vanity fair(名利场)-第26章

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jeweller's　window；　which　he　could　not　resist；　and　having
paid　for　that；　had　very　little　money　to　spare　for　indulging
in　any　further　exercise　of　kindness。　　Never　mind：　you　may
be　sure　it　was　not　his　presents　Amelia　wanted。　　When　he
came　to　Russell　Square；　her　face　lighted　up　as　if　he　had
been　sunshine。　　The　little　cares；　fears；　tears；　timid
misgivings；　sleepless　fancies　of　I　don't　know　how　many　days
and　nights；　were　forgotten；　under　one　moment's　influence
of　that　familiar；　irresistible　smile。　　He　beamed　on　her
from　the　drawing…room　doormagnificent；　with
ambrosial　whiskers；　like　a　god。　　Sambo；　whose　face　as　he
announced　Captain　Osbin　（having　conferred　a　brevet　rank
on　that　young　officer）　blazed　with　a　sympathetic　grin；　saw
the　little　girl　start；　and　flush；　and　jump　up　from　her
watching…place　in　the　window；　and　Sambo　retreated：　and
as　soon　as　the　door　was　shut；　she　went　fluttering　to
Lieutenant　George　Osborne's　heart　as　if　it　was　the　only　natural
home　for　her　to　nestle　in。　　Oh；　thou　poor　panting　little
soul！　　The　very　finest　tree　in　the　whole　forest；　with　the
straightest　stem；　and　the　strongest　arms；　and　the
thickest　foliage；　wherein　you　choose　to　build　and　coo；　may
be　marked；　for　what　you　know；　and　may　be　down　with　a
crash　ere　long。　　What　an　old；　old　simile　that　is；　between
man　and　timber！
　　
In　the　meanwhile；　George　kissed　her　very　kindly　on
her　forehead　and　glistening　eyes；　and　was　very　gracious
and　good；　and　she　thought　his　diamond　shirt…pin　（which
she　had　not　known　him　to　wear　before）　the　prettiest
ornament　ever　seen。
The　observant　reader；　who　has　marked　our　young
Lieutenant's　previous　behaviour；　and　has　preserved　our
report　of　the　brief　conversation　which　he　has　just　had
with　Captain　Dobbin；　has　possibly　come　to　certain
conclusions　regarding　the　character　of　Mr。　Osborne。　　Some
cynical　Frenchman　has　said　that　there　are　two　parties　to
a　love…transaction：　the　one　who　loves　and　the　other　who
condescends　to　be　so　treated。　　Perhaps　the　love　is
occasionally　on　the　man's　side；　perhaps　on　the　lady's。
Perhaps　some　infatuated　swain　has　ere　this　mistaken
insensibility　for　modesty；　dulness　for　maiden　reserve；　mere
vacuity　for　sweet　bashfulness；　and　a　goose；　in　a　word；
for　a　swan。　　Perhaps　some　beloved　female　subscriber　has
arrayed　an　ass　in　the　splendour　and　glory　of　her
imagination；　admired　his　dulness　as　manly　simplicity；
worshipped　his　selfishness　as　manly　superiority；　treated　his
stupidity　as　majestic　gravity；　and　used　him　as　the
brilliant　fairy　Titania　did　a　certain　weaver　at　Athens。　　I　think
I　have　seen　such　comedies　of　errors　going　on　in　the
world。　　But　this　is　certain；　that　Amelia　believed　her　lover
to　be　one　of　the　most　gallant　and　brilliant　men　in　the
empire：　and　it　is　possible　Lieutenant　Osborne　thought
so　too。
He　was　a　little　wild：　how　many　young　men　are；　and
don't　girls　like　a　rake　better　than　a　milksop？　　He　hadn't
sown　his　wild　oats　as　yet；　but　he　would　soon：　and　quit
the　army　now　that　peace　was　proclaimed；　the　Corsican
monster　locked　up　at　Elba；　promotion　by　consequence
over；　and　no　chance　left　for　the　display　of　his　undoubted
military　talents　and　valour：　and　his　allowance；　with
Amelia's　settlement；　would　enable　them　to　take　a　snug
place　in　the　country　somewhere；　in　a　good　sporting
neighbourhood；　and　he　would　hunt　a　little；　and　farm　a
little；　and　they　would　be　very　happy。　　As　for　remaining
in　the　army　as　a　married　man；　that　was　impossible。
Fancy　Mrs。　George　Osborne　in　lodgings　in　a　county
town；　or；　worse　still；　in　the　East　or　West　Indies；　with　a
society　of　officers；　and　patronized　by　Mrs。　Major　O'Dowd！
Amelia　died　with　laughing　at　Osborne's　stories　about
Mrs。　Major　O'Dowd。　　He　loved　her　much　too　fondly　to
subject　her　to　that　horrid　woman　and　her　vulgarities；
and　the　rough　treatment　of　a　soldier's　wife。　　He　didn't
care　for　himselfnot　he；　but　his　dear　little　girl　should
take　the　place　in　society　to　which；　as　his　wife；　she　was
entitled：　and　to　these　proposals　you　may　be　sure　she
acceded；　as　she　would　to　any　other　from　the　same　author。
　　　
Holding　this　kind　of　conversation；　and　building
numberless　castles　in　the　air　（which　Amelia　adorned　with　all
sorts　of　flower…gardens；　rustic　walks；　country　churches；
Sunday　schools；　and　the　like；　while　George　had　his
mind's　eye　directed　to　the　stables；　the　kennel；　and　the
cellar）；　this　young　pair　passed　away　a　couple　of　hours
very　pleasantly；　and　as　the　Lieutenant　had　only　that
single　day　in　town；　and　a　great　deal　of　most　important
business　to　transact；　it　was　proposed　that　Miss　Emmy　should
dine　with　her　future　sisters…in…law。　　This　invitation　was
accepted　joyfully。　　He　conducted　her　to　his　sisters；　where
he　left　her　talking　and　prattling　in　a　way　that　astonished
those　ladies；　who　thought　that　George　might　make
something　of　her；　and　he　then　went　off　to　transact
his　business。
　　　
In　a　word；　he　went　out　and　ate　ices　at　a　pastry…cook's
shop　in　Charing　Cross；　tried　a　new　coat　in　Pall　Mall；
dropped　in　at　the　Old　Slaughters'；　and　called　for　Captain
Cannon；　played　eleven　games　at　billiards　with　the
Captain；　of　which　he　won　eight；　and　returned　to　Russell
Square　half　an　hour　late　for　dinner；　but　in　very　good
humour。
It　was　not　so　with　old　Mr。　Osborne。　　When　that
gentleman　came　from　the　City；　and　was　welcomed　in　the
drawing…room　by　his　daughters　and　the　elegant　Miss
Wirt；　they　saw　at　once　by　his　facewhich　was　puffy；
solemn；　and　yellow　at　the　best　of　timesand　by　the
scowl　and　twitching　of　his　black　eyebrows；　that　the　heart
within　his　large　white　waistcoat　was　disturbed　and
uneasy。　　When　Amelia　stepped　forward　to　salute　him；　which
she　always　did　with　great　trembling　and　timidity；　he　gave
a　surly　grunt　of　recognition；　and　dropped　the　little　hand
out　of　his　great　hirsute　paw　without　any　attempt　to　hold
it　there。　　He　looked　round　gloomily　at　his　eldest　daughter；
　who；　comprehending　the　meaning　of　his　look；　which
asked　unmistakably；　〃Why　the　devil　is　she　here？〃　said
at　once：
　　
〃George　is　in　town；　Papa；　and　has　gone　to　the　Horse
Guards；　and　will　be　back　to　dinner。〃
　　
〃O　he　is；　is　he？　I　won't　have　the　dinner　kept　waiting
for　him；　Jane〃；　with　which　this　worthy　man　lapsed　into
his　particular　chair；　and　then　the　utter　silence　in　his
genteel；　well…furnished　drawing…room　was　only
interrupted　by　the　alarmed　ticking　of　the　great　French　clock。
　　
When　that　chronometer；　which　was　surmounted　by　a
cheerful　brass　group　of　the　sacrifice　of　Iphigenia；　tolled
five　in　a　heavy　cathedral　tone；　Mr。　Osborne　pulled　the
bell　at　his　right　hand…violently；　and　the　butler　rushed　up。
　　
〃Dinner！〃　roared　Mr。　Osborne。
　　
〃Mr。　George　isn't　come　in；　sir；〃　interposed　the　man。
　　
〃Damn　Mr。　George；　sir。　　Am　I　master　of　the　house？
DINNER！~　Mr。　Osborne　scowled。　　Amelia　trembled。　　A
telegraphic　communication　of　eyes　passed　between　the　other
three　ladies。　　The　obedient　bell　in　the　lower　regions　began
ringing　the　announcement　of　the　meal。　　The　tolling　over；
the　head　of　the　family　thrust　his　hands　into　the　great
tail…pockets　of　his　great　blue　coat　with　brass　buttons；　and
without　waiting　for　a　further　announcement　strode
downstairs　alone；　scowling　over　his　shoulder　at　the　four
females。
　　
〃What's　the　matter　now；　my　dear？〃　asked　one　of　the
other；　as　they　rose　and　tripped　gingerly　behind　the　sire。
　　
〃I　suppose　the　funds　are　falling；〃　whispered　Miss　Wirt；
and　so；　trembling　and　in　silence；　this　hushed　female
company　followed　their　dark　leader。　　They　took　their　places
in　silence。　　He　growled　out　a　blessing；　which　sounded　as
gruffly　as　a　curse。　　The　great　silver　dish…covers　were
removed。　　Amelia　trembled　in　her　place；　for　she　was　next
to　the　awful　Osborne；　and　alone　on　her　side　of　the　table
the　gap　being　occasioned　by　the　absence　of　George。
　　
〃Soup？〃　says　Mr。　Osborne；　clutching　the　ladle；　fixing
his　eyes　on　her；　in　a　sepulchral　tone；　and　having　helped
her　and　the　rest；　did　not　speak　for　a　while。
　　
〃Take　Miss　Sedley's　plate　away；〃　at　last　he　said。　　〃She
can't　eat　the　soupno　more　can　I。　　It's　beastly。　　Take　away
the　soup；　Hicks；　and　to…morrow　turn　the　cook　out　of
the　house；　Jane。〃
　　
Having　concluded　his　observations　upon　the　soup；　Mr。
Osborne　made　a　few　curt　remarks　respecting　the　fish；
also　of　a　savage　and　satirical　tendency；　and　cursed
Billingsgate　with　an　emphasis　quite　worthy　of　the　place。
Then　he　lapsed　into　silence；　and　swallowed　sundry
glasses　of　wine；　looking　more　and　more　terrible；　till　a
brisk　knock　at　the　door　told　of　George's　arrival　when
everybody　began　to　rally。
　　
〃He　could　not　come　before。　　General　Daguilet　had　kept
him　waiting　at　the　Horse　Guards。　　Never　mind　soup　or
fish。　　Give　him　anythinghe　didn't　care　what。　　Capital
muttoncapital　everything。〃　His　good　humour　contrasted
with　his　father's　severity；　and　he　rattled　on　unceasingly
during　dinner；　to　the　delight　of　allof　one　especially；
who　need　not　be　mentioned。
　　
As　soon　as　the　young　ladies　had　discussed　the　orange
and　the　glass　of　wine　which　formed　the　ordinary
conclusion　of　the　dismal　banquets　at　Mr。　Osborne's　house；
the　signal　to　make　sail　for　the　drawing…room　was　given；
and　they　all　arose　and　departed。　　Amelia　hoped　George
would　soon　join　them　there。　　She　began　playing　some　of
his　favourite　waltzes　（then　newly　imported）　at　the　great
carved…legged；　leather…cased　grand　piano　in　the　drawing…
room　overhead。　　This　little　artifice　did　not　bring　him。　　He
was　deaf　to　the　waltzes；　they　grew　fainter　and　fainter；
the　discomfited　performer　left　the　huge　instrument
presently；　and　though　her　three　friends　performed　some　of
the　loudest　and　most　brilliant　new　pieces　of　their
repertoire；　she　did　not　hear　a　single　note；　but　sate　thinking；
and　boding　evil。　　Old　Osborne's　scowl；　terrific　always；　had
never　before　looked　so　deadly　to　her。　　His　eyes　followed
her　out　of　the　room；　as　if　she　had　been　guilty　of　something。
When　they　brought　her　coffee；　she　started　as
though　it　were　a　cup　of　poison　which　Mr。　Hicks；　the
butler；　wished　to　propose　to　her。　　What　mystery　was
there　lurking？　Oh；　those　women！　　They　nurse　and　cuddle
their　presentiments；　and　make　darlings　of　their　ugliest
thoughts；　as　they　do　of　their　deformed　children。
　　
The　gloom　on　the　paternal　countenance　had　also
impressed　George　Osborne　with　anxiety。　　With　such
eyebrows；　and　a　look　so　decidedly　bilious；　how　was　he　to
extract　that　money　from　the　governor；　of　which　George
was　consumedly　in　want？　He　began　praising　his　father's
wine。　　That　was　generally　a　successful　means　of　cajoling
the　old　gentleman。
　　
〃We　never　got　such　Madeira　in　the　West　Indies；　sir；　as
yours。　　Colonel　Heavytop　took　off　three　bottles　of　that　you
sent　me　down；　under　his　belt　the　other　day。〃
　　
〃Did　he？〃　said　the　old　gentleman。　　〃It　stands　me　in
eight　shillings　a　bottle。〃
　　
〃Will　you　take　six　guineas　a　dozen　for　it；　sir？〃　said
George；　with　a　laugh。　　〃There's　one　of　the　greatest　men　in
the　kingdom　wants　some。〃
　　
〃Does　he？〃　growled　the　senior。　　〃Wish　he　may　get　it。〃
　　
〃When　General　Daguilet　was　at　Chatham；　sir；　Heavytop
gave　him　a　breakfast；　and　asked　me　for　some　of　the
wine。　　The　General　liked　it　just　as　wellwanted　a　pipe
for　the　Commander…in…Chief。　　He's　his　Royal　Highness's
right…hand　man。〃
　　
〃It　is　devilish　fine　wine；〃　said　the　Eyebrows；　and　they
looked　more　go