Mr。Weller’seasymannersandconversationalpowershadsuchirresistibleinfluencewithhisnewfriends，thatbeforethedinnerwashalfover，theywereonfootingofperfectintimacy，andinpossessionofafullaccountofthedelinquencyofJobTrotter。
Inevercoulda-bearthatJob，saidMary。
Nomoreyouneveroughtto，mydear，repliedMr。Weller。
Whynot？inquiredMary。
Cosuglinessandsvindlin’neveroughttobeformiliarvitheleganceandwirtew，repliedMr。Weller。Oughtthey，Mr。Muzzle？
Notbynomeans，repliedthatgentleman。
HereMarylaughed，andsaidthecookhadmadeher。andthecooklaughed，andsaidshehadn’t。
Ihan’tgotaglass，saidMary。
Drinkwithme，mydear，saidMr。Weller。Putyourlipstothisheretumbler，andthenIcankissyoubydeputy。
Forshame，Mr。Weller！saidMary。
What’sashame，mydear？
Talkin’inthatway。
Nonsense。itain’tnoharm。It’snatur。ain’tit，cook？
Don’taskmeimperence，repliedthecookinahighstateofdelight：
andhereuponthecookandMarylaughedagain，tillwhatbetweenthebeer，andthecoldmeat，andthelaughtercombined，thelatteryoungladywasbroughttothevergeofchoking——analarmingcrisisfromwhichshewasonlyrecoveredbysundrypatsontheback，andothernecessaryattentions，mostdelicatelyadminsteredbyMr。SamuelWeller。
Inthemidstofallthisjollityandconviviality，aloudringwasheardatthegarden-gate：towhichtheyounggentlemanwhotookhismealsinthewash-house，immediatelyresponded。Mr。Wellerwasintheheightofhisattentionstotheprettyhousemaid。Mr。Muzzlewasbusydoingthehonoursofthetable。andthecookhadjustpausedtolaugh，intheveryactofraisingahugemorseltoherlips。whenthekitchen-dooropened，andinwalkedMr。JobTrotter。
WehavesaidinwalkedMr。JobTrotter，butthestatementisnotdistinguishedbyourusualscrupulousadherencetofact。ThedooropenedandMr。Trotterappeared。Hewouldhavewalkedin，andwasintheveryactofdoingso，indeed，whencatchingsightofMr。Weller，heinvoluntarilyshrankbackapaceortwo，andstoodgazingontheunexpectedscenebeforehim，perfectlymotionlesswithamazementandterror。
Hereheis！saidSam，risingwithgreatglee。Whywewerethatwerymomentaspeakingo’you。Howareyou？Wherehaveyoubeen？Comein。
LayinghishandonthemulberrycollaroftheunresistingJob，Mr。Wellerdraggedhimintothekitchen。and，lockingthedoor，handedthekeytoMr。Muzzle，whoverycoollybuttoneditupinaside-pocket。
Well，here’sagame！criedSam。Onlythinko’mymasterhavin’thepleasureo’meetingyour’n，up-stairs，andmehavin’thejoyo’meetin’
youdownhere。Howareyougettin’on，andhowisthechandlerybis’nesslikelytodo？Well，Iamsogladtoseeyou。Howhappyyoulook。
It’squiteatreattoseeyou。ain’tit，Mr。Muzzle？
Quite，saidMr。Muzzle。
Socheerfulheis！saidSam。
Insuchgoodspirits！saidMuzzle。
Andsogladtoseeus——thatmakesitsomuchmorecomfortable，
saidSam。Sitdown。sitdown。
Mr。Trottersufferedhimselftobeforcedintoachairbythefireside。
Hecasthissmalleyes，firstonMr。Weller，andthenonMr。Muzzle，butsaidnothing。
Well，now，saidSam，aforethesehereladies，Ishouldjestliketoaskyou，asasortofcuriosity，wetheryoudon’tcon-sideryourselfasniceandwell-behavedayounggen’l’m’naseverusedapinkcheckpocket-handkerchief，andthenumberfourcollection？
Andaswasevera-goingtobemarriedtoacook，saidthatlady，indignantly。
Thewillin！
Andleaveoffhisevilways，andsetupinthechandleryline，arterwards，
saidthehousemaid。
Now，I’lltellyouwhatitis，youngman，saidMr。Muzzle，solemnly，enragedatthelasttwoallusions，thishereladypointingtothecook
keepscompanywithme。andwhenyoupresume，sir，totalkofkeepingchandlers’
shopswithher，youinjuremeinoneofthemostdelicatestpointsinwhichonemancaninjureanother。Doyouunderstandme，sir？
HereMr。Muzzle，whohadagreatnotionofhiseloquence，inwhichheimitatedhismaster，pausedforareply。
ButMr。Trottermadenoreply。SoMr。Muzzleproceededinasolemnmanner：
It’sveryprobable，sir，thatyouwon’tbewantedupstairsforseveralminutes，sir，becausemymasterisatthismomentparticularlyengagedinsettlingthehashofyourmaster，sir。andthereforeyou’llhaveleisure，sir，foralittleprivatetalkwithme，sir。Doyouunderstandme，sir？
Mr。Muzzleagainpausedforareply。andagainMr。Trotterdisappointedhim。
Well，then，saidMr。Muzzle，I’mverysorrytohavetoexplainmyselfbeforeladies，buttheurgencyofthecasewillbemyexcuse。Thebackkitchen’sempty，sir。Ifyouwillstepinthere，sir，Mr。Wellerwillseefair，andwecanhavemutualsatisfaction’tillthebellrings。Followme，sir！
AsMr。Muzzleutteredthesewords，hetookasteportwotowardsthedoor。andbywayofsavingtime，begantopulloffhiscoatashewalkedalong。
Now，thecooknosoonerheardtheconcludingwordsofthisdesperatechallenge，andsawMr。Muzzleabouttoputitintoexecution，thansheutteredaloudandpiercingshriek，andrushingonMr。JobTrotter，whorosefromhischairontheinstant，toreandbuffetedhislargeflatface，withanenergypeculiartoexcitedfemales，andtwiningherhandsinhislongblackhair，toretherefromaboutenoughtomakefiveorsixdozenoftheverylargest-sizedmourning-rings。HavingaccomplishedthisfeatwithalltheardourwhichherdevotedloveforMr。Muzzleinspired，shestaggeredback。andbeingaladyofveryexcitableanddelicatefeelings，sheinstantlyfellunderthedresser，andfaintedaway。
Atthismoment，thebellrang。
That’sforyou，JobTrotter，saidSam。andbeforeMr。Trottercouldofferremonstranceorreply——evenbeforehehadtimetostanchthewoundsinflictedbytheinsensiblelady——SamseizedonearmandMr。Muzzletheother。andonepullingbefore，andtheotherpushingbehind，theyconveyedhimup-stairs，andintotheparlour。
Itwasanimpressivetableau。AlfredJingle，Esquire，aliasCaptainFitz-Marshall，wasstandingnearthedoorwithhishatinhishand，andasmileonhisface，whollyunmovedbyhisveryunpleasantsituation。Confrontinghim，stoodMr。Pickwick，whohadevidentlybeeninculcatingsomehighmorallesson。forhislefthandwasbeneathhiscoattail，andhisrightextendedinair，aswashiswontwhendeliveringhimselfofanimpressiveaddress。
Atalittledistance，stoodMr。Tupmanwithindignantcountenance，carefullyheldbackbyhistwoyoungerfriends。atthefurtherendoftheroomwereMr。Nupkins，Mrs。Nupkins，andMissNupkins，gloomilygrand，andsavagelyvexed。
Whatpreventsme，saidMr。Nupkins，withmagisterialdignity，asJobwasbroughtin：whatpreventsmefromdetainingthesemenasroguesandimpostors？Itisafoolishmercy。Whatpreventsme？
Pride，oldfellow，pride，repliedJingle，quiteathisease。Wouldn’tdo——nogo——caughtacaptain，eh？——ha！ha！verygood——husbandfordaughter——biterbit——makeitpublic——notforworlds——lookstupid——very！
Wretch，saidMrs。Nupkins，wescornyourbaseinsinuations。
Ialwayshatedhim，addedHenrietta。
Oh，ofcourse，saidJingle。Tallyoungman——oldlover——SidneyPorkenham——rich——finefellow——notsorichascaptain，though？——turnhimaway——offwithhim——anythingforcaptain——nothinglikecaptainanywhere——allthegirls——ravingmad——eh，Job？
HereMr。Jinglelaughedveryheartily。andJob，rubbinghishandswithdelight，utteredthefirstsoundhehadgivenventto，sinceheenteredthehouse——alownoiselesschuckle，whichseemedtointimatethatheenjoyedhislaughtoomuch，toletanyofitescapeinsound。
Mr。Nupkins，saidtheelderlady，thisisnotafitconversationfortheservantstooverhear。Letthesewretchesberemoved。
Certainly，mydear，saidMr。Nupkins。Muzzle！
Yourworship。
Openthefrontdoor。
Yes，yourworship。
Leavethehouse！saidMr。Nupkins，wavinghishandemphatically。
Jinglesmiled，andmovedtowardsthedoor。
Stay！saidMr。Pickwick。
Jinglestopped。
Imight，saidMr。Pickwick，havetakenamuchgreaterrevengeforthetreatmentIhaveexperiencedatyourhands，andthatofyourhypocriticalfriendthere。
JobTrotterbowedwithgreatpoliteness，andlaidhishanduponhisheart。
Isay，saidMr。Pickwick，growinggraduallyangry，thatImighthavetakenagreaterrevenge，butIcontentmyselfwithexposingyou，whichIconsideradutyIowetosociety。Thisisaleniency，sir，whichIhopeyouwillremember。
WhenMr。Pickwickarrivedatthispoint，JobTrotter，withfacetiousgravityappliedhishandtohisear，asifdesirousnottoloseasyllableheuttered。
AndIhaveonlytoadd，sir，saidMr。Pickwick，nowthoroughlyangry，thatIconsideryouarascal，anda——aruffian——and——andworsethananymanIeversaw，orheardof，exceptthatpiousandsanctifiedvagabondinthemulberrylivery。
Ha！ha！saidJingle，goodfellow，Pickwick——fineheart——stoutoldboy——butmustnotbepassionate——badthing，very——bye，bye——seeyouagainsomeday——keepupyourspirits——now，Job——trot！
Withthesewords，Mr。Jinglestuckonhishatintheoldfashion，andstrodeoutoftheroom。JobTrotterpaused，lookedround，smiled，andthenwithabowofmocksolemnitytoMr。Pickwick，andawinktoMr。Weller，theaudaciousslynessofwhichbafflesalldescription，followedthefootstepsofhishopefulmaster。
Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，asMr。Wellerwasfollowing。
Sir。
Stayhere。
Mr。Wellerseemeduncertain。
Stayhere，repeatedMr。Pickwick。
Mayn’tIpolishthatereJoboff，inthefrontgarden？saidMr。Weller。
Certainlynot，repliedMr。Pickwick。
Mayn’tIkickhimouto’thegate，sir？saidMr。Weller。
Notonanyaccount，repliedhismaster。
Forthefirsttimesincehisengagement，Mr。Wellerlooked，foramoment，discontentedandunhappy。Buthiscountenanceimmediatelyclearedup。forthewilyMr。Muzzle，byconcealinghimselfbehindthestreetdoor，andrushingviolentlyout，attherightinstant，contrivedwithgreatdexteritytooverturnbothMr。Jingleandhisattendant，downtheflightofsteps，intotheAmericanaloetubsthatstoodbeneath。
Havingdischargedmyduty，sir，saidMr。PickwicktoMr。Nupkins，Iwill，withmyfriends，bidyoufarewell。Whilewethankyouforsuchhospitalityaswehavereceived，permitmetoassureyou，inourjointnames，thatweshouldnothaveacceptedit，orhaveconsentedtoextricateourselvesinthisway，fromourpreviousdilemma，hadwenotbeenimpelledbyastrongsenseofduty。WereturntoLondonto-morrow。Yoursecretissafewithus。
Havingthusenteredhisprotestagainsttheirtreatmentofthemorning，Mr。Pickwickbowedlowtotheladies，andnotwithstandingthesolicitationsofthefamily，lefttheroomwithhisfriends。
Getyourhat，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。
It’sbelowstairs，sir，saidSam，andherandownafterit。
Now，therewasnobodyinthekitchen，buttheprettyhousemaid。andasSam’shatwasmislaid，hehadtolookforit。andtheprettyhousemaidlightedhim。Theyhadtolookallovertheplaceforthehat。Theprettyhousemaid，inheranxietytofindit，wentdownonherknees，andturnedoverallthethingsthatwereheapedtogetherinalittlecornerbythedoor。Itwasanawkwardcorner。Youcouldn’tgetatitwithoutshuttingthedoorfirst。
Hereitis，saidtheprettyhousemaid。Thisisit，ain’tit？
Letmelook，saidSam。
Theprettyhousemaidhadstoodthecandleonthefloor。asitgaveaverydimlight，Samwasobligedtogodownonhiskneesbeforehecouldseewhetheritreallywashisownhatornot。Itwasaremarkablysmallcorner，andso——itwasnobody’sfaultbuttheman’swhobuiltthehouse——Samandtheprettyhousemaidwerenecessarilyveryclosetogether。
Yes，thisisit，saidSam。Goodbye！
Goodbye！saidtheprettyhousemaid。
Goodbye！saidSam。andashesaidit，hedroppedthehatthathadcostsomuchtroubleinlookingfor。
Howawkwardyouare，saidtheprettyhousemaid。You’llloseitagain，ifyoudon’ttakecare。
So，justtopreventhislosingitagain，sheputitonforhim。
Whetheritwasthattheprettyhousemaid’sfacelookedprettierstill，whenitwasraisedtowardsSam’s，orwhetheritwastheaccidentalconsequenceoftheirbeingsoneartoeachother，ismatterofuncertaintytothisday。butSamkissedher。
Youdon’tmeantosayyoudidthatonpurpose，saidtheprettyhousemaid，blushing。
No，Ididn’tthen，saidSam。butIwillnow。
Sohekissedheragain。
Sam！saidMr。Pickwick，callingoverthebanisters。
Coming，sir，repliedSam，rushingup-stairs。
Howlongyouhavebeen！saidMr。Pickwick。
Therewassomethingbehindthedoor，sir，whichperwentedourgettingitopen，foreversolong，sir，repliedSam。
AndthiswasthefirstpassageofMr。Weller’sfirstlove。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter26[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXXVIWHICHCONTAINSABRIEFACCOUNTOFTHEPROGRESSOF
THEACTIONOFBARDELLAGAINSTPICKWICK
HAVINGaccomplishedthemainendandobjectofhisjourney，bytheexposureofJingle，Mr。PickwickresolvedonimmediatelyreturningtoLondon，withtheviewofbecomingacquaintedwiththeproceedingswhichhadbeentakenagainsthim，inthemeantime，byMessrs。DodsonandFogg。Actinguponthisresolutionwithalltheenergyanddecisionofhischaracter，hemountedtothebackseatofthefirstcoachwhichleftIpswichonthemorningafterthememorableoccurrencesdetailedatlengthinthetwoprecedingchapters。andaccompaniedbyhisthreefriends，andMr。SamuelWeller，arrivedinthemetropolis，inperfecthealthandsafety，thesameevening。
Here，thefriends，forashorttime，separated。Messrs。Tupman，Winkle，andSnodgrassrepairedtotheirseveralhomestomakesuchpreparationsasmightberequisitefortheirforthcomingvisittoDingleyDell。andMr。PickwickandSamtookuptheirpresentabodeinverygood，old-fashioned，andcomfortablequarters：towit，theGeorgeandVultureTavernandHotel，GeorgeYard，LombardStreet。
Mr。Pickwickhaddined，finishedhissecondpintofparticularport，pulledhissilkhandkerchiefoverhishead，puthisfeetonthefender，andthrownhimselfbackinaneasychair，whentheentranceofMr。Wellerwithhiscarpetbag，arousedhimfromhistranquilmeditations。
Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。
Sir，saidMr。Weller。
Ihavejustbeenthinking，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，thathavingleftagoodmanythingsatMrs。Bardell’s，inGoswellStreet，Ioughttoarrangefortakingthemaway，beforeIleavetownagain。
Werygood，sir，repliedMr。Weller。
IcouldsendthemtoMr。Tupman’s，forthepresent，Sam，continuedMr。Pickwick，butbeforewetakethemaway，itisnecessarythattheyshouldbelookedup，andputtogether。IwishyouwouldstepuptoGoswellStreet，Sam，andarrangeaboutit。
Atonce，sir？inquiredMr。Weller。
Atonce，repliedMr。Pickwick。Andstay，Sam，addedMr。Pickwick，pullingouthispurse，Thereissomerenttopay。ThequarterisnotduetillChristmas，butyoumaypayit，andhavedonewithit。Amonth’snoticeterminatesmytenancy。Hereitis，writtenout。Giveit，andtellMrs。
Bardellshemayputabillup，assoonasshelikes。
Werygood，sir，repliedMr。Weller。anythin’more，sir？
Nothingmore，Sam。
Mr。Wellersteppedslowlytothedoor，asifheexpectedsomethingmore。
slowlyopenedit，slowlysteppedout，andhadslowlycloseditwithinacoupleofinches，whenMr。Pickwickcalledout，Sam。
Sir，saidMr。Weller，steppingquicklyback，andclosingthedoorbehindhim。
Ihavenoobjection，Sam，toyourendeavouringtoascertainhowMrs。
Bardellherselfseemsdisposedtowardsme，andwhetheritisreallyprobablethatthisvileandgroundlessactionistobecarriedtoextremity。IsayIdonotobjecttoyourdoingthis，ifyouwishit，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。
Samgaveashortnodofintelligence，andlefttheroom。Mr。Pickwickdrewthesilkhandkerchiefoncemoreoverhishead，andcomposedhimselfforanap。Mr。Wellerpromptlywalkedforth，toexecutehiscommission。
Itwasnearlynineo’clockwhenhereachedGoswellStreet。Acoupleofcandleswereburninginthelittlefrontparlour，andacoupleofcapswerereflectedonthewindow-blind。Mrs。Bardellhadgotcompany。
Mr。Wellerknockedatthedoor，andafteraprettylonginterval——occupiedbythepartywithout，inwhistlingatune，andbythepartywithin，inpersuadingarefractoryflatcandletoallowitselftobelighted——apairofsmallbootspatteredoverthefloor-cloth，andMasterBardellpresentedhimself。
Well，youngtownskip，saidSam，how’smother？
She’sprettywell，repliedMasterBardell，soamI。
Well，that’samercy，saidSam。tellherIwanttospeaktoher，willyou，myhinfantfernomenon？
MasterBardell，thusadjured，placedtherefractoryflatcandleonthebottomstair，andvanishedintothefrontparlourwithhismessage。
Thetwocaps，reflectedonthewindow-blind，weretherespectivehead-dressesofacoupleofMrs。Bardell’smostparticularacquaintance，whohadjuststeppedin，tohaveaquietcupoftea，andalittlewarmsupperofacoupleofsetsofpettitoesandsometoastedcheese。Thecheesewassimmeringandbrowningaway，mostdelightfully，inalittleDutchovenbeforethefire。thepettitoesweregettingondeliciouslyinalittletinsaucepanonthehob。andMrs。Bardellandhertwofriendsweregettingonverywell，alsoinalittlequietconversationaboutandconcerningalltheirparticularfriendsandacquaintance。whenMasterBardellcamebackfromansweringthedoor，anddeliveredthemessageintrustedtohimbyMr。SamuelWeller。
Mr。Pickwick’sservant！saidMrs。Bardell，turni...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
第14章