vanity fair(名利场)-第75章

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poor　Briggs；　and　that　it　is　that　clever　little　wretch　of　a
Rebecca；　who　dictates　every　word　to　him；　but　that　is　no
reason　why　my　nephew　should　not　amuse　me；　and　so　I
wish　to　let　him　understand　that　I　am　in　high　good
humour。〃
I　wonder　whether　she　knew　that　it　was　not　only　Becky
who　wrote　the　letters；　but　that　Mrs。　Rawdon　actually
took　and　sent　home　the　trophies　which　she　bought　for　a
few　francs；　from　one　of　the　innumerable　pedlars　who
immediately　began　to　deal　in　relics　of　the　war。　　The
novelist；　who　knows　everything；　knows　this　also。　　Be　this；
however；　as　it　may；　Miss　Crawley's　gracious　reply　greatly
encouraged　our　young　friends；　Rawdon　and　his　lady；　who
hoped　for　the　best　from　their　aunt's　evidently　pacified
humour：　　and　they　took　care　to　entertain　her　with　many
delightful　letters　from　Paris；　whither；　as　Rawdon　said；
they　had　the　good　luck　to　go　in　the　track　of　the
conquering　army。
To　the　rector's　lady；　who　went　off　to　tend　her
husband's　broken　collar…bone　at　the　Rectory　at　Queen's
Crawley；　the　spinster's　communications　were　by　no
means　so　gracious。　　Mrs。　Bute；　that　brisk；　managing；
lively；　imperious　woman；　had　committed　the　most　fatal　of
all　errors　with　regard　to　her　sister…in…law。　　She　had　not
merely　oppressed　her　and　her　householdshe　had　bored
Miss　Crawley；　and　if　poor　Miss　Briggs　had　been　a
woman　of　any　spirit；　she　might　have　been　made　happy
by　the　commission　which　her　principal　gave　her　to　write
a　letter　to　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley；　saying　that　Miss　Crawley's
health　was　greatly　improved　since　Mrs。　Bute　had　left　her；
and　begging　the　latter　on　no　account　to　put　herself　to
trouble；　or　quit　her　family　for　Miss　Crawley's　sake。　　This
triumph　over　a　lady　who　had　been　very　haughty　and
cruel　in　her　behaviour　to　Miss　Briggs；　would　have　rejoiced
most　women；　but　the　truth　is；　Briggs　was　a　woman　of　no
spirit　at　all；　and　the　moment　her　enemy　was　discomfited；
she　began　to　feel　compassion　in　her　favour。
〃How　silly　I　was；〃　Mrs。　Bute　thought；　and　with
reason；　〃ever　to　hint　that　I　was　coming；　as　I　did；　in　that
foolish　letter　when　we　sent　Miss　Crawley　the　guinea…
fowls。　I　ought　to　have　gone　without　a　word　to　the　poor
dear　doting　old　creature；　and　taken　her　out　of　the　hands
of　that　ninny　Briggs；　and　that　harpy　of　a　femme　de
chambre。　　Oh！　　Bute；　Bute；　why　did　you　break　your　collar…
bone？〃
Why；　indeed？　　We　have　seen　how　Mrs。　Bute；　having　the
game　in　her　hands；　had　really　played　her　cards　too　well。
She　had　ruled　over　Miss　Crawley's　household　utterly　and
completely；　to　be　utterly　and　completely　routed　when　a
favourable　opportunity　for　rebellion　came。　　She　and　her
household；　however；　considered　that　she　had　been　the
victim　of　horrible　selfishness　and　treason；　and　that　her
sacrifices　in　Miss　Crawley's　behalf　had　met　with　the　most
savage　ingratitude。　　Rawdon's　promotion；　and　the
honourable　mention　made　of　his　name　in　the　Gazette；　filled
this　good　Christian　lady　also　with　alarm。　　Would　his　aunt
relent　towards　him　now　that　he　was　a　Lieutenant…Colonel
and　a　C。B。？　and　would　that　odious　Rebecca　once　more
get　into　favour？　　The　Rector's　wife　wrote　a　sermon　for　her
husband　about　the　vanity　of　military　glory　and　the
prosperity　of　the　wicked；　which　the　worthy　parson　read　in
his　best　voice　and　without　understanding　one　syllable　of
it。　　He　had　Pitt　Crawley　for　one　of　his　auditorsPitt；　who
had　come　with　his　two　half…sisters　to　church；　which。the
old　Baronet　could　now　by　no　means　be　brought　to
frequent。
Since　the　departure　of　Becky　Sharp；　that　old　wretch
had　given　himself　up　entirely　to　his　bad　courses；　to　the
great　scandal　of　the　county　and　the　mute　horror　of　his
son。　　The　ribbons　in　Miss　Horrocks's　cap　became　more
splendid　than　ever。　　The　polite　families　fled　the　hall　and
its　owner　in　terror。　　Sir　Pitt　went　about　tippling　at　his
tenants'　houses；　and　drank　rum…and…water　with　the
farmers　at　Mudbury　and　the　neighbouring　places　on
market…days。　　He　drove　the　family　coach…and…four　to
Southampton　with　Miss　Horrocks　inside：　　and　the　county　people
expected；　every　week；　as　his　son　did　in　speechless　agony；
that　his　marriage　with　her　would　be　announced　in　the
provincial　paper。　　It　was　indeed　a　rude　burthen　for　Mr。
Crawley　to　bear。　　His　eloquence　was　palsied　at　the
missionary　meetings；　and　other　religious　assemblies　in　the
neighbourhood；　where　he　had　been　in　the　habit　of
presiding；　and　of　speaking　for　hours；　for　he　felt；　when　he　rose；
that　the　audience　said；　〃That　is　the　son　of　the　old
reprobate　Sir　Pitt；　who　is　very　likely　drinking　at　the　public
house　at　this　very　moment。〃　And　once　when　he　was
speaking　of　the　benighted　condition　of　the　king　of
Timbuctoo；　and　the　number　of　his　wives　who　were　likewise　in
darkness；　some　gipsy　miscreant　from　the　crowd　asked；
〃How　many　is　there　at　Queen's　Crawley；　Young
Squaretoes？〃　to　the　surprise　of　the　platform；　and　the　ruin
of　Mr。　Pitt's　speech。　　And　the　two　daughters　of　the　house　of
Queen's　Crawley　would　have　been　allowed　to　run　utterly
wild　（for　Sir　Pitt　swore　that　no　governess　should　ever
enter　into　his　doors　again）；　had　not　Mr。　Crawley；　by
threatening　the　old　gentleman；　forced　the　latter　to　send
them　to　school。
Meanwhile；　as　we　have　said；　whatever　individual
differences　there　might　be　between　them　all；　Miss　Crawley's
dear　nephews　and　nieces　were　unanimous　in　loving　her
and　sending　her　tokens　of　affection。　　Thus　Mrs。　Bute　sent
guinea…fowls；　and　some　remarkably　fine　cauliflowers；　and
a　pretty　purse　or　pincushion　worked　by　her　darling　girls；
who　begged　to　keep　a　LITTLE　place　in　the　recollection　of
their　dear　aunt；　while　Mr。　Pitt　sent　peaches　and　grapes
and　venison　from　the　Hall。　　The　Southampton　coach　used
to　carry　these　tokens　of　affection　to　Miss　Crawley　at
Brighton：　　it　used　sometimes　to　convey　Mr。　Pitt　thither
too：　　for　his　differences　with　Sir　Pitt　caused　Mr。　Crawley
to　absent　himself　a　good　deal　from　home　now：　　and
besides；　he　had　an　attraction　at　Brighton　in　the　person　of
the　Lady　Jane　Sheepshanks；　whose　engagement　to　Mr。
Crawley　has　been　formerly　mentioned　in　this　history。
Her　Ladyship　and　her　sisters　lived　at　Brighton　with　their
mamma；　the　Countess　Southdown；　that　strong…minded
woman　so　favourably　known　in　the　serious　world。
A　few　words　ought　to　be　said　regarding　her　Ladyship
and　her　noble　family；　who　are　bound　by　ties　of　present
and　future　relationship　to　the　house　of　Crawley。
Respecting　the　chief　of　the　Southdown　family；　Clement
William；　fourth　Earl　of　Southdown；　little　need　be　told；
except　that　his　Lordship　came　into　Parliament　（as　Lord
Wolsey）　under　the　auspices　of　Mr。　Wilberforce；　and　for
a　time　was　a　credit　to　his　political　sponsor；　and　decidedly
a　serious　young　man。　　But　words　cannot　describe　the
feelings　of　his　admirable　mother；　when　she　learned；　very
shortly　after　her　noble　husband's　demise；　that　her　son
was　a　member　of　several　worldly　clubs；　had　lost　largely
at　play　at　Wattier's　and　the　Cocoa　Tree；　that　he　had
raised　money　on　post…obits；　and　encumbered　the　family
estate；　that　he　drove　four…in…hand；　and　patronised　the
ring；　and　that　he　actually　had　an　opera…box；　where　he
entertained　the　most　dangerous　bachelor　company。　　His
name　was　only　mentioned　with　groans　in　the　dowager's
circle。
The　Lady　Emily　was　her　brother's　senior　by　many
years；　and　took　considerable　rank　in　the　serious　world　as
author　of　some　of　the　delightful　tracts　before　mentioned；
and　of　many　hymns　and　spiritual　pieces。　　A　mature
spinster；　and　having　but　faint　ideas　of　marriage；　her　love　for
the　blacks　occupied　almost　all　her　feelings。　　It　is　to　her；　I
believe；　we　owe　that　beautiful　poem
Lead　us　to　some　sunny　isle；
Yonder　in　the　western　deep；
Where　the　skies　for　ever　smile；
And　the　blacks　for　ever　weep；　&c。
She　had　correspondences　with　clerical　gentlemen　in
most　of　our　East　and　West　India　possessions；　and　was
secretly　attached　to　the　Reverend　Silas　Hornblower；　who
was　tattooed　in　the　South　Sea　Islands。
As　for　the　Lady　Jane；　on　whom；　as　it　has　been　said；　Mr。
Pitt　Crawley's　affection　had　been　placed；　she　was　gentle；
blushing；　silent；　and　timid。　　In　spite　of　his　falling　away；
she　wept　for　her　brother；　and　was　quite　ashamed　of
loving　him　still。　　Even　yet　she　used　to　send　him　little　hurried
smuggled　notes；　and　pop　them　into　the　post　in　private。
The　one　dreadful　secret　which　weighed　upon　her　life　was；
that　she　and　the　old　housekeeper　had　been　to　pay
Southdown　a　furtive　visit　at　his　chambers　in　the　Albany；　and
found　himO　the　naughty　dear　abandoned　wretch！
smoking　a　cigar　with　a　bottle　of　Curacao　before　him。　　She
admired　her　sister；　she　adored　her　mother；　she　thought
Mr。　Crawley　the　most　delightful　and　accomplished　of
men；　after　Southdown；　that　fallen　angel：　　and　her　mamma
and　sister；　who　were　ladies　of　the　most　superior　sort；
managed　everything　for　her；　and　regarded　her　with　that
amiable　pity；　of　which　your　really　superior　woman　always
has　such　a　share　to　give　away。　　Her　mamma　ordered　her
dresses；　her　books；　her　bonnets；　and　her　ideas　for　her。
She　was　made　to　take　pony…riding；　or　piano…exercise；　or
any　other　sort　of　bodily　medicament；　according　as　my
Lady　Southdown　saw　meet；　and　her　ladyship　would　have
kept　her　daughter　in　pinafores　up　to　her　present　age　of
six…and…twenty；　but　that　they　were　thrown　off　when　Lady
Jane　was　presented　to　Queen　Charlotte。
When　these　ladies　first　came　to　their　house　at　Brighton；
it　was　to　them　alone　that　Mr。　Crawley　paid　his　personal
visits；　contenting　himself　by　leaving　a　card　at　his　aunt's
house；　and　making　a　modest　inquiry　of　Mr。　Bowls　or　his
assistant　footman；　with　respect　to　the　health　of　the
invalid。　　When　he　met　Miss　Briggs　coming　home　from　the
library　with　a　cargo　of　novels　under　her　arm；　Mr。　Crawley
blushed　in　a　manner　quite　unusual　to　him；　as　he
stepped　forward　and　shook　Miss　Crawley's　companion　by
the　hand。　　He　introduced　Miss　Briggs　to　the　lady　with
whom　he　happened　to　be　walking；　the　Lady　Jane
Sheepshanks；　saying；　〃Lady　Jane；　permit　me　to　introduce　to
you　my　aunt's　kindest　friend　and　most　affectionate
companion；　Miss　Briggs；　whom　you　know　under　another　title；
as　authoress　of　the　delightful　'Lyrics　of　the　Heart；'　of
which　you　are　so　fond。〃　　Lady　Jane　blushed　too　as　she
held　out　a　kind　little　hand　to　Miss　Briggs；　and　said
something　very　civil　and　incoherent　about　mamma；　and
proposing　to　call　on　Miss　Crawley；　and　being　glad　to　be
made　known　to　the　friends　and　relatives　of　Mr。　Crawley；
and　with　soft　dove…like　eyes　saluted　Miss　Briggs　as
they　separated；　while　Pitt　Crawley　treated　her　to　a
profound　courtly　bow；　such　as　he　had　used　to　H。H。　the
Duchess　of　Pumpernickel；　when　he　was　attache　at　that　court。
The　artful　diplomatist　and　disciple　of　the　Machiavellian
Binkie！　　It　was　he　who　had　given　Lady　Jane　that　copy　of
poor　Briggs's　early　poems；　which　he　remembered　to　have
seen　at　Queen's　Crawley；　with　a　dedication　from　the
poetess　to　his　father's　late　wife；　and　he　brought　the
volume　with　him　to　Brighton；　reading　it　in　the　Southampton
coach　and　marking　it　with　his　own　pencil；　before　he
presented　it　to　the　gentle　Lady　Jane。
It　was　he；　too；　who　laid　before　Lady　Southdown　the
great　advantages　which　might　occur　from　an　intimacy
between　her　family　and　Miss　Crawleyadvantages　both
worldly　and　spiritual；　he　said：　　for　Miss　Crawley　was　now
quite　alone；　the　monstrou