vanity fair(名利场)-第63章

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him；　thinking　the　card　was　quite　enoughand　after
placing　Amelia　on　a　bench；　he　left　her　to　her　own
cogitations　there；　thinking；　on　his　own　part；　that　he　had
behaved　very　handsomely　in　getting　her　new　clothes；　and
bringing　her　to　the　ball；　where　she　was　free　to　amuse
herself　as　she　liked。　　Her　thoughts　were　not　of　the
pleasantest；　and　nobody　except　honest　Dobbin　came　to
disturb　them。
Whilst　her　appearance　was　an　utter　failure　（as　her
husband　felt　with　a　sort　of　rage）；　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley's
debut　was；　on　the　contrary；　very　brilliant。　　She　arrived
very　late。　　Her　face　was　radiant；　her　dress　perfection。　　In
the　midst　of　the　great　persons　assembled；　and　the　eye…
glasses　directed　to　her；　Rebecca　seemed　to　be　as　cool
and　collected　as　when　she　used　to　marshal　Miss　Pinkerton's
little　girls　to　church。　　Numbers　of　the　men　she　knew
already；　and　the　dandies　thronged　round　her。　　As　for　the
ladies；　it　was　whispered　among　them　that　Rawdon　had
run　away　with　her　from　out　of　a　convent；　and　that　she
was　a　relation　of　the　Montmorency　family。　　She　spoke
French　so　perfectly　that　there　might　be　some　truth　in
this　report；　and　it　was　agreed　that　her　manners　were
fine；　and　her　air　distingue。　　Fifty　would…be　partners
thronged　round　her　at　once；　and　pressed　to　have　the
honour　to　dance　with　her。　　But　she　said　she　was　engaged；
and　only　going　to　dance　very　little；　and　made　her　way　at
once　to　the　place　where　Emmy　sate　quite　unnoticed；　and
dismally　unhappy。　　And　so；　to　finish　the　poor　child　at
once；　Mrs。　Rawdon　ran　and　greeted　affectionately　her
dearest　Amelia；　and　began　forthwith　to　patronise　her。
She　found　fault　with　her　friend's　dress；　and　her
hairdresser；　and　wondered　how　she　could　be　so　chaussee；
and　vowed　that　she　must　send　her　corsetiere　the　next
morning。　　She　vowed　that　it　was　a　delightful　ball；　that
there　was　everybody　that　every　one　knew；　and　only　a
VERY　few　nobodies　in　the　whole　room。　　It　is　a　fact；　that
in　a　fortnight；　and　after　three　dinners　in　general　society；
this　young　woman　had　got　up　the　genteel　jargon　so　well；
that　a　native　could　not　speak　it　better；　and　it　was　only
from　her　French　being　so　good；　that　you　could　know　she
was　not　a　born　woman　of　fashion。
George；　who　had　left　Emmy　on　her　bench　on　entering
the　ball…room；　very　soon　found　his　way　back　when
Rebecca　was　by　her　dear　friend's　side。　　Becky　was　just
lecturing　Mrs。　Osborne　upon　the　follies　which　her
husband　was　committing。　　〃For　God's　sake；　stop　him　from
gambling；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃or　he　will　ruin　himself。
He　and　Rawdon　are　playing　at　cards　every　night；　and　you
know　he　is　very　poor；　and　Rawdon　will　win　every　shilling
from　him　if　he　does　not　take　care。　　Why　don't　you　prevent
him；　you　little　careless　creature？　　Why　don't　you
come　to　us　of　an　evening；　instead　of　moping　at　home
with　that　Captain　Dobbin？　　I　dare　say　he　is　tres　aimable；
but　how　could　one　love　a　man　with　feet　of　such　size？
Your　husband's　feet　are　darlingsHere　he　comes。　　Where
have　you　been；　wretch？　　Here　is　Emmy　crying　her　eyes
out　for　you。　　Are　you　coming　to　fetch　me　for　the　quadrille？〃
And　she　left　her　bouquet　and　shawl　by　Amelia's
side；　and　tripped　off　with　George　to　dance。　　Women　only
know　how　to　wound　so。　　There　is　a　poison　on　the　tips　of
their　little　shafts；　which　stings　a　thousand　times　more
than　a　man's　blunter　weapon。　　Our　poor　Emmy；　who　had
never　hated；　never　sneered　all　her　life；　was　powerless　in
the　hands　of　her　remorseless　little　enemy。
George　danced　with　Rebecca　twice　or　thricehow　many
times　Amelia　scarcely　knew。　　She　sat　quite　unnoticed　in
her　corner；　except　when　Rawdon　came　up　with　some
words　of　clumsy　conversation：　　and　later　in　the　evening；
when　Captain　Dobbin　made　so　bold　as　to　bring　her
refreshments　and　sit　beside　her。　　He　did　not　like　to　ask　her
why　she　was　so　sad；　but　as　a　pretext　for　the　tears　which
were　filling　in　her　eyes；　she　told　him　that　Mrs。　Crawley
had　alarmed　her　by　telling　her　that　George　would　go　on
playing。
〃It　is　curious；　when　a　man　is　bent　upon　play；　by　what
clumsy　rogues　he　will　allow　himself　to　be　cheated；〃
Dobbin　said；　and　Emmy　said；　〃Indeed。〃　She　was　thinking　of
something　else。　　It　was　not　the　loss　of　the　money　that
grieved　her。
At　last　George　came　back　for　Rebecca's　shawl　and
flowers。　　She　was　going　away。　　She　did　not　even
condescend　to　come　back　and　say　good…bye　to　Amelia。　　The
poor　girl　let　her　husband　come　and　go　without　saying　a
word；　and　her　head　fell　on　her　breast。　　Dobbin　had　been
called　away；　and　was　whispering　deep　in　conversation
with　the　General　of　the　division；　his　friend；　and　had　not
seen　this　last　parting。　　George　went　away　then　with　the
bouquet；　but　when　he　gave　it　to　the　owner；　there　lay　a
note；　coiled　like　a　snake　among　the　flowers。　　Rebecca's
eye　caught　it　at　once。　　She　had　been　used　to　deal　with
notes　in　early　life。　　She　put　out　her　hand　and　took　the
nosegay。　　He　saw　by　her　eyes　as　they　met；　that　she　was
aware　what　she　should　find　there。　　Her　husband　hurried　her
away；　still　too　intent　upon　his　own　thoughts；　seemingly；
to　take　note　of　any　marks　of　recognition　which　might
pass　between　his　friend　and　his　wife。　　These　were；
however；　but　trifling。　　Rebecca　gave　George　her　hand　with　one
of　her　usual　quick　knowing　glances；　and　made　a　curtsey
and　walked　away。　　George　bowed　over　the　hand；　said
nothing　in　reply　to　a　remark　of　Crawley's；　did　not　hear　it
even；　his　brain　was　so　throbbing　with　triumph　and
excitement；　and　allowed　them　to　go　away　without　a　word。
His　wife　saw　the　one　part　at　least　of　the　bouquet…scene。
It　was　quite　natural　that　George　should　come　at　Rebecca's
request　to　get　her　her　scarf　and　flowers：　　it　was　no
more　than　he　had　done　twenty　times　before　in　the　course
of　the　last　few　days；　but　now　it　was　too　much　for　her。
〃William；〃　she　said；　suddenly　clinging　to　Dobbin；　who　was
near　her；　〃you've　always　been　very　kind　to　meI'm
I'm　not　well。　　Take　me　home。〃　　She　did　not　know　she　called
him　by　his　Christian　name；　as　George　was　accustomed　to
do。　　He　went　away　with　her　quickly。　　Her　lodgings　were
hard　by；　and　they　threaded　through　the　crowd　without；
where　everything　seemed　to　be　more　astir　than　even　in　the
ball…room　within。
George　had　been　angry　twice　or　thrice　at　finding　his
wife　up　on　his　return　from　the　parties　which　he
frequented：　　so　she　went　straight　to　bed　now；　but　although
she　did　not　sleep；　and　although　the　din　and　clatter；　and
the　galloping　of　horsemen　were　incessant；　she　never　heard
any　of　these　noises；　having　quite　other　disturbances　to
keep　her　awake。
Osborne　meanwhile；　wild　with　elation；　went　off　to　a
play…table；　and　began　to　bet　frantically。　　He　won　repeatedly。
　〃Everything　succeeds　with　me　to…night；〃　he　said。
But　his　luck　at　play　even　did　not　cure　him　of　his　restlessness；
and　he　started　up　after　awhile；　pocketing　his　winnings；
and　went　to　a　buffet；　where　he　drank　off　many
bumpers　of　wine。
Here；　as　he　was　rattling　away　to　the　people　around；
laughing　loudly　and　wild　with　spirits；　Dobbin　found　him。
He　had　been　to　the　card…tables　to　look　there　for　his
friend。　　Dobbin　looked　as　pale　and　grave　as　his　comrade
was　flushed　and　jovial。
''Hullo；　Dob！　　Come　and　drink；　old　Dob！　　The　Duke's
wine　is　famous。　　Give　me　some　more；　you　sir〃；　and　he
held　out　a　trembling　glass　for　the　liquor。
〃Come　out；　George；〃　said　Dobbin；　still　gravely；　〃don't
drink。〃
〃Drink！　　there's　nothing　like　it。　　Drink　yourself；　and
light　up　your　lantern　jaws；　old　boy。　　Here's　to　you。〃
Dobbin　went　up　and　whispered　something　to　him；　at
which　George；　giving　a　start　and　a　wild　hurray；　tossed　off
his　glass；　clapped　it　on　the　table；　and　walked　away
speedily　on　his　friend's　arm。　　〃The　enemy　has　passed　the
Sambre；〃　William　said；　〃and　our　left　is　already　engaged。
Come　away。　　We　are　to　march　in　three　hours。〃
Away　went　George；　his　nerves　quivering　with　excitement
at　the　news　so　long　looked　for；　so　sudden　when　it
came。　　What　were　love　and　intrigue　now？　　He　thought
about　a　thousand　things　but　these　in　his　rapid　walk　to　his
quartershis　past　life　and　future　chancesthe　fate　which
might　be　before　himthe　wife；　the　child　perhaps；　from
whom　unseen　he　might　be　about　to　part。　　Oh；　how　he
wished　that　night's　work　undone！　　and　that　with　a　clear
conscience　at　least　he　might　say　farewell　to　the　tender
and　guileless　being　by　whose　love　he　had　set　such　little
store！
He　thought　over　his　brief　married　life。　　In　those　few
weeks　he　had　frightfully　dissipated　his　little　capital。　　How
wild　and　reckless　he　had　been！　　Should　any　mischance
befall　him：　　what　was　then　left　for　her？　　How　unworthy　he
was　of　her。　　Why　had　he　married　her？　　He　was　not　fit　for
marriage。　　Why　had　he　disobeyed　his　father；　who　had　been
always　so　generous　to　him？　　Hope；　remorse；　ambition；
tenderness；　and　selfish　regret　filled　his　heart。　　He　sate
down　and　wrote　to　his　father；　remembering　what　he　had
said　once　before；　when　he　was　engaged　to　fight　a　duel。
Dawn　faintly　streaked　the　sky　as　he　closed　this　farewell
letter。　　He　sealed　it；　and　kissed　the　superscription。　　He
thought　how　he　had　deserted　that　generous　father；　and　of
the　thousand　kindnesses　which　the　stern　old　man　had
done　him。
He　had　looked　into　Amelia's　bedroom　when　he　entered；
she　lay　quiet；　and　her　eyes　seemed　closed；　and　he
was　glad　that　she　was　asleep。　　On　arriving　at　his　quarters
from　the　ball；　he　had　found　his　regimental　servant　already
making　preparations　for　his　departure：　　the　man
had　understood　his　signal　to　be　still；　and　these　arrangements
were　very　quickly　and　silently　made。　　Should　he　go
in　and　wake　Amelia；　he　thought；　or　leave　a　note　for　her
brother　to　break　the　news　of　departure　to　her？　　He　went
in　to　look　at　her　once　again。
She　had　been　awake　when　he　first　entered　her　room；
but　had　kept　her　eyes　closed；　so　that　even　her　wakefulness
should　not　seem　to　reproach　him。　　But　when　he　had
returned；　so　soon　after　herself；　too；　this　timid　little　heart
had　felt　more　at　ease；　and　turning　towards　him　as　he
stept　softly　out　of　the　room；　she　had　fallen　into　a　light
sleep。　　George　came　in　and　looked　at　her　again；　entering
still　more　softly。　　By　the　pale　night…lamp　he　could　see　her
sweet；　pale　facethe　purple　eyelids　were　fringed　and
closed；　and　one　round　arm；　smooth　and　white；　lay　outside
of　the　coverlet。　　Good　God！　　how　pure　she　was；　how
gentle；　how　tender；　and　how　friendless！　　and　he；　how
selfish；　brutal；　and　black　with　crime！　　Heart…stained；　and
shame…stricken；　he　stood　at　the　bed's　foot；　and　looked　at
the　sleeping　girl。　　How　dared　hewho　was　he；　to　pray　for
one　so　spotless！　　God　bless　her！　　God　bless　her！　　He　came　to
the　bedside；　and　looked　at　the　hand；　the　little　soft　hand；
lying　asleep；　and　he　bent　over　the　pillow　noiselessly
towards　the　gentle　pale　face。
Two　fair　arms　closed　tenderly　round　his　neck　as　he
stooped　down。　　〃I　am　awake；　George；〃　the　poor　child　said；
with　a　sob　fit　to　break　the　little　heart　that　nestled　so
closely　by　his　own。　　She　was　awake；　poor　soul；　and　to
railings　and　the　beadle：　who；　if　she　walked　ever　so　short
a　distance　to　buy　a　ribbon　in　Southampton　Row；　was
followed　by　Black　Sambo　with　an　enormous　cane：　who
was　always　cared　for；　dressed；　put　to　bed；　and　watched
over　by　ever　so　many　guardian　angels；　with　and　without
wages？　　Bon　Dieu；　I　say；　is　it　not　hard　that　the　fateful
rush　of　the　great　Imperial