vanity fair(名利场)-第39章
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Amelia and her parents： where had they taken refuge？
The thought of their ruin affected him not a little。 He
was very melancholy that night in the coffee…room at
the Slaughters'； and drank a good deal； as his comrades
remarked there。
Dobbin came in presently； cautioned him about the
drink； which he only took； he said； because he was
deuced low； but when his friend began to put to him
clumsy inquiries； and asked him for news in a significant
manner； Osborne declined entering into conversation with
him； avowing； however； that he was devilish disturbed
and unhappy。
Three days afterwards； Dobbin found Osborne in his
room at the barrackshis head on the table； a number
of papers about； the young Captain evidently in a state
of great despondency。 〃Sheshe's sent me back some
things I gave hersome damned trinkets。 Look here！〃
There was a little packet directed in the well…known hand
to Captain George Osborne； and some things lying about
a ring； a silver knife he had bought； as a boy； for her
at a fair； a gold chain； and a locket with hair in it。 〃It's
all over；〃 said he； with a groan of sickening remorse。
〃Look； Will； you may read it if you like。〃
There was a little letter of a few lines； to which he
pointed； which said：
My papa has ordered me to return to you these
presents； which you made in happier days to me； and I
am to write to you for the last time。 I think； I know you
feel as much as I do the blow which has come upon us。
It is I that absolve you from an engagement which is
impossible in our present misery。 I am sure you had no
share in it； or in the cruel suspicions of Mr。 Osborne；
which are the hardest of all our griefs to bear。 Farewell。
Farewell。 I pray God to strengthen me to bear this and
other calamities； and to bless you always。 A。
I shall often play upon the pianoyour piano。 It was
like you to send it。
Dobbin was very soft…hearted。 The sight of women
and children in pain always used to melt him。 The idea
of Amelia broken…hearted and lonely tore that good…
natured soul with anguish。 And he broke out into an
emotion； which anybody who likes may consider unmanly。
He swore that Amelia was an angel； to which Osborne
said aye with all his heart。 He； too； had been reviewing
the history of their livesand had seen her from her
childhood to her present age； so sweet； so innocent；
so charmingly simple； and artlessly fond and tender。
What a pang it was to lose all that： to have had it and
not prized it！ A thousand homely scenes and recollections
crowded on himin which he always saw her good
and beautiful。 And for himself； he blushed with remorse
and shame； as the remembrance of his own selfishness
and indifference contrasted with that perfect purity。 For
a while； glory； war； everything was forgotten； and the
pair of friends talked about her only。
〃Where are they？〃 Osborne asked； after a long talk；
and a long pauseand； in truth； with no little shame at
thinking that he had taken no steps to follow her。 〃Where
are they？ There's no address to the note。〃
Dobbin knew。 He had not merely sent the piano； but
had written a note to Mrs。 Sedley； and asked permission
to come and see herand he had seen her； and Amelia
too； yesterday； before he came down to Chatham； and；
what is more； he had brought that farewell letter and
packet which had so moved them。
The good…natured fellow had found Mrs。 Sedley only
too willing to receive him； and greatly agitated by the
arrival of the piano； which； as she conjectured； MUST have
come from George； and was a signal of amity on his
part。 Captain Dobbin did not correct this error of the
worthy lady； but listened to all her story of complaints
and misfortunes with great sympathycondoled with
her losses and privations； and agreed in reprehending the
cruel conduct of Mr。 Osborne towards his first benefactor。
When she had eased her overflowing bosom somewhat；
and poured forth many of her sorrows； he had the
courage to ask actually to see Amelia； who was above in
her room as usual； and whom her mother led trembling
downstairs。
Her appearance was so ghastly； and her look of despair
so pathetic； that honest William Dobbin was frightened
as he beheld it； and read the most fatal forebodings in
that pale fixed face。 After sitting in his company a minute
or two； she put the packet into his hand； and said；
〃Take this to Captain Osborne； if you please； andand I
hope he's quite welland it was very kind of you to
come and see usand we like our new house very much。
And II think I'll go upstairs； Mamma； for I'm not very
strong。〃 And with this； and a curtsey and a smile； the
poor child went her way。 The mother； as she led her up；
cast back looks of anguish towards Dobbin。 The good
fellow wanted no such appeal。 He loved her himself too
fondly for that。 Inexpressible grief； and pity； and terror
pursued him； and he came away as if he was a criminal
after seeing her。
When Osborne heard that his friend had found her；
he made hot and anxious inquiries regarding the poor
child。 How was she？ How did she look？ What did she
say？ His comrade took his hand； and looked him in the
face。
〃George； she's dying；〃 William Dobbin saidand could
speak no more。
There was a buxom Irish servant…girl； who performed
all the duties of the little house where the Sedley family
had found refuge： and this girl had in vain； on many
previous days； striven to give Amelia aid or consolation。
Emmy was much too sad to answer； or even to be aware
of the attempts the other was making in her favour。
Four hours after the talk between Dobbin and Osborne；
this servant…maid came into Amelia's room； where she
sate as usual； brooding silently over her lettersher
little treasures。 The girl； smiling； and looking arch and
happy； made many trials to attract poor Emmy's
attention； who； however； took no heed of her。
〃Miss Emmy；〃 said the girl。
〃I'm coming；〃 Emmy said； not looking round。
〃There's a message；〃 the maid went on。 〃There's
somethingsomebodysure； here's a new letter for you
don't be reading them old ones any more。〃 And she gave
her a letter； which Emmy took； and read。
〃I must see you；〃 the letter said。 〃Dearest Emmy
dearest lovedearest wife； come to me。〃
George and her mother were outside； waiting until she
had read the letter。
CHAPTER XIX
Miss Crawley at Nurse
We have seen how Mrs。 Firkin； the lady's maid； as soon
as any event of importance to the Crawley family came
to her knowledge； felt bound to communicate it to Mrs。
Bute Crawley； at the Rectory； and have before
mentioned how particularly kind and attentive that good…
natured lady was to Miss Crawley's confidential servant。
She had been a gracious friend to Miss Briggs； the
companion； also； and had secured the latter's good…will by a
number of those attentions and promises； which cost so
little in the making； and are yet so valuable and agreeable to
the recipient。 Indeed every good economist and
manager of a household must know how cheap and yet
how amiable these professions are； and what a flavour
they give to the most homely dish in life。 Who was the
blundering idiot who said that 〃fine words butter no
parsnips〃？ Half the parsnips of society are served and
rendered palatable with no other sauce。 As the immortal
Alexis Soyer can make more delicious soup for a half…
penny than an ignorant cook can concoct with pounds of
vegetables and meat； so a skilful artist will make a few
simple and pleasing phrases go farther than ever so much
substantial benefit…stock in the hands of a mere bungler。
Nay； we know that substantial benefits often sicken some
stomachs； whereas； most will digest any amount of fine
words； and be always eager for more of the same food。
Mrs。 Bute had told Briggs and Firkin so often of the
depth of her affection for them； and what she would do；
if she had Miss Crawley's fortune； for friends so excellent
and attached； that the ladies in question had the deepest
regard for her； and felt as much gratitude and
confidence as if Mrs。 Bute had loaded them with the most
expensive favours。
Rawdon Crawley； on the other hand； like a selfish
heavy dragoon as he was； never took the least trouble to
conciliate his aunt's aides…de…camp； showed his contempt
for the pair with entire franknessmade Firkin pull off
his boots on one occasionsent her out in the rain on
ignominious messagesand if he gave her a guinea； flung
it to her as if it were a box on the ear。 As his aunt； too；
made a butt of Briggs； the Captain followed the
example； and levelled his jokes at herjokes about as
delicate as a kick from his charger。 Whereas； Mrs。 Bute
consulted her in matters of taste or difficulty； admired
her poetry； and by a thousand acts of kindness and
politeness； showed her appreciation of Briggs； and if she
made Firkin a twopenny…halfpenny present； accompanied
it with so many compliments； that the twopence…half…
penny was transmuted into gold in the heart of the grateful
waiting…maid； who； besides； was looking forwards
quite contentedly to some prodigious benefit which must
happen to her on the day when Mrs。 Bute came into her
fortune。
The different conduct of these two people is pointed
out respectfully to the attention of persons commencing
the world。 Praise everybody； I say to such： never be
squeamish； but speak out your compliment both point…
blank in a man's face； and behind his back； when
you know there is a reasonable chance of his hearing it
again。 Never lose a chance of saying a kind word。 As
Collingwood never saw a vacant place in his estate but
he took an acorn out of his pocket and popped it in；
so deal with your compliments through life。 An acorn
costs nothing； but it may sprout into a prodigious bit of
timber。
In a word； during Rawdon Crawley's prosperity； he was
only obeyed with sulky acquiescence； when his disgrace
came； there was nobody to help or pity him。 Whereas；
when Mrs。 Bute took the command at Miss Crawley's
house； the garrison there were charmed to act under
such a leader； expecting all sorts of promotion from her
promises； her generosity； and her kind words。
That he would consider himself beaten； after one defeat；
and make no attempt to regain the position he had
lost； Mrs。 Bute Crawley never allowed herself to suppose。
She knew Rebecca to be too clever and spirited and
desperate a woman to submit without a struggle； and felt
that she must prepare for that combat； and be incessantly
watchful against assault； or mine； or surprise。
In the first place； though she held the town； was she
sure of the principal inhabitant？ Would Miss Crawley
herself hold out； and had she not a secret longing to
welcome back the ousted adversary？ The old lady liked
Rawdon； and Rebecca； who amused her。 Mrs。 Bute could
not disguise from herself the fact that none of her party
could so contribute to the pleasures of the town…bred
lady。 〃My girls' singing； after that little odious governess's；
I know is unbearable；〃 the candid Rector's wife
owned to herself。 〃She always used to go to sleep when
Martha and Louisa played their duets。 Jim's stiff
college manners and poor dear Bute's talk about his dogs
and horses always annoyed her。 If I took her to the
Rectory； she would grow angry with
