"Martain Rattler" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ballantyne R.M)

merchant and ship owner, who devoted a small portion of his time to business,
and a very large portion of it to what is usually termed "doing good." This old
gentleman was short, and stout, and rosy, and bald, and active, and sharp as a
needle.
In the short time that Mr. Arthur Jollyboy devoted to business he accomplished
as much as most men do in the course of a long day. There was not a benevolent
society in the town of which Arthur Jollyboy, Esquire, of the Old Hulk (as he
styled his cottage), was not a member, a director, secretary, and treasurer, all
in one, and all at once! If it had been possible for man to be ubiquitous, Mr.
Jollyboy would have been so naturally, or, if not naturally, he would have made
himself so by force of will. Yet he made no talk about it. His step was quiet,
though quick; and his voice was gentle, though rapid; and he was chiefly famous
for talking little and doing much.
Some time after the opening of our tale, Mr. Jollyboy had received information
of Mrs. Grumbit's stocking movement. That same afternoon he put on his
broad-brimmed white hat, and, walking out to the village in which she lived,
called upon the vicar, who was a particular and intimate friend of his. Having
ascertained from the vicar that Mrs. Grumbit would not accept of charity, he
said abruptly:
"And why not - is she too proud?"
"By no means," replied the vicar. "She says that she would think shame to take
money from friends as long as she can work, because every penny that she would
thus get would be so much less to go to the helpless poor, of whom, she says
with much truth, there are enough and to spare. And I quite agree with her as
regards her principle; but it does not apply fully to her, for she cannot work
so as to procure a sufficient livelihood without injury to her health."
Is she clever? " enquired Mr. Jollyboy.
"Why, no, not particularly. In fact, she does not often exert her reasoning
faculties, except in the common place matters of ordinary and everyday routine."
"Then she's cleverer than most people," said Mr. Jollyboy shortly. " Is she
obstinate?"
"No, not' in the least," returned the vicar with a puzzled smile.
"Ah, well, good-bye, good-bye! that's all I want to know."
Mr. Jollyboy rose, and, hurrying through the village, tapped at the cottage
door, and was soon closeted with Mrs. Dorothy Grumbit. In the course of half an
hour Mr. Jollyboy drew from Mrs. Grumbit as much about her private affairs as he
could, without appearing rude. But he found the old lady very close and
sensitive on that point. Not so, however, when he got her upon the subject of
her nephew. She had enough, and more than enough to say about him. It is true
she began by remarking sadly that he was a very bad boy; but as she continued to
talk about him, she somehow or other gave her visitor the impression that he was
a very good boy! They had a wonderfully long and confidential talk about Martin,
during which Mr. Jollyboy struck Mrs. Grumbit nearly dumb with horror by stating
positively what he would do for the boy - he would send him to sea! Then, seeing
that he had hit the wrongest possible nail on the head, he said that he would
make the lad a clerk in his office, where he would be sure to rise to a place of
trust; whereat Mrs. Grumbit danced, if we may so speak, unto herself for joy.
"And now, ma'am, about these stockings. I want two thousand pairs as soon as I
can get them!"
"Sir? " said Mrs. Grumbit.