【资料下载】雾都孤儿 （英语原版）

胡郁欣

'Do you think this respectful or proper conduct, Mrs. Mann,'

inquired Mr. Bumble, grasping his cane, 'to keep the parish

officers a waiting at your garden-gate, when they come here upon

porochial business with the porochial orphans?  Are you aweer,

Mrs. Mann, that you are, as I may say, a porochial delegate, and

a stipendiary?'

胡郁欣

'I'm sure Mr. Bumble, that I was only a telling one or two of the

dear children as is so fond of you, that it was you a coming,'

replied Mrs. Mann with great humility.

胡郁欣

Mr. Bumble had a great idea of his oratorical powers and his

importance.  He had displayed the one, and vindicated the other.

He relaxed.

胡郁欣

'Well, well, Mrs. Mann,' he replied in a calmer tone; 'it may be

as you say; it may be.  Lead the way in, Mrs. Mann, for I come on

business, and have something to say.'

胡郁欣

Mrs. Mann ushered the beadle into a small parlour with a brick

floor; placed a seat for him; and officiously deposited his

cocked hat and can on the table before him.  Mr. Bumble wiped

from his forehead the perspiration which his walk had engendered,

glanced complacently at the cocked hat, and smiled.  Yes, he

smiled.  Beadles are but men: and Mr. Bumble smiled.

胡郁欣

'Now don't you be offended at what I'm a going to say,' observed

Mrs. Mann, with captivating sweetness.  'You've had a long walk,

you know, or I wouldn't mention it.  Now, will you take a little

drop of somethink, Mr. Bumble?'

胡郁欣

'Not a drop.  Nor a drop,' said Mr. Bumble, waving his right hand

in a dignified, but placid manner.

胡郁欣

'I think you will,' said Mrs. Mann, who had noticed the tone of

the refusal, and the gesture that had accompanied it.  'Just a

leetle drop, with a little cold water, and a lump of sugar.'

胡郁欣

Mr. Bumble coughed.



'Now, just a leetle drop,' said Mrs. Mann persuasively.



'What is it?' inquired the beadle.

胡郁欣

'Why, it's what I'm obliged to keep a little of in the house, to

put into the blessed infants' Daffy, when they ain't well, Mr.

Bumble,' replied Mrs. Mann as she opened a corner cupboard, and

took down a bottle and glass.  'It's gin.  I'll not deceive you,

Mr. B.  It's gin.'