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！
whenever such people as the Clickits and some other friends of his （here
he glances at the host and hostess） are mentioned； for they are an honour
to human nature； and do one good to think of。 'YOU know the Clickits；
Mrs。 Jackson？' he says； addressing the lady of the house。 'No； indeed； we
have not that pleasure；' she replies。 'You astonish me！' exclaims Mr。
Widger： 'not know the Clickits！ why； you are the very people of all others
who ought to be their bosom friends。 You are kindred beings； you are one
31
… Page 32…
Sketches of Young Couples
and the same thing：… not know the Clickits！ Now WILL you know the
Clickits？ Will you make a point of knowing them？ Will you meet them in
a friendly way at our house one evening； and be acquainted with them？'
Mrs。 Jackson will be quite delighted； nothing would give her more
pleasure。 'Then； Lavinia； my darling；' says Mr。 Widger； 'mind you don't
lose sight of that； now； pray take care that Mr。 and Mrs。 Jackson know the
Clickits without loss of time。 Such people ought not to be strangers to each
other。' Mrs。 Widger books both families as the centre of attraction for her
next party； and Mr。 Widger； going on to expatiate upon the virtues of the
Clickits； adds to their other moral qualities； that they keep one of the
neatest phaetons in town； and have two thousand a year。
As the plausible couple never laud the merits of any absent person；
without dexterously contriving that their praises shall reflect upon
somebody who is present； so they never depreciate anything or anybody；
without turning their depreciation to the same account。 Their friend； Mr。
Slummery； say they； is unquestionably a clever painter； and would no
doubt be very popular； and sell his pictures at a very high price； if that
cruel Mr。 Fithers had not forestalled him in his department of art； and
made it thoroughly and completely his own； … Fithers； it is to be observed；
being present and within hearing； and Slummery elsewhere。 Is Mrs。
Tabblewick really as beautiful as people say？ Why； there indeed you ask
them a very puzzling question； because there is no doubt that she is a very
charming woman； and they have long known her intimately。 She is no
doubt beautiful； very beautiful； they once thought her the most beautiful
woman ever seen； still if you press them for an honest answer； they are
bound to say that this was before they had ever seen our lovely friend on
the sofa； （the sofa is hard by； and our lovely friend can't help hearing the
whispers in which this is said；） since that time； perhaps； they have been
hardly fair judges； Mrs。 Tabblewick is no doubt extremely handsome； …
very like our friend； in fact； in the form of the features； … but in point of
expression； and soul； and figure； and air altogether … oh dear！
But while the plausible couple depreciate； they are still careful to
preserve their character for amiability and kind feeling； indeed the
depreciation itself is often made to grow out of their excessive sympathy
32
… Page 33…
Sketches of Young Couples
and good will。 The plausible lady calls on a lady who dotes upon her
children； and is sitting with a little girl upon her knee； enraptured by her
artless replies； and protesting that there is nothing she delights in so much
as conversing with these fairies； when the other lady inquires if she has
seen young Mrs。 Finching lately； and whether the baby has turned out a
finer one than it promised to be。 'Oh dear！' cries the plausible lady； 'you
cannot think how often Bobtail and I have talked about poor Mrs。
Finching … she is such a dear soul； and was so anxious that the baby should
be a fine child … and very naturally； because she was very much here at one
time； and there is； you know； a natural emulation among mothers … that it
is impossible to tell you how much we have felt for her。' 'Is it weak or
plain； or what？' inquires the other。 'Weak or plain； my love；' returns the
plausible lady； 'it's a fright … a perfect little fright； you never saw such a
miserable creature in all your days。 Positively you must not let her see one
of these beautiful dears again； or you'll break her heart； you will indeed。 …
Heaven bless this child； see how she is looking in my face！ can you
conceive anything prettier than that？ If poor Mrs。 Finching could only
hope … but that's impossible … and the gifts of Providence； you know …
What DID I do with my pocket…handkerchief！'
What prompts the mother； who dotes upon her children； to comment to
her lord that evening on the plausible lady's engaging qualities and feeling
heart； and what is it that procures Mr。 and Mrs。 Bobtail Widger an
immediate invitation to dinner？
33
… Page 34…
Sketches of Young Couples
THE NICE LITTLE COUPLE
A custom once prevailed in old…fashioned circles； that when a lady or
gentleman was unable to sing a song； he or she should enliven the
company with a story。 As we find ourself in the predicament of not being
able to describe （to our own satisfaction） nice little couples in the abstract；
we purpose telling in this place a little story about a nice little couple of
our acquaintance。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Chirrup are the nice little couple in question。 Mr。 Chirrup
has the smartness； and something of the brisk； quick manner of a small
bird。 Mrs。 Chirrup is the prettiest of all little women； and has the prettiest
little figure conceivable。 She has the neatest little foot； and the softest little
voice； and the pleasantest little smile； and the tidiest little curls； and the
brightest little eyes； and the quietest little manner； and is； in short；
altogether one of the most engaging of all little women； dead or alive。 She
is a condensation of all the domestic virtues； … a pocket edition of the
young man's best companion； … a little woman at a very high pressure； with
an amazing quantity of goodness and usefulness in an exceedingly small
space。 Little as she is； Mrs。 Chirrup m