vanity fair(名利场)-第111节

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she　did　not　possess　those　sycophantic　arts　which　her
hypocritical　nephew；　Pitt　Crawley；　practised？　She　wished
him　all　the　happiness　which　he　merited　out　of　his
ill…gotten　gains。　　〃At　least　the　money　will　remain　in　the
family；〃　she　said　charitably。　　〃Pitt　will　never　spend　it；　my
dear；　that　is　quite　certain；　for　a　greater　miser　does　not
exist　in　England；　and　he　is　as　odious；　though　in　a
different　way；　as　his　spendthrift　brother；　the　abandoned
Rawdon。〃
So　Mrs。　Bute；　after　the　first　shock　of　rage　and
disappointment；　began　to　accommodate　herself　as　best
she　could　to　her　altered　fortunes　and　to　save　and　retrench
with　all　her　might。　　She　instructed　her　daughters　how　to
bear　poverty　cheerfully；　and　invented　a　thousand　notable
methods　to　conceal　or　evade　it。　　She　took　them　about　to
balls　and　public　places　in　the　neighbourhood；　with
praiseworthy　energy；　nay；　she　entertained　her　friends　in　a
hospitable　comfortable　manner　at　the　Rectory；　and　much
more　frequently　than　before　dear　Miss　Crawley's　legacy
had　fallen　in。　　From　her　outward　bearing　nobody　would
have　supposed　that　the　family　had　been　disappointed
in　their　expectations；　or　have　guessed　from　her　frequent
appearance　in　public　how　she　pinched　and　starved　at
home。　　Her　girls　had　more　milliners'　furniture　than　they
had　ever　enjoyed　before。　　They　appeared　perseveringly
at　the　Winchester　and　Southampton　assemblies；　they
penetrated　to　Cowes　for　the　race…balls　and　regatta…gaieties
there；　and　their　carriage；　with　the　horses　taken　from　the
plough；　was　at　work　perpetually；　until　it　began　almost　to
be　believed　that　the　four　sisters　had　had　fortunes　left　them
by　their　aunt；　whose　name　the　family　never　mentioned　in
public　but　with　the　most　tender　gratitude　and　regard。　　I
know　no　sort　of　lying　which　is　more　frequent　in　Vanity
Fair　than　this；　and　it　may　be　remarked　how　people　who
practise　it　take　credit　to　themselves　for　their　hypocrisy；
and　fancy　that　they　are　exceedingly　virtuous　and
praiseworthy；　because　they　are　able　to　deceive　the　world
with　regard　to　the　extent　of　their　means。
Mrs。　Bute　certainly　thought　herself　one　of　the　most
virtuous　women　in　England；　and　the　sight　of　her　happy
family　was　an　edifying　one　to　strangers。　　They　were　so
cheerful；　so　loving；　so　well…educated；　so　simple！　　Martha
painted　flowers　exquisitely　and　furnished　half　the　charity
bazaars　in　the　county。　　Emma　was　a　regular　County　Bulbul；
and　her　verses　in　the　Hampshire　Telegraph　were
the　glory　of　its　Poet's　Corner。　　Fanny　and　Matilda　sang
duets　together；　Mamma　playing　the　piano；　and　the　other
two　sisters　sitting　with　their　arms　round　each　other's　waists
and　listening　affectionately。　　Nobody　saw　the　poor　girls
drumming　at　the　duets　in　private。　　No　one　saw　Mamma
drilling　them　rigidly　hour　after　hour。　　In　a　word；　Mrs。　Bute
put　a　good　face　against　fortune　and　kept　up　appearances
in　the　most　virtuous　manner。
Everything　that　a　good　and　respectable　mother　could
do　Mrs。　Bute　did。　　She　got　over　yachting　men　from
Southampton；　parsons　from　the　Cathedral　Close　at　Winchester；
and　officers　from　the　barracks　there。　　She　tried　to　inveigle
the　young　barristers　at　assizes　and　encouraged　Jim　to
bring　home　friends　with　whom　he　went　out　hunting　with
the　H。　　H。　　What　will　not　a　mother　do　for　the　benefit　of
her　beloved　ones？
Between　such　a　woman　and　her　brother…in…law；　the
odious　Baronet　at　the　Hall；　it　is　manifest　that　there　could
be　very　little　in　common。　　The　rupture　between　Bute　and
his　brother　Sir　Pitt　was　complete；　indeed；　between　Sir
Pitt　and　the　whole　county；　to　which　the　old　man　was　a
scandal。　　His　dislike　for　respectable　society　increased　with
age；　and　the　lodge…gates　had　not　opened　to　a　gentleman's
carriage…wheels　since　Pitt　and　Lady　Jane　came　to　pay　their
visit　of　duty　after　their　marriage。
That　was　an　awful　and　unfortunate　visit；　never　to　be
thought　of　by　the　family　without　horror。　　Pitt　begged　his
wife；　with　a　ghastly　countenance；　never　to　speak　of　it；
and　it　was　only　through　Mrs。　Bute　herself；　who　still
knew　everything　which　took　place　at　the　Hall；　that　the
circumstances　of　Sir　Pitt's　reception　of　his　son　and
daughter…in…law　were　ever　known　at　all。
As　they　drove　up　the　avenue　of　the　park　in　their　neat
and　well…appointed　carriage；　Pitt　remarked　with　dismay
and　wrath　great　gaps　among　the　treeshis　treeswhich
the　old　Baronet　was　felling　entirely　without　license。　　The
park　wore　an　aspect　of　utter　dreariness　and　ruin。　　The
drives　were　ill　kept；　and　the　neat　carriage　splashed　and
floundered　in　muddy　pools　along　the　road。　　The　great
sweep　in　front　of　the　terrace　and　entrance　stair　was
black　and　covered　with　mosses；　the　once　trim　flower…beds
rank　and　weedy。　　Shutters　were　up　along　almost　the
whole　line　of　the　house；　the　great　hall…door　was　unbarred
after　much　ringing　of　the　bell；　an　individual　in　ribbons
was　seen　flitting　up　the　black　oak　stair；　as　Horrocks　at
length　admitted　the　heir　of　Queen's　Crawley　and　his　bride
into　the　halls　of　their　fathers。　　He　led　the　way　into　Sir
Pitt's　〃Library；〃　as　it　was　called；　the　fumes　of　tobacco
growing　stronger　as　Pitt　and　Lady　Jane　approached　that
apartment；　〃Sir　Pitt　ain't　very　well；〃　Horrocks　remarked
apologetically　and　hinted　that　his　master　was　afflicted
with　lumbago。
The　library　looked　out　on　the　front　walk　and　park。
Sir　Pitt　had　opened　one　of　the　windows；　and　was　bawling
out　thence　to　the　postilion　and　Pitt's　servant；　who　seemed
to　be　about　to　take　the　baggage　down。
〃Don't　move　none　of　them　trunks；〃　he　cried；　pointing
with　a　pipe　which　he　held　in　his　hand。　　〃It's　only　a　morning
visit；　Tucker；　you　fool。　　Lor；　what　cracks　that　off　hoss
has　in　his　heels！　　Ain't　there　no　one　at　the　King's　Head　to
rub　'em　a　little？　How　do；　Pitt？　How　do；　my　dear？　Come
to　see　the　old　man；　hay？　'Gadyou've　a　pretty　face；　too。
You　ain't　like　that　old　horse…godmother；　your　mother。
Come　and　give　old　Pitt　a　kiss；　like　a　good　little　gal。〃
The　embrace　disconcerted　the　daughter…in…law
somewhat；　as　the　caresses　of　the　old　gentleman；　unshorn　and
perfumed　with　tobacco；　might　well　do。　　But　she
remembered　that　her　brother　Southdown　had　mustachios；
and　smoked　cigars；　and　submitted　to　the　Baronet　with　a
tolerable　grace。
〃Pitt　has　got　vat；〃　said　the　Baronet；　after　this　mark　of
affection。　　〃Does　he　read　ee　very　long　zermons；　my　dear？
Hundredth　Psalm；　Evening　Hymn；　hay　Pitt？　Go　and　get
a　glass　of　Malmsey　and　a　cake　for　my　Lady　Jane；　Horrocks；
you　great　big　booby；　and　don't　stand　stearing　there　like
a　fat　pig。　　I　won't　ask　you　to　stop；　my　dear；　you'll　find　it　too
stoopid；　and　so　should　I　too　along　a　Pitt。　　I'm　an　old　man
now；　and　like　my　own　ways；　and　my　pipe　and　backgammon
of　a　night。〃
〃I　can　play　at　backgammon；　sir；〃　said　Lady　Jane；　
laughing。　　〃I　used　to　play　with　Papa　and　Miss　Crawley；　didn't
I；　Mr。　Crawley？〃
〃Lady　Jane　can　play；　sir；　at　the　game　to　which　you
state　that　you　are　so　partial；〃　Pitt　said　haughtily。
But　she　wawn't　stop　for　all　that。　　Naw；　naw；　goo　back
to　Mudbury　and　give　Mrs。　Rincer　a　benefit；　or　drive　down
to　the　Rectory　and　ask　Buty　for　a　dinner。　　He'll　be　charmed
to　see　you；　you　know；　he's　so　much　obliged　to　you　for
gettin'　the　old　woman's　money。　　Ha；　ha！　　Some　of　it　will
do　to　patch　up　the　Hall　when　I'm　gone。〃
〃I　perceive；　sir；〃　said　Pitt　with　a　heightened　voice；
〃that　your　people　will　cut　down　the　timber。〃
〃Yees；　yees；　very　fine　weather；　and　seasonable　for　the
time　of　year；〃　Sir　Pitt　answered；　who　had　suddenly
grown　deaf。　　〃But　I'm　gittin'　old；　Pitt；　now。　　Law　bless　you；
you　ain't　far　from　fifty　yourself。　　But　he　wears　well；　my
pretty　Lady　Jane；　don't　he？　It's　all　godliness；　sobriety；　and
a　moral　life。　　Look　at　me；　I'm　not　very　fur　from　fowr…score
he；　he〃；　and　he　laughed；　and　took　snuff；　and　leered
at　her　and　pinched　her　hand。
Pitt　once　more　brought　the　conversation　back　to　the
timber；　but　the　Baronet　was　deaf　again　in　an　instant。
〃I'm　gittin'　very　old；　and　have　been　cruel　bad　this　year
with　the　lumbago。　　I　shan't　be　here　now　for　long；　but　I'm
glad　ee've　come；　daughter…in…law。　　I　like　your　face；　Lady
Jane：　　it's　got　none　of　the　damned　high…boned　Binkie　look
in　it；　and　I'll　give　ee　something　pretty；　my　dear；　to　go　to
Court　in。〃　And　he　shuffled　across　the　room　to　a　cupboard；
from　which　he　took　a　little　old　case　containing　jewels　of
some　value。　　〃Take　that；〃　said　he；　〃my　dear；　it　belonged
to　my　mother；　and　afterwards　to　the　first　Lady　Binkie。
Pretty　pearlsnever　gave　'em　the　ironmonger's　daughter。
No；　no。　　Take　'em　and　put　'em　up　quick；〃　said　he；　thrusting
the　case　into　his　daughter's　hand；　and　clapping　the　door　of
the　cabinet　to；　as　Horrocks　entered　with　a　salver　and
refreshments。
〃What　have　you　a　been　and　given　Pitt's　wife？〃　said
the　individual　in　ribbons；　when　Pitt　and　Lady　Jane　had
taken　leave　of　the　old　gentleman。　　It　was　Miss　Horrocks；
the　butler's　daughterthe　cause　of　the　scandal
throughout　the　countythe　lady　who　reigned　now　almost
supreme　at　Queen's　Crawley。
The　rise　and　progress　of　those　Ribbons　had　been
marked　with　dismay　by　the　county　and　family。　　The
Ribbons　opened　an　account　at　the　Mudbury　Branch　Savings
Bank；　the　Ribbons　drove　to　church；　monopolising　the
pony…chaise；　which　was　for　the　use　of　the　servants　at
the　Hall。　　The　domestics　were　dismissed　at　her