狄更斯长篇小说 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第39章Part7

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第39章Part7  

The year being now expired
Captain Cuttle deemed it expedient to open the packet; but as he had always designed doing this in the presence of Rob the Grinder
who had brought it to him
and as he had an idea that it would be regular and ship-shape to open it in the presence of somebody
he was sadly put to it for want of a witness. In this difficulty
he hailed one day with unusual delight the announcement in the Shipping Intelligence of the arrival of the Cautious Clara
Captain John Bunsby
from a coasting voyage; and to that philosopher immediately dispatched a letter by post
enjoining inviolable secrecy as to his place of residence
and requesting to be favoured with an early visit
in the evening season.
Bunsby
who was one of those sages who act upon conviction
took some days to get the conviction thoroughly into his mind
that he had received a letter to this effect. But when he had grappled with the fact
and mastered it
he promptly sent his boy with the message
'He's a ing to-night.' Who being instructed to deliver those words and disappear
fulfilled his mission like a tarry spirit
charged with a mysterious warning.
The Captain
well pleased to receive it
made preparation of pipes and rum and water
and awaited his visitor in the back parlour. At the hour of eight
a deep lowing
as of a nautical Bull
outside the shop-door
succeeded by the knocking of a stick on the panel
announced to the listening ear of Captain Cuttle
that Bunsby was alongside; whom he instantly admitted
shaggy and loose
and with his stolid mahogany visage
as usual
appearing to have no consciousness of anything before it
but to be attentively observing something that was taking place in quite another part of the world.
'Bunsby
' said the Captain
grasping him by the hand
'what cheer
my lad
what cheer?'
'Shipmet
' replied the voice within Bunsby
unacpanied by any sign on the part of the Commander himself
'hearty
hearty.'
'Bunsby!' said the Captain
rendering irrepressible homage to his genius
'here you are! a man as can give an opinion as is brighter than di'monds - and give me the lad with the tarry trousers as shines to me like di'monds bright
for which you'll overhaul the Stanfell's Budget
and when found make a note.' Here you are
a man as gave an opinion in this here very place
that has e true
every letter on it
' which the Captain sincerely believed.