vanity fair(名利场)-第10节

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subject；　was　carried　on　between　the　songs；　to　which
Sambo；　after　he　had　brought　the　tea；　the　delighted　cook；
and　even　Mrs。　Blenkinsop；　the　housekeeper；　condescended
to　listen　on　the　landing…place。
Among　these　ditties　was　one；　the　last　of　the　concert；
and　to　the　following　effect：
Ah！　bleak　and　barren　was　the　moor；
Ah！　loud　and　piercing　was　the　storm；
The　cottage　roof　was　shelter'd　sure；
The　cottage　hearth　was　bright　and　warm
An　orphan　boy　the　lattice　pass'd；
And；　as　he　mark'd　its　cheerful　glow；
Felt　doubly　keen　the　midnight　blast；
And　doubly　cold　the　fallen　snow。
They　mark'd　him　as　he　onward　prest；
With　fainting　heart　and　weary　limb；
Kind　voices　bade　him　turn　and　rest；
And　gentle　faces　welcomed　him。
The　dawn　is　upthe　guest　is　gone；
The　cottage　hearth　is　blazing　still；
Heaven　pity　all　poor　wanderers　lone！
Hark　to　the　wind　upon　the　hill！
It　was　the　sentiment　of　the　before…mentioned　words；
〃When　I'm　gone；〃　over　again。　　As　she　came　to　the　last
words；　Miss　Sharp's　〃deep…toned　voice　faltered。〃
Everybody　felt　the　allusion　to　her　departure；　and　to　her
hapless　orphan　state。　　Joseph　Sedley；　who　was　fond　of　music；
and　soft…hearted；　was　in　a　state　of　ravishment　during　the
performance　of　the　song；　and　profoundly　touched　at　its
conclusion。　　If　he　had　had　the　courage；　if　George　and　Miss
Sedley　had　remained；　according　to　the　former's　proposal；
in　the　farther　room；　Joseph　Sedley's　bachelorhood　would
have　been　at　an　end；　and　this　work　would　never　have
been　written。　　But　at　the　close　of　the　ditty；　Rebecca　quitted
the　piano；　and　giving　her　hand　to　Amelia；　walked　away
into　the　front　drawing…room　twilight；　and；　at　this
moment；　Mr。　Sambo　made　his　appearance　with　a　tray；
containing　sandwiches；　jellies；　and　some　glittering　glasses
and　decanters；　on　which　Joseph　Sedley's　attention　was
immediately　fixed。　　When　the　parents　of　the　house　of　Sedley
returned　from　their　dinner…party；　they　found　the　young
people　so　busy　in　talking；　that　they　had　not　heard　the
arrival　of　the　carriage；　and　Mr。　Joseph　was　in　the　act　of
saying；　〃My　dear　Miss　Sharp；　one　little　teaspoonful　of
jelly　to　recruit　you　after　your　immenseyouryour
delightful　exertions。〃
〃Bravo；　Jos！〃　said　Mr。　Sedley；　on　hearing　the　bantering
of　which　well…known　voice；　Jos　instantly　relapsed
into　an　alarmed　silence；　and　quickly　took　his　departure。
He　did　not　lie　awake　all　night　thinking　whether　or　not　he
was　in　love　with　Miss　Sharp；　the　passion　of　love　never
interfered　with　the　appetite　or　the　slumber　of　Mr。　Joseph
Sedley；　but　he　thought　to　himself　how　delightful　it　would
be　to　hear　such　songs　as　those　after　Cutcherrywhat　a
distinguee　girl　she　washow　she　could　speak　French
better　than　the　Governor…General's　lady　herselfand
what　a　sensation　she　would　make　at　the　Calcutta　balls。
〃It's　evident　the　poor　devil's　in　love　with　me；〃　thought
he。　　〃She　is　just　as　rich　as　most　of　the　girls　who　come
out　to　India。　　I　might　go　farther；　and　fare　worse；　egad！〃
And　in　these　meditations　he　fell　asleep。
How　Miss　Sharp　lay　awake；　thinking；　will　he　come　or
not　to…morrow？　need　not　be　told　here。　　To…morrow　came；
and；　as　sure　as　fate；　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley　made　his
appearance　before　luncheon。　　He　had　never　been　known
before　to　confer　such　an　honour　on　Russell　Square。　　George
Osborne　was　somehow　there　already　（sadly　〃putting　out〃
Amelia；　who　was　writing　to　her　twelve　dearest　friends　at
Chiswick　Mall）；　and　Rebecca　was　employed　upon　her
yesterday's　work。　　As　Joe's　buggy　drove　up；　and　while；　after
his　usual　thundering　knock　and　pompous　bustle　at　the
door；　the　ex…Collector　of　Boggley　Wollah　laboured　up
stairs　to　the　drawing…room；　knowing　glances　were
telegraphed　between　Osborne　and　Miss　Sedley；　and　the　pair；
smiling　archly；　looked　at　Rebecca；　who　actually　blushed
as　she　bent　her　fair　ringlets　over　her　knitting。　　How　her
heart　beat　as　Joseph　appearedJoseph；　puffing　from　the
staircase　in　shining　creaking　bootsJoseph；　in　a　new
waistcoat；　red　with　heat　and　nervousness；　and　blushing
behind　his　wadded　neckcloth。　　It　was　a　nervous　moment
for　all；　and　as　for　Amelia；　I　think　she　was　more　frightened
than　even　the　people　most　concerned。
Sambo；　who　flung　open　the　door　and　announced　Mr。
Joseph；　followed　grinning；　in　the　Collector's　rear；　and
bearing　two　handsome　nosegays　of　flowers；　which　the
monster　had　actually　had　the　gallantry　to　purchase　in
Covent　Garden　Market　that　morningthey　were　not　as
big　as　the　haystacks　which　ladies　carry　about　with　them
now…a…days；　in　cones　of　filigree　paper；　but　the　young
women　were　delighted　with　the　gift；　as　Joseph　presented
one　to　each；　with　an　exceedingly　solemn　bow。
〃Bravo；　Jos！〃　cried　Osborne。
〃Thank　you；　dear　Joseph；〃　said　Amelia；　quite　ready　to
kiss　her　brother；　if　he　were　so　minded。　　（And　I　think　for
a　kiss　from　such　a　dear　creature　as　Amelia；　I　would
purchase　all　Mr。　Lee's　conservatories　out　of　hand。）
〃O　heavenly；　heavenly　flowers！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Sharp；
and　smelt　them　delicately；　and　held　them　to　her　bosom；
and　cast　up　her　eyes　to　the　ceiling；　in　an　ecstasy　of
admiration。　　Perhaps　she　just　looked　first　into　the　bouquet；
to　see　whether　there　was　a　billet…doux　hidden　among　the
flowers；　but　there　was　no　letter。
〃Do　they　talk　the　language　of　flowers　at　Boggley
Wollah；　Sedley？〃　asked　Osborne；　laughing。
〃Pooh；　nonsense！〃　replied　the　sentimental　youth。
〃Bought　'em　at　Nathan's；　very　glad　you　like　'em；　and　eh；
Amelia；　my　dear；　I　bought　a　pine…apple　at　the　same
time；　which　I　gave　to　Sambo。　　Let's　have　it　for　tiffin；
very　cool　and　nice　this　hot　weather。〃　Rebecca　said　she
had　never　tasted　a　pine；　and　longed　beyond　everything
to　taste　one。
So　the　conversation　went　on。　　I　don't　know　on　what
pretext　Osborne　left　the　room；　or　why；　presently；　Amelia
went　away；　perhaps　to　superintend　the　slicing　of　the
pine…apple；　but　Jos　was　left　alone　with　Rebecca；　who　had
resumed　her　work；　and　the　green　silk　and　the　shining
needles　were　quivering　rapidly　under　her　white　slender
fingers。
〃What　a　beautiful；　BYOO…OOTIFUL　song　that　was　you　sang
last　night；　dear　Miss　Sharp；〃　said　the　Collector。　　〃It　made
me　cry　almost；　'pon　my　honour　it　did。〃
〃Because　you　have　a　kind　heart；　Mr。　Joseph；　all　the
Sedleys　have；　I　think。〃
〃It　kept　me　awake　last　night；　and　I　was　trying　to　hum
it　this　morning；　in　bed；　I　was；　upon　my　honour。　　Gollop；
my　doctor；　came　in　at　eleven　（for　I'm　a　sad　invalid；　you
know；　and　see　Gollop　every　day）；　and；　'gad！　there　I
was；　singing　away　likea　robin。〃
〃O　you　droll　creature！　Do　let　me　hear　you　sing　it。〃
〃Me？　No；　you；　Miss　Sharp；　my　dear　Miss　Sharp；　do
sing　it。
〃Not　now；　Mr。　Sedley；〃　said　Rebecca；　with　a　sigh。　　〃My
spirits　are　not　equal　to　it；　besides；　I　must　finish　the
purse。　　Will　you　help　me；　Mr。　Sedley？〃　And　before　he　had
time　to　ask　how；　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley；　of　the　East　India
Company's　service；　was　actually　seated　tete…a…tete　with
a　young　lady；　looking　at　her　with　a　most　killing　expression；
his　arms　stretched　out　before　her　in　an　imploring　attitude；
and　his　hands　bound　in　a　web　of　green　silk；　which　she
was　unwinding。
In　this　romantic　position　Osborne　and　Amelia　found
the　interesting　pair；　when　they　entered　to　announce　that
tiffin　was　ready。　　The　skein　of　silk　was　just　wound　round
the　card；　but　Mr。　Jos　had　never　spoken。
〃I　am　sure　he　will　to…night；　dear；〃　Amelia　said；　as　she
pressed　Rebecca's　hand；　and　Sedley；　too；　had　communed
with　his　soul；　and　said　to　himself；　〃　'Gad；　I'll　pop　the
question　at　Vauxhall。〃

CHAPTER　V
Dobbin　of　Ours
Cuff's　fight　with　Dobbin；　and　the　unexpected　issue　of
that　contest；　will　long　be　remembered　by　every　man　who
was　educated　at　Dr。　Swishtail's　famous　school。　　The　latter
Youth　（who　used　to　be　called　Heigh…ho　Dobbin；　Gee…ho
Dobbin；　and　by　many　other　names　indicative　of　puerile
contempt）　was　the　quietest；　the　clumsiest；　and；　as　it
seemed；　the　dullest　of　all　Dr。　Swishtail's　young　gentlemen。
His　parent　was　a　grocer　in　the　city：　and　it　was　bruited
abroad　that　he　was　admitted　into　Dr。　Swishtail's　academy
upon　what　are　called　〃mutual　principles〃that　is　to
say；　the　expenses　of　his　board　and　schooling　were
defrayed　by　his　father　in　goods；　not　money；　and　he
stood　theremost　at　the　bottom　of　the　schoolin　his
scraggy　corduroys　and　jacket；　through　the　seams　of
which　his　great　big　bones　were　burstingas　the
representative　of　so　many　pounds　of　tea；　candles；
sugar；　mottled…soap；　plums　（of　which　a　very　mild
proportion　was　supplied　for　the　puddings　of　the
establishment）；　and　other　commodities。　　A　dreadful
day　it　was　for　young　Dobbin　when　one　of　the
youngsters　of　the　school；　having　run　into　the　town　upon
a　poaching　excursion　for　hardbake　and　polonies；　espied
the　cart　of　Dobbin　&　Rudge；　Grocers　and　Oilmen；　Thames
Street；　London；　at　the　Doctor's　door；　discharging　a　cargo
of　the　wares　in　which　the　firm　dealt。
Young　Dobbin　had　no　peace　after　that。　　The　jokes　were
frightful；　and　merciless　against　him。　　〃Hullo；　Dobbin；〃　one
wag　would　say；　〃here's　good　news　in　the　paper。　　Sugars
is　ris'；　my　boy。〃　Another　would　set　a　sum〃If　a　pound
of　mutton…candles　cost　sevenpence…halfpenny；　how　much
must　Dobbin　cost？〃　and　a　roar　would　follow　from　all　the
circle　of　young　knaves；　usher　and　all；　who　rightly
considered　that　the　selling　of　goods　by　retail　is　a　shameful
and　infamous　practice