vanity fair(名利场)-第67章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


touched　a　bit　of　stamped　paper。〃
Rebecca　always　knew　how　to　conjure　away　these
moods　of　melancholy。　　〃Why；　my　stupid　love；〃　she　would
say；　〃we　have　not　done　with　your　aunt　yet。　　If　she　fails　us；
isn't　there　what　you　call　the　Gazette？　　or；　stop；　when　your
uncle　Bute's　life　drops；　I　have　another　scheme。　　The　living
has　always　belonged　to　the　younger　brother；　and　why
shouldn't　you　sell　out　and　go　into　the　Church？〃　　The　idea
of　this　conversion　set　Rawdon　into　roars　of　laughter：
you　might　have　heard　the　explosion　through　the　hotel　at
midnight；　and　the　haw…haws　of　the　great　dragoon's　voice。
General　Tufto　heard　him　from　his　quarters　on　the　first
floor　above　them；　and　Rebecca　acted　the　scene　with　great
spirit；　and　preached　Rawdon's　first　sermon；　to　the
immense　delight　of　the　General　at　breakfast。
But　these　were　mere　by…gone　days　and　talk。　　When　the
final　news　arrived　that　the　campaign　was　opened；　and　the
troops　were　to　march；　Rawdon's　gravity　became　such
that　Becky　rallied　him　about　it　in　a　manner　which　rather
hurt　the　feelings　of　the　Guardsman。　　〃You　don't　suppose
I'm　afraid；　Becky；　I　should　think；〃　he　said；　with　a　tremor
in　his　voice。　　〃But　I'm　a　pretty　good　mark　for　a　shot；　and
you　see　if　it　brings　me　down；　why　I　leave　one　and
perhaps　two　behind　me　whom　I　should　wish　to　provide　for；
as　I　brought　'em　into　the　scrape。　　It　is　no　laughing　matter
that；　Mrs。　C。；　anyways。〃
Rebecca　by　a　hundred　caresses　and　kind　words　tried
to　soothe　the　feelings　of　the　wounded　lover。　　It　was　only
when　her　vivacity　and　sense　of　humour　got　the　better　of
this　sprightly　creature　（as　they　would　do　under　most
circumstances　of　life　indeed）　that　she　would　break　out
with　her　satire；　but　she　could　soon　put　on　a　demure　face。
〃Dearest　love；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　suppose　I　feel　nothing？〃
and　hastily　dashing　something　from　her　eyes；　she
looked　up　in　her　husband's　face　with　a　smile。
〃Look　here；〃　said　he。　　〃If　I　drop；　let　us　see　what　there
is　for　you。　　I　have　had　a　pretty　good　run　of　luck　here；　and
here's　two　hundred　and　thirty　pounds。　　I　have　got　ten
Napoleons　in　my　pocket。　　That　is　as　much　as　I　shall　want；
for　the　General　pays　everything　like　a　prince；　and　if　I'm
hit；　why　you　know　I　cost　nothing。　　Don't　cry；　little　woman；
I　may　live　to　vex　you　yet。　　Well；　I　shan't　take　either　of　my
horses；　but　shall　ride　the　General's　grey　charger：　　it's
cheaper；　and　I　told　him　mine　was　lame。　　If　I'm　done；　those
two　ought　to　fetch　you　something。　　Grigg　offered　ninety
for　the　mare　yesterday；　before　this　confounded　news
came；　and　like　a　fool　I　wouldn't　let　her　go　under　the　two
o's。　　Bullfinch　will　fetch　his　price　any　day；　only　you'd
better　sell　him　in　this　country；　because　the　dealers　have　so
many　bills　of　mine；　and　so　I'd　rather　he　shouldn't　go
back　to　England。　　Your　little　mare　the　General　gave　you
will　fetch　something；　and　there's　no　dd　livery　stable
bills　here　as　there　are　in　London；〃　Rawdon　added；　with　a
laugh。　　〃There's　that　dressing…case　cost　me　two　hundred
that　is；　I　owe　two　for　it；　and　the　gold　tops　and　bottles
must　be　worth　thirty　or　forty。　　Please　to　put　THAT　up　the
spout；　ma'am；　with　my　pins；　and　rings；　and　watch　and
chain；　and　things。　　They　cost　a　precious　lot　of　money。　　Miss
Crawley；　I　know；　paid　a　hundred　down　for　the　chain　and
ticker。　　Gold　tops　and　bottles；　indeed！　　dammy；　I'm　sorry
I　didn't　take　more　now。　　Edwards　pressed　on　me　a　silver…
gilt　boot…jack；　and　I　might　have　had　a　dressing…case　fitted
up　with　a　silver　warming…pan；　and　a　service　of　plate。　　But
we　must　make　the　best　of　what　we've　got；　Becky；　you
know。〃
And　so；　making　his　last　dispositions；　Captain　Crawley；
who　had　seldom　thought　about　anything　but　himself；　until
the　last　few　months　of　his　life；　when　Love　had　obtained
the　mastery　over　the　dragoon；　went　through　the　various
items　of　his　little　catalogue　of　effects；　striving　to　see　how
they　might　be　turned　into　money　for　his　wife's　benefit；　in
case　any　accident　should　befall　him。　　He　pleased　himself
by　noting　down　with　a　pencil；　in　his　big　schoolboy
handwriting；　the　various　items　of　his　portable　property　which
might　be　sold　for　his　widow's　advantage　as；　for　example；
〃My　double…barril　by　Manton；　say　40　guineas；　my　driving
cloak；　lined　with　sable　fur；　50　pounds；　my　duelling　pistols　in
rosewood　case　（same　which　I　shot　Captain　Marker）；
20　pounds；　my　regulation　saddle…holsters　and　housings；　my
Laurie　ditto；〃　and　so　forth；　over　all　of　which　articles　he
made　Rebecca　the　mistress。
Faithful　to　his　plan　of　economy；　the　Captain　dressed
himself　in　his　oldest　and　shabbiest　uniform　and　epaulets；
leaving　the　newest　behind；　under　his　wife's　（or　it　might
be　his　widow's）　guardianship。　　And　this　famous　dandy　of
Windsor　and　Hyde　Park　went　off　on　his　campaign　with　a
kit　as　modest　as　that　of　a　sergeant；　and　with　something
like　a　prayer　on　his　lips　for　the　woman　he　was　leaving。
He　took　her　up　from　the　ground；　and　held　her　in　his
arms　for　a　minute；　tight　pressed　against　his　strong…beating
heart。　　His　face　was　purple　and　his　eyes　dim；　as　he　put　her
down　and　left　her。　　He　rode　by　his　General's　side；　and
smoked　his　cigar　in　silence　as　they　hastened　after　the
troops　of　the　General's　brigade；　which　preceded　them；
and　it　was　not　until　they　were　some　miles　on　their　way
that　he　left　off　twirling　his　moustache　and　broke　silence。
And　Rebecca；　as　we　have　said；　wisely　determined　not　to
give　way　to　unavailing　sentimentality　on　her　husband's
departure。　　She　waved　him　an　adieu　from　the　window；　and
stood　there　for　a　moment　looking　out　after　he　was　gone。
The　cathedral　towers　and　the　full　gables　of　the　quaint　old
houses　were　just　beginning　to　blush　in　the　sunrise。　　There
had　been　no　rest　for　her　that　night。　　She　was　still　in　her
pretty　ball…dress；　her　fair　hair　hanging　somewhat　out　of
curl　on　her　neck；　and　the　circles　round　her　eyes　dark　with
watching。　　〃What　a　fright　I　seem；〃　she　said；　examining
herself　in　the　glass；　〃and　how　pale　this　pink　makes　one
look！〃　　So　she　divested　herself　of　this　pink　raiment；　in
doing　which　a　note　fell　out　from　her　corsage；　which　she
picked　up　with　a　smile；　and　locked　into　her　dressing…box。
And　then　she　put　her　bouquet　of　the　ball　into　a　glass　of
water；　and　went　to　bed；　and　slept　very　comfortably。
The　town　was　quite　quiet　when　she　woke　up　at　ten
o'clock；　and　partook　of　coffee；　very　requisite　and
comforting　after　the　exhaustion　and　grief　of　the　morning's
occurrences。
This　meal　over；　she　resumed　honest　Rawdon's　calculations
of　the　night　previous；　and　surveyed　her　position。
Should　the　worst　befall；　all　things　considered；　she　was
pretty　well　to　do。　　There　were　her　own　trinkets　and　trousseau；
in　addition　to　those　which　her　husband　had　left　behind。
Rawdon's　generosity；　when　they　were　first　married；
has　already　been　described　and　lauded。　　Besides　these；
and　the　little　mare；　the　General；　her　slave　and　worshipper；
had　made　her　many　very　handsome　presents；　in　the　shape
of　cashmere　shawls　bought　at　the　auction　of　a　bankrupt
French　general's　lady；　and　numerous　tributes　from　the
jewellers'　shops；　all　of　which　betokened　her　admirer's
taste　and　wealth。　　As　for　〃tickers；〃　as　poor　Rawdon　called
watches；　her　apartments　were　alive　with　their　clicking。
For；　happening　to　mention　one　night　that　hers；　which
Rawdon　had　given　to　her；　was　of　English　workmanship；
and　went　ill；　on　the　very　next　morning　there　came　to　her
a　little　bijou　marked　Leroy；　with　a　chain　and　cover
charmingly　set　with　turquoises；　and　another　signed　Brequet；
which　was　covered　with　pearls；　and　yet　scarcely　bigger
than　a　half…crown。　　General　Tufto　had　bought　one；　and
Captain　Osborne　had　gallantly　presented　the　other。　　Mrs。
Osborne　had　no　watch；　though；　to　do　George　justice；　she
might　have　had　one　for　the　asking；　and　the　Honourable
Mrs。　Tufto　in　England　had　an　old　instrument　of　her
mother's　that　might　have　served　for　the　plate…warming
pan　which　Rawdon　talked　about。　　If　Messrs。　Howell　and
James　were　to　publish　a　list　of　the　purchasers　of　all　the
trinkets　which　they　sell；　how　surprised　would　some
families　be：　and　if　all　these　ornaments　went　to　gentlemen's
lawful　wives　and　daughters；　what　a　profusion　of　jewellery
there　would　be　exhibited　in　the　genteelest　homes　of
Vanity　Fair！
Every　calculation　made　of　these　valuables　Mrs。　Rebecca
found；　not　without　a　pungent　feeling　of　triumph　and　self…
satisfaction；　that　should　circumstances　occur；　she　might
reckon　on　six　or　seven　hundred　pounds　at　the　very　least；
to　begin　the　world　with；　and　she　passed　the　morning
disposing；　ordering；　looking　out；　and　locking　up　her
properties　in　the　most　agreeable　manner。　　Among　the　notes
in　Rawdon's　pocket…book　was　a　draft　for　twenty　pounds
on　Osborne's　banker。　　This　made　her　think　about　Mrs。
Osborne。　　〃I　will　go　and　get　the　draft　cashed；〃　she　said；
〃and　pay　a　visit　afterwards　to　poor　little　Emmy。〃　If　this
is　a　novel　without　a　hero；　at　least　let　us　lay　claim　to　a
heroine。　　No　man　in　the　British　army　which　has　marched
away；　not　the　great　Duke　himself；　could　be　more　cool　or
collected　in　the　presence　of　doubts　and　difficulties；　than
the　indomitable　little　aide…de…camp's　wife。
And　there　was　another　of　our　acquaintances　who　was
also　to　be　left　behind；　a　non…combatant；　and　whose　emotions
and　behaviour　we　have　therefore　a　right　to　know。
This　was　our　friend　the　ex…collector　of　Boggley　Wollah；
whose　rest　was　broken；　like　other　people's；　by　the　sounding
of　the　bugles　in　the　early　morning。　　Being　a　great
sleeper；　and　fond　of　his　bed；　it　is　possible　he　would　have
snoozed　on　until　his　usual　hour　of　rising　in　the　forenoon；
in　spite　of　all　the　drums；　bugles；　and　bagpipes　in　the
British　army；　but　for　an　interruption；　which　did　not　come
from　George　Osborne；　who　shared　Jos's　quarters　with
him；　and　was　as　usual　occupied　too　much　with　his　own
affairs　or　with　grief　at　parting　with　his　wife；　to　think　of
taking　leave　of　his　slumbering　brother…in…lawit　was　not
George；　we　say；　who　interposed　between　Jos　Sedley　and
sleep；　but　Captain　Dobbin；　who　came　and　roused　him　up；
insisting　on　shaking　hands　with　him　before　his　departure。
〃Very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Jos；　yawning；　and　wishing
the　Captain　at　the　deuce。
〃II　didn't　like　to　go　off　without　saying　good…bye；　you
know；〃　Dobbin　said　in　a　very　incoherent　manner；　〃because
you　know　some　of　us　mayn't　come　back　again；　and
I　like　to　see　you　all　well；　andand　that　sort　of　thing；　you
know。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Jos　asked；　rubbing　his　eyes。　　The
Captain　did　not　in　the　least　hear　him　or　look　at　the　stout
gentleman　in　the　nightcap；　about　whom　he　professed　to
have　such　a　tender　interest。　　The　hypocrite　was　looking
and　listening　with　all　his　might　in　the　direction　of　George's
apartments；　striding　about　the　room；　upsetting　the　chairs；
beating　the　tattoo；　biting　his　nails；　and　showing　other
signs　of　great　inward　emotion。
Jos　had　always　had　rather　a　mean　opinion　of　the
Captain；　and　now　began　to　think　his　courage　was　somewhat
equivocal。　　〃What　is　it　I　can　do　for　you；　Dobbin？〃　he　said；
in　a　sarcastic　tone。
〃I　tell　you　what　you　can　do；〃　the　Captain　replied；　coming
up　to　the　bed；　〃we　march　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour；
Sedley；　and　neither　George　nor　I　may　ever　come　back。
Mind　you；　you　are　not　to　stir　from　this　town　until　you
ascertain　how　things　go。　　You　are　to　stay　here　and　watch
over　your　sister；