vanity fair(名利场)-第134章

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Dobbin；　and　hoped　his　worthy　father；　Sir　William；　was
quite　well。　　He　proposed　to　call　upon　Sir　William；　who　had
done　him　the　honour　of　a　visit　a　short　time　ago。　　Sir
William　had　not　called　upon　the　old　gentleman　for　eight
yearsit　was　that　visit　he　was　thinking　of　returning。
〃He　is　very　much　shaken；〃　Emmy　whispered　as　Dobbin
went　up　and　cordially　shook　hands　with　the　old　man。
Although　he　had　such　particular　business　in　London
that　evening；　the　Major　consented　to　forego　it　upon　Mr。
Sedley's　invitation　to　him　to　come　home　and　partake　of
tea。　　Amelia　put　her　arm　under　that　of　her　young　friend
with　the　yellow　shawl　and　headed　the　party　on　their
return　homewards；　so　that　Mr。　Sedley　fell　to　Dobbin's　share。
The　old　man　walked　very　slowly　and　told　a　number　of
ancient　histories　about　himself　and　his　poor　Bessy；　his
former　prosperity；　and　his　bankruptcy。　　His　thoughts；　as　is
usual　with　failing　old　men；　were　quite　in　former　times。
The　present；　with　the　exception　of　the　one　catastrophe
which　he　felt；　he　knew　little　about。　　The　Major　was　glad　to
let　him　talk　on。　　His　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　figure　in
front　of　himthe　dear　little　figure　always　present　to　his
imagination　and　in　his　prayers；　and　visiting　his　dreams
wakeful　or　slumbering。
Amelia　was　very　happy；　smiling；　and　active　all　that
evening；　performing　her　duties　as　hostess　of　the　little
entertainment　with　the　utmost　grace　and　propriety；　as
Dobbin　thought。　　His　eyes　followed　her　about　as　they　sat
in　the　twilight。　　How　many　a　time　had　he　longed　for　that
moment　and　thought　of　her　far　away　under　hot　winds
and　in　weary　marches；　gentle　and　happy；　kindly　ministering
to　the　wants　of　old　age；　and　decorating　poverty　with
sweet　submissionas　he　saw　her　now。　　I　do　not　say　that
his　taste　was　the　highest；　or　that　it　is　the　duty　of　great
intellects　to　be　content　with　a　bread…and…butter　paradise；
such　as　sufficed　our　simple　old　friend；　but　his　desires
were　of　this　sort；　whether　for　good　or　bad；　and；　with
Amelia　to　help　him；　he　was　as　ready　to　drink　as　many
cups　of　tea　as　Doctor　Johnson。
Amelia　seeing　this　propensity；　laughingly　encouraged
it　and　looked　exceedingly　roguish　as　she　administered　to
him　cup　after　cup。　　It　is　true　she　did　not　know　that　the
Major　had　had　no　dinner　and　that　the　cloth　was　laid　for
him　at　the　Slaughters'；　and　a　plate　laid　thereon　to　mark
that　the　table　was　retained；　in　that　very　box　in　which
the　Major　and　George　had　sat　many　a　time　carousing；
when　she　was　a　child　just　come　home　from　Miss
Pinkerton's　school。
The　first　thing　Mrs。　Osborne　showed　the　Major　was
Georgy's　miniature；　for　which　she　ran　upstairs　on　her
arrival　at　home。　　It　was　not　half　handsome　enough　of
course　for　the　boy；　but　wasn't　it　noble　of　him　to　think　of
bringing　it　to　his　mother？　Whilst　her　papa　was　awake　she
did　not　talk　much　about　Georgy。　　To　hear　about　Mr。
Osborne　and　Russell　Square　was　not　agreeable　to　the
old　man；　who　very　likely　was　unconscious　that　he　had
been　living　for　some　months　past　mainly　on　the　bounty
of　his　richer　rival；　and　lost　his　temper　if　allusion　was
made　to　the　other。
Dobbin　told　him　all；　and　a　little　more　perhaps　than
all；　that　had　happened　on　board　the　Ramchunder；　and
exaggerated　Jos's　benevolent　dispositions　towards　his
father　and　resolution　to　make　him　comfortable　in　his
old　days。　　The　truth　is　that　during　the　voyage　the　Major
had　impressed　this　duty　most　strongly　upon　his　fellow…
passenger　and　extorted　promises　from　him　that　he　would
take　charge　of　his　sister　and　her　child。　　He　soothed　Jos's
irritation　with　regard　to　the　bills　which　the　old　gentleman
had　drawn　upon　him；　gave　a　laughing　account　of　his
own　sufferings　on　the　same　score　and　of　the　famous
consignment　of　wine　with　which　the　old　man　had　favoured
him；　and　brought　Mr。　Jos；　who　was　by　no　means　an　ill…
natured　person　when　well…pleased　and　moderately
flattered；　to　a　very　good　state　of　feeling　regarding　his
relatives　in　Europe。
And　in　fine　I　am　ashamed　to　say　that　the　Major
stretched　the　truth　so　far　as　to　tell　old　Mr。　Sedley　that　it
was　mainly　a　desire　to　see　his　parent　which　brought　Jos
once　more　to　Europe。
At　his　accustomed　hour　Mr。　Sedley　began　to　doze　in
his　chair；　and　then　it　was　Amelia's　opportunity　to
commence　her　conversation；　which　she　did　with　great
eagernessit　related　exclusively　to　Georgy。　　She　did　not　talk
at　all　about　her　own　sufferings　at　breaking　from　him；　for
indeed；　this　worthy　woman；　though　she　was　half…killed
by　the　separation　from　the　child；　yet　thought　it　was　very
wicked　in　her　to　repine　at　losing　him；　but　everything
concerning　him；　his　virtues；　talents；　and　prospects；　she
poured　out。　　She　described　his　angelic　beauty；　narrated
a　hundred　instances　of　his　generosity　and　greatness　of
mind　whilst　living　with　her；　how　a　Royal　Duchess　had
stopped　and　admired　him　in　Kensington　Gardens；　how
splendidly　he　was　cared　for　now；　and　how　he　had　a
groom　and　a　pony；　what　quickness　and　cleverness　he
had；　and　what　a　prodigiously　well…read　and　delightful
person　the　Reverend　Lawrence　Veal　was；　George's
master。　　〃He　knows　EVERYTHING；〃　Amelia　said。　　〃He　has　the
most　delightful　parties。　　You　who　are　so　learned　yourself；
and　have　read　so　much；　and　are　so　clever　and
accomplisheddon't　shake　your　head　and　say　noHE
always　used　to　say　you　wereyou　will　be　charmed　with
Mr。　Veal's　parties。　　The　last　Tuesday　in　every　month。　　He
says　there　is　no　place　in　the　bar　or　the　senate　that
Georgy　may　not　aspire　to。　　Look　here；〃　and　she　went　to
the　piano…drawer　and　drew　out　a　theme　of　Georgy's
composition。　　This　great　effort　of　genius；　which　is　still
in　the　possession　of　George's　mother；　is　as　follows：
On　SelfishnessOf　all　the　vices　which　degrade　the
human　character；　Selfishness　is　the　most　odious　and
contemptible。　　An　undue　love　of　Self　leads　to　the　most
monstrous　crimes　and　occasions　the　greatest　misfortunes　both
in　States　and　Families。　　As　a　selfish　man　will　impoverish
his　family　and　often　bring　them　to　ruin；　so　a　selfish
king　brings　ruin　on　his　people　and　often　plunges　them
into　war。
Example：　　The　selfishness　of　Achilles；　as　remarked　by
the　poet　Homer；　occasioned　a　thousand　woes　to　the
Greeksmuri　Achaiois　alge　etheke（Hom。　Il。　A。　2）。
The　selfishness　of　the　late　Napoleon　Bonaparte
occasioned　innumerable　wars　in　Europe　and　caused　him　to
perish；　himself；　in　a　miserable　islandthat　of　Saint　Helena　in
the　Atlantic　Ocean。
We　see　by　these　examples　that　we　are　not　to　consult
our　own　interest　and　ambition；　but　that　we　are　to
consider　the　interests　of　others　as　well　as　our　own。
George　S。　　Osborne
Athene　House；　24　April；　1827
〃Think　of　him　writing　such　a　hand；　and　quoting　Greek
too；　at　his　age；〃　the　delighted　mother　said。　　〃Oh；　William；〃
she　added；　holding　out　her　hand　to　the　Major；　〃what　a
treasure　Heaven　has　given　me　in　that　boy！　　He　is　the
comfort　of　my　lifeand　he　is　the　image　ofof　him　that's
gone！〃
〃Ought　I　to　be　angry　with　her　for　being　faithful　to
him？〃　William　thought。　　〃Ought　I　to　be　jealous　of　my
friend　in　the　grave；　or　hurt　that　such　a　heart　as　Amelia's
can　love　only　once　and　for　ever？　Oh；　George；　George；
how　little　you　knew　the　prize　you　had；　though。〃　This
sentiment　passed　rapidly　through　William's　mind　as　he
was　holding　Amelia's　hand；　whilst　the　handkerchief　was
veiling　her　eyes。
〃Dear　friend；〃　she　said；　pressing　the　hand　which　held
hers；　〃how　good；　how　kind　you　always　have　been　to　me！
See！　　Papa　is　stirring。　　You　will　go　and　see　Georgy
tomorrow；　won't　you？〃
　
〃Not　to…morrow；〃　said　poor　old　Dobbin。　　〃I　have
business。〃　He　did　not　like　to　own　that　he　had　not　as　yet
been　to　his　parents'　and　his　dear　sister　Annea
remissness　for　which　I　am　sure　every　well…regulated
person　will　blame　the　Major。　　And　presently　he　took　his
leave；　leaving　his　address　behind　him　for　Jos；　against　the
latter's　arrival。　　And　so　the　first　day　was　over；　and　he
had　seen　her。
When　he　got　back　to　the　Slaughters'；　the　roast　fowl
was　of　course　cold；　in　which　condition　he　ate　it　for
supper。　　And　knowing　what　early　hours　his　family　kept；　and
that　it　would　be　needless　to　disturb　their　slumbers　at　so
late　an　hour；　it　is　on　record；　that　Major　Dobbin　treated
himself　to　half…price　at　the　Haymarket　Theatre　that
evening；　where　let　us　hope　he　enjoyed　himself。

CHAPTER　LIX
The　Old　Piano
The　Major's　visit　left　old　John　Sedley　in　a　great　state　of
agitation　and　excitement。　　His　daughter　could　not　induce
him　to　settle　down　to　his　customary　occupations　or
amusements　that　night。　　He　passed　the　evening　fumbling
amongst　his　boxes　and　desks；　untying　his　papers　with
trembling　hands；　and　sorting　and　arranging　them　against
Jos's　arrival。　　He　had　them　in　the　greatest　orderhis
tapes　and　his　files；　his　receipts；　and　his　letters　with
lawyers　and　correspondents；　the　documents　relative　to
the　wine　project　（which　failed　from　a　most　unaccountable
accident；　after　commencing　with　the　most　splendid
prospects）；　the　coal　project　（which　only　a　want　of　capital
prevented　from　becoming　the　most　successful　scheme
ever　put　before　the　public）；　the　patent　saw…mills　and
sawdust　consolidation　project；　&c。；　&c。　　All　night；　until　a
very　late　hour；　he　passed　in　the　preparation　of　these
documents；　trembling　about　from　one　room　to　another；
with　a　quivering　candle　and　shaky　hands。　　Here's　the　wine
papers；　here's　the　sawdust；　here's　the　coals；　here's　my
letters　to　Calcutta　and　Madras；　and　replies　from　Major
Dobbin；　C。B。；　and　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley　to　the　same。　　〃He
shall　find　no　irregularity　about　ME；　Emmy；〃　the　old
gentleman　said。
Emmy　smiled。　　〃I　don't　think　Jos　will　care　about　seeing
those　papers；　Papa；〃　she　said。
〃You　don't　know　anything　about　business；　my　dear；〃
answered　the　sire；　shaking　his　head　with　an　important
air。　　And　it　must　be　confessed　that　on　this　point　Emmy
was　very　ignorant；　and　that　is　a　pity　some　people　are　so
knowing。　　All　these　twopenny　documents　arranged　on　a
side　table；　old　Sedley　covered　them　carefully　over　with
a　clean　bandanna　handkerchief　（one　out　of　Major
Dobbin's　lot）　and　enjoined　the　maid　and　landlady　of　the
house；　in　the　most　solemn　way；　not　to　disturb　those
papers；　which　were　arranged　for　the　arrival　of　Mr。　Joseph
Sedley　the　next　morning；　〃Mr。　Joseph　Sedley　of　the
Honourable　East　India　Company's　Bengal　Civil　Service。〃
Amelia　found　him　up　very　early　the　next　morning；
more　eager；　more　hectic；　and　more　shaky　than　ever。　　〃I
didn't　sleep　much；　Emmy；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　　〃I　was
thinking　of　my　poor　Bessy。　　I　wish　she　was　alive；　to　ride
in　Jos's　carriage　once　again。　　She　kept　her　own　and
became　it　very　well。〃　And　his　eyes　filled　with　tears；　which
trickled　down　his　furrowed　old　face。　　Amelia　wiped　them
away；　and　smilingly　kissed　him；　and　tied　the　old　man's
neckcloth　in　a　smart　bow；　and　put　his　brooch　into　his
best　shirt　frill；　in　which；　in　his　Sunday　suit　of　mourning；
he　sat　from　six　o'clock　in　the　morning　awaiting　the
arrival　of　his　son。
However；　when　the　postman　made　his　appearance；　the
little　party　were　put　out　of　suspense　by　the　receipt　of　a
letter　from　Jos　to　his　sister；　who　announced　that　he　felt
a　little　fatigued　after　his　voyage；　and　should　not　be　able
to　move　on　that　day；　but　that　he　would　leave　Southampton
early　the　next　morning　and　be　with　his　father　and
mother　at　evening。　　Amelia；　as　she　read　out　the　letter　to
her