第 3 节
作者:
天马行空 更新:2021-02-21 14:56 字数:9322
dirty; but not in any other case) he lies with his knees up; and the soles of
his boots planted firmly on the cushion; so that if any low fellow should
ask him to make room for a lady; he takes ample revenge upon her dress;
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without going at all out of his way to do it。 He always sits with his hat
on; and flourishes his stick in the air while the play is proceeding; with a
dignified contempt of the performance; if it be possible for one or two out…
and…out young gentlemen to get up a little crowding in the passages; they
are quite in their element; squeezing; pushing; whooping; and shouting in
the most humorous manner possible。 If they can only succeed in
irritating the gentleman who has a family of daughters under his charge;
they are like to die with laughing; and boast of it among their companions
for a week afterwards; adding; that one or two of them were 'devilish fine
girls;' and that they really thought the youngest would have fainted; which
was the only thing wanted to render the joke complete。
If the out…and…out young gentleman have a mother and sisters; of
course he treats them with becoming contempt; inasmuch as they (poor
things!) having no notion of life or gaiety; are far too weak…spirited and
moping for him。 Sometimes; however; on a birth… day or at Christmas…
time; he cannot very well help accompanying them to a party at some old
friend's; with which view he comes home when they have been dressed an
hour or two; smelling very strongly of tobacco and spirits; and after
exchanging his rough coat for some more suitable attire (in which
however he loses nothing of the out…and…outer); gets into the coach and
grumbles all the way at his own good nature: his bitter reflections
aggravated by the recollection; that Tom Smith has taken the chair at a
little impromptu dinner at a fighting man's; and that a set…to was to take
place on a dining…table; between the fighting man and his brother… in…law;
which is probably 'coming off' at that very instant。
As the out…and…out young gentleman is by no means at his ease in
ladies' society; he shrinks into a corner of the drawing…room when they
reach the friend's; and unless one of his sisters is kind enough to talk to
him; remains there without being much troubled by the attentions of other
people; until he espies; lingering outside the door; another gentleman;
whom he at once knows; by his air and manner (for there is a kind of free…
masonry in the craft); to be a brother out…and…outer; and towards whom he
accordingly makes his way。 Conversation being soon opened by some
casual remark; the second out…and…outer confidentially informs the first;
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that he is one of the rough sort and hates that kind of thing; only he
couldn't very well be off coming; to which the other replies; that that's just
his case … 'and I'll tell you what;' continues the out… and…outer in a whisper;
'I should like a glass of warm brandy and water just now;' … 'Or a pint of
stout and a pipe;' suggests the other out…and…outer。
The discovery is at once made that they are sympathetic souls; each of
them says at the same moment; that he sees the other understands what's
what: and they become fast friends at once; more especially when it
appears; that the second out…and…outer is no other than a gentleman; long
favourably known to his familiars as 'Mr。 Warmint Blake;' who upon
divers occasions has distinguished himself in a manner that would not
have disgraced the fighting man; and who … having been a pretty long time
about town … had the honour of once shaking hands with the celebrated Mr。
Thurtell himself。
At supper; these gentlemen greatly distinguish themselves; brightening
up very much when the ladies leave the table; and proclaiming aloud their
intention of beginning to spend the evening … a process which is generally
understood to be satisfactorily performed; when a great deal of wine is
drunk and a great deal of noise made; both of which feats the out…and…out
young gentlemen execute to perfection。 Having protracted their sitting
until long after the host and the other guests have adjourned to the
drawing… room; and finding that they have drained the decanters empty;
they follow them thither with complexions rather heightened; and faces
rather bloated with wine; and the agitated lady of the house whispers her
friends as they waltz together; to the great terror of the whole room; that
'both Mr。 Blake and Mr。 Dummins are very nice sort of young men in their
way; only they are eccentric persons; and unfortunately RATHER TOO
WILD!'
The remaining class of out…and…out young gentlemen is composed of
persons; who; having no money of their own and a soul above earning any;
enjoy similar pleasures; nobody knows how。 These respectable
gentlemen; without aiming quite so much at the out…and…out in external
appearance; are distinguished by all the same amiable and attractive
characteristics; in an equal or perhaps greater degree; and now and then
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find their way into society; through the medium of the other class of out…
and…out young gentlemen; who will sometimes carry them home; and who
usually pay their tavern bills。 As they are equally gentlemanly; clever;
witty; intelligent; wise; and well…bred; we need scarcely have
recommended them to the peculiar consideration of the young ladies; if it
were not that some of the gentle creatures whom we hold in such high
respect; are perhaps a little too apt to confound a great many heavier terms
with the light word eccentricity; which we beg them henceforth to take in a
strictly Johnsonian sense; without any liberality or latitude of construction。
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THE VERY FRIENDLY YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
We know … and all people know … so many specimens of this class; that
in selecting the few heads our limits enable us to take from a great number;
we have been induced to give the very friendly young gentleman the
preference over many others; to whose claims upon a more cursory view
of the question we had felt disposed to assign the priority。
The very friendly young gentleman is very friendly to everybody; but
he attaches himself particularly to two; or at most to three families:
regulating his choice by their dinners; their circle of acquaintance; or some
other criterion in which he has an immediate interest。 He is of any age
between twenty and forty; unmarried of course; must be fond of children;
and is expected to make himself generally useful if possible。 Let us
illustrate our meaning by an example; which is the shortest mode and the
clearest。
We encountered one day; by chance; an old friend of whom we had
lost sight for some years; and who … expressing a strong anxiety to renew
our former intimacy … urged us to dine with him on an early day; that we
might talk over old times。 We readily assented; adding; that we hoped
we should be alone。 'Oh; certainly; certainly;' said our friend; 'not a soul
with us but Mincin。' 'And who is Mincin?' was our natural inquiry。 'O
don't mind him;' replied our friend; 'he's a most particular friend of mine;
and a very friendly fellow you will find him;' and so he left us。
'We thought no more about Mincin until we duly presented ourselves
at the house next day; when; after a hearty welcome; our friend motioned
towards a gentleman who had been previously showing his teeth by the
fireplace; and gave us to understand that it was Mr。 Mincin; of whom he
had spoken。 It required no great