vanity fair(名利场)-第93章

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himself　to　work　with　prodigious　assiduity。　　His　whole　family；
of　course；　was　transported　to　Queen's　Crawley；　whither
Lady　Southdown；　of　course；　came　too；　and　she　set　about
converting　the　parish　under　the　Rector's　nose；　and
brought　down　her　irregular　clergy　to　the　dismay　of　the
angry　Mrs　Bute。　　Sir　Pitt　had　concluded　no　bargain　for
the　sale　of　the　living　of　Queen's　Crawley；　when　it　should
drop；　her　Ladyship　proposed　to　take　the　patronage　into
her　own　hands　and　present　a　young　protege　to　the
Rectory；　on　which　subject　the　diplomatic　Pitt　said
nothing。
Mrs。　Bute's　intentions　with　regard　to　Miss　Betsy
Horrocks　were　not　carried　into　effect；　and　she　paid　no　visit
to　Southampton　Gaol。　　She　and　her　father　left　the　Hall
when　the　latter　took　possession　of　the　Crawley　Arms　in
the　village；　of　which　he　had　got　a　lease　from　Sir　Pitt。
The　ex…butler　had　obtained　a　small　freehold　there
likewise；　which　gave　him　a　vote　for　the　borough。　　The　Rector
had　another　of　these　votes；　and　these　and　four　others
formed　the　representative　body　which　returned　the　two
members　for　Queen's　Crawley。
There　was　a　show　of　courtesy　kept　up　between　the
Rectory　and　the　Hall　ladies；　between　the　younger　ones　at
least；　for　Mrs。　Bute　and　Lady　Southdown　never　could
meet　without　battles；　and　gradually　ceased　seeing　each
other。　　Her　Ladyship　kept　her　room　when　the　ladies　from
the　Rectory　visited　their　cousins　at　the　Hall。　　Perhaps　Mr。
Pitt　was　not　very　much　displeased　at　these　occasional
absences　of　his　mamma…in…law。　　He　believed　the　Binkie
family　to　be　the　greatest　and　wisest　and　most　interesting
in　the　world；　and　her　Ladyship　and　his　aunt　had　long　held
ascendency　over　him；　but　sometimes　he　felt　that　she
commanded　him　too　much。　　To　be　considered　young　was
complimentary；　doubtless；　but　at　six…and…forty　to　be
treated　as　a　boy　was　sometimes　mortifying。　　Lady　Jane
yielded　up　everything；　however；　to　her　mother。　　She　was
only　fond　of　her　children　in　private；　and　it　was　lucky
for　her　that　Lady　Southdown's　multifarious　business；　her
conferences　with　ministers；　and　her　correspondence　with
all　the　missionaries　of　Africa；　Asia；　aud　Australasia；　&c。；
occupied　the　venerable　Countess　a　great　deal；　so　that
she　had　but　little　time　to　devote　to　her　granddaughter；
the　little　Matilda；　and　her　grandson；　Master　Pitt　Crawley。
The　latter　was　a　feeble　child；　and　it　was　only　by
prodigious　quantities　of　calomel　that　Lady　Southdown　was
able　to　keep　him　in　life　at　all。
As　for　Sir　Pitt　he　retired　into　those　very　apartments
where　Lady　Crawley　had　been　previously　extinguished；
and　here　was　tended　by　Miss　Hester；　the　girl　upon　her
promotion；　with　constant　care　and　assiduity。　　What　love；
what　fidelity；　what　constancy　is　there　equal　to　that　of　a
nurse　with　good　wages？　They　smooth　pillows；　and　make
arrowroot；　they　get　up　at　nights；　they　bear　complaints
and　querulousness；　they　see　the　sun　shining　out　of　doors
and　don't　want　to　go　abroad；　they　sleep　on　arm…chairs
and　eat　their　meals　in　solitude；　they　pass　long　long
evenings　doing　nothing；　watching　the　embers；　and　the
patient's　drink　simmering　in　the　jug；　they　read　the　weekly
paper　the　whole　week　through；　and　Law's　Serious　Call　or
the　Whole　Duty　of　Man　suffices　them　for　literature　for
the　yearand　we　quarrel　with　them　because；　when　their
relations　come　to　see　them　once　a　week；　a　little　gin
is　smuggled　in　in　their　linen　basket。　　Ladies；　what　man's
love　is　there　that　would　stand　a　year's　nursing　of　the
object　of　his　affection？　Whereas　a　nurse　will　stand　by　you
for　ten　pounds　a　quarter；　and　we　think　her　too　highly
paid。　　At　least　Mr。　Crawley　grumbled　a　good　deal　about
paying　half　as　much　to　Miss　Hester　for　her　constant
attendance　upon　the　Baronet　his　father。
Of　sunshiny　days　this　old　gentleman　was　taken　out　in　a
chair　on　the　terracethe　very　chair　which　Miss　Crawley
had　had　at　Brighton；　and　which　had　been　transported
thence　with　a　number　of　Lady　Southdown's　effects　to
Queen's　Crawley。　　Lady　Jane　always　walked　by　the　old
man；　and　was　an　evident　favourite　with　him。　　He　used　to
nod　many　times　to　her　and　smile　when　she　came　in；　and
utter　inarticulate　deprecatory　moans　when　she　was　going
away。　　When　the　door　shut　upon　her　he　would　cry　and
sobwhereupon　Hester's　face　and　manner；　which　was
always　exceedingly　bland　and　gentle　while　her　lady　was
present；　would　change　at　once；　and　she　would　make　faces
at　him　and　clench　her　fist　and　scream　out　〃Hold　your
tongue；　you　stoopid　old　fool；〃　and　twirl　away　his　chair
from　the　fire　which　he　loved　to　look　atat　which　he
would　cry　more。　　For　this　was　all　that　was　left　after　more
than　seventy　years　of　cunning；　and　struggling；　and
drinking；　and　scheming；　and　sin　and　selfishnessa
whimpering　old　idiot　put　in　and　out　of　bed　and　cleaned
and　fed　like　a　baby。
At　last　a　day　came　when　the　nurse's　occupation　was
over。　　Early　one　morning；　as　Pitt　Crawley　was　at　his
steward's　and　bailiff's　books　in　the　study；　a　knock　came
to　the　door；　and　Hester　presented　herself；　dropping　a
curtsey；　and　said；
〃If　you　please；　Sir　Pitt；　Sir　Pitt　died　this　morning；　Sir
Pitt。　　I　was　a…making　of　his　toast；　Sir　Pitt；　for　his　gruel；
Sir　Pitt；　which　he　took　every　morning　regular　at　six；　Sir
Pitt；　andI　thought　I　heard　a　moan…like；　Sir　Pittand
andand〃　She　dropped　another　curtsey。
What　was　it　that　made　Pitt's　pale　face　flush　quite
red？　Was　it　because　he　was　Sir　Pitt　at　last；　with　a　seat
in　Parliament；　and　perhaps　future　honours　in　prospect？
〃I'll　clear　the　estate　now　with　the　ready　money；〃　he
thought　and　rapidly　calculated　its　incumbrances　and　the
improvements　which　he　would　make。　　He　would　not　use　his
aunt's　money　previously　lest　Sir　Pitt　should　recover　and
his　outlay　be　in　vain。
All　the　blinds　were　pulled　down　at　the　Hall　and　Rectory：
the　church　bell　was　tolled；　and　the　chancel　hung　in
black；　and　Bute　Crawley　didn't　go　to　a　coursing　meeting；
but　went　and　dined　quietly　at　Fuddleston；　where
they　talked　about　his　deceased　brother　and　young　Sir
Pitt　over　their　port。　　Miss　Betsy；　who　was　by　this　time
married　to　a　saddler　at　Mudbury；　cried　a　good　deal。
The　family　surgeon　rode　over　and　paid　his　respectful
compliments；　and　inquiries　for　the　health　of　their
ladyships。　　The　death　was　talked　about　at　Mudbury　and　at
the　Crawley　Arms；　the　landlord　whereof　had　become
reconciled　with　the　Rector　of　late；　who　was　occasionally
known　to　step　into　the　parlour　and　taste　Mr。　Horrocks'
mild　beer。
〃Shall　I　write　to　your　brotheror　will　you？〃　asked
Lady　Jane　of　her　husband；　Sir　Pitt。
〃I　will　write；　of　course；〃　Sir　Pitt　said；　〃and　invite　him
to　the　funeral：　　it　will　be　but　becoming。〃
〃AndandMrs。　Rawdon；〃　said　Lady　Jane　timidly。
〃Jane！〃　said　Lady　Southdown；　〃how　can　you　think　of
such　a　thing？〃
〃Mrs。　Rawdon　must　of　course　be　asked；〃　said　Sir　Pitt；
resolutely。
〃Not　whilst　I　am　in　the　house！〃　said　Lady　Southdown。
〃Your　Ladyship　will　be　pleased　to　recollect　that　I　am
the　head　of　this　family；〃　Sir　Pitt　replied。　　〃If　you　please；
Lady　Jane；　you　will　write　a　letter　to　Mrs。　Rawdon
Crawley；　requesting　her　presence　upon　this　melancholy
occasion。〃
〃Jane；　I　forbid　you　to　put　pen　to　paper！〃　cried　the
Countess。
〃I　believe　I　am　the　head　of　this　family；〃　Sir　Pitt
repeated；　〃and　however　much　I　may　regret　any
circumstance　which　may　lead　to　your　Ladyship　quitting　this
house；　must；　if　you　please；　continue　to　govern　it　as　I　see
fit。〃
Lady　Southdown　rose　up　as　magnificent　as　Mrs。　Siddons
in　Lady　Macbeth　and　ordered　that　horses　might　be　put
to　her　carriage。　　If　her　son　and　daughter　turned　her　out
of　their　house；　she　would　hide　her　sorrows　somewhere　in
loneliness　and　pray　for　their　conversion　to　better
thoughts。
〃We　don't　turn　you　out　of　our　house；　Mamma；〃　said
the　timid　Lady　Jane　imploringly。
〃You　invite　such　company　to　it　as　no　Christian　lady
should　meet；　and　I　will　have　my　horses　to…morrow
morning。〃
〃Have　the　goodness　to　write；　Jane；　under　my　dictation；〃
said　Sir　Pitt；　rising　and　throwing　himself　into　an　attitude
of　command；　like　the　portrait　of　a　Gentleman　in　the
Exhibition；　〃and　begin。　　'Queen's　Crawley；　September　14；
1822。My　dear　brother'　〃
Hearing　these　decisive　and　terrible　words；　Lady　Macbeth；
who　had　been　waiting　for　a　sign　of　weakness　or
vacillation　on　the　part　of　her　son…in…law；　rose　and；　with　a
scared　look；　left　the　library。　　Lady　Jane　looked　up　to
her　husband　as　if　she　would　fain　follow　and　soothe　her
mamma；　but　Pitt　forbade　his　wife　to　move。
〃She　won't　go　away；〃　he　said。　　〃She　has　let　her　house
at　Brighton　and　has　spent　her　last　half…year's　dividends。
A　Countess　living　at　an　inn　is　a　ruined　woman。　　I　have
been　waiting　long　for　an　opportunityto　take　thisthis
decisive　step；　my　love；　for；　as　you　must　perceive；　it　is
impossible　that　there　should　be　two　chiefs　in　a　family：
and　now；　if　you　please；　we　will　resume　the　dictation。　　'My
dear　brother；　the　melancholy　intelligence　which　it　is　my
duty　to　convey　to　my　family　must　have　been　long
anticipated　by；'　〃　&c。
In　a　word；　Pitt　having　come　to　his　kingdom；　and　having
by　good　luck；　or　desert　rather；　as　he　considered；　assumed
almost　all　the　fortune　which　his　other　relatives
had　expected；　was　determined　to　treat　his　family　kindly
and　respectably　and　make　a　house　of　Queen's　Crawley
once　more。　　It　pleased　him　to　think　that　he　should　be　its
chief。　　He　proposed　to　use　the　vast　influence　that　his
commanding　talents　and　position　must　speedily　acquire
for　him　in　the　county　to　get　his　brother　placed　and　his
cousins　decently　provided　for；　and　perhaps　had　a　little
sting　of　repentance　as　he　thought　that　he　was　the
proprietor　of　all　that　they　had　hoped　for。　　In　the　course　of
three　or　four　days'　reign　his　bearing　was　changed　and
his　plans　quite　fixed：　　he　determined　to　rule　justly　and
honestly；　to　depose　Lady　Southdown；　and　to　be　on　the
friendliest　possible　terms　with　all　the　relations　of　his
blood。
So　he　dictated　a　letter　to　his　brother　Rawdona　solemn
and　elaborate　letter；　containing　the　profoundest
observations；　couched　in　the　longest　words；　and　filling　with
wonder　the　simple　little　secretary；　who　wrote　under　her
husband's　order。　　〃What　an　orator　this　will　be；〃　thought
she；　〃when　he　enters　the　House　of　Commons〃　（on　which
point；　and　on　the　tyranny　of　Lady　Southdown；　Pitt　had
sometimes　dropped　hints　to　his　wife　in　bed）；　〃how　wise
and　good；　and　what　a　genius　my　husband　is！　　I　fancied
him　a　little　cold；　but　how　good；　and　what　a　genius！〃
The　fact　is；　Pitt　Crawley　had　got　every　word　of　the
letter　by　heart　and　had　studied　it；　with　diplomatic
secrecy；　deeply　and　perfectly；　long　before　he　thought　fit　to
communicate　it　to　his　astonished　wife。
This　letter；　with　a　huge　black　border　and　seal；　was
accordingly　despatched　by　Sir　Pitt　Crawley　to　his　brother
the　Colonel；　in　London。　　Rawdon　Crawley　was　but
half…pleased　at　the　receipt　of　it。　　〃What's　the　use　of　going
down　to　that　stupid　place？〃　thought　he。　　〃I　can't　stand
being　alone　with　Pitt　after　dinner；　and　horses　there
and　back　will　cost　us　twenty　pound。〃
He　carried　the　letter；　as　he　did　all　difficulties；　to　Becky；
upstairs　in　her　bedroomwith　her　chocolate；　which　he
always　made　and　took　to　her　of　a　morning。
He　put　the　tray　with　the　breakfast　and　the　letter　on
the　dressing…table；　before　which　Becky　sat　combing　her
yellow　hair。　　She　took　up　the　black…edged　missive