vanity fair(名利场)-第11章

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！


of　the　service　had　ordered　his　regiment；　whilst　so　many
of　his　gallant　comrades　were　reaping　glory　in　the　Peninsula。
He　had　arrived　with　a　knock　so　very　timid　and　quiet
that　it　was　inaudible　to　the　ladies　upstairs：　otherwise；　you
may　be　sure　Miss　Amelia　would　never　have　been　so　bold
as　to　come　singing　into　the　room。　　As　it　was；　the　sweet
fresh　little　voice　went　right　into　the　Captain's　heart；　and
nestled　there。　　When　she　held　out　her　hand　for　him　to
shake；　before　he　enveloped　it　in　his　own；　he　paused；　and
thought〃Well；　is　it　possibleare　you　the　little　maid　I
remember　in　the　pink　frock；　such　a　short　time　agothe
night　I　upset　the　punch…bowl；　just　after　I　was　gazetted？
Are　you　the　little　girl　that　George　Osborne　said　should
marry　him？　　What　a　blooming　young　creature　you　seem；
and　what　a　prize　the　rogue　has　got！〃　All　this　he　thought；
before　he　took　Amelia's　hand　into　his　own；　and　as　he　let
his　cocked　hat　fall。
His　history　since　he　left　school；　until　the　very　moment
when　we　have　the　pleasure　of　meeting　him　again；　although
not　fully　narrated；　has　yet；　I　think；　been　indicated
sufficiently　for　an　ingenious　reader　by　the　conversation
in　the　last　page。　　Dobbin；　the　despised　grocer；　was　Alderman
DobbinAlderman　Dobbin　was　Colonel　of　the　City　Light
Horse；　then　burning　with　military　ardour　to　resist　the
French　Invasion。　　Colonel　Dobbin's　corps；　in　which　old
Mr。　Osborne　himself　was　but　an　indifferent　corporal；　had
been　reviewed　by　the　Sovereign　and　the　Duke　of　York；
and　the　colonel　and　alderman　had　been　knighted。　　His
son　had　entered　the　army：　and　young　Osborne　followed
presently　in　the　same　regiment。　　They　had　served　in　the
West　Indies　and　in　Canada。　　Their　regiment　had　just　come
home；　and　the　attachment　of　Dobbin　to　George　Osborne
was　as　warm　and　generous　now　as　it　had　been　when　the
two　were　schoolboys。
So　these　worthy　people　sat　down　to　dinner　presently。
They　talked　about　war　and　glory；　and　Boney　and　Lord
Wellington；　and　the　last　Gazette。　　In　those　famous　days
every　gazette　had　a　victory　in　it；　and　the　two　gallant　young
men　longed　to　see　their　own　names　in　the　glorious　list；
and　cursed　their　unlucky　fate　to　belong　to　a　regiment
which　had　been　away　from　the　chances　of　honour。　　Miss
Sharp　kindled　with　this　exciting　talk；　but　Miss　Sedley
trembled　and　grew　quite　faint　as　she　heard　it。　　Mr。　Jos
told　several　of　his　tiger…hunting　stories；　finished　the　one
about　Miss　Cutler　and　Lance　the　surgeon；　helped
Rebecca　to　everything　on　the　table；　and　himself　gobbled
and　drank　a　great　deal。
He　sprang　to　open　the　door　for　the　ladies；　when　they
retired；　with　the　most　killing　graceand　coming　back　to
the　table；　filled　himself　bumper　after　bumper　of　claret；
which　he　swallowed　with　nervous　rapidity。
〃He's　priming　himself；〃　Osborne　whispered　to　Dobbin；
and　at　length　the　hour　and　the　carriage　arrived
for　Vauxhall。

CHAPTER　VI
Vauxhall
I　know　that　the　tune　I　am　piping　is　a　very　mild
one　（although　there　are　some　terrific　chapters
coming　presently）；　and　must　beg　the　good…natured
reader　to　remember　that　we　are　only　discoursing
at　present　about　a　stockbroker's　family　in　Russell
Square；　who　are　taking　walks；　or　luncheon；　or　dinner；
or　talking　and　making　love　as　people　do　in　common　life；
and　without　a　single　passionate　and　wonderful
incident　to　mark　the　progress　of　their　loves。　　The
argument　stands　thusOsborne；　in　love　with　Amelia；
has　asked　an　old　friend　to　dinner　and　to　VauxhallJos
Sedley　is　in　love　with　Rebecca。　　Will　he　marry　her？
That　is　the　great　subject　now　in　hand。
We　might　have　treated　this　subject　in　the　genteel；　or　in
the　romantic；　or　in　the　facetious　manner。　　Suppose　we　had
laid　the　scene　in　Grosvenor　Square；　with　the　very　same
adventureswould　not　some　people　have　listened？
Suppose　we　had　shown　how　Lord　Joseph　Sedley　fell　in　love；
and　the　Marquis　of　Osborne　became　attached　to　Lady
Amelia；　with　the　full　consent　of　the　Duke；　her　noble
father：　or　instead　of　the　supremely　genteel；　suppose　we
had　resorted　to　the　entirely　low；　and　described　what　was
going　on　in　Mr。　Sedley's　kitchenhow　black　Sambo　was
in　love　with　the　cook　（as　indeed　he　was）；　and　how　he
fought　a　battle　with　the　coachman　in　her　behalf；　how　the
knife…boy　was　caught　stealing　a　cold　shoulder　of　mutton；
and　Miss　Sedley's　new　femme　de　chambre　refused　to　go
to　bed　without　a　wax　candle；　such　incidents　might　be
made　to　provoke　much　delightful　laughter；　and　be
supposed　to　represent　scenes　of　〃life。〃　Or　if；　on　the　contrary；
we　had　taken　a　fancy　for　the　terrible；　and　made　the　lover
of　the　new　femme　de　chambre　a　professional　burglar；　who
bursts　into　the　house　with　his　band；　slaughters　black
Sambo　at　the　feet　of　his　master；　and　carries　off　Amelia　in
her　night…dress；　not　to　be　let　loose　again　till　the　third
volume；　we　should　easily　have　constructed　a　tale　of
thrilling　interest；　through　the　fiery　chapters　of　which　the
reader　should　hurry；　panting。　　But　my　readers　must　hope
for　no　such　romance；　only　a　homely　story；　and　must　be
content　with　a　chapter　about　Vauxhall；　which　is　so　short
that　it　scarce　deserves　to　be　called　a　chapter　at　all。　　And
yet　it　is　a　chapter；　and　a　very　important　one　too。　　Are　not
there　little　chapters　in　everybody's　life；　that　seem　to　be
nothing；　and　yet　affect　all　the　rest　of　the　history？
Let　us　then　step　into　the　coach　with　the　Russell　Square
party；　and　be　off　to　the　Gardens。　　There　is　barely　room
between　Jos　and　Miss　Sharp；　who　are　on　the　front　seat。　　Mr。
Osborne　sitting　bodkin　opposite；　between　Captain　Dobbin
and　Amelia。
Every　soul　in　the　coach　agreed　that　on　that　night　Jos
would　propose　to　make　Rebecca　Sharp　Mrs。　Sedley。　　The
parents　at　home　had　acquiesced　in　the　arrangement；
though；　between　ourselves；　old　Mr。　Sedley　had　a　feeling
very　much　akin　to　contempt　for　his　son。　　He　said　he　was
vain；　selfish；　lazy；　and　effeminate。　　He　could　not　endure　his
airs　as　a　man　of　fashion；　and　laughed　heartily　at　his
pompous　braggadocio　stories。　　〃I　shall　leave　the　fellow　half
my　property；〃　he　said；　〃and　he　will　have；　besides；　plenty
of　his　own；　but　as　I　am　perfectly　sure　that　if　you；　and　I；
and　his　sister　were　to　die　to…morrow；　he　would　say　'Good
Gad！'　and　eat　his　dinner　just　as　well　as　usual；　I　am　not
going　to　make　myself　anxious　about　him。　　Let　him　marry
whom　he　likes。　　It's　no　affair　of　mine。〃
Amelia；　on　the　other　hand；　as　became　a　young　woman
of　her　prudence　and　temperament；　was　quite　enthusiastic
for　the　match。　　Once　or　twice　Jos　had　been　on　the　point
of　saying　something　very　important　to　her；　to　which　she
was　most　willing　to　lend　an　ear；　but　the　fat　fellow　could
not　be　brought　to　unbosom　himself　of　his　great　secret；
and　very　much　to　his　sister's　disappointment　he　only　rid
himself　of　a　large　sigh　and　turned　away。
This　mystery　served　to　keep　Amelia's　gentle　bosom　in　a
perpetual　flutter　of　excitement。　　If　she　did　not　speak　with
Rebecca　on　the　tender　subject；　she　compensated　herself
with　long　and　intimate　conversations　with　Mrs。　Blenkinsop；
the　housekeeper；　who　dropped　some　hints　to　the
lady's…maid；　who　may　have　cursorily　mentioned　the　matter
to　the　cook；　who　carried　the　news；　I　have　no　doubt；　to　all
the　tradesmen；　so　that　Mr。　Jos's　marriage　was　now　talked
of　by　a　very　considerable　number　of　persons　in　the
Russell　Square　world。
It　was；　of　course；　Mrs。　Sedley's　opinion　that　her　son
would　demean　himself　by　a　marriage　with　an　artist's
daughter。　　〃But；　lor'；　Ma'am；〃　ejaculated　Mrs。　Blenkinsop；
〃we　was　only　grocers　when　we　married　Mr。　S。；　who
was　a　stock…broker's　clerk；　and　we　hadn't　five　hundred
pounds　among　us；　and　we're　rich　enough　now。〃　And
Amelia　was　entirely　of　this　opinion；　to　which；　gradually；
the　good…natured　Mrs。　Sedley　was　brought。
Mr。　Sedley　was　neutral。　　〃Let　Jos　marry　whom　he　likes；〃
he　said；　〃it's　no　affair　of　mine。　　This　girl　has　no　fortune；
no　more　had　Mrs。　Sedley。　　She　seems　good…humoured　and
clever；　and　will　keep　him　in　order；　perhaps。　　Better　she；
my　dear；　than　a　black　Mrs。　Sedley；　and　a　dozen　of
mahogany　grandchildren。〃
So　that　everything　seemed　to　smile　upon　Rebecca's
fortunes。　　She　took　Jos's　arm；　as　a　matter　of　course；　on　going
to　dinner；　she　had　sate　by　him　on　the　box　of　his　open
carriage　（a　most　tremendous　〃buck〃　he　was；　as　he　sat
there；　serene；　in　state；　driving　his　greys）；　and　though
nobody　said　a　word　on　the　subject　of　the　marriage；
everybody　seemed　to　understand　it。　　All　she　wanted　was
the　proposal；　and　ah！　how　Rebecca　now　felt　the　want　of　a
mother！a　dear；　tender　mother；　who　would　have　managed
the　business　in　ten　minutes；　and；　in　the　course　of　a　little
delicate　confidential　conversation；　would　have　extracted
the　interesting　avowal　from　the　bashful　lips　of　the　young
man！
Such　was　the　state　of　affairs　as　the　carriage　crossed
Westminster　bridge。
The　party　was　landed　at　the　Royal　Gardens　in　due　time。
As　the　majestic　Jos　stepped　out　of　the　creaking　vehicle
the　crowd　gave　a　cheer　for　the　fat　gentleman；　who　blushed
and　looked　very　big　and　mighty；　as　he　walked　away　with
Rebecca　under　his　arm。　　George；　of　course；　took　charge　of
Amelia。　　She　looked　as　happy　as　a　rose…tree　in　sunshine。
〃I　say；　Dobbin；〃　says　George；　〃just　look　to　the　shawls
and　things；　there's　a　good　fellow。〃　And　so　while　he　paired
off　with　Miss　Sedley；　and　Jos　squeezed　through　the　gate
into　the　gardens　with　Rebecca　at　his　side；　honest　Dobbin
contented　himself　by　giving　an　arm　to　the　shawls；　and　by
paying　at　the　door　for　the　whole　party。
He　walked　very　modestly　behind　them。　　He　was　not
willing　to　spoil　sport。　　About　Rebecca　and　Jos　he　did　not
care　a　fig。　　But　he　thought　Amelia　worthy　even　of　the
brilliant　George　Osborne；　and　as　he　saw　that　good…looking
couple　threading　the　walks　to　the　girl's　delight　and
wonder；　he　watched　her　artless　happiness　with　a　sort　of
fatherly　pleasure。　　Perhaps　he　felt　that　he　would　have　liked
to　have　something　on　his　own　arm　besides　a　shawl　（the
people　laughed　at　seeing　the　gawky　young　officer　carrying
this　female　burthen）；　but　William　Dobbin　was　very　little
addicted　to　selfish　calculation　at　all；　and　so　long　as　his
friend　was　enjoying　himself；　how　should　he　be　discontented？
And　the　truth　is；　that　of　all　the　delights　of　the
Gardens；　of　the　hundred　thousand　extra　lamps；　which
were　always　lighted；　the　fiddlers　in　cocked　hats；　who
played　ravishing　melodies　under　the　gilded　cockle…shell　in
the　midst　of　the　gardens；　the　singers；　both　of　comic　and
sentimental　ballads；　who　charmed　the　ears　there；　the
country　dances；　formed　by　bouncing　cockneys　and
cockneyesses；　and　executed　amidst　jumping；　thumping　and
laughter；　the　signal　which　announced　that　Madame　Saqui
was　about　to　mount　skyward　on　a　slack…rope　ascending
to　the　stars；　the　hermit　that　always　sat　in　the　illuminated
hermitage；　the　dark　walks；　so　favourable　to　the　interviews
of　young　lovers；　the　pots　of　stout　handed　about　by　the
people　in　the　shabby　old　liveries；　and　the　twinkling　boxes；
in　which　the　happy　feasters　made…believe　to　eat　slices　of
almost　invisible　hamof　all　these　things；　and　of　the
gentle　Simpson；　that　kind　smiling　idiot；　who；　I　daresay；
presided　even　then　over　the　placeCaptain　William　Dobbin
did　not　take　the　slightest　notice。
He　carried　about　Amelia's　white　cashmere　shawl；　and
having　attended　under　the　gilt　cockle…shell；　while　Mrs。
Salmon　performed　the