vanity fair(名利场)-第47章

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yesterday　was　enough。〃
〃You　play　very　well；〃　said　Crawley；　laughing。　　〃Don't
he；　Osborne？　How　well　he　made　that…five　stroke；　eh？〃
〃Famous；〃　Osborne　said。　　〃Jos　is　a　devil　of　a　fellow
at　billiards；　and　at　everything　else；　too。　　I　wish　there　were
any　tiger…hunting　about　here！　we　might　go　and　kill　a　few
before　dinner。　　（There　goes　a　fine　girl！　what　an　ankle；　eh；
Jos？）　Tell　us　that　story　about　the　tiger…hunt；　and　the
way　you　did　for　him　in　the　jungleit's　a　wonderful　story
that；　Crawley。〃　Here　George　Osborne　gave　a　yawn。　　〃It's
rather　slow　work；〃　said　he；　〃down　here；　what　shall　we
do？〃
〃Shall　we　go　and　look　at　some　horses　that　Snaffler's
just　brought　from　Lewes　fair？〃　Crawley　said。
〃Suppose　we　go　and　have　some　jellies　at　Dutton's；〃
and　the　rogue　Jos；　willing　to　kill　two　birds　with　one
stone。　　〃Devilish　fine　gal　at　Dutton's。〃
〃Suppose　we　go　and　see　the　Lightning　come　in；　it's
just　about　time？〃　George　said。　　This　advice　prevailing
over　the　stables　and　the　jelly；　they　turned　towards　the
coach…office　to　witness　the　Lightning's　arrival。
As　they　passed；　they　met　the　carriageJos　Sedley's
open　carriage；　with　its　magnificent　armorial　bearings
that　splendid　conveyance　in　which　he　used　to　drive；　about
at　Cheltonham；　majestic　and　solitary；　with　his　arms
folded；　and　his　hat　cocked；　or；　more　happy；　with　ladies
by　his　side。
Two　were　in　the　carriage　now：　one　a　little　person；　with
light　hair；　and　dressed　in　the　height　of　the　fashion；　the
other　in　a　brown　silk　pelisse；　and　a　straw　bonnet　with
pink　ribbons；　with　a　rosy；　round；　happy　face；　that　did
you　good　to　behold。　　She　checked　the　carriage　as　it
neared　the　three　gentlemen；　after　which　exercise　of
authority　she　looked　rather　nervous；　and　then　began　to
blush　most　absurdly。　　〃We　have　had　a　delightful　drive；
George；〃　she　said；　〃andand　we're　so　glad　to　come　back；
and；　Joseph；　don't　let　him　be　late。〃
〃Don't　be　leading　our　husbands　into　mischief；　Mr。
Sedley；　you　wicked；　wicked　man　you；〃　Rebecca　said；
shaking　at　Jos　a　pretty　little　finger　covered　with　the
neatest　French　kid　glove。　　〃No　billiards；　no　smoking；　no
naughtiness！〃
〃My　dear　Mrs。　CrawleyAh　now！　upon　my　honour！〃
was　all　Jos　could　ejaculate　by　way　of　reply；　but　he　managed
to　fall　into　a　tolerable　attitude；　with　his　head　lying
on　his　shoulder；　grinning　upwards　at　his　victim；　with　one
hand　at　his　back；　which　he　supported　on　his　cane；　and
the　other　hand　（the　one　with　the　diamond　ring）　fumbling
in　his　shirt…frill　and　among　his　under…waistcoats。　　As　the
carriage　drove　off　he　kissed　the　diamond　hand　to　the　fair
ladies　within。　　He　wished　all　Cheltenham；　all　Chowringhee；
all　Calcutta；　could　see　him　in　that　position；　waving　his
hand　to　such　a　beauty；　and　in　company　with　such　a
famous　buck　as　Rawdon　Crawley　of　the　Guards。
Our　young　bride　and　bridegroom　had　chosen　Brighton
as　the　place　where　they　would　pass　the　first　few　days　after
their　marriage；　and　having　engaged　apartments　at　the
Ship　Inn；　enjoyed　themselves　there　in　great　comfort　and
quietude；　until　Jos　presently　joined　them。　　Nor　was　he
the　only　companion　they　found　there。　　As　they　were
coming　into　the　hotel　from　a　sea…side　walk　one　afternoon；
on　whom　should　they　light　but　Rebecca　and　her
husband。　　The　recognition　was　immediate。　　Rebecca　flew
into　the　arms　of　her　dearest　friend。　　Crawley　and　Osborne
shook　hands　together　cordially　enough：　and　Becky；　in
the　course　of　a　very　few　hours；　found　means　to　make　the
latter　forget　that　little　unpleasant　passage　of　words　which
had　happened　between　them。　　〃Do　you　remember　the　last
time　we　met　at　Miss　Crawley's；　when　I　was　so　rude　to
you；　dear　Captain　Osborne？　I　thought　you　seemed　careless
about　dear　Amelia。　　It　was　that　made　me　angry：　and
so　pert：　and　so　unkind：　and　so　ungrateful。　　Do　forgive
me！〃　Rebecca　said；　and　she　held　out　her　hand　with　so
frank　and　winning　a　grace；　that　Osborne　could　not　but
take　it。　　By　humbly　and　frankly　acknowledging　yourself　to
be　in　the　wrong；　there　is　no　knowing；　my　son；　what　good
you　may　do。　　I　knew　once　a　gentleman　and　very　worthy
practitioner　in　Vanity　Fair；　who　used　to　do　little　wrongs
to　his　neighbours　on　purpose；　and　in　order　to　apologise
for　them　in　an　open　and　manly　way　afterwardsand
what　ensued？　　My　friend　Crocky　Doyle　was　liked　everywhere；
and　deemed　to　be　rather　impetuousbut　the　honestest
fellow。　　Becky's　humility　passed　for　sincerity　with
George　Osborne。
These　two　young　couples　had　plenty　of　tales　to　relate
to　each　other。　　The　marriages　of　either　were　discussed；
and　their　prospects　in　life　canvassed　with　the　greatest
frankness　and　interest　on　both　sides。　　George's　marriage
was　to　be　made　known　to　his　father　by　his　friend
Captain　Dobbin；　and　young　Osborne　trembled　rather　for　the
result　of　that　communication。　　Miss　Crawley；　on　whom
all　Rawdon's　hopes　depended；　still　held　out。　　Unable　to
make　an　entry　into　her　house　in　Park　Lane；　her
affectionate　nephew　and　niece　had　followed　her　to
Brighton；　where　they　had　emissaries　continually　planted
at　her　door。
〃I　wish　you　could　see　some　of　Rawdon's　friends　who
are　always　about　our　door；〃　Rebecca　said；　laughing。　　〃Did
you　ever　see　a　dun；　my　dear；　or　a　bailiff　and　his　man？
Two　of　the　abominable　wretches　watched　all　last　week
at　the　greengrocer's　opposite；　and　we　could　not　get　away
until　Sunday。　　If　Aunty　does　not　relent；　what　shall　we
do？〃
Rawdon；　with　roars　of　laughter；　related　a　dozen　amusing
anecdotes　of　his　duns；　and　Rebecca's　adroit　treatment
of　them。　　He　vowed　with　a　great　oath　that　there　was
no　woman　in　Europe　who　could　talk　a　creditor　over　as
she　could。　　Almost　immediately　after　their　marriage；　her
practice　had　begun；　and　her　husband　found　the　immense
value　of　such　a　wife。　　They　had　credit　in　plenty；　but　they
had　bills　also　in　abundance；　and　laboured　under　a　scarcity
of　ready　money。　　Did　these　debt…difficulties　affect　Rawdon's
good　spirits？　　No。　　Everybody　in　Vanity　Fair　must
have　remarked　how　well　those　live　who　are　comfortably
and　thoroughly　in　debt：　how　they　deny　themselves　nothing；
how　jolly　and　easy　they　are　in　their　minds。　　Rawdon
and　his　wife　had　the　very　best　apartments　at　the　inn　at
Brighton；　the　landlord；　as　he　brought　in　the　first　dish；
bowed　before　them　as　to　his　greatest　customers：　and
Rawdon　abused　the　dinners　and　wine　with　an　audacity
which　no　grandee　in　the　land　could　surpass。　　Long　custom；
a　manly　appearance；　faultless　boots　and　clothes；
and　a　happy　fierceness　of　manner；　will　often　help　a　man
as　much　as　a　great　balance　at　the　banker's。
The　two　wedding　parties　met　constantly　in　each　other's
apartments。　　After　two　or　three　nights　the　gentlemen　of　an
evening　had　a　little　piquet；　as　their　wives　sate　and　chatted
apart。　　This　pastime；　and　the　arrival　of　Jos　Sedley；　who
made　his　appearance　in　his　grand　open　carriage；　and　who
played　a　few　games　at　billiards　with　Captain　Crawley；
replenished　Rawdon's　purse　somewhat；　and　gave　him　the
benefit　of　that　ready　money　for　which　the　greatest　spirits
are　sometimes　at　a　stand…still。
So　the　three　gentlemen　walked　down　to　see　the　Lightning
coach　come　in。　　Punctual　to　the　minute；　the　coach
crowded　inside　and　out；　the　guard　blowing　his　accustomed
tune　on　the　hornthe　Lightning　came　tearing
down　the　street；　and　pulled　up　at　the　coach…office。
〃Hullo！　there's　old　Dobbin；〃　George　cried；　quite　delighted
to　see　his　old　friend　perched　on　the　roof；　and
whose　promised　visit　to　Brighton　had　been　delayed　until
now。　　〃How　are　you；　old　fellow？　　Glad　you're　come　down。
Emmy'll　be　delighted　to　see　you；〃　Osborne　said；　shaking
his　comrade　warmly　by　the　hand　as　soon　as　his　descent
from　the　vehicle　was　effectedand　then　he　added；　in　a
lower　and　agitated　voice；　〃What's　the　news？　　Have　you
been　in　Russell　Square？　　What　does　the　governor　say？
Tell　me　everything。〃
Dobbin　looked　very　pale　and　grave。　　〃I've　seen　your
father；〃　said　he。　　〃How's　AmeliaMrs。　George？　　I'll　tell
you　all　the　news　presently：　but　I've　brought　the　great
news　of　all：　and　that　is〃
〃Out　with　it；　old　fellow；〃　George　said。
〃We're　ordered　to　Belgium。　　All　the　army　goesguards
and　all。　　Heavytop's　got　the　gout；　and　is　mad　at　not　being
able　to　move。　　O'Dowd　goes　in　command；　and　we　embark
from　Chatham　next　week。〃　This　news　of　war　could
not　but　come　with　a　shock　upon　our　lovers；　and　caused
all　these　gentlemen　to　look　very　serious。

CHAPTER　XXIII
Captain　Dobbin　Proceeds　on　His　Canvass
What　is　the　secret　mesmerism　which　friendship
possesses；　and　under　the　operation　of　which　a　person
ordinarily　sluggish；　or　cold；　or　timid；　becomes　wise；
active；　and　resolute；　in　another's　behalf？　　As　Alexis；
after　a　few　passes　from　Dr。　Elliotson；　despises　pain；
reads　with　the　back　of　his　head；　sees　miles　off；
looks　into　next　week；　and　performs　other　wonders；
of　which；　in　his　own　private　normal　condition；　he　is
quite　incapable；　so　you　see；　in　the　affairs　of　the　world
and　under　the　magnetism　of　friendships；　the　modest
man　becomes　bold；　the　shy　confident；　the　lazy　active；　or
the　impetuous　prudent　and　peaceful。　　What　is　it；　on　the
other　hand；　that　makes　the　lawyer　eschew　his　own　cause；
and　call　in　his　learned　brother　as　an　adviser？　　And　what　causes
the　doctor；　when　ailing；　to　send　for　his　rival；　and　not　sit
down　and　examine　his　own　tongue　in　the　chimney　Bass；
or　write　his　own　prescription　at　his　study…table？　　I　throw
out　these　queries　for　intelligent　readers　to　answer；　who
know；　at　once；　how　credulous　we　are；　and　how　sceptical；
how　soft　and　how　obstinate；　how　firm　for　others　and　how
diffident　about　ourselves：　　meanwhile；　it　is　certain　that
our　friend　William　Dobbin；　who　was　personally　of　so
complying　a　disposition　that　if　his　parents　had　pressed
him　much；　it　is　probable　he　would　have　stepped　down
into　the　kitchen　and　married　the　cook；　and　who；　to　further
his　own　interests；　would　have　found　the　most　insuperable
difficulty　in　walking　across　the　street；　found　himself　as
busy　and　eager　in　the　conduct　of　George　Osborne's
affairs；　as　the　most　selfish　tactician　could　be　in　the　pursuit
of　his　own。
Whilst　our　friend　George　and　his　young　wife　were
enjoying　the　first　blushing　days　of　the　honeymoon　at
Brighton；　honest　William　was　left　as　George's　plenipotentiary
in　London；　to　transact　all　the　business　part　of　the　marriage。
His　duty　it　was　to　call　upon　old　Sedley　and　his
wife；　and　to　keep　the　former　in　good　humour：　　to　draw　Jos
and　his　brother…in…law　nearer　together；　so　that　Jos's　position
and　dignity；　as　collector　of　Boggley　Wollah；　might
compensate　for　his　father's　loss　of　station；　and　tend　to
reconcile　old　Osborne　to　the　alliance：　　and　finally；　to
communicate　it　to　the　latter　in　such　a　way　as　should　least
irritate　the　old　gentleman。
Now；　before　he　faced　the　head　of　the　Osborne　house
with　the　news　which　it　was　his　duty　to　tell；　Dobbin　bethought
him　that　it　would　be　politic　to　make　friends　of　the
rest　of　the　family；　and；　if　possible；　have　the　ladies　on　his
side。　They　can't　be　angry　in　their　hearts；　thought　he。　　No
woman　ever　was　really　angry　at　a　romantic　marriage。　　A
little　crying　out；　and　they　must　come　round　to　their
brother；　when　the　three　of　us　will　lay　siege　to　old　Mr。
Osborne。　　So　this　Machiavellian　captain　of　infantry　cast
about　him　for　some　happy　means　or　stratagem　by　which
he　could　gently　and　gradually　bring　the　Misses　Osborne
to　a　knowledg