vanity fair(名利场)-第88章

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autumn　of　1815。
Jos's　London　agents　had　orders　to　pay　one　hundred
and　twenty　pounds　yearly　to　his　parents　at　Fulham。　　It
was　the　chief　support　of　the　old　couple；　for　Mr。　Sedley's
speculations　in　life　subsequent　to　his　bankruptcy　did　not
by　any　means　retrieve　the　broken　old　gentleman's
fortune。　　He　tried　to　be　a　wine…merchant；　a　coal…merchant；
a　commission　lottery　agent；　&c。；　&c。　　He　sent　round
prospectuses　to　his　friends　whenever　he　took　a　new　trade；
and　ordered　a　new　brass　plate　for　the　door；　and　talked
pompously　about　making　his　fortune　still。　　But　Fortune
never　came　back　to　the　feeble　and　stricken　old　man。　　One
by　one　his　friends　dropped　off；　and　were　weary　of
buying　dear　coals　and　bad　wine　from　him；　and　there
was　only　his　wife　in　all　the　world　who　fancied；　when　he
tottered　off　to　the　City　of　a　morning；　that　he　was　still
doing　any　business　there。　　At　evening　he　crawled　slowly
back；　and　he　used　to　go　of　nights　to　a　little　club　at　a
tavern；　where　he　disposed　of　the　finances　of　the　nation。
It　was　wonderful　to　hear　him　talk　about　millions；　and
agios；　and　discounts；　and　what　Rothschild　was
doing；　and　Baring　Brothers。　　He　talked　of　such　vast　sums
that　the　gentlemen　of　the　club　（the　apothecary；　the
undertaker；　the　great　carpenter　and　builder；　the　parish　clerk；
who　was　allowed　to　come　stealthily；　and　Mr。　Clapp；　our
old　acquaintance；）　respected　the　old　gentleman。　　〃I　was
better　off　once；　sir；〃　he　did　not　fail　to　tell　everybody　who
〃used　the　room。〃　〃My　son；　sir；　is　at　this　minute　chief
magistrate　of　Ramgunge　in　the　Presidency　of　Bengal；　and
touching　his　four　thousand　rupees　per　mensem。　　My
daughter　might　be　a　Colonel's　lady　if　she　liked。　　I　might
draw　upon　my　son；　the　first　magistrate；　sir；　for　two
thousand　pounds　to…morrow；　and　Alexander　would　cash　my
bill；　down　sir；　down　on　the　counter；　sir。　　But　the　Sedleys
were　always　a　proud　family。〃　You　and　I；　my　dear
reader；　may　drop　into　this　condition　one　day：　　for　have
not　many　of　our　friends　attained　it？　Our　luck　may　fail：
our　powers　forsake　us：　　our　place　on　the　boards　be　taken
by　better　and　younger　mimesthe　chance　of　life　roll
away　and　leave　us　shattered　and　stranded。　　Then　men
will　walk　across　the　road　when　they　meet　youor；　worse
still；　hold　you　out　a　couple　of　fingers　and　patronize　you
in　a　pitying　waythen　you　will　know；　as　soon　as　your
back　is　turned；　that　your　friend　begins　with　a　〃Poor
devil；　what　imprudences　he　has　committed；　what　chances
that　chap　has　thrown　away！〃　Well；　wella　carriage　and
three　thousand　a　year　is　not　the　summit　of　the　reward
nor　the　end　of　God's　judgment　of　men。　　If　quacks　prosper
as　often　as　they　go　to　the　wallif　zanies　succeed　and
knaves　arrive　at　fortune；　and；　vice　versa；　sharing　ill
luck　and　prosperity　for　all　the　world　like　the　ablest　and
most　honest　amongst　usI　say；　brother；　the　gifts　and
pleasures　of　Vanity　Fair　cannot　be　held　of　any　great
account；　and　that　it　is　probable　。　　。　　。　　but　we　are
wandering　out　of　the　domain　of　the　story。
Had　Mrs。　Sedley　been　a　woman　of　energy；　she　would
have　exerted　it　after　her　husband's　ruin　and；　occupying
a　large　house；　would　have　taken　in　boarders。　　The　broken
Sedley　would　have　acted　well　as　the　boarding…house
landlady's　husband；　the　Munoz　of　private　life；　the　titular　lord
and　master：　　the　carver；　house…steward；　and　humble
husband　of　the　occupier　of　the　dingy　throne。　　I　have　seen
men　of　good　brains　and　breeding；　and　of　good　hopes　and
vigour　once；　who　feasted　squires　and　kept　hunters　in
their　youth；　meekly　cutting　up　legs　of　mutton　for
rancorous　old　harridans　and　pretending　to　preside　over　their
dreary　tablesbut　Mrs。　Sedley；　we　say；　had　not　spirit
enough　to　bustle　about　for　〃a　few　select　inmates　to　join
a　cheerful　musical　family；〃　such　as　one　reads　of　in　the
Times。　　She　was　content　to　lie　on　the　shore　where
fortune　had　stranded　herand　you　could　see　that　the
career　of　this　old　couple　was　over。
I　don't　think　they　were　unhappy。　　Perhaps　they　were
a　little　prouder　in　their　downfall　than　in　their　prosperity。
Mrs。　Sedley　was　always　a　great　person　for　her　landlady；
Mrs。　Clapp；　when　she　descended　and　passed　many　hours
with　her　in　the　basement　or　ornamented　kitchen。　　The
Irish　maid　Betty　Flanagan's　bonnets　and　ribbons；　her
sauciness；　her　idleness；　her　reckless　prodigality　of　kitchen
candles；　her　consumption　of　tea　and　sugar；　and　so　forth
occupied　and　amused　the　old　lady　almost　as　much　as　the
doings　of　her　former　household；　when　she　had　Sambo　and
the　coachman；　and　a　groom；　and　a　footboy；　and　a
housekeeper　with　a　regiment　of　female　domesticsher　former
household；　about　which　the　good　lady　talked　a　hundred
times　a　day。　　And　besides　Betty　Flanagan；　Mrs。　Sedley
had　all　the　maids…of…all…work　in　the　street　to　superintend。
She　knew　how　each　tenant　of　the　cottages　paid　or
owed　his　little　rent。　　She　stepped　aside　when　Mrs。
Rougemont　the　actress　passed　with　her　dubious　family。　　She
flung　up　her　head　when　Mrs。　Pestler；　the　apothecary's
lady；　drove　by　in　her　husband's　professional　one…horse
chaise。　　She　had　colloquies　with　the　greengrocer　about
the　pennorth　of　turnips　which　Mr。　Sedley　loved；　she　kept
an　eye　upon　the　milkman　and　the　baker's　boy；　and
made　visitations　to　the　butcher；　who　sold　hundreds　of
oxen　very　likely　with　less　ado　than　was　made　about
Mrs。　Sedley's　loin　of　mutton：　　and　she　counted　the
potatoes　under　the　joint　on　Sundays；　on　which　days；　dressed
in　her　best；　she　went　to　church　twice　and　read　Blair's
Sermons　in　the　evening。
On　that　day；　for　〃business〃　prevented　him　on　weekdays
from　taking　such　a　pleasure；　it　was　old　Sedley's
delight　to　take　out　his　little　grandson　Georgy　to　the
neighbouring　parks　or　Kensington　Gardens；　to　see　the　soldiers
or　to　feed　the　ducks。　　Georgy　loved　the　redcoats；　and　his
grandpapa　told　him　how　his　father　had　been　a　famous
soldier；　and　introduced　him　to　many　sergeants　and　others
with　Waterloo　medals　on　their　breasts；　to　whom　the
old　grandfather　pompously　presented　the　child　as　the
son　of　Captain　Osborne　of　the　th；　who　died　gloriously
on　the　glorious　eighteenth。　　He　has　been　known　to　treat
some　of　these　non…commissioned　gentlemen　to　a　glass　of
porter；　and；　indeed；　in　their　first　Sunday　walks　was
disposed　to　spoil　little　Georgy；　sadly　gorging　the　boy　with
apples　and　parliament；　to　the　detriment　of　his　health
until　Amelia　declared　that　George　should　never　go　out
with　his　grandpapa　unless　the　latter　promised　solemnly；
and　on　his　honour；　not　to　give　the　child　any　cakes；
lollipops；　or　stall　produce　whatever。
Between　Mrs。　Sedley　and　her　daughter　there　was　a　sort
of　coolness　about　this　boy；　and　a　secret　jealousyfor
one　evening　in　George's　very　early　days；　Amelia；　who
had　been　seated　at　work　in　their　little　parlour　scarcely
remarking　that　the　old　lady　had　quitted　the　room；　ran
upstairs　instinctively　to　the　nursery　at　the　cries　of　the
child；　who　had　been　asleep　until　that　momentand
there　found　Mrs。　Sedley　in　the　act　of　surreptitiously
administering　Daffy's　Elixir　to　the　infant。　　Amelia；　the
gentlest　and　sweetest　of　everyday　mortals；　when　she
found　this　meddling　with　her　maternal　authority；　thrilled
and　trembled　all　over　with　anger。　　Her　cheeks；　ordinarily
pale；　now　flushed　up；　until　they　were　as　red　as　they　used
to　be　when　she　was　a　child　of　twelve　years　old。　　She
seized　the　baby　out　of　her　mother's　arms　and　then
grasped　at　the　bottle；　leaving　the　old　lady　gaping　at　her；
furious；　and　holding　the　guilty　tea…spoon。
Amelia　flung　the　bottle　crashing　into　the　fire…place。
〃I　will　NOT　have　baby　poisoned；　Mamma；〃　cried　Emmy；
rocking　the　infant　about　violently　with　both　her　arms
round　him　and　turning　with　flashing　eyes　at　her　mother。
〃Poisoned；　Amelia！〃　said　the　old　lady；　〃this　language
to　me？〃
〃He　shall　not　have　any　medicine　but　that　which　Mr。
Pestler　sends　for　hi　n。　　He　told　me　that　Daffy's　Elixir　was
poison。〃
〃Very　good：　　you　think　I'm　a　murderess　then；〃　replied
Mrs。　Sedley。　　〃This　is　the　language　you　use　to　your　mother。
I　have　met　with　misfortunes：　　I　have　sunk　low　in　life：　　I
have　kept　my　carriage；　and　now　walk　on　foot：　　but　I　did
not　know　I　was　a　murderess　before；　and　thank　you　for　the
NEWS。〃
〃Mamma；〃　said　the　poor　girl；　who　was　always　ready　for
tears〃you　shouldn't　be　hard　upon　me。　　II　didn't　mean
I　mean；　I　did　not　wish　to　say　you　would　to　any
wrong　to　this　dear　child；　only〃
〃Oh；　no；　my　love；only　that　I　was　a　murderess；　in
which　case　I　had　better　go　to　the　Old　Bailey。　　Though　I
didn't　poison　YOU；　when　you　were　a　child；　but　gave　you
the　best　of　education　and　the　most　expensive　masters
money　could　procure。　　Yes；　I've　nursed　five　children　and
buried　three；　and　the　one　I　loved　the　best　of　all；　and
tended　through　croup；　and　teething；　and　measles；　and
hooping…cough；　and　brought　up　with　foreign　masters；
regardless　of　expense；　and　with　accomplishments　at　Minerva
Housewhich　I　never　had　when　I　was　a　girlwhen　I　was
too　glad　to　honour　my　father　and　mother；　that　I　might
live　long　in　the　land；　and　to　be　useful；　and　not　to　mope
all　day　in　my　room　and　act　the　fine　ladysays　I'm　a
murderess。　　Ah；　Mrs。　Osborne！　may　YOU　never　nourish　a
viper　in　your　bosom；　that's　MY　prayer。〃
〃Mamma；　Mamma！〃　cried　the　bewildered　girl；　and　the
child　in　her　arms　set　up　a　frantic　chorus　of　shouts。
〃A　murderess；　indeed！　　Go　down　on　your　knees　and
pray　to　God　to　cleanse　your　wicked　ungrateful　heart；
Amelia；　and　may　He　forgive　you　as　I　do。〃　And　Mrs。
Sedley　tossed　out　of　the　room；　hissing　out　the　word
poison　once　more；　and　so　ending　her　charitable
benediction。
Till　the　termination　of　her　natural　life；　this　breach
between　Mrs。　Sedley　and　her　daughter　was　never　thoroughly
　mended。　　The　quarrel　gave　the　elder　lady　numberless
advantages　which　she　did　not　fail　to　turn　to　account　with
female　ingenuity　and　perseverance。　　For　instance；　she
scarcely　spoke　to　Amelia　for　many　weeks　afterwards。
She　warned　the　domestics　not　to　touch　the　child；　as　Mrs。
Osborne　might　be　offended。　　She　asked　her　daughter　to
see　and　satisfy　herself　that　there　was　no　poison　prepared
in　the　little　daily　messes　that　were　concocted　for　Georgy。
When　neighbours　asked　after　the　boy's　health；　she
referred　them　pointedly　to　Mrs。　Osborne。　　SHE　never
ventured　to　ask　whether　the　baby　was　well　or　not。　　SHE
would　not　touch　the　child　although　he　was　her　grandson；
and　own　precious　darling；　for　she　was　not　USED　to
children；　and　might　kill　it。　　And　whenever　Mr。　Pestler　came
upon　his　healing　inquisition；　she　received　the　doctor　with
such　a　sarcastic　and　scornful　demeanour；　as　made　the
surgeon　declare　that　not　Lady　Thistlewood　herself；　whom
he　had　the　honour　of　attending　professionally；　could
give　herself　greater　airs　than　old　Mrs。　Sedley；　from　whom
he　never　took　a　fee。　　And　very　likely　Emmy　was　jealous
too；　upon　her　own　part；　as　what　mother　is　not；　of　those
who　would　manage　her　children　for　her；　or　become
candidates　for　the　first　place　in　their　affections。　　It　is　certain
that　when　anybody　nursed　the　child；　she　was　uneasy；　and
that　she　would　no　more　allow　Mrs。　Clapp　or　the
domestic　to　dress　or　tend　him　than　she　would　have　let　them
wash　her　husband's　miniature　which　hung　up　over　her
little　bedthe　same　little　bed　from　which　the　poor　girl
had　gone　to　his；　and　to　which　she　retired　now　for　many
long；　silent；　tearful；　but　happy　years。
In