登陆注册
5164800000015

第15章

Whether Mr Quilp took any sleep by snatches of a few winks at a time, or whether he sat with his eyes wide open all night long, certain it is that he kept his cigar alight, and kindled every fresh one from the ashes of that which was nearly consumed, without requiring the assistance of a candle.Nor did the striking of the clocks, hour after hour, appear to inspire him with any sense of drowsiness or any natural desire to go to rest, but rather to increase his wakefulness, which he showed, at every such indication of the progress of the night, by a suppressed cackling in his throat, and a motion of his shoulders, like one who laughs heartily but the same time slyly and by stealth.

At length the day broke, and poor Mrs Quilp, shivering with cold of early morning and harassed by fatigue and want of sleep, was discovered sitting patiently on her chair, raising her eyes at intervals in mute appeal to the compassion and clemency of her lord, and gently reminding him by an occasion cough that she was still unpardoned and that her penance had been of long duration.But her dwarfish spouse still smoked his cigar and drank his rum without heeding her; and it was not until the sun had some time risen, and the activity and noise of city day were rife in the street, that he deigned to recognize her presence by any word or sign.He might not have done so even then, but for certain impatient tapping at the door he seemed to denote that some pretty hard knuckles were actively engaged upon the other side.

'Why dear me!' he said looking round with a malicious grin, 'it's day.Open the door, sweet Mrs Quilp!'

His obedient wife withdrew the bolt, and her lady mother entered.

Now, Mrs Jiniwin bounced into the room with great impetuosity;for, supposing her son-in-law to be still a-bed, she had come to relieve her feelings by pronouncing a strong opinion upon his general conduct and character.Seeing that he was up and dressed, and that the room appeared to have been occupied ever since she quitted it on the previous evening, she stopped short, in some embarrassment.

Nothing escaped the hawk's eye of the ugly little man, who, perfectly understanding what passed in the old lady's mind, turned uglier still in the fulness of his satisfaction, and bade her good morning, with a leer or triumph.

'Why, Betsy,' said the old woman, 'you haven't been--you don't mean to say you've been a--'

'Sitting up all night?' said Quilp, supplying the conclusion of the sentence.'Yes she has!'

'All night?' cried Mrs Jiniwin.

'Ay, all night.Is the dear old lady deaf?' said Quilp, with a smile of which a frown was part.'Who says man and wife are bad company?

Ha ha! The time has flown.'

'You're a brute!' exclaimed Mrs Jiniwin.

'Come come,' said Quilp, wilfully misunderstanding her, of course, 'you mustn't call her names.She's married now, you know.And though she did beguile the time and keep me from my bed, you must not be so tenderly careful of me as to be out of humour with her.

Bless you for a dear old lady.Here's to your health!'

'I am much obliged to you,' returned the old woman, testifying by a certain restlessness in her hands a vehement desire to shake her matronly fist at her son-in-law.'Oh! I'm very much obliged to you!'

'Grateful soul!' cried the dwarf.'Mrs Quilp.'

'Yes, Quilp,' said the timid sufferer.

'Help your mother to get breakfast, Mrs Quilp.I am going to the wharf this morning--the earlier the better, so be quick.'

Mrs Jiniwin made a faint demonstration of rebellion by sitting down in a chair near the door and folding her arms as if in a resolute determination to do nothing.But a few whispered words from her daughter, and a kind inquiry from her son-in-law whether she felt faint, with a hint that there was abundance of cold water in the next apartment, routed these symptoms effectually, and she applied herself to the prescribed preparations with sullen diligence.

While they were in progress, Mr Quilp withdrew to the adjoining room, and, turning back his coat-collar, proceeded to smear his countenance with a damp towel of very unwholesome appearance, which made his complexion rather more cloudy than it was before.

But, while he was thus engaged, his caution and inquisitiveness did not forsake him, for with a face as sharp and cunning as ever, he often stopped, even in this short process, and stood listening for any conversation in the next room, of which he might be the theme.

'Ah!' he said after a short effort of attention, 'it was not the towel over my ears, I thought it wasn't.I'm a little hunchy villain and a monster, am I, Mrs Jiniwin? Oh!'

The pleasure of this discovery called up the old doglike smile in full force.When he had quite done with it, he shook himself in a very doglike manner, and rejoined the ladies.

Mr Quilp now walked up to front of a looking-glass, and was standing there putting on his neckerchief, when Mrs Jiniwin happening to be behind him, could not resist the inclination she felt to shake her fist at her tyrant son-in-law.It was the gesture of an instant, but as she did so and accompanied the action with a menacing look, she met his eye in the glass, catching her in the very act.The same glance at the mirror conveyed to her the reflection of a horribly grotesque and distorted face with the tongue lolling out; and the next instant the dwarf, turning about with a perfectly bland and placid look, inquired in a tone of great affection.

'How are you now, my dear old darling?'

同类推荐
  • 疯门全书

    疯门全书

    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。
  • 奉和圣制经河上公庙

    奉和圣制经河上公庙

    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。
  • Camille

    Camille

    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。
  • 海棠谱

    海棠谱

    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。
  • 五字鉴

    五字鉴

    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
  • 陪孩子轻松走过高三

    陪孩子轻松走过高三

    本书作者不仅是一位高三教师,同时也是一位备考家长。本书记录了作者本人在高三教学和自己作为备考家长的经历。她所陪考的孩子,在她的陪考下,在高三一年中综合成绩一路上升,并如愿考取一所“211”重点大学。
  • 君临天下为红颜

    君临天下为红颜

    一觉醒来,发现自己躺在一张陌生的床上。本以为自己还在睡梦之中,忽然一个肥婆将自己‘叫’醒。妈妈呀,不会吧?这样也能穿?!穿就穿嘛,竟然自己要被卖身?!天啊,这到底是哪啊?!想让姐姐屈服,没门!一场歌舞,一段邂逅,一个玩笑,一次意外,两个人就这样牵缠在了一起。在这个时局动荡的年代里,面对爱情,面对权利的纷争,她与他能否再次重逢?历经挫折后,她与他的爱情是否依旧?
  • 重生之罄竹难书

    重生之罄竹难书

    她为他倾尽家族力量,为了能配的上他,她琴棋书画,武功医术样样精通,换来的却是他冷漠的一句“我不爱你。”遭到了妹妹和爱人的双重背叛,浴火重生的她要他们反目成仇!
  • 囚龙渡

    囚龙渡

    安执跟在她身后出来,看着她的背影,心下忽然莫名的柔软,他小跑了两步,一把拉住了她的手。陈琦玖身子微微颤抖下,没有转身,只是淡淡道:“你喜欢的人,在里面。”安执面如清风,轻轻道:“在那片浓雾里的时候,我已经看清,谁是我该珍惜和保护的人。”顿了顿,又道:“其实在大伯跳下去的之后,我就已经知道了。他把你托付给了我,我不希望我们也只能在生命的最后才清醒。”陈琦玖剧烈颤抖着,慢慢转身过来,眼含热泪。微笑着看向安执,忍了忍,终于扑上来抱住了安执。
  • 绮楼重梦

    绮楼重梦

    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。
  • 总裁,玩够没

    总裁,玩够没

    生活所迫,她将自己廉价出卖,金主却是冷血无情的黑街总裁,千丝万缕的关系,注定两人纠缠不休。他说他这辈子都不会让她安生,要让她生不如死,他对她夜夜无止境的索取,却都无关爱情,只为羞辱;她说她要让他为各种恶行付出代价,他对她带来的伤害,她将加倍奉还。
  • 野猫咪霸上总裁花

    野猫咪霸上总裁花

    被一纸婚约牵绊住的秦青,失去了自由之身,想逃离却逐渐身陷。背后恩怨纠葛的面纱逐渐揭开的时候,却被潇母再次搅乱。秦青无助的流落街头,雨中痛苦。突然,明光闪现,一辆车从远处疾驰而来,她,再次消失……爱情的深渊,谁能说清楚是深是浅?
  • 守候

    守候

    甫跃辉, 1984年生,云南保山施甸县人,复旦大学首届文学写作专业小说方向研究生毕业,师从作家王安忆。在《人民文学》《大家》《花城》《中国作家》《青年文学》《上海文学》《长城》等文学期刊发表中国短篇小说。获得2009年度“中环”杯《上海文学》短篇小说新人奖。
  • 菩萨受斋经

    菩萨受斋经

    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。
  • 荷牐丛谈

    荷牐丛谈

    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。