It is the long vacation in the regions of Chancery Lane. The goodships Law and Equity1, those teak-built, copper-bottomed, iron-fastened, brazen-faced, and not by any means fast-sailing clippersare laid up in ordinary. The Flying Dutchman, with a crew ofghostly clients imploring2 all whom they may encounter to perusetheir papers, has drifted, for the time being, heaven knows where.
The courts are all shut up; the public offices lie in a hot sleep.
Westminster Hall itself is a shady solitude3 where nightingalesmight sing, and a tenderer class of suitors than is usually foundthere, walk.
The Temple, Chancery Lane, Serjeants' Inn, and Lincoln's Inn evenunto the Fields are like tidal harbours at low water, wherestranded proceedings5, offices at anchor, idle clerks lounging onlop-sided stools that will not recover their perpendicular6 untilthe current of Term sets in, lie high and dry upon the ooze7 of thelong vacation. Outer doors of chambers8 are shut up by the score,messages and parcels are to be left at the Porter's Lodge9 by thebushel. A crop of grass would grow in the chinks of the stonepavement outside Lincoln's Inn Hall, but that the ticket-porters,who have nothing to do beyond sitting in the shade there, withtheir white aprons10 over their heads to keep the flies off, grub itup and eat it thoughtfully.
There is only one judge in town. Even he only comes twice a weekto sit in chambers. If the country folks of those assize towns onhis circuit could see him now! No full-bottomed wig11, no redpetticoats, no fur, no javelin-men, no white wands. Merely aclose-shaved gentleman in white trousers and a white hat, with sea-bronze on the judicial12 countenance13, and a strip of bark peeled bythe solar rays from the judicial nose, who calls in at the shell-fish shop as he comes along and drinks iced ginger-beer!
The bar of England is scattered14 over the face of the earth. HowEngland can get on through four long summer months without its bar--which is its acknowledged refuge in adversity and its onlylegitimate triumph in prosperity--is beside the question; assuredlythat shield and buckler of Britannia are not in present wear. Thelearned gentleman who is always so tremendously indignant at theunprecedented outrage16 committed on the feelings of his client bythe opposite party that he never seems likely to recover it isdoing infinitely17 better than might be expected in Switzerland. Thelearned gentleman who does the withering18 business and who blightsall opponents with his gloomy sarcasm19 is as merry as a grig at aFrench watering-place. The learned gentleman who weeps by the pinton the smallest provocation20 has not shed a tear these six weeks.
The very learned gentleman who has cooled the natural heat of hisgingery complexion21 in pools and fountains of law until he hasbecome great in knotty22 arguments for term-time, when he poses thedrowsy bench with legal "chaff," inexplicable23 to the uninitiatedand to most of the initiated24 too, is roaming, with a characteristicdelight in aridity25 and dust, about Constantinople. Other dispersedfragments of the same great palladium are to be found on the canalsof Venice, at the second cataract26 of the Nile, in the baths ofGermany, and sprinkled on the sea-sand all over the English coast.
Scarcely one is to be encountered in the deserted27 region ofChancery Lane. If such a lonely member of the bar do flit acrossthe waste and come upon a prowling suitor who is unable to leaveoff haunting the scenes of his anxiety, they frighten one anotherand retreat into opposite shades.
It is the hottest long vacation known for many years. All theyoung clerks are madly in love, and according to their variousdegrees, pine for bliss28 with the beloved object, at Margate,Ramsgate, or Gravesend. All the middle-aged29 clerks think theirfamilies too large. All the unowned dogs who stray into the Innsof Court and pant about staircases and other dry places seekingwater give short howls of aggravation30. All the blind men's dogs inthe streets draw their masters against pumps or trip them overbuckets. A shop with a sun-blind, and a watered pavement, and abowl of gold and silver fish in the window, is a sanctuary31. TempleBar gets so hot that it is, to the adjacent Strand4 and FleetStreet, what a heater is in an urn32, and keeps them simmering allnight.
There are offices about the Inns of Court in which a man might becool, if any coolness were worth purchasing at such a price indullness; but the little thoroughfares immediately outside thoseretirements seem to blaze. In Mr. Krook's court, it is so hot thatthe people turn their houses inside out and sit in chairs upon thepavement--Mr. Krook included, who there pursues his studies, withhis cat (who never is too hot) by his side. The Sol's Arms hasdiscontinued the Harmonic Meetings for the season, and LittleSwills is engaged at the Pastoral Gardens down the river, where hecomes out in quite an innocent manner and sings comic ditties of ajuvenile complexion calculated (as the bill says) not to wound thefeelings of the most fastidious mind.
Over all the legal neighbourhood there hangs, like some great veilof rust34 or gigantic cobweb, the idleness and pensiveness35 of thelong vacation. Mr. Snagsby, law-stationer of Cook's Court,Cursitor Street, is sensible of the influence not only in his mindas a sympathetic and contemplative man, but also in his business asa law-stationer aforesaid. He has more leisure for musing36 inStaple Inn and in the Rolls Yard during the long vacation than atother seasons, and he says to the two 'prentices, what a thing itis in such hot weather to think that you live in an island with thesea a-rolling and a-bowling right round you.
Guster is busy in the little drawing-room on this present afternoonin the long vacation, when Mr. and Mrs. Snagsby have it incontemplation to receive company. The expected guests are ratherselect than numerous, being Mr. and Mrs. Chadband and no more.
From Mr. Chadband's being much given to describe himself, bothverbally and in writing, as a vessel38, he is occasionally mistakenby strangers for a gentleman connected with navigation, but he is,as he expresses it, "in the ministry39." Mr. Chadband is attached tono particular denomination40 and is considered by his persecutors tohave nothing so very remarkable41 to say on the greatest of subjectsas to render his volunteering, on his own account, at all incumbenton his conscience; but he has his followers42, and Mrs. Snagsby is ofthe number. Mrs. Snagsby has but recently taken a passage upwardby the vessel, Chadband; and her attention was attracted to thatBark A 1 when she was something flushed by the hot weather.
"My little woman," says Mr. Snagsby to the sparrows in Staple37 Inn,"likes to have her religion rather sharp, you see!"So Guster, much impressed by regarding herself for the time as thehandmaid of Chadband, whom she knows to be endowed with the gift ofholding forth43 for four hours at a stretch, prepares the littledrawing-room for tea. All the furniture is shaken and dusted, theportraits of Mr. and Mrs. Snagsby are touched up with a wet cloth,the best tea-service is set forth, and there is excellent provisionmade of dainty new bread, crusty twists, cool fresh butter, thinslices of ham, tongue, and German sausage, and delicate little rowsof anchovies44 nestling in parsley, not to mention new-laid eggs, tobe brought up warm in a napkin, and hot buttered toast. ForChadband is rather a consuming vessel--the persecutors say agorging vessel--and can wield45 such weapons of the flesh as a knifeand fork remarkably46 well.
Mr. Snagsby in his best coat, looking at all the preparations whenthey are completed and coughing his cough of deference47 behind hishand, says to Mrs. Snagsby, "At what time did you expect Mr. andMrs. Chadband, my love?""At six," says Mrs. Snagsby.
Mr. Snagsby observes in a mild and casual way that "it's gonethat.""Perhaps you'd like to begin without them," is Mrs. Snagsby'sreproachful remark.
Mr. Snagsby does look as if he would like it very much, but hesays, with his cough of mildness, "No, my dear, no. I merely namedthe time.""What's time," says Mrs. Snagsby, "to eternity48?""Very true, my dear," says Mr. Snagsby. "Only when a person laysin victuals49 for tea, a person does it with a view--perhaps--more totime. And when a time is named for having tea, it's better to comeup to it.""To come up to it!" Mrs. Snagsby repeats with severity. "Up to it!
As if Mr. Chadband was a fighter!""Not at all, my dear," says Mr. Snagsby.
Here, Guster, who had been looking out of the bedroom window, comesrustling and scratching down the little staircase like a popularghost, and falling flushed into the drawing-room, announces thatMr. and Mrs. Chadband have appeared in the court. The bell at theinner door in the passage immediately thereafter tinkling50, she isadmonished by Mrs. Snagsby, on pain of instant reconsignment to herpatron saint, not to omit the ceremony of announcement. Muchdiscomposed in her nerves (which were previously51 in the best order)by this threat, she so fearfully mutilates that point of state asto announce "Mr. and Mrs. Cheeseming, least which, Imeantersay,whatsername!" and retires conscience-stricken from the presence.
Mr. Chadband is a large yellow man with a fat smile and a generalappearance of having a good deal of train oil in his system. Mrs.
Chadband is a stern, severe-looking, silent woman. Mr. Chadbandmoves softly and cumbrously, not unlike a bear who has been taughtto walk upright. He is very much embarrassed about the arms, as ifthey were inconvenient52 to him and he wanted to grovel53, is very muchin a perspiration54 about the head, and never speaks without firstputting up his great hand, as delivering a token to his hearersthat he is going to edify55 them.
"My friends," says Mr. Chadband, "peace be on this house! On themaster thereof, on the mistress thereof, on the young maidens57, andon the young men! My friends, why do I wish for peace? What ispeace? Is it war? No. Is it strife58? No. Is it lovely, andgentle, and beautiful, and pleasant, and serene59, and joyful60? Oh,yes! Therefore, my friends, I wish for peace, upon you and uponyours."In consequence of Mrs. Snagsby looking deeply edified61, Mr. Snagsbythinks it expedient62 on the whole to say amen, which is wellreceived.
"Now, my friends," proceeds Mr. Chadband, "since I am upon thistheme--"Guster presents herself. Mrs. Snagsby, in a spectral63 bass64 voiceand without removing her eyes from Chadband, says with dreadfuldistinctness, "Go away!""Now, my friends," says Chadband, "since I am upon this theme, andin my lowly path improving it--"Guster is heard unaccountably to murmur65 "one thousing seven hundredand eighty-two." The spectral voice repeats more solemnly, "Goaway!""Now, my friends," says Mr. Chadband, "we will inquire in a spiritof love--"Still Guster reiterates66 "one thousing seven hundred and eighty-two."Mr. Chadband, pausing with the resignation of a man accustomed tobe persecuted67 and languidly folding up his chin into his fat smile,says, "Let us hear the maiden56! Speak, maiden!""One thousing seven hundred and eighty-two, if you please, sir.
Which he wish to know what the shilling ware69 for," says Guster,breathless.
"For?" returns Mrs. Chadband. "For his fare!"Guster replied that "he insistes on one and eightpence or onsummonsizzing the party." Mrs. Snagsby and Mrs. Chadband areproceeding to grow shrill70 in indignation when Mr. Chadband quietsthe tumult71 by lifting up his hand.
"My friends," says he, "I remember a duty unfulfilled yesterday.
It is right that I should be chastened in some penalty. I oughtnot to murmur. Rachael, pay the eightpence!"While Mrs. Snagsby, drawing her breath, looks hard at Mr. Snagsby,as who should say, "You hear this apostle!" and while Mr. Chadbandglows with humility72 and train oil, Mrs. Chadband pays the money.
It is Mr. Chadband's habit--it is the head and front of hispretensions indeed--to keep this sort of debtor73 and creditoraccount in the smallest items and to post it publicly on the mosttrivial occasions.
"My friends," says Chadband, "eightpence is not much; it mightjustly have been one and fourpence; it might justly have been halfa crown. O let us be joyful, joyful! O let us be joyful!"With which remark, which appears from its sound to be an extract inverse75, Mr. Chadband stalks to the table, and before taking a chair,lifts up his admonitory hand.
"My friends," says he, "what is this which we now behold76 as beingspread before us? Refreshment77. Do we need refreshment then, myfriends? We do. And why do we need refreshment, my friends?
Because we are but mortal, because we are but sinful, because weare but of the earth, because we are not of the air. Can we fly,my friends? We cannot. Why can we not fly, my friends?"Mr. Snagsby, presuming on the success of his last point, venturesto observe in a cheerful and rather knowing tone, "No wings." Butis immediately frowned down by Mrs. Snagsby.
"I say, my friends," pursues Mr. Chadband, utterly78 rejecting andobliterating Mr. Snagsby's suggestion, "why can we not fly? Is itbecause we are calculated to walk? It is. Could we walk, myfriends, without strength? We could not. What should we dowithout strength, my friends? Our legs would refuse to bear us,our knees would double up, our ankles would turn over, and weshould come to the ground. Then from whence, my friends, in ahuman point of view, do we derive79 the strength that is necessary toour limbs? Is it," says Chadband, glancing over the table, "frombread in various forms, from butter which is churned from the milkwhich is yielded unto us by the cow, from the eggs which are laidby the fowl80, from ham, from tongue, from sausage, and from suchlike? It is. Then let us partake of the good things which are setbefore us!"The persecutors denied that there was any particular gift in Mr.
Chadband's piling verbose81 flights of stairs, one upon another,after this fashion. But this can only be received as a proof oftheir determination to persecute68, since it must be withineverybody's experience that the Chadband style of oratory82 is widelyreceived and much admired.
Mr. Chadband, however, having concluded for the present, sits downat Mr. Snagsby's table and lays about him prodigiously83. Theconversion of nutriment of any sort into oil of the quality alreadymentioned appears to be a process so inseparable from theconstitution of this exemplary vessel that in beginning to eat anddrink, he may be described as always becoming a kind ofconsiderable oil mills or other large factory for the production ofthat article on a wholesale84 scale. On the present evening of thelong vacation, in Cook's Court, Cursitor Street, he does such apowerful stroke of business that the warehouse85 appears to be quitefull when the works cease.
At this period of the entertainment, Guster, who has neverrecovered her first failure, but has neglected no possible orimpossible means of bringing the establishment and herself intocontempt--among which may be briefly86 enumerated87 her unexpectedlyperforming clashing military music on Mr. Chadband's head withplates, and afterwards crowning that gentleman with muffins--atwhich period of the entertainment, Guster whispers Mr. Snagsby thathe is wanted.
"And being wanted in the--not to put too fine a point upon it--inthe shop," says Mr. Snagsby, rising, "perhaps this good companywill excuse me for half a minute."Mr. Snagsby descends88 and finds the two 'prentices intentlycontemplating a police constable89, who holds a ragged90 boy by thearm.
"Why, bless my heart," says Mr. Snagsby, "what's the matter!""This boy," says the constable, "although he's repeatedly told to,won't move on--""I'm always a-moving on, sar, cries the boy, wiping away his grimytears with his arm. "I've always been a-moving and a-moving on,ever since I was born. Where can I possibly move to, sir, more norI do move!""He won't move on," says the constable calmly, with a slightprofessional hitch91 of his neck involving its better settlement inhis stiff stock, "although he has been repeatedly cautioned, andtherefore I am obliged to take him into custody92. He's as obstinatea young gonoph as I know. He WON'T move on.""Oh, my eye! Where can I move to!" cries the boy, clutching quitedesperately at his hair and beating his bare feet upon the floor ofMr. Snagsby's passage.
"Don't you come none of that or I shall make blessed short work ofyou!" says the constable, giving him a passionless shake. "Myinstructions are that you are to move on. I have told you so fivehundred times.""But where?" cries the boy.
"Well! Really, constable, you know," says Mr. Snagsby wistfully,and coughing behind his hand his cough of great perplexity anddoubt, "really, that does seem a question. Where, you know?""My instructions don't go to that," replies the constable. "Myinstructions are that this boy is to move on."Do you hear, Jo? It is nothing to you or to any one else that thegreat lights of the parliamentary sky have failed for some fewyears in this business to set you the example of moving on. Theone grand recipe remains93 for you--the profound philosophicalprescription--the be-all and the end-all of your strange existenceupon earth. Move on! You are by no means to move off, Jo, for thegreat lights can't at all agree about that. Move on!
Mr. Snagsby says nothing to this effect, says nothing at allindeed, but coughs his forlornest cough, expressive94 of nothoroughfare in any direction. By this time Mr. and Mrs. Chadbandand Mrs. Snagsby, hearing the altercation95, have appeared upon thestairs. Guster having never left the end of the passage, the wholehousehold are assembled.
"The simple question is, sir," says the constable, "whether youknow this boy. He says you do."Mrs. Snagsby, from her elevation96, instantly cries out, "No hedon't!""My lit-tle woman!" says Mr. Snagsby, looking up the staircase.
"My love, permit me! Pray have a moment's patience, my dear. I doknow something of this lad, and in what I know of him, I can't saythat there's any harm; perhaps on the contrary, constable." Towhom the law-stationer relates his Joful and woful experience,suppressing the half-crown fact.
"Well!" says the constable, "so far, it seems, he had grounds forwhat he said. When I took him into custody up in Holborn, he saidyou knew him. Upon that, a young man who was in the crowd said hewas acquainted with you, and you were a respectable housekeeper,and if I'd call and make the inquiry97, he'd appear. The young mandon't seem inclined to keep his word, but-- Oh! Here IS the youngman!"Enter Mr. Guppy, who nods to Mr. Snagsby and touches his hat withthe chivalry98 of clerkship to the ladies on the stairs.
"I was strolling away from the office just now when I found thisrow going on," says Mr. Guppy to the law-stationer, "and as yourname was mentioned, I thought it was right the thing should belooked into.""It was very good-natured of you, sir," says Mr. Snagsby, "and I amobliged to you." And Mr. Snagsby again relates his experience,again suppressing the half-crown fact.
"Now, I know where you live," says the constable, then, to Jo.
"You live down in Tom-all-Alone's. That's a nice innocent place tolive in, ain't it?""I can't go and live in no nicer place, sir," replies Jo. "Theywouldn't have nothink to say to me if I wos to go to a niceinnocent place fur to live. Who ud go and let a nice innocentlodging to such a reg'lar one as me!""You are very poor, ain't you?" says the constable.
"Yes, I am indeed, sir, wery poor in gin'ral," replies Jo. "Ileave you to judge now! I shook these two half-crowns out of him,"says the constable, producing them to the company, "in only puttingmy hand upon him!""They're wot's left, Mr. Snagsby," says Jo, "out of a sov-ring aswos give me by a lady in a wale as sed she wos a servant and ascome to my crossin one night and asked to be showd this 'ere ouseand the ouse wot him as you giv the writin to died at, and theberrin-ground wot he's berrid in. She ses to me she ses 'are youthe boy at the inkwhich?' she ses. I ses 'yes' I ses. She ses tome she ses 'can you show me all them places?' I ses 'yes I can' Ises. And she ses to me 'do it' and I dun it and she giv me asov'ring and hooked it. And I an't had much of the sov'ringneither," says Jo, with dirty tears, "fur I had to pay five bob,down in Tom-all-Alone's, afore they'd square it fur to give mechange, and then a young man he thieved another five while I wasasleep and another boy he thieved ninepence and the landlord hestood drains round with a lot more on it.""You don't expect anybody to believe this, about the lady and thesovereign, do you?" says the constable, eyeing him aside withineffable disdain99.
"I don't know as I do, sir," replies Jo. "I don't expect nothinkat all, sir, much, but that's the true hist'ry on it.""You see what he is!" the constable observes to the audience.
"Well, Mr. Snagsby, if I don't lock him up this time, will youengage for his moving on?""No!" cries Mrs. Snagsby from the stairs.
"My little woman!" pleads her husband. "Constable, I have no doubthe'll move on. You know you really must do it," says Mr. Snagsby.
"I'm everyways agreeable, sir," says the hapless Jo.
"Do it, then," observes the constable. "You know what you have gotto do. Do it! And recollect100 you won't get off so easy next time.
Catch hold of your money. Now, the sooner you're five mile off,the better for all parties."With this farewell hint and pointing generally to the setting sunas a likely place to move on to, the constable bids his auditorsgood afternoon and makes the echoes of Cook's Court perform slowmusic for him as he walks away on the shady side, carrying hisiron-bound hat in his hand for a little ventilation.
Now, Jo's improbable story concerning the lady and the sovereignhas awakened101 more or less the curiosity of all the company. Mr.
Guppy, who has an inquiring mind in matters of evidence and who hasbeen suffering severely102 from the lassitude of the long vacation,takes that interest in the case that he enters on a regular cross-examination of the witness, which is found so interesting by theladies that Mrs. Snagsby politely invites him to step upstairs anddrink a cup of tea, if he will excuse the disarranged state of thetea-table, consequent on their previous exertions103. Mr. Guppyyielding his assent104 to this proposal, Jo is requested to followinto the drawing-room doorway105, where Mr. Guppy takes him in hand asa witness, patting him into this shape, that shape, and the othershape like a butterman dealing106 with so much butter, and worryinghim according to the best models. Nor is the examination unlikemany such model displays, both in respect of its eliciting107 nothingand of its being lengthy108, for Mr. Guppy is sensible of his talent,and Mrs. Snagsby feels not only that it gratifies her inquisitivedisposition, but that it lifts her husband's establishment higherup in the law. During the progress of this keen encounter, thevessel Chadband, being merely engaged in the oil trade, getsaground and waits to be floated off.
"Well!" says Mr. Guppy. "Either this boy sticks to it likecobbler's-wax or there is something out of the common here thatbeats anything that ever came into my way at Kenge and Carboy's."Mrs. Chadband whispers Mrs. Snagsby, who exclaims, "You don't sayso!""For years!" replied Mrs. Chadband.
"Has known Kenge and Carboy's office for years," Mrs. Snagsbytriumphantly explains to Mr. Guppy. "Mrs. Chadband--thisgentleman's wife--Reverend Mr. Chadband.""Oh, indeed!" says Mr. Guppy.
"Before I married my present husband," says Mrs. Chadband.
"Was you a party in anything, ma'am?" says Mr. Guppy, transferringhis cross-examination.
"No.""NOT a party in anything, ma'am?" says Mr. Guppy.
Mrs. Chadband shakes her head.
"Perhaps you were acquainted with somebody who was a party insomething, ma'am?" says Mr. Guppy, who likes nothing better than tomodel his conversation on forensic109 principles.
"Not exactly that, either," replies Mrs. Chadband, humouring thejoke with a hard-favoured smile.
"Not exactly that, either!" repeats Mr. Guppy. "Very good. Pray,ma'am, was it a lady of your acquaintance who had some transactions(we will not at present say what transactions) with Kenge andCarboy's office, or was it a gentleman of your acquaintance? Taketime, ma'am. We shall come to it presently. Man or woman, ma'am?""Neither," says Mrs. Chadband as before.
"Oh! A child!" says Mr. Guppy, throwing on the admiring Mrs.
Snagsby the regular acute professional eye which is thrown onBritish jurymen. "Now, ma'am, perhaps you'll have the kindness totell us WHAT child.""You have got it at last, sir," says Mrs. Chadband with anotherhard-favoured smile. "Well, sir, it was before your time, mostlikely, judging from your appearance. I was left in charge of achild named Esther Summerson, who was put out in life by Messrs.
Kenge and Carboy.""Miss Summerson, ma'am!" cries Mr. Guppy, excited.
"I call her Esther Summerson," says Mrs. Chadband with austerity.
"There was no Miss-ing of the girl in my time. It was Esther.
'Esther, do this! Esther, do that!' and she was made to do it.""My dear ma'am," returns Mr. Guppy, moving across the smallapartment, "the humble110 individual who now addresses you receivedthat young lady in London when she first came here from theestablishment to which you have alluded111. Allow me to have thepleasure of taking you by the hand."Mr. Chadband, at last seeing his opportunity, makes his accustomedsignal and rises with a smoking head, which he dabs112 with hispocket-handkerchief. Mrs. Snagsby whispers "Hush113!""My friends," says Chadband, "we have partaken in moderation"(which was certainly not the case so far as he was concerned) "ofthe comforts which have been provided for us. May this house liveupon the fatness of the land; may corn and wine be plentifultherein; may it grow, may it thrive, may it prosper15, may itadvance, may it proceed, may it press forward! But, my friends,have we partaken of any-hing else? We have. My friends, of whatelse have we partaken? Of spiritual profit? Yes. From whencehave we derived114 that spiritual profit? My young friend, standforth!"Jo, thus apostrophized, gives a slouch backward, and another slouchforward, and another slouch to each side, and confronts theeloquent Chadband with evident doubts of his intentions.
"My young friend," says Chadband, "you are to us a pearl, you areto us a diamond, you are to us a gem115, you are to us a jewel. Andwhy, my young friend?""I don't know," replies Jo. "I don't know nothink.""My young friend," says Chadband, "it is because you know nothingthat you are to us a gem and jewel. For what are you, my youngfriend? Are you a beast of the field? No. A bird of the air?
No. A fish of the sea or river? No. You are a human boy, myyoung friend. A human boy. O glorious to be a human boy! And whyglorious, my young friend? Because you are capable of receivingthe lessons of wisdom, because you are capable of profiting by thisdiscourse which I now deliver for your good, because you are not astick, or a staff, or a stock, or a stone, or a post, or a pillar.
O running stream of sparkling joyTo be a soaring human boy!
And do you cool yourself in that stream now, my young friend? No.
Why do you not cool yourself in that stream now? Because you arein a state of darkness, because you are in a state of obscurity,because you are in a state of sinfulness, because you are in astate of bondage117. My young friend, what is bondage? Let us, in aspirit of love, inquire."At this threatening stage of the discourse116, Jo, who seems to havebeen gradually going out of his mind, smears118 his right arm over hisface and gives a terrible yawn. Mrs. Snagsby indignantly expressesher belief that he is a limb of the arch-fiend.
"My friends," says Mr. Chadband with his persecuted chin foldingitself into its fat smile again as he looks round, "it is rightthat I should be humbled119, it is right that I should be tried, it isright that I should be mortified120, it is right that I should becorrected. I stumbled, on Sabbath last, when I thought with prideof my three hours' improving. The account is now favourablybalanced: my creditor74 has accepted a composition. O let us bejoyful, joyful! O let us be joyful!"Great sensation on the part of Mrs. Snagsby.
"My friends," says Chadband, looking round him in conclusion, "Iwill not proceed with my young friend now. Will you come to-morrow, my young friend, and inquire of this good lady where I amto be found to deliver a discourse unto you, and will you come likethe thirsty swallow upon the next day, and upon the day after that,and upon the day after that, and upon many pleasant days, to heardiscourses?" (This with a cow-like lightness.)Jo, whose immediate33 object seems to be to get away on any terms,gives a shuffling121 nod. Mr. Guppy then throws him a penny, and Mrs.
Snagsby calls to Guster to see him safely out of the house. Butbefore he goes downstairs, Mr. Snagsby loads him with some brokenmeats from the table, which he carries away, hugging in his arms.
So, Mr. Chadband--of whom the persecutors say that it is no wonderhe should go on for any length of time uttering such abominablenonsense, but that the wonder rather is that he should ever leaveoff, having once the audacity122 to begin--retires into private lifeuntil he invests a little capital of supper in the oil-trade. Jomoves on, through the long vacation, down to Blackfriars Bridge,where he finds a baking stony123 corner wherein to settle to hisrepast.
And there he sits, munching124 and gnawing125, and looking up at thegreat cross on the summit of St. Paul's Cathedral, glittering abovea red-and-violet-tinted cloud of smoke. From the boy's face onemight suppose that sacred emblem126 to be, in his eyes, the crowningconfusion of the great, confused city--so golden, so high up, sofar out of his reach. There he sits, the sun going down, the riverrunning fast, the crowd flowing by him in two streams--everythingmoving on to some purpose and to one end--until he is stirred upand told to "move on" too.
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equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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7
ooze
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| n.软泥，渗出物；vi.渗出，泄漏；vt.慢慢渗出，流露 | |
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8
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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aprons
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| 围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份） | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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13
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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15
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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16
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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17
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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18
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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19
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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20
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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21
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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22
knotty
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| adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的 | |
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23
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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24
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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25
aridity
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| n.干旱，乏味；干燥性；荒芜 | |
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26
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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27
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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28
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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29
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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30
aggravation
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| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
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31
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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32
urn
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| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
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33
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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34
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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35
pensiveness
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| n.pensive（沉思的）的变形 | |
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36
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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37
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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38
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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39
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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40
denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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41
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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42
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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43
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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44
anchovies
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| n. 鯷鱼，凤尾鱼 | |
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45
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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46
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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47
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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48
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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49
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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50
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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51
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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52
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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53
grovel
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| vi.卑躬屈膝，奴颜婢膝 | |
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54
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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55
edify
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| v.陶冶；教化；启发 | |
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56
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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57
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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58
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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59
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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60
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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61
edified
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| v.开导，启发( edify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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63
spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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64
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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65
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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66
reiterates
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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67
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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68
persecute
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| vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰 | |
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69
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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70
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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71
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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72
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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73
debtor
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| n.借方，债务人 | |
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74
creditor
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| n.债仅人，债主，贷方 | |
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75
inverse
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| adj.相反的，倒转的，反转的；n.相反之物；v.倒转 | |
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76
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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77
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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78
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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79
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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80
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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81
verbose
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| adj.用字多的；冗长的；累赘的 | |
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82
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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83
prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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84
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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85
warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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86
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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87
enumerated
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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89
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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90
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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91
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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92
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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93
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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94
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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95
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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96
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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97
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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98
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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99
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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100
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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101
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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102
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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103
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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104
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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105
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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106
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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107
eliciting
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| n. 诱发, 引出 动词elicit的现在分词形式 | |
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108
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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109
forensic
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| adj.法庭的，雄辩的 | |
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110
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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111
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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112
dabs
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| 少许( dab的名词复数 )； 是…能手； 做某事很在行； 在某方面技术熟练 | |
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113
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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114
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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115
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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116
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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117
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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118
smears
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| 污迹( smear的名词复数 )； 污斑； （显微镜的）涂片； 诽谤 | |
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119
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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120
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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121
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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122
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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123
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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124
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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125
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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126
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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