登陆注册
19093900000069

第69章

Nicholas, like all men of his age and standing, has a great idea of the degeneracy of the times. He seldom expresses any political opinions, but we managed to ascertain, just before the passing of the Reform Bill, that Nicholas was a thorough Reformer. What was our astonishment to discover shortly after the meeting of the first reformed Parliament, that he was a most inveterate and decided Tory! It was very odd: some men change their opinions from necessity, others from expediency, others from inspiration; but that Nicholas should undergo any change in any respect, was an event we had never contemplated, and should have considered impossible. His strong opinion against the clause which empowered the metropolitan districts to return Members to Parliament, too, was perfectly unaccountable.

We discovered the secret at last; the metropolitan Members always dined at home. The rascals! As for giving additional Members to Ireland, it was even worse - decidedly unconstitutional. Why, sir, an Irish Member would go up there, and eat more dinner than three English Members put together. He took no wine; drank table-beer by the half-gallon; and went home to Manchester-buildings, or Millbank-street, for his whiskey-and-water. And what was the consequence? Why, the concern lost - actually lost, sir - by his patronage. A queer old fellow is Nicholas, and as completely a part of the building as the house itself. We wonder he ever left the old place, and fully expected to see in the papers, the morning after the fire, a pathetic account of an old gentleman in black, of decent appearance, who was seen at one of the upper windows when the flames were at their height, and declared his resolute intention of falling with the floor. He must have been got out by force. However, he was got out - here he is again, looking as he always does, as if he had been in a bandbox ever since the last session. There he is, at his old post every night, just as we have described him: and, as characters are scarce, and faithful servants scarcer, long may he be there, say we!

Now, when you have taken your seat in the kitchen, and duly noticed the large fire and roasting-jack at one end of the room - the little table for washing glasses and draining jugs at the other -the clock over the window opposite St. Margaret's Church - the deal tables and wax candles - the damask table-cloths and bare floor -the plate and china on the tables, and the gridiron on the fire;and a few other anomalies peculiar to the place - we will point out to your notice two or three of the people present, whose station or absurdities render them the most worthy of remark.

It is half-past twelve o'clock, and as the division is not expected for an hour or two, a few Members are lounging away the time here in preference to standing at the bar of the House, or sleeping in one of the side galleries. That singularly awkward and ungainly-looking man, in the brownish-white hat, with the straggling black trousers which reach about half-way down the leg of his boots, who is leaning against the meat-screen, apparently deluding himself into the belief that he is thinking about something, is a splendid sample of a Member of the House of Commons concentrating in his own person the wisdom of a constituency. Observe the wig, of a dark hue but indescribable colour, for if it be naturally brown, it has acquired a black tint by long service, and if it be naturally black, the same cause has imparted to it a tinge of rusty brown;and remark how very materially the great blinker-like spectacles assist the expression of that most intelligent face. Seriously speaking, did you ever see a countenance so expressive of the most hopeless extreme of heavy dulness, or behold a form so strangely put together? He is no great speaker: but when he DOES address the House, the effect is absolutely irresistible.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 首席金牌妻子

    首席金牌妻子

    第一次见面,他送给她一件情趣内衣,尽管她不接受,她情愿收下,也不给他脸色看。第二次见面,他试图地拉着她的小手说:“我可以吻吻你吗?”这么突出的话,可以接受吗?她笑着地说:“要在吻我之前,我要你做一件事。”“什么事?”他说着,要是吻了她,自己就要对她负责任。
  • BOSS的销售管理

    BOSS的销售管理

    一个人,心念变了,德行就变了;德行变了,气场就变了;气场变了,风水就变了;风水变了,运气就变了;运气变了,命运就变了。所以,改变命运真正靠的是自己的正能量,厚德载富。内心善良柔和宽厚,必长福相,相由心生,境由心转!
  • 馨梦恋

    馨梦恋

    张梓熏,一个普普通通的在校学生,穿越了。轩辕清绝,一个不似凡间生的翩翩佳公子。时而冷漠如冰,时而热情似火。一个都市校园少女和多变的飘逸公子,相隔千世的两个人会有交集?似乎有些不可思议。但世事无绝对,且看都市少女和千年后的古代公子会发生什么样啼笑皆非又刻骨铭心的故事吧!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 天使翼

    天使翼

    风,飘啊飘,飘啊飘,带着淡淡的祝愿。两道陌生的平行线,没有焦点。或许是命运的安排,形成了微妙的
  • GOT7萌萌哒的小段子

    GOT7萌萌哒的小段子

    呃,内容纯属虚构,不喜勿喷。此作是派大星我第一次的写作,女主是以第二人称写的哦,很强的代入感有木有哈哈哈~由于派大星我还是初中生,所以有时候来不及更,望谅解………………
  • 无双帝皇

    无双帝皇

    一觉醒来,成了一国之君的儿子!局面动荡,自保都难,却还要撑起整个国家?“你说我是跑呢,还是跑呢,还是跑呢...”“一国之君,怎可临阵脱逃?”“就用我的剑,带着手下的将士,杀出一条血路!”“从此,荆棘帝国,开始崛起!”
  • 乙丙之际塾议三

    乙丙之际塾议三

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 思维的盛宴

    思维的盛宴

    《思维的盛宴》是一本培养想象力和创造性思维的大型谜题宝库。它包括数字类、几何类、概率类、逻辑类、心理类、解决问题类、观察类、创意类、文字类、脑筋急转弯类、综合类等11辑,总共800余道思维游戏题目。这些韪充满了疯狂的智慧性和挑战性。当然,为了方便您的阅读和使用,我们在题后还附有详尽的分析和答案。
  • 尸棺渡口

    尸棺渡口

    一艘古老的船只载着一口棺静静地漂荡在水面上……当警察赶到时,那条船早已不见了踪影。五年前发生在A市理工大学的恶性凶杀案,四名大学生离奇死在寝室,另一名室友不知去向,警方怀疑这失踪的人很有可能是凶手,记者安言一路跟踪,查找事情真相……在这诡异的死亡事件中,安言觉得一股充满阴谋的迷雾已经深深笼罩着他们……
  • 携你之手伴你终老

    携你之手伴你终老

    她是如梅般清傲的女子,他是如雪般圣洁的男子她心疼他,他怜惜她,相处中情愫暗生可他有他的寻找,她有她的苦等最终能否画一幅腊雪红梅