sketches of young gentlemen(年轻绅士素描)-第9章
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the short cough comes again； and Miss Thompson in particular is greatly
troubled with it； till Felix coming in； very faint for want of his tea； changes
the subject of discourse； and enables her to laugh out boldly and tell
Amelia Grey not to be so foolish。 Here they all three laugh； and Mrs。
Nixon says they are giddy girls； in which stage of the proceedings； Felix；
who has by this time refreshened himself with the grateful herb that
'cheers but not inebriates；' removes his cup from his countenance and says
with a knowing smile； that all girls are； whereat his admiring mamma pats
him on the back and tells him not to be sly； which calls forth a general
laugh from the young ladies； and another smile from Felix； who； thinking
he looks very sly indeed； is perfectly satisfied。
Tea being over； the young ladies resume their work； and Felix insists
upon holding a skein of silk while Miss Thompson winds it on a card。
This process having been performed to the satisfaction of all parties； he
brings down his flute in compliance with a request from the youngest Miss
Grey； and plays divers tunes out of a very small music…book till supper…
time； when he is very facetious and talkative indeed。 Finally； after half a
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SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
tumblerful of warm sherry and water； he gallantly puts on his goloshes
over his slippers； and telling Miss Thompson's servant to run on first and
get the door open； escorts that young lady to her house； five doors off：
the Miss Greys who live in the next house but one stopping to peep with
merry faces from their own door till he comes back again； when they call
out 'Very well； Mr。 Felix；' and trip into the passage with a laugh more
musical than any flute that was ever played。
Felix is rather prim in his appearance； and perhaps a little priggish
about his books and flute； and so forth； which have all their peculiar
corners of peculiar shelves in his bedroom； indeed all his female
acquaintance （and they are good judges） have long ago set him down as a
thorough old bachelor。 He is a favourite with them however； in a certain
way； as an honest； inoffensive； kind…hearted creature； and as his
peculiarities harm nobody； not even himself； we are induced to hope that
many who are not personally acquainted with him will take our good word
in his behalf； and be content to leave him to a long continuance of his
harmless existence。
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SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
THE CENSORIOUS YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
There is an amiable kind of young gentleman going about in society；
upon whom； after much experience of him； and considerable turning over
of the subject in our mind； we feel it our duty to affix the above
appellation。 Young ladies mildly call him a 'sarcastic' young gentleman；
or a 'severe' young gentleman。 We； who know better； beg to acquaint
them with the fact； that he is merely a censorious young gentleman； and
nothing else。
The censorious young gentleman has the reputation among his
familiars of a remarkably clever person； which he maintains by receiving
all intelligence and expressing all opinions with a dubious sneer；
accompanied with a half smile； expressive of anything you please but
good…humour。 This sets people about thinking what on earth the
censorious young gentleman means； and they speedily arrive at the
conclusion that he means something very deep indeed； for they reason in
this way … 'This young gentleman looks so very knowing that he must
mean something； and as I am by no means a dull individual； what a very
deep meaning he must have if I can't find it out！' It is extraordinary how
soon a censorious young gentleman may make a reputation in his own
small circle if he bear this in his mind； and regulate his proceedings
accordingly。
As young ladies are generally … not curious； but laudably desirous to
acquire information； the censorious young gentleman is much talked about
among them； and many surmises are hazarded regarding him。 'I wonder；'
exclaims the eldest Miss Greenwood； laying down her work to turn up the
lamp； 'I wonder whether Mr。 Fairfax will ever be married。' 'Bless me；
dear；' cries Miss Marshall； 'what ever made you think of him？' 'Really I
hardly know；' replies Miss Greenwood； 'he is such a very mysterious
person； that I often wonder about him。' 'Well； to tell you the truth；'
replies Miss Marshall； 'and so do I。' Here two other young ladies profess
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that they are constantly doing the like； and all present appear in the same
condition except one young lady； who； not scrupling to state that she
considers Mr。 Fairfax 'a horror；' draws down all the opposition of the
others； which having been expressed in a great many ejaculatory passages；
such as 'Well； did I ever！' … and 'Lor； Emily； dear！' ma takes up the subject；
and gravely states； that she must say she does not think Mr。 Fairfax by any
means a horror； but rather takes him to be a young man of very great
ability； 'and I am quite sure；' adds the worthy lady； 'he always means a
great deal more than he says。'
The door opens at this point of the disclosure； and who of all people
alive walks into the room； but the very Mr。 Fairfax； who has been the
subject of conversation！ 'Well； it really is curious；' cries ma； 'we were at
that very moment talking about you。' 'You did me great honour；' replies
Mr。 Fairfax； 'may I venture to ask what you were saying？' 'Why； if you
must know；' returns the eldest girl； 'we were remarking what a very
mysterious man you are。' 'Ay； ay！' observes Mr。 Fairfax； 'Indeed！' Now
Mr。 Fairfax says this ay； ay； and indeed； which are slight words enough in
themselves； with so very unfathomable an air； and accompanies them with
such a very equivocal smile； that ma and the young ladies are more than
ever convinced that he means an immensity； and so tell him he is a very
dangerous man； and seems to be always thinking ill of somebody； which is
precisely the sort of character the censorious young gentleman is most
desirous to establish； wherefore he says； 'Oh； dear； no；' in a tone；
obviously intended to mean； 'You have me there；' and which gives them to
understand that they have hit the right nail on the very centre of its head。
When the conversation ranges from the mystery overhanging the
censorious young gentleman's behaviour； to the general topics of the day；
he sustains his character to admiration。 He considers the new tragedy
well enough for a new tragedy； but Lord bless us … well； no matt
