MR. SOLOMAN SNIVEL has effected a reconciliation1 between old Judge Sleepyhorn and the beautiful Anna Bonard, and he has flattered the weak-minded George Mullholland into a belief that the old Judge, as he styles him, is his very best friend. So matters go on swimmingly at the house of Madame Flamingo2. Indeed Mr. Soloman can make himself extremely useful in any affair requiring the exercise of nice diplomatic skill-no matter whether it be of love or law. He gets people into debt, and out of debt; into bankruptcy3 and out of bankruptcy; into jail and out of jail; into society and out of society. He has officiated in almost every capacity but that of a sexton. If you want money, Mr. Soloman can always arrange the little matter for you. If you have old negroes you want to get off your hands at a low figure, he has a customer. If you want to mortgage your negro property, a thing not uncommon4 with our very first families, Mr. Soloman is your man. Are you worth a fee, and want legal advice, he will give it exactly to your liking5. Indeed, he will lie you into the most hopeless suit, and with equal pertinacity6 lie you out of the very best. Every judge is his friend and most intimate acquaintance. He is always rollicking, frisking, and insinuating7 himself into something, affects to be the most liberal sort of a companion, never refuses to drink when invited, but never invites any one unless he has a motive8 beyond friendship. Mr. Keepum, the wealthy lottery9 broker10, who lives over the way, in Broad street, in the house with the mysterious signs, is his money-man. This Keepum, the man with the sharp visage and guilty countenance11, has an excellent standing12 in society, having got it as the reward of killing13 two men. Neither of these deeds of heroism14, however, were the result of a duel15. Between these worthies16 there exists relations mutually profitable, if not the most honorable. And notwithstanding Mr. Soloman is forever sounding Mr. Keepum's generosity17, the said Keepum has a singular faculty18 for holding with a firm grasp all he gets, the extent of his charities being a small mite19 now and then to Mr. Hadger, the very pious20 agent for the New York Presbyterian Tract21 Society. Mr. Hadger, who by trading in things called negroes, and such like wares22, has become a man of great means, twice every year badgers23 the community in behalf of this society, and chuckles24 over what he gets of Keepum, as if a knave's money was a sure panacea25 for the cure of souls saved through the medium of those highly respectable tracts26 the society publishes to suit the tastes of the god slavery. Mr. Keepum, too, has a very high opinion of this excellent society, as he calls it, and never fails to boast of his contributions.
It is night. The serene27 and bright sky is hung with brighter stars. Our little fashionable world has got itself arrayed in its best satin-and is in a flutter. Carriages, with servants in snobby28 coats, beset29 the doors of the theatre. A flashing of silks, satins, brocades, tulle and jewelry30, distinguished31 the throng32 pressing eagerly into the lobbies, and seeking with more confusion than grace seats in the dress circle. The orchestra has played an overture33, and the house presents a lively picture of bright-colored robes. Mr. Snivel's handsome figure is seen looming34 out of a private box in the left-hand procenium, behind the curtain of which, and on the opposite side, a mysterious hand every now and then frisks, makes a small but prudent35 opening, and disappears. Again it appears, with delicate and chastely-jeweled fingers. Cautiously the red curtain moves aside apace, and the dark languishing36 eyes of a female, scanning over the dress-circle, are revealed. She recognizes the venerable figure of Judge Sleepyhorn, who has made a companion of George Mullholland, and sits at his side in the parquette. Timidly she closes the curtain.
In the right-hand procenium box sits, resplendent of jewels and laces, and surrounded by her many admirers, the beautiful and very fashionable Madame Montford, a woman of singularly regular features, and more than ordinary charms. Opinion is somewhat divided on the early history of Madame Montford. Some have it one thing, some another. Society is sure to slander37 a woman of transcendent beauty and intellect. There is nothing in the world more natural, especially when those charms attract fashionable admirers. It is equally true, too, that if you would wipe out any little taint38 that may hang about the skirts of your character you must seek the panacea in a distant State, where, with the application of a little diplomacy39 you may become the much sought for wonder of a new atmosphere and new friends, as is the case with Madame Montford, who rebukes40 her New York neighbors of the Fifth Avenue (she has a princely mansion41 there), with the fact that in Charleston she is, whenever she visits it, the all-absorbing topic with fashionable society. For four successive winters Madame Montford has honored the elite42 of Charleston with her presence. The advent43 of her coming, too, has been duly heralded44 in the morning papers-to the infinite delight of the St. Cecilia Society, which never fails to distinguish her arrival with a ball. And this ball is sure to be preceded with no end of delicately-perfumed cards, and other missives, as full of compliments as it is capable of cramming45 them. There is, notwithstanding all these ovations46 in honor of her coming, a mystery hanging over her periodical visits, for the sharp-eyed persist that they have seen her disguised, and in suspicious places; making singular inquiries47 about a woman of the name of Mag Munday. And these suspicions have given rise to whisperings, and these whisperings have crept into the ears of several very old and highly-respectable "first families," which said families have suddenly dropped her acquaintance. But what is more noticeable in the features of Madame Montford, is the striking similarity between them and Anna Bonard's. Her most fervent48 admirers have noticed it; while strangers have not failed to discover it, and to comment upon it. And the girl who sits in the box with Mr. Snivel, so cautiously fortifying49 herself with the curtain, is none other than Anna. Mr. Snivel has brought her here as an atonement for past injuries.
Just as the curtain is about to rise, Mr. McArthur, true to his word, may be seen toddling50 to the stage door, his treasure carefully tied up in a handkerchief. He will deliver it to no one but the manager, and in spite of his other duties that functionary51 is compelled to receive it in person. This done, the old man, to the merriment of certain wags who delight to speculate on his childlike credulity, takes a seat in the parquette, wipes clean his venerable spectacles, and placing them methodically over his eyes, forms a unique picture in the foreground of the audience. McArthur, with the aid of his glasses, can recognize objects at a distance; and as the Hamlet of the night is decidedly Teutonic in his appearance and pronunciation, he has no great relish52 for the Star, nor a hand of applause to bestow53 on his genius. Hamlet, he is sure, never articulated with a coarse brogue. So turning from the stage, he amuses himself with minutely scanning the faces of the audience, and resolving in his mind that something will turn up in the grave-digger's scene, of which he is an enthusiastic admirer. It is, indeed, he thinks to himself, very doubtful, whether in this wide world the much-abused William Shakspeare hath a more ardent54 admirer of this curious but faithful illustration of his genius. Suddenly his attention seems riveted55 on the private box, in which sits the stately figure of Madame Montford, flanked in a half-circle by her perfumed and white-gloved admirers. "What!" exclaims the old man, in surprise, rubbing and replacing his glasses, "if I'm not deceived! Well-I can't be. If there isn't the very woman, a little altered, who has several times looked into my little place of an evening. Her questions were so curious that I couldn't make out what she really wanted (she never bought anything); but she always ended with inquiring about poor Mag Munday. People think because I have all sorts of things, that I must know about all sorts of things. I never could tell her much that satisfied her, for Mag, report had it, was carried off by the yellow fever, and nobody ever thought of her afterwards. And because I couldn't tell this woman any more, she would go away with tears in her eyes." Mr. McArthur whispers to a friend on his right, and touches him on the arm, "Pooh! pooh!" returns the man, with measured indifference56, "that's the reigning57 belle58 of the season-Madame Montford, the buxom59 widow, who has been just turned forty for some years."
The play proceeds, and soon the old man's attention is drawn60 from the Widow Montford by the near approach to the scene of the grave-digger. And as that delineator enters the grave, and commences his tune61, the old man's anxiety increases.
A twitching62 and shrugging of the shoulders, discovers Mr. McArthur's feelings. The grave-digger, to the great delight of the Star, bespreads the stage with a multiplicity of bones. Then he follows them with a skull63, the appearance of which causes Mr. McArthur to exclaim, "Ah! that's my poor Yorick." He rises from his seat, and abstractedly stares at the Star, then at the audience. The audience gives out a spontaneous burst of applause, which the Teutonic Hamlet is inclined to regard as an indignity64 offered to superior talent. A short pause and his face brightens with a smile, the grave-digger shoulders his pick, and with the thumb of his right hand to his nasal organ, throws himself into a comical attitude. The audience roar with delight; the Star, ignorant of the cause of what he esteems65 a continued insult, waves his plumes66 to the audience, and with an air of contempt walks off the stage.
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1
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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flamingo
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| n.红鹳，火烈鸟 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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pertinacity
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| n.执拗，顽固 | |
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insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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broker
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| n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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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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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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badgers
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| n.獾( badger的名词复数 )；獾皮；（大写）獾州人（美国威斯康星州人的别称）；毛鼻袋熊 | |
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chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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panacea
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| n.万灵药；治百病的灵药 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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snobby
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| a.虚荣的 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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overture
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| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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40
rebukes
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的第三人称单数 ) | |
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41
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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elite
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| n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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44
heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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45
cramming
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| n.塞满，填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 )；填塞；塞满；（为考试而）死记硬背功课 | |
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46
ovations
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| n.热烈欢迎( ovation的名词复数 ) | |
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47
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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48
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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49
fortifying
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| 筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品） | |
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50
toddling
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| v.（幼儿等）东倒西歪地走( toddle的现在分词 )；蹒跚行走；溜达；散步 | |
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51
functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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52
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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53
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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54
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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55
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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56
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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57
reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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58
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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59
buxom
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| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
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60
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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61
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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62
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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63
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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65
esteems
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| n.尊敬，好评( esteem的名词复数 )v.尊敬( esteem的第三人称单数 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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