vanity fair(名利场)-第96章

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Rawdon　very　muchthat　was　clear　from　the　Colonel's
altered　habits　and　demeanourand　had　it　not　been　a
lucky　union　as　regarded　Pitt　himself？　The　cunning
diplomatist　smiled　inwardly　as　he　owned　that　he　owed　his
fortune　to　it；　and　acknowledged　that　he　at　least　ought　not
to　cry　out　against　it。　　His　satisfaction　was　not　removed
by　Rebecca's　own　statements；　behaviour；　and
conversation。
She　doubled　the　deference　which　before　had　charmed
him；　calling　out　his　conversational　powers　in　such　a
manner　as　quite　to　surprise　Pitt　himself；　who；　always
inclined　to　respect　his　own　talents；　admired　them　the　more
when　Rebecca　pointed　them　out　to　him。　　With　her
sister…in…law；　Rebecca　was　satisfactorily　able　to　prove　that　it
was　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley　who　brought　about　the　marriage
which　she　afterwards　so　calumniated；　that　it　was　Mrs。
Bute's　avaricewho　hoped　to　gain　all　Miss　Crawley's
fortune　and　deprive　Rawdon　of　his　aunt's　favourwhich
caused　and　invented　all　the　wicked　reports　against
Rebecca。　　〃She　succeeded　in　making　us　poor；〃　Rebecca
said　with　an　air　of　angelical　patience；　〃but　how　can　I
be　angry　with　a　woman　who　has　given　me　one　of　the　best
husbands　in　the　world？　And　has　not　her　own　avarice
been　sufficiently　punished　by　the　ruin　of　her　own　hopes　and
the　loss　of　the　property　by　which　she　set　so　much
store？　Poor！〃　she　cried。　　〃Dear　Lady　Jane；　what　care　we
for　poverty？　I　am　used　to　it　from　childhood；　and　I　am
often　thankful　that　Miss　Crawley's　money　has　gone　to
restore　the　splendour　of　the　noble　old　family　of　which
I　am　so　proud　to　be　a　member。　　I　am　sure　Sir　Pitt　will
make　a　much　better　use　of　it　than　Rawdon　would。〃
All　these　speeches　were　reported　to　Sir　Pitt　by　the
most　faithful　of　wives；　and　increased　the　favourable
impression　which　Rebecca　made；　so　much　so　that　when；
on　the　third　day　after　the　funeral；　the　family　party　were
at　dinner；　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　carving　fowls　at　the　head　of
the　table；　actually　said　to　Mrs。　Rawdon；　〃Ahem！　　Rebecca；
may　I　give　you　a　wing？〃a　speech　which　made　the　little
woman's　eyes　sparkle　with　pleasure。
While　Rebecca　was　prosecuting　the　above　schemes　and
hopes；　and　Pitt　Crawley　arranging　the　funeral　ceremonial
and　other　matters　connected　with　his　future　progress　and
dignity；　and　Lady　Jane　busy　with　her　nursery；　as　far　as
her　mother　would　let　her；　and　the　sun　rising　and　setting；
and　the　clock…tower　bell　of　the　Hall　ringing　to　dinner　and
to　prayers　as　usual；　the　body　of　the　late　owner　of　Queen's
Crawley　lay　in　the　apartment　which　he　had　occupied；
watched　unceasingly　by　the　professional　attendants　who
were　engaged　for　that　rite。　　A　woman　or　two；　and　three
or　four　undertaker's　men；　the　best　whom　Southampton
could　furnish；　dressed　in　black；　and　of　a　proper　stealthy
and　tragical　demeanour；　had　charge　of　the　remains　which
they　watched　turn　about；　having　the　housekeeper's　room
for　their　place　of　rendezvous　when　off　duty；　where　they
played　at　cards　in　privacy　and　drank　their　beer。
The　members　of　the　family　and　servants　of　the　house
kept　away　from　the　gloomy　spot；　where　the　bones　of　the
descendant　of　an　ancient　line　of　knights　and　gentlemen
lay；　awaiting　their　final　consignment　to　the　family　crypt。
No　regrets　attended　them；　save　those　of　the　poor　woman
who　had　hoped　to　be　Sir　Pitt's　wife　and　widow　and　who
had　fled　in　disgrace　from　the　Hall　over　which　she　had　so
nearly　been　a　ruler。　　Beyond　her　and　a　favourite　old　pointer
he　had；　and　between　whom　and　himself　an　attachment
subsisted　during　the　period　of　his　imbecility；　the　old　man
had　not　a　single　friend　to　mourn　him；　having　indeed；
during　the　whole　course　of　his　life；　never　taken　the　least
pains　to　secure　one。　　Could　the　best　and　kindest　of　us　who
depart　from　the　earth　have　an　opportunity　of　revisiting
it；　I　suppose　he　or　she　（assuming　that　any　Vanity　Fair
feelings　subsist　in　the　sphere　whither　we　are　bound）
would　have　a　pang　of　mortification　at　finding　how　soon
our　survivors　were　consoled。　　And　so　Sir　Pitt　was
forgottenlike　the　kindest　and　best　of　usonly　a　few
weeks　sooner。
Those　who　will　may　follow　his　remains　to　the　grave；
whither　they　were　borne　on　the　appointed　day；　in　the　most
becoming　manner；　the　family　in　black　coaches；　with　their
handkerchiefs　up　to　their　noses；　ready　for　the　tears　which
did　not　come；　the　undertaker　and　his　gentlemen　in　deep
tribulation；　the　select　tenantry　mourning　out　of
compliment　to　the　new　landlord；　the　neighbouring　gentry's
carriages　at　three　miles　an　hour；　empty；　and　in　profound
affliction；　the　parson　speaking　out　the　formula　about　〃our
dear　brother　departed。〃　As　long　as　we　have　a　man's　body；
we　play　our　Vanities　upon　it；　surrounding　it　with
humbug　and　ceremonies；　laying　it　in　state；　and　packing　it
up　in　gilt　nails　and　velvet；　and　we　finish　our　duty　by
placing　over　it　a　stone；　written　all　over　with　lies。　　Bute's
curate；　a　smart　young　fellow　from　Oxford；　and　Sir　Pitt
Crawley　composed　between　them　an　appropriate　Latin
epitaph　for　the　late　lamented　Baronet；　and　the　former
preached　a　classical　sermon；　exhorting　the　survivors　not
to　give　way　to　grief　and　informing　them　in　the　most
respectful　terms　that　they　also　would　be　one　day　called
upon　to　pass　that　gloomy　and　mysterious　portal　which　had
just　closed　upon　the　remains　of　their　lamented　brother。
Then　the　tenantry　mounted　on　horseback　again；　or　stayed
and　refreshed　themselves　at　the　Crawley　Arms。　　Then；
after　a　lunch　in　the　servants'　hall　at　Queen's　Crawley；
the　gentry's　carriages　wheeled　off　to　their　different
destinations：　　then　the　undertaker's　men；　taking　the　ropes；
palls；　velvets；　ostrich　feathers；　and　other　mortuary
properties；　clambered　up　on　the　roof　of　the　hearse　and　rode
off　to　Southampton。　　Their　faces　relapsed　into　a　natural
expression　as　the　horses；　clearing　the　lodge…gates；　got　into
a　brisker　trot　on　the　open　road；　and　squads　of　them
might　have　been　seen；　speckling　with　black　the
public…house　entrances；　with　pewter…pots　flashing　in　the
sunshine。　　Sir　Pitt's　invalid　chair　was　wheeled　away　into　a
tool…house　in　the　garden；　the　old　pointer　used　to　howl
sometimes　at　first；　but　these　were　the　only　accents　of
grief　which　were　heard　in　the　Hall　of　which　Sir　Pitt
Crawley；　Baronet；　had　been　master　for　some　threescore　years。
As　the　birds　were　pretty　plentiful；　and　partridge　shooting
is　as　it　were　the　duty　of　an　English　gentleman　of
statesmanlike　propensities；　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　the　first　shock　of
grief　over；　went　out　a　little　and　partook　of　that　diversion
in　a　white　hat　with　crape　round　it。　　The　sight　of　those　fields
of　stubble　and　turnips；　now　his　own；　gave　him　many　secret
joys。　　Sometimes；　and　with　an　exquisite　humility；　he
took　no　gun；　but　went　out　with　a　peaceful　bamboo　cane；
Rawdon；　his　big　brother；　and　the　keepers　blazing　away　at
his　side。　　Pitt's　money　and　acres　had　a　great　effect　upon
his　brother。　　The　penniless　Colonel　became　quite　obsequious
and　respectful　to　the　head　of　his　house；　and　despised
the　milksop　Pitt　no　longer。　　Rawdon　listened　with　sympathy
to　his　senior's　prospects　of　planting　and　draining；　gave
his　advice　about　the　stables　and　cattle；　rode
over　to　Mudbury　to　look　at　a　mare；　which　he　thought
would　carry　Lady　Jane；　and　offered　to　break　her；
&c。：　　the　rebellious　dragoon　was　quite　humbled　and
subdued；　and　became　a　most　creditable　younger　brother。　　He
had　constant　bulletins　from　Miss　Briggs　in　London
respecting　little　Rawdon；　who　was　left　behind　there；　who
sent　messages　of　his　own。　　〃I　am　very　well；〃　he　wrote。　　〃I
hope　you　are　very　well。　　I　hope　Mamma　is　very　well。　　The
pony　is　very　well。　　Grey　takes　me　to　ride　in　the　park。
I　can　canter。　　I　met　the　little　boy　who　rode　before。　　He
cried　when　he　cantered。　　I　do　not　cry。〃　Rawdon　read　these
letters　to　his　brother　and　Lady　Jane；　who　was　delighted
with　them。　　The　Baronet　promised　to　take　charge　of　the　lad
at　school；　and　his　kind…hearted　wife　gave　Rebecca　a
bank…note；　begging　her　to　buy　a　present　with　it　for　her　little
nephew。
One　day　followed　another；　and　the　ladies　of　the　house
passed　their　life　in　those　calm　pursuits　and　amusements
which　satisfy　country　ladies。　　Bells　rang　to　meals　and
to　prayers。　　The　young　ladies　took　exercise　on　the
pianoforte　every　morning　after　breakfast；　Rebecca　giving
them　the　benefit　of　her　instruction。　　Then　they　put　on　thick
shoes　and　walked　in　the　park　or　shrubberies；　or　beyond
the　palings　into　the　village；　descending　upon　the　cottages；
with　Lady　Southdown's　medicine　and　tracts　for　the
sick　people　there。　　Lady　Southdown　drove　out　in　a
pony…chaise；　when　Rebecca　would　take　her　place　by　the
Dowager's　side　and　listen　to　her　solemn　talk　with　the　utmost
interest。　　She　sang　Handel　and　Haydn　to　the　family　of
evenings；　and　engaged　in　a　large　piece　of　worsted　work；　as　if
she　had　been　born　to　the　business　and　as　if　this　kind
of　life　was　to　continue　with　her　until　she　should　sink　to
the　grave　in　a　polite　old　age；　leaving　regrets　and　a　great
quantity　of　consols　behind　heras　if　there　were　not　cares
and　duns；　schemes；　shifts；　and　poverty　waiting　outside
the　park　gates；　to　pounce　upon　her　when　she　issued　into
the　world　again。
〃It　isn't　difficult　to　be　a　country　gentleman's　wife；〃
Rebecca　thought。　　〃I　think　I　could　be　a　good　woman　if
I　had　five　thousand　a　year。　　I　could　dawdle　about　in　the
nursery　and　count　the　apricots　on　the　wall。　　I　could　water
plants　in　a　green…house　and　pick　off　dead　leaves　from　the
geraniums。　　I　could　ask　old　women　about　their　rheumatisms
and　order　half…a…crown's　worth　of　soup　for
the　poor。　　I　shouldn't　miss　it　much；　out　of　five　thousand
a　year。　　I　could　even　drive　out　ten　miles　to　dine　at　a
neighbour's；　and　dress　in　the　fashions　of　the　year　before　last。
I　could　go　to　church　and　keep　awake　in　the　great　family
pew；　or　go　to　sleep　behind　the　curtains；　with　my　veil
down；　if　I　only　had　practice。　　I　could　pay　everybody；　if
I　had　but　the　money。　　This　is　what　the　conjurors　here
pride　themselves　upon　doing。　　They　look　down　with　pity
upon　us　miserable　sinners　who　have　none。　　They　think
themselves　generous　if　they　give　our　children　a　five…pound
note；　and　us　contemptible　if　we　are　without　one。〃　And
who　knows　but　Rebecca　was　right　in　her　speculations
and　that　it　was　only　a　question　of　money　and　fortune
which　made　the　difference　between　her　and　an　honest
woman？　If　you　take　temptations　into　account；　who　is　to
say　that　he　is　better　than　his　neighbour？　A　comfortable
career　of　prosperity；　if　it　does　not　make　people　honest；　at
least　keeps　them　so。　　An　alderman　coming　from　a　turtle
feast　will　not　step　out　of　his　carnage　to　steal　a　leg　of
mutton；　but　put　him　to　starve；　and　see　if　he　will　not
purloin　a　loaf。　　Becky　consoled　herself　by　so　balancing　the
chances　and　equalizing　the　distribution　of　good　and　evil
in　the　world。
The　old　haunts；　the　old　fields　and　woods；　the　copses；
ponds；　and　gardens；　the　rooms　of　the　old　house　where
she　had　spent　a　couple　of　years　seven　years　ago；　were　all
carefully　revisited　by　her。　　She　had　been　young　there；　or
comparatively　so；　for　she　forgot　the　time　when　she　ever
WAS　youngbut　she　remembered　her　thoughts　and
feelings　seven　years　back　and　contrasted　them　with　those
which　she　had　at　present；　now　that　she　had　seen　the
world；　and　lived　with　great　people；　and　raised　herself　far
beyond　her　original　humble　station。
〃I　have