vanity fair(名利场)-第147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！


roguishly　under　a　pink　bonnet；　and　giving　her　a
glance　of　scorn　such　as　would　have　shrivelled　up　most
women；　she　walked　into　the　Custom　House　quite
unsupported。　　Becky　only　laughed：　　but　I　don't　think　she　liked
it。　　She　felt　she　was　alone；　quite　alone；　and　the　far…off
shining　cliffs　of　England　were　impassable　to　her。
The　behaviour　of　the　men　had　undergone　too　I　don't
know　what　change。　　Grinstone　showed　his　teeth　and
laughed　in　her　face　with　a　familiarity　that　was　not　pleasant。
Little　Bob　Suckling；　who　was　cap　in　hand　to　her
three　months　before；　and　would　walk　a　mile　in　the　rain
to　see　for　her　carriage　in　the　line　at　Gaunt　House；　was
talking　to　Fitzoof　of　the　Guards　（Lord　Heehaw's　son）
one　day　upon　the　jetty；　as　Becky　took　her　walk　there。
Little　Bobby　nodded　to　her　over　his　shoulder；　without
moving　his　hat；　and　continued　his　conversation　with　the
heir　of　Heehaw。　　Tom　Raikes　tried　to　walk　into　her
sitting…room　at　the　inn　with　a　cigar　in　his　mouth；　but　she
closed　the　door　upon　him；　and　would　have　locked　it；
only　that　his　fingers　were　inside。　　She　began　to　feel　that
she　was　very　lonely　indeed。　　〃If　HE'D　been　here；〃　she　said；
〃those　cowards　would　never　have　dared　to　insult　me。〃
She　thought　about　〃him〃　with　great　sadness　and
perhaps　longingabout　his　honest；　stupid；　constant　kindness
and　fidelity；　his　never…ceasing　obedience；　his　good
humour；　his　bravery　and　courage。　　Very　likely　she　cried；
for　she　was　particularly　lively；　and　had　put　on　a　little
extra　rouge；　when　she　came　down　to　dinner。
She　rouged　regularly　now；　andand　her　maid　got
Cognac　for　her　besides　that　which　was　charged　in　the
hotel　bill。
Perhaps　the　insults　of　the　men　were　not；　however；　so
intolerable　to　her　as　the　sympathy　of　certain　women。
Mrs。　Crackenbury　and　Mrs。　Washington　White　passed
through　Boulogne　on　their　way　to　Switzerland。　　~The　party
were　protected　by　Colonel　Horner；　young　Beaumoris；　and
of　course　old　Crackenbury；　and　Mrs。　White's　little　girl。）
THEY　did　not　avoid　her。　　They　giggled；　cackled；　tattled；
condoled；　consoled；　and　patronized　her　until　they　drove
her　almost　wild　with　rage。　　To　be　patronized　by　THEM！
she　thought；　as　they　went　away　simpering　after　kissing
her。　　And　she　heard　Beaumoris's　laugh　ringing　on　the
stair　and　knew　quite　well　how　to　interpret　his　hilarity。
It　was　after　this　visit　that　Becky；　who　had　paid　her
weekly　bills；　Becky　who　had　made　herself　agreeable　to
everybody　in　the　house；　who　smiled　at　the　landlady；
called　the　waiters　〃monsieur；〃　and　paid　the　chambermaids
in　politeness　and　apologies；　what　far　more　than
compensated　for　a　little　niggardliness　in　point　of　money
（of　which　Becky　never　was　free）；　that　Becky；　we　say；
received　a　notice　to　quit　from　the　landlord；　who　had
been　told　by　some　one　that　she　was　quite　an　unfit
person　to　have　at　his　hotel；　where　English　ladies　would　not
sit　down　with　her。　　And　she　was　forced　to　fly　into　lodgings
of　which　the　dulness　and　solitude　were　most　wearisome
to　her。
Still　she　held　up；　in　spite　of　these　rebuffs；　and　tried　to
make　a　character　for　herself　and　conquer　scandal。　　She
went　to　church　very　regularly　and　sang　louder　than
anybody　there。　　She　took　up　the　cause　of　the　widows　of　the
shipwrecked　fishermen；　and　gave　work　and　drawings　for
the　Quashyboo　Mission；　she　subscribed　to　the　Assembly
and　WOULDN'T　waltz。　　In　a　word；　she　did　everything　that
was　respectable；　and　that　is　why　we　dwell　upon　this
part　of　her　career　with　more　fondness　than　upon
subsequent　parts　of　her　history；　which　are　not　so　pleasant。
She　saw　people　avoiding　her；　and　still　laboriously　smiled
upon　them；　you　never　could　suppose　from　her
countenance　what　pangs　of　humiliation　she　might　be
enduring　inwardly。
Her　history　was　after　all　a　mystery。　　Parties　were
divided　about　her。　　Some　people　who　took　the　trouble　to
busy　themselves　in　the　matter　said　that　she　was　the
criminal；　whilst　others　vowed　that　she　was　as　innocent
as　a　lamb　and　that　her　odious　husband　was　in　fault。
She　won　over　a　good　many　by　bursting　into　tears
about　her　boy　and　exhibiting　the　most　frantic　grief
when　his　name　was　mentioned；　or　she　saw　anybody　like
him。　　She　gained　good　Mrs。　Alderney's　heart　in　that　way；
who　was　rather　the　Queen　of　British　Boulogne　and　gave
the　most　dinners　and　balls　of　all　the　residents　there；　by
weeping　when　Master　Alderney　came　from　Dr。　Swishtail's
academy　to　pass　his　holidays　with　his　mother。　　〃He　and
her　Rawdon　were　of　the　same　age；　and　so　like；〃　Becky
said　in　a　voice　choking　with　agony；　whereas　there　was
five　years'　difference　between　the　boys'　ages；　and　no
more　likeness　between　them　than　between　my　respected
reader　and　his　humble　servant。　　Wenham；　when　he　was
going　abroad；　on　his　way　to　Kissingen　to　join　Lord
Steyne；　enlightened　Mrs。　Alderney　on　this　point　and　told
her　how　he　was　much　more　able　to　describe　little
Rawdon　than　his　mamma；　who　notoriously　hated　him　and
never　saw　him；　how　he　was　thirteen　years　old；　while
little　Alderney　was　but　nine；　fair；　while　the　other　darling
was　darkin　a　word；　caused　the　lady　in　question　to
repent　of　her　good　humour。
Whenever　Becky　made　a　little　circle　for　herself　with
incredible　toils　and　labour；　somebody　came　and　swept　it
down　rudely；　and　she　had　all　her　work　to　begin　over
again。　　It　was　very　hard；　very　hard；　lonely　and
disheartening。
There　was　Mrs。　Newbright；　who　took　her　up　for　some
time；　attracted　by　the　sweetness　of　her　singing　at　church
and　by　her　proper　views　upon　serious　subjects；　concerning
which　in　former　days；　at　Queen's　Crawley；　Mrs。
Becky　had　had　a　good　deal　of　instruction。　　Well；　she　not
only　took　tracts；　but　she　read　them。　　She　worked　flannel
petticoats　for　the　Quashybooscotton　night…caps　for　the
Cocoanut　Indianspainted　handscreens　for　the
conversion　of　the　Pope　and　the　Jewssat　under　Mr。　Rowls
on　Wednesdays；　Mr。　Huggleton　on　Thursdays；　attended
two　Sunday　services　at　church；　besides　Mr。　Bawler；　the
Darbyite；　in　the　evening；　and　all　in　vain。　　Mrs。　Newbright
had　occasion　to　correspond　with　the　Countess　of　Southdown
about　the　Warmingpan　Fund　for　the　Fiji
Islanders　（for　the　management　of　which　admirable
charity　both　these　ladies　formed　part　of　a　female　committee）；
and　having　mentioned　her　〃sweet　friend；〃　Mrs。　Rawdon
Crawley；　the　Dowager　Countess　wrote　back　such　a
letter　regarding　Becky；　with　such　particulars；　hints；　facts；
falsehoods；　and　general　comminations；　that　intimacy
between　Mrs。　Newbright　and　Mrs。　Crawley　ceased　forthwith；
and　all　the　serious　world　of　Tours；　where　this　misfortune
took　place；　immediately　parted　company　with　the
reprobate。　　Those　who　know　the　English　Colonies　abroad
know　that　we　carry　with　us　us　our　pride；　pills；　prejudices；
Harvey…sauces；　cayenne…peppers；　and　other　Lares；
making　a　little　Britain　wherever　we　settle　down。
From　one　colony　to　another　Becky　fled　uneasily。　　From
Boulogne　to　Dieppe；　from　Dieppe　to　Caen；　from　Caen
to　Tourstrying　with　all　her　might　to　be　respectable；
and　alas！　　always　found　out　some　day　or　other　and
pecked　out　of　the　cage　by　the　real　daws。
Mrs。　Hook　Eagles　took　her　up　at　one　of　these　places
a　woman　without　a　blemish　in　her　character　and　a　house
in　Portman　Square。　　She　was　staying　at　the　hotel　at　Dieppe；
whither　Becky　fled；　and　they　made　each　other's　acquaintance
first　at　sea；　where　they　were　swimming　together；
and　subsequently　at　the　table　d'hote　of　the　hotel。　　Mrs
Eagles　had　heardwho　indeed　had　not？some　of　the
scandal　of　the　Steyne　affair；　but　after　a　conversation
with　Becky；　she　pronounced　that　Mrs。　Crawley　was　an
angel；　her　husband　a　ruffian；　Lord　Steyne　an
unprincipled　wretch；　as　everybody　knew；　and　the　whole　case
against　Mrs。　Crawley　an　infamous　and　wicked　conspiracy
of　that　rascal　Wenham。　　〃If　you　were　a　man　of
any　spirit；　Mr。　Eagles；　you　would　box　the　wretch's　ears
the　next　time　you　see　him　at　the　Club；〃　she　said　to　her
husband。　　But　Eagles　was　only　a　quiet　old　gentleman；
husband　to　Mrs。　Eagles；　with　a　taste　for　geology；　and　not　tall
enough　to　reach　anybody's　ears。
The　Eagles　then　patronized　Mrs。　Rawdon；　took　her　to
live　with　her　at　her　own　house　at　Paris；　quarrelled　with
the　ambassador's　wife　because　she　would　not　receive　her
protegee；　and　did　all　that　lay　in　woman's　power　to　keep
Becky　straight　in　the　paths　of　virtue　and　good　repute。
Becky　was　very　respectable　and　orderly　at　first；　but
the　life　of　humdrum　virtue　grew　utterly　tedious　to　her
before　long。　　It　was　the　same　routine　every　day；　the　same
dulness　and　comfort；　the　same　drive　over　the　same
stupid　Bois　de　Boulogne；　the　same　company　of　an
evening；　the　same　Blair's　Sermon　of　a　Sunday　nightthe
same　opera　always　being　acted　over　and　over　again；
Becky　was　dying　of　weariness；　when；　luckily　for　her；
young　Mr。　Eagles　came　from　Cambridge；　and　his　mother；
seeing　the　impression　which　her　little　friend　made　upon
him；　straightway　gave　Becky　warning。
Then　she　tried　keeping　house　with　a　female　friend；
then　the　double　menage　began　to　quarrel　and　get　into
debt。　　Then　she　determined　upon　a　boarding…house　existence
and　lived　for　some　time　at　that　famous　mansion
kept　by　Madame　de　Saint　Amour；　in　the　Rue　Royale；　at
Paris；　where　she　began　exercising　her　graces　and
fascinations　upon　the　shabby　dandies　and　fly…blown　beauties
who　frequented　her　landlady's　salons。　　Becky　loved
society　and；　indeed；　could　no　more　exist　without　it　than　an
opium…eater　without　his　dram；　and　she　was　happy
enough　at　the　period　of　her　boarding…house　life。　　〃The
women　here　are　as　amusing　as　those　in　May　Fair；〃　she
told　an　old　London　friend　who　met　her；　〃only；　their
dresses　are　not　quite　so　fresh。　　The　men　wear　cleaned
gloves；　and　are　sad　rogues；　certainly；　but　they　are　not
worse　than　Jack　This　and　Tom　That。　　The　mistress　of　the
house　is　a　little　vulgar；　but　I　don't　think　she　is　so　vulgar
as　Lady　〃　and　here　she　named　the　name　of　a
great　leader　of　fashion　that　I　would　die　rather　than
reveal。　　In　fact；　when　you　saw　Madame　de　Saint　Amour's
rooms　lighted　up　of　a　night；　men　with　plaques　and
cordons　at　the　ecarte　tables；　and　the　women　at　a　little
distance；　you　might　fancy　yourself　for　a　while　in　good
society；　and　that　Madame　was　a　real　Countess。　　Many
people　did　so　fancy；　and　Becky　was　for　a　while　one　of　the
most　dashing　ladies　of　the　Countess's　salons。
But　it　is　probable　that　her　old　creditors　of　1815　found
her　out　and　caused　her　to　leave　Paris；　for　the　poor　little
woman　was　forced　to　fly　from　the　city　rather　suddenly；
and　went　thence　to　Brussels。
How　well　she　remembered　the　place！　　She　grinned　as
she　looked　up　at　the　little　entresol　which　she　had
occupied；　and　thought　of　the　Bareacres　family；　bawling
for　horses　and　flight；　as　their　carriage　stood　in　the
porte…cochere　of　the　hotel。　　She　went　to　Waterloo　and　to
Laeken；　where　George　Osborne's　monument　much
struck　her。　　She　made　a　little　sketch　of　it。　　〃That　poor
Cupid！〃　she　said；　〃how　dreadfully　he　was　in　love　with
me；　and　what　a　fool　he　was！　　I　wonder　whether　little
Emmy　is　alive。　　It　was　a　good　little　creature；　and　that
fat　brother　of　hers。　　I　have　his　funny　fat　picture　still
among　my　papers。　　They　were　kind　simple　people。〃
At　Brussels　Becky　arrived；　recommended　by　Madame
de　Saint　Amour　to　her　friend；　Madame　la　Comtesse　de
Borodino；　widow　of　Napoleon's　General；　the　famous
Count　de　Borodino；　who　was　left　with　no　re