vanity fair(名利场)-第114章

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entered　this　room　with　the　servants　under　her。　　She　sank
quite　pale　on　the　little　bed。　　〃This　is　blessed　news；　m'am
indeed；　m'am；〃　the　housekeeper　said；　〃and　the　good
old　times　is　returning；　m'am。　　The　dear　little　feller；　to　be
sure；　m'am；　how　happy　he　will　be！　　But　some　folks　in
May　Fair；　m'am；　will　owe　him　a　grudge；　m'am〃；　and
she　clicked　back　the　bolt　which　held　the　window…sash
and　let　the　air　into　the　chamber。
〃You　had　better　send　that　woman　some　money；〃　Mr。
Osborne　said；　before　he　went　out。　　〃She　shan't　want　for
nothing。　　Send　her　a　hundred　pound。〃
〃And　I'll　go　and　see　her　to…morrow？〃　Miss　Osborne
asked。
〃That's　your　look　out。　　She　don't　come　in　here；　mind。
No；　by　；　not　for　all　the　money　in　London。　　But　she
mustn't　want　now。　　So　look　out；　and　get　things　right。〃　With
which　brief　speeches　Mr。　Osborne　took　leave　of　his
daughter　and　went　on　his　accustomed　way　into　the　City。
〃Here；　Papa；　is　some　money；〃　Amelia　said　that
night；　kissing　the　old　man；　her　father；　and　putting　a　bill
for　a　hundred　pounds　into　his　hands。　　〃Andand；　Mamma；
don't　be　harsh　with　Georgy。　　Hehe　is　not　going　to　stop
with　us　long。〃　She　could　say　nothing　more；　and　walked
away　silently　to　her　room。　　Let　us　close　it　upon　her
prayers　and　her　sorrow。　　I　think　we　had　best　speak　little
about　so　much　love　and　grief。
Miss　Osborne　came　the　next　day；　according　to　the
promise　contained　in　her　note；　and　saw　Amelia。　　The
meeting　between　them　was　friendly。　　A　look　and　a　few　words
from　Miss　Osborne　showed　the　poor　widow　that；　with
regard　to　this　woman　at　least；　there　need　be　no　fear
lest　she　should　take　the　first　place　in　her　son's　affection。
She　was　cold；　sensible；　not　unkind。　　The　mother　had
not　been　so　well　pleased；　perhaps；　had　the　rival　been
better　looking；　younger；　more　affectionate；　warmer…
hearted。　　Miss　Osborne；　on　the　other　hand；　thought　of　old
times　and　memories　and　could　not　but　be　touched　with
the　poor　mother's　pitiful　situation。　　She　was　conquered；
and　laying　down　her　arms；　as　it　were；　she　humbly
submitted。　　That　day　they　arranged　together　the
preliminaries　of　the　treaty　of　capitulation。
George　was　kept　from　school　the　next　day；　and　saw
his　aunt。　　Amelia　left　them　alone　together　and　went　to
her　room。　　She　was　trying　the　separationas　that　poor
gentle　Lady　Jane　Grey　felt　the　edge　of　the　axe　that　was
to　come　down　and　sever　her　slender　life。　　Days　were
passed　in　parleys；　visits；　preparations。　　The　widow　broke
the　matter　to　Georgy　with　great　caution；　she　looked　to
see　him　very　much　affected　by　the　intelligence。　　He　was
rather　elated　than　otherwise；　and　the　poor　woman
turned　sadly　away。　　He　bragged　about　the　news　that　day
to　the　boys　at　school；　told　them　how　he　was　going　to
live　with　his　grandpapa　his　father's　father；　not　the　one
who　comes　here　sometimes；　and　that　he　would　be　very
rich；　and　have　a　carriage；　and　a　pony；　and　go　to　a　much
finer　school；　and　when　he　was　rich　he　would　buy　Leader's
pencil…case　and　pay　the　tart…woman。　　The　boy　was　the
image　of　his　father；　as　his　fond　mother　thought。
Indeed　I　have　no　heart；　on　account　of　our　dear
Amelia's　sake；　to　go　through　the　story　of　George's　last
days　at　home。
At　last　the　day　came；　the　carriage　drove　up；　the　little
humble　packets　containing　tokens　of　love　and　remembrance
were　ready　and　disposed　in　the　hall　long　since
George　was　in　his　new　suit；　for　which　the　tailor　had
come　previously　to　measure　him。　　He　had　sprung　up　with
the　sun　and　put　on　the　new　clothes；　his　mother　hearing
him　from　the　room　close　by；　in　which　she　had　been
lying；　in　speechless　grief　and　watching。　　Days　before　she
had　been　making　preparations　for　the　end；　purchasing
little　stores　for　the　boy's　use；　marking　his　books　and
linen；　talking　with　him　and　preparing　him　for　the　change
fondly　fancying　that　he　needed　preparation。
So　that　he　had　change；　what　cared　he？　He　was　longing
for　it。　　By　a　thousand　eager　declarations　as　to　what
he　would　do；　when　he　went　to　live　with　his　grandfather；
he　had　shown　the　poor　widow　how　little　the　idea　of
parting　had　cast　him　down。　　〃He　would　come　and　see
his　mamma　often　on　the　pony；〃　he　said。　　〃He　would
come　and　fetch　her　in　the　carriage；　they　would　drive
in　the　park；　and　she　should　have　everything　she　wanted。〃
The　poor　mother　was　fain　to　content　herself　with　these
selfish　demonstrations　of　attachment；　and　tried　to
convince　herself　how　sincerely　her　son　loved　her。　　He　must
love　her。　　All　children　were　so：　　a　little　anxious　for　novelty；
andno；　not　selfish；　but　self…willed。　　Her　child　must
have　his　enjoyments　and　ambition　in　the　world。　　She
herself；　by　her　own　selfishness　and　imprudent　love　for　him
had　denied　him　his　just　rights　and　pleasures　hitherto。
I　know　few　things　more　affecting　than　that　timorous
debasement　and　self…humiliation　of　a　woman。　　How　she
owns　that　it　is　she　and　not　the　man　who　is　guilty；　how
she　takes　all　the　faults　on　her　side；　how　she　courts　in　a
manner　punishment　for　the　wrongs　which　she　has　not
committed　and　persists　in　shielding　the　real　culprit！　　It
is　those　who　injure　women　who　get　the　most　kindness
from　themthey　are　born　timid　and　tyrants　and
maltreat　those　who　are　humblest　before　them。
So　poor　Amelia　had　been　getting　ready　in　silent　misery
for　her　son's　departure；　and　had　passed　many　and　many
a　long　solitary　hour　in　making　preparations　for　the　end。
George　stood　by　his　mother；　watching　her　arrangements
without　the　least　concern。　　Tears　had　fallen　into　his　boxes；
passages　had　been　scored　in　his　favourite　books；　old　toys；
relics；　treasures　had　been　hoarded　away　for　him；　and
packed　with　strange　neatness　and　careand　of　all　these
things　the　boy　took　no　note。　　The　child　goes　away　smiling
as　the　mother　breaks　her　heart。　　By　heavens　it　is　pitiful；
the　bootless　love　of　women　for　children　in　Vanity　Fair。
A　few　days　are　past；　and　the　great　event　of　Amelia's
life　is　consummated。　　No　angel　has　intervened。　　The　child
is　sacrificed　and　offered　up　to　fate；　and　the　widow　is
quite　alone。
The　boy　comes　to　see　her　often；　to　be　sure。　　He　rides
on　a　pony　with　a　coachman　behind　him；　to　the　delight
of　his　old　grandfather；　Sedley；　who　walks　proudly　down
the　lane　by　his　side。　　She　sees　him；　but　he　is　not　her　boy
any　more。　　Why；　he　rides　to　see　the　boys　at　the　little
school；　too；　and　to　show　off　before　them　his　new　wealth
and　splendour。　　In　two　days　he　has　adopted　a　slightly
imperious　air　and　patronizing　manner。　　He　was　born　to
command；　his　mother　thinks；　as　his　father　was　before
him。
It　is　fine　weather　now。　　Of　evenings　on　the　days　when
he　does　not　come；　she　takes　a　long　walk　into　London
yes；　as　far　as　Russell　Square；　and　rests　on　the　stone
by　the　railing　of　the　garden　opposite　Mr。　Osborne's　house。
It　is　so　pleasant　and　cool。　　She　can　look　up　and　see　the
drawing…room　windows　illuminated；　and；　at　about　nine
o'clock；　the　chamber　in　the　upper　story　where　Georgy
sleeps。　　She　knowshe　has　told　her。　　She　prays　there
as　the　light　goes　out；　prays　with　an　humble　heart；
and　walks　home　shrinking　and　silent。　　She　is　very　tired
when　she　comes　home。　　Perhaps　she　will　sleep　the　better
for　that　long　weary　walk；　and　she　may　dream　about
Georgy。
One　Sunday　she　happened　to　be　walking　in　Russell
Square；　at　some　distance　from　Mr。　Osborne's　house　（she
could　see　it　from　a　distance　though）　when　all　the　bells
of　Sabbath　were　ringing；　and　George　and　his　aunt　came
out　to　go　to　church；　a　little　sweep　asked　for　charity；
and　the　footman；　who　carried　the　books；　tried　to　drive
him　away；　but　Georgy　stopped　and　gave　him　money。　　May
God's　blessing　be　on　the　boy！　　Emmy　ran　round　the　square
and；　coming　up　to　the　sweep；　gave　him　her　mite　too。
All　the　bells　of　Sabbath　were　ringing；　and　she　followed
them　until　she　came　to　the　Foundling　Church；　into　which
she　went。　　There　she　sat　in　a　place　whence　she　could
see　the　head　of　the　boy　under　his　father's　tombstone。
Many　hundred　fresh　children's　voices　rose　up　there　and
sang　hymns　to　the　Father　Beneficent；　and　little　George's
soul　thrilled　with　delight　at　the　burst　of　glorious
psalmody。　　His　mother　could　not　see　him　for　awhile；
through　the　mist　that　dimmed　her　eyes。

CHAPTER　LI
In　Which　a　Charade　Is　Acted　Which　May　or　May
Not　Puzzle　the　Reader
After　Becky's　appearance　at　my　Lord　Steyne's　private
and　select　parties；　the　claims　of　that　estimable　woman
as　regards　fashion　were　settled；　and　some　of　the　very
greatest　and　tallest　doors　in　the　metropolis　were
speedily　opened　to　herdoors　so　great　and　tall　that　the
beloved　reader　and　writer　hereof　may　hope　in　vain　to
enter　at　them。　　Dear　brethren；　let　us　tremble　before
those　august　portals。　　I　fancy　them　guarded　by　grooms
of　the　chamber　with　flaming　silver　forks　with　which　they
prong　all　those　who　have　not　the　right　of　the　entree。
They　say　the　honest　newspaper…fellow　who　sits　in　the
hall　and　takes　down　the　names　of　the　great　ones　who
are　admitted　to　the　feasts　dies　after　a　little　time。　　He
can't　survive　the　glare　of　fashion　long。　　It　scorches　him
up；　as　the　presence　of　Jupiter　in　full　dress　wasted　that
poor　imprudent　Semelea　giddy　moth　of　a　creature　who
ruined　herself　by　venturing　out　of　her　natural　atmosphere。
Her　myth　ought　to　be　taken　to　heart　amongst　the
Tyburnians；　the　Belgraviansher　story；　and　perhaps
Becky's　too。　　Ah；　ladies！ask　the　Reverend　Mr。　Thurifer
if　Belgravia　is　not　a　sounding　brass　and　Tyburnia　a
tinkling　cymbal。　　These　are　vanities。　　Even　these　will　pass
away。　　And　some　day　or　other　（but　it　will　be　after　our
time；　thank　goodness）　Hyde　Park　Gardens　will　be　no
better　known　than　the　celebrated　horticultural　outskirts
of　Babylon；　and　Belgrave　Square　will　be　as　desolate　as
Baker　Street；　or　Tadmor　in　the　wilderness。
Ladies；　are　you　aware　that　the　great　Pitt　lived　in　Baker
Street？　What　would　not　your　grandmothers　have　given
to　be　asked　to　Lady　Hester's　parties　in　that　now
decayed　mansion？　I　have　dined　in　itmoi　qui　vous　parle；
I　peopled　the　chamber　with　ghosts　of　the　mighty　dead。
As　we　sat　soberly　drinking　claret　there　with　men　of
to…day；　the　spirits　of　the　departed　came　in　and　took　their
places　round　the　darksome　board。　　The　pilot　who
weathered　the　storm　tossed　off　great　bumpers　of　spiritual
port；　the　shade　of　Dundas　did　not　leave　the　ghost　of　a
heeltap。　　Addington　sat　bowing　and　smirking　in　a　ghastly
manner；　and　would　not　be　behindhand　when　the
noiseless　bottle　went　round；　Scott；　from　under　bushy　eyebrows；
winked　at　the　apparition　of　a　beeswing；　Wilberforce's
eyes　went　up　to　the　ceiling；　so　that　he　did　not　seem　to
know　how　his　glass　went　up　full　to　his　mouth　and　came
down　empty；　up　to　the　ceiling　which　was　above　us　only
yesterday；　and　which　the　great　of　the　past　days　have　all
looked　at。　　They　let　the　house　as　a　furnished　lodging
now。　　Yes；　Lady　Hester　once　lived　in　Baker　Street；　and
lies　asleep　in　the　wilderness。　　Eothen　saw　her　there
not　in　Baker　Street；　but　in　the　other　solitude。
It　is　all　vanity　to　be　sure；　but　who　will　not　own　to
liking　a　little　of　it？　I　should　like　to　know　what　well…
constituted　mind；　merely　because　it　is　transitory；　dislikes
roast　beef？　That　is　a　vanity；　but　may　every　man　who
reads　this　have　a　wholesome　portion　of　it　through　life；
I　beg：　　aye；　though　my　readers　were　five　hundred
thousand。　　Sit　down；　gentlemen；　and　fall　to；　with　a　good　hearty
appetite；　the　fat；　the