登陆注册
4707300000170

第170章

Look at Truman, Hanbury, and Buxton! It is on that extensive footing that Mr. Micawber, I know from my own knowledge of him, is calculated to shine; and the profits, I am told, are e-NOR-MOUS!

But if Mr. Micawber cannot get into those firms - which decline to answer his letters, when he offers his services even in an inferior capacity - what is the use of dwelling upon that idea? None. Imay have a conviction that Mr. Micawber's manners -'

'Hem! Really, my dear,' interposed Mr. Micawber.

'My love, be silent,' said Mrs. Micawber, laying her brown glove on his hand. 'I may have a conviction, Mr. Copperfield, that Mr. Micawber's manners peculiarly qualify him for the Banking business.

I may argue within myself, that if I had a deposit at a banking-house, the manners of Mr. Micawber, as representing that banking-house, would inspire confidence, and must extend the connexion. But if the various banking-houses refuse to avail themselves of Mr. Micawber's abilities, or receive the offer of them with contumely, what is the use of dwelling upon THAT idea?

None. As to originating a banking-business, I may know that there are members of my family who, if they chose to place their money in Mr. Micawber's hands, might found an establishment of that description. But if they do NOT choose to place their money in Mr. Micawber's hands - which they don't - what is the use of that?

Again I contend that we are no farther advanced than we were before.'

I shook my head, and said, 'Not a bit.' Traddles also shook his head, and said, 'Not a bit.'

'What do I deduce from this?' Mrs. Micawber went on to say, still with the same air of putting a case lucidly. 'What is the conclusion, my dear Mr. Copperfield, to which I am irresistibly brought? Am I wrong in saying, it is clear that we must live?'

I answered 'Not at all!' and Traddles answered 'Not at all!' and Ifound myself afterwards sagely adding, alone, that a person must either live or die.

'Just so,' returned Mrs. Micawber, 'It is precisely that. And the fact is, my dear Mr. Copperfield, that we can not live without something widely different from existing circumstances shortly turning up. Now I am convinced, myself, and this I have pointed out to Mr. Micawber several times of late, that things cannot be expected to turn up of themselves. We must, in a measure, assist to turn them up. I may be wrong, but I have formed that opinion.'

Both Traddles and I applauded it highly.

'Very well,' said Mrs. Micawber. 'Then what do I recommend? Here is Mr. Micawber with a variety of qualifications - with great talent -'

'Really, my love,' said Mr. Micawber.

'Pray, my dear, allow me to conclude. Here is Mr. Micawber, with a variety of qualifications, with great talent - I should say, with genius, but that may be the partiality of a wife -'

Traddles and I both murmured 'No.'

'And here is Mr. Micawber without any suitable position or employment. Where does that responsibility rest? Clearly on society. Then I would make a fact so disgraceful known, and boldly challenge society to set it right. It appears to me, my dear Mr. Copperfield,' said Mrs. Micawber, forcibly, 'that what Mr. Micawber has to do, is to throw down the gauntlet to society, and say, in effect, "Show me who will take that up. Let the party immediately step forward."'

I ventured to ask Mrs. Micawber how this was to be done.

'By advertising,' said Mrs. Micawber - 'in all the papers. It appears to me, that what Mr. Micawber has to do, in justice to himself, in justice to his family, and I will even go so far as to say in justice to society, by which he has been hitherto overlooked, is to advertise in all the papers; to describe himself plainly as so-and-so, with such and such qualifications and to put it thus: "Now employ me, on remunerative terms, and address, post-paid, to W. M., Post Office, Camden Town."'

'This idea of Mrs. Micawber's, my dear Copperfield,' said Mr. Micawber, making his shirt-collar meet in front of his chin, and glancing at me sideways, 'is, in fact, the Leap to which I alluded, when I last had the pleasure of seeing you.'

'Advertising is rather expensive,' I remarked, dubiously.

'Exactly so!' said Mrs. Micawber, preserving the same logical air.

'Quite true, my dear Mr. Copperfield! I have made the identical observation to Mr. Micawber. It is for that reason especially, that I think Mr. Micawber ought (as I have already said, in justice to himself, in justice to his family, and in justice to society) to raise a certain sum of money - on a bill.'

Mr. Micawber, leaning back in his chair, trifled with his eye-glass and cast his eyes up at the ceiling; but I thought him observant of Traddles, too, who was looking at the fire.

'If no member of my family,' said Mrs. Micawber, 'is possessed of sufficient natural feeling to negotiate that bill - I believe there is a better business-term to express what I mean -'

Mr. Micawber, with his eyes still cast up at the ceiling, suggested 'Discount.'

'To discount that bill,' said Mrs. Micawber, 'then my opinion is, that Mr. Micawber should go into the City, should take that bill into the Money Market, and should dispose of it for what he can get. If the individuals in the Money Market oblige Mr. Micawber to sustain a great sacrifice, that is between themselves and their consciences. I view it, steadily, as an investment. I recommend Mr. Micawber, my dear Mr. Copperfield, to do the same; to regard it as an investment which is sure of return, and to make up his mind to any sacrifice.'

I felt, but I am sure I don't know why, that this was self-denying and devoted in Mrs. Micawber, and I uttered a murmur to that effect. Traddles, who took his tone from me, did likewise, still looking at the fire.

同类推荐
  • The Adv,Of Wisteria Lodge

    The Adv,Of Wisteria Lodge

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宋建隆详定刑统 宋刑统

    宋建隆详定刑统 宋刑统

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 经验麻科

    经验麻科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 泰西水法

    泰西水法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton

    Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 贺老大的忏悔

    贺老大的忏悔

    作为一名两次收到党和国家领导人亲切接见,头顶“全国优秀军队转业干部”,“五一劳动金质奖章”,部省级“劳动模范”和“有突出贡献优秀企业家”等无数光环的著名英雄模范人物,贺大凯的一生,经历了痛苦与磨难,光荣与梦想,成功与辉煌,同时,也经历了人间的大悲大喜和大起大落。在改革开放以后,最终从一名光荣的党员和解放军战士,逐步走向堕落深渊。
  • 花开雾夏你未归

    花开雾夏你未归

    她完美的诠释了什么是不顾一切的去爱,“你很下贱。”这是他吻她之后说的话,她触碰到这几个字的时候,血液和心脏激烈的碰撞,明显感觉到了所谓的破碎。她不是好女生,也从不标榜,就这样在彩色的世界,活着自己的黑白。下贱,也许吧,在他们的世界,她一直就充当着那样的角色。
  • 牌中命运

    牌中命运

    你相信宿命吗?相信代代相传的古老占卜术具有神奇的魔力吗?你是否还在翻涌的情海中挣扎,在取舍间犹豫?是否烦恼于事业,在去留间徘徊?是否疑惑为何占卜师能透过牌面的简单图案,看清你的过去,准确分析你的现状,预测你的未来?
  • Pageant of Summer

    Pageant of Summer

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你是初见的美好

    你是初见的美好

    1v1轻松小甜文谢温尔?喻词part1校运会那天,谢温尔被迫穿着短裙上台表演,跳到一半就被人给拉了下来,喻词把人抵在门后,俊脸上略有不爽,沉声说道:不能只跳给我一个人看?part2那天的夜风吹的很凉,谢温尔手里紧拽着自己的裙摆,眼神时不时地看向旁边的人,后者还是一副冷冰冰的样子,直到家后,还没等人反正过来,喻词就把人给压在沙发上,嘴唇轻启:别和别的男人说话行不行...part3某日,谢温尔正认真的温习着接下来的课文,还没安静多久,前面就覆上一片阴影,然后她就听到了那道撩人的声音“这东西有我好看?”喻词俯下身子凑近谢温尔这日常争宠的戏码已经看了好多了,谢温尔无奈的看着他,柔声道“你最好看。”
  • 牧人次洋的夏天

    牧人次洋的夏天

    龙仁青,当代著名作家。1967年3月生于青海湖畔铁卜加草原1986年7月毕业于青海海南民族师范学校藏语言文学专业。先后从事广播、电视、报纸等媒体的新闻翻译(汉藏文)、记者、编辑、导演、制片等职,现供职于青海电视台影视部。
  • 中国模范生

    中国模范生

    即将走过的改革开放30年如同一场谁都无法预知答案的世纪“大考”,把浙江称之为这场“大考”中成绩优异的“中国模范生”应该是恰如其分的。其模范的意义并不仅仅在于它在这片土地上贡献了令人叹为观止的经济增长数据,更在于其每时每刻所展现出的与旧思维迥异的改革新世界。很多情况下,活泼泼的改革新世界生发于浙江,进而绽放于中国。正是循着这样的视角,我们清晰地发现了改革开放30年浙江样本的中国价值……本书以客观的记叙和充满理性的思考,使我们再次感受并分享了这一弥足珍贵的宏大篇章。
  • 重生之锦绣嫡女

    重生之锦绣嫡女

    当表姐出现在眼前,巧笑嫣然的告诉她:“你不是说绝不为妾么,现在跪在这里,不是还得叫我一声主母!”——宁为寒门妻,不做高门妾!云卿怎么都没有想到,只为这一句话,引来表姐处心积虑的谋害,联合他人灭她满门,夺她正室之位。当父母被斩,家门被灭之时,她才知道,这世人眼中美好的姻缘,不过是一片假象,他们心心念念的都是她沈家巨富的家产。再次睁眼,却回到父母皆在的十三岁,她还是沈府千金嫡女,一切都还没有发生。护父母,保家业。为了不重蹈覆辙,她开始步步算计。为了家人的安危,她开始狠下心肠。这一世她一定要不枉此生,斗姨娘,斗姐妹,斗舅母,誓将一切牛鬼蛇神全部打倒,活出一个锦绣人生。【推荐本人完结文】《浴火王妃》女强,一对一P:本文,一对一,宅斗,重生,宠文
  • 我的传

    我的传

    一个因事故而不得不放弃了自己曾经追逐的梦想的优秀年轻人,用饱含热情和坚毅的生命一层层拨开生命的迷雾,去探寻曾经、现在和未来的每一个属于他所能感知到的那些不同情感的瞬间,续写自己生命专属的独特的传奇。
  • 人生谋略全书

    人生谋略全书

    当代社会如滚滚洪流,竞争激烈,追求卓越,渴望成功是每一个人寻求自我提升的最高境界。