vanity fair(名利场)-第125章

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the　door　was　open；　and　Becky　had　been　screaming　a
half…dozen　of　times　a　few　feet　off；　not　one　of　her
attendants　had　obeyed　her　call。　　〃Have　a　little　drop；　do'ee
now；　Mrs。　Raggles；〃　the　cook　was　saying　as　Becky
entered；　the　white　cashmere　dressing…gown　flouncing
around　her。
〃Simpson！　　Trotter！〃　the　mistress　of　the　house　cried　in
great　wrath。　　〃How　dare　you　stay　here　when　you　heard
me　call？　How　dare　you　sit　down　in　my　presence？　Where's
my　maid？〃　The　page　withdrew　his　fingers　from　his　mouth
with　a　momentary　terror；　but　the　cook　took　off　a　glass
of　Maraschino；　of　which　Mrs。　Raggles　had　had　enough；
staring　at　Becky　over　the　little　gilt　glass　as　she　drained
its　contents。　　The　liquor　appeared　to　give　the　odious　rebel
courage。
〃YOUR　sofy；　indeed！〃　Mrs。　Cook　said。　　〃I'm　a　settin'　on
Mrs。　Raggles's　sofy。　　Don't　you　stir；　Mrs。　Raggles；　Mum。
I'm　a　settin'　on　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Raggles's　sofy；　which　they
bought　with　honest　money；　and　very　dear　it　cost　'em；
too。　　And　I'm　thinkin'　if　I　set　here　until　I'm　paid　my
wages；　I　shall　set　a　precious　long　time；　Mrs。　Raggles；
and　set　I　will；　tooha！　　ha！〃　and　with　this　she　filled
herself　another　glass　of　the　liquor　and　drank　it　with　a　more
hideously　satirical　air。
〃Trotter！　　Simpson！　　turn　that　drunken　wretch　out；〃
screamed　Mrs。　Crawley。
〃I　shawn't；〃　said　Trotter　the　footman；　〃turn　out
yourself。　　Pay　our　selleries；　and　turn　me　out　too。　　WE'LL
go　fast　enough。〃
〃Are　you　all　here　to　insult　me？〃　cried　Becky　in　a　fury；
〃when　Colonel　Crawley　comes　home　I'll〃
At　this　the　servants　burst　into　a　horse　haw…haw；　in
which；　however；　Raggles；　who　still　kept　a　most　melancholy　
countenance；　did　not　join。　　〃He　ain't　a　coming　back；〃
Mr。　Trotter　resumed。　　〃He　sent　for　his　things；　and　I
wouldn't　let　'em　go；　although　Mr。　Raggles　would；　and　I
don't　b'lieve　he's　no　more　a　Colonel　than　I　am。　　He's
hoff；　and　I　suppose　you're　a　goin'　after　him。　　You're　no
better　than　swindlers；　both　on　you。　　Don't　be　a　bullyin'
ME。　　I　won't　stand　it。　　Pay　us　our　selleries；　I　say。　　Pay　us
our　selleries。〃　It　was　evident；　from　Mr。　Trotter's　flushed
countenance　and　defective　intonation；　that　he；　too；　had
had　recourse　to　vinous　stimulus。
〃Mr。　Raggles；〃　said　Becky　in　a　passion　of　vexation；
〃you　will　not　surely　let　me　be　insulted　by　that　drunken
man？〃　〃Hold　your　noise；　Trotter；　do　now；〃　said　Simpson
the　page。　　He　was　affected　by　his　mistress's　deplorable
situation；　and　succeeded　in　preventing　an　outrageous
denial　of　the　epithet　〃drunken〃　on　the　footman's　part。
〃Oh；　M'am；〃　said　Raggles；　〃I　never　thought　to　live　to
see　this　year　day：　　I've　known　the　Crawley　family　ever
since　I　was　born。　　I　lived　butler　with　Miss　Crawley　for
thirty　years；　and　I　little　thought　one　of　that　family　was
a　goin'　to　ruing　meyes；　ruing　me〃said　the　poor　fellow
with　tears　in　his　eyes。　　〃Har　you　a　goin'　to　pay　me？　You've
lived　in　this　'ouse　four　year。　　You've　'ad　my　substance：
my　plate　and　linning。　　You　ho　me　a　milk　and　butter　bill
of　two　'undred　pound；　you　must　'ave　noo　laid　heggs　for
your　homlets；　and　cream　for　your　spanil　dog。〃
〃She　didn't　care　what　her　own　flesh　and　blood　had；〃
interposed　the　cook。　　〃Many's　the　time；　he'd　have　starved
but　for　me。〃
〃He's　a　charaty…boy　now；　Cooky；〃　said　Mr。　Trotter；
with　a　drunken　〃ha！　　ha！〃and　honest　Raggles　continued；
in　a　lamentable　tone；　an　enumeration　of　his　griefs。　　All　he
said　was　true。　　Becky　and　her　husband　had　ruined　him。
He　had　bills　coming　due　next　week　and　no　means　to　meet
them。　　He　would　be　sold　up　and　turned　out　of　his　shop
and　his　house；　because　he　had　trusted　to　the　Crawley
family。　　His　tears　and　lamentations　made　Becky　more
peevish　than　ever。
〃You　all　seem　to　be　against　me；〃　she　said　bitterly。
〃What　do　you　want？　I　can't　pay　you　on　Sunday。　　Come
back　to…morrow　and　I'll　pay　you　everything。　　I　thought
Colonel　Crawley　had　settled　with　you。　　He　will　to…morrow。
I　declare　to　you　upon　my　honour　that　he　left　home　this
morning　with　fifteen　hundred　pounds　in　his　pocket…book。
He　has　left　me　nothing。　　Apply　to　him。　　Give　me　a　bonnet
and　shawl　and　let　me　go　out　and　find　him。　　There　was　a
difference　between　us　this　morning。　　You　all　seem　to
know　it。　　I　promise　you　upon　my　word　that　you　shall　all
be　paid。　　He　has　got　a　good　appointment。　　Let　me　go　out
and　find　him。''
This　audacious　statement　caused　Raggles　and　the　other
personages　present　to　look　at　one　another　with　a　wild
surprise；　and　with　it　Rebecca　left　them。　　She　went　upstairs
and　dressed　herself　this　time　without　the　aid　of　her　French
maid。　　She　went　into　Rawdon's　room；　and　there　saw　that
a　trunk　and　bag　were　packed　ready　for　removal；　with　a
pencil　direction　that　they　should　be　given　when　called
for；　then　she　went　into　the　Frenchwoman's　garret；
everything　was　clean；　and　all　the　drawers　emptied　there。
She　bethought　herself　of　the　trinkets　which　had　been　left　on
the　ground　and　felt　certain　that　the　woman　had　fled。
〃Good　Heavens！　　was　ever　such　ill　luck　as　mine？〃　she
said；　〃to　be　so　near；　and　to　lose　all。　　Is　it　all　too　late？〃
No；　there　was　one　chance　more。
She　dressed　herself　and　went　away　unmolested　this
time；　but　alone。　　It　was　four　o'clock。　　She　went　swiftly
down　the　streets　（she　had　no　money　to　pay　for　a
carriage）；　and　never　stopped　until　she　came　to　Sir　Pitt
Crawley's　door；　in　Great　Gaunt　Street。　　Where　was　Lady
Jane　Crawley？　She　was　at　church。　　Becky　was　not　sorry。
Sir　Pitt　was　in　his　study；　and　had　given　orders　not　to　be
disturbedshe　must　see　himshe　slipped　by　the　sentinel
in　livery　at　once；　and　was　in　Sir　Pitt's　room　before　the
astonished　Baronet　had　even　laid　down　the　paper。
He　turned　red　and　started　back　from　her　with　a　look
of　great　alarm　and　horror。
〃Do　not　look　so；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　not　guilty；　Pitt；　dear
Pitt；　you　were　my　friend　once。　　Before　God；　I　am　not
guilty。　　I　seem　so。　　Everything　is　against　me。　　And　oh！　　at
such　a　moment！　　just　when　all　my　hopes　were　about　to　be
realized：　　just　when　happiness　was　in　store　for　us。〃
〃Is　this　true；　what　I　see　in　the　paper　then？〃　Sir　Pitt
saida　paragraph　in　which　had　greatly　surprised　him。
〃It　is　true。　　Lord　Steyne　told　me　on　Friday　night；　the
night　of　that　fatal　ball。　　He　has　been　promised　an
appointment　any　time　these　six　months。　　Mr。　Martyr；　the
Colonial　Secretary；　told　him　yesterday　that　it　was　made　out。
That　unlucky　arrest　ensued；　that　horrible　meeting。　　I　was　only
guilty　of　too　much　devotedness　to　Rawdon's　service。　　I
have　received　Lord　Steyne　alone　a　hundred　times　before。
I　confess　I　had　money　of　which　Rawdon　knew　nothing。
Don't　you　know　how　careless　he　is　of　it；　and　could　I　dare
to　confide　it　to　him？〃　And　so　she　went　on　with　a
perfectly　connected　story；　which　she　poured　into　the　ears
of　her　perplexed　kinsman。
It　was　to　the　following　effect。　　Becky　owned；　and　with
prefect　frankness；　but　deep　contrition；　that　having
remarked　Lord　Steyne's　partiality　for　her　（at　the　mention
of　which　Pitt　blushed）；　and　being　secure　of　her　own
virtue；　she　had　determined　to　turn　the　great　peer's
attachment　to　the　advantage　of　herself　and　her　family。　　〃I
looked　for　a　peerage　for　you；　Pitt；〃　she　said　（the　brother…
in…law　again　turned　red）。　　〃We　have　talked　about　it。　　Your
genius　and　Lord　Steyne's　interest　made　it　more　than
probable；　had　not　this　dreadful　calamity　come　to　put　an
end　to　all　our　hopes。　　But；　first；　I　own　that　it　was　my
object　to　rescue　my　dear　husbandhim　whom　I　love　in
spite　of　all　his　ill　usage　and　suspicions　of　meto　remove
him　from　the　poverty　and　ruin　which　was　impending　over
us。　　I　saw　Lord　Steyne's　partiality　for　me；〃　she　said；
casting　down　her　eyes。　　〃I　own　that　I　did　everything　in
my　power　to　make　myself　pleasing　to　him；　and　as　far　as
an　honest　woman　may；　to　secure　hishis　esteem。　　It　was
only　on　Friday　morning　that　the　news　arrived　of　the
death　of　the　Governor　of　Coventry　Island；　and　my　Lord
instantly　secured　the　appointment　for　my　dear　husband。
It　was　intended　as　a　surprise　for　himhe　was　to　see　it　in
the　papers　to…day。　　Even　after　that　horrid　arrest　took
place　（the　expenses　of　which　Lord　Steyne　generously
said　he　would　settle；　so　that　I　was　in　a　manner　prevented
from　coming　to　my　husband's　assistance）；　my　Lord　was
laughing　with　me；　and　saying　that　my　dearest　Rawdon
would　be　consoled　when　he　read　of　his　appointment　in
the　paper；　in　that　shocking　spunbailiff's　house。　　And
thenthen　he　came　home。　　His　suspicions　were　excited；
the　dreadful　scene　took　place　between　my　Lord　and
my　cruel；　cruel　Rawdonand；　O　my　God；　what　will
happen　next？　Pitt；　dear　Pitt！　　pity　me；　and　reconcile　us！〃
And　as　she　spoke　she　flung　herself　down　on　her　knees；
and　bursting　into　tears；　seized　hold　of　Pitt's　hand；　which
she　kissed　passionately。
It　was　in　this　very　attitude　that　Lady　Jane；　who；
returning　from　church；　ran　to　her　husband's　room　directly
she　heard　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　was　closeted　there；
found　the　Baronet　and　his　sister…in…law。
〃I　am　surprised　that　woman　has　the　audacity　to　enter
this　house；〃　Lady　Jane　said；　trembling　in　every　limb
and　turning　quite　pale。　　（Her　Ladyship　had　sent　out　her
maid　directly　after　breakfast；　who　had　communicated
with　Raggles　and　Rawdon　Crawley's　household；　who　had
told　her　all；　and　a　great　deal　more　than　they　knew；　of
that　story；　and　many　others　besides）。　　〃How　dare　Mrs。
Crawley　to　enter　the　house　ofof　an　honest　family？〃
Sir　Pitt　started　back；　amazed　at　his　wife's　display　of
vigour。　　Becky　still　kept　her　kneeling　posture　and　clung
to　Sir　Pitt's　hand。
〃Tell　her　that　she　does　not　know　all：　　Tell　her　that　I
am　innocent；　dear　Pitt；〃　she　whimpered　out。
〃Upon…my　word；　my　love；　I　think　you　do　Mrs。　Crawley
injustice；〃　Sir　Pitt　said；　at　which　speech　Rebecca　was
vastly　relieved。　　〃Indeed　I　believe　her　to　be〃
〃To　be　what？〃　cried　out　Lady　Jane；　her　clear　voice
thrilling　and；　her　heart　beating　violently　as　she　spoke。
〃To　be　a　wicked　womana　heartless　mother；　a　false
wife？　She　never　loved　her　dear　little　boy；　who　used　to
fly　here　and　tell　me　of　her　cruelty　to　him。　　She　never
came　into　a　family　but　she　strove　to　bring　misery　with
her　and　to　weaken　the　most　sacred　affections　with　her
wicked　flattery　and　falsehoods。　　She　has　deceived　her
husband；　as　she　has　deceived　everybody；　her　soul　is　black
with　vanity；　worldliness；　and　all　sorts　of　crime。　　I　tremble
when　I　touch　her。　　I　keep　my　children　out　of　her　sight。
〃Lady　Jane！〃　cried　Sir　Pitt；　starting　up；　〃this　is　really
language〃
〃I　have　been　a　true　and　faithful　wife　to　you；　Sir
Pitt；〃　Lady　Jane　continued；　intrepidly；　〃I　have　kept　my
marriage　vow　as　I　made　it　to　God　and　have　been
obedient　and　gentle　as　a　wife　should。　　But　righteous
obedience　has　its　limits；　and　I　declare　that　I　will　not　bear
thatthat　woman　again　under　my　roof；　if　she　enters　it；
I　and　my　children　will　leave　it。　　She　is　not　worthy　to　sit
down　with　Christian　people。　　Youyou　must　choose；　sir；
between　her　and　me〃；　and　with　this　my　Lady　swept　out
of　the　room；　fluttering　with　her　own　audacity；　and　leaving
Rebecca　and　Sir　Pitt　not　a　little　astonished　at　it。
As　for　Becky；　she　was　not　hurt；　nay；　she　was　pleased。
〃It　was　the　diamond…clasp　you　gave　me；〃　she　said　to　Sir
Pitt；　reaching　him　out　her　hand；　and　before　she　left　him
（for　which　event　you　may　be　sure　my　Lady　Jane　was
looking　out　from　her　dressing…room　window　in　the　upper
story）　the　Baronet　had　promised　to　go