vanity fair(名利场)-第42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！


and　his　soul　within　him　thrilled　secretly　somehow
at　the　knowledge　of　his　power。　　He　would　be　generous…
minded；　Sultan　as　he　was；　and　raise　up　this　kneeling
Esther　and　make　a　queen　of　her：　　besides；　her　sadness
and　beauty　touched　him　as　much　as　her　submission；　and
so　he　cheered　her；　and　raised　her　up　and　forgave　her；　so
to　speak。　　All　her　hopes　and　feelings；　which　were　dying
and　withering；　this　her　sun　having　been　removed　from
her；　bloomed　again　and　at　once；　its　light　being　restored。
You　would　scarcely　have　recognised　the　beaming　little
face　upon　Amelia's　pillow　that　night　as　the　one　that　was
laid　there　the　night　before；　so　wan；　so　lifeless；　so
careless　of　all　round　about。　　The　honest　Irish　maid…servant；
delighted　with　the　change；　asked　leave　to　kiss　the　face
that　had　grown　all　of　a　sudden　so　rosy。　　Amelia　put　her
arms　round　the　girl's　neck　and　kissed　her　with　all　her
heart；　like　a　child。　　She　was　little　more。　　She　had　that　night
a　sweet　refreshing　sleep；　like　oneand　what　a　spring　of
inexpressible　happiness　as　she　woke　in　the　morning　sunshine！
〃He　will　be　here　again　to…day；〃　Amelia　thought。　　〃He　is
the　greatest　and　best　of　men。〃　　And　the　fact　is；　that
George　thought　he　was　one　of　the　generousest　creatures
alive：　and　that　he　was　making　a　tremendous　sacrifice　in
marrying　this　young　creature。
While　she　and　Osborne　were　having　their　delightful
tete…a…tete　above　stairs；　old　Mrs。　Sedley　and　Captain
Dobbin　were　conversing　below　upon　the　state　of　the
affairs；　and　the　chances　and　future　arrangements　of　the
young　people。　　Mrs。　Sedley　having　brought　the　two　lovers
together　and　left　them　embracing　each　other　with　all　their
might；　like　a　true　woman；　was　of　opinion　that　no　power
on　earth　would　induce　Mr。　Sedley　to　consent　to　the　match
between　his　daughter　and　the　son　of　a　man　who　had　so
shamefully；　wickedly；　and　monstrously　treated　him。　　And
she　told　a　long　story　about　happier　days　and　their　earlier
splendours；　when　Osborne　lived　in　a　very　humble　way　in
the　New　Road；　and　his　wife　was　too　glad　to　receive　some
of　Jos's　little　baby　things；　with　which　Mrs。　Sedley
accommodated　her　at　the　birth　of　one　of　Osborne's　own
children。　　The　fiendish　ingratitude　of　that　man；　she　was
sure；　had　broken　Mr。　S。's　heart：　and　as　for　a　marriage；
he　would　never；　never；　never；　never　consent。
〃They　must　run　away　together；　Ma'am；〃　Dobbin　said；
laughing；　〃and　follow　the　example　of　Captain　Rawdon
Crawley；　and　Miss　Emmy's　friend　the　little　governess。〃
Was　it　possible？　Well　she　never！　　Mrs。　Sedley　was　all
excitement　about　this　news。　　She　wished　that　Blenkinsop　were
here　to　hear　it：　　Blenkinsop　always　mistrusted　that　Miss
Sharp。What　an　escape　Jos　had　had！　and　she　described
the　already　well…known　love…passages　between　Rebecca　and
the　Collector　of　Boggley　Wollah。
It　was　not；　however；　Mr。　Sedley's　wrath　which　Dobbin
feared；　so　much　as　that　of　the　other　parent　concerned；
and　he　owned　that　he　had　a　very　considerable　doubt
and　anxiety　respecting　the　behaviour　of　the　black…browed
old　tyrant　of　a　Russia　merchant　in　Russell　Square。　　He
has　forbidden　the　match　peremptorily；　Dobbin　thought。
He　knew　what　a　savage　determined　man　Osborne　was；　and
how　he　stuck　by　his　word。　　The　only　chance　George　has
of　reconcilement；〃　argued　his　friend；　〃is　by　distinguishing
himself　in　the　coming　campaign。　　If　he　dies　they　both　go
together。　　If　he　fails　in　distinctionwhat　then？　　He　has
some　money　from　his　mother；　I　have　heard　enough　to
purchase　his　majorityor　he　must　sell　out　and　go　and
dig　in　Canada；　or　rough　it　in　a　cottage　in　the　country。〃
With　such　a　partner　Dobbin　thought　he　would　not　mind
Siberiaand；　strange　to　say；　this　absurd　and　utterly
imprudent　young　fellow　never　for　a　moment　considered　that
the　want　of　means　to　keep　a　nice　carriage　and　horses；
and　of　an　income　which　should　enable　its　possessors　to
entertain　their　friends　genteelly；　ought　to　operate　as　bars
to　the　union　of　George　and　Miss　Sedley。
It　was　these　weighty　considerations　which　made　him
think　too　that　the　marriage　should　take　place　as　quickly
as　possible。　　Was　he　anxious　himself；　I　wonder；　to　have　it
over。？as　people；　when　death　has　occurred；　like　to　press
forward　the　funeral；　or　when　a　parting　is　resolved　upon；
hasten　it。　　It　is　certain　that　Mr。　Dobbin；　having　taken　the
matter　in　hand；　was　most　extraordinarily　eager　in　the
conduct　of　it。　　He　urged　on　George　the　necessity　of　immediate
action：　　he　showed　the　chances　of　reconciliation　with
his　father；　which　a　favourable　mention　of　his　name　in　the
Gazette　must　bring　about。　　If　need　were　he　would　go　himself
and　brave　both　the　fathers　in　the　business。　　At　all
events；　he　besought　George　to　go　through　with　it　before
the　orders　came；　which　everybody　expected；　for　the
departure　of　the　regiment　from　England　on　foreign　service。
Bent　upon　these　hymeneal　projects；　and　with　the　applause
and　consent　of　Mrs。　Sedley；　who　did　not　care　to
break　the　matter　personally　to　her　husband；　Mr。　Dobbin
went　to　seek　John　Sedley　at　his　house　of　call　in　the　City；
the　Tapioca　Coffee…house；　where；　since　his　own　offices
were　shut　up；　and　fate　had　overtaken　him；　the　poor
broken…down　old　gentleman　used　to　betake　himself　daily；
and　write　letters　and　receive　them；　and　tie　them　up　into
mysterious　bundles；　several　of　which　he　carried　in　the
flaps　of　his　coat。　　I　don't　know　anything　more　dismal　than
that　business　and　bustle　and　mystery　of　a　ruined　man：　　those
letters　from　the　wealthy　which　he　shows　you：　　those　worn
greasy　documents　promising　support　and　offering
condolence　which　he　places　wistfully　before　you；　and　on
which　he　builds　his　hopes　of　restoration　and　future　fortune。
My　beloved　reader　has　no　doubt　in　the　course　of
his　experience　been　waylaid　by　many　such　a　luckless
companion。　　He　takes　you　into　the　corner；　he　has　his　bundle
of　papers　out　of　his　gaping　coat　pocket；　and　the　tape　off；
and　the　string　in　his　mouth；　and　the　favourite　letters
selected　and　laid　before　you；　and　who　does　not　know　the
sad　eager　half…crazy　look　which　he　fixes　on　you　with　his
hopeless　eyes？
Changed　into　a　man　of　this　sort；　Dobbin　found　the
once　florid；　jovial；　and　prosperous　John　Sedley。　　His
coat；　that　used　to　be　so　glossy　and　trim；　was　white　at　the
seams；　and　the　buttons　showed　the　copper。　　His　face　had
fallen　in；　and　was　unshorn；　his　frill　and　neckcloth　hung
limp　under　his　bagging　waistcoat。　　When　he　used　to　treat
the　boys　in　old　days　at　a　coffee…house；　he　would　shout
and　laugh　louder　than　anybody　there；　and　have　all　the
waiters　skipping　round　him；　it　was　quite　painful　to　see
how　humble　and　civil　he　was　to　John　of　the　Tapioca；　a
blear…eyed　old　attendant　in　dingy　stockings　and　cracked
pumps；　whose　business　it　was　to　serve　glasses　of　wafers；
and　bumpers　of　ink　in　pewter；　and　slices　of　paper　to　the
frequenters　of　this　dreary　house　of　entertainment；　where
nothing　else　seemed　to　be　consumed。　　As　for　William
Dobbin；　whom　he　had　tipped　repeatedly　in　his　youth；　and
who　had　been　the　old　gentleman's　butt　on　a　thousand
occasions；　old　Sedley　gave　his　hand　to　him　in　a　very
hesitating　humble　manner　now；　and　called　him　〃Sir。〃　A
feeling　of　shame　and　remorse　took　possession　of　William
Dobbin　as　the　broken　old　man　so　received　and　addressed
him；　as　if　he　himself　had　been　somehow　guilty　of　the
misfortunes　which　had　brought　Sedley　so　low。
〃I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；　Captain　Dobbin；　sir；〃　says
he；　after　a　skulking　look　or　two　at　his　visitor　（whose　lanky
figure　and　military　appearance　caused　some　excitement
likewise　to　twinkle　in　the　blear　eyes　of　the　waiter　in　the
cracked　dancing　pumps；　and　awakened　the　old　lady　in
black；　who　dozed　among　the　mouldy　old　coffee…cups　in　the
bar）。　　〃How　is　the　worthy　alderman；　and　my　lady；　your
excellent　mother；　sir？〃　　He　looked　round　at　the　waiter　as
he　said；　〃My　lady；〃　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Hark　ye；　John；　I
have　friends　still；　and　persons　of　rank　and　reputation；
too。〃　　〃Are　you　come　to　do　anything　in　my　way；　sir？　　My
young　friends　Dale　and　Spiggot　do　all　my　business　for　me
now；　until　my　new　offices　are　ready；　for　I'm　only　here
temporarily；　you　know；　Captain。　　What　can　we　do　for　you。
sir？　　Will　you　like　to　take　anything？〃
Dobbin；　with　a　great　deal　of　hesitation　and　stuttering；
protested　that　he　was　not　in　the　least　hungry　or　thirsty；
that　he　had　no　business　to　transact；　that　he　only　came
to　ask　if　Mr。　Sedley　was　well；　and　to　shake　hands　with
an　old　friend；　and；　he　added；　with　a　desperate　perversion
of　truth；　〃My　mother　is　very　wellthat　is；　she's　been　very
unwell；　and　is　only　waiting　for　the　first　fine　day　to　go　out
and　call　upon　Mrs。　Sedley。　　How　is　Mrs。　Sedley；　sir？　　I
hope　she's　quite　well。〃　　And　here　he　paused；　reflecting　on
his　own　consummate　hypocrisy；　for　the　day　was　as　fine；
and　the　sunshine　as　bright　as　it　ever　is　in　Coffin　Court；
where　the　Tapioca　Coffee…house　is　situated：　and　Mr。
Dobbin　remembered　that　he　had　seen　Mrs。　Sedley　himself
only　an　hour　before；　having　driven　Osborne　down　to　Fulham
in　his　gig；　and　left　him　there　tete…a…tete　with　Miss　Amelia。
〃My　wife　will　be　very　happy　to　see　her　ladyship；〃
Sedley　replied；　pulling　out　his　papers。　　〃I've　a　very　kind
letter　here　from　your　father；　sir；　and　beg　my　respectful
compliments　to　him。　　Lady　D。　will　find　us　in　rather　a
smaller　house　than　we　were　accustomed　to　receive　our
friends　in；　but　it's　snug；　and　the　change　of　air　does　good
to　my　daughter；　who　was　suffering　in　town　ratheryou
remember　little　Emmy；　sir？yes；　suffering　a　good　deal。〃
The　old　gentleman's　eyes　were　wandering　as　he　spoke；　and
he　was　thinking　of　something　else；　as　he　sate　thrumming
on　his　papers　and　fumbling　at　the　worn　red　tape。
〃You're　a　military　man；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　ask　you；　Bill
Dobbin；　could　any　man　ever　have　speculated　upon　the
return　of　that　Corsican　scoundrel　from　Elba？　　When　the
allied　sovereigns　were　here　last　year；　and　we　gave　'em
that　dinner　in　the　City；　sir；　and　we　saw　the　Temple　of
Concord；　and　the　fireworks；　and　the　Chinese　bridge　in
St。　James's　Park；　could　any　sensible　man　suppose　that
peace　wasn't　really　concluded；　after　we'd　actually　sung　Te
Deum　for　it；　sir？　　I　ask　you；　William；　could　I　suppose　that
the　Emperor　of　Austria　was　a　damned　traitora　traitor；
and　nothing　more？　　I　don't　mince　wordsa　double…faced
infernal　traitor　and　schemer；　who　meant　to　have　his　son…
in…law　back　all　along。　　And　I　say　that　the　escape　of　Boney
from　Elba　was　a　damned　imposition　and　plot；　sir；　in
which　half　the　powers　of　Europe　were　concerned；　to
bring　the　funds　down；　and　to　ruin　this　country。　　That's
why　I'm　here；　William。　　That's　why　my　name's　in　the
Gazette。　　Why；　sir？because　I　trusted　the　Emperor　of
Russia　and　the　Prince　Regent。　　Look　here。　　Look　at　my
papers。　　Look　what　the　funds　were　on　the　1st　of　March
what　the　French　fives　were　when　I　bought　for　the
count。　　And　what　they're　at　now。　　There　was　collusion；　sir；
or　that　villain　never　would　have　escaped。　　Where　was　the
English　Commissioner　who　allowed　him　to　get　away？　　He
ought　to　be　shot；　sirbrought　to　a　court…martial；　and
shot；　by　Jove。〃
〃We're　going　to　hunt　Boney　out；　sir；〃　Dobbin　said；
rather　alarmed　at　the　fury　of　the　old　man；　the　veins　of
whose　forehead　began　to　swell；　and　who　sate　drumming
his　papers　with　his　clenched　fist。　　〃We　are　going　to　hunt
him　out；　sirthe　Duke's　in　Belgium　al