sketches of young gentlemen(年轻绅士素描)-第3节
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dirty； but not in any other case） he lies with his knees up； and the soles of
his boots planted firmly on the cushion； so that if any low fellow should
ask him to make room for a lady； he takes ample revenge upon her dress；
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without going at all out of his way to do it。 He always sits with his hat
on； and flourishes his stick in the air while the play is proceeding； with a
dignified contempt of the performance； if it be possible for one or two out…
and…out young gentlemen to get up a little crowding in the passages； they
are quite in their element； squeezing； pushing； whooping； and shouting in
the most humorous manner possible。 If they can only succeed in
irritating the gentleman who has a family of daughters under his charge；
they are like to die with laughing； and boast of it among their companions
for a week afterwards； adding； that one or two of them were 'devilish fine
girls；' and that they really thought the youngest would have fainted； which
was the only thing wanted to render the joke complete。
If the out…and…out young gentleman have a mother and sisters； of
course he treats them with becoming contempt； inasmuch as they （poor
things！） having no notion of life or gaiety； are far too weak…spirited and
moping for him。 Sometimes； however； on a birth… day or at Christmas…
time； he cannot very well help accompanying them to a party at some old
friend's； with which view he comes home when they have been dressed an
hour or two； smelling very strongly of tobacco and spirits； and after
exchanging his rough coat for some more suitable attire （in which
however he loses nothing of the out…and…outer）； gets into the coach and
grumbles all the way at his own good nature： his bitter reflections
aggravated by the recollection； that Tom Smith has taken the chair at a
little impromptu dinner at a fighting man's； and that a set…to was to take
place on a dining…table； between the fighting man and his brother… in…law；
which is probably 'coming off' at that very instant。
As the out…and…out young gentleman is by no means at his ease in
ladies' society； he shrinks into a corner of the drawing…room when they
reach the friend's； and unless one of his sisters is kind enough to talk to
him； remains there without being much troubled by the attentions of other
people； until he espies； lingering outside the door； another gentleman；
whom he at once knows； by his air and manner （for there is a kind of free…
masonry in the craft）； to be a brother out…and…outer； and towards whom he
accordingly makes his way。 Conversation being soon opened by some
casual remark； the second out…and…outer confidentially informs the first；
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that he is one of the rough sort and hates that kind of thing； only he
couldn't very well be off coming； to which the other replies； that that's just
his case … 'and I'll tell you what；' continues the out… and…outer in a whisper；
'I should like a glass of warm brandy and water just now；' … 'Or a pint of
stout and a pipe；' suggests the other out…and…outer。
The discovery is at once made that they are sympathetic souls； each of
them says at the same moment； that he sees the other understands what's
what： and they become fast friends at once； more especially when it
appears； that the second out…and…outer is no other than a gentleman； long
favourably known to his familiars as 'Mr。 Warmint Blake；' who upon
divers occasions has distinguished himself in a manner that would not
have disgraced the fighting man； and who … having been a pretty long time
about town … had the honour of once shaking hands with the celebrated Mr。
Thurtell himself。
At supper； these gentlemen greatly distinguish themselves； brightening
up very much when the ladies leave the table； and proclaiming aloud their
intention of beginning to spend the evening … a process which is generally
understood to be satisfactorily performed； when a great deal of wine is
drunk and a great deal of noise made； both of which feats the out…and…out
young gentlemen execute to perfection。 Having protracted their sitting
until long after the host and the other guests have adjourned to the
drawing… room； and finding that they have drained the decanters empty；
they follow them thither with complexions rather heightened； and faces
rather bloated with wine； and the agitated lady of the house whispers her
friends as they waltz together； to the great terror of the whole room； that
'both Mr。 Blake and Mr。 Dummins are very nice sort of young men in their
way； only they are eccentric persons； and unfortunately RATHER TOO
WILD！'
The remaining class of out…and…out young gentlemen is composed of
persons； who； having no money of their own and a soul above earning any；
enjoy similar pleasures； nobody knows how。 These respectable
gentlemen； without aiming quite so much at the out…and…out in external
appearance； are distinguished by all the same amiable and attractive
characteristics； in an equal or perhaps greater degree； and now and then
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find their way into society； through the medium of the other class of out…
and…out young gentlemen； who will sometimes carry them home； and who
usually pay their tavern bills。 As they are equally gentlemanly； clever；
witty； intelligent； wise； and well…bred； we need scarcely have
recommended them to the peculiar consideration of the young ladies； if it
were not that some of the gentle creatures whom we hold in such high
respect； are perhaps a little too apt to confound a great many heavier terms
with the light word eccentricity； which we beg them henceforth to take in a
strictly Johnsonian sense； without any liberality or latitude of construction。
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THE VERY FRIENDLY YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
We know … and all people know … so many specimens of this class； that
in selecting the few heads our limits enable us to take from a great number；
we have been induced to give the very friendly young gentleman the
preference over many others； to whose claims upon a more cursory view
of the question we had felt disposed to assign the priority。
The very friendly young gentleman is very friendly to everybody； but
he attaches himself particularly to two； or at most to three families：
regulating his choice by their dinners； their circle of acquaintance； or some
other criterion in which he has an immediate interest。 He is of any age
between twenty and forty； unmarried of course； must be fond of children；
and is expected to make himself generally useful if possible。 Let us
illustrate our meaning by an example； which is the shortest mode and the
clearest。
We encountered one day； by chance； an old friend of whom we had
lost sight for some years； and who … expressing a strong anxiety to renew
our former intimacy … urged us to dine with him on an early day； that we
might talk over old times。 We readily assented； adding； that we hoped
we should be alone。 'Oh； certainly； certainly；' said our friend； 'not a soul
with us but Mincin。' 'And who is Mincin？' was our natural inquiry。 'O
don't mind him；' replied our friend； 'he's a most particular friend of mine；
and a very friendly fellow you will find him；' and so he left us。
'We thought no more about Mincin until we duly presented ourselves
at the house next day； when； after a hearty welcome； our friend motioned
towards a gentleman who had been previously showing his teeth by the
fireplace； and gave us to understand that it was Mr。 Mincin； of whom he
had spoken。 It required no great
