Peregrine is summoned to attend his Uncle — Is more and more hated by his own Mother — Appeals to his Father, whose Condescension1 is defeated by the Dominion2 of his Wife.
But, waiving3 these reflections, let us return to Peregrine, who received a summons to attend his uncle, and in a few days arrived with Mr. Jolter and Pipes at the garrison4, which he filled with joy and satisfaction. The alteration5, which, during his absence, had happened in his person, was very favourable6 to his appearance, which, from that of a comely7 boy, was converted into that of a most engaging youth. He was already taller than a middle-sized man, his shape ascertained8, his sinews well knit, his mien9 greatly improved, and his whole figure as elegant and graceful10 as if it had been cast in the same mould with the Apollo of Belvedere.
Such an outside could not fail of prepossessing people in his favour. The commodore, notwithstanding the advantageous11 reports he had heard, found his expectation exceeded in the person of Peregrine, and signified his approbation12 in the most sanguine13 terms. Mrs. Trunnion was struck with his genteel address, and received him with uncommon14 marks of complacency and affection: he was caressed15 by all the people in the neighbourhood, who, while they admired his accomplishments16, could not help pitying his infatuated mother, for being deprived of that unutterable delight which any other parent would have enjoyed in the contemplation of such an amiable17 son.
Divers18 efforts were made by some well-disposed people to conquer, if possible, this monstrous19 prejudice; but their endeavours, instead of curing, served only to inflame20 the distemper, and she never could be prevailed upon to indulge him with the least mark of maternal21 regard. On the contrary, her original disgust degenerated22 into such inveteracy23 of hatred24, that she left no stone unturned to alienate25 the commodore’s affection for this her innocent child, and even practised the most malicious26 defamation27 to accomplish her purpose. Every day, did she abuse her husband’s ear with some forged instance of Peregrine’s ingratitude28 to his uncle, well knowing that it would reach the commodore’s knowledge at night.
Accordingly Mr. Pickle29 used to tell him at the club, that his hopeful favourite had ridiculed30 him in such a company, and aspersed31 his spouse32 on another occasion; and thus retail33 the little scandalous issue of his own wife’s invention. Luckily for Peregrine, the commodore paid no great regard to the authority of his informer, because he knew from what channel the intelligence flowed; besides, the youth had a staunch friend in Mr. Hatchway, who never failed to vindicate34 him when he was thus unjustly accused, and always found argument enough to confute the assertions of his enemies. But, though Trunnion had been dubious35 of the young gentleman’s principles, and deaf to the remonstrances37 of the lieutenant38, Perry was provided with a bulwark39 strong enough to defend him from all such assaults. This was no other than his aunt, whose regard for him was perceived to increase in the same proportion as his own mother’s diminished; and, indeed, the augmentation of the one was, in all probability, owing to the decrease of the other; for the two ladies, with great civility, performed all the duties of good neighbourhood, and hated each other most piously40 in their hearts.
Mrs. Pickle, having been disobliged at the splendour of her sister’s new equipage, had, ever since that time, in the course of her visiting, endeavoured to make people merry with satirical jokes on the poor lady’s infirmities; and Mrs. Trunnion seized. the very first opportunity of making reprisals41, by inveighing42 against her unnatural43 behaviour to her own child; so that Peregrine, as on the one hand he was abhorred44, so on the other was he caressed, in consequence of this contention45; and I firmly believe that the most effectual method of destroying his interest at the garrison, would have been the show of countenancing46 him at his father’s house; but, whether this conjecture47 be reasonable or chimerical48, certain it is the experiment was never tried, and therefore Mr. Peregrine ran no risk of being disgraced. The commodore, who assumed, and justly too, the whole merit of his education, was now as proud of the youth’s improvements as if he had actually been his own offspring; and sometimes his affection rose to such a pitch of enthusiasm, that he verily believed him to be the issue of his own loins. Notwithstanding this favourable predicament in which our hero stood with his aunt and her husband, he could not help feeling the injury he suffered from the caprice of his mother; and though the gaiety of his disposition49 hindered him from afflicting50 himself with reflections of any gloomy cast, he did not fail to foresee, that if any sudden accident should deprive him of the commodore, he would in all likelihood find himself in a very disagreeable situation. Prompted by this consideration, he one evening accompanied his uncle to the club, and was introduced to his father, before that worthy51 gentleman had the least inkling of his arrival.
Mr. Gamaliel was never so disconcerted as at this reencounter. His own disposition would not suffer him to do anything that might create the least disturbance52, or interrupt his enjoyment53; so strongly was he impressed with the terror of his wife, that he durst not yield to the tranquility of his temper: and, as I have already observed, his inclination54 was perfectly55 neutral. Thus distracted between different motives56, when Perry was presented to him, he sat silent and absorbed, as if he did not or would not perceive the application; and when he was urged to declare himself by the youth, who pathetically begged to know how he had incurred57 his displeasure, he answered, in a peevish58 strain, “Why, good now, child, what would you have me to do? your mother can’t abide59 you.”—“If my mother is so unkind, I will not call it unnatural,” said Peregrine, the tears of indignation starting from his eyes, “as to banish60 me from her presence and affection, without the least cause assigned; I hope you will not be so unjust as to espouse61 her barbarous prejudice.”
Before Mr. Pickle had time to reply to his expostulation, for which he was not at all prepared, the commodore interposed, and enforced his favourite’s remonstrance36, by telling Mr. Gamaliel that he was ashamed to see any man drive in such a miserable62 manner under his wife’s petticoat. “As for my own part,” said he, raising his voice, and assuming a look of importance and command, “before I would suffer myself to be steered63 all weathers by any woman in Christendom, d’ye see, I’d raise such a hurricane about her ears, that —” Here he was interrupted by Mr. Hatchway, who thrusting his head towards the door, in the attitude of one that listens, cried, “Ahey, there’s your spouse come to pay us a visit.” Trunnion’s features that instant adopted a new disposition; fear and confusion took possession of his countenance64; his voice, from a tone of vociferation, sank into a whisper of, “Sure, you must be mistaken, Jack;” and, in great perplexity, he wiped off his sweat which had started on his forehead at this false alarm. The lieutenant, having thus punished him for the rodomontade he had uttered, told him, with an arch sneer65, that he was deceived with the sound of the outward door creaking upon its hinges, which he mistook for Mrs. Trunnion’s voice, and desired him to proceed with his admonitions to Mr. Pickle. It is not to be denied that this arrogance66 was a little unseasonable to the commodore, who was in all respects as effectually subdued67 to the dominion of his wife as the person whose submission68 he then ventured to condemn69; with this difference of disposition —, Trunnion’s subjection was like that of a bear, chequered with fits of surliness and rage; whereas Pickle bore the yoke70 like an ox, without repining. No wonder, then, that this indolence, this sluggishness71, this stagnation72 of temper rendered Gamaliel incapable73 of withstanding the arguments and importunity74 of his friends, to which he at length surrendered. He acquiesced75 in the justice of their observations: and, taking his son by the hand, promised to favour him for the future with his love and fatherly protection.
But this laudable resolution did not last. Mrs. Pickle, still dubious of his constancy, and jealous of his communication with the commodore, never failed to interrogate76 him every night about the conversation that happened at the club, and to regulate her exhortations77 according to the intelligence she received. He was no sooner, therefore, conveyed to bed (that academy in which all notable wives communicate their lectures), when her catechism began; and she in a moment perceived something reluctant and equivocal in her husband’s answers. Aroused at this discovery, she employed her influence and skill with such success, that he disclosed every circumstance of what had happened; and after having sustained a most severe rebuke78 for his simplicity79 and indiscretion, humbled80 himself so far as to promise that he would next day annul81 the condescensions he had made, and for ever renounce82 the ungracious object of her disgust. This undertaking83 was punctually performed in a letter to the commodore, which she herself dictated84 in these words:—
“Sir — Whereas my good-nature being last night imposed upon, I was persuaded to countenance and promise I know not what to that vicious youth, whose parent I have the misfortune to be; I desire you will take notice that I will revoke85 all such countenance and promises, and shall never look upon that man as my friend who will, in such a cause, solicit,—
Sir, yours, etc.
“Gam. Pickle.”
1 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
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2 dominion | |
n.统治,管辖,支配权;领土,版图 | |
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3 waiving | |
v.宣布放弃( waive的现在分词 );搁置;推迟;放弃(权利、要求等) | |
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4 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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5 alteration | |
n.变更,改变;蚀变 | |
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6 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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7 comely | |
adj.漂亮的,合宜的 | |
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8 ascertained | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 mien | |
n.风采;态度 | |
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10 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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11 advantageous | |
adj.有利的;有帮助的 | |
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12 approbation | |
n.称赞;认可 | |
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13 sanguine | |
adj.充满希望的,乐观的,血红色的 | |
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14 uncommon | |
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
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15 caressed | |
爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16 accomplishments | |
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就 | |
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17 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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18 divers | |
adj.不同的;种种的 | |
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19 monstrous | |
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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20 inflame | |
v.使燃烧;使极度激动;使发炎 | |
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21 maternal | |
adj.母亲的,母亲般的,母系的,母方的 | |
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22 degenerated | |
衰退,堕落,退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23 inveteracy | |
n.根深蒂固,积习 | |
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24 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
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25 alienate | |
vt.使疏远,离间;转让(财产等) | |
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26 malicious | |
adj.有恶意的,心怀恶意的 | |
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27 defamation | |
n.诽谤;中伤 | |
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28 ingratitude | |
n.忘恩负义 | |
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29 pickle | |
n.腌汁,泡菜;v.腌,泡 | |
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30 ridiculed | |
v.嘲笑,嘲弄,奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31 aspersed | |
v.毁坏(名誉),中伤,诽谤( asperse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32 spouse | |
n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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33 retail | |
v./n.零售;adv.以零售价格 | |
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34 vindicate | |
v.为…辩护或辩解,辩明;证明…正确 | |
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35 dubious | |
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的 | |
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36 remonstrance | |
n抗议,抱怨 | |
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37 remonstrances | |
n.抱怨,抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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38 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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39 bulwark | |
n.堡垒,保障,防御 | |
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40 piously | |
adv.虔诚地 | |
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41 reprisals | |
n.报复(行为)( reprisal的名词复数 ) | |
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42 inveighing | |
v.猛烈抨击,痛骂,谩骂( inveigh的现在分词 ) | |
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43 unnatural | |
adj.不自然的;反常的 | |
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44 abhorred | |
v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 );(厌恶地)回避;拒绝;淘汰 | |
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45 contention | |
n.争论,争辩,论战;论点,主张 | |
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46 countenancing | |
v.支持,赞同,批准( countenance的现在分词 ) | |
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47 conjecture | |
n./v.推测,猜测 | |
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48 chimerical | |
adj.荒诞不经的,梦幻的 | |
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49 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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50 afflicting | |
痛苦的 | |
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51 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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52 disturbance | |
n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调 | |
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53 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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54 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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55 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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56 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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57 incurred | |
[医]招致的,遭受的; incur的过去式 | |
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58 peevish | |
adj.易怒的,坏脾气的 | |
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59 abide | |
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受 | |
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60 banish | |
vt.放逐,驱逐;消除,排除 | |
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61 espouse | |
v.支持,赞成,嫁娶 | |
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62 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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63 steered | |
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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64 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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65 sneer | |
v.轻蔑;嘲笑;n.嘲笑,讥讽的言语 | |
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66 arrogance | |
n.傲慢,自大 | |
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67 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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68 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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69 condemn | |
vt.谴责,指责;宣判(罪犯),判刑 | |
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70 yoke | |
n.轭;支配;v.给...上轭,连接,使成配偶 | |
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71 sluggishness | |
不振,萧条,呆滞;惰性;滞性;惯性 | |
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72 stagnation | |
n. 停滞 | |
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73 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
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74 importunity | |
n.硬要,强求 | |
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75 acquiesced | |
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76 interrogate | |
vt.讯问,审问,盘问 | |
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77 exhortations | |
n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 );极力推荐;(正式的)演讲;(宗教仪式中的)劝诫 | |
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78 rebuke | |
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise | |
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79 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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80 humbled | |
adj. 卑下的,谦逊的,粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下,贬低 | |
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81 annul | |
v.宣告…无效,取消,废止 | |
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82 renounce | |
v.放弃;拒绝承认,宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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83 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
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84 dictated | |
v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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85 revoke | |
v.废除,取消,撤回 | |
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