vanity fair(名利场)-第101章

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had　ever　been　during　the　late　baronet's　reign。　　The　black
outer…coating　of　the　bricks　was　removed；　and　they
appeared　with　a　cheerful；　blushing　face　streaked　with　white：
the　old　bronze　lions　of　the　knocker　were　gilt　handsomely；
the　railings　painted；　and　the　dismallest　house　in　Great
Gaunt　Street　became　the　smartest　in　the　whole　quarter；
before　the　green　leaves　in　Hampshire　had　replaced　those
yellowing　ones　which　were　on　the　trees　in　Queen's　Crawley
Avenue　when　old　Sir　Pitt　Crawley　passed　under　them
for　the　last　time。
A　little　woman；　with　a　carriage　to　correspond；　was
perpetually　seen　about　this　mansion；　an　elderly　spinster；
accompanied　by　a　little　boy；　also　might　be　remarked
coming　thither　daily。　　It　was　Miss　Briggs　and　little　Rawdon；
whose　business　it　was　to　see　to　the　inward　renovation
of　Sir　Pitt's　house；　to　superintend　the　female　band
engaged　in　stitching　the　blinds　and　hangings；　to　poke
and　rummage　in　the　drawers　and　cupboards　crammed
with　the　dirty　relics　and　congregated　trumperies　of　a
couple　of　generations　of　Lady　Crawleys；　and　to　take
inventories　of　the　china；　the　glass；　and　other　properties
in　the　closets　and　store…rooms。
Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　was　general…in…chief　over　these
arrangements；　with　full　orders　from　Sir　Pitt　to　sell；　barter；
confiscate；　or　purchase　furniture；　and　she　enjoyed　herself
not　a　little　in　an　occupation　which　gave　full　scope　to　her
taste　and　ingenuity。　　The　renovation　of　the　house　was
determined　upon　when　Sir　Pitt　came　to　town　in　November
to　see　his　lawyers；　and　when　he　passed　nearly　a　week　in
Curzon　Street；　under　the　roof　of　his　affectionate　brother
and　sister。
He　had　put　up　at　an　hotel　at　first；　but；　Becky；　as　soon
as　she　heard　of　the　Baronet's　arrival；　went　off　alone　to
greet　him；　and　returned　in　an　hour　to　Curzon　Street
with　Sir　Pitt　in　the　carriage　by　her　side。　　It　was　impossible
sometimes　to　resist　this　artless　little　creature's　hospitalities；
so　kindly　were　they　pressed；　so　frankly　and　amiably
offered。　　Becky　seized　Pitt's　hand　in　a　transport　of
gratitude　when　he　agreed　to　come。　　〃Thank　you；〃　she
said；　squeezing　it　and　looking　into　the　Baronet's　eyes；
who　blushed　a　good　deal；　〃how　happy　this　will　make
Rawdon！〃　She　bustled　up　to　Pitt's　bedroom；　leading
on　the　servants；　who　were　carrying　his　trunks　thither。　　She
came　in　herself　laughing；　with　a　coal…scuttle　out　of
her　own　room。
A　fire　was　blazing　already　in　Sir　Pitt's　apartment　（it
was　Miss　Briggs's　room；　by　the　way；　who　was　sent
upstairs　to　sleep　with　the　maid）。　　〃I　knew　I　should　bring
you；〃　she　said　with　pleasure　beaming　in　her　glance。　　Indeed；
she　was　really　sincerely　happy　at　having　him　for　a　guest。
Becky　made　Rawdon　dine　out　once　or　twice　on　business；
while　Pitt　stayed　with　them；　and　the　Baronet　passed
the　happy　evening　alone　with　her　and　Briggs。　　She　went
downstairs　to　the　kitchen　and　actually　cooked　little
dishes　for　him。　　〃Isn't　it　a　good　salmi？〃　she　said；　〃I
made　it　for　you。　　I　can　make　you　better　dishes　than　that；
and　will　when　you　come　to　see　me。〃
〃Everything　you　do；　you　do　well；〃　said　the　Baronet
gallantly。　　〃The　salmi　is　excellent　indeed。〃
〃A　poor　man's　wife；〃　Rebecca　replied　gaily；　〃must
make　herself　useful；　you　know〃；　on　which　her　brother…
in…law　vowed　that　〃she　was　fit　to　be　the　wife　of　an
Emperor；　and　that　to　be　skilful　in　domestic　duties　was
surely　one　of　the　most　charming　of　woman's　qualities。〃
And　Sir　Pitt　thought；　with　something　like　mortification；
of　Lady　Jane　at　home；　and　of　a　certain　pie　which　she　had
insisted　on　making；　and　serving　to　him　at　dinnera
most　abominable　pie。
Besides　the　salmi；　which　was　made　of　Lord　Steyne's
pheasants　from　his　lordship's　cottage　of　Stillbrook；　Becky
gave　her　brother…in…law　a　bottle　of　white　wine；　some
that　Rawdon　had　brought　with　him　from　France；　and　had
picked　up　for　nothing；　the　little　story…teller　said；　whereas
the　liquor　was；　in　truth；　some　White　Hermitage　from
the　Marquis　of　Steyne's　famous　cellars；　which　brought　fire
into　the　Baronet's　pallid　cheeks　and　a　glow　into　his　feeble
frame。
Then　when　he　had　drunk　up　the　bottle　of　petit　vin
blanc；　she　gave　him　her　hand；　and　took　him　up　to　the
drawing…room；　and　made　him　snug　on　the　sofa　by　the
fire；　and　let　him　talk　as　she　listened　with　the　tenderest
kindly　interest；　sitting　by　him；　and　hemming　a　shirt
for　her　dear　little　boy。　　Whenever　Mrs。　Rawdon　wished
to　be　particularly　humble　and　virtuous；　this　little　shirt
used　to　come　out　of　her　work…box。　　It　had　got　to　be　too
small　for　Rawdon　long　before　it　was　finished。
Well；　Rebecca　listened　to　Pitt；　she　talked　to　him；　she
sang　to　him；　she　coaxed　him；　and　cuddled　him；　so　that
he　found　himself　more　and　more　glad　every　day　to　get
back　from　the　lawyer's　at　Gray's　Inn；　to　the　blazing　fire
in　Curzon　Streeta　gladness　in　which　the　men　of　law
likewise　participated；　for　Pitt's　harangues　were　of　the
longestand　so　that　when　he　went　away　he　felt　quite　a
pang　at　departing。　　How　pretty　she　looked　kissing　her
hand　to　him　from　the　carriage　and　waving　her　handkerchief
when　he　had　taken　his　place　in　the　mail！　　She　put
the　handkerchief　to　her　eyes　once。　　He　pulled　his
sealskin　cap　over　his；　as　the　coach　drove　away；　and；
sinking　back；　he　thought　to　himself　how　she　respected
him　and　how　he　deserved　it；　and　how　Rawdon　was　a　foolish
dull　fellow　who　didn't　half…appreciate　his　wife；　and
how　mum　and　stupid　his　own　wife　was　compared　to　that
brilliant　little　Becky。　　Becky　had　hinted　every　one　of　these
things　herself；　perhaps；　but　so　delicately　and　gently　that
you　hardly　knew　when　or　where。　　And；　before　they
parted；　it　was　agreed　that　the　house　in　London　should　be
redecorated　for　the　next　season；　and　that　the　brothers'
families　should　meet　again　in　the　country　at　Christmas。
〃I　wish　you　could　have　got　a　little　money　out　of
him；〃　Rawdon　said　to　his　wife　moodily　when　the　Baronet
was　gone。　　〃I　should　like　to　give　something　to　old　Raggles；
hanged　if　I　shouldn't。　　It　ain't　right；　you　know；　that　the
old　fellow　should　be　kept　out　of　all　his　money。　　It　may　be
inconvenient；　and　he　might　let　to　somebody　else　besides
us；　you　know。〃
〃Tell　him；〃　said　Becky；　〃that　as　soon　as　Sir　Pitt's
affairs　are　settled；　everybody　will　be　paid；　and　give　him　a
little　something　on　account。　　Here's　a　cheque　that　Pitt
left　for　the　boy；〃　and　she　took　from　her　bag　and　gave
her　husband　a　paper　which　his　brother　had　handed　over
to　her；　on　behalf　of　the　little　son　and　heir　of　the　younger
branch　of　the　Crawleys。
The　truth　is；　she　had　tried　personally　the　ground　on
which　her　husband　expressed　a　wish　that　she　should
venturetried　it　ever　so　delicately；　and　found　it　unsafe。
Even　at　a　hint　about　embarrassments；　Sir　Pitt　Crawley　was
off　and　alarmed。　　And　he　began　a　long　speech；　explaining
how　straitened　he　himself　was　in　money　matters；　how
the　tenants　would　not　pay；　how　his　father's　affairs；　and
the　expenses　attendant　upon　the　demise　of　the　old
gentleman；　had　involved　him；　how　he　wanted　to　pay　off
incumbrances；　and　how　the　bankers　and　agents　were
overdrawn；　and　Pitt　Crawley　ended　by　making　a
compromise　with　his　sister…in…law　and　giving　her　a　very
small　sum　for　the　benefit　of　her　little　boy。
Pitt　knew　how　poor　his　brother　and　his　brother's　family
must　be。　　It　could　not　have　escaped　the　notice　of　such　a
cool　and　experienced　old　diplomatist　that　Rawdon's　family
had　nothing　to　live　upon；　and　that　houses　and　carriages
are　not　to　be　kept　for　nothing。　　He　knew　very　well　that
he　was　the　proprietor　or　appropriator　of　the　money；
which；　according　to　all　proper　calculation；　ought　to　have
　fallen　to　his　younger　brother；　and　he　had；　we　may　be　sure；
　somesecret　pangs　of　remorse　within　him；　which　warned
him　that　he　ought　to　perform　some　act　of　justice；
or；　let　us　say；　compensation；　towards　these　disappointed
relations。　　A　just；　decent　man；　not　without　brains；
who　said　his　prayers；　and　knew　his　catechism；　and
did　his　duty　outwardly　through　life；　he　could　not　be
otherwise　than　aware　that　something　was　due　to　his
brother　at　his　hands；　and　that　morally　he　was　Rawdon's
debtor。
But；　as　one　reads　in　the　columns　of　the　Times　newspaper
every　now　and　then；　queer　announcements　from
the　Chancellor　of　the　Exchequer；　acknowledging　the　receipt
of　50　pounds　from　A。　　B。；　or　10　pounds　from　W。　　T。；　as
conscience…money；　on　account　of　taxes　due　by　the　said
A。　　B。　　or　W。　　T。；　which　payments　the　penitents　beg　the
Right　Honourable　gentleman　to　acknowledge　through　the
medium　of　the　public　pressso　is　the　Chancellor　no
doubt；　and　the　reader　likewise；　always　perfectly　sure　that
the　above…named　A。　　B。　　and　W。　　T。　　are　only　paying　a
very　small　instalment　of　what　they　really　owe；　and　that
the　man　who　sends　up　a　twenty…pound　note　has　very
likely　hundreds　or　thousands　more　for　which　he　ought
to　account。　　Such；　at　least；　are　my　feelings；　when　I　see
A。　　B。　　or　W。　　T。's　insufficient　acts　of　repentance。　　And　I
have　no　doubt　that　Pitt　Crawley's　contrition；　or　kindness
if　you　will；　towards　his　younger　brother；　by　whom
he　had　so　much　profited；　was　only　a　very　small　dividend
upon　the　capital　sum　in　which　he　was　indebted　to　Rawdon。
Not　everybody　is　willing　to　pay　even　so　much。　　To　part
with　money　is　a　sacrifice　beyond　almost　all　men　endowed
with　a　sense　of　order。　　There　is　scarcely　any　man　alive
who　does　not　think　himself　meritorious　for　giving
his　neighbour　five　pounds。　　Thriftless　gives；　not　from　a
beneficent　pleasure　in　giving；　but　from　a　lazy　delight　in
spending。　　He　would　not　deny　himself　one　enjoyment；　not
his　opera…stall；　not　his　horse；　not　his　dinner；　not　even
the　pleasure　of　giving　Lazarus　the　five　pounds。　　Thrifty；
who　is　good；　wise；　just；　and　owes　no　man　a　penny；　turns
from　a　beggar；　haggles　with　a　hackney…coachman；　or
denies　a　poor　relation；　and　I　doubt　which　is　the　most
selfish　of　the　two。　　Money　has　only　a　different　value　in
the　eyes　of　each。
So；　in　a　word；　Pitt　Crawley　thought　he　would　do　something
for　his　brother；　and　then　thought　that　he　would　think
about　it　some　other　time。
And　with　regard　to　Becky；　she　was　not　a　woman　who
expected　too　much　from　the　generosity　of　her
neighbours；　and　so　was　quite　content　with　all　that　Pitt　Crawley
had　done　for　her。　　She　was　acknowledged　by　the　head
of　the　family。　　If　Pitt　would　not　give　her　anything；　he
would　get　something　for　her　some　day。　　If　she　got　no
money　from　her　brother…in…law；　she　got　what　was　as　good
as　moneycredit。　　Raggles　was　made　rather　easy　in　his
mind　by　the　spectacle　of　the　union　between　the　brothers；
by　a　small　payment　on　the　spot；　and　by　the　promise　of　a
much　larger　sum　speedily　to　be　assigned　to　him。　　And
Rebecca　told　Miss　Briggs；　whose　Christmas　dividend
upon　the　little　sum　lent　by　her　Becky　paid　with　an　air　of
candid　joy；　and　as　if　her　exchequer　was　brimming　over
with　goldRebecca；　we　say；　told　Miss　Briggs；　in　strict
confidence　that　she　had　conferred　with　Sir　Pitt；　who　was
famous　as　a　financier；　on　Briggs's　special　behalf；　as　to
the　most　profitable　investment　of　Miss　B。's　remaining
capital；　that　Sir　Pitt；　after　much　consideration；　had
thought　of　a　most　safe　and　advantageous　way　in　which
Briggs　could　lay　out　her　money；　that；　being　especially
interested　in　her　as　an　attached　friend　of　the　late　Miss
Crawley；　and　of　the　whole　family；　and　that　long　before
he　left　town；　he　had　reco