Are thick sown, but come up full of thistles.
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.
I was so much pleased with the anecdotes1 which were told me of Ready-Money Jack2 Tibbets, that I got Master Simon, a day or two since, to take me to his house. It was an old-fashioned farm-house, built of brick, with curiously3 twisted chimneys. It stood at a little distance from the road, with a southern exposure, looking upon a soft green slope of meadow. There was a small garden in front, with a row of beehives humming among beds of sweet herbs and flowers. Well-scoured milking tubs, with bright copper4 hoops5, hung on the garden paling. Fruit trees were trained up against the cottage, and pots of flowers stood in the windows. A fat superannuated6 mastiff lay in the sunshine at the door; with a sleek7 cat sleeping peacefully across him.
Mr. Tibbets was from home at the time of our calling, but we were received with hearty8 and homely9 welcome by his wife—a notable, motherly woman, and a complete pattern for wives, since, according to Master Simon's account, she never contradicts honest Jack, and yet manages to have her own way, and to control him in everything. She received us in the main room of the house, a kind of parlour or hall, with great brown beams of timber across it, which Mr. Tibbets is apt to point out with some exultation10, observing that they don't put such timber in houses now-a-days. The furniture was old-fashioned, strong, and highly polished; the walls were hung with coloured prints of the story of the Prodigal11 Son, who was represented in a red coat and leather breeches. Over the fireplace was a blunderbuss, and a hard-favoured likeness12 of Ready-Money Jack, taken, when he was a young man, by the same artist that painted the tavern13 sign; his mother having taken a notion that the Tibbetses had as much right to have a gallery of family portraits as the folks at the Hall.
The good dame14 pressed us very much to take some refreshment15, and tempted16 us with a variety of household dainties, so that we were glad to compound by tasting some of her home-made wines. While we were there, the son and heir-apparent came home; a good-looking young fellow, and something of a rustic17 beau. He took us over the premises18, and showed us the whole establishment. An air of homely but substantial plenty prevailed throughout; everything was of the best materials, and in the best condition. Nothing was out of place, or ill made; and you saw everywhere the signs of a man that took care to have the worth of his money, and that paid as he went.
The farm-yard was well stocked; under a shed was a taxed cart, in trim order, in which Ready-Money Jack took his wife about the country. His well-fed horse neighed from the stable, and when led out into the yard, to use the words of young Jack, "he shone like a bottle;" for he said the old man made it a rule that everything about him should fare as well as he did himself.
"He shone like a bottle"
I was pleased to see the pride which the young fellow seemed to have of his father. He gave us several particulars concerning his habits, which were pretty much to the effect of those I have already mentioned. He had never suffered an account to stand in his life, always providing the money before he purchased anything; and, if possible, paying in gold and silver. He had a great dislike to paper money, and seldom went without a considerable sum in gold about him. On my observing that it was a wonder he had never been waylaid19 and robbed, the young fellow smiled at the idea of any one venturing upon such an exploit, for I believe he thinks the old man would be a match for Robin20 Hood21 and all his gang.
I have noticed that Master Simon seldom goes into any house without having a world of private talk with some one or other of the family, being a kind of universal counsellor and confidant. We had not been long at the farm before the old dame got him into a corner of her parlour, where they had a long whispering conference together; in which I saw by his shrugs22 that there were some dubious23 matters discussed, and by his nods that he agreed with everything she said.
After we had come out, the young man accompanied us a little distance, and then, drawing Master Simon aside into a green lane, they walked and talked together for nearly half-an-hour. Master Simon, who has the usual propensity24 of confidants to blab everything to the next friend they meet with, let me know that there was a love affair in question; the young fellow having been smitten25 with the charms of Phoebe Wilkins, the pretty niece of the housekeeper26 at the Hall. Like most other love concerns, it had brought its troubles and perplexities. Dame Tibbets had long been on intimate gossiping terms with the housekeeper, who often visited the farm-house; but when the neighbours spoke27 to her of the likelihood of a match between her son and Phoebe Wilkins, "Marry come up!" she scouted28 the very idea. The girl had acted as lady's maid, and it was beneath the blood of the Tibbetses, who had lived on their own lands time out of mind, and owed reverence29 and thanks to nobody, to have the heir-apparent marry a servant!
These vapourings had faithfully been carried to the housekeeper's ear by one of the mutual30 go-between friends. The old housekeeper's blood, if not as ancient, was as quick as that of Dame Tibbets.
She had been accustomed to carry a high head at the Hall and among the villagers; and her faded brocade rustled31 with indignation at the slight cast upon her alliance by the wife of a petty farmer. She maintained that her niece had been a companion rather than a waiting-maid to the young ladies. "Thank heavens, she was not obliged to work for her living, and was as idle as any young lady in the land; and when somebody died, would receive something that would be worth the notice of some folks with all their ready money."
A bitter feud32 had thus taken place between the two worthy33 dames34, and the young people were forbidden to think of one another. As to young Jack, he was too much in love to reason upon the matter; and being a little heady, and not standing35 in much awe36 of his mother, was ready to sacrifice the whole dignity of the Tibbetses to his passion. He had lately, however, had a violent quarrel with his mistress, in consequence of some coquetry on her part, and at present stood aloof37. The politic38 mother was exerting all her ingenuity39 to widen this accidental breach40; but, as is most commonly the case, the more she meddled41 with this perverse42 inclination43 of her son, the stronger it grew. In the meantime Old Ready-Money was kept completely in the dark; both parties were in awe and uncertainty44 as to what might be his way of taking the matter, and dreaded45 to awaken46 the sleeping lion. Between father and son, therefore, the worthy Mrs. Tibbets was full of business and at her wits' end. It is true that there was no great danger of honest Ready-Money's finding the thing out, if left to himself; for he was of a most unsuspicious temper, and by no means quick of apprehension47; but there was daily risk of his attention being aroused by those cobwebs which his indefatigable48 wife was continually spinning about his nose.
Such is the distracted state of politics in the domestic empire of Ready-Money Jack; which only shows the intrigues49 and internal dangers to which the best regulated governments are liable. In this perplexing situation of their affairs, both mother and son have applied50 to Master Simon for counsel; and, with all his experience in meddling51 with other people's concerns, he finds it an exceedingly difficult part to play, to agree with both parties, seeing that their opinions and wishes are so diametrically opposite.
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1
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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2
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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3
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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4
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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5
hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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6
superannuated
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| adj.老朽的，退休的；v.因落后于时代而废除，勒令退学 | |
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7
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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9
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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10
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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11
prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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12
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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13
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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14
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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15
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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16
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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17
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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18
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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19
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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21
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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shrugs
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| n.耸肩（以表示冷淡，怀疑等）( shrug的名词复数 ) | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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27
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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28
scouted
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| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
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29
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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33
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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34
dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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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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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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38
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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39
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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40
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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41
meddled
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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43
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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44
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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45
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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46
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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47
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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48
indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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49
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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50
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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51
meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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