vanity fair(名利场)-第111章

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invitation　from　Lord　and　Lady　Steyne　to　a　dinner　at　Gaunt
House　next　Friday；　while　the　other　enclosed　a　slip　of
gray　paper　bearing　Lord　Steyne's　signature　and　the
address　of　Messrs。　　Jones；　Brown；　and　Robinson；　Lombard
Street。
Rawdon　heard　Becky　laughing　in　the　night　once　or
twice。　　It　was　only　her　delight　at　going　to　Gaunt　House
and　facing　the　ladies　there；　she　said；　which　amused　her
so。　　But　the　truth　was　that　she　was　occupied　with　a　great
number　of　other　thoughts。　　Should　she　pay　off　old　Briggs
and　give　her　her　conge？　Should　she　astonish　Raggles
by　settling　his　account？　She　turned　over　all　these　thoughts
on　her　pillow；　and　on　the　next　day；　when　Rawdon　went
out　to　pay　his　morning　visit　to　the　Club；　Mrs。　Crawley
（in　a　modest　dress　with　a　veil　on）　whipped　off　in　a
hackney…coach　to　the　City：　　and　being　landed　at　Messrs。
Jones　and　Robinson's　bank；　presented　a　document　there
to　the　authority　at　the　desk；　who；　in　reply；　asked　her
〃How　she　would　take　it？〃
She　gently　said　〃she　would　take　a　hundred　and　fifty
pounds　in　small　notes　and　the　remainder　in　one　note〃：
and　passing　through　St。　　Paul's　Churchyard　stopped　there
and　bought　the　handsomest　black　silk　gown　for　Briggs
which　money　could　buy；　and　which；　with　a　kiss　and　the
kindest　speeches；　she　presented　to　the　simple　old
spinster。
Then　she　walked　to　Mr。　Raggles；　inquired　about　his
children　affectionately；　and　gave　him　fifty　pounds　on
account。　　Then　she　went　to　the　livery…man　from　whom
she　jobbed　her　carriages　and　gratified　him　with　a　similar
sum。　　〃And　I　hope　this　will　be　a　lesson　to　you；　Spavin；〃
she　said；　〃and　that　on　the　next　drawing…room　day　my
brother；　Sir　Pitt；　will　not　be　inconvenienced　by　being
obliged　to　take　four　of　us　in　his　carriage　to　wait　upon
His　Majesty；　because　my　own　carriage　is　not　forthcoming。〃
It　appears　there　had　been　a　difference　on　the　last
drawing…room　day。　　Hence　the　degradation　which　the
Colonel　had　almost　suffered；　of　being　obliged　to　enter
the　presence　of　his　Sovereign　in　a　hack　cab。
These　arrangements　concluded；　Becky　paid　a　visit
upstairs　to　the　before…mentioned　desk；　which　Amelia
Sedley　had　given　her　years　and　years　ago；　and　which
contained　a　number　of　useful　and　valuable　little　thingsin
which　private　museum　she　placed　the　one　note　which
Messrs。　　Jones　and　Robinson's　cashier　had　given　her。

CHAPTER　XLIX
In　Which　We　Enjoy　Three　Courses　and　a　Dessert
When　the　ladies　of　Gaunt　House　were　at　breakfast　that
morning；　Lord　Steyne　（who　took　his　chocolate　in　private
and　seldom　disturbed　the　females　of　his　household；
or　saw　them　except　upon　public　days；　or　when　they
crossed　each　other　in　the　hall；　or　when　from　his
pit…box　at　the　opera　he　surveyed　them　in　their　box　on　the
grand　tier）　his　lordship；　we　say；　appeared　among　the
ladies　and　the　children　who　were　assembled　over　the
tea　and　toast；　and　a　battle　royal　ensued　apropos　of
Rebecca。
〃My　Lady　Steyne；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　to　see　the　list
for　your　dinner　on　Friday；　and　I　want　you；　if　you　please；
to　write　a　card　for　Colonel　and　Mrs。　Crawley。〃
〃Blanche　writes　them；〃　Lady　Steyne　said　in　a　flutter。
〃Lady　Gaunt　writes　them。〃
〃I　will　not　write　to　that　person；〃　Lady　Gaunt　said；
a　tall　and　stately　lady；　who　looked　up　for　an　instant
and　then　down　again　after　she　had　spoken。　　It　was　not
good　to　meet　Lord　Steyne's　eyes　for　those　who　had
offended　him。
〃Send　the　children　out　of　the　room。　　Go！〃　said　he
pulling　at　the　bell…rope。　　The　urchins；　always　frightened
before　him；　retired：　　their　mother　would　have　followed
too。　　〃Not　you；〃　he　said。　　〃You　stop。〃
〃My　Lady　Steyne；〃　he　said；　〃once　more　will　you　have
the　goodness　to　go　to　the　desk　and　write　that　card　for
your　dinner　on　Friday？〃
〃My　Lord；　I　will　not　be　present　at　it；〃　Lady　Gaunt
said；　〃I　will　go　home。〃
〃I　wish　you　would；　and　stay　there。　　You　will　find
the　bailiffs　at　Bareacres　very　pleasant　company；　and　I
shall　be　freed　from　lending　money　to　your　relations　and
from　your　own　damned　tragedy　airs。　　Who　are　you　to
give　orders　here？　You　have　no　money。　　You've　got　no
brains。　　You　were　here　to　have　children；　and　you　have
not　had　any。　　Gaunt's　tired　of　you；　and　George's　wife
is　the　only　person　in　the　family　who　doesn't　wish　you
were　dead。　　Gaunt　would　marry　again　if　you　were。〃
〃I　wish　I　were；〃　her　Ladyship　answered　with　tears
and　rage　in　her　eyes。
〃You；　forsooth；　must　give　yourself　airs　of　virtue；　while
my　wife；　who　is　an　immaculate　saint；　as　everybody　knows；
and　never　did　wrong　in　her　life；　has　no　objection　to　meet
my　young　friend　Mrs。　Crawley。　　My　Lady　Steyne　knows
that　appearances　are　sometimes　against　the　best　of
women；　that　lies　are　often　told　about　the　most　innocent
of　them。　　Pray；　madam；　shall　I　tell　you　some　little
anecdotes　about　my　Lady　Bareacres；　your　mamma？〃
〃You　may　strike　me　if　you　like；　sir；　or　hit　any　cruel
blow；〃　Lady　Gaunt　said。　　To　see　his　wife　and　daughter
suffering　always　put　his　Lordship　into　a　good　humour。
〃My　sweet　Blanche；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　a　gentleman；　and
never　lay　my　hand　upon　a　woman；　save　in　the　way　of
kindness。　　I　only　wish　to　correct　little　faults　in　your
character。　　You　women　are　too　proud；　and　sadly　lack
humility；　as　Father　Mole；　I'm　sure；　would　tell　my　Lady
Steyne　if　he　were　here。　　You　mustn't　give　yourselves　airs；
you　must　be　meek　and　humble；　my　blessings。　　For　all
Lady　Steyne　knows；　this　calumniated；　simple；　good…
humoured　Mrs。　Crawley　is　quite　innocenteven　more
innocent　than　herself。　　Her　husband's　character　is　not
good；　but　it　is　as　good　as　Bareacres'；　who　has　played
a　little　and　not　paid　a　great　deal；　who　cheated　you　out
of　the　only　legacy　you　ever　had　and　left　you　a　pauper
on　my　hands。　　And　Mrs。　Crawley　is　not　very　well…born；
but　she　is　not　worse　than　Fanny's　illustrious　ancestor；
the　first　de　la　Jones。〃
〃The　money　which　I　brought　into　the　family；　sir；〃　Lady
George　cried　out
〃You　purchased　a　contingent　reversion　with　it；〃　the
Marquis　said　darkly。　　〃If　Gaunt　dies；　your　husband　may
come　to　his　honours；　your　little　boys　may　inherit　them；
and　who　knows　what　besides？　In　the　meanwhile；　ladies；
be　as　proud　and　virtuous　as　you　like　abroad；　but　don't
give　ME　any　airs。　　As　for　Mrs。　Crawley's　character；　I
shan't　demean　myself　or　that　most　spotless　and　perfectly
irreproachable　lady　by　even　hinting　that　it　requires　a
defence。　　You　will　be　pleased　to　receive　her　with　the
utmost　cordiality；　as　you　will　receive　all　persons　whom
I　present　in　this　house。　　This　house？〃　He　broke　out　with
a　laugh。　　〃Who　is　the　master　of　it？　and　what　is　it？
This　Temple　of　Virtue　belongs　to　me。　　And　if　I　invite　all
Newgate　or　all　Bedlam　here；　by　　they　shall　be
welcome。〃
After　this　vigorous　allocution；　to　one　of　which　sort
Lord　Steyne　treated　his　〃Hareem〃　whenever　symptoms
of　insubordination　appeared　in　his　household；　the
crestfallen　women　had　nothing　for　it　but　to　obey。　　Lady　Gaunt
wrote　the　invitation　which　his　Lordship　required；　and
she　and　her　mother…in…law　drove　in　person；　and　with
bitter　and　humiliated　hearts；　to　leave　the　cards　on　Mrs。
Rawdon；　the　reception　of　which　caused　that　innocent
woman　so　much　pleasure。
There　were　families　in　London　who　would　have
sacrificed　a　year's　income　to　receive　such　an　honour　at　the
hands　of　those　great　ladies。　　Mrs。　Frederick　Bullock；　for
instance；　would　have　gone　on　her　knees　from　May　Fair
to　Lombard　Street；　if　Lady　Steyne　and　Lady　Gaunt　had
been　waiting　in　the　City　to　raise　her　up　and　say；　〃Come
to　us　next　Friday〃not　to　one　of　the　great　crushes　and
grand　balls　of　Gaunt　House；　whither　everybody　went；　but
to　the　sacred；　unapproachable；　mysterious；　delicious
entertainments；　to　be　admitted　to　one　of　which　was　a
privilege；　and　an　honour；　and　a　blessing　indeed。
Severe；　spotless；　and　beautiful；　Lady　Gaunt　held　the
very　highest　rank　in　Vanity　Fair。　　The　distinguished
courtesy　with　which　Lord　Steyne　treated　her　charmed
everybody　who　witnessed　his　behaviour；　caused　the　severest
critics　to　admit　how　perfect　a　gentleman　he　was；　and　to
own　that　his　Lordship's　heart　at　least　was　in　the　right
place。
The　ladies　of　Gaunt　House　called　Lady　Bareacres　in　to
their　aid；　in　order　to　repulse　the　common　enemy。　　One
of　Lady　Gaunt's　carriages　went　to　Hill　Street　for　her
Ladyship's　mother；　all　whose　equipages　were　in　the　hands
of　the　bailiffs；　whose　very　jewels　and　wardrobe；　it　was
said；　had　been　seized　by　those　inexorable　Israelites。
Bareacres　Castle　was　theirs；　too；　with　all　its　costly
pictures；　furniture；　and　articles　of　vertuthe　magnificent
Vandykes；　the　noble　Reynolds　pictures；　the　Lawrence
portraits；　tawdry　and　beautiful；　and；　thirty　years　ago；
deemed　as　precious　as　works　of　real　genius；　the　matchless
Dancing　Nymph　of　Canova；　for　which　Lady　Bareacres
had　sat　in　her　youthLady　Bareacres　splendid　then；
and　radiant　in　wealth；　rank；　and　beautya　toothless；
bald；　old　woman　nowa　mere　rag　of　a　former　robe　of
state。　　Her　lord；　painted　at　the　same　time　by　Lawrence；
as　waving　his　sabre　in　front　of　Bareacres　Castle；　and
clothed　in　his　uniform　as　Colonel　of　the　Thistlewood
Yeomanry；　was　a　withered；　old；　lean　man　in　a
greatcoat　and　a　Brutus　wig；　slinking　about　Gray's　Inn　of
mornings　chiefly　and　dining　alone　at　clubs。　　He　did　not
like　to　dine　with　Steyne　now。　　They　had　run　races　of
pleasure　together　in　youth　when　Bareacres　was　the
winner。　　But　Steyne　had　more　bottom　than　he　and　had　lasted
him　out。　　The　Marquis　was　ten　times　a　greater　man　now
than　the　young　Lord　Gaunt　of　'85；　and　Bareacres
nowhere　in　the　raceold；　beaten；　bankrupt；　and　broken
down。　　He　had　borrowed　too　much　money　of　Steyne　to
find　it　pleasant　to　meet　his　old　comrade　often。　　The　latter；
whenever　he　wished　to　be　merry；　used　jeeringly　to　ask
Lady　Gaunt　why　her　father　had　not　come　to　see　her。
〃He　has　not　been　here　for　four　months；〃　Lord　Steyne
would　say。　　〃I　can　always　tell　by　my　cheque…book
afterwards；　when　I　get　a　visit　from　Bareacres。　　What　a
comfort　it　is；　my　ladies；　I　bank　with　one　of　my　sons'
fathers…in…law；　and　the　other　banks　with　me！〃
Of　the　other　illustrious　persons　whom　Becky　had　the
honour　to　encounter　on　this　her　first　presentation　to　the
grand　world；　it　does　not　become　the　present　historian
to　say　much。　　There　was　his　Excellency　the　Prince　of
Peterwaradin；　with　his　Princessa　nobleman　tightly
girthed；　with　a　large　military　chest；　on　which　the　plaque
of　his　order　shone　magnificently；　and　wearing　the　red
collar　of　the　Golden　Fleece　round　his　neck。　　He　was　the
owner　of　countless　flocks。　　〃Look　at　his　face。　　I　think　he
must　be　descended　from　a　sheep；〃　Becky　whispered　to
Lord　Steyne。　　Indeed；　his　Excellency's　countenance；　long；
solemn；　and　white；　with　the　ornament　round　his　neck；。
bore　some　resemblance　to　that　of　a　venerable　bell…wether。
There　was　Mr。　John　Paul　Jefferson　Jones；　titularly
attached　to　the　American　Embassy　and　correspondent
of　the　New　York　Demagogue；　who；　by　way　of　making
himself　agreeable　to　the　company；　asked　Lady　Steyne；
during　a　pause　in　the　conversation　at　dinner；　how　his
dear　friend；　George　Gaunt；　liked　the　Brazils？　He　and
George　had　been　most　intimate　at　Naples　and　had　gone
up　Vesuvius　together。　　Mr。　Jones　wrote　a　full　and
particular　account　of　the　dinner；　which　appeared　duly　in
the　Demagogue。　　He　mentioned　the　names　and　titles　of
all　the　guests；　giving　biographical　sketches　of　the　principal
people。　　He