vanity fair(名利场)-第51章

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As　the　daughter　of　an　unlucky　speculator；　who　had　paid　a
very　shabby　dividend；　Mr。　Chopper　had　no　great　regard
for　Miss　Sedley。　　He　respected　the　house　of　Osborne
before　all　others　in　the　City　of　London：　and　his　hope　and
wish　was　that　Captain　George　should　marry　a　nobleman's
daughter。　　The　clerk　slept　a　great　deal　sounder　than
his　principal　that　night；　and；　cuddling　his　children　after
breakfast　（of　which　he　partook　with　a　very　hearty
appetite；　though　his　modest　cup　of　life　was　only
sweetened　with　brown　sugar）；　he　set　off　in　his　best　Sunday
suit　and　frilled　shirt　for　business；　promising　his　admiring
wife　not　to　punish　Captain　D。's　port　too　severely　that
evening。
Mr。　Osborne's　countenance；　when　he　arrived　in　the
City　at　his　usual　time；　struck　those　dependants　who　were
accustomed；　for　good　reasons；　to　watch　its　expression；
as　peculiarly　ghastly　and　worn。　　At　twelve　o'clock　Mr。
Higgs　（of　the　firm　of　Higgs　&　Blatherwick；　solicitors；
Bedford　Row）　called　by　appointment；　and　was　ushered
into　the　governor's　private　room；　and　closeted　there　for
more　than　an　hour。　　At　about　one　Mr。　Chopper
received　a　note　brought　by　Captain　Dobbin's　man；　and
containing　an　inclosure　for　Mr。　Osborne；　which　the　clerk
went　in　and　delivered。　　A　short　time　afterwards　Mr。
Chopper　and　Mr。　Birch；　the　next　clerk；　were　summoned；　and
requested　to　witness　a　paper。　　〃I've　been　making　a　new
will；〃　Mr。　Osborne　said；　to　which　these　gentlemen
appended　their　names　accordingly。　　No　conversation
passed。　　Mr。　Higgs　looked　exceedingly　grave　as　he　came
into　the　outer　rooms；　and　very　hard　in　Mr。　Chopper's
face；　but　there　were　not　any　explanations。　　It　was
remarked　that　Mr。　Osborne　was　particularly　quiet　and
gentle　all　day；　to　the　surprise　of　those　who　had　augured　ill
from　his　darkling　demeanour。　　He　called　no　man　names
that　day；　and　was　not　heard　to　swear　once。　　He　left　business
early；　and　before　going　away；　summoned　his　chief
clerk　once　more；　and　having　given　him　general　instructions；
asked　him；　after　some　seeming　hesitation　and　reluctance
to　speak；　if　he　knew　whether　Captain　Dobbin　was　in　town？
Chopper　said　he　believed　he　was。　　Indeed　both　of　them
knew　the　fact　perfectly。
Osborne　took　a　letter　directed　to　that　officer；　and
giving　it　to　the　clerk；　requested　the　latter　to　deliver　it
into　Dobbin's　own　hands　immediately。
〃And　now；　Chopper；〃　says　he；　taking　his　hat；　and　with
a　strange　look；　〃my　mind　will　be　easy。〃　　Exactly　as　the
clock　struck　two　（there　was　no　doubt　an　appointment
between　the　pair）　Mr。　Frederick　Bullock　called；　and　he
and　Mr。　Osborne　walked　away　together。

The　Colonel　of　the　th　regiment；　in　which　Messieurs
Dobbin　and　Osborne　had　companies；　was　an　old　General
who　had　made　his　first　campaign　under　Wolfe　at　Quebec；
and　was　long　since　quite　too　old　and　feeble　for　command；
but　he　took　some　interest　in　the　regiment　of　which
he　was　the　nominal　head；　and　made　certain　of　his　young
officers　welcome　at　his　table；　a　kind　of　hospitality
which　I　believe　is　not　now　common　amongst　his
brethren。　　Captain　Dobbin　was　an　especial　favourite
of　this　old　General。　　Dobbin　was　versed　in　the　literature
of　his　profession；　and　could　talk　about　the　great　Frederick；
and　the　Empress　Queen；　and　their　wars；　almost　as　well
as　the　General　himself；　who　was　indifferent　to　the　triumphs
of　the　present　day；　and　whose　heart　was　with　the
tacticians　of　fifty　years　back。　　This　officer　sent　a　summons
to　Dobbin　to　come　and　breakfast　with　him；　on　the
morning　when　Mr。　Osborne　altered　his　will　and　Mr。　Chopper
put　on　his　best　shirt　frill；　and　then　informed　his　young
favourite；　a　couple　of　days　in　advance；　of　that　which　they
were　all　expectinga　marching　order　to　go　to　Belgium。
The　order　for　the　regiment　to　hold　itself　in　readiness
would　leave　the　Horse　Guards　in　a　day　or　two；　and　as
transports　were　in　plenty；　they　would　get　their　route
before　the　week　was　over。　　Recruits　had　come　in　during
the　stay　of　the　regiment　at　Chatham；　and　the　old　General
hoped　that　the　regiment　which　had　helped　to　beat
Montcalm　in　Canada；　and　to　rout　Mr。　Washington　on
Long　Island；　would　prove　itself　worthy　of　its　historical
reputation　on　the　oft…trodden　battle…grounds　of　the　Low
Countries。　　〃And　so；　my　good　friend；　if　you　have　any
affaire　la；　said　the　old　General；　taking　a　pinch　of　snuff
with　his　trembling　white　old　hand；　and　then　pointing　to
the　spot　of　his　robe　de　chambre　under　which　his　heart
was　still　feebly　beating；　〃if　you　have　any　Phillis　to　console；
or　to　bid　farewell　to　papa　and　mamma；　or　any　will
to　make；　I　recommend　you　to　set　about　your　business
without　delay。〃　With　which　the　General　gave　his　young
friend　a　finger　to　shake；　and　a　good…natured　nod　of　his
powdered　and　pigtailed　head；　and　the　door　being　closed
upon　Dobbin；　sate　down　to　pen　a　poulet　（he　was
exceedingly　vain　of　his　French）　to　Mademoiselle
Amenaide　of　His　Majesty's　Theatre。
This　news　made　Dobbin　grave；　and　he　thought　of　our
friends　at　Brighton；　and　then　he　was　ashamed　of　himself
that　Amelia　was　always　the　first　thing　in　his　thoughts
（always　before　anybodybefore　father　and　mother；
sisters　and　dutyalways　at　waking　and　sleeping　indeed；
and　all　day　long）；　and　returning　to　his　hotel；　he　sent　off　a
brief　note　to　Mr。　Osborne　acquainting　him　with　the
information　which　he　had　received；　and　which　might　tend
farther；　he　hoped；　to　bring　about　a　reconciliation　with
George。
This　note；　despatched　by　the　same　messenger　who　had
carried　the　invitation　to　Chopper　on　the　previous　day；
alarmed　the　worthy　clerk　not　a　little。　　It　was　inclosed　to
him；　and　as　he　opened　the　letter　he　trembled　lest　the
dinner　should　be　put　off　on　which　he　was　calculating。　　His
mind　was　inexpressibly　relieved　when　he　found　that　the
envelope　was　only　a　reminder　for　himself。　　（〃I　shall
expect　you　at　half…past　five；〃　Captain　Dobbin　wrote。）　He　was
very　much　interested　about　his　employer's　family；　but；
que　voulez…vous？　a　grand　dinner　was　of　more　concern　to
him　than　the　affairs　of　any　other　mortal。
Dobbin　was　quite　justified　in　repeating　the　General's
information　to　any　officers　of　the　regiment　whom　he
should　see　in　the　course　of　his　peregrinations；　accordingly
he　imparted　it　to　Ensign　Stubble；　whom　he　met　at　the
agent's；　and　whosuch　was　his　military　ardourwent
off　instantly　to　purchase　a　new　sword　at　the
accoutrement…maker's。　　Here　this　young　fellow；　who；
though　only　seventeen　years　of　age；　and　about　sixty…five
inches　high；　with　a　constitution　naturally　rickety　and
much　impaired　by　premature　brandy　and　water；　had　an
undoubted　courage　and　a　lion's　heart；　poised；　tried；　bent；
and　balanced　a　weapon　such　as　he　thought　would　do　execution　
amongst　Frenchmen。　　Shouting　〃Ha；　ha！〃　and　stamping　his　little
feet　with　tremendous　energy；　he　delivered　the　point　twice
or　thrice　at　Captain　Dobbin；　who　parried　the　thrust
laughingly　with　his　bamboo　walking…stick。
Mr。　Stubble；　as　may　be　supposed　from　his　size　and
slenderness；　was　of　the　Light　Bobs。　　Ensign　Spooney；　on
the　contrary；　was　a　tall　youth；　and　belonged　to　（Captain
Dobbin's）　the　Grenadier　Company；　and　he　tried　on　a　new
bearskin　cap；　under　which　he　looked　savage　beyond　his
years。　　Then　these　two　lads　went　off　to　the　Slaughters'；　and
having　ordered　a　famous　dinner；　sate　down　and　wrote　off
letters　to　the　kind　anxious　parents　at　homeletters　full　of
love　and　heartiness；　and　pluck　and　bad　spelling。　　Ah！　there
were　many　anxious　hearts　beating　through　England　at
that　time；　and　mothers'　prayers　and　tears　flowing　in　many
homesteads。
Seeing　young　Stubble　engaged　in　composition　at　one　of
the　coffee…room　tables　at　the　Slaughters'；　and　the　tears
trickling　down　his　nose　on　to　the　paper　（for　the　youngster
was　thinking　of　his　mamma；　and　that　he　might　never　see
her　again）；　Dobbin；　who　was　going　to　write　off　a　letter　to
George　Osborne；　relented；　and　locked　up　his　desk。　　〃Why
should　I？〃　said　he。　　〃Let　her　have　this　night　happy。　　I'll　go
and　see　my　parents　early　in　the　morning；　and　go　down　to
Brighton　myself　to…morrow。〃
So　he　went　up　and　laid　his　big　hand　on　young　Stubble's
shoulder；　and　backed　up　that　young　champion；　and　told
him　if　he　would　leave　off　brandy　and　water　he　would
be　a　good　soldier；　as　he　always　was　a　gentlemanly　good…
hearted　fellow。　　Young　Stubble's　eyes　brightened　up　at　this；
for　Dobbin　was　greatly　respected　in　the　regiment；　as　the
best　officer　and　the　cleverest　man　in　it。
〃Thank　you；　Dobbin；〃　he　said；　rubbing　his　eyes　with
his　knuckles；　〃I　was　justjust　telling　her　I　would。　　And；
O　Sir；　she's　so　dam　kind　to　me。〃　The　water　pumps　were
at　work　again；　and　I　am　not　sure　that　the　soft…hearted
Captain's　eyes　did　not　also　twinkle。
The　two　ensigns；　the　Captain；　and　Mr。　Chopper；　dined
together　in　the　same　box。　　Chopper　brought　the　letter　from
Mr。　Osborne；　in　which　the　latter　briefly　presented　his
compliments　to　Captain　Dobbin；　and　requested　him　to
forward　the　inclosed　to　Captain　George　Osborne。　　Chopper
knew　nothing　further；　he　described　Mr。　Osborne's　appearance；
it　is　true；　and　his　interview　with　his　lawyer；　wondered
how　the　governor　had　sworn　at　nobody；　andespecially
as　the　wine　circled　roundabounded　in　speculations
and　conjectures。　　But　these　grew　more　vague　with
every　glass；　and　at　length　became　perfectly　unintelligible。
At　a　late　hour　Captain　Dobbin　put　his　guest　into　a　hackney
coach；　in　a　hiccupping　state；　and　swearing　that　he　would
be　the　kickthe　kickCaptain's　friend　for　ever　and　ever。
When　Captain　Dobbin　took　leave　of　Miss　Osborne　we
have　said　that　he　asked　leave　to　come　and　pay　her
another　visit；　and　the　spinster　expected　him　for　some　hours
the　next　day；　when；　perhaps；　had　he　come；　and　had　he
asked　her　that　question　which　she　was　prepared　to　answer；
she　would　have　declared　herself　as　her　brother's
friend；　and　a　reconciliation　might　have　been　effected
between　George　and　his　angry　father。　　But　though　she　waited
at　home　the　Captain　never　came。　　He　had　his　own　affairs
to　pursue；　his　own　parents　to　visit　and　console；　and　at　an
early　hour　of　the　day　to　take　his　place　on　the　Lightning
coach；　and　go　down　to　his　friends　at　Brighton。　　In　the
course　of　the　day　Miss　Osborne　heard　her　father　give
orders　that　that　meddling　scoundrel；　Captain　Dobbin；
should　never　be　admitted　within　his　doors　again；　and　any
hopes　in　which　she　may　have　indulged　privately　were　thus
abruptly　brought　to　an　end。　　Mr。　Frederick　Bullock　came；
and　was　particularly　affectionate　to　Maria；　and　attentive
to　the　broken…spirited　old　gentleman。　　For　though　he　said
his　mind　would　be　easy；　the　means　which　he　had　taken　to
secure　quiet　did　not　seem　to　have　succeeded　as　yet；　and
the　events　of　the　past　two　days　had　visibly　shattered　him。

CHAPTER　XXV
In　Which　All　the　Principal　Personages　Think　Fit
to　Leave　Brighton
Conducted　to　the　ladies；　at　the　Ship　Inn；　Dobbin　assumed
a　jovial　and　rattling　manner；　which　proved　that　this
young　officer　was　becoming　a　more　consummate　hypocrite
every　day　of　his　life。　　He　was　trying　to　hide　his　own
private　feelings；　first　upon　seeing　Mrs。　George　Osborne
in　her　new　condition；　and　secondly　to　mask　the
apprehensions　he　entertained　as　to　the　effect　which
the　dismal　news　brought　down　by　him　would　certainly
have　upon　her。
〃It　is　my　opinion；　George；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　French
Emperor　will　be　upon　us；　horse　and　foot；　before