vanity fair(名利场)-第99章

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of　the　descendant　of　the　Malonys　and　the　Molloys。　　Her
Ladyship；　our　old　acquaintance；　is　as　much　at　home　at
Madras　as　at　Brussels　in　the　cantonment　as　under　the
tents。　　On　the　march　you　saw　her　at　the　head　of　the
regiment　seated　on　a　royal　elephant；　a　noble　sight。
Mounted　on　that　beast；　she　has　been　into　action　with　tigers
in　the　jungle；　she　has　been　received　by　native　princes；　who
have　welcomed　her　and　Glorvina　into　the　recesses　of　their
zenanas　and　offered　her　shawls　and　jewels　which　it　went
to　her　heart　to　refuse。　　The　sentries　of　all　arms　salute　her
wherever　she　makes　her　appearance；　and　she　touches　her
hat　gravely　to　their　salutation。　　Lady　O'Dowd　is　one　of　the
greatest　ladies　in　the　Presidency　of　Madrasher　quarrel
with　Lady　Smith；　wife　of　Sir　Minos　Smith　the　puisne　judge；
is　still　remembered　by　some　at　Madras；　when　the　Colonel's
lady　snapped　her　fingers　in　the　Judge's　lady's　face　and　said
SHE'D　never　walk　behind　ever　a　beggarly　civilian。　　Even
now；　though　it　is　five…and…twenty　years　ago；　people
remember　Lady　O'Dowd　performing　a　jig　at　Government
House；　where　she　danced　down　two　Aides…de…Camp；　a
Major　of　Madras　cavalry；　and　two　gentlemen　of　the　Civil
Service；　and；　persuaded　by　Major　Dobbin；　C。B。；　second　in
command　of　the　th；　to　retire　to　the　supper…room；　lassata
nondum　satiata　recessit。
Peggy　O'Dowd　is　indeed　the　same　as　ever；　kind　in　act　and
thought；　impetuous　in　temper；　eager　to　command；　a　tyrant
over　her　Michael；　a　dragon　amongst　all　the　ladies　of　the
regiment；　a　mother　to　all　the　young　men；　whom　she　tends
in　their　sickness；　defends　in　all　their　scrapes；　and　with
whom　Lady　Peggy　is　immensely　popular。　　But　the
Subalterns'　and　Captains'　ladies　（the　Major　is　unmarried）
cabal　against　her　a　good　deal。　　They　say　that　Glorvina　gives
herself　airs　and　that　Peggy　herself　is　ill　tolerably
domineering。　　She　interfered　with　a　little　congregation
which　Mrs。　Kirk　had　got　up　and　laughed　the　young　men
away　from　her　sermons；　stating　that　a　soldier's　wife　had　no
business　to　be　a　parsonthat　Mrs。　Kirk　would　be　much
better　mending　her　husband's　clothes；　and；　if　the　regiment
wanted　sermons；　that　she　had　the　finest　in　the　world；　those
of　her　uncle；　the　Dean。　　She　abruptly　put　a　termination　to　a
flirtation　which　Lieutenant　Stubble　of　the　regiment　had
commenced　with　the　Surgeon's　wife；　threatening　to　come
down　upon　Stubble　for　the　money　which　he　had　borrowed
from　her　（for　the　young　fellow　was　still　of　an　extravagant
turn）　unless　he　broke　off　at　once　and　went　to　the　Cape　on
sick　leave。　　On　the　other　hand；　she　housed　and　sheltered
Mrs。　Posky；　who　fled　from　her　bungalow　one　night；
pursued　by　her　infuriate　husband；　wielding　his　second
brandy　bottle；　and　actually　carried　Posky　through　the
delirium　tremens　and　broke　him　of　the　habit　of　drinking；
which　had　grown　upon　that　officer；　as　all　evil　habits　will
grow　upon　men。　　In　a　word；　in　adversity　she　was　the　best
of　comforters；　in　good　fortune　the　most　troublesome　of
friends；　having　a　perfectly　good　opinion　of　herself　always
and　an　indomitable　resolution　to　have　her　own　way。
Among　other　points；　she　had　made　up　her　mind　that
Glorvina　should　marry　our　old　friend　Dobbin。　　Mrs。　O'Dowd
knew　the　Major's　expectations　and　appreciated　his　good
qualities　and　the　high　character　which　he　enjoyed　in　his
profession。　　Glorvina；　a　very　handsome；　fresh…coloured；
black…haired；　blue…eyed　young　lady；　who　could　ride　a
horse；　or　play　a　sonata　with　any　girl　out　of　the　County
Cork；　seemed　to　be　the　very　person　destined　to　insure
Dobbin's　happinessmuch　more　than　that　poor　good　little
weak…spur'ted　Amelia；　about　whom　he　used　to　take　on　so。
〃Look　at　Glorvina　enter　a　room；〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd　would　say；
〃and　compare　her　with　that　poor　Mrs。　Osborne；　who
couldn't　say　boo　to　a　goose。　　She'd　be　worthy　of　you；　Major
you're　a　quiet　man　yourself；　and　want　some　one　to　talk　for
ye。　　And　though　she　does　not　come　of　such　good　blood　as
the　Malonys　or　Molloys；　let　me　tell　ye；　she's　of　an　ancient
family　that　any　nobleman　might　be　proud　to　marry　into。〃
But　before　she　had　come　to　such　a　resolution　and　determined　to
subjugate　Major　Dobbin　by　her　endearments；　it　must　be　owned
that　Glorvina　had　practised　them　a　good　deal　elsewhere。　　She　had
had　a　season　in　Dublin；　and　who　knows　how　many　in　Cork；
Killarney；　and　Mallow？　She　had　flirted　with　all　the　marriageable
officers　whom　the　depots　of　her　country　afforded；　and　all　the
bachelor　squires　who　seemed　eligible。　　She　had　been
engaged　to　be　married　a　half…score　times　in　Ireland；
besides　the　clergyman　at　Bath　who　used　her　so　ill。　　She　had
flirted　all　the　way　to　Madras　with　the　Captain　and　chief
mate　of　the　Ramchunder　East　Indiaman；　and　had　a　season
at　the　Presidency　with　her　brother　and　Mrs。　O'Dowd；　who
was　staying　there；　while　the　Major　of　the　regiment　was　in
command　at　the　station。　　Everybody　admired　her　there；
everybody　danced　with　her；　but　no　one　proposed　who　was
worth　the　marryingone　or　two　exceedingly　young
subalterns　sighed　after　her；　and　a　beardless　civilian　or　two；
but　she　rejected　these　as　beneath　her　pretensionsand
other　and　younger　virgins　than　Glorvina　were　married
before　her。　　There　are　women；　and　handsome　women　too；
who　have　this　fortune　in　life。　　They　fall　in　love　with　the
utmost　generosity；　they　ride　and　walk　with　half　the
Army…list；　though　they　draw　near　to　forty；　and　yet　the
Misses　O'Grady　are　the　Misses　O'Grady　still：　　Glorvina
persisted　that　but　for　Lady　O'Dowd's　unlucky　quarrel　with
the　Judge's　lady；　she　would　have　made　a　good　match　at
Madras；　where　old　Mr。　Chutney；　who　was　at　the　head　of
the　civil　service　（and　who　afterwards　married　Miss　Dolby；
a　young　lady　only　thirteen　years　of　age　who　had　just
arrived　from　school　in　Europe）；　was　just　at　the　point　of
proposing　to　her。
Well；　although　Lady　O'Dowd　and　Glorvina　quarrelled　a
great　number　of　times　every　day；　and　upon　almost　every
conceivable　subjectindeed；　if　Mick　O'Dowd　had　not
possessed　the　temper　of　an　angel　two　such　women
constantly　about　his　ears　would　have　driven　him　out　of　his
sensesyet　they　agreed　between　themselves　on　this　point；
that　Glorvina　should　marry　Major　Dobbin；　and　were
determined　that　the　Major　should　have　no　rest　until　the
arrangement　was　brought　about。　　Undismayed　by　forty　or
fifty　previous　defeats；　Glorvina　laid　siege　to　him。　　She　sang
Irish　melodies　at　him　unceasingly。　　She　asked　him　so
frequently　and　pathetically；　Will　ye　come　to　the　bower？
that　it　is　a　wonder　how　any　man　of　feeling　could　have
resisted　the　invitation。　　She　was　never　tired　of　inquiring；　if
Sorrow　had　his　young　days　faded；　and　was　ready　to　listen
and　weep　like　Desdemona　at　the　stories　of　his　dangers　and
his　campaigns。　　It　has　been
said　that　our　honest　and　dear　old　friend　used　to　perform
on　the　flute　in　private；　Glorvina　insisted　upon　having　duets
with　him；　and　Lady　O'Dowd　would　rise　and　artlessly　quit
the　room　when　the　young　couple　were　so　engaged。
Glorvina　forced　the　Major　to　ride　with　her　of　mornings。　　The
whole　cantonment　saw　them　set　out　and　return。　　She　was
constantly　writing　notes　over　to　him　at　his　house；
borrowing　his　books；　and　scoring　with　her　great
pencil…marks　such　passages　of　sentiment　or　humour　as
awakened　her　sympathy。　　She　borrowed　his　horses；　his
servants；　his　spoons；　and　palanquinno　wonder　that　public
rumour　assigned　her　to　him；　and　that　the　Major's　sisters　in
England　should　fancy　they　were　about　to　have　a　sister…in…
law。
Dobbin；　who　was　thus　vigorously　besieged；　was　in　the
meanwhile　in　a　state　of　the　most　odious　tranquillity。　　He
used　to　laugh　when　the　young　fellows　of　the　regiment
joked　him　about　Glorvina's　manifest　attentions　to　him。
〃Bah！〃　said　he；　〃she　is　only　keeping　her　hand　inshe
practises　upon　me　as　she　does　upon　Mrs。　Tozer's　piano；
because　it's　the　most　handy　instrument　in　the　station。　　I　am
much　too　battered　and　old　for　such　a　fine　young　lady　as
Glorvina。〃　And　so　he　went　on　riding　with　her；　and　copying
music　and　verses　into　her　albums；　and　playing　at　chess
with　her　very　submissively；　for　it　is　with　these　simple
amusements　that　some　officers　in　India　are　accustomed　to
while　away　their　leisure　moments；　while　others　of　a　less
domestic　turn　hunt　hogs；　and　shoot　snipes；　or　gamble　and
smoke　cheroots；　and　betake　themselves　to　brandy…and…
water。　　As　for　Sir　Michael　O'Dowd；　though　his　lady　and　her
sister　both　urged　him　to　call　upon　the　Major　to　explain
himself　and　not　keep　on　torturing　a　poor　innocent　girl　in
that　shameful　way；　the　old　soldier　refused　point…blank　to
have　anything　to　do　with　the　conspiracy。　　〃Faith；　the　Major's
big　enough　to　choose　for　himself；〃　Sir　Michael　said；　〃he'll
ask　ye　when　he　wants　ye〃；　or　else　he　would　turn　the
matter　off　jocularly；　declaring　that　〃Dobbin　was　too　young
to　keep　house；　and　had　written　home　to　ask　lave　of　his
mamma。〃　Nay；　he　went　farther；　and　in　private
communications　with　his　Major　would　caution　and　rally
him；　crying；　〃Mind　your　oi；　Dob；　my　boy；　them　girls　is　bent
on　mischiefme　Lady　has　just　got　a　box　of　gowns　from　Europe；
　and　there's　a　pink　satin　for　Glorvina；　which　will　finish　ye；　
Dob；　if　it's　in　the　power　of　woman　or　satin　to　move　ye。〃
But　the　truth　is；　neither　beauty　nor　fashion　could　conquer
him。　　Our　honest　friend　had　but　one　idea　of　a　woman　in　his
head；　and　that　one　did　not　in　the　least　resemble　Miss
Glorvina　O'Dowd　in　pink　satin。　　A　gentle　little　woman　in　black；
with　large　eyes　and　brown　hair；　seldom　speaking；　save　when
spoken　to；　and　then　in　a　voice　not　the　least　resembling
Miss　Glorvina'sa　soft　young　mother　tending　an　infant
and　beckoning　the　Major　up　with　a　smile　to　look　at　hima
rosy…cheeked　lass　coming　singing　into　the　room　in　Russell
Square　or　hanging　on　George　Osborne's　arm；　happy　and
lovingthere　was　but　this　image　that　filled　our　honest
Major's　mind；　by　day　and　by　night；　and　reigned　over　it
always。　　Very　likely　Amelia　was　not　like　the　portrait　the
Major　had　formed　of　her：　　there　was　a　figure　in　a　book　of
fashions　which　his　sisters　had　in　England；　and　with　which
William　had　made　away　privately；　pasting　it　into　the　lid
of　his　desk；　and　fancying　he　saw　some　resemblance　to
Mrs。　Osborne　in　the　print；　whereas　I　have　seen　it；　and
can　vouch　that　it　is　but　the　picture　of　a　high…waisted
gown　with　an　impossible　doll's　face　simpering　over　it
and；　perhaps；　Mr。　Dobbin's　sentimental　Amelia　was　no
more　like　the　real　one　than　this　absurd　little　print　which
he　cherished。　　But　what　man　in　love；　of　us；　is　better
informed？or　is　he　much　happier　when　he　sees　and　owns　his
delusion？　Dobbin　was　under　this　spell。　　He　did　not　bother
his　friends　and　the　public　much　about　his　feelings；　or
indeed　lose　his　natural　rest　or　appetite　on　account
of　them。　　His　head　has　grizzled　since　we　saw　him　last；　and
a　line　or　two　of　silver　may　be　seen　in　the　soft　brown　hair
likewise。　　But　his　feelings　are　not　in　the　least　changed　or
oldened；　and　his　love　remains　as　fresh　as　a　man's
recollections　of　boyhood　are。
We　have　said　how　the　two　Misses　Dobbin　and　Amelia；　the
Major's　correspondents　in　Europe；　wrote　him　letters　from
England；　Mrs。　Osborne　congratulating　him　with　great　candour
and　cordiality　upon　his　approaching　nuptials　with　Miss　O'Dowd。
〃Your　sister　has　just　kindly　visited　me；〃　Amelia　wrote
in　her　letter；　〃and　informed　me　of　an　INTERESTING　EVENT