortabsence, returned with a cheque on Smith, Payne, & Smith, forfive hundred and thirty pounds; that being the money to whichMr. Weller, at the market price of the day, was entitled, inconsideration of the balance of the second Mrs. Weller’s fundedsavings. Sam’s two hundred pounds stood transferred to his name,and Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, having been paid his commission,dropped the money carelessly into his coat pocket, and loungedback to his office.
Mr. Weller was at first obstinately69 determined70 on cashing thecheque in nothing but sovereigns; but it being represented by theumpires that by so doing he must incur71 the expense of a smallsack to carry them home in, he consented to receive the amount infive-pound notes.
‘My son,’ said Mr. Weller, as they came out of the banking-house―‘my son and me has a wery partickler engagement thisarternoon, and I should like to have this here bis’ness settled outof hand, so let’s jest go straight avay someveres, vere ve can horditthe accounts.’
A quiet room was soon found, and the accounts were producedand audited72. Mr. Pell’s bill was taxed by Sam, and some chargeswere disallowed73 by the umpires; but, notwithstanding Mr. Pell’sdeclaration, accompanied with many solemn asseverations thatthey were really too hard upon him, it was by very many degreesthe best professional job he had ever had, and one on which heboarded, lodged74, and washed, for six months afterwards.
The umpires having partaken of a dram, shook hands anddeparted, as they had to drive out of town that night. Mr. SolomonPell, finding that nothing more was going forward, either in theeating or drinking way, took a friendly leave, and Sam and hisfather were left alone.
‘There!’ said Mr. Weller, thrusting his pocket-book in his sidepocket. ‘Vith the bills for the lease, and that, there’s elevenhundred and eighty pound here. Now, Samivel, my boy, turn thehorses’ heads to the George and Wulter!’
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accosting
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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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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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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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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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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solvent
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| n.溶剂；adj.有偿付能力的 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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controvert
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| v.否定；否认 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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emancipated
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| adj.被解放的，不受约束的v.解放某人（尤指摆脱政治、法律或社会的束缚）( emancipate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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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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tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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controverted
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| v.争论，反驳，否定( controvert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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attesting
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| v.证明( attest的现在分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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ratifications
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| n.正式批准，认可( ratification的名词复数 ) | |
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amass
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| vt.积累，积聚 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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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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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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obsequiously
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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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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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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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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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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monetary
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| adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的 | |
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referees
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| n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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audited
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| v.审计，查账( audit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disallowed
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| v.不承认（某事物）有效( disallow的过去式和过去分词 )；不接受；不准；驳回 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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