Ah，saidthered-hairedman，that，yousee，isamatteroftaste。
Iamnotfondofanythingoriginal。Idon’tlikeit。don’tseethenecessityforit。What’syourname，sir？
Hereismycard，sir，repliedMr。Pickwick，muchamusedbytheabruptnessofthequestion，andthesingularmannerofthestranger。
Ah，saidthered-hairedman，placingthecardinhispocket-book，Pickwick。verygood。Iliketoknowaman’sname，itsavessomuchtrouble。
That’smycard，sir，Magnus，youwillperceive，sir——Magnusismyname。
It’sratheragoodname，Ithink，sir？
Averygoodname，indeed，saidMr。Pickwick，whollyunabletorepressasmile。
Yes，Ithinkitis，resumedMr。Magnus。There’sagoodnamebeforeit，too，youwillobserve。Permitme，sir——ifyouholdthecardalittleslanting，thisway，youcatchthelightupontheup-stroke。There——PeterMagnus——soundswell，Ithink，sir。
Very，saidMr。Pickwick。
Curiouscircumstanceaboutthoseinitials，sir，saidMr。Magnus。Youwillobserve——P。M——postmeridian。Inhastynotestointimateacquaintance，Isometimessignmyself`Afternoon。’Itamusesmyfriendsverymuch，Mr。
Pickwick。
Itiscalculatedtoaffordthemthehighestgratification，Ishouldconceive，saidMr。Pickwick，ratherenvyingtheeasewithwhichMr。Magnus’sfriendswereentertained。
Now，gen’l’m’n，saidthehostler，coachisready，ifyouplease。
Isallmyluggagein？inquiredMr。Magnus。
Allright，sir。
Istheredbagin？
Allright，sir。
Andthestripedbag？
Foreboot，sir。
Andthebrown-paperparcel？
Undertheseat，sir。
Andtheleatherhat-box？
They’reallin，sir。
Now，willyougetup？saidMr。Pickwick。
Excuseme，repliedMagnus，standingonthewheel。Excuseme，Mr。
Pickwick。Icannotconsenttogetup，inthisstateofuncertainty。Iamquitesatisfiedfromthatman’smanner，thatthatleatherhat-boxisnotin。
Thesolemnprotestationsofthehostlerbeingwhollyunavailing，theleatherhat-boxwasobligedtoberakedupfromthelowestdepthoftheboot，tosatisfyhimthatithadbeensafelypacked。andafterhehadbeenassuredonthishead，hefeltasolemnpresentiment，first，thattheredbagwasmislaid，andnextthatthestripedbaghadbeenstolen，andthenthatthebrown-paperparcelhadcomeuntied。
Atlengthwhenhehadreceivedoculardemonstrationofthegroundlessnatureofeachandeveryofthesesuspicions，heconsentedtoclimbuptotheroofofthecoach，observingthatnowhehadtakeneverythingoffhismind，hefeltquitecomfortableandhappy。
You’regiventonervousness，an’tyou，sir？inquiredMr。Wellersenior，eyeingthestrangeraskance，ashemountedtohisplace。
Yes。Ialwaysamrather，abouttheselittlematters，saidthestranger，butIamallrightnow——quiteright。
Well，that’sablessin’，saidMr。Weller。Sammy，helpyourmasteruptothebox：t’otherleg，sir，that’sit。giveusyourhand，sir。Upwithyou。Youwasalighterweightwhenyouwasaboy，sir。
Trueenough，that，Mr。Weller，saidthebreathlessMr。Pickwick，goodhumouredly，ashetookhisseatontheboxbesidehim。
Jumpupinfront，Sammy，saidMr。Weller。NowVillam，run’emout。
Takecareo’thearchvay，gen’l’m’n。`Heads，’asthepiemansays。That’lldo，Villam。Let’emalone。AndawaywentthecoachupWhitechapel，totheadmirationofthewholepopulationofthatpretty-denselypopulatedquarter。
Notaveryniceneighbourhoodthis，sir，saidSam，withatouchofthehat，whichalwaysprecededhisenteringintoconversationwithhismaster。
Itisnotindeed，Sam，repliedMr。Pickwicksurveyingthecrowdedandfilthystreetthroughwhichtheywerepassing。
It’saweryremarkablecircumstance，sir，saidSam，thatpovertyandoystersalwaysseemstogotogether。
Idon’tunderstandyou，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。
WhatImean，sir，saidSam，is，thatthepooreraplaceis，thegreatercallthereseemstobeforoysters。Lookhere，sir。here’saoysterstalltoeveryhalf-dozenhouses。Thestreet’slinedvith’em。BlessedifIdon’tthinkthatvenaman’swerypoor，herushesoutofhislodgings，andeatsoystersinreg’lardesperation。
Tobesurehedoes，saidMr。Wellersenior。andit’sjustthesamevithpickledsalmon！
Thosearetwoveryremarkablefacts，whichneveroccurredtomebefore，
saidMr。Pickwick。Theveryfirstplacewestopat，I’llmakeanoteofthem。
BythistimetheyhadreachedtheturnpikeatMileEnd。aprofoundsilenceprevaileduntiltheyhadgottwoorthreemilesfurtheron，whenMr。Wellersenior，turningsuddenlytoMr。Pickwick，said：
Weryqueerlifeisapike-keeper’s，sir。
Awhat？saidMr。Pickwick。
Apike-keeper。
Whatdoyoumeanbyapike-keeper？inquiredMr。PeterMagnus。
Theold’unmeansaturnpikekeeper，gen’l’m’n，observedMr。SamuelWeller，inexplanation。
Oh，saidMr。Pickwick，Isee。Yes。verycuriouslife。Veryuncomfortable。
They’reallon’emmenashasmetvithsomedisappointmentinlife，
saidMr。Wellersenior。
Ay，ay？saidMr。Pickwick。
Yes。Consequenceofvich，theyretiresfromtheworld，andshutsthemselvesupinpikes。partlywiththeviewofbeingsolitary，andpartlytorewengethemselvesonmankind，bytakin’tolls。
Dearme，saidMr。Pickwick，Ineverknewthatbefore。
Fact，sir，saidMr。Weller。iftheywasgen’l’m’nyou’dcall’emmisanthropes，butasitis，theyonlytakestopikekeepin’。
Withsuchconversation，possessingtheinestimablecharmofblendingamusementwithinstruction，didMr。Wellerbeguilethetediousnessofthejourney，duringthegreaterpartoftheday。Topicsofconversationwereneverwanting，forevenwhenanypauseoccurredinMr。Weller’sloquacity，itwasabundantlysuppliedbythedesireevincedbyMr。Magnustomakehimselfacquaintedwiththewholeofthepersonalhistoryofhisfellow-travellers，andhisloudly-expressedanxietyateverystage，respectingthesafetyandwell-beingofthetwobags，theleatherhat-box，andthebrown-paperparcel。
InthemainstreetofIpswich，ontheleft-handsideoftheway，ashortdistanceafteryouhavepassedthroughtheopenspacefrontingtheTownHall，standsaninnknownfarandwidebytheappellationofTheGreatWhiteHorse，renderedthemoreconspicuousbyastonestatueofsomerampaciousanimalwithflowingmaneandtail，distantlyresemblinganinsanecart-horse，whichiselevatedabovetheprincipaldoor。TheGreatWhiteHorseisfamousintheneighbourhood，inthesamedegreeasaprizeox，orcountypaper-chronicledturnip，orunwieldypig——foritsenormoussize。Neverweresuchlabyrinthsofuncarpetedpassages，suchclustersofmouldy，ill-lightedrooms，suchhugenumbersofsmalldensforeatingorsleepingin，beneathanyoneroof，asarecollectedtogetherbetweenthefourwallsoftheGreatWhiteHorseatIpswich。
ItwasatthedoorofthisovergrowntavernthattheLondoncoachstopped，atthesamehoureveryevening。anditwasfromthissameLondoncoach，thatMr。Pickwick，SamWeller，andMr。PeterMagnusdismounted，ontheparticulareveningtowhichthischapterofourhistorybearsreference。
Doyoustophere，sir？inquiredMr。PeterMagnus，whenthestripedbag，andtheredbag，andthebrown-paperparcel，andtheleatherhat-box，hadallbeendepositedinthepassage。Doyoustophere，sir？
Ido，saidMr。Pickwick。
Dearme，saidMr。Magnus，Ineverknewanythingliketheseextraordinarycoincidences。Why，Istopheretoo。Ihopewedinetogether。
Withpleasure，repliedMr。Pickwick。IamnotquitecertainwhetherIhaveanyfriendshereornot，though。IsthereanygentlemanofthenameofTupmanhere，waiter？
Acorpulentman，withafortnight’snapkinunderhisarm，andcoevalstockingsonhislegs，slowlydesistedfromhisoccupationofstaringdownthestreet，onthisquestionbeingputtohimbyMr。Pickwick。and，afterminutelyinspectingthatgentleman’sappearance，fromthecrownofhishattothelowestbuttonofhisgaiters，repliedemphatically：
No。
NoranygentlemanofthenameofSnodgrass？inquiredMr。Pickwick。
No！
NorWinkle？
No。
Myfriendshavenotarrivedto-day，sir，saidMr。Pickwick。Wewilldinealone，then。Shewusaprivateroom，waiter。
Onthisrequestbeingpreferred，thecorpulentmancondescendedtoorderthebootstobringinthegentlemen’sluggage。andprecedingthemdownalongdarkpassage，usheredthemintoalargebadly-furnishedapartment，withadirtygrate，inwhichasmallfirewasmakingawretchedattempttobecheerful，butwasfastsinkingbeneaththedispiritinginfluenceoftheplace。Afterthelapseofanhour，abitoffishandasteakwereserveduptothetravellers，andwhenthedinnerwasclearedaway，Mr。
PickwickandMr。PeterMagnusdrewtheirchairsuptothefire，andhavingorderedabottleoftheworstpossibleportwine，atthehighestpossibleprice，forthegoodofthehouse，drankbrandyandwaterfortheirown。
Mr。PeterMagnuswasnaturallyofaverycommunicativedisposition，andthebrandyandwateroperatedwithwonderfuleffectinwarmingintolifethedeepesthiddensecretsofhisbosom。Aftersundryaccountsofhimself，hisfamily，hisconnexions，hisfriends，hisjokes，hisbusiness，andhisbrothersmosttalkativemenhaveagreatdealtosayabouttheirbrothers，Mr。PeterMagnustookablueviewofMr。Pickwickthroughhiscolouredspectaclesforseveralminutes，andthensaid，withanairofmodesty：
Andwhatdoyouthink——whatdoyouthink，Mr。Pickwick——Ihavecomedownherefor？
Uponmyword，saidMr。Pickwick，itiswhollyimpossibleformetoguess。onbusiness，perhaps。
Partlyright，sir，repliedMr。PeterMagnus，butpartlywrong，atthesametime：tryagain，Mr。Pickwick。
Really，saidMr。Pickwick，Imustthrowmyselfonyourmercy，totellmeornot，asyoumaythinkbest。forIshouldneverguess，ifIweretotryallnight。
Why，then，he——he——he！saidMr。PeterMagnus，withabashfultitter，whatwouldyouthink，Mr。Pickwick，ifIhadcomedownhere，tomakeaproposal，sir，eh？He——he——he！
Think！Thatyouareverylikelytosucceed，repliedMr。Pickwick，withoneofhisbeamingsmiles。
Ah！saidMr。Magnus。Butdoyoureallythinkso，Mr。Pickwick？Doyou，though？
Certainly，saidMr。Pickwick。
No。butyou’rejoking，though。
Iamnot，indeed。
Why，then，saidMr。Magnus，toletyouintoalittlesecret，Ithinksotoo。Idon’tmindtellingyou，Mr。Pickwick，althoughI’mdreadfuljealousbynature——horrid——thattheladyisinthishouse。HereMr。Magnustookoffhisspectacles，onpurposetowink，andthenputthemonagain。
That’swhatyouwererunningoutoftheroomfor，beforedinner，then，sooften，saidMr。Pickwick，archly。
Hush！Yes，you’reright，thatwasit。notsuchafoolastoseeher，though。
No！
No。wouldn’tdo，youknow，afterhavingjustcomeoffajourney。Waittillto-morrow，sir。doublethechancethen。Mr。Pickwick，sir，thereisasuitofclothesinthatbag，andahatinthatbox，whichIexpect，intheeffecttheywillproduce，willbeinvaluabletome，sir。
Indeed！saidMr。Pickwick。
Yes。youmusthaveobservedmyanxietyaboutthemto-day。Idonotbelievethatsuchanothersuitofclothes，andsuchahat，couldbeboughtformoney，Mr。Pickwick。
Mr。Pickwickcongratulatedthefortunateowneroftheirresistiblegarments，ontheiracquisition。andMr。PeterMagnusremainedforafewmomentsapparentlyabsorbedincontemplation。
She’safinecreature，saidMr。Magnus。
Isshe？saidMr。Pickwick。
Very，saidMr。Magnus，very。Shelivesabouttwentymilesfromhere，Mr。Pickwick。Iheardshewouldbehereto-nightandallto-morrowforenoon，andcamedowntoseizetheopportunity。Ithinkaninnisagoodsortofaplacetoproposetoasinglewomanin，Mr。Pickwick。Sheismorelikelytofeelthelonelinessofhersituationintravelling，perhaps，thanshewouldbeathome。Whatdoyouthink，Mr。Pickwick？
Ithinkitveryprobable，repliedthatgentleman。
Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Pickwick，saidMr。PeterMagnus，butIamnaturallyrathercurious。whatmayyouhavecomedownherefor？
Onafarlesspleasanterrand，sir，repliedMr。Pickwick，thecolourmountingtohisfaceattherecollection。Ihavecomedownhere，sir，toexposethetreacheryandfalsehoodofanindividual，uponwhosetruthandhonourIplacedimplicitreliance。
Dearme，saidMr。PeterMagnus，that’sveryunpleasant。Itisalady，Ipresume？Eh？ah！Sly，Mr。Pickwick，sly。Well，Mr。Pickwick，sir，Iwouldn’tthese，sir，verypainful。Don’tmindme，Mr。Pickwick，ifyouwishtogiveventtoyourfeelings。Iknowwhatitistobejilted，sir。Ihaveenduredthatsortofthingthreeorfourtimes。
Iammuchobligedtoyou，foryourcondolenceonwhatyoupresumetobemymelancholycase，saidMr。Pickwick，windinguphiswatch，andlayingitonthetable，but——
No，no，saidMr。PeterMagnus，notawordmore：it’sapainfulsubject。
Isee，Isee。What’sthetime，Mr。Pickwick？
Pasttwelve。
Dearme，it’stimetogotobed。Itwillneverdo，sittinghere。I
shallbepaleto-morrow，Mr。Pickwick。
Atthebarenotionofsuchacalamity，Mr。PeterMagnusrangthebellforthechamber-maid。andthestripedbag，theredbag，theleathernhat-box，andthebrown-paperparcel，havingbeenconveyedtohisbed-room，heretiredincompanywithajapannedcandlestick，toonesideofthehouse，whileMr。Pickwick，andanotherjapannedcandlestick，wereconductedthroughamultitudeoftortuouswindings，toanother。
Thisisyourroom，sir，saidthechamber-maid。
Verywell，repliedMr。Pickwick，lookingroundhim。Itwasatolerablylargedouble-beddedroom，withafire。uponthewhole，amorecomfortable-lookingapartmentthanMr。Pickwick’sshortexperienceoftheaccommodationsoftheGreatWhiteHorsehadledhimtoexpect。
Nobodysleepsintheotherbed，ofcourse，saidMr。Pickwick。
Oh，no，sir。
Verygood。Tellmyservanttobringmeupsomehotwaterathalf-pasteightinthemorning，andthatIshallnotwanthimanymoreto-night。
Yes，sir。AndbiddingMr。Pickwickgoodnight，thechamber-maidretired，andlefthimalone。
Mr。Pickwicksathimselfdowninachairbeforethefire，andfellintoatrainoframblingmeditations。Firsthethoughtofhisfriends，andwonderedwhentheywouldjoinhim。thenhismindrevertedtoMrs。MarthaBardell。
andfromthatladyitwandered，byanaturalprocess，tothedingycounting-houseofDodsonandFogg。FromDodsonandFogg’sitflewoffatatangent，totheverycentreofthehistoryofthequeerclient。andthenitcamebacktotheGreatWhiteHorseatIpswich，withsufficientclearnesstoconvinceMr。Pickwickthathewasfallingasleep。Soherousedhimself，andbegantoundress，whenherecollectedhehadlefthiswatchonthetabledown-stairs。
Now，thiswatchwasaspecialfavouritewithMr。Pickwick，havingbeencarriedabout，beneaththeshadowofhiswaistcoat，foragreaternumberofyearsthanwefeelcalledupontostateatpresent。Thepossibilityofgoingtosleep，unlessitweretickinggentlybeneathhispillow，orinthewatch-pocketoverhishead，hadneverenteredMr。Pickwick’sbrain。
Soasitwasprettylatenow，andhewasunwillingtoringhisbellatthathourofthenight，heslippedonhiscoat，ofwhichhehadjustdivestedhimself，andtakingthejapannedcandlestickinhishand，walkedquietlydown-stairs。
ThemorestairsMr。Pickwickwentdown，themorestairsthereseemedtobetodescend，andagainandagain，whenMr。Pickwickgotintosomenarrowpassage，andbegantocongratulatehimselfonhavinggainedtheground-floor，didanotherflightofstairsappearbeforehisastonishedeyes。Atlasthereachedastonehall，whichherememberedtohaveseenwhenheenteredthehouse。Passageafterpassagedidheexplore。roomafterroomdidhepeepinto。atlength，ashewasonthepointofgivingupthesearchindespair，heopenedthedooroftheidenticalroominwhichhehadspenttheevening，andbeheldhismissingpropertyonthetable。
Mr。Pickwickseizedthewatchintriumph，andproceededtore-tracehisstepstohisbed-chamber。Ifhisprogressdownwardhadbeenattendedwithdifficultiesanduncertainty，hisjourneybackwasinfinitelymoreperplexing。Rowsofdoors，garnishedwithbootsofeveryshape，make，andsize，branchedoffineverypossibledirection。Adozentimesdidhesoftlyturnthehandleofsomebed-roomdoorwhichresembledhisown，whenagruffcryfromwithinofWhothedevil’sthat？orWhatdoyouwanthere？
causedhimtostealaway，ontiptoe，withaperfectlymarvellouscelerity。
Hewasreducedtothevergeofdespair，whenanopendoorattractedhisattention。Hepeepedin。Rightatlast！Therewerethetwobeds，whosesituationheperfectlyremembered，andthefirestillburning。Hiscandle，notalongonewhenhefirstreceivedit，hadflickeredawayinthedraftsofairthroughwhichhehadpassed，andsankintothesocketasheclosedthedoorafterhim。Nomatter，saidMr。Pickwick，Icanundressmyselfjustaswellbythelightofthefire。
Thebedsteadsstoodoneoneachsideofthedoor。andontheinnersideofeachwasalittlepath，terminatinginarush-bottomedchair，justwideenoughtoadmitofaperson’sgettinginto，oroutofbed，onthatside，ifheorshethoughtproper。Havingcarefullydrawnthecurtainsofhisbedontheoutside，Mr。Pickwicksatdownontherush-bottomedchairandleisurelydivestedhimselfofhisshoesandgaiters。Hethentookoffandfoldeduphiscoat，waistcoat，andneckcloth，andslowlydrawingonhistassellednight-cap，secureditfirmlyonhishead，bytyingbeneathhischinthestringswhichhealwayshadattachedtothatarticleofdress。
Itwasatthismomentthattheabsurdityofhisrecentbewi...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
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