vanity fair(名利场)-第40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！


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　us　all；　and　fly；　I
know　she　would；　and　might　fall　into　that　horrid
Rawdon's　clutches　again；　and　be　the　victim　of　that　little
viper　of　a　Sharp。　　Meanwhile；　it　is　clear　to　me　that　she　is
exceedingly　unwell；　and　cannot　move　for　some　weeks；　at
any　rate；　during　which　we　must　think　of　some　plan　to
protect　her　from　the　arts　of　those　unprincipled　people。〃
In　the　very　best…of　moments；　if　anybody　told　Miss
Crawley　that　she　was；　or　looked　ill；　the　trembling　old
lady　sent　off　for　her　doctor；　and　I　daresay　she　was　very
unwell　after　the　sudden　family　event；　which　might　serve
to　shake　stronger　nerves　than　hers。　　At　least；　Mrs。　Bute
thought　it　was　her　duty　to　inform　the　physician；　and　the
apothecary；　and　the　dame…de…compagnie；　and　the　domestics；
that　Miss　Crawley　was　in　a　most　critical　state；　and
that　they　were　to　act　accordingly。　　She　had　the　street　laid
knee…deep　with　straw；　and　the　knocker　put　by　with　Mr。
Bowls's　plate。　　She　insisted　that　the　Doctor　should　call
twice　a　day；　and　deluged　her　patient　with　draughts　every
two　hours。　　When　anybody　entered　the　room；　she　uttered
a　shshshsh　so　sibilant　and　ominous；　that　it　frightened　the
poor　old　lady　in　her　bed；　from　which　she　could
not　look　without　seeing　Mrs。　Bute's　beady　eyes　eagerly
fixed　on　her；　as　the　latter　sate　steadfast　in　the　arm…chair
by　the　bedside。　　They　seemed　to　lighten　in　the　dark　（for
she　kept　the　curtains　closed）　as　she　moved　about　the
room　on　velvet　paws　like　a　cat。　　There　Miss　Crawley　lay
for　daysever　so　many　daysMr。　Bute　reading　books
of　devotion　to　her：　for　nights；　long　nights；　during　which
she　had　to　hear　the　watchman　sing；　the　night…light　sputter；
visited　at　midnight；　the　last　thing；　by　the　stealthy　apothecary；
and　then　left　to　look　at　Mrs。　Bute's　twinkling　eyes；
or　the　flicks　of　yellow　that　the　rushlight　threw　on　the
dreary　darkened　ceiling。　　Hygeia　herself　would　have
fallen　sick　under　such　a　regimen；　and　how　much　more
this　poor　old　nervous　victim？　　It　has　been　said　that　when
she　was　in　health　and　good　spirits；　this　venerable
inhabitant　of　Vanity　Fair　had　as　free　notions　about　religion
and　morals　as　Monsieur　de　Voltaire　himself　could　desire；
but　when　illness　overtook　her；　it　was　aggravated　by
the　most　dreadful　terrors　of　death；　and　an　utter　cowardice
took　possession　of　the　prostrate　old　sinner。
Sick…bed　homilies　and　pious　reflections　are；　to　be　sure；
out　of　place　in　mere　story…books；　and　we　are　not　going
（after　the　fashion　of　some　novelists　of　the　present　day）
to　cajole　the。public　into　a　sermon；　when　it　is　only　a
comedy　that　the　reader　pays　his　money　to　witness。　　But；
without　preaching；　the　truth　may　surely　be　borne　in　mind；
that　the　bustle；　and　triumph；　and　laughter；　and　gaiety
which　Vanity　Fair　exhibits　in　public；　do　not　always　pursue
the　performer　into　private　life；　and　that　the　most
dreary　depression　of　spirits　and　dismal　repentances
sometimes　overcome　him。　　Recollection　of　the　best　ordained
banquets　will　scarcely　cheer　sick　epicures。　　Reminiscences
of　the　most　becoming　dresses　and　brilliant　ball　triumphs
will　go　very　little　way　to　console　faded　beauties。　　Perhaps
statesmen；　at　a　particular　period　of　existence；　are
not　much　gratified　at　thinking　over　the　most　triumphant
divisions；　and　the　success　or　the　pleasure　of　yesterday
becomes　of　very　small　account　when　a　certain
（albeit　uncertain）　morrow　is　in　view；　about　which　all　of
us　must　some　day　or　other　be　speculating。　　O　brother
wearers　of　motley！　　Are　there　not　moments　when　one
grows　sick　of　grinning　and　tumbling；　and　the　jingling　of
cap　and　bells？　　This；　dear　friends　and　companions；　is　my
amiable　objectto　walk　with　you　through　the　Fair；　to
examine　the　shops　and　the　shows　there；　and　that　we
should　all　come　home　after　the　flare；　and　the　noise；　and
the　gaiety；　and　be　perfectly　miserable　in　private。
〃If　that　poor　man　of　mine　had　a　head　on　his　shoulders；〃
Mrs。　Bute　Crawley　thought　to　herself；　〃how　useful　he
might　be；　under　present　circumstances；　to　this　unhappy
old　lady！　　He　might　make　her　repent　of　her　shocking
free…thinking　ways；　he　might　urge　her　to　do　her　duty；
and　cast　off　that　odious　reprobate　who　has　disgraced
himself　and　his　family；　and　he　might　induce　her　to　do
justice　to　my　dear　girls　and　the　two　boys；　who　require
and　deserve；　I　am　sure；　every　assistance　which　their
relatives　can　give　them。〃
And；　as　the　hatred　of　vice　is　always　a　progress　towards
virtue；　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley　endeavoured　to　instil
her　sister…in…law　a　proper　abhorrence　for　all　Rawdon
Crawley's　manifold　sins：　of　which　his　uncle's　wife　brought
forward　such　a　catalogue　as　indeed　would　have　served
to　condemn　a　whole　regiment　of　young　officers。　　If　a　man
has　committed　wrong　in　life；　I　don't　know　any　moralist
more　anxious　to　point　his　errors　out　to　the　world　than
his　own　relations；　so　Mrs。　Bute　showed　a　perfect　family
interest　and　knowledge　of　Rawdon's　history。　　She　had　all
the　particulars　of　that　ugly　quarrel　with　Captain　Marker；
in　which　Rawdon；　wrong　from　the　beginning；　ended　in
shooting　the　Captain。　　She　knew　how　the　unhappy　Lord
Dovedale；　whose　mamma　had　taken　a　house　at　Oxford；
so　that　he　might　be　educated　there；　and　who　had　never
touched　a　card　in　his　life　till　he　came　to　London；　was
perverted　by　Rawdon　at　the　Cocoa…Tree；　made　helplessly
tipsy　by　this　abominable　seducer　and　perverter　of　youth；
and　fleeced　of　four　thousand　pounds。　　She　described　with
the　most　vivid　minuteness　the　agonies　of　the　country
families　whom　he　had　ruinedthe　sons　whom　he　had
plunged　into　dishonour　and　povertythe　daughters
whom　he　had　inveigled　into　perdition。　　She　knew　the　poor
tradesmen　who　were　bankrupt　by　his　extravagancethe
mean　shifts　and　rogueries　with　which　he　had　ministered
to　itthe　astounding　falsehoods　by　which　he　had　imposed
upon　the　most　generous　of　aunts；　and　the　ingratitude　and
ridicule　by　which　he　had　repaid　her　sacrifices。　　She
imparted　these　stories　gradually　to　Miss　Crawley；　gave　her
the　whole　benefit　of　them；　felt　it　to　be　her　bounden　duty
as　a　Christian　woman　and　mother　of　a　family　to　do　so；
had　not　the　smallest　remorse　or　compunction　for　the
victim　whom　her　tongue　was　immolating；　nay；　very　likely
thought　her　act　was　quite　meritorious；　and　plumed
herself　upon　her　resolute　manner　of　performing　it。　　Yes；
if　a　man's　character　is　to　be　abused；　say　what　you　will；
there's　nobody　like　a　relation　to　do　the　business。　　And　one
is　bound　to　own；　regarding　this　unfortunate　wretch　of　a
Rawdon　Crawley；　that　the　mere　truth　was　enough　to
condemn　him；　and　that　all　inventions　of　scandal　were　quite
superfluous　pains　on　his　friends'　parts。
Rebecca；　too；　being　now　a　relative；　came　in　for　the
fullest　share　of　Mrs。　Bute's　kind　inquiries。　　This　indefatigable
pursuer　of　truth　（having　given　strict　orders　that　the
door　was　to　be　denied　to　all　emissaries　or　letters
from　Rawdon）；　took　Miss　Crawley's　carriage；　and　drove
to　her　old　friend　Miss　Pinkerton；　at　Minerva　House；
Chiswick　Mall；　to　whom　she　announced　the　dreadful
intelligence　of　Captain　Rawdon's　seduction　by　Miss　Sharp；
and　from　whom　she　got　sundry　strange　particulars
regarding　the　ex…governess's　birth　and　early　history。　　The
friend　of　the　Lexicographer　had　plenty　of　information
to　give。　　Miss　Jemima　was　made　to　fetch　the　drawing…
master's　receipts　and　letters。　　This　one　was　from　a
spunging…house：　that　entreated　an　advance：　another　was
full　of　gratitude　for　Rebecca's　reception　by　the　ladies　of
Chiswick：　and　the　last　document　from　the　unlucky　artist's
pen　was　that　in　which；　from　his　dying　bed；　he　recommended
his　orphan　child　to　Miss　Pinkerton's　protection。　　There
were　juvenile　letters　and　petitions　from　Rebecca；　too；　in
the　collection；　imploring　aid　for　her　father　or　declaring
her　own　gratitude。　　Perhaps　in　Vanity　Fair　there　are　no
better　satires　than　letters。　　Take　a　bundle　of　your　dear
friend's　of　ten　years　backyour　dear　friend　whom　you
hate　now。　　Look　at　a　file　of　your　sister's！　how　you　clung
to　each　other　till　you　quarrelled　about　the　twenty…pound
legacy！　　Get　down　the　round…hand　scrawls　of　your　son
who　has　half　broken　your　heart　with　selfish　undutifulness
since；　or　a　parcel　of　your　own；　breathing　endless
ardour　and　love　eternal；　which　were　sent　back　by　your
mistress　when　she　married　the　Nabobyour　mistress　for
whom　you　now　care　no　more　than　for　Queen　Elizabeth。
Vows；　love；　promises；　confidences；　gratitude；　how　queerly
they　read　after　a　while！　　There　ought　to　be　a　law　in
Vanity　Fair　ordering　the　destruction　of　every　written
document　（except　receipted　tradesmen's　bills）　after　a
certain　brief　and　proper　interval。　　Those　quacks　and
misanthropes　who　advertise　indelible　Japan　ink　should　be
made　to　perish　along　with　their　wicked　discoveries。　　The
best　ink　for　Vanity　Fair　use　would　be　one　that　faded
utterly　in　a　couple　of　days；　and　left　the　paper　clean　and
blank；　so　that　you　might　write　on　it　to　somebody　else。
From　Miss　Pinkerton's　the　indefatigable　Mrs。　Bute
followed　the　track　of　Sharp　and　his　daughter　back　to　the
lodgings　in　Greek　Street；　which　the　defunct　painter　had
occupied；　and　where　portraits　of　the　landlady　in　white
satin；　and　of　the　husband　in　brass　buttons；　done　by　Sharp
in　lieu　of　a　quarter's　rent；　still　decorated　the　parlour
walls。　　Mrs。　Stokes　was　a　communicative　person；　and
quickly　told　all　she　knew　about　Mr。　Sharp；　how　dissolute
and　poor　he　was；　how　good…natured　and　amusing；　how　he
was　always　hunted　by　bailiffs　and　duns；　how；　to　the
　landlady's　horror；　though　she　never　could　abide　the　woman；
he　did　not　marry　his　wife　till　a　short　time　before　her
death；　and　what　a　queer　little　wild　vixen　his　daughter
was；　how　she　kept　them　all　laughing　with　her　fun　and
mimicry；　how　she　used　to　fetch　the　gin　from　the　public…house；
and　was　known　in　all　the　studios　in　the　quarterin　brief；
Mrs。　Bute　got　such　a　full　account　of　her　new　niece's
parentage；　education；　and　behaviour　as　would
scarcely　have　pleased　Rebecca；　had　the　latter　known　that
such　inquiries　were　being　made　concerning　her。
Of　all　these　industrious　researches　Miss　Crawley　had
the　full　benefit。　　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　was　the　daughter
of　an　opera…girl。　　She　had　danced　herself。　　She　had　been　a
model　to　the　painters。　　She　was　brought　up　as　became
her　mother's　daughter。　　She　drank　gin　with　her　father；
&c。　&c。　It　was　a　lost　woman　who　was　married　to　a　lost
man；　and　the　moral　to　be　inferred　from　Mrs。　Bute's
tale　was；　that　the　knavery　of　the　pair　was　irremediable；
and　that　no　properly　conducted　person　should　ever　notice
them　again。
These　were　the　materials　which　prudent　Mrs。　Bute
gathered　together　in　Park　Lane；　the　provisions　and
ammunition　as　it　were　with　which　she　fortified　the　house
against　the　siege　which　she　knew　that　Rawdon　and　his
wife　would　lay　to　Miss　Crawley。
But　if　a　fault　may　be　found　with　her　arrangements；　it
is　this；　that　she　was　too　eager：　she　managed　rather　too
well；　undoubtedly　she　made　Miss　Crawley　more　ill　than
was　necessary；　and　though　the　old　invalid　succumbed
to　her　authority；　it　was　so　harassing　and　severe；　that　the
victim　would　be　inclined　to　escape　at　the　very　first　chance
which　fell　in　her　way。　　Managing　women；　the　ornaments
of　their　sexwome