vanity fair(名利场)-第43章

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his　papers　with　his　clenched　fist。　　〃We　are　going　to　hunt
him　out；　sirthe　Duke's　in　Belgium　already；　and　we
expect　marching　orders　every　day。〃
〃Give　him　no　quarter。　　Bring　back　the　villain's　head；　sir。
Shoot　the　coward　down；　sir；〃　Sedley　roared。　　〃I'd　enlist
myself；　by；　but　I'm　a　broken　old　manruined　by
that　damned　scoundreland　by　a　parcel　of　swindling
thieves　in　this　country　whom　I　made；　sir；　and　who　are
rolling　in　their　carriages　now；〃　he　added；　with　a　break　in
his　voice。
Dobbin　was　not　a　little　affected　by　the　sight　of　this　once
kind　old　friend；　crazed　almost　with　misfortune　and　raving
with　senile　anger。　　Pity　the　fallen　gentleman：　you　to　whom
money　and　fair　repute　are　the　chiefest　good；　and　so；
surely；　are　they　in　Vanity　Fair。
〃Yes；〃　he　continued；　〃there　are　some　vipers　that　you
warm；　and　they　sting　you　afterwards。　　There　are　some
beggars　that　you　put　on　horseback；　and　they're　the　first
to　ride　you　down。　　You　know　whom　I　mean；　William
Dobbin；　my　boy。　　I　mean　a　purse…proud　villain　in　Russell
Square；　whom　I　knew　without　a　shilling；　and　whom　I
pray　and　hope　to　see　a　beggar　as　he　was　when　I
befriended　him。〃
〃I　have　heard　something　of　this；　sir；　from　my　friend
George；〃　Dobbin　said；　anxious　to　come　to　his　point。　　〃The
quarrel　between　you　and　his　father　has　cut　him　up　a　great
deal；　sir。　　Indeed；　I'm　the　bearer　of　a　message　from　him。〃
〃O；　THAT'S　your　errand；　is　it？〃　cried　the　old　man；
jumping　up。　　〃What！　perhaps　he　condoles　with　me；　does　he？
Very　kind　of　him；　the　stiff…backed　prig；　with　his　dandified
airs　and　West　End　swagger。　　He's　hankering　about　my
house；　is　he　still？　　If　my　son　had　the　courage　of　a　man；
he'd　shoot　him。　　He's　as　big　a　villain　as　his　father。　　I　won't
have　his　name　mentioned　in　my　house。　　I　curse　the　day
that　ever　I　let　him　into　it；　and　I'd　rather　see　my　daughter
dead　at　my　feet　than　married　to　him。〃
〃His　father's　harshness　is　not　George's　fault；　sir。　　Your
daughter's　love　for　him　is　as　much　your　doing　as　his。　　Who
are　you；　that　you　are　to　play　with　two　young　people's
affections　and　break　their　hearts　at　your　will？〃
〃Recollect　it's　not　his　father　that　breaks　the　match　off；〃
old　Sedley　cried　out。　　〃It's　I　that　forbid　it。　　That　family　and
mine　are　separated　for　ever。　　I'm　fallen　low；　but　not　so
low　as　that：　no；　no。　　And　so　you　may　tell　the　whole　race
son；　and　father　and　sisters；　and　all。〃
〃It's　my　belief；　sir；　that　you　have　not　the　power　or　the
right　to　separate　those　two；〃　Dobbin　answered　in　a　low
voice；　〃and　that　if　you　don't　give　your　daughter　your
consent　it　will　be　her　duty　to　marry　without　it。　　There's　no
reason　she　should　die　or　live　miserably　because　you
are　wrong…headed。　　To　my　thinking；　she's　just　as　much
married　as　if　the　banns　had　been　read　in　all　the　churches　in
London。　　And　what　better　answer　can　there　be　to　Osborne's
charges　against　you；　as　charges　there　are；　than
that　his　son　claims　to　enter　your　family　and　marry　your
daughter？〃
A　light　of　something　like　satisfaction　seemed　to　break
over　old　Sedley　as　this　point　was　put　to　him：　but　he　still
persisted　that　with　his　consent　the　marriage　between
Amelia　and　George　should　never　take　place。
〃We　must　do　it　without；〃　Dobbin　said；　smiling；　and　told
Mr。　Sedley；　as　he　had　told　Mrs。　Sedley　in　the　day；　before；
the　story　of　Rebecca's　elopement　with　Captain　Crawley。　　It
evidently　amused　the　old　gentleman。　　〃You're　terrible
fellows；　you　Captains；〃　said　he；　tying　up　his　papers；　and　his
face　wore　something　like　a　smile　upon　it；　to　the　astonishment
of　the　blear…eyed　waiter　who　now　entered；　and　had
never　seen　such　an　expression　upon　Sedley's　countenance
since　he　had　used　the　dismal　coffee…house。
The　idea　of　hitting　his　enemy　Osborne　such　a　blow
soothed；　perhaps；　the　old　gentleman：　and；　their　colloquy
presently　ending；　he　and　Dobbin　parted　pretty　good　friends。
〃My　sisters　say　she　has　diamonds　as　big　as　pigeons'
eggs；〃　George　said；　laughing。　　〃How　they　must　set　off　her
complexion！　　A　perfect　illumination　it　must　be　when　her
jewels　are　on　her　neck。　　Her　jet…black　hair　is　as　curly　as
Sambo's。　　I　dare　say　she　wore　a　nose　ring　when　she　went
to　court；　and　with　a　plume　of　feathers　in　her　top…knot
she　would　look　a　perfect　Belle　Sauvage。〃
George；　in　conversation　with　Amelia；　was　rallying　the
appearance　of　a　young　lady　of　whom　his　father　and　sisters
had　lately　made　the　acquaintance；　and　who　was　an　object
of　vast　respect　to　the　Russell　Square　family。　　She　was　reported
to　have　I　don't　know　how　many　plantations　in　the
West　Indies；　a　deal　of　money　in　the　funds；　and　three
stars　to　her　name　in　the　East　India　stockholders'　list。　　She
had　a　mansion　in　Surrey；　and　a　house　in　Portland　Place。
The　name　of　the　rich　West　India　heiress　had　been　mentioned
with　applause　in　the　Morning　Post。　　Mrs。　Haggistoun；
Colonel　Haggistoun's　widow；　her　relative；　〃chaperoned〃
her；　and　kept　her　house。　　She　was　just　from　school；　where
she　had　completed　her　education；　and　George　and　his
sisters　had　met　her　at　an　evening　party　at　old　Hulker's
house；　Devonshire　Place　（Hulker；　Bullock；　and　Co。　were
long　the　correspondents　of　her　house　in　the　West　Indies）；
and　the　girls　had　made　the　most　cordial　advances　to　her；
which　the　heiress　had　received　with　great　good　humour。
An　orphan　in　her　positionwith　her　moneyso　interesting！
the　Misses　Osborne　said。　　They　were　full　of　their　new
friend　when　they　returned　from　the　Hulker　ball　to　Miss
Wirt；　their　companion；　they　had　made　arrangements　for
continually　meeting；　and　had　the　carriage　and　drove　to　see
her　the　very　next　day。　　Mrs。　Haggistoun；　Colonel　Haggistoun's
widow；　a　relation　of　Lord　Binkie；　and　always　talking
of　him；　struck　the　dear　unsophisticated　girls　as　rather
haughty；　and　too　much　inclined　to　talk　about　her　great
relations：　but　Rhoda　was　everything　they　could　wish
the　frankest；　kindest；　most　agreeable　creaturewanting　a
little　polish；　but　so　good…natured。　　The　girls　Christian…
named　each　other　at　once。
〃You　should　have　seen　her　dress　for　court；　Emmy；〃
Osborne　cried；　laughing。　　〃She　came　to　my　sisters　to　show
it　off；　before　she　was　presented　in　state　by　my　Lady
Binkie；　the　Haggistoun's　kinswoman。　　She's　related　to　every
one；　that　Haggistoun。　　Her　diamonds　blazed　out　like
Vauxhall　on　the　night　we　were　there。　　（Do　you　remember
Vauxhall；　Emmy；　and　Jos　singing　to　his　dearest　diddle
diddle　darling？）　　Diamonds　and　mahogany；　my　dear！
think　what　an　advantageous　contrastand　the　white
feathers　in　her　hairI　mean　in　her　wool。　　She　had
earrings　like　chandeliers；　you　might　have　lighted　'em
up；　by　Joveand　a　yellow　satin　train　that　streeled　after
her　like　the　tail　of　a　cornet。〃
〃How　old　is　she？〃　asked　Emmy；　to　whom　George　was
rattling　away　regarding　this　dark　paragon；　on　the　morning
of　their　reunionrattling　away　as　no　other　man　in　the
world　surely　could。
〃Why　the　Black　Princess；　though　she　has　only　just　left
school；　must　be　two　or　three　and　twenty。　　And　you　should
see　the　hand　she　writes！　　Mrs。　Colonel　Haggistoun　usually
writes　her　letters；　but　in　a　moment　of　confidence；　she　put
pen　to　paper　for　my　sisters；　she　spelt　satin　satting；　and
Saint　James's；　Saint　Jams。〃
〃Why；　surely　it　must　be　Miss　Swartz；　the　parlour
boarder；〃　Emmy　said；　remembering　that　good…natured
young　mulatto　girl；　who　had　been　so　hysterically　affected
when　Amelia　left　Miss　Pinkerton's　academy
〃The　very　name；〃　George　said。　　〃Her　father　was　a　German
Jewa　slave…owner　they　sayconnected　with　the
Cannibal　Islands　in　some　way　or　other。　　He　died　last　year；
and　Miss　Pinkerton　has　finished　her　education。　　She　can
play　two　pieces　on　the　piano；　she　knows　three　songs；
she　can　write　when　Mrs。　Haggistoun　is　by　to　spell　for　her；
and　Jane　and　Maria　already　have　got　to　love　her　as　a
sister。〃
〃I　wish　they　would　have　loved　me；〃　said　Emmy；　wistfully。
〃They　were　always　very　cold　to　me。〃
〃My　dear　child；　they　would　have　loved　you　if　you　had
had　two　hundred　thousand　pounds；〃　George　replied。　　〃That
is　the　way　in　which　they　have　been　brought　up。　　Ours　is
a　ready…money　society。　　We　live　among　bankers　and　City
big…wigs；　and　be　hanged　to　them；　and　every　man；　as　he
talks　to　you；　is　jingling　his　guineas　in　his　pocket。　　There　is
that　jackass　Fred　Bullock　is　going　to　marry　Maria
there's　Goldmore；　the　East　India　Director；　there's　Dipley；
in　the　tallow　tradeOUR　trade；〃　George　said；　with　an
uneasy　laugh　and　a　blush。　　〃Curse　the　whole　pack　of　money…
grubbing　vulgarians！　　I　fall　asleep　at　their　great　heavy
dinners。　　I　feel　ashamed　in　my　father's　great　stupid
parties。　　I've　been　accustomed　to　live　with　gentlemen；　and
men　of　the　world　and　fashion；　Emmy；　not　with　a　parcel
of　turtle…fed　tradesmen。　　Dear　little　woman；　you　are　the　only
person　of　our　set　who　ever　looked；　or　thought；　or　spoke
like　a　lady：　and　you　do　it　because　you're　an　angel　and
can't　help　it。　　Don't　remonstrate。　　You　are　the　only　lady。
Didn't　Miss　Crawley　remark　it；　who　has　lived　in　the
best　company　in　Europe？　　And　as　for　Crawley；　of　the　Life
Guards；　hang　it；　he's　a　fine　fellow：　and　I　like　him　for
marrying　the　girl　he　had　chosen。〃
Amelia　admired　Mr。　Crawley　very　much；　too；　for　this；
and　trusted　Rebecca　would　be　happy　with　him；　and　hoped
（with　a　laugh）　Jos　would　be　consoled。　　And　so　the　pair
went　on　prattling；　as　in　quite　early　days。　　Amelia's
confidence　being　perfectly　restored　to　her；　though　she
expressed　a　great　deal　of　pretty　jealousy　about　Miss　Swartz；
and　professed　to　be　dreadfully　frightenedlike　a　hypocrite
as　she　waslest　George　should　forget　her　for　the
heiress　and　her　money　and　her　estates　in　Saint　Kitt's。　　But
the　fact　is；　she　was　a　great　deal　too　happy　to　have　fears
or　doubts　or　misgivings　of　any　sort：　and　having　George
at　her　side　again；　was　not　afraid　of　any　heiress　or　beauty；
or　indeed　of　any　sort　of　danger。
When　Captain　Dobbin　came　back　in　the　afternoon　to
these　peoplewhich　he　did　with　a　great　deal　of　sympathy
for　themit　did　his　heart　good　to　see　how　Amelia　had
grown　young　againhow　she　laughed；　and　chirped；　and
sang　familiar　old　songs　at　the　piano；　which　were　only
interrupted　by　the　bell　from　without　proclaiming　Mr。
Sedley's　return　from　the　City；　before　whom　George　received　a
signal　to　retreat。
Beyond　the　first　smile　of　recognitionand　even　that　was
an　hypocrisy；　for　she　thought　his　arrival　rather　provoking
Miss　Sedley　did　not　once　notice　Dobbin　during　his
visit。　　But　he　was　content；　so　that　he　saw　her　happy；　and
thankful　to　have　been　the　means　of　making　her　so。

CHAPTER　XXI
A　Quarrel　About　an　Heiress
Love　may　be　felt　for　any　young　lady　endowed　with　such
qualities　as　Miss　Swartz　possessed；　and　a　great　dream　of
ambition　entered　into　old　Mr。　Osborne's　soul；　which　she
was　to　realize。　　He　encouraged；　with　the　utmost　enthusiasm
and　friendliness；　his　daughters'　amiable　attachment　to　the
young　heiress；　and　protested　that　it　gave　him　the　sincerest
pleasure　as　a　father　to　see　the　love　of　his　girls　so　well　disposed。
〃You　won't　find；〃　he　would　say　to　Miss　Rhoda；　〃that
splendour　and　rank　to　which　you　are　accustomed　at　the
West　End；　my　dear　Miss；　at　our　humble　mansion　in　Russell
Square。　　My　daughters　are　plain；　disinterested　girls；　but
their　hearts　are　in　the　right　place；　and　they've　conceived
an　attachment　for　you　which　does　them　honourI　say；
which　does　them　honour。　　I'm　a　plain；　simple；　humble
British　merchan