按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fireplace； and gave us to understand that it was Mr。 Mincin； of whom he
had spoken。 It required no great penetration on our part to discover at
once that Mr。 Mincin was in every respect a very friendly young
gentleman。
'I am delighted；' said Mincin； hastily advancing； and pressing our hand
14
… Page 15…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
warmly between both of his； 'I am delighted； I am sure； to make your
acquaintance … （here he smiled） … very much delighted indeed … （here he
exhibited a little emotion） … I assure you that I have looked forward to it
anxiously for a very long time：' here he released our hands； and rubbing
his own； observed； that the day was severe； but that he was delighted to
perceive from our appearance that it agreed with us wonderfully； and then
went on to observe； that； notwithstanding the coldness of the weather； he
had that morning seen in the paper an exceedingly curious paragraph； to
the effect； that there was now in the garden of Mr。 Wilkins of Chichester； a
pumpkin； measuring four feet in height； and eleven feet seven inches in
circumference； which he looked upon as a very extraordinary piece of
intelligence。 We ventured to remark； that we had a dim recollection of
having once or twice before observed a similar paragraph in the public
prints； upon which Mr。 Mincin took us confidentially by the button； and
said； Exactly； exactly； to be sure； we were very right； and he wondered
what the editors meant by putting in such things。 Who the deuce； he
should like to know； did they suppose cared about them？ that struck him as
being the best of it。
The lady of the house appeared shortly afterwards； and Mr。 Mincin's
friendliness； as will readily be supposed； suffered no diminution in
consequence； he exerted much strength and skill in wheeling a large easy…
chair up to the fire； and the lady being seated in it； carefully closed the
door； stirred the fire； and looked to the windows to see that they admitted
no air； having satisfied himself upon all these points； he expressed himself
quite easy in his mind； and begged to know how she found herself to…day。
Upon the lady's replying very well； Mr。 Mincin （who it appeared was a
medical gentleman） offered some general remarks upon the nature and
treatment of colds in the head； which occupied us agreeably until dinner…
time。 During the meal； he devoted himself to complimenting everybody；
not forgetting himself； so that we were an uncommonly agreeable
quartette。
'I'll tell you what； Capper；' said Mr。 Mincin to our host； as he closed
the room door after the lady had retired； 'you have very great reason to be
fond of your wife。 Sweet woman； Mrs。 Capper； sir！' 'Nay； Mincin … I
15
… Page 16…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
beg；' interposed the host； as we were about to reply that Mrs。 Capper
unquestionably was particularly sweet。 'Pray； Mincin； don't。' 'Why not？'
exclaimed Mr。 Mincin； 'why not？ Why should you feel any delicacy before
your old friend … OUR old friend； if I may be allowed to call you so； sir；
why should you； I ask？' We of course wished to know why he should
also； upon which our friend admitted that Mrs。 Capper WAS a very sweet
woman； at which admission Mr。 Mincin cried 'Bravo！' and begged to
propose Mrs。 Capper with heartfelt enthusiasm； whereupon our host said；
'Thank you； Mincin；' with deep feeling； and gave us； in a low voice； to
understand； that Mincin had saved Mrs。 Capper's cousin's life no less than
fourteen times in a year and a half； which he considered no common
circumstance … an opinion to which we most cordially subscribed。
Now that we three were left to entertain ourselves with conversation；
Mr。 Mincin's extreme friendliness became every moment more apparent；
he was so amazingly friendly； indeed； that it was impossible to talk about
anything in which he had not the chief concern。 We happened to allude
to some affairs in which our friend and we had been mutually engaged
nearly fourteen years before； when Mr。 Mincin was all at once reminded of
a joke which our friend had made on that day four years； which he
positively must insist upon telling … and which he did tell accordingly； with
many pleasant recollections of what he said； and what Mrs。 Capper said；
and how he well remembered that they had been to the play with orders on
the very night previous； and had seen Romeo and Juliet； and the
pantomime； and how Mrs。 Capper being faint had been led into the lobby；
where she smiled； said it was nothing after all； and went back again； with
many other interesting and absorbing particulars： after which the friendly
young gentleman went on to assure us； that our friend had experienced a
marvellously prophetic opinion of that same pantomime； which was of
such an admirable kind； that two morning papers took the same view next
day： to this our friend replied； with a little triumph； that in that instance
he had some reason to think he had been correct； which gave the friendly
young gentleman occasion to believe that our friend was always correct；
and so we went on； until our friend； filling a bumper； said he must drink
one glass to his dear friend Mincin； than whom he would say no man
16
… Page 17…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
saved the lives of his acquaintances more； or had a more friendly heart。
Finally； our friend having emptied his glass； said； 'God bless you； Mincin；'
… and Mr。 Mincin and he shook hands across the table with much affection
and earnestness。
But great as the friendly young gentleman is； in a limited scene like
this； he plays the same part on a larger scale with increased ECLAT。 Mr。
Mincin is invited to an evening party with his dear friends the Martins；
where he meets his dear friends the Cappers； and his dear friends the
Watsons； and a hundred other dear friends too numerous to mention。 He
is as much at home with the Martins as with the Cappers； but how
exquisitely he balances his attentions； and divides them among his dear
friends！ If he flirts with one of the Miss Watsons； he has one little Martin
on the sofa pulling his hair； and the other little Martin on the carpet riding
on his foot。 He carries Mrs。 Watson down to supper on one arm； and Miss
Martin on the other； and takes wine so judiciously； and in such exact order；
that it is impossible for the most punctilious old lady to consider herself
neglected。 If any young lady； being prevailed upon to sing； become
nervous afterwards； Mr。 Mincin leads her tenderly into the next room； and
restores her with port wine； which she must take medicinally。 If any
gentleman be standing by the piano during the progress of the ballad； Mr。
Mincin seizes him by the arm at one point of the melody； and softly
beating time the while with his head； expresses in dumb show his intense
perception of the delicacy of the passage。 If anybody's self…love is to be
flattered； Mr。 Mincin is at hand。 If anybody's overweening vanity is to be
pampered； Mr。 Mincin will surfeit it。 What wonder that people of all
stations and ages recognise Mr。 Mincin's friendliness； that he is universally
allowed to be handsome as amiable； that mothers think him an oracle；
daughters a dear； brothers a beau； and fathers a wonder！ And who would
not have the reputation of the very friendly young gentleman？
17
… Page 18…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
THE MILITARY YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
We are rather at a loss to imagine how it has come to pass that military
young gentlemen have obtained so much favour in the eyes of the young
ladies of this kingdom。 We cannot think so lightly of them as to suppo