vanity fair(名利场)-第74章

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words　aright；　which　were　long　and　abstrusefor　the
Dean　was　a　learned　man；　and　loved　long　Latin　words
but　with　great　gravity；　vast　emphasis；　and　with　tolerable
correctness　in　the　main。　　How　often　has　my　Mick　listened
to　these　sermons；　she　thought；　and　me　reading　in　the
cabin　of　a　calm！　　She　proposed　to　resume　this　exercise　on
the　present　day；　with　Amelia　and　the　wounded　ensign
for　a　congregation。　　The　same　service　was　read　on　that
day　in　twenty　thousand　churches　at　the　same　hour；　and
millions　of　British　men　and　women；　on　their　knees；
implored　protection　of　the　Father　of　all。
They　did　not　hear　the　noise　which　disturbed　our　little
congregation　at　Brussels。　　Much　louder　than　that　which
had　interrupted　them　two　days　previously；　as　Mrs。
O'Dowd　was　reading　the　service　in　her　best　voice；　the
cannon　of　Waterloo　began　to　roar。
When　Jos　heard　that　dreadful　sound；　he　made　up　his
mind　that　he　would　bear　this　perpetual　recurrence　of
terrors　no　longer；　and　would　fly　at　once。　　He　rushed　into　the
sick　man's　room；　where　our　three　friends　had　paused　in
their　prayers；　and　further　interrupted　them　by　a
passionate　appeal　to　Amelia
〃I　can't　stand　it　any　more；　Emmy；〃　he　said；　'I　won't
stand　it；　and　you　must　come　with　me。　　I　have　bought　a
horse　for　younever　mind　at　what　priceand　you　must
dress　and　come　with　me；　and　ride　behind　Isidor。〃
〃God　forgive　me；　Mr。　Sedley；　but　you　are　no　better
than　a　coward；〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd　said；　laying　down　the
book。
〃I　say　come；　Amelia；〃　the　civilian　went　on；　〃never
mind　what　she　says；　why　are　we　to　stop　here　and　be
butchered　by　the　Frenchmen？〃
〃You　forget　the　th；　my　boy；〃　said　the　little　Stubble；
the　wounded　hero；　from　his　bed〃and　and　you
won't　leave　me；　will　you；　Mrs。　O'Dowd？〃
〃No；　my　dear　fellow；〃　said　she；　going　up　and　kissing
the　boy。　　〃No　harm　shall　come　to　you　while　I　stand　by。
I　don't　budge　till　I　get　the　word　from　Mick。　　A　pretty
figure　I'd　be；　wouldn't　I；　stuck　behind　that　chap　on　a
pillion？〃
This　image　caused　the　young　patient　to　burst　out
laughing　in　his　bed；　and　even　made　Amelia　smile。　　〃I
don't　ask　her；〃　Jos　shouted　out〃I　don't　ask　thatthat
Irishwoman；　but　you　Amelia；　once　for　all；　will　you
come？〃
〃Without　my　husband；　Joseph？〃　Amelia　said；　with　a
look　of　wonder；　and　gave　her　hand　to　the　Major's　wife。
Jos's　patience　was　exhausted。
〃Good…bye；　then；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　fist　in　a　rage；
and　slamming　the　door　by　which　he　retreated。　　And　this
time　he　really　gave　his　order　for　march：　　and　mounted　in
the　court…yard。　　Mrs。　O'Dowd　heard　the　clattering　hoofs
of　the　horses　as　they　issued　from　the　gate；　and　looking
on；　made　many　scornful　remarks　on　poor　Joseph　as　he
rode　down　the　street　with　Isidor　after　him　in　the　laced
cap。　　The　horses；　which　had　not　been　exercised　for　some
days；　were　lively；　and　sprang　about　the　street。　　Jos；　a
clumsy　and　timid　horseman；　did　not　look　to　advantage　in
the　saddle。　　〃Look　at　him；　Amelia　dear；　driving　into　the
parlour　window。　　Such　a　bull　in　a　china…shop　I　never
saw。〃　And　presently　the　pair　of　riders　disappeared　at　a
canter　down　the　street　leading　in　the　direction　of　the
Ghent　road；　Mrs。　O'Dowd　pursuing　them　with　a　fire　of
sarcasm　so　long　as　they　were　in　sight。
All　that　day　from　morning　until　past　sunset；　the
cannon　never　ceased　to　roar。　　It　was　dark　when　the
cannonading　stopped　all　of　a　sudden。
All　of　us　have　read　of　what　occurred　during　that
interval。　　The　tale　is　in　every　Englishman's　mouth；　and
you　and　I；　who　were　children　when　the　great　battle　was
won　and　lost；　are　never　tired　of　hearing　and　recounting
the　history　of　that　famous　action。　　Its　remembrance
rankles　still　in　the　bosoms　of　millions　of　the　countrymen　of
those　brave　men　who　lost　the　day。　　They　pant　for　an
opportunity　of　revenging　that　humiliation；　and　if　a　contest；
ending　in　a　victory　on　their　part；　should　ensue；　elating
them　in　their　turn；　and　leaving　its　cursed　legacy　of　hatred
and　rage　behind　to　us；　there　is　no　end　to　the　so…called
glory　and　shame；　and　to　the　alternations　of　successful
and　unsuccessful　murder；　in　which　two　high…spirited
nations　might　engage。　　Centuries　hence；　we　Frenchmen　and
Englishmen　might　be　boasting　and　killing　each　other　still；
carrying　out　bravely　the　Devil's　code　of　honour。
All　our　friends　took　their　share　and　fought　like　men　in
the　great　field。　　All　day　long；　whilst　the　women　were
praying　ten　miles　away；　the　lines　of　the　dauntless　English
infantry　were　receiving　and　repelling　the　furious　charges　of
the　French　horsemen。　　Guns　which　were　heard　at　Brussels
were　ploughing　up　their　ranks；　and　comrades　falling；　and
the　resolute　survivors　closing　in。　　Towards　evening；　the
attack　of　the　French；　repeated　and　resisted　so　bravely；
slackened　in　its　fury。　　They　had　other　foes　besides　the
British　to　engage；　or　were　preparing　for　a　final　onset。　　It
came　at　last：　　the　columns　of　the　Imperial　Guard　marched
up　the　hill　of　Saint　Jean；　at　length　and　at　once　to　sweep
the　English　from　the　height　which　they　had　maintained
all　day；　and　spite　of　all：　　unscared　by　the　thunder　of　the
artillery；　which　hurled　death　from　the　English　linethe
dark　rolling　column　pressed　on　and　up　the　hill。　　It　seemed
almost　to　crest　the　eminence；　when　it　began　to　wave　and
falter。　　Then　it　stopped；　still　facing　the　shot。　　Then　at　last
the　English　troops　rushed　from　the　post　from　which　no
enemy　had　been　able　to　dislodge　them；　and　the　Guard
turned　and　fled。
No　more　firing　was　heard　at　Brusselsthe　pursuit
rolled　miles　away。　　Darkness　came　down　on　the　field　and
city：　　and　Amelia　was　praying　for　George；　who　was　lying
on　his　face；　dead；　with　a　bullet　through　his　heart。

CHAPTER　XXXIII
In　Which　Miss　Crawley's　Relations　Are　Very　Anxious　About　Her
The　kind　reader　must　please　to　rememberwhile　the
army　is　marching　from　Flanders；　and；　after　its　heroic
actions　there；　is　advancing　to　take　the　fortifications　on　the
frontiers　of　France；　previous　to　an　occupation　of　that
countrythat　there　are　a　number　of　persons　living
peaceably　in　England　who　have　to　do　with　the　history　at
present　in　hand；　and　must　come　in　for　their　share　of　the
chronicle。　　During　the　time　of　these　battles　and　dangers；
old　Miss　Crawley　was　living　at　Brighton；　very　moderately
moved　by　the　great　events　that　were　going　on。　　The　great
events　rendered　the　newspapers　rather　interesting；　to　be
sure；　and　Briggs　read　out　the　Gazette；　in　which　Rawdon
Crawley's　gallantry　was　mentioned　with　honour；　and　his
promotion　was　presently　recorded。
〃What　a　pity　that　young　man　has　taken　such　an
irretrievable　step　in　the　world！〃　his　aunt　said；　〃with　his　rank
and　distinction　he　might　have　married　a　brewer's
daughter　with　a　quarter　of　a　millionlike　Miss　Grains；　or　have
looked　to　ally　himself　with　the　best　families　in　England。
He　would　have　had　my　money　some　day　or　other；　or　his
children　wouldfor　I'm　not　in　a　hurry　to　go；　Miss　Briggs；
although　you　may　be　in　a　hurry　to　be　rid　of　me；　and
instead　of　that；　he　is　a　doomed　pauper；　with　a　dancing…girl
for　a　wife。〃
〃Will　my　dear　Miss　Crawley　not　cast　an　eye　of
compassion　upon　the　heroic　soldier；　whose　name　is　inscribed
in　the　annals　of　his　country's　glory？〃　said　Miss　Briggs；
who　was　greatly　excited　by　the　Waterloo　proceedings；
and　loved　speaking　romantically　when　there　was　an
occasion。　　〃Has　not　the　Captainor　the　Colonel　as　I　may
now　style　himdone　deeds　which　make　the　name　of
Crawley　illustrious？〃
〃Briggs；　you　are　a　fool；〃　said　Miss　Crawley：　〃Colonel
Crawley　has　dragged　the　name　of　Crawley　through　the
mud；　Miss　Briggs。　　Marry　a　drawing…master's　daughter；
indeed！marry　a　dame　de　compagniefor　she　was　no
better；　Briggs；　no；　she　was　just　what　you　areonly　younger；
and　a　great　deal　prettier　and　cleverer。　　Were　you　an
accomplice　of　that　abandoned　wretch；　I　wonder；　of　whose
vile　arts　he　became　a　victim；　and　of　whom　you　used　to
be　such　an　admirer？　　Yes；　I　daresay　you　were　an　accomplice。
But　you　will　find　yourself　disappointed　in　my　will；
I　can　tell　you：　　and　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　write　to
Mr。　Waxy；　and　say　that　I　desire　to　see　him　immediately。〃
Miss　Crawley　was　now　in　the　habit　of　writing　to　Mr。
Waxy　her　solicitor　almost　every　day　in　the　week；　for　her
arrangements　respecting　her　property　were　all　revoked；
and　her　perplexity　was　great　as　to　the　future　disposition
of　her　money。
The　spinster　had；　however；　rallied　considerably；　as
was　proved　by　the　increased　vigour　and　frequency　of　her
sarcasms　upon　Miss　Briggs；　all　which　attacks　the　poor
companion　bore　with　meekness；　with　cowardice；　with　a
resignation　that　was　half　generous　and　half　hypocritical
with　the　slavish　submission；　in　a　word；　that　women　of
her　disposition　and　station　are　compelled　to　show。　　Who
has　not　seen　how　women　bully　women？　　What　tortures
have　men　to　endure；　comparable　to　those　daily　repeated
shafts　of　scorn　and　cruelty　with　which　poor　women　are
riddled　by　the　tyrants　of　their　sex？　　Poor　victims！　　But　we
are　starting　from　our　proposition；　which　is；　that　Miss
Crawley　was　always　particularly　annoying　and　savage
when　she　was　rallying　from　illnessas　they　say　wounds
tingle　most　when　they　are　about　to　heal。
While　thus　approaching；　as　all　hoped；　to　convalescence；
Miss　Briggs　was　the　only　victim　admitted　into　the
presence　of　the　invalid；　yet　Miss　Crawley's　relatives　afar
off　did　not　forget　their　beloved　kinswoman；　and　by　a
number　of　tokens；　presents；　and　kind　affectionate
messages；　strove　to　keep　themselves　alive　in　her
recollection。
In　the　first　place；　let　us　mention　her　nephew；　Rawdon
Crawley。　　A　few　weeks　after　the　famous　fight　of　Waterloo；
and　after　the　Gazette　had　made　known　to　her　the　promotion
and　gallantry　of　that　distinguished　officer；　the　Dieppe
packet　brought　over　to　Miss　Crawley　at　Brighton；　a　box
containing　presents；　and　a　dutiful　letter；　from　the
Colonel　her　nephew。　　In　the　box　were　a　pair　of　French
epaulets；　a　Cross　of　the　Legion　of　Honour；　and　the　hilt　of　a
swordrelics　from　the　field　of　battle：　　and　the　letter
described　with　a　good　deal　of　humour　how　the　latter
belonged　to　a　commanding　officer　of　the　Guard；　who　having
sworn　that　〃the　Guard　died；　but　never　surrendered；〃
was　taken　prisoner　the　next　minute　by　a　private　soldier；
who　broke　the　Frenchman's　sword　with　the　butt　of　his
musket；　when　Rawdon　made　himself　master　of　the
shattered　weapon。　　As　for　the　cross　and　epaulets；　they　came
from　a　Colonel　of　French　cavalry；　who　had　fallen　under
the　aide…de…camp's　arm　in　the　battle：　　and　Rawdon　Crawley
did　not　know　what　better　to　do　with　the　spoils　than
to　send　them　to　his　kindest　and　most　affectionate　old
friend。　　Should　he　continue　to　write　to　her　from　Paris；
whither　the　army　was　marching？　　He　might　be　able　to
give　her　interesting　news　from　that　capital；　and　of　some
of　Miss　Crawley's　old　friends　of　the　emigration；　to　whom
she　had　shown　so　much　kindness　during　their　distress。
The　spinster　caused　Briggs　to　write　back　to　the　Colonel
a　gracious　and　complimentary　letter；　encouraging
him　to　continue　his　correspondence。　　His　first　letter　was
so　excessively　lively　and　amusing　that　she　should　look
with　pleasure　for　its　successors。〃Of　course；　I　know；〃
she　explained　to；Miss　Briggs；　〃that　Rawdon　could　not
write　such　a　good　letter　any　more　than　you　could；　my
poor　Briggs；　and　that　it　is　that　clever　little　wretch　of　a
Rebecca；　who　dictates　every