📝 您未登录，登录后完成练习可保存成绩、查看最佳记录。
总字符
0
正确字符
0
错误字符
0
错误率
0.00%
耗时(秒)
0
速度 WPM
0
0 / 65
1After a little further conversation to the same effect, we returned into the Castle where we found Miss Skiffins
2preparing tea. The responsible duty of making the toast was delegated to the Aged, and that excellent old gentleman was
3so intent upon it that he seemed to me in some danger of melting his eyes. It was no nominal meal that we were going to
4make, but a vigorous reality. The Aged prepared such a hay-stack of buttered toast, that I could scarcely see him over
5it as it simmered on an iron stand hooked on to the top-bar; while Miss Skiffins brewed such a jorum of tea, that the
6pig in the back premises became strongly excited, and repeatedly expressed his desire to participate in the
7entertainment. The flag had been struck, and the gun had been fired, at the right moment of time, and I felt as snugly
8cut off from the rest of Walworth as if the moat were thirty feet wide by as many deep. Nothing disturbed the
9tranquillity of the Castle, but the occasional tumbling open of John and Miss Skiffins: which little doors were a prey
10to some spasmodic infirmity that made me sympathetically uncomfortable until I got used to it. I inferred from the
11methodical nature of Miss Skiffins's arrangements that she made tea there every Sunday night; and I rather suspected
12that a classic brooch she wore, representing the profile of an undesirable female with a very straight nose and a very
13new moon, was a piece of portable property that had been given her by Wemmick. We ate the whole of the toast, and drank
14tea in proportion, and it was delightful to see how warm and greasy we all got after it. The Aged especially, might have
15passed for some clean old chief of a savage tribe, just oiled. After a short pause of repose, Miss Skiffins--in the
16absence of the little servant who, it seemed, retired to the bosom of her family on Sunday afternoons--washed up the
17tea-things, in a trifling lady-like amateur manner that compromised none of us. Then, she put on her gloves again, and
18we drew round the fire, and Wemmick said, "Now, Aged Parent, tip us the paper." Wemmick explained to me while the Aged
19got his spectacles out, that this was according to custom, and that it gave the old gentleman infinite satisfaction to
20read the news aloud. "I won't offer an apology," said Wemmick, "for he isn't capable of many pleasures--are you, Aged
21P.?" "All right, John, all right," returned the old man, seeing himself spoken to. "Only tip him a nod every now and
22then when he looks off his paper," said Wemmick, "and he'll be as happy as a king. We are all attention, Aged One." "All
23right, John, all right!" returned the cheerful old man, so busy and so pleased, that it really was quite charming. The
24Aged's reading reminded me of the classes at Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt's, with the pleasanter peculiarity that it seemed
25to come through a keyhole. As he wanted the candles close to him, and as he was always on the verge of putting either
26his head or the newspaper into them, he required as much watching as a powder-mill. But Wemmick was equally untiring and
27gentle in his vigilance, and the Aged read on, quite unconscious of his many rescues. Whenever he looked at us, we all
28expressed the greatest interest and amazement, and nodded until he resumed again. As Wemmick and Miss Skiffins sat side
29by side, and as I sat in a shadowy corner, I observed a slow and gradual elongation of Mr. Wemmick's mouth, powerfully
30suggestive of his slowly and gradually stealing his arm round Miss Skiffins's waist. In course of time I saw his hand
31appear on the other side of Miss Skiffins; but at that moment Miss Skiffins neatly stopped him with the green glove,
32unwound his arm again as if it were an article of dress, and with the greatest deliberation laid it on the table before
33her. Miss Skiffins's composure while she did this was one of the most remarkable sights I have ever seen, and if I could
34have thought the act consistent with abstraction of mind, I should have deemed that Miss Skiffins performed it
35mechanically. By and by, I noticed Wemmick's arm beginning to disappear again, and gradually fading out of view. Shortly
36afterwards, his mouth began to widen again. After an interval of suspense on my part that was quite enthralling and
37almost painful, I saw his hand appear on the other side of Miss Skiffins. Instantly, Miss Skiffins stopped it with the
38neatness of a placid boxer, took off that girdle or cestus as before, and laid it on the table. Taking the table to
39represent the path of virtue, I am justified in stating that during the whole time of the Aged's reading, Wemmick's arm
40was straying from the path of virtue and being recalled to it by Miss Skiffins. At last, the Aged read himself into a
41light slumber. This was the time for Wemmick to produce a little kettle, a tray of glasses, and a black bottle with a
42porcelain-topped cork, representing some clerical dignitary of a rubicund and social aspect. With the aid of these
43appliances we all had something warm to drink, including the Aged, who was soon awake again. Miss Skiffins mixed, and I
44observed that she and Wemmick drank out of one glass. Of course I knew better than to offer to see Miss Skiffins home,
45and under the circumstances I thought I had best go first; which I did, taking a cordial leave of the Aged, and having
46passed a pleasant evening. Before a week was out, I received a note from Wemmick, dated Walworth, stating that he hoped
47he had made some advance in that matter appertaining to our private and personal capacities, and that he would be glad
48if I could come and see him again upon it. So, I went out to Walworth again, and yet again, and yet again, and I saw him
49by appointment in the City several times, but never held any communication with him on the subject in or near Little
50Britain. The upshot was, that we found a worthy young merchant or shipping-broker, not long established in business, who
51wanted intelligent help, and who wanted capital, and who in due course of time and receipt would want a partner. Between
52him and me, secret articles were signed of which Herbert was the subject, and I paid him half of my five hundred pounds
53down, and engaged for sundry other payments: some, to fall due at certain dates out of my income: some, contingent on my
54coming into my property. Miss Skiffins's brother conducted the negotiation. Wemmick pervaded it throughout, but never
55appeared in it. The whole business was so cleverly managed, that Herbert had not the least suspicion of my hand being in
56it. I never shall forget the radiant face with which he came home one afternoon, and told me, as a mighty piece of news,
57of his having fallen in with one Clarriker (the young merchant's name), and of Clarriker's having shown an extraordinary
58inclination towards him, and of his belief that the opening had come at last. Day by day as his hopes grew stronger and
59his face brighter, he must have thought me a more and more affectionate friend, for I had the greatest difficulty in
60restraining my tears of triumph when I saw him so happy. At length, the thing being done, and he having that day entered
61Clarriker's House, and he having talked to me for a whole evening in a flush of pleasure and success, I did really cry
62in good earnest when I went to bed, to think that my expectations had done some good to somebody. A great event in my
63life, the turning point of my life, now opens on my view. But, before I proceed to narrate it, and before I pass on to
64all the changes it involved, I must give one chapter to Estella. It is not much to give to the theme that so long filled
65my heart.
🎉 全部完成！共 65 行