vanity fair(名利场)-第126节

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they　dined　pretty　frequently　at　the　Hall　（where　the　cookery
was　so　good　that　it　was　clear　Lady　Jane　very　seldom
had　a　hand　in　it）；　and　in　return　Pitt　and　his　wife　most
energetically　dined　out　in　all　sorts　of　weather　and　at　all
sorts　of　distances。　　For　though　Pitt　did　not　care　for　joviality；
being　a　frigid　man　of　poor　hearth　and　appetite；　yet　he
considered　that　to　be　hospitable　and　condescending
was　quite　incumbent　on…his　station；　and　every　time　that
he　got　a　headache　from　too　long　an　after…dinner　sitting；
he　felt　that　he　was　a　martyr　to　duty。　　He　talked　about
crops；　corn…laws；　politics；　with　the　best　country　gentlemen。
He　（who　had　been　formerly　inclined　to　be　a　sad
free…thinker　on　these　points）　entered　into　poaching　and
game　preserving　with　ardour。　　He　didn't　hunt；　he　wasn't
a　hunting　man；　he　was　a　man　of　books　and　peaceful
habits；　but　he　thought　that　the　breed　of　horses　must　be
kept　up　in　the　country；　and　that　the　breed　of　foxes　must
therefore　be　looked　to；　and　for　his　part；　if　his　friend；
Sir　Huddlestone　Fuddlestone；　liked　to　draw　his　country
and　meet　as　of　old　the　F。　　hounds　used　to　do　at　Queen's
Crawley；　he　should　be　happy　to　see　him　there；　and　the
gentlemen　of　the　Fuddlestone　hunt。　　And　to　Lady　Southdown's
dismay　too　he　became　more　orthodox　in　his　tendencies
every　day；　gave　up　preaching　in　public　and　attending
meeting…houses；　went　stoutly　to　church；　called
on　the　Bishop　and　all　the　Clergy　at　Winchester；　and　made
no　objection　when　the　Venerable　Archdeacon　Trumper
asked　for　a　game　of　whist。　　What　pangs　must　have　been
those　of　Lady　Southdown；　and　what　an　utter　castaway　she
must　have　thought　her　son…in…law　for　permitting　such
a　godless　diversion！　　And　when；　on　the　return　of　the　family
from　an　oratorio　at　Winchester；　the　Baronet　announced
to　the　young　ladies　that　he　should　next　year　very
probably　take　them　to　the　〃county　balls；〃　they　worshipped
him　for　his　kindness。　　Lady　Jane　was　only　too　obedient；　and
perhaps　glad　herself　to　go。　　The　Dowager　wrote　off　the
direst　descriptions　of　her　daughter's　worldly　behaviour　to
the　authoress　of　the　Washerwoman　of　Finchley　Common
at　the　Cape；　and　her　house　in　Brighton　being　about　this
time　unoccupied；　returned　to　that　watering…place；　her
absence　being　not　very　much　deplored　by　her　children。
We　may　suppose；　too；　that　Rebecca；　on　paying　a　second
visit　to　Queen's　Crawley；　did　not　feel　particularly　grieved
at　the　absence　of　the　lady　of　the　medicine　chest；　though
she　wrote　a　Christmas　letter　to　her　Ladyship；　in　which　she
respectfully　recalled　herself　to　Lady　Southdown's
recollection；　spoke　with　gratitude　of　the　delight　which　her
Ladyship's　conversation　had　given　her　on　the　former
visit；　dilated　on　the　kindness　with　which　her　Ladyship　had
treated　her　in　sickness；　and　declared　that　everything　at
Queen's　Crawley　reminded　her　of　her　absent　friend。
A　great　part　of　the　altered　demeanour　and　popularity
of　Sir　Pitt　Crawley　might　have　been　traced　to　the　counsels
of　that　astute　little　lady　of　Curzon　Street。　　〃You　remain　a
Baronetyou　consent　to　be　a　mere　country　gentleman；〃
she　said　to　him；　while　he　had　been　her　guest　in　London。
〃No；　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　I　know　you　better。　　I　know　your
talents　and　your　ambition。　　You　fancy　you　hide　them
both；　but　you　can　conceal　neither　from　me。　　I　showed
Lord　Steyne　your　pamphlet　on　malt。　　He　was　familiar
with　it；　and　said　it　was　in　the　opinion　of　the　whole　Cabinet
the　most　masterly　thing　that　had　appeared　on　the　subject。
The　Ministry　has　its　eye　upon　you；　and　I　know　what　you
want。　　You　want　to　distinguish　yourself　in　Parliament；
every　one　says　you　are　the　finest　speaker　in　England
（for　your　speeches　at　Oxford　are　still　remembered）。　　You
want　to　be　Member　for　the　County；　where；　with　your　own
vote　and　your　borough　at　your　back；　you　can　command
anything。　　And　you　want　to　be　Baron　Crawley　of　Queen's
Crawley；　and　will　be　before　you　die。　　I　saw　it　all。　　I　could
read　your　heart；　Sir　Pitt。　　If　I　had　a　husband　who
possessed　your　intellect　as　he　does　your　name；　I　sometimes
think　I　should　not　be　unworthy　of　himbutbut　I　am
your　kinswoman　now；〃　she　added　with　a　laugh。　　〃Poor
little　penniless；　I　have　got　a　little　interestand　who
knows；　perhaps　the　mouse　may　be　able　to　aid　the　lion。〃
Pitt　Crawley　was　amazed　and　enraptured　with　her
speech。　　〃How　that　woman　comprehends　me！〃　he　said。
〃I　never　could　get　Jane　to　read　three　pages　of　the　malt
pamphlet。　　She　has　no　idea　that　I　have　commanding
talents　or　secret　ambition。　　So　they　remember　my　speaking
at　Oxford；　do　they？　The　rascals！　　Now　that　I　represent
my　borough　and　may　sit　for　the　county；　they　begin　to
recollect　me！　　Why；　Lord　Steyne　cut　me　at　the　levee　last
year；　they　are　beginning　to　find　out　that　Pitt　Crawley　is
some　one　at　last。　　Yes；　the　man　was　always　the　same
whom　these　people　neglected：　　it　was　only　the　opportunity
that　was　wanting；　and　I　will　show　them　now　that　I　can
speak　and　act　as　well　as　write。　　Achilles　did　not　declare
himself　until　they　gave　him　the　sword。　　I　hold　it　now；　and
the　world　shall　yet　hear　of　Pitt　Crawley。〃
Therefore　it　was　that　this　roguish　diplomatist　has　grown
so　hospitable；　that　he　was　so　civil　to　oratorios　and
hospitals；　so　kind　to　Deans　and　Chapters；　so　generous　in
giving　and　accepting　dinners；　so　uncommonly　gracious　to
farmers　on　market…days；　and　so　much　interested　about
county　business；　and　that　the　Christmas　at　the　Hall　was　the
gayest　which　had　been　known　there　for　many　a　long　day。
On　Christmas　Day　a　great　family　gathering　took　place。
All　the　Crawleys　from　the　Rectory　came　to　dine。　　Rebecca
was　as　frank　and　fond　of　Mrs。　Bute　as　if　the　other　had
never　been　her　enemy；　she　was　affectionately　interested
in　the　dear　girls；　and　surprised　at　the　progress　which　they
had　made　in　music　since　her　time；　and　insisted　upon
encoring　one　of　the　duets　out　of　the　great　song…books
which　Jim；　grumbling；　had　been　forced　to　bring　under　his
arm　from　the　Rectory。　　Mrs。　Bute；　perforce；　was　obliged
to　adopt　a　decent　demeanour　towards　the　little　adventuress
of　course　being　free　to　discourse　with　her　daughters
afterwards　about　the　absurd　respect　with　which　Sir　Pitt
treated　his　sister…in…law。　　But　Jim；　who　had　sat　next　to
her　at　dinner；　declared　she　was　a　trump；　and　one　and　all
of　the　Rector's　family　agreed　that　the　little　Rawdon　was　a
fine　boy。　　They　respected　a　possible　baronet　in　the　boy；
between　whom　and　the　title　there　was　only　the　little
sickly　pale　Pitt　Binkie。
The　children　were　very　good　friends。　　Pitt　Binkie　was　too
little　a　dog　for　such　a　big　dog　as　Rawdon　to　play　with；　and
Matilda　being　only　a　girl；　of　course　not　fit　companion
for　a　young　gentleman　who　was　near　eight　years　old；　and
going　into　jackets　very　soon。　　He　took　the　command　of
this　small　party　at　oncethe　little　girl　and　the　little　boy
following　him　about　with　great　reverence　at　such　times
as　he　condescended　to　sport　with　them。　　His　happiness
and　pleasure　in　the　country　were　extreme。　　The　kitchen
garden　pleased　him　hugely；　the　flowers　moderately；　but
the　pigeons　and　the　poultry；　and　the　stables　when　he
was　allowed　to　visit　them；　were　delightful　objects　to
him。　　He　resisted　being　kissed　by　the　Misses　Crawley；
but　he　allowed　Lady　Jane　sometimes　to　embrace　him；　and
it　was　by　her　side　that　he　liked　to　sit　when；　the　signal
to　retire　to　the　drawing…room　being　given；　the　ladies
left　the　gentlemen　to　their　claretby　her　side　rather
than　by　his　mother。　　For　Rebecca；　seeing　that　tenderness
was　the　fashion；　called　Rawdon　to　her　one　evening　and
stooped　down　and　kissed　him　in　the　presence　of　all　the
ladies。
He　looked　her　full　in　the　face　after　the　operation；
trembling　and　turning　very　red；　as　his　wont　was　when
moved。　　〃You　never　kiss　me　at　home；　Mamma；〃　he　said；
at　which　there　was　a　general　silence　and　consternation　and
a　by　no　means　pleasant　look　in　Becky's　eyes。
Rawdon　was　fond　of　his　sister…in…law；　for　her　regard
for　his　son。　　Lady　Jane　and　Becky　did　not　get　on　quite　so
well　at　this　visit　as　on　occasion　of　the　former　one；　when
the　Colonel's　wife　was　bent　upon　pleasing。　　Those　two
speeches　of　the　child　struck　rather　a　chill。　　Perhaps　Sir
Pitt　was　rather　too　attentive　to　her。
But　Rawdon；　as　became　his　age　and　size；　was　fonder
of　the　society　of　the　men　than　of　the　women；　and　never
wearied　of　accompanying　his　sire　to　the　stables；　whither
the　Colonel　retired　to　smoke　his　cigarJim；　the　Rector's
son；　sometimes　joining　his　cousin　in　that　and　other　amusements。
He　and　the　Baronet's　keeper　were　very　close
friends；　their　mutual　taste　for　〃dawgs〃　bringing　them
much　together。　　On　one　day；　Mr。　James；　the　Colonel；　and
Horn；　the　keeper；　went　and　shot　pheasants；　taking　little
Rawdon　with　them。　　On　another　most　blissful　morning；
these　four　gentlemen　partook　of　the　amusement　of
rat…hunting　in　a　barn；　than　which　sport　Rawdon　as　yet　had
never　seen　anything　more　noble。　　They　stopped　up　the
ends　of　certain　drains　in　the　barn；　into　the　other　openings
of　which　ferrets　were　inserted；　and　then　stood　silently
aloof；　with　uplifted　stakes　in　their　hands；　and　an　anxious
little　terrier　（Mr。　James's　celebrated　〃dawg〃　Forceps；
indeed）　scarcely　breathing　from　excitement；　listening
motionless　on　three　legs；　to　the　faint　squeaking　of　the
rats　below。　　Desperately　bol