IN WHICH A LITTLE LIGHT IS SHED UPON THE CHARACTER OF OUR CHIVALRY1
MR. MCARTHUR has jogged on, in the good old way but his worldly store seems not to increase. The time, nevertheless, is arrived when he is expected to return the little amount borrowed of Keepum, through the agency of Mr. Snivel. Again and again has he been notified that he must pay or go to that place in which we lock up all our very estimable "first families," whose money has taken wings and flown away. Not content with this, the two worthy2 gentlemen have more than once invaded the Antiquary's back parlor3, and offered, as we have described in a former chapter, improper4 advances to his daughter.
Mr. Keepum, dressed in a flashy coat, his sharp, mercenary face, hectic5 of night revels6, and his small but wicked eyes wandering over Mr. McArthur's stock in trade, is seen in pursuit of his darling object. "I don't mind so much about the pay, old man! I'm up well in the world. The fact is, I am esteemed-and I am!--a public benefactor7. I never forget how much we owe to the chivalric8 spirit of our ancestors, and in dealing9 with the poor-money matters and politics are different from anything else-I am too generous. I don't mind my own interests enough. There it is!" Mr. Keepum says this with an evident relief to himself. Indeed it must here be acknowledged that this very excellent member of the St. Cecilia Society, and profound dealer10 in lottery11 tickets, like our fine gentlemen who are so scrupulous12 of their chivalry while stabbing men behind their backs, fancies himself one of the most disinterested13 beings known to generous nature.
Bent14 and tottering15, the old man recounts the value of his curiosities; which, like our chivalry, is much talked of but hard to get at. He offers in apology for the nonpayment of the debt his knowledge of the old continentals16, just as we offer our chivalry in excuse for every disgraceful act-every savage17 law. In fine, he follows the maxims18 of our politicians, recapitulating19 a dozen or more things (wiping the sweat from his brow the while) that have no earthly connection with the subject. "They are all very well," Mr. Keepum rejoins, with an air of self-importance, dusting the ashes from his cigar. He only wishes to impress the old man with the fact that he is his very best friend.
And having somewhat relieved the Antiquary's mind of its apprehensions20, for McArthur stood in great fear of duns, Mr. Keepum pops, uninvited, into the "back parlor," where he has not long been when Maria's screams for assistance break forth21.
"Ah! I am old-there is not much left me now. Yes, I am old, my infirmities are upon me. Pray, good man, spare me my daughter. Nay22, you must not break the peace of my house;" mutters the old man, advancing into the room, with infirm step, and looking wistfully at his daughter, as if eager to clasp her in his arms. Maria stands in a defiant23 attitude, her left hand poised24 on a chair, and her right pointing scornfully in the face of Keepum, who recoils25 under the look of withering26 scorn that darkens her countenance27. "A gentleman! begone, knave28! for your looks betray you. You cannot buy my ruin with your gold; you cannot deceive me with your false tongue. If hate were a noble passion, I would not vent29 that which now agitates31 my bosom32 on you. Nay, I would reserve it for a better purpose--"
"Indeed, indeed-now I say honestly, your daughter mistakes me. I was only being a little friendly to her," interrupts the chopfallen man. He did not think her capable of summoning so much passion to her aid.
Maria, it must be said, was one of those seemingly calm natures in which resentment33 takes deepest root, in which the passions are most violent when roused. Solitude34 does, indeed, tend to invest the passionate35 nature with a calm surface. A less penetrating36 observer than the chivalrous37 Keepum, might have discovered in Maria a spirit he could not so easily humble38 to his uses. It is the modest, thoughtful woman, you cannot make lick the dust in sorrow and tears. "Coward! you laid ruffian hands on me!" says Maria, again towering to her height, and giving vent to her feelings.
"Madam, Madam," pursues Keepum, trembling and crouching39, "you asperse40 my honor,--my sacred honor, Madam. You see-let me say a word, now-you are leting your temper get the better of you. I never, and the public know I never did-I never did a dishonorable thing in my life." Turning to the bewildered old man, he continues: "to be called a knave, and upbraided41 in this manner by your daughter, when I have befriended you all these days!" His wicked eyes fall guilty to the floor.
"Out man!--out! Let your sense of right, if you have it, teach you what is friendship. Know that, like mercy, it is not poured out with hands reeking42 of female dishonor."
Mr. Keepum, like many more of our very fine gentlemen, had so trained his thoughts to look upon the poor as slaves created for a base use, that he neither could bring his mind to believe in the existence of such things as noble spirits under humble roofs, nor to imagine himself-even while committing the grossest outrages-doing aught to sully the high chivalric spirit he fancied he possessed43. The old Antiquary, on the other hand, was not a little surprised to find his daughter displaying such extraordinary means of repulsing44 an enemy.
Trembling, and child-like he stands, conscious of being in the grasp of a knave, whose object was more the ruin of his daughter than the recovery of a small amount of money, the tears glistening45 in his eyes, and the finger of old age marked on his furrowed46 brow.
"Father, father!" says Maria, and the words hang upon her quivering lips, her face becomes pale as marble, her strength deserts her,--she trembles from head to foot, and sinks upon the old man's bosom, struggling to smother47 her sobs48. Her passion has left her; her calmer nature has risen up to rebuke49 it. The old man leads her tenderly to the sofa, and there seeks to sooth her troubled spirit.
"As if this hub bub was always to last!" a voice speaks suddenly. It is the Hon. Mr. Snivel, who looks in at the eleventh hour, as he says, to find affairs always in a fuss. "Being a man of legal knowledge-always ready to do a bit of a good turn-especially in putting a disordered house to rights-I thought it well to look in, having a leisure minute or two (we have had a convention for dissolving the Union, and passed a vote to that end!) to give to my old friends," Mr. Snivel says, in a voice at once conciliating and insinuating50. "I always think of a border feud51 when I come here-things that find no favor with me." Mr. Snivel, having first patted the old man on the shoulder, exchanges a significant wink52 with his friend Keepum, and then bestows53 upon him what he is pleased to call a little wholesome54 advice. "People misunderstand Mr. Keepum," he says, "who is one of the most generous of men, but lacks discretion55, and in trying to be polite to everybody, lets his feelings have too much latitude56 now and then." Maria buries her face in her handkerchief, as if indifferent to the reconciliation57 offered.
"Now let this all be forgotten-let friendship reign58 among friends: that's my motto. But! I say,--this is a bad piece of news we have this morning. Clipped this from an English paper," resumes the Hon. gentleman, drawing coolly from his pocket a bit of paper, having the appearance of an extract.
"You are never without some kind of news-mostly bad!" says Keepum, flinging himself into a chair, with an air of restored confidence. Mr. Snivel bows, thanks the gentleman for the compliment, and commences to read. "This news," he adds, "may be relied upon, having come from Lloyd's List: 'Intelligence was received here (this is, you must remember, from a London paper, he says, in parentheses) this morning, of the total loss of the American ship--, bound from this port for Charleston, U.S., near the Needles. Every soul on board, except the Captain and second mate, perished. The gale59 was one of the worst ever known on this coast-'"
"The worst ever known on this coast!" ejaculates Mr. Keepum, his wicked eyes steadily60 fixed61 upon Maria. "One of Trueman's ships," Mr. Snivel adds. "Unlucky fellow, that Trueman--second ship he has lost."
"By-the-bye," rejoins Keepum, as if a thought has just flashed upon him, "your old friend, Tom Swiggs, was supercargo, clerk, or whatever you may call it, aboard that ship, eh?"
It is the knave who can most naturally affect surprise and regret when it suits his purposes, and Mr. Snivel is well learned in the art. "True!" he says, "as I'm a Christian62. Well, I had made a man of him-I don't regret it, for I always liked him-and this is the end of the poor fellow, eh?" Turning to McArthur, he adds, rather unconcernedly: "You know somewhat of him?" The old man sits motionless beside his daughter, the changes of whose countenance discover the inward emotions that agitate30 her bosom. Her eyes fill with tears; she exchanges inquiring glances, first with Keepum, then with Snivel; then a thought strikes her that she received a letter from Tom, setting forth his prospects63, and his intention to return in the ship above named. It was very natural that news thus artfully manufactured, and revealed with such apparent truthfulness64, should produce a deep impression in the mind of an unsuspecting girl. Indeed, it was with some effort that she bore up under it. Expressions of grief she would fain suppress before the enemy gain a mastery over her-and ere they are gone the cup flows over, and she sinks exhausted65 upon the sofa.
"There! good as far as it goes. You have now another mode of gaining the victory," Mr. Snivel whispers in the ear of his friend, Keepum; and the two gentlemen pass into the street.
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1
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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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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revels
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| n.作乐( revel的名词复数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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chivalric
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| 有武士气概的，有武士风范的 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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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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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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13
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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14
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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continentals
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| n.（欧洲）大陆人( continental的名词复数 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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18
maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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19
recapitulating
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| v.总结，扼要重述( recapitulate的现在分词 ) | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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21
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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23
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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24
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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25
recoils
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| n.（尤指枪炮的）反冲，后坐力( recoil的名词复数 )v.畏缩( recoil的第三人称单数 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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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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knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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agitates
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| 搅动( agitate的第三人称单数 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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34
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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35
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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36
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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37
chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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38
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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39
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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40
asperse
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| v.流言；n.流言 | |
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41
upbraided
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| v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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43
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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44
repulsing
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| v.击退( repulse的现在分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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45
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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46
furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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48
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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49
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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50
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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51
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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53
bestows
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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56
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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60
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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truthfulness
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| n. 符合实际 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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