[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter30[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXXXHOWTHEPICKWICKIANSMADEANDCULTIVATEDTHEACQUAINTANCE
OFACOUPLEOFNICEYOUNGMENBELONGINGTOONEOFTHELIBERALPROFESSIONS。
HOWTHEYDISPORTEDTHEMSELVESONTHEICE。ANDHOWTHEIRFIRSTVISITCAME
TOACONCLUSION
WELL，Sam，saidMr。Pickwickasthatfavouredservitorenteredhisbed-chamberwithhiswarmwater，onthemorningofChristmasDay，Stillfrosty？
Waterinthewash-handbasin’samasko’ice，sir，respondedSam。
Severeweather，Sam，observedMr。Pickwick。
Finetimeforthemasiswellwroppedup，asthePolarBearsaidtohimself，venhewaspractisinghisskating，repliedMr。Weller。
Ishallbedowninaquarterofanhour，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，untyinghisnightcap。
Werygood，sir，repliedSam。There’sacoupleo’Sawbonesdown-stairs。
Acoupleofwhat！exclaimedMr。Pickwick，sittingupinbed。
Acoupleo’Sawbones，saidSam。
What’saSawbones？inquiredMr。Pickwick，notquitecertainwhetheritwasaliveanimal，orsomethingtoeat。
What！Don’tyouknowwhataSawbonesis，sir？inquiredMr。Weller。
Ithoughteverybodyknow’dasaSawboneswasaSurgeon。
Oh，aSurgeon，eh？saidMr。Pickwick，withasmile。
Justthat，sir，repliedSam。Thesehereonesasisbelow，though，ain’treg’larthorough-bredSawbones。they’reonlyintrainin’。
Inotherwordsthey’reMedicalStudents，Isuppose？saidMr。Pickwick。
SamWellernoddedassent。
Iamgladofit，saidMr。Pickwick，castinghisnightcapenergeticallyonthecounterpane，Theyarefinefellows。veryfinefellows。withjudgmentsmaturedbyobservationandreflection。tastesrefinedbyreadingandstudy。
Iamverygladofit。
They’reasmokin’cigarsbythekitchenfire，saidSam。
Ah！observedMr。Pickwick，rubbinghishands，over-flowingwithkindlyfeelingsandanimalspirits。JustwhatIliketosee。
Andoneon’em，saidSam，notnoticinghismaster’sinterruption，oneon’em’sgothislegsonthetable，andisadrinkin’brandyneat，vilethet’otherone——himinthebarnacles——hasgotabarrelo’oystersatweenhisknees，wichhe’saopenin’likesteam，andasfastasheeats’em，hetakesaaimviththeshellsatyoungdropsy，who’sasittin’downfastasleep，inthechimbleycorner。
Eccentricitiesofgenius，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。Youmayretire。
Samdidretireaccordingly。Mr。Pickwick，attheexpirationofthequarterofanhour，wentdowntobreakfast。
Hereheisatlast！saidoldMr。Wardle。Pickwick，thisisMissAllen’sbrother，Mr。BenjaminAllen。Benwecallhim，andsomayyouifyoulike。
Thisgentlemanishisveryparticularfriend，Mr——
Mr。BobSawyer，interposedMr。BenjaminAllen。whereuponMr。BobSawyerandMr。BenjaminAllenlaughedinconcert。
Mr。PickwickbowedtoBobSawyer，andBobSawyerbowedtoMr。Pickwick。
Bobandhisveryparticularfriendthenappliedthemselvesmostassiduouslytotheeatablesbeforethem。andMr。Pickwickhadanopportunityofglancingatthemboth。
Mr。BenjaminAllenwasacoarse，stout，thick-setyoungman，withblackhaircutrathershort，andawhitefacecutratherlong。Hewasembellishedwithspectacles，andworeawhiteneckerchief。Belowhissingle-breastedblacksurtout，whichwasbuttoneduptohischin，appearedtheusualnumberofpepper-and-saltcolouredlegs，terminatinginapairofimperfectlypolishedboots。Althoughhiscoatwasshortinthesleeves，itdisclosednovestigeofalinenwrist-band。andalthoughtherewasquiteenoughofhisfacetoadmitoftheencroachmentofashirtcollar，itwasnotgracedbythesmallestapproachtothatappendage。Hepresented，altogether，ratheramildewyappearance，andemittedafragrantodouroffull-flavouredCubas。
Mr。BobSawyer，whowashabitedinacoarsebluecoat，which，withoutbeingeitheragreat-coatorasurtout，partookofthenatureandqualitiesofboth，hadabouthimthatsortofslovenlysmartness，andswaggeringgait，whichispeculiartoyounggentlemenwhosmokeinthestreetsbyday，shoutandscreaminthesamebynight，callwaitersbytheirChristiannames，anddovariousotheractsanddeedsofanequallyfacetiousdescription。
Heworeapairofplaidtrousers，andalargeroughdouble-breastedwaistcoat。
outofdoors，hecarriedathickstickwithabigtop。Heeschewedgloves，andlooked，uponthewhole，somethinglikeadissipatedRobinsonCrusoe。
SuchwerethetwoworthiestowhomMr。Pickwickwasintroduced，ashetookhisseatatthebreakfasttableonChristmasmorning。
Splendidmorning，gentlemen，saidMr。Pickwick。
Mr。BobSawyerslightlynoddedhisassenttotheproposition，andaskedMr。BenjaminAllenforthemustard。
Haveyoucomefarthismorning，gentlemen？inquiredMr。Pickwick。
BlueLionatMuggleton，brieflyrespondedMr。Allen。
Youshouldhavejoineduslastnight，saidMr。Pickwick。
Soweshould，repliedBobSawyer，butthebrandywastoogoodtoleaveinahurry：wasn’tit，Ben？
Certainly，saidMr。BenjaminAllen。andthecigarswerenotbad，ortheporkchopseither：werethey，Bob？
Decidedlynot，saidBob。Theparticularfriendsresumedtheirattackuponthebreakfast，morefreelythanbefore，asiftherecollectionoflastnight’ssupperhadimpartedanewrelishtothemeal。
Pegaway，Bob，saidMr。Allentohiscompanion，encouragingly。
SoIdo，repliedBobSawyer。Andso，todohimjustice，hedid。
Nothinglikedissecting，togiveoneanappetite，saidMr。BobSawyer，lookingroundthetable。
Mr。Pickwickslightlyshuddered。
Bythebye，Bob，saidMr。Allen，haveyoufinishedthatlegyet？
Nearly，repliedSawyer，helpinghimselftohalfafowlashespoke。
It’saverymuscularoneforachild’s。
Isit？inquiredMr。Allen，carelessly。
Very，saidBobSawyer，withhismouthfull。
I’veputmynamedownforanarm，atourplace，saidMr。Allen。We’reclubbingforasubject，andthelistisnearlyfull，onlywecan’tgetholdofanyfellowthatwantsahead。Iwishyou’dtakeit。
No，repliedBobSawyer。can’taffordexpensiveluxuries。
Nonsense！saidAllen。
Can’tindeed，rejoinedBobSawyer。Iwouldn’tmindabrain，butI
couldn’tstandawholehead。
Hush，hush，gentlemen，pray，saidMr。Pickwick，Iheartheladies。
AsMr。Pickwickspoke，theladies，gallantlyescortedbyMessrs。Snodgrass，Winkle，andTupman，returnedfromanearlywalk。
Why，Ben！saidArabella，inatonewhichexpressedmoresurprisethanpleasureatthesightofherbrother。
Cometotakeyouhometo-morrow，repliedBenjamin。
Mr。Winkleturnedpale。
Don’tyouseeBobSawyer，Arabella？inquiredMr。BenjaminAllen，somewhatreproachfully。Arabellagracefullyheldoutherhand，inacknowledgmentofBobSawyer’spresence。AthrillofhatredstrucktoMr。Winkle’sheart，asBobSawyerinflictedontheprofferedhandaperceptiblesqueeze。
Ben，dear！saidArabella，blushing。have——have——youbeenintroducedtoMr。Winkle？
Ihavenotbeen，butIshallbeveryhappytobe，Arabella，repliedherbrothergravely。HereMr。AllenbowedgrimlytoMr。Winkle，whileMr。
WinkleandMr。BobSawyerglancedmutualdistrustoutofthecornersoftheireyes。
Thearrivalofthetwonewvisitors，andtheconsequentcheckuponMr。
Winkleandtheyoungladywiththefurroundherboots，wouldinallprobabilityhaveprovedaveryunpleasantinterruptiontothehilarityoftheparty，hadnotthecheerfulnessofMr。Pickwick，andthegoodhumourofthehost，beenexertedtotheveryutmostforthecommonweal。Mr。WinklegraduallyinsinuatedhimselfintothegoodgracesofMr。BenjaminAllen，andevenjoinedinafriendlyconversationwithMr。BobSawyer。who，enlivenedwiththebrandy，andthebreakfast，andthetalking，graduallyripenedintoastateofextremefacetiousness，andrelatedwithmuchgleeanagreeableanecdote，abouttheremovalofatumouronsomegentleman’shead：whichheillustratedbymeansofanoyster-knifeandahalf-quarternloaf，tothegreatedificationoftheassembledcompany。Then，thewholetrainwenttochurch，whereMr。BenjaminAllenfellfastasleep：whileMr。BobSawyerabstractedhisthoughtsfromworldlymatters，bytheingeniousprocessofcarvinghisnameontheseatofthepew，incorpulentlettersoffourincheslong。
Now，saidWardle，afterasubstantiallunch，withtheagreeableitemsofstrongbeerandcherry-brandy，hadbeendoneamplejusticeto。whatsayyoutoanhourontheice？Weshallhaveplentyoftime。
Capital！saidMr。BenjaminAllen。
Prime！ejaculatedMr。BobSawyer。
Youskate，ofcourse，Winkle？saidWardle。
Ye-yes。oh，yes，repliedMr。Winkle。I——I——amratheroutofpractice。
Oh，doskate，Mr。Winkle，saidArabella。Iliketoseeitsomuch。
Oh，itissograceful，saidanotheryounglady。
Athirdyoungladysaiditwaselegant，andafourthexpressedheropinionthatitwasswan-like。
Ishouldbeveryhappy，I’msure，saidMr。Winkle，reddening。butIhavenoskates。
Thisobjectionwasatonceoverruled。Trundlehadacoupleofpair，andthefatboyannouncedthattherewerehalf-a-dozenmoredown-stairs：
whereatMr。Winkleexpressedexquisitedelight，andlookedexquisitelyuncomfortable。
OldWardleledthewaytoaprettylargesheetofice。andthefatboyandMr。Weller，havingshovelledandsweptawaythesnowwhichhadfallenonitduringthenight，Mr。BobSawyeradjustedhisskateswithadexteritywhichtoMr。Winklewasperfectlymarvellous，anddescribedcircleswithhisleftleg，andcutfiguresofeight，andinscribedupontheice，withoutoncestoppingforbreath，agreatmanyotherpleasantandastonishingdevices，totheexcessivesatisfactionofMr。Pickwick，Mr。Tupman，andtheladies：
whichreachedapitchofpositiveenthusiasm，whenoldWardleandBenjaminAllen，assistedbytheaforesaidBobSawyer，performedsomemysticevolutions，whichtheycalledareel。
Allthistime，Mr。Winkle，withhisfaceandhandsbluewiththecold，hadbeenforcingagimletintothesolesofhisfeet，andputtinghisskateson，withthepointsbehind，andgettingthestrapsintoaverycomplicatedandentangledstate，withtheassistanceofMr。Snodgrass，whoknewratherlessaboutskatesthanaHindoo。Atlength，however，withtheassistanceofMr。Weller，theunfortunateskateswerefirmlyscrewedandbuckledon，andMr。Winklewasraisedtohisfeet。
Now，then，sir，saidSam，inanencouragingtone。offvithyou，andshow’emhowtodoit。
Stop，Sam，stop！saidMr。Winkle，tremblingviolently，andclutchingholdofSam’sarmswiththegraspofadrowningman。Howslipperyitis，Sam！
Notanuncommonthinguponice，sir，repliedMr。Weller。Holdup，sir！
ThislastobservationofMr。Weller’sborereferencetoademonstrationMr。Winklemadeattheinstant，ofafranticdesiretothrowhisfeetintheair，anddashthebackofhisheadontheice。
These——these——areveryawkwardskates。ain’tthey，Sam？inquiredMr。
Winkle，staggering。
I’mafeerdthere’saorkardgen’l’m’nin’em，sir，repliedSam。
Now，Winkle，criedMr。Pickwick，quiteunconsciousthattherewasanythingthematter。Come。theladiesareallanxiety。
Yes，yes，repliedMr。Winkle，withaghastlysmile。I’mcoming。
Justagoin’tobegin，saidSam，endeavouringtodisengagehimself。
Now，sir，startoff！
Stopaninstant，Sam，gaspedMr。Winkle，clingingmostaffectionatelytoMr。Weller。IfindI’vegotacoupleofcoatsathomethatIdon’twant，Sam。Youmayhavethem，Sam。
Thank’ee，sir，repliedMr。Weller。
Nevermindtouchingyourhat，Sam，saidMr。Winkle，hastily。Youneedn’ttakeyourhandawaytodothat。ImeanttohavegivenyoufiveshillingsthismorningforaChristmas-box，Sam。I’llgiveityouthisafternoon，Sam。
You’rewerygood，sir，repliedMr。Weller。
Justholdmeatfirst，Sam。willyou？saidMr。Winkle。There——that’sright。Ishallsoongetinthewayofit，Sam。Nottoofast，Sam。nottoofast。
Mr。Winklestoopingforward，withhisbodyhalfdoubledup，wasbeingassistedovertheicebyMr。Weller，inaverysingularandun-swan-likemanner，whenMr。Pickwickmostinnocentlyshoutedfromtheoppositebank：
Sam！
Sir？
Here。Iwantyou。
Letgo，sir，saidSam。Don’tyouhearthegovernoracallin’？Letgo，sir。
Withaviolenteffort，Mr。WellerdisengagedhimselffromthegraspoftheagonisedPickwickian，and，insodoing，administeredaconsiderableimpetustotheunhappyMr。Winkle。Withanaccuracywhichnodegreeofdexterityorpracticecouldhaveinsured，thatunfortunategentlemanboreswiftlydownintothecentreofthereel，attheverymomentwhenMr。BobSawyerwasperformingaflourishofunparalleledbeauty。Mr。Winklestruckwildlyagainsthim，andwithaloudcrashtheybothfellheavilydown。
Mr。Pickwickrantothespot。BobSawyerhadrisentohisfeet，butMr。
Winklewasfartoowisetodoanythingofthekind，inskates。Hewasseatedontheice，makingspasmodiceffortstosmile。butanguishwasdepictedoneverylineamentofhiscountenance。
Areyouhurt？inquiredMr。BenjaminAllen，withgreatanxiety。
Notmuch，saidMr。Winkle，rubbinghisbackveryhard。
Iwishyou’dletmebleedyou，saidMr。Benjamin，withgreateagerness。
No，thankyou，repliedMr。Winklehurriedly。
Ireallythinkyouhadbetter，saidAllen。
Thankyou，repliedMr。Winkle。I’drathernot。
Whatdoyouthink，Mr。Pickwick？inquiredBobSawyer。
Mr。Pickwickwasexcitedandindignant。HebeckonedtoMr。Weller，andsaidinasternvoice，Takehisskatesoff。
No。butreallyIhadscarcelybegun，remonstratedMr。Winkle。
Takehisskatesoff，repeatedMr。Pickwickfirmly。
Thecommandwasnottoberesisted。Mr。WinkleallowedSamtoobeyitinsilence。
Lifthimup，saidMr。Pickwick。Samassistedhimtorise。
Mr。Pickwickretiredafewpacesapartfromthebystanders。and，beckoninghisfriendtoapproach，fixedasearchinglookuponhim，andutteredinalow，butdistinctandemphatictone，theseremarkablewords：
You’reahumbug，sir。
Awhat？saidMr。Winkle，starting。
Ahumbug，sir。Iwillspeakplainer，ifyouwishit。Animpostor，sir。
Withthosewords，Mr。Pickwickturnedslowlyonhisheel，andrejoinedhisfriends。
WhileMr。Pickwickwasdeliveringhimselfofthesentimentjustrecorded，Mr。Wellerandthefatboy，havingbytheirjointendeavourscutoutaslide，wereexercisingthemselvesthereupon，inaverymasterlyandbrilliantmanner。SamWeller，inparticular，wasdisplayingthatbeautifulfeatoffancy-slidingwhichiscurrentlydenominatedknockingatthecobbler’sdoor，andwhichisachievedbyskimmingovertheiceononefoot，andoccasionallygivingapostman’sknockuponitwiththeother。Itwasagoodlongslide，andtherewassomethinginthemotionwhichMr。Pickwick，whowasverycoldwithstandingstill，couldnothelpenvying。
Itlooksanicewarmexercisethat，doesn’tit？heinquiredofWardle，whenthatgentlemanwasthoroughlyoutofbreath，byreasonoftheindefatigablemannerinwhichhehadconvertedhislegsintoapairofcompasses，anddrawncomplicatedproblemsontheice。
Ah，itdoesindeed，repliedWardle。Doyouslide？
Iusedtodoso，onthegutters，whenIwasaboy，repliedMr。Pickwick。
Tryitnow，saidWardle。
Ohdoplease，Mr。Pickwick！criedalltheladies。
Ishouldbeveryhappytoaffordyouanyamusement，repliedMr。Pickwick，butIhaven’tdonesuchathingthesethirtyyears。
Pooh！pooh！Nonsense！saidWardle，draggingoffhisskateswiththeimpetuositywhichcharacterisedallhisproceedings。Here。I’llkeepyoucompany。comealong！Andawaywentthegood-temperedoldfellowdowntheslide，witharapiditywhichcameverycloseuponMr。Weller，andbeatthefatboyalltonothing。
Mr。Pickwickpaused，considered，pulledoffhisglovesandputtheminhishat：tooktwoorthreeshortruns，baulkedhimselfasoften，andatlasttookanotherrun，andwentslowlyandgravelydowntheslide，withhisfeetaboutayardandaquarterapart，amidstthegratifiedshoutsofallthespectators。
Keepthepotabilin’，sir！saidSam。anddownwentWardleagain，andthenMr。Pickwick，andthenSam，andthenMr。Winkle，andthenMr。
BobSawyer，andthenthefatboy，andthenMr。Snodgrass，followingcloselyuponeachother’sheels，andrunningaftereachotherwithasmucheagernessasifalltheirfutureprospectsinlifedependedontheirexpedition。
Itwasthemostintenselyinterestingthing，toobservethemannerinwhichMr。Pickwickperformedhisshareintheceremony。towatchthetortureofanxietywithwhichheviewedthepersonbehind，gaininguponhimattheimminenthazardoftrippinghimup。toseehimgraduallyexpendthepainfulforcehehadputonatfirst，andturnslowlyroundontheslide，withhisfacetowardsthepointfromwhichhehadstarted。tocontemplatetheplayfulsmilewhichmantledonhisfacewhenhehadaccomplishedthedistance，andtheeagernesswithwhichheturnedroundwhenhehaddoneso，andranafterhispredecessor：hisblackgaiterstrippingpleasantlythroughthesnow，andhiseyesbeamingcheerfulnessandgladnessthroughhisspectacles。Andwhenhewasknockeddownwhichhappenedupontheaverageeverythirdround，itwasthemostinvigoratingsightthatcanpossiblybeimagined，tobeholdhimgatheruphishat，gloves，andhandkerchief，withaglowingcountenance，andresumehisstationintherank，withanardourandenthusiasmthatnothingcouldabate。
Thesportwasatitsheight，theslidingwasatthequickest，thelaughterwasattheloudest，whenasharpsmartcrackwasheard。Therewasaquickrushtowardsthebank，awildscreamfromtheladies，andashoutfromMr。Tupman。Alargemassoficedisappeared。thewaterbubbledupoverit。Mr。Pickwick’shat，gloves，andhandkerchiefwerefloatingonthesurface。
andthiswasallofMr。Pickwickthatanybodycouldsee。
Dismayandanguishweredepictedoneverycountenance，themalesturnedpale，andthefemalesfainted，Mr。SnodgrassandMr。Winklegraspedeachotherbythehand，andgazed...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
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