Longbeforethecloseofthisaddress，whichweareboundtosaywasofaveryprosycharacterforMr。Pickwick，theSerjeanthadrelapsedintoastateofabstraction。Aftersomeminutes，however，duringwhichhehadreassumedhispen，heappearedtobeagainawareofthepresenceofhisclients。raisinghisheadfromthepaper，hesaid，rathersnappishly，Whoiswithmeinthiscase？
Mr。Phunky，SerjeantSnubbin，repliedtheattorney。
Phunky，Phunky，saidtheSerjeant，Ineverheardthenamebefore。
Hemustbeaveryyoungman。
Yes，heisaveryyoungman，repliedtheattorney。Hewasonlycalledtheotherday。Letmesee——hehasnotbeenattheBareightyearsyet。
Ah，Ithoughtnot，saidtheSerjeant，inthatsortofpityingtoneinwhichordinaryfolkswouldspeakofaveryhelplesslittlechild。Mr。
Mallard，sendroundtoMr——Mr——
Phunky’s——HolbornCourt，Gray’sInn，interposedPerker。HolbornCourt，bythebye，isSouthSquarenow。Mr。Phunky，andsayIshouldbegladifhe’dstephere，amoment。
Mr。Mallarddepartedtoexecutehiscommission。andSerjeantSnubbinrelapsedintoabstractionuntilMr。Phunkyhimselfwasintroduced。
Althoughaninfantbarrister，hewasafull-grownman。Hehadaverynervousmanner，andapainfulhesitationinhisspeech。itdidnotappeartobeanaturaldefect，butseemedrathertheresultoftimidity，arisingfromtheconsciousnessofbeingkeptdownbywantofmeans，orinterest，orconnexion，orimpudence，asthecasemightbe。HewasoverawedbytheSerjeant，andprofoundlycourteoustotheattorney。
Ihavenothadthepleasureofseeingyoubefore，Mr。Phunky，saidSerjeantSnubbin，withhaughtycondescension。
Mr。Phunkybowed。HehadhadthepleasureofseeingtheSerjeant，andofenvyinghimtoo，withallapoorman’senvy，foreightyearsandaquarter。
Youarewithmeinthiscase，Iunderstand？saidtheSerjeant。
IfMr。Phunkyhadbeenarichman，hewouldhaveinstantlysentforhisclerktoremindhim：ifhehadbeenawiseone，hewouldhaveappliedhisforefingertohisforehead，andendeavouredtorecollect，whether，inthemultiplicityofhisengagementshehadundertakenthisone，ornot。
butashewasneitherrichnorwiseinthissenseatalleventsheturnedred，andbowed。
Haveyoureadthepapers，Mr。Phunky？inquiredtheSerjeant。
Hereagain，Mr。Phunkyshouldhaveprofessedtohaveforgottenallaboutthemeritsofthecase。butashehadreadsuchpapersashadbeenlaidbeforehiminthecourseoftheaction，andhadthoughtofnothingelse，wakingorsleeping，throughoutthetwomonthsduringwhichhehadbeenretainedasMr。SerjeantSnubbin’sjunior，heturnedadeeperred，andbowedagain。
ThisisMr。Pickwick，saidtheSerjeant，wavinghispeninthedirectioninwhichthatgentlemanwasstanding。
Mr。PhunkybowedtoMr。Pickwickwithareverencewhichafirstclientmusteverawaken。andagaininclinedhisheadtowardshisleader。
PerhapsyouwilltakeMr。Pickwickaway，saidtheSerjeant，and——and——and——hearanythingMr。Pickwickmaywishtocommunicate。Weshallhaveaconsultation，ofcourse。Withthishintthathehadbeeninterruptedquitelongenough，Mr。SerjeantSnubbin，whohadbeengraduallygrowingmoreandmoreabstracted，appliedhisglasstohiseyesforaninstant，bowedslightlyround，andwasoncemoredeeplyimmersedinthecasebeforehim：whicharoseoutofaninterminablelawsuit，originatingintheactofanindividual，deceasedacenturyorsoago，whohadstoppedupapathwayleadingfromsomeplacewhichnobodyevercamefrom，tosomeotherplacewhichnobodyeverwentto。
Mr。PhunkywouldnothearofpassingthroughanydooruntilMr。Pickwickandhissolicitorhadpassedthroughbeforehim，soitwassometimebeforetheygotintotheSquare。andwhentheydidreachit，theywalkedupanddown，andheldalongconference，theresultofwhichwas，thatitwasaverydifficultmattertosayhowtheverdictwouldgo。thatnobodycouldpresumetocalculateontheissueofanaction。thatitwasveryluckytheyhadpreventedtheotherpartyfromgettingSerjeantSnubbin。andothertopicsofdoubtandconsolation，commoninsuchapositionofaffairs。
Mr。Wellerwasthenrousedbyhismasterfromasweetsleepofanhour’sduration。and，biddingadieutoLowten，theyreturnedtotheCity。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter32[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXXXIIDESCRIBES，FARMOREFULLYTHANTHECOURTNEWSMAN
EVERDID，ABACHELOR’SPARTY，GIVENBYMR。BOBSAWYERATHISLODGINGSIN
THEBOROUGH
THEREisareposeaboutLantStreet，intheBorough，whichshedsagentlemelancholyuponthesoul。Therearealwaysagoodmanyhousestoletinthestreet：itisabye-streettoo，anditsdulnessissoothing。AhouseinLantStreetwouldnotcomewithinthedenominationofafirst-rateresidence，inthestrictacceptationoftheterm。butitisamostdesirablespotnevertheless。Ifamanwishedtoabstracthimselffromtheworld——toremovehimselffromwithinthereachoftemptation——toplacehimselfbeyondthepossibilityofanyinducementtolookoutofthewindow——heshouldbyallmeansgotoLantStreet。
Inthishappyretreatarecolonisedafewclear-starchers，asprinklingofjourneymenbookbinders，oneortwoprisonagentsfortheInsolventCourt，severalsmallhousekeeperswhoareemployedintheDocks，ahandfulofmantua-makers，andaseasoningofjobbingtailors。Themajorityoftheinhabitantseitherdirecttheirenergiestothelettingoffurnishedapartments，ordevotethemselvestothehealthfulandinvigoratingpursuitofmangling。
Thechieffeaturesinthestilllifeofthestreetaregreenshutters，lodging-bills，brassdoor-plates，andbell-handles。theprincipalspecimensofanimatednature，thepot-boy，themuffinyouth，andthebaked-potatoman。Thepopulationismigratory，usuallydisappearingonthevergeofquarter-day，andgenerallybynight。HisMajesty’srevenuesareseldomcollectedinthishappyvalley。therentsaredubious。andthewatercommunicationisveryfrequentlycutoff。
Mr。BobSawyerembellishedonesideofthefire，inhisfirst-floorfront，earlyontheeveningforwhichhehadinvitedMr。Pickwick。andMr。BenAllentheother。Thepreparationsforthereceptionofvisitorsappearedtobecompleted。Theumbrellasinthepassagehadbeenheapedintothelittlecorneroutsidetheback-parlourdoor。thebonnetandshawlofthelandlady’sservanthadbeenremovedfromthebannisters。therewerenotmorethantwopairsofpattensonthestreet-doormat，andakitchencandle，withaverylongsnuff，burntcheerfullyontheledgeofthestaircasewindow。Mr。BobSawyerhadhimselfpurchasedthespiritsatawinevaultsinHighStreet，andhadreturnedhomeprecedingthebearerthereof，toprecludethepossibilityoftheirdeliveryatthewronghouse。Thepunchwasreadymadeinaredpaninthebed-room。alittletable，coveredwithagreenbaizecloth，hadbeenborrowedfromtheparlour，toplayatcardson。andtheglassesoftheestablishment，togetherwiththosewhichhadbeenborrowedfortheoccasionfromthepublic-house，werealldrawnupinatray，whichwasdepositedonthelandingoutsidethedoor。
Notwithstandingthehighlysatisfactorynatureofallthesearrangements，therewasacloudonthecountenanceofMr。BobSawyer，ashesatbythefireside。Therewasasympathisingexpression，too，inthefeaturesofMr。BenAllen，ashegazedintentlyonthecoals。andatoneofmelancholyinhisvoice，ashesaid，afteralongsilence：
Well，itisunluckysheshouldhavetakenitinherheadtoturnsour，justonthisoccasion。Shemightatleasthavewaitedtillto-morrow。
That’shermalevolence，that’shermalevolence，returnedMr。BobSawyer，vehemently。ShesaysthatifIcanaffordtogiveapartyIoughttobeabletopayherconfounded`littlebill。’
Howlonghasitbeenrunning？inquiredMr。BenAllen。Abill，bythebye，isthemostextraordinarylocomotiveenginethatthegeniusofmaneverproduced。Itwouldkeeponrunningduringthelongestlifetime，withouteveroncestoppingofitsownaccord。
Onlyaquarter，andamonthorso，repliedMr。BobSawyer。
BenAllencoughedhopelessly，anddirectedasearchinglookbetweenthetwotopbarsofthestove。
It’llbeadeucedunpleasantthingifshetakesitintoherheadtoletout，whenthosefellowsarehere，won’tit？saidMr。BenAllenatlength。
Horrible，repliedBobSawyer，horrible。
Alowtapwasheardattheroomdoor。Mr。BobSawyerlookedexpressivelyathisfriend，andbadethetappercomein。whereuponadirtyslipshodgirlinblackcottonstockings，whomighthavepassedfortheneglecteddaughterofasuperannuateddustmaninveryreducedcircumstances，thrustinherhead，andsaid，Please，MisterSawyer，MissisRaddlewantstospeaktoyou。
BeforeMr。BobSawyercouldreturnanyanswer，thegirlsuddenlydisappearedwithajerk，asifsomebodyhadgivenheraviolentpullbehind。thismysteriousexitwasnosooneraccomplished，thantherewasanothertapatthedoor——asmartpointedtap，whichseemedtosay，HereIam，andinI’mcoming。
Mr。BobSawyerglancedathisfriendwithalookofabjectapprehension，andoncemorecriedComein。
Thepermissionwasnotatallnecessary，for，beforeMr。BobSawyerhadutteredthewords，alittlefiercewomanbouncedintotheroom，allinatremblewithpassion，andpalewithrage。
Now，Mr。Sawyer，saidthelittlefiercewoman，tryingtoappearverycalm，ifyou’llhavethekindnesstosettlethatlittlebillofmineI’llthankyou，becauseI’vegotmyrenttopaythisafternoon，andmylandlord’sawaitingbelownow。Herethelittlewomanrubbedherhands，andlookedsteadilyoverMr。BobSawyer’shead，atthewallbehindhim。
Iamverysorrytoputyoutoanyinconvenience，Mrs。Raddle，saidBobSawyer，deferentially，but——
Oh，itisn’tanyinconvenience，repliedthelittlewoman，withashrilltitter。Ididn’twantitparticularbeforetoday。leastways，asithastogotomylandlorddirectly，itwasaswellforyoutokeepitasme。
Youpromisedmethisafternoon，Mr。Sawyer，andeverygentlemanashaseverlivedhere，haskepthisword，sir，asofcourseanybodyascallshimselfagentleman，does。Mrs。Raddletossedherhead，bitherlips，rubbedherhandsharder，andlookedatthewallmoresteadilythanever。
Itwasplaintosee，asMr。BobSawyerremarkedinastyleofeasternallegoryonasubsequentoccasion，thatshewasgettingthesteamup。
Iamverysorry，Mrs。Raddle，saidBobSawyerwithallimaginablehumility，butthefactis，thatIhavebeendisappointedintheCityto-day——ExtraordinaryplacethatCity。Anastonishingnumberofmenalwaysaregettingdisappointedthere。
Well，Mr。Sawyer，saidMrs。Raddle，plantingherselffirmlyonapurplecauliflowerintheKidderminstercarpet，andwhat’sthattome，sir？
I——I——havenodoubt，Mrs。Raddle，saidBobSawyer，blinkingthislastquestion，thatbeforethemiddleofnextweekweshallbeabletosetourselvesquitesquare，andgoon，onabettersystem，afterwards。
ThiswasallMrs。Raddlewanted。ShehadbustleduptotheapartmentoftheunluckyBobSawyer，sobentupongoingintoapassion，that，inallprobability，paymentwouldhaveratherdisappointedherthanotherwise。
Shewasinexcellentorderforalittlerelaxationofthekind：havingjustexchangedafewintroductorycomplimentswithMr。R。inthefrontkitchen。
Doyousuppose，Mr。Sawyer，saidMrs。Raddle，elevatinghervoicefortheinformationoftheneighbours，doyousupposethatI’ma-goingdayafterdaytoletafellaroccupymylodgingsasneverthinksofpayinghisrent，noreventheverymoneylaidoutforthefreshbutterandlumpsugarthat’sboughtforhisbreakfast，andtheverymilkthat’stookin，atthestreetdoor？Doyousupposeahard-workingandindustriouswomanashaslivedinthisstreetfortwentyyeartenyearovertheway，andnineyearandthreequarterinthisveryhousehasnothingelsetodobuttoworkherselftodeathafteraparceloflazyidlefellars，thatarealwayssmokinganddrinking，andlounging，whentheyoughttobegladtoturntheirhandstoanythingthatwouldhelp’emtopaytheirbills？
Doyou——
Mygoodsoul，interposedMr。BenjaminAllen，soothingly。
Havethegoodnesstokeepyourobservashunstoyourself，sir，Ibeg，
saidMrs。Raddle，suddenlyarrestingtherapidtorrentofherspeech，andaddressingthethirdpartywithimpressiveslownessandsolemnity。Iamnotaweer，sir，thatyouhaveanyrighttoaddressyourconversationtome。Idon’tthinkIlettheseapartmentstoyou，sir。
No，youcertainlydidnot，saidMr。BenjaminAllen。
Verygood，sir，respondedMrs。Raddle，withloftypoliteness。Thenp’raps，sir，you’llconfineyourselftobreakingthearmsandlegsofthepoorpeopleinthehospitals，andkeepyourselftoyourself，sir，ortheremaybesomepersonshereaswillmakeyou，sir。
Butyouaresuchanunreasonablewoman，remonstratedMr。BenjaminAllen。
Ibegyourparding，youngman，saidMrs。Raddle，inacoldperspirationofanger。Butwillyouhavethegoodnessjusttocallmethatagain，sir？
Ididn’tmakeuseofthewordinanyinvidioussense，ma’am，repliedMr。BenjaminAllen，growingsomewhatuneasyonhisownaccount。
Ibegyourparding，youngman，demandedMrs。Raddleinalouderandmoreimperativetone。Butwhodoyoucallawoman？Didyoumakethatremarktome，sir？
Why，blessmyheart！saidMr。BenjaminAllen。
Didyouapplythatnametome，Iaskofyou，sir？interruptedMrs。
Raddle，withintensefierceness，throwingthedoorwideopen。
Why，ofcourseIdid，repliedMr。BenjaminAllen。
Yes，ofcourseyoudid，saidMrs。Raddle，backinggraduallytothedoor，andraisinghervoicetoitsloudestpitch，forthespecialbehoofofMr。Raddleinthekitchen。Yes，ofcourseyoudid！Andeverybodyknowsthattheymaysafelyinsultmeinmyown’ousewhilemyhusbandsitssleepingdown-stairs，andtakingnomorenoticethanifIwasadoginthestreets。
HeoughttobeashamedofhimselfhereMrs。Raddlesobbedtoallowhiswifetobetreatedinthiswaybyaparcelofyoungcuttersandcarversoflivepeople’sbodies，thatdisgracesthelodgingsanothersob，andleavingherexposedtoallmannerofabuse。abase，faint-hearted，timorouswretch，that’safraidtocomeup-stairs，andfacetheruffinlycreatures——that’safraid——that’safraidtocome！Mrs。Raddlepausedtolistenwhethertherepetitionofthetaunthadrousedherbetterhalf。and，findingthatithadnotbeensuccessful，proceededtodescendthestairswithsobsinnumerable：
whentherecamealouddoubleknockatthestreetdoor：whereuponsheburstintoanhystericalfitofweeping，accompaniedwithdismalmoans，whichwasprolongeduntiltheknockhadbeenrepeatedsixtimes，when，inanuncontrollableburstofmentalagony，shethrewdownalltheumbrellas，anddisappearedintothebackparlour，closingthedoorafterherwithanawfulcrash。
DoesMr。Sawyerlivehere？saidMr。Pickwick，whenthedoorwasopened。
Yes，saidthegirl，firstfloor。It’sthedoorstraightaforeyou，whenyougetstothetopofthestairs。Havinggiventhisinstruction，thehandmaid，whohadbeenbroughtupamongtheaboriginalinhabitantsofSouthwark，disappeared，withthecandleinherhand，downthekitchenstairs：perfectlysatisfiedthatshehaddoneeverythingthatcouldpossiblyberequiredofherunderthecircumstances。
Mr。Snodgrass，whoenteredlast，securedthestreetdoor，afterseveralineffectualefforts，byputtingupthechain。andthefriendsstumbledup-stairs，wheretheywerereceivedbyMr。BobSawyer，whohadbeenafraidtogodown，lestheshouldbewaylaidbyMrs。Raddle。
Howareyou？saidthediscomfitedstudent。Gladtoseeyou，——takecareoftheglasses。ThiscautionwasaddressedtoMr。Pickwick，whohadputhishatinthetray。
Dearme，saidMr。Pickwick，Ibegyourpardon。
Don’tmentionit，don’tmentionit，saidBobSawyer。I’mratherconfinedforroom，here，butyoumustputupwithallthat，whenyoucometoseeayoungbachelor。Walkin。You’veseenthisgentlemanbefore，Ithink？
Mr。PickwickshookhandswithMr。BenjaminAllen，andhisfriendsfollowedhisexample。Theyhadscarcelytakentheirseatswhentherewasanotherdoubleknock。
Ihopethat’sJackHopkins！saidMr。BobSawyer。Hush。Yes，itis。
Comeup，Jack。comeup。
Aheavyfootstepwashearduponthestairs，andJackHopkinspresentedhimself。Heworeablackvelvetwaist-coat，withthunder-and-lightningbuttons。andabluestripedshirt，withawhitefalsecollar。
You’relate，Jack？saidMr。BenjaminAllen。
BeendetainedatBartholomew’s，repliedHopkins。
Anythingnew？
No，nothingparticular。Ratheragoodaccidentbroughtintothecasualtyward。
Whatwasthat，sir？inquiredMr。Pickwick。
Onlyamanfallenoutofafourpairofstairs’window——butit’saveryfaircase——veryfaircaseindeed。
Doyoumeanthatthepatientisinafairwaytorecover？inquiredMr。Pickwick。
No，repliedHopkins，carelessly。No，Ishouldrathersayhewouldn’t。
Theremustbeasplendidoperationthough，to-morrow——magnificentsightifSlasherdoesit。
YouconsiderMr。Slasheragoodoperator？saidMr。Pickwick。
Bestalive，repliedHopkins。Tookaboy’slegoutofthesocketlastweek——boyatefiveapplesandaginger-breadcake——exactlytwominutesafteritwasallover，boysaidhewouldn’tlietheretobemadegameof，andhe’dtellhismotheriftheydidn’tbegin。
Dearme！saidMr。Pickwick，astonished。
Pooh！That’snothing，thatain’t，saidJackHopkins。Isit，Bob？
Nothingatall，repliedMr。BobSawyer。
Bythebye，Bob，saidHopkins，withascarcelyperceptibleglanceatMr。Pickwick’sattentiveface，wehadacuriousaccidentlastnight。
Achildwasbroughtin，whohadswallowedanecklace。
Swallowedwhat，sir？interruptedMr。Pickwick。
Anecklace，repliedJackHopkins。Notallatonce，youknow，thatwouldbetoomuch——youcouldn’tswallowthat，ifthechilddid——eh，Mr。Pickwick，ha！ha！Mr。Hopkinsappearedhighlygratifiedwithhisownpleasantry。andcontinued。No，thewaywasthis。Child’sparentswerepoorpeoplewholivedinacourt。Child’seldestsisterboughtanecklace。
commonnecklace，madeoflargeblackwoodenbeads。Child，beingfondoftoys，cribbedthenecklace，hidit，playedwithit，cutthestring，andswallowedabead。Childthoughtitcapitalfun，wentbacknextday，andswallowedanotherbead。
Blessmyheart，saidMr。Pickwick，whatadreadfulthing！Ibegyourpardon，sir。Goon。
Nextday，childswallowedtwobeads。thedayafterthat，hetreatedhimselftothree，andsoon，tillinaweek’stimehehadgotthroughthenecklace——five-and-twentybeadsinall。Thesister，whowasanindustriousgirl，andseldomtreatedherselftoabitoffinery，criedhereyesout，atthelossofthenecklace。lookedhighandlowforit。but，Ineedn’tsay，didn’tfindit。Afewdaysafterwards，thefamilywereatdinner——bakedshoulderofmutton，andpotatoesunderit——thechild，whowasn’thungry，wasplayingabouttheroom，whensuddenlytherewasheardadevilofanoise，likeasmallhailstorm。`Don’tdothat，myboy，’saidthefather。
`Iain’tadoin’nothing，’saidthechild。`Well，don’tdoitaga...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
第17章