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;
  10
  … Page 11…
  SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
  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;
  11
  … Page 12…
  SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
  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
  12
  … Page 13…
  SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
  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。
  13
  … Page 14…
  SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
  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