vanity fair(名利场)-第115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！


thousand。　　Sit　down；　gentlemen；　and　fall　to；　with　a　good　hearty
appetite；　the　fat；　the　lean；　the　gravy；　the　horse…radish
as　you　like　itdon't　spare　it。　　Another　glass　of　wine；
Jones；　my　boya　little　bit　of　the　Sunday　side。　　Yes；　let
us　eat　our　fill　of　the　vain　thing　and　be　thankful　therefor。
And　let　us　make　the　best　of　Becky's　aristocratic
pleasures　likewisefor　these　too；　like　all　other　mortal
delights；　were　but　transitory。
The　upshot　of　her　visit　to　Lord　Steyne　was　that　His
Highness　the　Prince　of　Peterwaradin　took　occasion　to
renew　his　acquaintance　with　Colonel　Crawley；　when
they　met　on　the　next　day　at　the　Club；　and　to　compliment
Mrs。　Crawley　in　the　Ring　of　Hyde　Park　with　a
profound　salute　of　the　hat。　　She　and　her　husband　were
invited　immediately　to　one　of　the　Prince's　small　parties
at　Levant　House；　then　occupied　by　His　Highness　during
the　temporary　absence　from　England　of　its　noble
proprietor。　　She　sang　after　dinner　to　a　very　little　comite。
The　Marquis　of　Steyne　was　present；　paternally
superintending　the　progress　of　his　pupil。
At　Levant　House　Becky　met　one　of　the　finest　gentlemen
and　greatest　ministers　that　Europe　has　produced
the　Duc　de　la　Jabotiere；　then　Ambassador　from　the　Most
Christian　King；　and　subsequently　Minister　to　that
monarch。　　I　declare　I　swell　with　pride　as　these　august　names
are　transcribed　by　my　pen；　and　I　think　in　what　brilliant
company　my　dear　Becky　is　moving。　　She　became　a
constant　guest　at　the　French　Embassy；　where　no　party　was
considered　to　be　complete　without　the　presence　of　the
charming　Madame　Ravdonn　Cravley。
Messieurs　de　Truffigny　（of　the　Perigord　family）　and
Champignac；　both　attaches　of　the　Embassy；　were
straightway　smitten　by　the　charms　of　the　fair　Colonel's
wife；　and　both　declared；　according　to　the　wont　of　their
nation　（for　who　ever　yet　met　a　Frenchman；　come　out　of
England；　that　has　not　left　half　a　dozen　families　miserable；
and　brought　away　as　many　hearts　in　his　pocket…book？）；
both；　I　say；　declared　that　they　were　au　mieux　with　the
charming　Madame　Ravdonn。
But　I　doubt　the　correctness　of　the　assertion。　　Champignac
was　very　fond　of　ecarte；　and　made　many　parties
with　the　Colonel　of　evenings；　while　Becky　was　singing　to
Lord　Steyne　in　the　other　room；　and　as　for　Truffigny；　it　is
a　well…known　fact　that　he　dared　not　go　to　the　Travellers'；
where　he　owed　money　to　the　waiters；　and　if　he　had　not
had　the　Embassy　as　a　dining…place；　the　worthy　young
gentleman　must　have　starved。　　I　doubt；　I　say；　that　Becky
would　have　selected　either　of　these　young　men　as　a
person　on　whom　she　would　bestow　her　special　regard。　　They
ran　of　her　messages；　purchased　her　gloves　and　flowers；
went　in　debt　for　opera…boxes　for　her；　and　made
themselves　amiable　in　a　thousand　ways。　　And　they　talked
English　with　adorable　simplicity；　and　to　the　constant
amusement　of　Becky　and　my　Lord　Steyne；　she　would　mimic
one　or　other　to　his　face；　and　compliment　him　on　his
advance　in　the　English　language　with　a　gravity　which　never
failed　to　tickle　the　Marquis；　her　sardonic　old　patron。
Truffigny　gave　Briggs　a　shawl　by　way　of　winning　over
Becky's　confidante；　and　asked　her　to　take　charge　of　a
letter　which　the　simple　spinster　handed　over　in　public
to　the　person　to　whom　it　was　addressed；　and　the
composition　of　which　amused　everybody　who　read　it　greatly。
Lord　Steyne　read　it；　everybody　but　honest　Rawdon；　to
whom　it　was　not　necessary　to　tell　everything　that　passed
in　the　little　house　in　May　Fair。
Here；　before　long；　Becky　received　not　only　〃the　best〃
foreigners　（as　the　phrase　is　in　our　noble　and　admirable
society　slang）；　but　some　of　the　best　English　people　too。
I　don't　mean　the　most　virtuous；　or　indeed　the　least
virtuous；　or　the　cleverest；　or　the　stupidest；　or　the　richest；　or
the　best　born；　but　〃the　best；〃in　a　word；　people　about
whom　there　is　no　questionsuch　as　the　great　Lady　Fitz…
Willis；　that　Patron　Saint　of　Almack's；　the　great　Lady
Slowbore；　the　great　Lady　Grizzel　Macbeth　（she　was
Lady　G。　　Glowry；　daughter　of　Lord　Grey　of　Glowry）；
and　the　like。　　When　the　Countess　of　Fitz…Willis　（her
Ladyship　is　of　the　Kingstreet　family；　see　Debrett　and
Burke）　takes　up　a　person；　he　or　she　is　safe。　　There　is　no
question　about　them　any　more。　　Not　that　my　Lady　Fitz…
Willis　is　any　better　than　anybody　else；　being；　on　the
contrary；　a　faded　person；　fifty…seven　years　of　age；　and
neither　handsome；　nor　wealthy；　nor　entertaining；　but　it　is
agreed　on　all　sides　that　she　is　of　the　〃best　people。〃
Those　who　go　to　her　are　of　the　best：　　and　from　an　old
grudge　probably　to　Lady　Steyne　（for　whose　coronet　her
ladyship；　then　the　youthful　Georgina　Frederica；　daughter
of　the　Prince　of　Wales's　favourite；　the　Earl　of　Portansherry；
had　once　tried）；　this　great　and　famous　leader　of
the　fashion　chose　to　acknowledge　Mrs。　Rawdon
Crawley；　made　her　a　most　marked　curtsey　at　the　assembly
over　which　she　presided；　and　not　only　encouraged　her
son；　St。　　Kitts　（his　lordship　got　his　place　through　Lord
Steyne's　interest）；　to　frequent　Mrs。　Crawley's　house；　but
asked　her　to　her　own　mansion　and　spoke　to　her　twice　in
the　most　public　and　condescending　manner　during
dinner。　　The　important　fact　was　known　all　over　London　that
night。　　People　who　had　been　crying　fie　about　Mrs。
Crawley　were　silent。　　Wenham；　the　wit　and　lawyer；　Lord
Steyne's　right…hand　man；　went　about　everywhere　praising
her：　　some　who　had　hesitated；　came　forward　at　once
and　welcomed　her；　little　Tom　Toady；　who　had　warned
Southdown　about　visiting　such　an　abandoned　woman；
now　besought　to　be　introduced　to　her。　　In　a　word；　she
was　admitted　to　be　among　the　〃best〃　people。　　Ah；　my
beloved　readers　and　brethren；　do　not　envy　poor　Becky
prematurelyglory　like　this　is　said　to　be　fugitive。　　It　is
currently　reported　that　even　in　the　very　inmost　circles；
they　are　no　happier　than　the　poor　wanderers　outside　the
zone；　and　Becky；　who　penetrated　into　the　very　centre　of
fashion　and　saw　the　great　George　IV　face　to　face；　has
owned　since　that　there　too　was　Vanity。
We　must　be　brief　in　descanting　upon　this　part　of　her
career。　　As　I　cannot　describe　the　mysteries　of　freemasonry；
although　I　have　a　shrewd　idea　that　it　is　a　humbug；
so　an　uninitiated　man　cannot　take　upon　himself　to
portray　the　great　world　accurately；　and　had　best　keep　his
opinions　to　himself；　whatever　they　are。
Becky　has　often　spoken　in　subsequent　years　of　this
season　of　her　life；　when　she　moved　among　the　very
greatest　circles　of　the　London　fashion。　　Her　success
excited；　elated；　and　then　bored　her。　　At　first　no　occupation
was　more　pleasant　than　to　invent　and　procure　（the　latter
a　work　of　no　small　trouble　and　ingenuity；　by　the　way；　in
a　person　of　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley's　very　narrow　means）
to　procure；　we　say；　the　prettiest　new　dresses　and
ornaments；　to　drive　to　fine　dinner　parties；　where　she　was
welcomed　by　great　people；　and　from　the　fine　dinner
parties　to　fine　assemblies；　whither　the　same　people　came
with　whom　she　had　been　dining；　whom　she　had　met　the
night　before；　and　would　see　on　the　morrowthe　young
men　faultlessly　appointed；　handsomely　cravatted；　with
the　neatest　glossy　boots　and　white　glovesthe　elders
portly；　brass…buttoned；　noble…looking；　polite；　and　prosy
the　young　ladies　blonde；　timid；　and　in　pinkthe
mothers　grand；　beautiful；　sumptuous；　solemn；　and　in
diamonds。　　They　talked　in　English；　not　in　bad　French；　as
they　do　in　the　novels。　　They　talked　about　each　others'
houses；　and　characters；　and　familiesjust　as　the　Joneses
do　about　the　Smiths。　　Becky's　former　acquaintances　hated
and　envied　her；　the　poor　woman　herself　was　yawning　in
spirit。　　〃I　wish　I　were　out　of　it；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　〃I
would　rather　be　a　parson's　wife　and　teach　a　Sunday
school　than　this；　or　a　sergeant's　lady　and　ride　in　the
regimental　waggon；　or；　oh；　how　much　gayer　it　would　be
to　wear　spangles　and　trousers　and　dance　before　a　booth
at　a　fair。〃
〃You　would　do　it　very　well；〃　said　Lord　Steyne；　laughing。
She　used　to　tell　the　great　man　her　ennuis　and
perplexities　in　her　artless　waythey　amused　him。
〃Rawdon　would　make　a　very　good　EcuyerMaster　of
the　Ceremonieswhat　do　you　call　himthe　man　in　the
large　boots　and　the　uniform；　who　goes　round　the　ring
cracking　the　whip？　He　is　large；　heavy；　and　of　a　military
figure。　　I　recollect；〃　Becky　continued　pensively；　〃my
father　took　me　to　see　a　show　at　Brookgreen　Fair　when　I
was　a　child；　and　when　we　came　home；　I　made　myself　a
pair　of　stilts　and　danced　in　the　studio　to　the　wonder　of
all　the　pupils。〃
〃I　should　have　liked　to　see　it；〃　said　Lord　Steyne。
〃I　should　like　to　do　it　now；〃　Becky　continued。　　〃How
Lady　Blinkey　would　open　her　eyes；　and　Lady　Grizzel
Macbeth　would　stare！　　Hush！　silence！　there　is　Pasta
beginning　to　sing。〃　Becky　always　made　a　point　of　being
conspicuously　polite　to　the　professional　ladies　and
gentlemen　who　attended　at　these　aristocratic　partiesof
following　them　into　the　corners　where　they　sat　in　silence；
and　shaking　hands　with　them；　and　smiling　in　the　view　of
all　persons。　　She　was　an　artist　herself；　as　she　said　very
truly；　there　was　a　frankness　and　humility　in　the　manner
in　which　she　acknowledged　her　origin；　which　provoked；
or　disarmed；　or　amused　lookers…on；　as　the　case　might
be。　　〃How　cool　that　woman　is；〃　said　one；　〃what　airs　of
independence　she　assumes；　where　she　ought　to　sit　still
and　be　thankful　if　anybody　speaks　to　her！〃　〃What　an
honest　and　good…natured　soul　she　is！〃　said　another。
〃What　an　artful　little　minx〃　said　a　third。　　They　were　all
right　very　likely；　but　Becky　went　her　own　way；　and　so
fascinated　the　professional　personages　that　they　would
leave　off　their　sore　throats　in　order　to　sing　at　her　parties
and　give　her　lessons　for　nothing。
Yes；　she　gave　parties　in　the　little　house　in　Curzon
Street。　　Many　scores　of　carriages；　with　blazing　lamps；
blocked　up　the　street；　to　the　disgust　of　No。　　100；　who
could　not　rest　for　the　thunder　of　the　knocking；　and　of
102；　who　could　not　sleep　for　envy。　　The　gigantic　footmen
who　accompanied　the　vehicles　were　too　big　to　be
contained　in　Becky's　little　hall；　and　were　billeted　off　in　the
neighbouring　public…houses；　whence；　when　they　were
wanted；　call…boys　summoned　them　from　their　beer。
Scores　of　the　great　dandies　of　London　squeezed　and
trod　on　each　other　on　the　little　stairs；　laughing　to　find
themselves　there；　and　many　spotless　and　severe　ladies　of
ton　were　seated　in　the　little　drawing…room；　listening　to
the　professional　singers；　who　were　singing　according　to
their　wont；　and　as　if　they　wished　to　blow　the　windows
down。　　And　the　day　after；　there　appeared　among　the
fashionable　reunions　in　the　Morning　Post　a　paragraph
to　the　following　effect：
〃Yesterday；　Colonel　and　Mrs。　Crawley　entertained　a
select　party　at　dinner　at　their　house　in　May　Fair。　　Their
Excellencies　the　Prince　and　Princess　of　Peterwaradin；
H。　　E。　　Papoosh　Pasha；　the　Turkish　Ambassador　（attended
by　Kibob　Bey；　dragoman　of　the　mission）；　the　Marquess
of　Steyne；　Earl　of　Southdown；　Sir　Pitt　and　Lady
Jane　Crawley；　Mr。　Wagg；　&c。　　After　dinner　Mrs。　Crawley
had　an　assembly　which　was　attended　by　the　Duchess
（Dowager）　of　Stilton；　Duc　de　la　Gruyere；　Marchioness
of　Cheshire；　Marchese　Alessandro　Strachino；　Comte　de
Brie；　Baron　Schapzuger；　Chevalier　Tosti；　Countess　of
Slingstone；　and　Lady　F。　　Macadam；　Major…General　and
Lady　G。　　Macbeth；　and　（2）　Miss　Macbeths；　Viscount
Pa