vanity fair(名利场)-第128章

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parsons；　scholars；　and　the　like　declaring　that　they　were
a　pack　of　humbugs；　and　quacks　that　weren't　fit　to　get
their　living　but　by　grinding　Latin　and　Greek；　and　a　set
of　supercilious　dogs　that　pretended　to　look　down　upon
British　merchants　and　gentlemen；　who　could　buy　up　half
a　hundred　of　'em。　　He　would　mourn　now；　in　a　very
solemn　manner；　that　his　own　education　had　been　neglected；
and　repeatedly　point　out；　in　pompous　orations　to　Georgy；
the　necessity　and　excellence　of　classical　acquirements。
When　they　met　at　dinner　the　grandsire　used　to　ask
the　lad　what　he　had　been　reading　during　the　day；　and
was　greatly　interested　at　the　report　the　boy　gave　of　his
own　studies；　pretending　to　understand　little　George
when　he　spoke　regarding　them。　　He　made　a　hundred
blunders　and　showed　his　ignorance　many　a　time。　　It　did　not
increase　the　respect　which　the　child　had　for　his　senior。
A　quick　brain　and　a　better　education　elsewhere　showed
the　boy　very　soon　that　his　grandsire　was　a　dullard；　and
he　began　accordingly　to　command　him　and　to　look　down
upon　him；　for　his　previous　education；　humble　and
contracted　as　it　had　been；　had　made　a　much　better
gentleman　of　Georgy　than　any　plans　of　his　grandfather　could
make　him。　　He　had　been　brought　up　by　a　kind；　weak；
and　tender　woman；　who　had　no　pride　about　anything
but　about　him；　and　whose　heart　was　so　pure　and　whose
bearing　was　so　meek　and　humble　that　she　could　not　but
needs　be　a　true　lady。　　She　busied　herself　in　gentle　offices
and　quiet　duties；　if　she　never　said　brilliant　things；　she
never　spoke　or　thought　unkind　ones；　guileless　and　artless；
loving　and　pure；　indeed　how　could　our　poor　little　Amelia
be　other　than　a　real　gentlewoman！
Young　Georgy　lorded　over　this　soft　and　yielding
nature；　and　the　contrast　of　its　simplicity　and　delicacy　with
the　coarse　pomposity　of　the　dull　old　man　with　whom
he　next　came　in　contact　made　him　lord　over　the　latter
too。　　If　he　had　been　a　Prince　Royal　he　could　not　have
been　better　brought　up　to　think　well　of　himself。
Whilst　his　mother　was　yearning　after　him　at　home；　and
I　do　believe　every　hour　of　the　day；　and　during　most
hours　of　the　sad　lonely　nights；　thinking　of　him；　this　young
gentleman　had　a　number　of　pleasures　and　consolations
administered　to　him；　which　made　him　for　his　part　bear
the　separation　from　Amelia　very　easily。　　Little　boys　who
cry　when　they　are　going　to　school　cry　because　they
are　going　to　a　very　uncomfortable　place。　　It　is　only　a
few　who　weep　from　sheer　affection。　　When　you　think
that　the　eyes　of　your　childhood　dried　at　the　sight　of　a
piece　of　gingerbread；　and　that　a　plum　cake　was　a
compensation　for　the　agony　of　parting　with　your　mamma
and　sisters；　oh　my　friend　and　brother；　you　need　not　be
too　confident　of　your　own　fine　feelings。
Well；　then；　Master　George　Osborne　had　every　comfort
and　luxury　that　a　wealthy　and　lavish　old　grandfather
thought　fit　to　provide。　　The　coachman　was　instructed　to
purchase　for　him　the　handsomest　pony　which　could　be
bought　for　money；　and　on　this　George　was　taught　to
ride；　first　at　a　riding…school；　whence；　after　having
performed　satisfactorily　without　stirrups；　and　over　the
leaping…bar；　he　was　conducted　through　the　New　Road　to
Regent's　Park；　and　then　to　Hyde　Park；　where　he　rode
in　state　with　Martin　the　coachman　behind　him。　　Old
Osborne；　who　took　matters　more　easily　in　the　City　now；
where　he　left　his　affairs　to　his　junior　partners；　would
often　ride　out　with　Miss　O。　　in　the　same　fashionable　direction。
As　little　Georgy　came　cantering　up　with　his　dandified
air　and　his　heels　down；　his　grandfather　would　nudge
the　lad's　aunt　and　say；　〃Look；　Miss　O。〃　And　he　would
laugh；　and　his　face　would　grow　red　with　pleasure；　as
he　nodded　out　of　the　window　to　the　boy；　as　the　groom
saluted　the　carriage；　and　the　footman　saluted　Master
George。　　Here　too　his　aunt；　Mrs。　Frederick　Bullock
（whose　chariot　might　daily　be　seen　in　the　Ring；　with
bullocks　or　emblazoned　on　the　panels　and　harness；　and
three　pasty…faced　little　Bullocks；　covered　with　cockades
and　feathers；　staring　from　the　windows）　Mrs。　Frederick
Bullock；　I　say；　flung　glances　of　the　bitterest　hatred　at
the　little　upstart　as　he　rode　by　with　his　hand　on　his　side
and　his　hat　on　one　ear；　as　proud　as　a　lord。
Though　he　was　scarcely　eleven　years　of　age；　Master
George　wore　straps　and　the　most　beautiful　little　boots
like　a　man。　　He　had　gilt　spurs；　and　a　gold…headed　whip；
and　a　fine　pin　in　his　handkerchief；　and　the　neatest　little
kid　gloves　which　Lamb's　Conduit　Street　could　furnish。
His　mother　had　given　him　a　couple　of　neckcloths；　and
carefully　hemmed　and　made　some　little　shirts　for　him；
but　when　her　Eli　came　to　see　the　widow；　they　were
replaced　by　much　finer　linen。　　He　had　little　jewelled　buttons
in　the　lawn　shirt　fronts。　　Her　humble　presents　had　been　put
asideI　believe　Miss　Osborne　had　given　them　to　the
coachman's　boy。　　Amelia　tried　to　think　she　was　pleased
at　the　change。　　Indeed；　she　was　happy　and　charmed　to
see　the　boy　looking　so　beautiful。
She　had　had　a　little　black　profile　of　him　done　for　a
shilling；　and　this　was　hung　up　by　the　side　of　another
portrait　over　her　bed。　　One　day　the　boy　came　on　his
accustomed　visit；　galloping　down　the　little　street　at
Brompton；　and　bringing；　as　usual；　all　the　inhabitants　to　the
windows　to　admire　his　splendour；　and　with　great　eagerness
and　a　look　of　triumph　in　his　face；　he　pulled　a　case
out　of　his　great…coatit　was　a　natty　white　great…coat；
with　a　cape　and　a　velvet　collarpulled　out　a　red
morocco　case；　which　he　gave　her。
〃I　bought　it　with　my　own　money；　Mamma；〃　he　said。
〃I　thought　you'd　like　it。〃
Amelia　opened　the　case；　and　giving　a　little　cry　of
delighted　affection；　seized　the　boy　and　embraced　him　a
hundred　times。　　It　was　a　miniature…of　himself；　very　prettily
done　（though　not　half　handsome　enough；　we　may　be
sure；　the　widow　thought）。　　His　grandfather　had　wished
to　have　a　picture　of　him　by　an　artist　whose　works；
exhibited　in　a　shop…window；　in　Southampton　Row；　had
caught　the　old　gentleman's　eye；　and　George；　who　had
plenty　of　money；　bethought　him　of　asking　the　painter
how　much　a　copy　of　the　little　portrait　would　cost；　saying
that　he　would　pay　for　it　out　of　his　own　money　and
that　he　wanted　to　give　it　to　his　mother。　　The　pleased
painter　executed　it　for　a　small　price；　and　old　Osborne
himself；　when　he　heard　of　the　incident；　growled　out　his
satisfaction　and　gave　the　boy　twice　as　many　sovereigns
as　he　paid　for　the　miniature。
But　what　was　the　grandfather's　pleasure　compared　to
Amelia's　ecstacy？　That　proof　of　the　boy's　affection
charmed　her　so　that　she　thought　no　child　in　the　world
was　like　hers　for　goodness。　　For　long　weeks　after；　the
thought　of　his　love　made　her　happy。　　She　slept　better
with　the　picture　under　her　pillow；　and　how　many　many
times　did　she　kiss　it　and　weep　and　pray　over　it！　　A
small　kindness　from　those　she　loved　made　that　timid
heart　grateful。　　Since　her　parting　with　George　she　had　had
no　such　joy　and　consolation。
At　his　new　home　Master　George　ruled　like　a　lord；
at　dinner　he　invited　the　ladies　to　drink　wine　with　the
utmost　coolness；　and　took　off　his　champagne　in　a　way
which　charmed　his　old　grandfather。　　〃Look　at　him；〃　the
old　man　would　say；　nudging　his　neighbour　with　a
delighted　purple　face；　〃did　you　ever　see　such　a　chap？
Lord；　Lord！　　he'll　be　ordering　a　dressing…case　next；　and
razors　to　shave　with；　I'm　blessed　if　he　won't。〃
The　antics　of　the　lad　did　not；　however；　delight　Mr。
Osborne's　friends　so　much　as　they　pleased　the　old
gentleman。　　It　gave　Mr。　Justice　Coffin　no　pleasure　to　hear
Georgy　cut　into　the　conversation　and　spoil　his　stories。
Colonel　Fogey　was　not　interested　in　seeing　the　little　boy
half　tipsy。　　Mr。　Sergeant　Toffy's　lady　felt　no　particular
gratitude；　when；　with　a　twist　of　his　elbow；　he　tilted　a
glass　of　port…wine　over　her　yellow　satin　and　laughed　at
the　disaster；　nor　was　she　better　pleased；　although　old
Osborne　was　highly　delighted；　when　Georgy　〃whopped〃
her　third　boy　（a　young　gentleman　a　year　older　than
Georgy；　and　by　chance　home　for　the　holidays　from　Dr。
Tickleus's　at　Ealing　School）　in　Russell　Square。　　George's
grandfather　gave　the　boy　a　couple　of　sovereigns　for　that
feat　and　promised　to　reward　him　further　for　every　boy
above　his　own　size　and　age　whom　he　whopped　in　a
similar　manner。　　It　is　difficult　to　say　what　good　the　old　man
saw　in　these　combats；　he　had　a　vague　notion　that
quarrelling　made　boys　hardy；　and　that　tyranny　was　a　useful
accomplishment　for　them　to　learn。　　English　youth　have
been　so　educated　time　out　of　mind；　and　we　have
hundreds　of　thousands　of　apologists　and　admirers　of
injustice；　misery；　and　brutality；　as　perpetrated　among
children。　　Flushed　with　praise　and　victory　over　Master　Toffy；
George　wished　naturally　to　pursue　his　conquests　further；
and　one　day　as　he　was　strutting　about　in　prodigiously
dandified　new　clothes；　near　St。　　Pancras；　and　a　young
baker's　boy　made　sarcastic　comments　upon　his　appearance；
the　youthful　patrician　pulled　off　his　dandy　jacket
with　great　spirit；　and　giving　it　in　charge　to　the　friend
who　accompanied　him　（Master　Todd；　of　Great　Coram
Street；　Russell　Square；　son　of　the　junior　partner　of　the
house　of　Osborne　and　Co。）；　George　tried　to　whop　the
little　baker。　　But　the　chances　of　war　were　unfavourable
this　time；　and　the　little　baker　whopped　Georgy；　who
came　home　with　a　rueful　black　eye　and　all　his　fine　shirt
frill　dabbled　with　the　claret　drawn　from　his　own　little
nose。　　He　told　his　grandfather　that　he　had　been　in
combat　with　a　giant；　and　frightened　his　poor　mother　at
Brompton　with　long；　and　by　no　means　authentic；
accounts　of　the　battle。
This　young　Todd；　of　Coram　Street；　Russell　Square；
was　Master　George's　great　friend　and　admirer。　　They　both
had　a　taste　for　painting　theatrical　characters；　for
hardbake　and　raspberry　tarts；　for　sliding　and　skating　in　the
Regent's　Park　and　the　Serpentine；　when　the　weather
permitted；　for　going　to　the　play；　whither　they　were　often
conducted；　by　Mr。　Osborne's　orders；　by　Rowson；　Master
George's　appointed　body…servant；　with　whom　they　sat　in
great　comfort　in　the　pit。
In　the　company　of　this　gentleman　they　visited　all　the
principal　theatres　of　the　metropolis；　knew　the　names　of
all　the　actors　from　Drury　Lane　to　Sadler's　Wells；　and
performed；　indeed；　many　of　the　plays　to　the　Todd　family
and　their　youthful　friends；　with　West's　famous　characters；
on　their　pasteboard　theatre。　　Rowson；　the　footman；　who
was　of　a　generous　disposition；　would　not　unfrequently；
when　in　cash；　treat　his　young　master　to　oysters　after
the　play；　and　to　a　glass　of　rum…shrub　for　a　night…cap。
We　may　be　pretty　certain　that　Mr。　Rowson　profited　in
his　turn　by　his　young　master's　liberality　and　gratitude
for　the　pleasures　to　which　the　footman　inducted　him。
A　famous　tailor　from　the　West　End　of　the　town
Mr。　Osborne　would　have　none　of　your　City　or　Holborn
bunglers；　he　said；　for　the　boy　（though　a　City　tailor　was
good　enough　for　HIM）was　summoned　to　ornament　little
George's　person；　and　was　told　to　spare　no　expense　in　so
doing。　　So；　Mr。　Woolsey；　of　Conduit　Street；　gave　a　loose
to　his　imagination　and　sent　the　child　home　fancy　trousers；
fancy　waistcoats；　and　fancy　jackets　enough　to　furnish　a
school　of　little　dandies。　　Georgy　had　little　white
waistcoats　for　evening　parties；　and　little　cut　velvet　w