vanity fair(名利场)-第81章

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see　the　kiss　George　had　placed　on　the　superscription　of
his　letter。　　Mr。　Osborne　dropped　it　with　the　bitterest；
deadliest　pang　of　balked　affection　and　revenge。　　His　son
was　still　beloved　and　unforgiven。
About　two　months　afterwards；　however；　as　the　young
ladies　of　the　family　went　to　church　with　their　father；　they
remarked　how　he　took　a　different　seat　from　that　which
he　usually　occupied　when　he　chose　to　attend　divine
worship；　and　that　from　his　cushion　opposite；　he　looked　up　at
the　wall　over　their　heads。　　This　caused　the　young　women
likewise　to　gaze　in　the　direction　towards　which　their
father's　gloomy　eyes　pointed：　　and　they　saw　an　elaborate
monument　upon　the　wall；　where　Britannia　was　represented
weeping　over　an　urn；　and　a　broken　sword　and　a
couchant　lion　indicated　that　the　piece　of　sculpture　had
been　erected　in　honour　of　a　deceased　warrior。　　The
sculptors　of　those　days　had　stocks　of　such　funereal
emblems　in　hand；　as　you　may　see　still　on　the　walls　of　St。
Paul's；　which　are　covered　with　hundreds　of　these
braggart　heathen　allegories。　　There　was　a　constant　demand
for　them　during　the　first　fifteen　years　of　the　present
century。
Under　the　memorial　in　question　were　emblazoned　the
well…known　and　pompous　Osborne　arms；　and　the
inscription　said；　that　the　monument　was　〃Sacred　to　the
memory　of　George　Osborne；　Junior；　Esq。；　late　a　Captain
in　his　Majesty's　th　regiment　of　foot；　who　fell　on　the
18th　of　June；　1815；　aged　28　years；　while　fighting　for　his
king　and　country　in　the　glorious　victory　of　Waterloo。
Dulce　et　decorum　est　pro　patria　mori。〃
The　sight　of　that　stone　agitated　the　nerves　of　the
sisters　so　much；　that　Miss　Maria　was　compelled　to　leave
the　church。　　The　congregation　made　way　respectfully　for
those　sobbing　girls　clothed　in　deep　black；　and　pitied　the
stern　old　father　seated　opposite　the　memorial　of　the　dead
soldier。　　〃Will　he　forgive　Mrs。　George？〃　the　girls　said　to
themselves　as　soon　as　their　ebullition　of　grief　was　over。
Much　conversation　passed　too　among　the　acquaintances
of　the　Osborne　family；　who　knew　of　the　rupture　between
the　son　and　father　caused　by　the　former's　marriage；　as
to　the　chance　of　a　reconciliation　with　the　young　widow。
There　were　bets　among　the　gentlemen　both　about　Russell
Square　and　in　the　City。
If　the　sisters　had　any　anxiety　regarding　the　possible
recognition　of　Amelia　as　a　daughter　of　the　family；　it
was　increased　presently；　and　towards　the　end　of　the
autumn；　by　their　father's　announcement　that　he　was　going
abroad。　　He　did　not　say　whither；　but　they　knew　at　once
that　his　steps　would　be　turned　towards　Belgium；　and　were
aware　that　George's　widow　was　still　in　Brussels。　　They
had　pretty　accurate　news　indeed　of　poor　Amelia　from
Lady　Dobbin　and　her　daughters。　　Our　honest　Captain　had
been　promoted　in　consequence　of　the　death　of　the　second
Major　of　the　regiment　on　the　field；　and　the　brave　O'Dowd；
who　had　distinguished　himself　greatly　here　as　upon　all
occasions　where　he　had　a　chance　to　show　his　coolness
and　valour；　was　a　Colonel　and　Companion　of　the　Bath。
Very　many　of　the　brave　th；　who　had　suffered
severely　upon　both　days　of　action；　were　still　at　Brussels
in　the　autumn；　recovering　of　their　wounds。　　The　city　was
a　vast　military　hospital　for　months　after　the　great　battles；
and　as　men　and　officers　began　to　rally　from　their　hurts；
the　gardens　and　places　of　public　resort　swarmed　with
maimed　warriors；　old　and　young；　who；　just　rescued　out　of
death；　fell　to　gambling；　and　gaiety；　and　love…making；　as
people　of　Vanity　Fair　will　do。　　Mr。　Osborne　found　out
some　of　the　th　easily。　　He　knew　their　uniform　quite
well；　and　had　been　used　to　follow　all　the　promotions　and
exchanges　in　the　regiment；　and　loved　to　talk　about　it　and
its　officers　as　if　he　had　been　one　of　the　number。　　On　the
day　after　his　arrival　at　Brussels；　and　as　he　issued　from
his　hotel；　which　faced　the　park；　he　saw　a　soldier　in　the
well…known　facings；　reposing　on　a　stone　bench　in　the
garden；　and　went　and　sate　down　trembling　by　the
wounded　convalescent　man。
〃Were　you　in　Captain　Osborne's　company？〃　he　said；
and　added；　after　a　pause；　〃he　was　my　son；　sir。〃
The　man　was　not　of　the　Captain's　company；　but　he
lifted　up　his　unwounded　arm　and　touched…his　cap　sadly
and　respectfully　to　the　haggard　broken…spirited　gentleman
who　questioned　him。　　〃The　whole　army　didn't　contain
a　finer　or　a　better　officer；〃　the　soldier　said。　　〃The　Sergeant
of　the　Captain's　company　（Captain　Raymond　had　it
now）；　was　in　town；　though；　and　was　just　well　of　a　shot
in　the　shoulder。　　His　honour　might　see　him　if　he　liked；
who　could　tell　him　anything　he　wanted　to　know　about
about　the　th's　actions。　　But　his　honour　had　seen
Major　Dobbin；　no　doubt；　the　brave　Captain's　great
friend；　and　Mrs。　Osborne；　who　was　here　too；　and　had
been　very　bad；　he　heard　everybody　say。　　They　say　she
was　out　of　her　mind　like　for　six　weeks　or　more。　　But　your
honour　knows　all　about　thatand　asking　your　pardon〃
the　man　added。
Osborne　put　a　guinea　into　the　soldier's　hand；　and　told
him　he　should　have　another　if　he　would　bring　the　Sergeant
to　the　Hotel　du　Parc；　a　promise　which　very　soon
brought　the　desired　officer　to　Mr。　Osborne's　presence。
And　the　first　soldier　went　away；　and　after　telling　a
comrade　or　two　how　Captain　Osborne's　father　was　arrived；
and　what　a　free…handed　generous　gentleman　he　was；　they
went　and　made　good　cheer　with　drink　and　feasting；　as
long　as　the　guineas　lasted　which　had　come　from　the
proud　purse　of　the　mourning　old　father。
In　the　Sergeant's　company；　who　was　also　just　convalescent；
Osborne　made　the　journey　of　Waterloo　and
Quatre　Bras；　a　journey　which　thousands　of　his　countrymen
were　then　taking。　　He　took　the　Sergeant　with　him　in
his　carriage；　and　went　through　both　fields　under　his
guidance。　　He　saw　the　point　of　the　road　where　the　regiment
marched　into　action　on　the　16th；　and　the　slope　down
which　they　drove　the　French　cavalry　who　were　pressing
on　the　retreating　Belgians。　　There　was　the　spot　where　the
noble　Captain　cut　down　the　French　officer　who　was
grappling　with　the　young　Ensign　for　the　colours；　the
Colour…Sergeants　having　been　shot　down。　　Along　this　road
they　retreated　on　the　next　day；　and　here　was　the　bank
at　which　the　regiment　bivouacked　under　the　rain　of　the
night　of　the　seventeenth。　　Further　on　was　the　position
which　they　took　and　held　during　the　day；　forming　time
after　time　to　receive　the　charge　of　the　enemy's　horsemen
and　lying　down　under　the　shelter　of　the　bank　from　the
furious　French　cannonade。　　And　it　was　at　this　declivity
when　at　evening　the　whole　English　line　received　the　order
to　advance；　as　the　enemy　fell　back　after　his　last　charge；
that　the　Captain；　hurraying　and　rushing　down　the　hill
waving　his　sword；　received　a　shot　and　fell　dead。　　〃It　was
Major　Dobbin　who　took　back　the　Captain's　body　to
Brussels；〃　the　Sergeant　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃and　had　him
buried；　as　your　honour　knows。〃　The　peasants　and　relic…
hunters　about　the　place　were　screaming　round　the　pair；
as　the　soldier　told　his　story；　offering　for　sale　all　sorts　of
mementoes　of　the　fight；　crosses；　and　epaulets；　and
shattered　cuirasses；　and　eagles。
Osborne　gave　a　sumptuous　reward　to　the　Sergeant
when　he　parted　with　him；　after　having　visited　the　scenes
of　his　son's　last　exploits。　　His　burial…place　he　had　already
seen。　　Indeed；　he　had　driven　thither　immediately　after　his
arrival　at　Brussels。　　George's　body　lay　in　the　pretty　burial…
ground　of　Laeken；　near　the　city；　in　which　place；　having
once　visited　it　on　a　party　of　pleasure；　he　had　lightly
expressed　a　wish　to　have　his　grave　made。　　And　there　the
young　officer　was　laid　by　his　friend；　in　the　unconsecrated
corner　of　the　garden；　separated　by　a　little　hedge　from
the　temples　and　towers　and　plantations　of　flowers　and
shrubs；　under　which　the　Roman　Catholic　dead　repose。　　It
seemed　a　humiliation　to　old　Osborne　to　think　that　his
son；　an　English　gentleman；　a　captain　in　the　famous　British
army；　should　not　be　found　worthy　to　lie　in　ground　where
mere　foreigners　were　buried。　　Which　of　us　is　there　can
tell　how　much　vanity　lurks　in　our　warmest　regard　for
others；　and　how　selfish　our　love　is？　Old　Osborne　did
not　speculate　much　upon　the　mingled　nature　of　his　feelings；
and　how　his　instinct　and　selfishness　were　combating
together。　　He　firmly　believed　that　everything　he　did　was
right；　that　he　ought　on　all　occasions　to　have　his　own　way
and　like　the　sting　of　a　wasp　or　serpent　his　hatred
rushed　out　armed　and　poisonous　against　anything　like
opposition。　　He　was　proud　of　his　hatred　as　of　everything
else。　　Always　to　be　right；　always　to　trample　forward；　and
never　to　doubt；　are　not　these　the　great　qualities　with
which　dullness　takes　the　lead　in　the　world？
As　after　the　drive　to　Waterloo；　Mr。　Osborne's　carriage
was　nearing　the　gates　of　the　city　at　sunset；　they　met
another　open　barouche；　in　which　were　a　couple　of　ladies
and　a　gentleman；　and　by　the　side　of　which　an　officer　was
riding。　　Osborne　gave　a　start　back；　and　the　Sergeant；
seated　with　him；　cast　a　look　of　surprise　at　his　neighbour；
as　he　touched　his　cap　to　the　officer；　who　mechanically
returned　his　salute。　　It　was　Amelia；　with　the　lame　young
Ensign　by　her　side；　and　opposite　to　her　her　faithful
friend　Mrs。　O'Dowd。　　It　was　Amelia；　but　how　changed
from　the　fresh　and　comely　girl　Osborne　knew。　　Her　face
was　white　and　thin。　　Her　pretty　brown　hair　was　parted
under　a　widow's　capthe　poor　child。　　Her　eyes　were
fixed；　and　looking　nowhere。　　They　stared　blank　in　the
face　of　Osborne；　as　the　carriages　crossed　each　other；　but
she　did　not　know　him；　nor　did　he　recognise　her；　until
looking　up；　he　saw　Dobbin　riding　by　her：　　and　then　he
knew　who　it　was。　　He　hated　her。　　He　did　not　know　how
much　until　he　saw　her　there。　　When　her　carriage　had
passed　on；　he　turned　and　stared　at　the　Sergeant；　with　a
curse　and　defiance　in　his　eye　cast　at　his　companion；　who
could　not　help　looking　at　himas　much　as　to　say　〃How
dare　you　look　at　me？　Damn　you！　　I　do　hate　her。　　It　is　she
who　has　tumbled　my　hopes　and　all　my　pride　down。〃
〃Tell　the　scoundrel　to　drive　on　quick；〃　he　shouted　with
an　oath；　to　the　lackey　on　the　box。　　A　minute　afterwards；　a
horse　came　clattering　over　the　pavement　behind
Osborne's　carriage；　and　Dobbin　rode　up。　　His　thoughts
had　been　elsewhere　as　the　carriages　passed　each　other；
and　it　was　not　until　he　had　ridden　some　paces　forward；
that　he　remembered　it　was　Osborne　who　had　just　passed
him。　　Then　he　turned　to　examine　if　the　sight　of　her　father…
in…law　had　made　any　impression　on　Amelia；　but　the　poor
girl　did　not　know　who　had　passed。　　Then　William；　who
daily　used　to　accompany　her　in　his　drives；　taking　out　his
watch；　made　some　excuse　about　an　engagement　which　he
suddenly　recollected；　and　so　rode　off。　　She　did　not
remark　that　either：　　but　sate　looking　before　her；　over　the
homely　landscape　towards　the　woods　in　the　distance；　by
which　George　marched　away。
Mr。　Osborne；　Mr。　Osborne！〃　cried　Dobbin；　as　he　rode
up　and　held　out　his　hand。　　Osborne　made　no　motion　to
take　it；　but　shouted　out　once　more　and　with　another　curse
to　his　servant　to　drive　on。
Dobbin　laid　his　hand　on　the　carriage　side。　　〃I　will　see
you；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　a　message　for　you。〃
〃From　that　woman？〃　said　Osborne；　fiercely。
〃No；〃　replied　the　other；　〃from　your　son〃；　at　which
Osborne　fell　back　i