vanity fair(名利场)-第156章

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sisters　shall　scold　me。　　I　have　geliebt　und　gelebet；　as　the
girl　in　'Wallenstein'　says。　　I　am　done。　　Pay　the　bills　and　get
me　a　cigar：　　find　out　what　there　is　at　the　play　to…night；
Francis；　to…morrow　we　cross　by　the　Batavier。〃　He　made
the　above　speech；　whereof　Francis　only　heard　the　last
two　lines；　pacing　up　and　down　the　Boompjes　at　Rotterdam。
The　Batavier　was　lying　in　the　basin。　　He　could　see
the　place　on　the　quarter…deck　where　he　and　Emmy　had
sat　on　the　happy　voyage　out。　　What　had　that　little　Mrs。
Crawley　to　say　to　him？　Psha；　to…morrow　we　will　put　to
sea；　and　return　to　England；　home；　and　duty！
After　June　all　the　little　Court　Society　of　Pumpernickel
used　to　separate；　according　to　the　German　plan；
and　make　for　a　hundred　watering…places；　where　they
drank　at　the　wells；　rode　upon　donkeys；　gambled　at　the
redoutes　if　they　had　money　and　a　mind；　rushed　with
hundreds　of　their　kind　to　gourmandise　at　the　tables
d'hote；　and　idled　away　the　summer。　　The　English
diplomatists　went　off　to　Teoplitz　and　Kissingen；　their　French
rivals　shut　up　their　chancellerie　and　whisked　away　to
their　darling　Boulevard　de　Gand。　　The　Transparent　reigning
family　took　too　to　the　waters；　or　retired　to　their　hunting
lodges。　　Everybody　went　away　having　any　pretensions
to　politeness；　and　of　course；　with　them；　Doctor　von
Glauber；　the　Court　Doctor；　and　his　Baroness。　　The　seasons
for　the　baths　were　the　most　productive　periods　of
the　Doctor's　practicehe　united　business　with　pleasure；
and　his　chief　place　of　resort　was　Ostend；　which　is　much
frequented　by　Germans；　and　where　the　Doctor　treated
himself　and　his　spouse　to　what　he　called　a　〃dib〃　in　the
sea。
His　interesting　patient；　Jos；　was　a　regular　milch…cow
to　the　Doctor；　and　he　easily　persuaded　the　civilian；　both
for　his　own　health's　sake　and　that　of　his　charming
sister；　which　was　really　very　much　shattered；　to　pass　the
summer　at　that　hideous　seaport　town。　　Emmy　did　not
care　where　she　went　much。　　Georgy　jumped　at　the　idea
of　a　move。　　As　for　Becky；　she　came　as　a　matter　of　course
in　the　fourth　place　inside　of　the　fine　barouche　Mr。　Jos
had　bought；　the　two　domestics　being　on　the　box　in　front。
She　might　have　some　misgivings　about　the　friends　whom
she　should　meet　at　Ostend；　and　who　might　be　likely　to　tell
ugly　storiesbut　bah！　　she　was　strong　enough　to　hold
her　own。　　She　had　cast　such　an　anchor　in　Jos　now　as
would　require　a　strong　storm　to　shake。　　That　incident
of　the　picture　had　finished　him。　　Becky　took　down
her　elephant　and　put　it　into　the　little　box　which　she　had
had　from　Amelia　ever　so　many　years　ago。　　Emmy　also
came　off　with　her　Laresher　two　picturesand　the
party；　finally；　were；　lodged　in　an　exceedingly　dear　and
uncomfortable　house　at　Ostend。
There　Amelia　began　to　take　baths　and　get　what　good
she　could　from　them；　and　though　scores　of　people　of
Becky's　acquaintance　passed　her　and　cut　her；　yet　Mrs。
Osborne；　who　walked　about　with　her；　and　who　knew
nobody；　was　not　aware　of　the　treatment　experienced　by　the
friend　whom　she　had　chosen　so　judiciously　as　a
companion；　indeed；　Becky　never　thought　fit　to　tell　her　what
was　passing　under　her　innocent　eyes。
Some　of　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley's　acquaintances；　however；
　acknowledged　her　readily　enough；perhaps　more
readily　than　she　would　have　desired。　　Among　those　were
Major　Loder　（unattached）；　and　Captain　Rook　（late　of
the　Rifles）；　who　might　be　seen　any　day　on　the　Dike；
smoking　and　staring　at　the　women；　and　who　speedily　got
an　introduction　to　the　hospitable　board　and　select　circle
of　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley。　　In　fact　they　would　take　no　denial；
they　burst　into　the　house　whether　Becky　was　at　home
or　not；　walked　into　Mrs。　Osborne's　drawing…room；　which
they　perfumed　with　their　coats　and　mustachios；　called
Jos　〃Old　buck；〃　and　invaded　his　dinner…table；　and
laughed　and　drank　for　long　hours　there。
〃What　can　they　mean？〃　asked　Georgy；　who　did　not
like　these　gentlemen。　　〃I　heard　the　Major　say　to　Mrs。
Crawley　yesterday；　'No；　no；　Becky；　you　shan't　keep　the
old　buck　to　yourself。　　We　must　have　the　bones　in；　or；
dammy；　I'll　split。'　What　could　the　Major　mean；　Mamma？〃
〃Major！　　don't　call　him　Major！〃　Emmy　said。　　〃I'm　sure
I　can't　tell　what　he　meant。〃　His　presence　and　that　of　his
friend　inspired　the　little　lady　with　intolerable　terror　and
aversion。　　They　paid　her　tipsy　compliments；　they　leered
at　her　over　the　dinner…table。　　And　the　Captain　made　her
advances　that　filled　her　with　sickening　dismay；　nor　would
she　ever　see　him　unless　she　had　George　by　her　side。
Rebecca；　to　do　her　justice；　never　would　let　either　of
these　men　remain　alone　with　Amelia；　the　Major　was
disengaged　too；　and　swore　he　would　be　the　winner　of　her。
A　couple　of　ruffians　were　fighting　for　this　innocent　creature；
　gambling　for　her　at　her　own　table；　and　though　she
was　not　aware　of　the　rascals'　designs　upon　her；　yet　she
felt　a　horror　and　uneasiness　in　their　presence　and　longed
to　fly。
She　besought；　she　entreated　Jos　to　go。　　Not　he。　　He　was
slow　of　movement；　tied　to　his　Doctor；　and　perhaps　to
some　other　leading…strings。　　At　least　Becky　was　not
anxious　to　go　to　England。
At　last　she　took　a　great　resolutionmade　the　great
plunge。　　She　wrote　off　a　letter　to　a　friend　whom　she　had
on　the　other　side　of　the　water；　a　letter　about　which　she
did　not　speak　a　word　to　anybody；　which　she　carried
herself　to　the　post　under　her　shawl；　nor　was　any　remark
made　about　it；　only　that　she　looked　very　much　flushed
and　agitated　when　Georgy　met　her；　and　she　kissed　him；
and　hung　over　him　a　great　deal　that　night。　　She　did　not
come　out　of　her　room　after　her　return　from　her　walk。
Becky　thought　it　was　Major　Loder　and　the　Captain　who
frightened　her。
〃She　mustn't　stop　here；〃　Becky　reasoned　with　herself。
〃She　must　go　away；　the　silly　little　fool。　　She　is　still
whimpering　after　that　gaby　of　a　husbanddead　（and
served　right！）　these　fifteen　years。　　She　shan't　marry　either
of　these　men。　　It's　too　bad　of　Loder。　　No；　she　shall　marry
the　bamboo　cane；　I'll　settle　it　this　very　night。〃
So　Becky　took　a　cup　of　tea　to　Amelia　in　her　private
apartment　and　found　that　lady　in　the　company　of　her
miniatures；　and　in　a　most　melancholy　and　nervous
condition。　　She　laid　down　the　cup　of　tea。
〃Thank　you；〃　said　Amelia。
〃Listen　to　me；　Amelia；〃　said　Becky；　marching　up　and
down　the　room　before　the　other　and　surveying　her　with
a　sort　of　contemptuous　kindness。　　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you。
You　must　go　away　from　here　and　from　the　impertinences
of　these　men。　　I　won't　have　you　harassed　by　them：　　and
they　will　insult　you　if　you　stay。　　I　tell　you　they　are　rascals：
men　fit　to　send　to　the　hulks。　　Never　mind　how　I　know
them。　　I　know　everybody。　　Jos　can't　protect　you；　he　is　too
weak　and　wants　a　protector　himself。　　You　are　no　more　fit
to　live　in　the　world　than　a　baby　in　arms。　　You　must　marry；
or　you　and　your　precious　boy　will　go　to　ruin。　　You　must
have　a　husband；　you　fool；　and　one　of　the　best　gentlemen
I　ever　saw　has　offered　you　a　hundred　times；　and　you　have
rejected　him；　you　silly；　heartless；　ungrateful　little
creature！〃
〃I　triedI　tried　my　best；　indeed　I　did；　Rebecca；〃　said
Amelia　deprecatingly；　〃but　I　couldn't　forget〃；　and　she
finished　the　sentence　by　looking　up　at　the　portrait。
〃Couldn't　forget　HIM！〃　cried　out　Becky；　〃that　selfish
humbug；　that　low…bred　cockney　dandy；　that　padded
booby；　who　had　neither　wit；　nor　manners；　nor　heart；　and
was　no　more　to　be　compared　to　your　friend　with　the
bamboo　cane　than　you　are　to　Queen　Elizabeth。　　Why；
the　man　was　weary　of　you；　and　would　have　jilted　you；　but
that　Dobbin　forced　him　to　keep　his　word。　　He　owned　it
to　me。　　He　never　cared　for　you。　　He　used　to　sneer　about
you　to　me；　time　after　time；　and　made　love　to　me　the
week　after　he　married　you。〃
〃It's　false！　　It's　false！　　Rebecca；〃　cried　out　Amelia；
starting　up。
〃Look　there；　you　fool；〃　Becky　said；　still　with　provoking
good　humour；　and　taking　a　little　paper　out　of　her
belt；　she　opened　it　and　flung　it　into　Emmy's　lap。　　〃You
know　his　handwriting。　　He　wrote　that　to　mewanted　me
to　run　away　with　himgave　it　me　under　your　nose；　the
day　before　he　was　shotand　served　him　right！〃　Becky
repeated。
Emmy　did　not　hear　her；　she　was　looking　at　the　letter。
It　was　that　which　George　had　put　into　the　bouquet　and
given　to　Becky　on　the　night　of　the　Duchess　of　Richmond's
ball。　　It　was　as　she　said：　　the　foolish　young　man
had　asked　her　to　fly。
Emmy's　head　sank　down；　and　for　almost　the　last　time
in　which　she　shall　be　called　upon　to　weep　in　this　history；
she　commenced　that　work。　　Her　head　fell　to　her　bosom；　and
her　hands　went　up　to　her　eyes；　and　there　for　a　while；　she
gave　way　to　her　emotions；　as　Becky　stood　on　and
regarded　her。　　Who　shall　analyse　those　tears　and　say
whether　they　were　sweet　or　bitter？　Was　she　most　grieved
because　the　idol　of　her　life　was　tumbled　down　and
shivered　at　her　feet；　or　indignant　that　her　love　had　been　so
despised；　or　glad　because　the　barrier　was　removed　which
modesty　had　placed　between　her　and　a　new；　a　real　affection？
〃There　is　nothing　to　forbid　me　now；〃　she　thought。
〃I　may　love　him　with　all　my　heart　now。　　Oh；　I　will；　I　will；
if　he　will　but　let　me　and　forgive　me。〃　I　believe　it　was　this
feeling　rushed　over　all　the　others　which　agitated　that
gentle　little　bosom。
Indeed；　she　did　not　cry　so　much　as　Becky　expected
the　other　soothed　and　kissed　hera　rare　mark　of
sympathy　with　Mrs。　Becky。　　She　treated　Emmy　like　a　child
and　patted　her　head。　　〃And　now　let　us　get　pen　and　ink
and　write　to　him　to　come　this　minute；〃　she　said。
〃II　wrote　to　him　this　morning；〃　Emmy　said；　blushing
exceedingly。　　Becky　screamed　with　laughter〃Un
biglietto；〃　she　sang　out　with　Rosina；　〃eccolo　qua！〃the
whole　house　echoed　with　her　shrill　singing。
Two　mornings　after　this　little　scene；　although　the　day
was　rainy　and　gusty；　and　Amelia　had　had　an　exceedingly
wakeful　night；　listening　to　the　wind　roaring；　and　pitying
all　travellers　by　land　and　by　water；　yet　she　got　up　early
and　insisted　upon　taking　a　walk　on　the　Dike　with　Georgy；
and　there　she　paced　as　the　rain　beat　into　her　face；　and
she　looked　out　westward　across　the　dark　sea　line　and
over　the　swollen　billows　which　came　tumbling　and　frothing
to　the　shore。　　Neither　spoke　much；　except　now　and
then；　when　the　boy　said　a　few　words　to　his　timid
companion；　indicative　of　sympathy　and　protection。
〃I　hope　he　won't　cross　in　such　weather；〃　Emmy　said。
〃I　bet　ten　to　one　he　does；〃　the　boy　answered。　　〃Look；
Mother；　there's　the　smoke　of　the　steamer。〃　It　was　that
signal；　sure　enough。
But　though　the　steamer　was　under　way；　he　might　not
be　on　board；　he　might　not　have　got　the　letter；　he　might
not　choose　to　come。　　A　hundred　fears　poured　one　over　the
other　into　the　little　heart；　as　fast　as　the　waves　on　to　the
Dike。
The　boat　followed　the　smoke　into　sight。　　Georgy　had　a
dandy　telescope　and　got　the　vessel　under　view　in　the　most
skilful　manner。　　And　he　made　appropriate　nautical
comments　upon　the　manner　of　the　approach　of　the　steamer
as　she　came　nearer　and　nearer；　dipping　and　rising　in　the
water。　　The　signal　of　an　English　steamer　in　sight　went
fluttering　up　to　the　mast　on　the　pier。　　I　daresay　Mrs。
Amelia's　heart　was　in　a　similar　flutter。
Emmy　tried　to　look　through　the　telescope　over
George's　shoulder；　but　she　could　make　nothing　of　it。
She　only　saw　a　black　eclipse　bobbing　up　and　down
before　her　eyes。