vanity fair(名利场)-第58章

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portionless　young　creature；　and　by　his　choice　of　such　a
pretty　kind　partner。
In　the　sitting…room　which　was　awaiting　the　travellers；
Amelia；　to　her　surprise；　found　a　letter　addressed　to　Mrs。
Captain　Osborne。　　It　was　a　triangular　billet；　on　pink　paper；
and　sealed　with　a　dove　and　an　olive　branch；　and　a
profusion　of　light　blue　sealing　wax；　and　it　was　written　in
a　very　large；　though　undecided　female　hand。
〃It's　Peggy　O'Dowd's　fist；〃　said　George；　laughing。　　〃I
know　it　by　the　kisses　on　the　seal。〃　And　in　fact；　it　was　a
note　from　Mrs。　Major　O'Dowd；　requesting　the　pleasure
of　Mrs。　Osborne's　company　that　very　evening　to　a　small
friendly　party。　　〃You　must　go；〃　George　said。　　〃You　will
make　acquaintance　with　the　regiment　there。　　O'Dowd　goes
in　command　of　the　regiment；　and　Peggy　goes　in　command
But　they　had　not　been　for　many　minutes　in　the　enjoyment
of　Mrs。　O'Dowd's　letter；　when　the　door　was　flung
open；　and　a　stout　jolly　lady；　in　a　riding…habit；　followed　by
a　couple　of　officers　of　Ours；　entered　the　room。
〃Sure；　I　couldn't　stop　till　tay…time。　　Present　me；　Garge；
my　dear　fellow；　to　your　lady。　　Madam；　I'm　deloighted　to
see　ye；　and　to　present　to　you　me　husband；　Meejor
O'Dowd〃；　and　with　this；　the　jolly　lady　in　the　riding…habit
grasped　Amelia's　hand　very　warmly；　and　the　latter　knew
at　once　that　the　lady　was　before　her　whom　her　husband
had　so　often　laughed　at。　　〃You've　often　heard　of　me　from
that　husband　of　yours；〃　said　the　lady；　with　great　vivacity。
〃You've　often　heard　of　her；〃　echoed　her　husband；　the
Major。
Amelia　answered；　smiling；　〃that　she　had。〃
〃And　small　good　he's　told　you　of　me；〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd
replied；　adding　that　〃George　was　a　wicked　divvle。〃
〃That　I'll　go　bail　for；〃　said　the　Major；　trying　to　look
knowing；　at　which　George　laughed；　and　Mrs。　O'Dowd；
with　a　tap　of　her　whip；　told　the　Major　to　be　quiet；　and
then　requested　to　be　presented　in　form　to　Mrs。　Captain
Osborne。
〃This；　my　dear；〃　said　George　with　great　gravity；　〃is　my
very　good；　kind；　and　excellent　friend；　Auralia　Margaretta；
otherwise　called　Peggy。〃
〃Faith；　you're　right；〃　interposed　the　Major。
〃Otherwise　called　Peggy；　lady　of　Major　Michael
O'Dowd；　of　our　regiment；　and　daughter　of　Fitzjurld
Ber'sford　de　Burgo　Malony　of　Glenmalony；　County　Kildare。〃
〃And　Muryan　Squeer；　Doblin；〃　said　the　lady　with　calm
superiority。
〃And　Muryan　Square；　sure　enough；〃　the　Major
whispered。
〃'Twas　there　ye　coorted　me；　Meejor　dear；〃　the　lady
said；　and　the　Major　assented　to　this　as　to　every　other
proposition　which　was　made　generally　in　company。
Major　O'Dowd；　who　had　served　his　sovereign　in　every
quarter　of　the　world；　and　had　paid　for　every　step　in　his
profession　by　some　more　than　equivalent　act　of　daring
and　gallantry；　was　the　most　modest；　silent；　sheep…faced
and　meek　of　little　men；　and　as　obedient　to　his　wife　as　if
he　had　been　her　tay…boy。　　At　the　mess…table　he　sat　silently；
and　drank　a　great　deal。　　When　full　of　liquor；　he
reeled　silently　home。　　When　he　spoke；　it　was　to　agree　with
everybody　on　every　conceivable　point；　and　he　passed
through　life　in　perfect　ease　and　good…humour。　　The
hottest　suns　of　India　never　heated　his　temper；　and　the
Walcheren　ague　never　shook　it。　　He　walked　up　to　a　battery
with　just　as　much　indifference　as　to　a　dinner…table；　had
dined　on　horse…flesh　and　turtle　with　equal　relish　and
appetite；　and　had　an　old　mother；　Mrs。　O'Dowd　of
O'Dowdstown　indeed；　whom　he　had　never　disobeyed
but　when　he　ran　away　and　enlisted；　and　when　he　persisted
in　marrying　that　odious　Peggy　Malony。
Peggy　was　one　of　five　sisters；　and　eleven　children　of　the
noble　house　of　Glenmalony；　but　her　husband；　though　her
own　cousin；　was　of　the　mother's　side；　and　so　had　not　the
inestimable　advantage　of　being　allied　to　the　Malonys；
whom　she　believed　to　be　the　most　famous　family　in　the
world。　　Having　tried　nine　seasons　at　Dublin　and　two　at
Bath　and　Cheltenham；　and　not　finding　a　partner　for　life；
Miss　Malony　ordered　her　cousin　Mick　to　marry　her　when
she　was　about　thirty…three　years　of　age；　and　the　honest
fellow　obeying；　carried　her　off　to　the　West　Indies；　to
preside　over　the　ladies　of　the　th　regiment；　into　which　he
had　just　exchanged。
Before　Mrs。　O'Dowd　was　half　an　hour　in　Amelia's　（or
indeed　in　anybody　else's）　company；　this　amiable　lady　told
all　her　birth　and　pedigree　to　her　new　friend。　　〃My　dear；〃
said　she；　good…naturedly；　〃it　was　my　intention　that　Garge
should　be　a　brother　of　my　own；　and　my　sister　Glorvina
would　have　suited　him　entirely。　　But　as　bygones　are
bygones；　and　he　was　engaged　to　yourself；　why；　I'm
determined　to　take　you　as　a　sister　instead；　and　to　look　upon
you　as　such；　and　to　love　you　as　one　of　the　family。　　Faith；
you've　got　such　a　nice　good…natured　face　and　way　widg
you；　that　I'm　sure　we'll　agree；　and　that　you'll　be　an
addition　to　our　family　anyway。〃
〃'Deed　and　she　will；〃　said　O'Dowd；　with　an　approving
air；　and　Amelia　felt　herself　not　a　little　amused　and
grateful　to　be　thus　suddenly　introduced　to　so　large　a
party　of　relations。
〃We're　all　good　fellows　here；〃　the　Major's　lady　continued。
〃There's　not　a　regiment　in　the　service　where　you'll
find　a　more　united　society　nor　a　more　agreeable　mess…
room。　　There's　no　quarrelling；　bickering；　slandthering；　nor
small　talk　amongst　us。　　We　all　love　each　other。〃
〃Especially　Mrs。　Magenis；〃　said　George；　laughing。
〃Mrs。　Captain　Magenis　and　me　has　made　up；　though
her　treatment　of　me　would　bring　me　gray　hairs　with
sorrow　to　the　grave。〃
〃And　you　with　such　a　beautiful　front　of　black；　Peggy；
my　dear；〃　the　Major　cried。
〃Hould　your　tongue；　Mick；　you　booby。　　Them　husbands
are　always　in　the　way；　Mrs。　Osborne；　my　dear；　and　as
for　my　Mick；　I　often　tell　him　he　should　never　open　his
mouth　but　to　give　the　word　of　command；　or　to　put　meat
and　drink　into　it。　　I'll　tell　you　about　the　regiment；　and
warn　you　when　we're　alone。　　Introduce　me　to　your　brother
now；　sure　he's　a　mighty　fine　man；　and　reminds　me　of　me
cousin；　Dan　Malony　（Malony　of　Ballymalony；　my　dear；
you　know　who　mar'ied　Ophalia　Scully；　of　Oystherstown；
own　cousin　to　Lord　Poldoody）。　　Mr。　Sedley；　sir；　I'm
deloighted　to　be　made　known　te　ye。　　I　suppose　you'll　dine
at　the　mess　to…day。　　（Mind　that　divvle　of　a　docther；　Mick；
and　whatever　ye　du；　keep　yourself　sober　for　me　party
this　evening。）〃
〃It's　the　150th　gives　us　a　farewell　dinner；　my　love；〃
interposed　the　Major；　〃but　we'll　easy　get　a　card　for　Mr。
Sedley。〃
〃Run　Simple　（Ensign　Simple；　of　Ours；　my　dear　Amelia。
I　forgot　to　introjuice　him　to　ye）。　　Run　in　a　hurry；　with
Mrs。　Major　O'Dowd's　compliments　to　Colonel　Tavish；
and　Captain　Osborne　has　brought　his　brothernlaw　down；
and　will　bring　him　to　the　150th　mess　at　five　o'clock　sharp
when　you　and　I；　my　dear；　will　take　a　snack　here；　if　you
like。〃　　Before　Mrs。　O'Dowd's　speech　was　concluded；　the
young　Ensign　was　trotting　downstairs　on　his　commission。
〃Obedience　is　the　soul　of　the　army。　　We　will　go　to　our
duty　while　Mrs。　O'Dowd　will　stay　and　enlighten　you；
Emmy；〃　Captain　Osborne　said；　and　the　two　gentlemen；
taking　each　a　wing　of　the　Major；　walked　out　with　that
officer；　grinning　at　each　other　over　his　head。
And；　now　having　her　new　friend　to　herself；　the　impetuous
Mrs：　O'Dowd　proceeded　to　pour　out　such　a
quantity　of　information　as　no　poor　little　woman's　memory
could　ever　tax　itself　to　bear。　　She　told　Amelia　a　thousand
particulars　relative　to　the　very　numerous　family　of　which
the　amazed　young　lady　found　herself　a　member。　　〃Mrs。
Heavytop；　the　Colonel's　wife；　died　in　Jamaica　of　the
yellow　faver　and　a　broken　heart　comboined；　for　the　horrud
old　Colonel；　with　a　head　as　bald　as　a　cannon…ball；　was
making　sheep's　eyes　at　a　half…caste　girl　there。　　Mrs。
Magenis；　though　without　education；　was　a　good　woman；
but　she　had　the　divvle's　tongue；　and　would　cheat　her　own
mother　at　whist。　　Mrs。　Captain　Kirk　must　turn　up　her
lobster　eyes　forsooth　at　the　idea　of　an　honest　round　game
（wherein　me　fawther；　as　pious　a　man　as　ever　went　to
church；　me　uncle　Dane　Malony；　and　our　cousin　the
Bishop；　took　a　hand　at　loo；　or　whist；　every　night　of　their
lives）。　　Nayther　of　'em's　goin'　with　the　regiment　this　time；〃
Mrs。　O'Dowd　added。　　〃Fanny　Magenis　stops　with　her
mother；　who　sells　small　coal　and　potatoes；　most　likely；
in　Islington…town；　hard　by　London；　though　she's　always
bragging　of　her　father's　ships；　and　pointing　them　out　to　us
as　they　go　up　the　river：　　and　Mrs。　Kirk　and　her　children
will　stop　here　in　Bethesda　Place；　to　be　nigh　to　her　favourite
preacher；　Dr。　Ramshorn。　　Mrs。　Bunny's　in　an　interesting
situationfaith；　and　she　always　is；　thenand　has
given　the　Lieutenant　seven　already。　　And　Ensign　Posky's
wife；　who　joined　two　months　before　you；　my　dear；　has
quarl'd　with　Tom　Posky　a　score　of　times；　till　you　can
hear'm　all　over　the　bar'ck　（they　say　they're　come　to
broken　pleets；　and　Tom　never　accounted　for　his　black　oi）；
and　she'll　go　back　to　her　mother；　who　keeps　a　ladies'
siminary　at　Richmondbad　luck　to　her　for　running　away
from　it！　　Where　did　ye　get　your　finishing；　my　dear？　　I　had
moin；　and　no　expince　spared；　at　Madame　Flanahan's；　at
Ilyssus　Grove；　Booterstown；　near　Dublin；　wid　a　Marchioness
to　teach　us　the　true　Parisian　pronunciation；　and　a　retired
Mejor…General　of　the　French　service　to　put　us
through　the　exercise。〃
Of　this　incongruous　family　our　astonished　Amelia　found
herself　all　of　a　sudden　a　member：　　with　Mrs。　O'Dowd　as
an　elder　sister。　　She　was　presented　to　her　other　female
relations　at　tea…time；　on　whom；　as　she　was　quiet；　good…
natured；　and　not　too　handsome；　she　made　rather　an
agreeable　impression　until　the　arrival　of　the　gentlemen　from
the　mess　of　the　150th；　who　all　admired　her　so；　that　her
sisters　began；　of　course；　to　find　fault　with　her。
〃I　hope　Osborne　has　sown　his　wild　oats；〃　said　Mrs。
Magenis　to　Mrs。　Bunny。　　〃If　a　reformed　rake　makes　a
good　husband；　sure　it's　she　will　have　the　fine　chance　with
Garge；〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd　remarked　to　Posky；　who　had　lost
her　position　as　bride　in　the　regiment；　and　was　quite　angry
with　the　usurper。　　And　as　for　Mrs。　Kirk：　　that　disciple　of
Dr。　Ramshorn　put　one　or　two　leading　professional
questions　to　Amelia；　to　see　whether　she　was　awakened；
whether　she　was　a　professing　Christian　and　so　forth；　and
finding　from　the　simplicity　of　Mrs。　Osborne's　replies　that
she　was　yet　in　utter　darkness；　put　into　her　hands　three
little　penny　books　with　pictures；　viz。；　the　〃Howling
Wilderness；〃　the　〃Washerwoman　of　Wandsworth　Common；〃
and　the　〃British　Soldier's　best　Bayonet；〃　which；　bent　upon
awakening　her　before　she　slept；　Mrs。　Kirk　begged　Amelia
to　read　that　night　ere　she　went　to　bed。
But　all　the　men；　like　good　fellows　as　they　were；　rallied
round　their　comrade's　pretty　wife；　and　paid　her　their
court　with　soldierly　gallantry。　　She　had　a　little　triumph；
which　flushed　her　spirits　and　made　her　eyes　sparkle。
George　was　proud　of　her　popularity；　and　pleased　with　the
manner　（which　was　very　gay　and　graceful；　though　naive
and　a　little　timid）　with　which　she　received　the　gentlemen's
　attentions；　and　answered　their　compliments。　　And
he　in　his　uniformhow　much　handsomer　he　was　than
any　man　in　the　room！　　She　felt　that　he　was　affectionately
watching　her；　and　glowed　with　pleasure　at　his　kindness。　　〃I
will　make　all　his　friends　welcome；〃　she　resolved　in　her
heart。　　〃I　will　love　all　as　I　love　him。　　I　will　always　try　and
be　gay