The long vacation saunters on towards term-time like an idle riververy leisurely1 strolling down a flat country to the sea. Mr. Guppysaunters along with it congenially. He has blunted the blade ofhis penknife and broken the point off by sticking that instrumentinto his desk in every direction. Not that he bears the desk anyill will, but he must do something, and it must be something of anunexciting nature, which will lay neither his physical nor hisintellectual energies under too heavy contribution. He finds thatnothing agrees with him so well as to make little gyrations on oneleg of his stool, and stab his desk, and gape2.
Kenge and Carboy are out of town, and the articled clerk has takenout a shooting license3 and gone down to his father's, and Mr.
Guppy's two fellow-stipendiaries are away on leave. Mr. Guppy andMr. Richard Carstone divide the dignity of the office. But Mr.
Carstone is for the time being established in Kenge's room, whereatMr. Guppy chafes4. So exceedingly that he with biting sarcasminforms his mother, in the confidential5 moments when he sups withher off a lobster6 and lettuce7 in the Old Street Road, that he isafraid the office is hardly good enough for swells8, and that if hehad known there was a swell9 coming, he would have got it painted.
Mr. Guppy suspects everybody who enters on the occupation of astool in Kenge and Carboy's office of entertaining, as a matter ofcourse, sinister10 designs upon him. He is clear that every suchperson wants to depose11 him. If he be ever asked how, why, when, orwherefore, he shuts up one eye and shakes his head. On thestrength of these profound views, he in the most ingenious mannertakes infinite pains to counterplot when there is no plot, andplays the deepest games of chess without any adversary12.
It is a source of much gratification to Mr. Guppy, therefore, tofind the new-comer constantly poring over the papers in Jarndyceand Jarndyce, for he well knows that nothing but confusion andfailure can come of that. His satisfaction communicates itself toa third saunterer through the long vacation in Kenge and Carboy'soffice, to wit, Young Smallweed.
Whether Young Smallweed (metaphorically called Small and eke13 ChickWeed, as it were jocularly to express a fledgling) was ever a boyis much doubted in Lincoln's Inn. He is now something underfifteen and an old limb of the law. He is facetiously14 understoodto entertain a passion for a lady at a cigar-shop in theneighbourhood of Chancery Lane and for her sake to have broken offa contract with another lady, to whom he had been engaged someyears. He is a town-made article, of small stature15 and weazenfeatures, but may be perceived from a considerable distance bymeans of his very tall hat. To become a Guppy is the object of hisambition. He dresses at that gentleman (by whom he is patronized),talks at him, walks at him, founds himself entirely17 on him. He ishonoured with Mr. Guppy's particular confidence and occasionallyadvises him, from the deep wells of his experience, on difficultpoints in private life.
Mr. Guppy has been lolling out of window all the morning aftertrying all the stools in succession and finding none of them easy,and after several times putting his head into the iron safe with anotion of cooling it. Mr. Smallweed has been twice dispatched foreffervescent drinks, and has twice mixed them in the two officialtumblers and stirred them up with the ruler. Mr. Guppy propoundsfor Mr. Smallweed's consideration the paradox19 that the more youdrink the thirstier you are and reclines his head upon the window-sill in a state of hopeless languor20.
While thus looking out into the shade of Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,surveying the intolerable bricks and mortar21, Mr. Guppy becomesconscious of a manly22 whisker emerging from the cloistered23 walkbelow and turning itself up in the direction of his face. At thesame time, a low whistle is wafted24 through the Inn and a suppressedvoice cries, "Hip25! Gup-py!""Why, you don't mean it!" says Mr. Guppy, aroused. "Small! Here'sJobling!" Small's head looks out of window too and nods toJobling.
"Where have you sprung up from?" inquires Mr. Guppy.
"From the market-gardens down by Deptford. I can't stand it anylonger. I must enlist26. I say! I wish you'd lend me half a crown.
Upon my soul, I'm hungry."Jobling looks hungry and also has the appearance of having run toseed in the market-gardens down by Deptford.
"I say! Just throw out half a crown if you have got one to spare.
I want to get some dinner.""Will you come and dine with me?" says Mr. Guppy, throwing out thecoin, which Mr. Jobling catches neatly27.
"How long should I have to hold out?" says Jobling.
"Not half an hour. I am only waiting here till the enemy goes,returns Mr. Guppy, butting28 inward with his head.
"What enemy?""A new one. Going to be articled. Will you wait?""Can you give a fellow anything to read in the meantime?" says MrJobling.
Smallweed suggests the law list. But Mr. Jobling declares withmuch earnestness that he "can't stand it.""You shall have the paper," says Mr. Guppy. "He shall bring itdown. But you had better not be seen about here. Sit on ourstaircase and read. It's a quiet place."Jobling nods intelligence and acquiescence29. The sagaciousSmallweed supplies him with the newspaper and occasionally dropshis eye upon him from the landing as a precaution against hisbecoming disgusted with waiting and making an untimely departure.
At last the enemy retreats, and then Smallweed fetches Mr. Joblingup.
"Well, and how are you?" says Mr. Guppy, shaking hands with him.
"So, so. How are you?"Mr. Guppy replying that he is not much to boast of, Mr. Joblingventures on the question, "How is SHE?" This Mr. Guppy resents asa liberty, retorting, "Jobling, there ARE chords in the humanmind--" Jobling begs pardon.
"Any subject but that!" says Mr. Guppy with a gloomy enjoyment31 ofhis injury. "For there ARE chords, Jobling--"Mr. Jobling begs pardon again.
During this short colloquy32, the active Smallweed, who is of thedinner party, has written in legal characters on a slip of paper,"Return immediately." This notification to all whom it mayconcern, he inserts in the letter-box, and then putting on the tallhat at the angle of inclination33 at which Mr. Guppy wears his,informs his patron that they may now make themselves scarce.
Accordingly they betake themselves to a neighbouring dining-house,of the class known among its frequenters by the denomination34 slap-bang, where the waitress, a bouncing young female of forty, issupposed to have made some impression on the susceptible36 Smallweed,of whom it may be remarked that he is a weird37 changeling to whomyears are nothing. He stands precociously38 possessed39 of centuriesof owlish wisdom. If he ever lay in a cradle, it seems as if hemust have lain there in a tail-coat. He has an old, old eye, hasSmallweed; and he drinks and smokes in a monkeyish way; and hisneck is stiff in his collar; and he is never to be taken in; and heknows all about it, whatever it is. In short, in his bringing uphe has been so nursed by Law and Equity40 that he has become a kindof fossil imp35, to account for whose terrestrial existence it isreported at the public offices that his father was John Doe and hismother the only female member of the Roe41 family, also that hisfirst long-clothes were made from a blue bag.
Into the dining-house, unaffected by the seductive show in thewindow of artificially whitened cauliflowers and poultry42, verdantbaskets of peas, coolly blooming cucumbers, and joints44 ready forthe spit, Mr. Smallweed leads the way. They know him there anddefer to him. He has his favourite box, he bespeaks45 all thepapers, he is down upon bald patriarchs, who keep them more thanten minutes afterwards. It is of no use trying him with anythingless than a full-sized "bread" or proposing to him any joint43 in cutunless it is in the very best cut. In the matter of gravy46 he isadamant.
Conscious of his elfin power and submitting to his dreadexperience, Mr. Guppy consults him in the choice of that day'sbanquet, turning an appealing look towards him as the waitressrepeats the catalogue of viands47 and saying "What do YOU take,Chick?" Chick, out of the profundity48 of his artfulness, preferring"veal49 and ham and French beans--and don't you forget the stuffing,Polly" (with an unearthly cock of his venerable eye), Mr. Guppy andMr. Jobling give the like order. Three pint50 pots of half-and-halfare superadded. Quickly the waitress returns bearing what isapparently a model of the Tower of Babel but what is really a pileof plates and flat tin dish-covers. Mr. Smallweed, approving ofwhat is set before him, conveys intelligent benignity51 into hisancient eye and winks52 upon her. Then, amid a constant coming in,and going out, and running about, and a clatter53 of crockery, and arumbling up and down of the machine which brings the nice cuts fromthe kitchen, and a shrill54 crying for more nice cuts down thespeaking-pipe, and a shrill reckoning of the cost of nice cuts thathave been disposed of, and a general flush and steam of hot joints,cut and uncut, and a considerably55 heated atmosphere in which thesoiled knives and tablecloths56 seem to break out spontaneously intoeruptions of grease and blotches57 of beer, the legal triumvirateappease their appetites.
Mr. Jobling is buttoned up closer than mere58 adornment59 mightrequire. His hat presents at the rims60 a peculiar61 appearance of aglistening nature, as if it had been a favourite snail-promenade.
The same phenomenon is visible on some parts of his coat, andparticularly at the seams. He has the faded appearance of agentleman in embarrassed circumstances; even his light whiskersdroop with something of a shabby air.
His appetite is so vigorous that it suggests spare living for somelittle time back. He makes such a speedy end of his plate of vealand ham, bringing it to a close while his companions are yet midwayin theirs, that Mr. Guppy proposes another. "Thank you, Guppy,"says Mr. Jobling, "I really don't know but what I WILL takeanother."Another being brought, he falls to with great goodwill62.
Mr. Guppy takes silent notice of him at intervals63 until he is halfway64 through this second plate and stops to take an enjoying pull athis pint pot of half-and-half (also renewed) and stretches out hislegs and rubs his hands. Beholding65 him in which glow ofcontentment, Mr. Guppy says, "You are a man again, Tony!""Well, not quite yet," says Mr. Jobling. "Say, just born.""Will you take any other vegetables? Grass? Peas? Summercabbage?""Thank you, Guppy," says Mr. Jobling. "I really don't know butwhat I WILL take summer cabbage."Order given; with the sarcastic66 addition (from Mr. Smallweed) of"Without slugs, Polly!" And cabbage produced.
"I am growing up, Guppy," says Mr. Jobling, plying30 his knife andfork with a relishing67 steadiness.
"Glad to hear it.""In fact, I have just turned into my teens," says Mr. Jobling.
He says no more until he has performed his task, which he achievesas Messrs. Guppy and Smallweed finish theirs, thus getting over theground in excellent style and beating those two gentlemen easily bya veal and ham and a cabbage.
"Now, Small," says Mr. Guppy, "what would you recommend aboutpastry?""Marrow68 puddings," says Mr. Smallweed instantly.
"Aye, aye!" cries Mr. Jobling with an arch look. "You're there,are you? Thank you, Mr. Guppy, I don't know but what I WILL take amarrow pudding."Three marrow puddings being produced, Mr. Jobling adds in apleasant humour that he is coming of age fast. To these succeed,by command of Mr. Smallweed, "three Cheshires," and to those "threesmall rums." This apex69 of the entertainment happily reached, Mr.
Jobling puts up his legs on the carpeted seat (having his own sideof the box to himself), leans against the wall, and says, "I amgrown up now, Guppy. I have arrived at maturity70.""What do you think, now," says Mr. Guppy, "about--you don't mindSmallweed?""Not the least in the worid. I have the pleasure of drinking hisgood health.""Sir, to you!" says Mr. Smallweed.
"I was saying, what do you think NOW," pursues Mr. Guppy, "ofenlisting?""Why, what I may think after dinner," returns Mr. Jobling, "is onething, my dear Guppy, and what I may think before dinner is anotherthing. Still, even after dinner, I ask myself the question, Whatam I to do? How am I to live? Ill fo manger, you know," says Mr.
Jobling, pronouncing that word as if he meant a necessary fixturein an English stable. "Ill fo manger. That's the French saying,and mangering is as necessary to me as it is to a Frenchman. Ormore so."Mr. Smallweed is decidedly of opinion "much more so.""If any man had told me," pursues Jobling, "even so lately as whenyou and I had the frisk down in Lincolnshire, Guppy, and drove overto see that house at Castle Wold--"Mr. Smallweed corrects him--Chesney Wold.
"Chesney Wold. (I thank my honourable71 friend for that cheer.) Ifany man had told me then that I should be as hard up at the presenttime as I literally72 find myself, I should have--well, I should havepitched into him," says Mr. Jobling, taking a little rum-and-waterwith an air of desperate resignation; "I should have let fly at hishead.""Still, Tony, you were on the wrong side of the post then,"remonstrates Mr. Guppy. "You were talking about nothing else inthe gig.""Guppy," says Mr. Jobling, "I will not deny it. I was on the wrongside of the post. But I trusted to things coming round."That very popular trust in flat things coming round! Not in theirbeing beaten round, or worked round, but in their "coming" round!
As though a lunatic should trust in the world's "coming"triangular!
"I had confident expectations that things would come round and beall square," says Mr. Jobling with some vagueness of expression andperhaps of meaning too. "But I was disappointed. They never did.
And when it came to creditors73 making rows at the office and topeople that the office dealt with making complaints about dirtytrifles of borrowed money, why there was an end of that connexion.
And of any new professional connexion too, for if I was to give areference to-morrow, it would be mentioned and would sew me up.
Then what's a fellow to do? I have been keeping out of the way andliving cheap down about the market-gardens, but what's the use ofliving cheap when you have got no money? You might as well livedear.""Better," Mr. Smallweed thinks.
"Certainly. It's the fashionable way; and fashion and whiskershave been my weaknesses, and I don't care who knows it," says Mr.
Jobling. "They are great weaknesses--Damme, sir, they are great.
Well," proceeds Mr. Jobling after a defiant74 visit to his rum-and-water, "what can a fellow do, I ask you, BUT enlist?"Mr. Guppy comes more fully75 into the conversation to state what, inhis opinion, a fellow can do. His manner is the gravely impressivemanner of a man who has not committed himself in life otherwisethan as he has become the victim of a tender sorrow of the heart.
"Jobling," says Mr. Guppy, "myself and our mutual76 friend Smallweed--"Mr. Smallweed modestly observes, "Gentlemen both!" and drinks.
"--Have had a little conversation on this matter more than oncesince you--""Say, got the sack!" cries Mr. Jobling bitterly. "Say it, Guppy.
You mean it.""No-o-o! Left the Inn," Mr. Smallweed delicately suggests.
"Since you left the Inn, Jobling," says Mr. Guppy; "and I havementioned to our mutual friend Smallweed a plan I have latelythought of proposing. You know Snagsby the stationer?""I know there is such a stationer," returns Mr. Jobling. "He wasnot ours, and I am not acquainted with him.""He IS ours, Jobling, and I AM acquainted with him," Mr. Guppyretorts. "Well, sir! I have lately become better acquainted withhim through some accidental circumstances that have made me avisitor of his in private life. Those circumstances it is notnecessary to offer in argument. They may--or they may not--havesome reference to a subject which may--or may not--have cast itsshadow on my existence."As it is Mr. Guppy's perplexing way with boastful misery77 to tempthis particular friends into this subject, and the moment they touchit, to turn on them with that trenchant78 severity about the chordsin the human mind, both Mr. Jobling and Mr. Smallweed decline thepitfall by remaining silent.
"Such things may be," repeats Mr. Guppy, "or they may not be. Theyare no part of the case. It is enough to mention that both Mr. andMrs. Snagsby are very willing to oblige me and that Snagsby has, inbusy times, a good deal of copying work to give out. He has allTulkinghorn's, and an excellent business besides. I believe if ourmutual friend Smallweed were put into the box, he could provethis?"Mr. Smallweed nods and appears greedy to be sworn.
"Now, gentlemen of the jury," says Mr. Guppy, "--I mean, now,Jobling--you may say this is a poor prospect79 of a living. Granted.
But it's better than nothing, and better than enlistment80. You wanttime. There must be time for these late affairs to blow over. Youmight live through it on much worse terms than by writing forSnagsby."Mr. Jobling is about to interrupt when the sagacious Smallweedchecks him with a dry cough and the words, "Hem18! Shakspeare!""There are two branches to this subject, Jobling," says Mr. Guppy.
"That is the first. I come to the second. You know Krook, theChancellor, across the lane. Come, Jobling," says Mr. Guppy in hisencouraging cross-examination-tone, "I think you know Krook, theChancellor, across the lane?""I know him by sight," says Mr. Jobling.
"You know him by sight. Very well. And you know little Flite?""Everybody knows her," says Mr. Jobling.
"Everybody knows her. VERY well. Now it has been one of my dutiesof late to pay Flite a certain weekly allowance, deducting82 from itthe amount of her weekly rent, which I have paid (in consequence ofinstructions I have received) to Krook himself, regularly in herpresence. This has brought me into communication with Krook andinto a knowledge of his house and his habits. I know he has a roomto let. You may live there at a very low charge under any name youlike, as quietly as if you were a hundred miles off. He'll ask noquestions and would accept you as a tenant83 at a word from me--before the clock strikes, if you chose. And I tell you anotherthing, Jobling," says Mr. Guppy, who has suddenly lowered his voiceand become familiar again, "he's an extraordinary old chap--alwaysrummaging among a litter of papers and grubbing away at teachinghimself to read and write, without getting on a bit, as it seems tome. He is a most extraordinary old chap, sir. I don't know butwhat it might be worth a fellow's while to look him up a bit.""You don't mean--" Mr. Jobling begins.
"I mean," returns Mr. Guppy, shrugging his shoulders with becomingmodesty, "that I can't make him out. I appeal to our mutual friendSmallweed whether he has or has not heard me remark that I can'tmake him out."Mr. Smallweed bears the concise84 testimony85, "A few!""I have seen something of the profession and something of life,Tony," says Mr. Guppy, "and it's seldom I can't make a man out,more or less. But such an old card as this, so deep, so sly, andsecret (though I don't believe he is ever sober), I never cameacross. Now, he must be precious old, you know, and he has not asoul about him, and he is reported to be immensely rich; andwhether he is a smuggler86, or a receiver, or an unlicensedpawnbroker, or a money-lender--all of which I have thought likelyat different times--it might pay you to knock up a sort ofknowledge of him. I don't see why you shouldn't go in for it, wheneverything else suits."Mr. Jobling, Mr. Guppy, and Mr. Smallweed all lean their elbows onthe table and their chins upon their hands, and look at theceiling. After a time, they all drink, slowly lean back, put theirhands in their pockets, and look at one another.
"If I had the energy I once possessed, Tony!" says Mr. Guppy with asigh. "But there are chords in the human mind--"Expressing the remainder of the desolate87 sentiment in rum-and-water, Mr. Guppy concludes by resigning the adventure to TonyJobling and informing him that during the vacation and while thingsare slack, his purse, "as far as three or four or even five poundgoes," will be at his disposal. "For never shall it be said," Mr.
Guppy adds with emphasis, "that William Guppy turned his back uponhis friend!"The latter part of the proposal is so directly to the purpose thatMr. Jobling says with emotion, "Guppy, my trump88, your fist!" Mr.
Guppy presents it, saying, "Jobling, my boy, there it is!" Mr.
Jobling returns, "Guppy, we have been pals89 now for some years!"Mr. Guppy replies, "Jobling, we have."They then shake hands, and Mr. Jobling adds in a feeling manner,"Thank you, Guppy, I don't know but what I WILL take another glassfor old acquaintance sake.""Krook's last lodger90 died there," observes Mr. Guppy in anincidental way.
"Did he though!" says Mr. Jobling.
"There was a verdict. Accidental death. You don't mind that?""No," says Mr. Jobling, "I don't mind it; but he might as well havedied somewhere else. It's devilish odd that he need go and die atMY place!" Mr. Jobling quite resents this liberty, several timesreturning to it with such remarks as, "There are places enough todie in, I should think!" or, "He wouldn't have liked my dying atHIS place, I dare say!"However, the compact being virtually made, Mr. Guppy proposes todispatch the trusty Smallweed to ascertain91 if Mr. Krook is at home,as in that case they may complete the negotiation92 without delay.
Mr. Jobling approving, Smallweed puts himself under the tall hatand conveys it out of the dining-rooms in the Guppy manner. Hesoon returns with the intelligence that Mr. Krook is at home andthat he has seen him through the shop-door, sitting in the backpremises, sleeping "like one o'clock.""Then I'll pay," says Mr. Guppy, "and we'll go and see him. Small,what will it be?"Mr. Smallweed, compelling the attendance of the waitress with onehitch of his eyelash, instantly replies as follows: "Four veals andhams is three, and four potatoes is three and four, and one summercabbage is three and six, and three marrows93 is four and six, andsix breads is five, and three Cheshires is five and three, and fourhalf-pints of half-and-half is six and three, and four small rumsis eight and three, and three Pollys is eight and six. Eight andsix in half a sovereign, Polly, and eighteenpence out!"Not at all excited by these stupendous calculations, Smallweeddismisses his friends with a cool nod and remains94 behind to take alittle admiring notice of Polly, as opportunity may serve, and toread the daily papers, which are so very large in proportion tohimself, shorn of his hat, that when he holds up the Times to runhis eye over the columns, he seems to have retired95 for the nightand to have disappeared under the bedclothes.
Mr. Guppy and Mr. Jobling repair to the rag and bottle shop, wherethey find Krook still sleeping like one o'clock, that is to say,breathing stertorously96 with his chin upon his breast and quiteinsensible to any external sounds or even to gentle shaking. Onthe table beside him, among the usual lumber97, stand an empty gin-bottle and a glass. The unwholesome air is so stained with thisliquor that even the green eyes of the cat upon her shelf, as theyopen and shut and glimmer98 on the visitors, look drunk.
"Hold up here!" says Mr. Guppy, giving the relaxed figure of theold man another shake. "Mr. Krook! Halloa, sir!"But it would seem as easy to wake a bundle of old clothes with aspirituous heat smouldering in it. "Did you ever see such a stuporas he falls into, between drink and sleep?" says Mr. Guppy.
"If this is his regular sleep," returns Jobling, rather alarmed,"it'll last a long time one of these days, I am thinking.""It's always more like a fit than a nap," says Mr. Guppy, shakinghim again. "Halloa, your lordship! Why, he might be robbed fiftytimes over! Open your eyes!"After much ado, he opens them, but without appearing to see hisvisitors or any other objects. Though he crosses one leg onanother, and folds his hands, and several times closes and openshis parched99 lips, he seems to all intents and purposes asinsensible as before.
"He is alive, at any rate," says Mr. Guppy. "How are you, my LordChancellor. I have brought a friend of mine, sir, on a littlematter of business."The old man still sits, often smacking100 his dry lips without theleast consciousness. After some minutes he makes an attempt torise. They help him up, and he staggers against the wall andstares at them.
"How do you do, Mr. Krook?" says Mr. Guppy in some discomfiture101.
"How do you do, sir? You are looking charming, Mr. Krook. I hopeyou are pretty well?"The old man, in aiming a purposeless blow at Mr. Guppy, or atnothing, feebly swings himself round and comes with his faceagainst the wall. So he remains for a minute or two, heaped upagainst it, and then staggers down the shop to the front door. Theair, the movement in the court, the lapse102 of time, or thecombination of these things recovers him. He comes back prettysteadily, adjusting his fur cap on his head and looking keenly atthem.
"Your servant, gentlemen; I've been dozing103. Hi! I am hard to wake,odd times.""Rather so, indeed, sir," responds Mr. Guppy.
"What? You've been a-trying to do it, have you?" says thesuspicious Krook.
"Only a little," Mr. Guppy explains.
The old man's eye resting on the empty bottle, he takes it up,examines it, and slowly tilts104 it upside down.
"I say!" he cries like the hobgoblin in the story. "Somebody'sbeen making free here!""I assure you we found it so," says Mr. Guppy. "Would you allow meto get it filled for you?""Yes, certainly I would!" cries Krook in high glee. "Certainly Iwould! Don't mention it! Get it filled next door--Sol's Arms--theLord Chancellor81's fourteenpenny. Bless you, they know ME!"He so presses the empty bottle upon Mr. Guppy that that gentleman,with a nod to his friend, accepts the trust and hurries out andhurries in again with the bottle filled. The old man receives itin his arms like a beloved grandchild and pats it tenderly.
"But, I say," he whispers, with his eyes screwed up, after tastingit, "this ain't the Lord Chancellor's fourteenpenny. This iseighteenpenny!""I thought you might like that better," says Mr. Guppy.
"You're a nobleman, sir," returns Krook with another taste, and hishot breath seems to come towards them like a flame. "You're abaron of the land."Taking advantage of this auspicious105 moment, Mr. Guppy presents hisfriend under the impromptu106 name of Mr. Weevle and states the objectof their visit. Krook, with his bottle under his arm (he nevergets beyond a certain point of either drunkenness or sobriety),takes time to survey his proposed lodger and seems to approve ofhim. "You'd like to see the room, young man?" he says. "Ah! It'sa good room! Been whitewashed107. Been cleaned down with soft soapand soda108. Hi! It's worth twice the rent, letting alone my companywhen you want it and such a cat to keep the mice away."Commending the room after this manner, the old man takes themupstairs, where indeed they do find it cleaner than it used to beand also containing some old articles of furniture which he has dugup from his inexhaustible stores. The terms are easily concluded--for the Lord Chancellor cannot be hard on Mr. Guppy, associated ashe is with Kenge and Carboy, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, and otherfamous claims on his professional consideration--and it is agreedthat Mr. Weevle shall take possession on the morrow. Mr. Weevleand Mr. Guppy then repair to Cook's Court, Cursitor Street, wherethe personal introduction of the former to Mr. Snagsby is effectedand (more important) the vote and interest of Mrs. Snagsby aresecured. They then report progress to the eminent109 Smallweed,waiting at the office in his tall hat for that purpose, andseparate, Mr. Guppy explaining that he would terminate his littleentertainment by standing110 treat at the play but that there arechords in the human mind which would render it a hollow mockery.
On the morrow, in the dusk of evening, Mr. Weevle modestly appearsat Krook's, by no means incommoded with luggage, and establisheshimself in his new lodging111, where the two eyes in the shuttersstare at him in his sleep, as if they were full of wonder. On thefollowing day Mr. Weevle, who is a handy good-for-nothing kind ofyoung fellow, borrows a needle and thread of Miss Flite and ahammer of his landlord and goes to work devising apologies forwindow-curtains, and knocking up apologies for shelves, and hangingup his two teacups, milkpot, and crockery sundries on a pennyworthof little hooks, like a shipwrecked sailor making the best of it.
But what Mr. Weevle prizes most of all his few possessions (nextafter his light whiskers, for which he has an attachment112 that onlywhiskers can awaken113 in the breast of man) is a choice collection ofcopper-plate impressions from that truly national work TheDivinities of Albion, or Galaxy114 Gallery of British Beauty,representing ladies of title and fashion in every variety of smirkthat art, combined with capital, is capable of producing. Withthese magnificent portraits, unworthily confined in a band-boxduring his seclusion115 among the market-gardens, he decorates hisapartment; and as the Galaxy Gallery of British Beauty wears everyvariety of fancy dress, plays every variety of musical instrument,fondles every variety of dog, ogles116 every variety of prospect, andis backed up by every variety of flower-pot and balustrade, theresult is very imposing117.
But fashion is Mr. Weevle's, as it was Tony Jobling's, weakness.
To borrow yesterday's paper from the Sol's Arms of an evening andread about the brilliant and distinguished118 meteors that areshooting across the fashionable sky in every direction isunspeakable consolation119 to him. To know what member of whatbrilliant and distinguished circle accomplished120 the brilliant anddistinguished feat16 of joining it yesterday or contemplates121 the noless brilliant and distinguished feat of leaving it to-morrow giveshim a thrill of joy. To be informed what the Galaxy Gallery ofBritish Beauty is about, and means to be about, and what Galaxymarriages are on the tapis, and what Galaxy rumours122 are incirculation, is to become acquainted with the most gloriousdestinies of mankind. Mr. Weevle reverts123 from this intelligence tothe Galaxy portraits implicated124, and seems to know the originals,and to be known of them.
For the rest he is a quiet lodger, full of handy shifts and devicesas before mentioned, able to cook and clean for himself as well asto carpenter, and developing social inclinations125 after the shadesof evening have fallen on the court. At those times, when he isnot visited by Mr. Guppy or by a small light in his likenessquenched in a dark hat, he comes out of his dull room--where he hasinherited the deal wilderness126 of desk bespattered with a rain ofink--and talks to Krook or is "very free," as they call it in thecourt, commendingly, with any one disposed for conversation.
Wherefore, Mrs. Piper, who leads the court, is impelled127 to offertwo remarks to Mrs. Perkins: firstly, that if her Johnny was tohave whiskers, she could wish 'em to be identically like that youngman's; and secondly128, "Mark my words, Mrs. Perkins, ma'am, and don'tyou be surprised, Lord bless you, if that young man comes in atlast for old Krook's money!"
收听单词发音 |
1
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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gape
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| v.张口，打呵欠，目瞪口呆地凝视 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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chafes
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的第三人称单数 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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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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lobster
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| n.龙虾，龙虾肉 | |
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lettuce
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| n.莴苣；生菜 | |
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swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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depose
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| vt.免职；宣誓作证 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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13
eke
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| v.勉强度日，节约使用 | |
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facetiously
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| adv.爱开玩笑地；滑稽地，爱开玩笑地 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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paradox
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| n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物) | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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21
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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22
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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cloistered
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| adj.隐居的，躲开尘世纷争的v.隐退，使与世隔绝( cloister的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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28
butting
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| 用头撞人（犯规动作） | |
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29
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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30
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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31
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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32
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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33
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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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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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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38
precociously
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| Precociously | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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40
equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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41
roe
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| n.鱼卵；獐鹿 | |
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42
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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43
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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44
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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45
bespeaks
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| v.预定( bespeak的第三人称单数 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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46
gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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47
viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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48
profundity
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| n.渊博；深奥，深刻 | |
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49
veal
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| n.小牛肉 | |
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50
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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51
benignity
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| n.仁慈 | |
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52
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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53
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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54
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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55
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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56
tablecloths
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| n.桌布，台布( tablecloth的名词复数 ) | |
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57
blotches
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| n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍 | |
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58
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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59
adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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60
rims
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| n.（圆形物体的）边( rim的名词复数 )；缘；轮辋；轮圈 | |
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61
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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62
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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63
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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64
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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65
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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66
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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67
relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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68
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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69
apex
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| n.顶点，最高点 | |
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70
maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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71
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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72
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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73
creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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74
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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75
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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76
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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77
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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78
trenchant
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| adj.尖刻的，清晰的 | |
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79
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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80
enlistment
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| n.应征入伍，获得，取得 | |
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81
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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82
deducting
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| v.扣除，减去( deduct的现在分词 ) | |
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83
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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84
concise
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| adj.简洁的，简明的 | |
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85
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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86
smuggler
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| n.走私者 | |
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87
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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88
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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89
pals
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| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
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90
lodger
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| n.寄宿人，房客 | |
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91
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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92
negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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93
marrows
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| n.骨髓（marrow的复数形式） | |
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94
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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95
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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96
stertorously
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97
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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98
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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99
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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100
smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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101
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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102
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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103
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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104
tilts
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| （意欲赢得某物或战胜某人的）企图，尝试( tilt的名词复数 ) | |
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105
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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106
impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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107
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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109
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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110
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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111
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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112
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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113
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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114
galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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115
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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116
ogles
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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117
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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118
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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119
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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120
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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121
contemplates
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的第三人称单数 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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122
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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123
reverts
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| 恢复( revert的第三人称单数 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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124
implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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125
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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126
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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127
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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128
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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