首页 >出版文学> Sketches of Young Gentlemen>第1章
  TOTHEYOUNGLADIES
  OFTHE
  UNITEDKINGDOMOFGREATBRITAINANDIRELAND;
  ALSO
  THEYOUNGLADIES
  OF
  THEPRINCIPALITYOFWALES,ANDLIKEWISE
  THEYOUNGLADIES
  RESIDENTINTHEISLESOF
  GUERNSEY,JERSEY,ALDERNEY,ANDSARK,THEHUMBLEDEDICATIONOFTHEIRDEVOTEDADMIRER,SHEWETH,—
  THATyourDedicatorhasperused,withfeelingsofvirtuousindignation,aworkpurportingtobe’SketchesofYoungLadies;’
  writtenbyQuiz,illustratedbyPhiz,andpublishedinonevolume,squaretwelvemo。
  THATafteranattentiveandvigilantperusalofthesaidwork,yourDedicatorishumblyofopinionthatsomanylibels,uponyourHonourablesex,werenevercontainedinanypreviouslypublishedwork,intwelvemooranyothermo。
  THATinthetitlepageandprefacetothesaidwork,yourHonourablesexaredescribedandclassifiedasanimals;andalthoughyourDedicatorisnotatpresentpreparedtodenythatyouAREanimals,stillhehumblysubmitsthatitisnotpolitetocallyouso。
  THATintheaforesaidpreface,yourHonourablesexarealsodescribedasTroglodites,which,beingahardword,may,foraughtyourHonourablesexoryourDedicatorcansaytothecontrary,beaninjuriousanddisrespectfulappellation。
  THATtheauthorofthesaidworkappliedhimselftohistaskinmaliceprepenseandwithwickednessaforethought;afactwhich,yourDedicatorcontends,issufficientlydemonstrated,byhisassumingthenameofQuiz,which,yourDedicatorsubmits,denotesaforegoneconclusion,andimpliesanintentionofquizzing。
  THATintheexecutionofhisevildesign,thesaidQuiz,orauthorofthesaidwork,musthavebetrayedsometrustorconfidencereposedinhimbysomemembersofyourHonourablesex,otherwisehenevercouldhaveacquiredsomuchinformationrelativetothemannersandcustomsofyourHonourablesexingeneral。
  THATactuatedbytheseconsiderations,andfurthermovedbyvariousslandersandinsinuationsrespectingyourHonourablesexcontainedinthesaidwork,squaretwelvemo,entitled’SketchesofYoungLadies,’yourDedicatorventurestoproduceanotherwork,squaretwelvemo,entitled’SketchesofYoungGentlemen,’ofwhichhenowsolicitsyouracceptanceandapproval。
  THATastheYoungLadiesarethebestcompanionsoftheYoungGentlemen,sotheYoungGentlemenshouldbethebestcompanionsoftheYoungLadies;andextendingthecomparisonfromanimals(toquotethedisrespectfullanguageofthesaidQuiz)toinanimateobjects,yourDedicatorhumblysuggests,thatsuchofyourHonourablesexaspurchasedthebaneshouldpossessthemselvesoftheantidote,andthatthoseofyourHonourablesexwhowerenotrashenoughtotakethefirst,shouldlosenotimeinswallowingthelast,—preventionbeinginallcasesbetterthancure,asweareinformedupontheauthority,notonlyofgeneralacknowledgment,butalsooftraditionarywisdom。
  THATwithreferencetothesaidbaneandantidote,yourDedicatorhasnofurtherremarkstomake,thanarecomprisedintheprinteddirectionsissuedwithDoctorMorison’spills;namely,thatwheneveryourHonourablesextaketwenty—fiveofNumber,1,youwillbepleasedtotakefiftyofNumber2,withoutdelay。
  AndyourDedicatorshalleverpray,&c。
  THEBASHFULYOUNGGENTLEMAN
  Wefoundourselfseatedatasmalldinnerpartytheotherday,oppositeastrangerofsuchsingularappearanceandmanner,thatheirresistiblyattractedourattention。
  Thiswasafresh—colouredyounggentleman,withasgoodapromiseoflightwhiskerasonemightwishtosee,andpossessedofaveryvelvet—like,soft—lookingcountenance。Wedonotusethelatterterminvidiously,butmerelytodenoteapairofsmooth,plump,highly—colouredcheeksofcapaciousdimensions,andamouthratherremarkableforthefreshhueofthelipsthanforanymarkedorstrikingexpressionitpresented。Hiswholefacewassuffusedwithacrimsonblush,andborethatdowncast,timid,retiringlook,whichbetokensamanillateasewithhimself。
  Therewasnothinginthesesymptomstoattractmorethanapassingremark,butourattentionhadbeenoriginallydrawntothebashfulyounggentleman,onhisfirstappearanceinthedrawing—roomabove—
  stairs,intowhichhewasnosoonerintroduced,thanmakinghiswaytowardsuswhowerestandinginawindow,andwhollyneglectingseveralpersonswhowarmlyaccostedhim,heseizedourhandwithvisibleemotion,andpresseditwithaconvulsivegraspforagoodcoupleofminutes,afterwhichhedivedinanervousmanneracrosstheroom,oversettinginhiswayafinelittlegirlofsixyearsandaquarterold—andshroudinghimselfbehindsomehangings,wasseennomore,untiltheeagleeyeofthehostessdetectinghiminhisconcealment,ontheannouncementofdinner,hewasrequestedtopairoffwithalivelysinglelady,oftwoorthreeandthirty。
  Thismostflatteringsalutationfromaperfectstranger,wouldhavegratifiedusnotalittleasatokenofhishavingheldusinhighrespect,andforthatreasonbeendesirousofouracquaintance,ifwehadnotsuspectedfromthefirst,thattheyounggentleman,inmakingadesperateefforttogetthroughtheceremonyofintroduction,had,inthebewildermentofhisideas,shakenhandswithusatrandom。Thisimpressionwasfullyconfirmedbythesubsequentbehaviourofthebashfulyounggentlemaninquestion,whichwenotedparticularly,withtheviewofascertainingwhetherwewererightinourconjecture。
  Theyounggentlemanseatedhimselfattablewithevidentmisgivings,andturningsharproundtopayattentiontosomeobservationofhisloquaciousneighbour,oversethisbread。Therewasnothingverybadinthis,andifhehadhadthepresenceofmindtoletitgo,andsaynothingaboutit,nobodybutthemanwhohadlaidtheclothwouldhavebeenabitthewiser;buttheyounggentlemaninvarioussemi—successfulattemptstopreventitsfall,playedwithitalittle,asgentlemeninthestreetsmaybeseentodowiththeirhatsonawindyday,andthengivingtherollasmartrapinhisanxietytocatchit,knockeditwithgreatadroitnessintoatureenofwhitesoupatsomedistance,totheunspeakableterroranddisturbanceofaveryamiablebaldgentleman,whowasdispensingthecontents。Wethoughtthebashfulyounggentlemanwouldhavegoneoffinanapoplecticfit,consequentupontheviolentrushofbloodtohisfaceattheoccurrenceofthiscatastrophe。
  Fromthismomentweperceived,inthephraseologyofthefancy,thatitwas’allup’withthebashfulyounggentleman,andsoindeeditwas。Severalbenevolentpersonsendeavouredtorelievehisembarrassmentbytakingwinewithhim,butfindingthatitonlyaugmentedhissufferings,andthatafterminglingsherry,champagne,hock,andmoselletogether,heappliedthegreaterpartofthemixtureexternally,insteadofinternally,theygraduallydroppedoff,andlefthimtotheexclusivecareofthetalkativelady,who,notnotingthewildnessofhiseye,firmlybelievedshehadsecuredalistener。Hebrokeaglassortwointhecourseofthemeal,anddisappearedshortlyafterwards;itisinferredthathewentawayinsomeconfusion,inasmuchasheleftthehouseinanothergentleman’scoat,andthefootman’shat。
  Thislittleincidentledustoreflectuponthemostprominentcharacteristicsofbashfulyounggentlemenintheabstract;andasthisportablevolumewillbethegreattext—bookofyoungladiesinallfuturegenerations,werecordthemherefortheirguidanceandbehoof。
  Ifthebashfulyounggentleman,inturningastreetcorner,chancetostumblesuddenlyupontwoorthreeyoungladiesofhisacquaintance,nothingcanexceedhisconfusionandagitation。Hisfirstimpulseistomakeagreatvarietyofbows,anddartpastthem,whichhedoesuntil,observingthattheywishtostop,butareuncertainwhethertodosoornot,hemakesseveralfeintsofreturning,whichcausesthemtodothesame;andatlength,afteragreatquantityofunnecessarydodgingandfallingupagainsttheotherpassengers,hereturnsandshakeshandsmostaffectionatelywithallofthem,indoingwhichheknocksoutoftheirgraspsundrylittleparcels,whichhehastilypicksup,andreturnsverymuddyanddisordered。Thechancesarethatthebashfulyounggentlemanthenobservesitisveryfineweather,andbeingremindedthatithasonlyjustleftoffrainingforthefirsttimethesethreedays,heblushesverymuch,andsmilesasifhehadsaidaverygoodthing。Theyoungladywhowasmostanxioustospeak,hereinquires,withanairofgreatcommiseration,howhisdearsisterHarrietisto—day;towhichtheyounggentleman,withouttheslightestconsideration,replieswithmanythanks,thatsheisremarkablywell。’Well,Mr。Hopkins!’criestheyounglady,’why,weheardshewasbledyesterdayevening,andhavebeenperfectlymiserableabouther。’’Oh,ah,’saystheyounggentleman,’soshewas。Oh,she’sveryill,veryillindeed。’Theyounggentlemanthenshakeshishead,andlooksverydesponding(hehasbeensmilingperpetuallyuptothistime),andafterashortpause,giveshisgloveagreatwrenchatthewrist,andsays,withastrongemphasisontheadjective,’GOODmorning,GOODmorning。’
  Andmakingagreatnumberofbowsinacknowledgmentofseverallittlemessagestohissister,walksbackwardafewpaces,andcomeswithgreatviolenceagainstalamp—post,knockinghishatoffinthecontact,whichinhismentalconfusionandbodilypainheisgoingtowalkawaywithout,untilagreatroarfromacarterattractshisattention,whenhepicksitup,andtriestosmilecheerfullytotheyoungladies,whoarelookingback,andwho,hehasthesatisfactionofseeing,arealllaughingheartily。
  Ataquadrilleparty,thebashfulyounggentlemanalwaysremainsasneartheentranceoftheroomaspossible,fromwhichpositionhesmilesatthepeopleheknowsastheycomein,andsometimesstepsforwardtoshakehandswithmoreintimatefriends:aprocesswhichoneachrepetitionseemstoturnhimadeeperscarletthanbefore。
  Hedeclinesdancingthefirstsetortwo,observing,inafaintvoice,thathewouldratherwaitalittle;butatlengthisabsolutelycompelledtoallowhimselftobeintroducedtoapartner,whenheisled,inagreatheatandblushingfuriously,acrosstheroomtoaspotwherehalf—a—dozenunknownladiesarecongregatedtogether。
  ’MissLambert,letmeintroduceMr。Hopkinsforthenextquadrille。’MissLambertinclinesherheadgraciously。Mr。
  Hopkinsbows,andhisfairconductressdisappears,leavingMr。
  Hopkins,ashetoowellknows,tomakehimselfagreeable。Theyoungladymorethanhalfexpectsthatthebashfulyounggentlemanwillsaysomething,andthebashfulyounggentlemanfeelingthis,seriouslythinkswhetherhehasgotanythingtosay,which,uponmaturereflection,heisratherdisposedtoconcludehehasnot,sincenothingoccurstohim。Meanwhile,theyounglady,afterseveralinspectionsofherBOUQUET,allmadeintheexpectationthatthebashfulyounggentlemanisgoingtotalk,whispershermamma,whoissittingnexther,whichwhisperthebashfulyounggentlemanimmediatelysuspects(andpossiblywithverygoodreason)
  mustbeaboutHIM。Inthiscomfortableconditionheremainsuntilitistimeto’standup,’whenmurmuringa’Willyouallowme?’hegivestheyoungladyhisarm,andafterinquiringwhereshewillstand,andreceivingareplythatshehasnochoice,conductshertotheremotestcornerofthequadrille,andmakingoneattemptatconversation,whichturnsoutadesperatefailure,preservesaprofoundsilenceuntilitisallover,whenhewalkshertwiceroundtheroom,depositsherinheroldseat,andretiresinconfusion。
  Amarriedbashfulgentleman—forthesebashfulgentlemendogetmarriedsometimes;howitiseverbroughtabout,isamysterytous—amarriedbashfulgentlemaneithercauseshiswifetoappearboldbycontrast,ormergesherproperimportanceinhisowninsignificance。Bashfulyounggentlemenshouldbecured,oravoided。Theyareneverhopeless,andneverwillbe,whilefemalebeautyandattractionsretaintheirinfluence,asanyyoungladywillfind,whomaythinkitworthwhileonthisconfidentassurancetotakeapatientinhand。
  THEOUT—AND—OUTYOUNGGENTLEMAN
  Out—and—outyounggentlemenmaybedividedintotwoclasses—thosewhohavesomethingtodo,andthosewhohavenothing。Ishallcommencewiththeformer,becausethatspeciescomemorefrequentlyunderthenoticeofyoungladies,whomitisourprovincetowarnandtoinstruct。
  Theout—and—outyounggentlemanisusuallynogreatdresser,hisinstructionstohistailorbeingallcomprehendedintheonegeneraldirectionto’makethatwhat’s—a—namearegularbang—upsortofthing。’Forsomeyearspast,thefavouritecostumeoftheout—and—outyounggentlemanhasbeenaroughpilotcoat,withtwogilthooksandeyestothevelvetcollar;buttonssomewhatlargerthancrown—pieces;ablackorfancyneckerchief,looselytied;awide—brimmedhat,withalowcrown;tightishinexpressibles,andiron—shodboots。Outofdoorshesometimescarriesalargeashstick,butonlyonspecialoccasions,forhepreferskeepinghishandsinhiscoatpockets。Hesmokesatallhours,ofcourse,andswearsconsiderably。
  Theout—and—outyounggentlemanisemployedinacitycounting—
  houseorsolicitor’soffice,inwhichhedoesaslittleashepossiblycan:hischiefplacesofresortare,thestreets,thetaverns,andthetheatres。Inthestreetsateveningtime,out—
  and—outyounggentlemenhaveapleasantcustomofwalkingsixoreightabreast,thusdrivingfemalesandotherinoffensivepersonsintotheroad,whichneverfailstoaffordthemthehighestsatisfaction,especiallyiftherebeanyimmediatedangeroftheirbeingrunover,whichenhancesthefunofthethingmaterially。Inallplacesofpublicresort,theout—and—outersarecarefultoselecteachaseattohimself,uponwhichheliesatfulllength,and(iftheweatherbeverydirty,butnotinanyothercase)helieswithhiskneesup,andthesolesofhisbootsplantedfirmlyonthecushion,sothatifanylowfellowshouldaskhimtomakeroomforalady,hetakesamplerevengeuponherdress,withoutgoingatalloutofhiswaytodoit。Healwayssitswithhishaton,andflourisheshisstickintheairwhiletheplayisproceeding,withadignifiedcontemptoftheperformance;ifitbepossibleforoneortwoout—and—outyounggentlementogetupalittlecrowdinginthepassages,theyarequiteintheirelement,squeezing,pushing,whooping,andshoutinginthemosthumorousmannerpossible。Iftheycanonlysucceedinirritatingthegentlemanwhohasafamilyofdaughtersunderhischarge,theyareliketodiewithlaughing,andboastofitamongtheircompanionsforaweekafterwards,adding,thatoneortwoofthemwere’devilishfinegirls,’andthattheyreallythoughttheyoungestwouldhavefainted,whichwastheonlythingwantedtorenderthejokecomplete。
  Iftheout—and—outyounggentlemanhaveamotherandsisters,ofcoursehetreatsthemwithbecomingcontempt,inasmuchasthey(poorthings!)havingnonotionoflifeorgaiety,arefartooweak—spiritedandmopingforhim。Sometimes,however,onabirth—
  dayoratChristmas—time,hecannotverywellhelpaccompanyingthemtoapartyatsomeoldfriend’s,withwhichviewhecomeshomewhentheyhavebeendressedanhourortwo,smellingverystronglyoftobaccoandspirits,andafterexchanginghisroughcoatforsomemoresuitableattire(inwhichhoweverhelosesnothingoftheout—and—outer),getsintothecoachandgrumblesallthewayathisowngoodnature:hisbitterreflectionsaggravatedbytherecollection,thatTomSmithhastakenthechairatalittleimpromptudinneratafightingman’s,andthataset—towastotakeplaceonadining—table,betweenthefightingmanandhisbrother—
  in—law,whichisprobably’comingoff’atthatveryinstant。
  Astheout—and—outyounggentlemanisbynomeansathiseaseinladies’society,heshrinksintoacornerofthedrawing—roomwhentheyreachthefriend’s,andunlessoneofhissistersiskindenoughtotalktohim,remainstherewithoutbeingmuchtroubledbytheattentionsofotherpeople,untilheespies,lingeringoutsidethedoor,anothergentleman,whomheatonceknows,byhisairandmanner(forthereisakindoffree—masonryinthecraft),tobeabrotherout—and—outer,andtowardswhomheaccordinglymakeshisway。Conversationbeingsoonopenedbysomecasualremark,thesecondout—and—outerconfidentiallyinformsthefirst,thatheisoneoftheroughsortandhatesthatkindofthing,onlyhecouldn’tverywellbeoffcoming;towhichtheotherreplies,thatthat’sjusthiscase—’andI’lltellyouwhat,’continuestheout—
  and—outerinawhisper,’Ishouldlikeaglassofwarmbrandyandwaterjustnow,’—’Orapintofstoutandapipe,’suggeststheotherout—and—outer。
  Thediscoveryisatoncemadethattheyaresympatheticsouls;eachofthemsaysatthesamemoment,thatheseestheotherunderstandswhat’swhat:andtheybecomefastfriendsatonce,moreespeciallywhenitappears,thatthesecondout—and—outerisnootherthanagentleman,longfavourablyknowntohisfamiliarsas’Mr。WarmintBlake,’whoupondiversoccasionshasdistinguishedhimselfinamannerthatwouldnothavedisgracedthefightingman,andwho—
  havingbeenaprettylongtimeabouttown—hadthehonourofonceshakinghandswiththecelebratedMr。Thurtellhimself。
  Atsupper,thesegentlemengreatlydistinguishthemselves,brighteningupverymuchwhentheladiesleavethetable,andproclaimingaloudtheirintentionofbeginningtospendtheevening—aprocesswhichisgenerallyunderstoodtobesatisfactorilyperformed,whenagreatdealofwineisdrunkandagreatdealofnoisemade,bothofwhichfeatstheout—and—outyounggentlemenexecutetoperfection。Havingprotractedtheirsittinguntillongafterthehostandtheotherguestshaveadjournedtothedrawing—
  room,andfindingthattheyhavedrainedthedecantersempty,theyfollowthemthitherwithcomplexionsratherheightened,andfacesratherbloatedwithwine;andtheagitatedladyofthehousewhispersherfriendsastheywaltztogether,tothegreatterrorofthewholeroom,that’bothMr。BlakeandMr。Dumminsareverynicesortofyoungmenintheirway,onlytheyareeccentricpersons,andunfortunatelyRATHERTOOWILD!’
  Theremainingclassofout—and—outyounggentlemeniscomposedofpersons,who,havingnomoneyoftheirownandasoulaboveearningany,enjoysimilarpleasures,nobodyknowshow。Theserespectablegentlemen,withoutaimingquitesomuchattheout—and—outinexternalappearance,aredistinguishedbyallthesameamiableandattractivecharacteristics,inanequalorperhapsgreaterdegree,andnowandthenfindtheirwayintosociety,throughthemediumoftheotherclassofout—and—outyounggentlemen,whowillsometimescarrythemhome,andwhousuallypaytheirtavernbills。Astheyareequallygentlemanly,clever,witty,intelligent,wise,andwell—bred,weneedscarcelyhaverecommendedthemtothepeculiarconsiderationoftheyoungladies,ifitwerenotthatsomeofthegentlecreatureswhomweholdinsuchhighrespect,areperhapsalittletooapttoconfoundagreatmanyheaviertermswiththelightwordeccentricity,whichwebegthemhenceforthtotakeinastrictlyJohnsoniansense,withoutanyliberalityorlatitudeofconstruction。