The rose’s form; and the deep amethyst2
The violet; while the modest pearl blends
Its moonlight lustre3 with the sunny gem4.”
While all were taking their places at the breakfast table, Lady Susan was so obliging in making room for every one, that at last she found herself seated next to our hero. But, alas5! Julia was on his other side. To do him justice, however, he helped her ladyship abundantly, too abundantly indeed to many things she did not want: he even had the unparalleled[61] generosity6 to offer her, and that with a sudden start of recollection, his cup of tea when she had one of her own; he also turned and begged her pardon, more than once, when it was not to him she had addressed herself.
“You see,” whispered Lord Borrowdale, who, for lack of room near Julia, had seated himself on the other side of Lady Susan, “poor Montgomery is so bewildered by the radiance of your ladyship’s smiles, that he actually does not know what he is doing.”
Lady Susan sighed and smiled, and tried to be of his lordship’s opinion. The following plan, which had been in agitation7 ever since the arrival of the Arandales at Lodore House, was now finally arranged. In short, Mrs. Montgomery, after many objections, at length consented to her grand-daughters accompanying their uncle’s family, back to Ayrshire, for about[62] a month. Captain Montgomery, and Mr. St. Aubin were invited to join the party. The Euphrasia being still in dock, our hero quickly assented8 to a proposal, by which he was to enjoy a continuance of Julia’s society.
“Julia!” exclaimed Frances, on receiving a message from a servant, “our poor little friend, Gotterimo! Oh, may we have him in, grandmamma? It will be so amusing!” “And I dare say every body will buy something from him,” added Julia.
“He is, I believe, a deserving poor creature,” said Mrs. Montgomery. “Shall we gratify the girls, and admit him?” she added, turning to Lady Arandale.
Lady Arandale, of course, assented, and orders were given accordingly. A young man, of a neat diminutive10 figure, now entered. His eyes sparkled with hope at the sight of so large[63] a company; while, at the same time, a kind of bashfulness flushed his cheek and flurried his manner. The girls saw this, and felt for him.
“Here, will you open the boxes on this table, Mr. Gotterimo?” said Julia; and while he was doing so, she observed, that when the first flush, called up by his entrance, went down, the poor creature’s countenance11 assumed an anxious and saddened expression.
“I hope,” she added, “you had good success in Bath?” “Yes, madam,” he answered, with some hesitation12; then added, “it was first year, madam—every ting must have begin, madam.” This led to further enquiries, and a dismal13 tale of having been robbed by his partner, of the savings14 of his whole life.
Our breakfast party felt much commiseration15 for poor Gotterimo; and commenced making purchases as a means of affording, at[64] least, temporary assistance. The sale of his goods raised the spirits of our poor little friend, who soon became all activity in displaying, and eloquence16 in recommending each shining article in his sparkling collection. A chain was admired by Edmund for its resemblance to a cable, and was purchased by Julia. Lord Arandale’s eye accidentally fell on a musical box. Gotterimo set the air playing immediately.
“Is it not rather slow in the time?” said the Earl.
“Oh, de slow time, it do make listen!”
“I should prefer something less dismal,” said his lordship.
“So ’tis, sir! De quick time, it do make dance!” and, while he spoke17, with nimble fingers he was winding18 up a curious seal which now began to execute a more lively air.
[65]
“That is pretty!” said the Earl. Gotterimo proffered19 the seal to his lordship.
“The articulation20 of the box is superior,” observed Lady Susan.
“Dis be more superior,” cried Gotterimo, presenting the box to her ladyship. “The seal is the prettier thing,” persisted Lord Arandale. “If you vil please, sir, bote be de best,” pursued Gotterimo, offering both. Here every one laughed. The little man looked round him enquiringly, then, rallying, said—“So ’tis, sir, de seal be de best beautiful! de box be de best music!” and he added, smiling sheepishly, “every ting be de best fen21 it bring Gotterimo de money!” This was logic22 not to be resisted, and the Earl took both, together with watches, seals, and chains, for three or four absent nephews; while Lady Arandale selected handsome presents for as[66] many absent nieces. Thus went on a brisk sale of poor Gotterimo’s goods, when Mrs. Montgomery, happening to cast her eye over the contents of one of the jewel boxes, which lay open, her attention was fixed23 by a curious mosaic24 ring: she caught it up and examined it with a much deeper interest than it seemed to merit. Gotterimo, believing she was admiring the workmanship of the article, silently undid25 the clasps of a small morocco case, and placed it open before her. It contained the set of mosaics26 to which the ring belonged: her countenance changed; and Julia remarked that movement of her head which always indicated strong emotion. Mrs. Montgomery turned the centre medallion. On the back part of the gold rim9 was engraved27 Maria, her sister’s name, and the mark by which they used to distinguish between their necklaces. She[67] turned deadly pale, and was only prevented sinking to the ground by the united support of Julia, Edmund, and Frances.
The moment Mrs. Montgomery recovered, she called for Gotterimo, and enquired28, anxiously, where, when, and how those ornaments29 had come into his possession. “Dem be second hand, Madam,” he replied; “I have buy dem of a gentleman in London.” The name Gotterimo could not immediately call to mind. He had seen the person in question but once. In reply to the question of what sort of looking gentleman the person was, he said, “he vos tall and good look; look angry fen he no please, and have de loud voice.” Our little jeweller, however, offered to make “enquiry” of a friend of his, to whom, he said, “de same gentleman have sell de grand old plate, and de great many[68] picture, and de big box of de old fassion moneys.” The purchase of the necklace had been lately made; but all that Gotterimo knew further of the person who had sold it to him was, “that he have rob and cheat so many tradge people; and have hire de big house in ? Place, in London, to make dem tink him grand gentleman;” but that when he, Gotterimo, last left town, “de house vas empty, vid de bill ‘To Let, Furnish,’ on de vindow.” All now remembered to have read a recent account in the papers of the said swindler and his associates, with their assumed names.
The mosaics were purchased, and Gotterimo, after receiving considerable charitable donations, dismissed; while Mrs. Montgomery’s agitation of spirits was, at length, in some degree composed, by Mr. Jackson’s reminding[69] her that the necklace must have been parted with many years ago, by those of whom she thought; and that, its having since passed into the hands of a knot of swindlers, was by no means a remarkable30 circumstance.
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1
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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amethyst
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| n.紫水晶 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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6
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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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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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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13
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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14
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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commiseration
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| n.怜悯，同情 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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17
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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18
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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19
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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articulation
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| n.（清楚的）发音；清晰度，咬合 | |
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21
fen
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| n.沼泽，沼池 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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23
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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mosaic
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| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
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Undid
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| v. 解开, 复原 | |
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mosaics
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| n.马赛克( mosaic的名词复数 )；镶嵌；镶嵌工艺；镶嵌图案 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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28
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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29
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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