vanity fair(名利场)-第114节

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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；　and
having　read　it；　she　jumped　up　from　the　chair；　crying
〃Hurray！〃　and　waving　the　note　round　her　head。
〃Hurray？〃　said　Rawdon；　wondering　at　the　little　figure
capering　about　in　a　streaming　flannel　dressing…gown；　with
tawny　locks　dishevelled。　　〃He's　not　left　us　anything；
Becky。　　I　had　my　share　when　I　came　of　age。〃
〃You'll　never　be　of　age；　you　silly　old　man；〃　Becky
replied。　　〃Run　out　now　to　Madam　Brunoy's；　for　I　must
have　some　mourning：　　and　get　a　crape　on　your　hat；　and　a
black　waistcoatI　don't　think　you've　got　one；　order　it
to　be　brought　home　to…morrow；　so　that　we　may　be　able
to　start　on　Thursday。〃
〃You　don't　mean　to　go？〃　Rawdon　interposed。
〃Of　course　I　mean　to　go。　　I　mean　that　Lady　Jane　shall
present　me　at　Court　next　year。　　I　mean　that　your　brother
shall　give　you　a　seat　in　Parliament；　you　stupid　old
creature。　　I　mean　that　Lord　Steyne　shall　have　your　vote　and
his；　my　dear；　old　silly　man；　and　that　you　shall　be　an　Irish
Secretary；　or　a　West　Indian　Governor：　　or　a　Treasurer；
or　a　Consul；　or　some　such　thing。〃
〃Posting　will　cost　a　dooce　of　a　lot　of　money；〃　grumbled
Rawdon。
〃We　might　take　Southdown's　carriage；　which　ought　to
be　present　at　the　funeral；　as　he　is　a　relation　of　the
family：　　but；　noI　intend　that　we　shall　go　by　the　coach。
They'll　like　it　better。　　It　seems　more　humble〃
〃Rawdy　goes；　of　course？〃　the　Colonel　asked。
〃No　such　thing；　why　pay　an　extra　place？　He's　too　big　to
travel　bodkin　between　you　and　me。　　Let　him　stay　here　in
the　nursery；　and　Briggs　can　make　him　a　black　frock。　　Go
you；　and　do　as　I　bid　you。　　And　you　had　best　tell　Sparks；
your　man；　that　old　Sir　Pitt　is　dead　and　that　you　will
come　in　for　something　considerable　when　the　affairs　are
arranged。　　He'll　tell　this　to　Raggles；　who　has　been　pressing
for　money；　and　it　will　console　poor　Raggles。〃　And　so
Becky　began　sipping　her　chocolate。
When　the　faithful　Lord　Steyne　arrived　in　the　evening；
he　found　Becky　and　her　companion；　who　was　no　other
than　our　friend　Briggs；　busy　cutting；　ripping；　snipping；
and　tearing　all　sorts　of　black　stuffs　available　for　the
melancholy　occasion。
〃Miss　Briggs　and　I　are　plunged　in　grief　and　despondency
for　the　death　of　our　Papa；〃　Rebecca　said。　　〃Sir　Pitt
Crawley　is　dead；　my　lord。　　We　have　been　tearing　our　hair
all　the　morning；　and　now　we　are　tearing　up　our　old
clothes。〃
〃Oh；　Rebecca；　how　can　you〃　was　all　that　Briggs　could
say　as　she　turned　up　her　eyes。
〃Oh；　Rebecca；　how　can　you〃　echoed　my　Lord。　　〃So
that　old　scoundrel's　dead；　is　he？　He　might　have　been　a
Peer　if　he　had　played　his　cards　better。　　Mr。　Pitt　had　very
nearly　made　him；　but　he　ratted　always　at　the　wrong
time。　　What　an　old　Silenus　it　was！〃
〃I　might　have　been　Silenus's　widow；〃　said　Rebecca。
〃Don't　you　remember；　Miss　Briggs；　how　you　peeped　in
at　the　door　and　saw　old　Sir　Pitt　on　his　knees　to　me？〃
Miss　Briggs；　our　old　friend；　blushed　very　much　at　this
reminiscence；　and　was　glad　when　Lord　Steyne　ordered
her　to　go　downstairs　and　make　him　a　cup　of　tea。
Briggs　was　the　house…dog　whom　Rebecca　had　provided
as　guardian　of　her　i