Really，sir，saidMr。Winkle，hesitatingwhethertogivehishandornot，andalmostfearingthatitwasdemandedinorderthathemightbetakenatanadvantage，really，sir，I——
Iknowwhatyoumean，interposedDowler。Youfeelaggrieved。Verynatural。SoshouldI。Iwaswrong。Ibegyourpardon。Befriendly。Forgiveme。Withthis，DowlerfairlyforcedhishanduponMr。Winkle，andshakingitwiththeutmostvehemence，declaredhewasafellowofextremespirit，andhehadahigheropinionofhimthanever。
Now，saidDowler，sitdown。Relateitall。Howdidyoufindme？Whendidyoufollow？Befrank。Tellme。
It’squiteaccidental，repliedMr。Winkle，greatlyperplexedbythecuriousandunexpectednatureoftheinterview。Quite。
Gladofit，saidDowler。Iwokethismorning。Ihadforgottenmythreat。Ilaughedattheaccident。Ifeltfriendly。Isaidso。
Towhom？inquiredMr。Winkle。
ToMrs。Dowler。`Youmadeavow，’saidshe。`Idid，’saidI。`Itwasarashone，’saidshe。`Itwas，’saidI。`I’llapologise。Whereishe？’
Who？inquiredMr。Winkle。
You，repliedDowler。Iwentdown-stairs。Youwerenottobefound。
Pickwicklookedgloomy。Shookhishead。Hopednoviolencewouldbecommitted。
Isawitall。Youfeltyourselfinsulted。Youhadgone，forafriendperhaps。
Possiblyforpistols。`Highspirit，’saidI。`Iadmirehim。’
Mr。Winklecoughed，andbeginningtoseehowthelandlay，assumedalookofimportance。
Ileftanoteforyou，resumedDowler。IsaidIwassorry。SoIwas。
Pressingbusinesscalledmehere。Youwerenotsatisfied。Youfollowed。
Yourequiredaverbalexplanation。Youwereright。It’sallovernow。Mybusinessisfinished。Igobackto-morrow。Joinme。
AsDowlerprogressedinhisexplanation，Mr。Winkle’scountenancegrewmoreandmoredignified。Themysteriousnatureofthecommencementoftheirconversationwasexplained。Mr。Dowlerhadasgreatanobjectiontoduellingashimself。inshort，thisblusteringandawfulpersonagewasoneofthemostegregiouscowardsinexistence，andinterpretingMr。Winkle’sabsencethroughthemediumofhisownfears，hadtakenthesamestepashimself，andprudentlyretireduntilallexcitementoffeelingshouldhavesubsided。
AstherealstateofthecasedawneduponMr。Winkle’smind，helookedveryterrible，andsaidhewasperfectlysatisfied。butatthesametime，saidso，withanairthatleftMr。Dowlernoalternativebuttoinferthatifhehadnotbeen，somethingmosthorribleanddestructivemustinevitablyhaveoccurred。Mr。DowlerappearedtobeimpressedwithabecomingsenseofMr。Winkle’smagnanimityandcondescension。andthetwobelligerentspartedforthenight，withmanyprotestationsofeternalfriendship。
Abouthalf-pasttwelveo’clock，whenMr。Winklehadbeenrevellingsometwentyminutesinthefullluxuryofhisfirstsleep，hewassuddenlyawakenedbyaloudknockingathischamber-door，which，beingrepeatedwithincreasedvehemence，causedhimtostartupinbed，andinquirewhowasthere，andwhatthematterwas。
Please，sir，here’sayoungmanwhichsayshemustseeyoudirectly，
respondedthevoiceofthechambermaid。
Ayoungman！exclaimedMr。Winkle。
Nomistakeaboutthat’ere，sir，repliedanothervoicethroughthekeyhole。andifthatwerysameinterestin’youngcreeturain’tletinvithoutdelay，it’swerypossibleashislegsvillenteraforehiscountenance。
Theyoungmangaveagentlekickatoneofthelowerpanelsofthedoor，afterhehadgivenutterancetothishint，asiftoaddforceandpointtotheremark。
Isthatyou，Sam？inquiredMr。Winkle，springingoutofbed。
Quiteunpossibletoidentifyanygen’l’m’nvithanydegreeo’mentalsatisfaction，vithoutlookin’athim，sir，repliedthevoice，dogmatically。
Mr。Winkle，notmuchdoubtingwhotheyoungmanwas，unlockedthedoor。
whichhehadnosoonerdone，thanMr。SamuelWellerenteredwithgreatprecipitation，andcarefullyre-lockingitontheinside，deliberatelyputthekeyinhiswaistcoatpocket：and，aftersurveyingMr。Winklefromheadtofoot，said：
You’reaweryhumorousyounggen’l’m’n，youair，sir！
Whatdoyoumeanbythisconduct，Sam？inquiredMr。Winkle，indignantly。
Getout，sir，thisinstant。Whatdoyoumean，sir？
WhatdoImean，retortedSam。come，sir，thisisraythertoorich，astheyoungladysaid，wensheremonstratedwiththepastry-cook，arterhe’dsoldherapork-pieashadgotnothin’butfatinside。WhatdoImean！Well，thatain’tabad’un，thatain’t。
Unlockthatdoor，andleavethisroomimmediately，sir，saidMr。Winkle。
Ishallleavethishereroom，sir，justpreciselyatthewerysamemomentasyouleavesit，respondedSam，speakinginaforciblemanner，andseatinghimselfwithperfectgravity。IfIfinditnecessarytocarryyouaway，pick-a-back，o’courseIshallleaveittheleastbito’timepossibleaforeyou。butallowmetoexpressahopeasyouwon’treducemetoex-tremities。insayingwich，Imerelyquotewotthenoblemansaidtothefractiouspennywinkle，venhevouldn’tcomeoutofhisshellbymeansofapin，andheconseqventlybegantobeafeeredthatheshouldbeobligedtocrackhimintheparlour-door。Attheendofthisaddress，whichwasunusuallylengthyforhim，Mr。Wellerplantedhishandsonhisknees，andlookedfullinMr。Winkle’sface，withanexpressionofcountenancewhichshowedthathehadnottheremotestintentionofbeingtrifledwith。
You’reaamiably-disposedyoungman，sir，Idon’tthink，resumedMr。
Weller，inatoneofmoralreproof，togoinwolvingourpreciousgovernorinallsortso’fanteegs，wenhe’smadeuphismindtogothrougheverythinkforprinciple。You’refarworsenorDodson，sir。andasforFogg，Iconsiderhimabornangeltoyou！Mr。Wellerhavingaccompaniedthislastsentimentwithanemphaticslaponeachknee，foldedhisarmswithalookofgreatdisgust，andthrewhimselfbackinhischair，asifawaitingthecriminal’sdefence。
Mygoodfellow，saidMr。Winkle，extendinghishand。histeethchatteringallthetimehespoke，forhehadbeenstanding，duringthewholeofMr。
Weller’slecture，inhisnight-gear。Mygoodfellow，Irespectyourattachmenttomyexcellentfriend，andIamverysorryindeed，tohaveaddedtohiscausesfordisquiet。There，Sam，there！
Well，saidSam，rathersulkily，butgivingtheprofferedhandarespectfulshakeatthesametime：Well，soyououghttobe，andIamwerygladtofindyouair。for，ifIcanhelpit，Iwon’thavehimputuponbynobody，andthat’sallaboutit。
Certainlynot，Sam，saidMr。Winkle。There！Nowgotobed，Sam，andwe’lltalkfurtheraboutthis，inthemorning。
I’mwerysorry，saidSam，butIcan’tgotobed。
Notgotobed！repeatedMr。Winkle。
No，saidSam，shakinghishead。Can’tbedone。
Youdon’tmeantosayyou’regoingbackto-night，Sam？urgedMr。Winkle，greatlysurprised。
Notunlessyouparticklerlywishit，repliedSam。butImustn’tleavethishereroom。Thegovernor’sorderswosperemptory。
Nonsense，Sam，saidMr。Winkle，Imuststopheretwoorthreedays。
andmorethanthat，Sam，youmuststopheretoo，toassistmeingaininganinterviewwithayounglady——MissAllen，Sam。yourememberher——whomImustandwillseebeforeIleaveBristol。
Butinreplytoeachofthesepositions，Samshookhisheadwithgreatfirmness，andenergeticallyreplied，Itcan’tbedone。
AfteragreatdealofargumentandrepresentationonthepartofMr。
Winkle，however，andafulldisclosureofwhathadpassedintheinterviewwithDowler，Sambegantowaver。andatlengthacompromisewaseffected，ofwhichthefollowingwerethemainandprincipalconditions：
ThatSamshouldretire，andleaveMr。Winkleintheundisturbedpossessionofhisapartment，ontheconditionthathehadpermissiontolockthedoorontheoutside，andcarryoffthekey。providedalways，thatintheeventofanalarmoffire，orotherdangerouscontingency，thedoorshouldbeinstantlyunlocked。ThatalettershouldbewrittentoMr。Pickwickearlynextmorning，andforwardedperDowler，requestinghisconsenttoSamandMr。Winkle’sremainingatBristol，forthepurpose，andwiththeobject，alreadyassigned，andbeggingananswerbythenextcoach。iffavourable，theaforesaidpartiestoremainaccordingly，andifnot，toreturntoBathimmediatelyonthereceiptthereof。And，lastly，thatMr。Winkleshouldbeunderstoodasdistinctlypledginghimselfnottoresorttothewindow，fireplace，orothersurreptitiousmodeofescape，inthemeanwhile。Thesestipulationshavingbeenconcluded，Samlockedthedooranddeparted。
Hehadnearlygotdown-stairs，whenhestopped，anddrewthekeyfromhispocket。
Iquiteforgotabouttheknockin’down，saidSam，halfturningback。
Thegovernordistinctlysaiditwastobedone。Amazin’stupido’me，that’ere！Nevermind，saidSam，brighteningup，it’seasilydoneto-morrow，anyvays。
Apparentlymuchconsoledbythisreflection，Mr。Welleroncemoredepositedthekeyinhispocket，anddescendingtheremainderofthestairswithoutanyfreshvisitationsofconscience，wassoon，incommonwiththeotherinmatesofthehouse，buriedinprofoundrepose。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter39[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXXXIXMR。SAMUELWELLER，BEINGENTRUSTEDWITHAMISSION
OFLOVE，PROCEEDSTOEXECUTEIT。WITHWHATSUCCESSWILLHEREINAFTERAPPEAR
DURINGthewholeofnextday，SamkeptMr。Winklesteadilyinsight，fullydeterminednottotakehiseyeoffhimforoneinstant，untilheshouldreceiveexpressinstructionsfromthefountain-head。
HoweverdisagreeableSam’sveryclosewatchandgreatvigilanceweretoMr。Winkle，hethoughtitbettertobearwiththem，than，byanyactofviolentopposition，tohazardbeingcarriedawaybyforce，whichMr。Wellermorethanoncestronglyhintedwasthelineofconductthatastrictsenseofdutypromptedhimtopursue。ThereislittlereasontodoubtthatSamwouldveryspeedilyhavequietedhisscruples，bybearingMr。WinklebacktoBath，boundhandandfoot，hadnotMr。Pickwick’spromptattentiontothenote，whichDowlerhadundertakentodeliver，forestalledanysuchproceeding。Inshort，ateighto’clockintheevening，Mr。Pickwickhimselfwalkedintothecoffee-roomoftheBushtavern，andtoldSamwithasmile，tohisverygreatrelief，thathehaddonequiteright，anditwasunnecessaryforhimtomountguardanylonger。
Ithoughtitbettertocomemyself，saidMr。Pickwick，addressingMr。Winkle，asSamdisencumberedhimofhisgreat-coatandtravellingshawl，toascertain，beforeIgavemyconsenttoSam’semploymentinthismatter，thatyouarequiteinearnestandserious，withrespecttothisyounglady。
Serious，frommyheart——frommysoul！returnedMr。Winkle，withgreatenergy。
Remember，saidMr。Pickwick，withbeamingeyes，wemetheratourexcellentandhospitablefriend’s，Winkle。Itwouldbeanillreturntotamperlightly，andwithoutdueconsiderationwiththisyounglady’saffections。
I’llnotallowthat，sir。I’llnotallowit。
Ihavenosuchintention，indeed，exclaimedMr。Winkle，warmly。I
haveconsideredthematterwell，foralongtime，andIfeelthatmyhappinessisboundupinher。
That’swotwecalltyingitupinasmallparcel，sir，interposedMr。Weller，withanagreeablesmile。
Mr。Winklelookedsomewhatsternatthisinterruption，andMr。Pickwickangrilyrequestedhisattendantnottojestwithoneofthebestfeelingsofournature。towhichSamreplied，Thathewouldn’t，ifhewasawareonit。butthereweresomanyon’em，thathehardlyknow’dwhichwasthebestoneswenheheerd’emmentioned。
Mr。WinklethenrecountedwhathadpassedbetweenhimselfandMr。BenAllen，relativetoArabella。statedthathisobjectwastogainaninterviewwiththeyounglady，andmakeaformaldisclosureofhispassion。anddeclaredhisconviction，foundedoncertaindarkhintsandmutteringsoftheaforesaidBen，that，wherevershewasatpresentimmured，itwassomewhereneartheDowns。Andthiswashiswholestockofknowledgeorsuspiciononthesubject。
Withthisveryslightcluetoguidehim，itwasdeterminedthatMr。
Wellershouldstartnextmorningonanexpeditionofdiscovery。itwasalsoarrangedthatMr。PickwickandMr。Winkle，whowerelessconfidentoftheirpowers，shouldparadethetownmeanwhile，andaccidentallydropinuponMr。BobSawyerinthecourseoftheday，inthehopeofseeingorhearingsomethingoftheyounglady’swhereabout。
Accordingly，nextmorning，SamWellerissuedforthuponhisquest，innowaydauntedbytheverydiscouragingprospectbeforehim。andawayhewalked，uponestreetanddownanother——weweregoingtosay，uponehillanddownanother，onlyit’salluphillatClifton——withoutmeetingwithanythingoranybodythattendedtothrowthefaintestlightonthematterinhand。ManywerethecolloquiesintowhichSamenteredwithgroomswhowereairinghorsesonroads，andnursemaidswhowereairingchildreninlanes。butnothingcouldSamelicitfromeitherthefirst-mentionedorthelast，whichboretheslightestreferencetotheobjectofhisartfully-prosecutedinquiries。Therewereagreatmanyyoungladiesinagreatmanyhouses，thegreaterpartwhereofwereshrewdlysuspectedbythemaleandfemaledomesticstobedeeplyattachedtosomebody，orperfectlyreadytobecomeso，ifopportunityoffered。ButasnoneamongtheseyoungladieswasMissArabellaAllen，theinformationleftSamatexactlytheoldpointofwisdomatwhichhehadstoodbefore。
SamstruggledacrosstheDownsagainstagoodhighwindwonderingwhetheritwasalwaysnecessarytoholdyourhatonwithbothhandsinthatpartofthecountry，andcametoashadyby-placeaboutwhichweresprinkledseverallittlevillasofquietandsecludedappearance。Outsideastable-dooratthebottomofalongbacklanewithoutathoroughfare，agroominundresswasidlingabout，apparentlypersuadinghimselfthathewasdoingsomethingwithaspadeandawheelbarrow。Wemayremark，inthisplace，thatwehavescarcelyeverseenagroomnearastable，inhislazymoments，whohasnotbeen，toagreaterorlessextent，thevictimofthissingulardelusion。
Samthoughthemightaswelltalktothisgroomastoanyoneelse，especiallyashewasverytiredwithwalking，andtherewasagoodlargestonejustoppositethewheelbarrow。sohestrolleddownthelane，and，seatinghimselfonthestone，openedaconversationwiththeeaseandfreedomforwhichhewasremarkable。
Mornin’，oldfriend，saidSam。
Arternoon，youmean，repliedthegroom，castingasurlylookatSam。
You’reweryright，oldfriend，saidSam。Idomeanarternoon。
Howareyou？
Why，Idon’tfindmyselfmuchthebetterforseeingofyou，repliedtheill-temperedgroom。
That’sweryodd——thatis，saidSam，foryoulooksouncommoncheerful，andseemaltogethersolively，thatitdoesvun’sheartgoodtoseeyou。
Thesurlygroomlookedsurlierstillatthis，butnotsufficientlysotoproduceanyeffectuponSam，whoimmediatelyinquired，withacountenanceofgreatanxiety，whetherhismaster’snamewasnotWalker。
No，itain’t，saidthegroom。
NorBrown，Is’pose？saidSam。
No，itain’t。
NorVilson？
No。northatneither，saidthegroom。
Vell，repliedSam，thenI’mmistaken，andhehasn’tgotthehonoro’myacquaintance，whichIthoughthehad。Don’twaithereouto’complimenttome，saidSam，asthegroomwheeledinthebarrow，andpreparedtoshutthegate。Easeaforeceremony，oldboy。I’llexcuseyou。
I’dknockyourheadoffforhalf-a-crown，saidthesurlygroom，boltingonehalfofthegate。
Coudn’taffordtohaveitdoneonthoseterms，rejoinedSam。It’udbeworthalife’sboardvagesatleast，toyou，and’udbecheapatthat。
Makemycomplimentsindoors。Tell’emnottovaitdinnerforme，andsaytheyneedn’tmindputtin’anyby，forit’llbecoldaforeIcomein。
Inreplytothis，thegroomwaxingverywroth，mutteredadesiretodamagesomebody’sperson。butdisappearedwithoutcarryingitintoexecution，slammingthedoorangrilyafterhim，andwhollyunheedingSam’saffectionaterequest，thathewouldleavehimalockofhishairbeforehewent。
Samcontinuedtositonthelargestone，meditatinguponwhatwasbesttobedone，andrevolvinginhismindaplanforknockingatallthedoorswithinfivemilesofBristol，takingthematahundredandfiftyortwohundredaday，andendeavouringtofindMissArabellabythatexpedient，whenaccidentallofasuddenthrewinhiswaywhathemighthavesatthereforatwelvemonthandyetnotfoundwithoutit。
Intothelanewherehesat，thereopenedthreeorfourgarden-gates，belongingtoasmanyhouses，whichthoughdetachedfromeachother，wereonlyseparatedbytheirgardens。Asthesewerelargeandlong，andwellplantedwithtrees，thehouseswerenotonlyatsomedistanceoff，butthegreaterpartofthemwerenearlyconcealedfromview。Samwassittingwithhiseyesfixeduponthedustheapoutsidethenextgatetothatbywhichthegroomhaddisappeared，profoundlyturningoverinhismindthedifficultiesofhispresentundertaking，whenthegateopened，andafemaleservantcameoutintothelanetoshakesomebed-sidecarpets。
Samwassoverybusywithhisownthoughts，thatitisprobablehewouldhavetakennomorenoticeoftheyoungwomanthanjustraisinghisheadandremarkingthatshehadaveryneatandprettyfigure，ifhisfeelingsofgallantryhadnotbeenmoststronglyrousedbyobservingthatshehadnoonetohelpher，andthatthecarpetsseemedtooheavyforhersinglestrength。Mr。Wellerwasagentlemanofgreatgallantryinhisownway，andhenosoonerremarkedthiscircumstancethanhehastilyrosefromthelargestone，andadvancedtowardsher。
Mydear，saidSam，slidingupwithanairofgreatrespect，You’llspilethatweryprettyfigureouto’allperportionifyoushakethemcarpetsbyyourself。Letmehelpyou。
Theyounglady，whohadbeencoylyaffectingnottoknowthatagentlemanwassonear，turnedroundasSamspoke——nodoubtindeedshesaidso，afterwards
todeclinethisofferfromaperfectstranger——wheninsteadofspeaking，shestartedback，andutteredahalf-suppressedscream。Samwasscarcelylessstupefied，forinthecountenanceofthewell-shapedfemaleservant，hebeheldtheveryeyesofhisValentine，theprettyhousemaidfromMr。
Nupkins’s。
Wy，Marymydear！saidSam。
Lauk，Mr。Weller，saidMary，howyoudofrightenone！
Sammadenoverbalanswertothiscomplaint，norcanwepreciselysaywhatreplyhedidmake。WemerelyknowthatafterashortpauseMarysaid，Lor’，doadun，Mr。Weller！andthathishathadfallenoffafewmomentsbefore——frombothofwhichtokensweshouldbedisposedtoinferthatonekissormore，hadpassedbetweentheparties。
Why，howdidyoucomehere？saidMary，whentheconversationtowhichthisinterruptionhadbeenoffered，wasresumed。
O’courseIcametolookarteryou，mydarlin’，repliedMr。Weller。
foroncepermittinghispassiontogetthebetterofhisveracity。
AndhowdidyouknowIwashere？inquiredMary。WhocouldhavetoldyouthatItookanotherserviceatIpswich，andthattheyafterwardsmovedallthewayhere？Whocouldhaveto...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
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