vanity fair(名利场)-第144节

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stage　with　all　the　innocence　of　theatrical　youthshe
makes　a　curtsey。　　Mamma　says　〃Why；　child；　you　are
always　laughing　and　singing；〃　and　away　she　goes；　with
THE　ROSE　UPON　MY　BALCONY
The　rose　upon　my　balcony　the　morning　air　perfuming
Was　leafless　all　the　winter　time　and　pining　for　the　spring；
You　ask　me　why　her　breath　is　sweet　and　why　her　cheek　is
　　blooming；
It　is　because　the　sun　is　out　and　birds　begin　to　sing。
The　nightingale；　whose　melody　is　through　the　greenwood
　　ringing；
Was　silent　when　the　boughs　were　bare　and　winds　were
　　blowing　keen：
And　if；　Mamma；　you　ask　of　me　the　reason　of　his　singing；
It　is　because　the　sun　is　out　and　all　the　leaves　are　green。
Thus　each　performs　his　part；　Mamma；　the　birds　have　found
　　their　voices；
The　blowing　rose　a　flush；　Mamma；　her　bonny　cheek　to
　　dye；
And　there's　sunshine　in　my　heart；　Mamma；　which　wakens
　　and　rejoices；
And　so　I　sing　and　blush；　Mamma；　and　that's　the　reason
　　why。
During　the　intervals　of　the　stanzas　of　this　ditty；　the
good…natured　personage　addressed　as　Mamma　by　the
singer；　and　whose　large　whiskers　appeared　under　her　cap；
seemed　very　anxious　to　exhibit　her　maternal　affection
by　embracing　the　innocent　creature　who　performed　the
daughter's　part。　　Every　caress　was　received　with　loud
acclamations　of　laughter　by　the　sympathizing　audience。
At　its　conclusion　（while　the　music　was　performing　a
symphony　as　if　ever　so　many　birds　were　warbling）　the
whole　house　was　unanimous　for　an　encore：　　and　applause
and　bouquets　without　end　were　showered　upon　the
Nightingale　of　the　evening。　　Lord　Steyne's　voice　of
applause　was　loudest　of　all。　　Becky；　the　nightingale；　took
the　flowers　which　he　threw　to　her　and　pressed　them　to
her　heart　with　the　air　of　a　consummate　comedian。　　Lord
Steyne　was　frantic　with　delight。　　His　guests'　enthusiasm
harmonized　with　his　own。　　Where　was　the　beautiful
black…eyed　Houri　whose　appearance　in　the　first　charade　had
caused　such　delight？　She　was　twice　as　handsome　as
Becky；　but　the　brilliancy　of　the　latter　had　quite　eclipsed
her。　　All　voices　were　for　her。　　Stephens；　Caradori；　Ronzi
de　Begnis；　people　compared　her　to　one　or　the　other；　and
agreed　with　good　reason；　very　likely；　that　had　she　been
an　actress　none　on　the　stage　could　have　surpassed　her。
She　had　reached　her　culmination：　　her　voice　rose　trilling
and　bright　over　the　storm　of　applause；　and　soared　as
high　and　joyful　as　her　triumph。　　There　was　a　ball　after
the　dramatic　entertainments；　and　everybody　pressed
round　Becky　as　the　great　point　of　attraction　of　the
evening。　　The　Royal　Personage　declared　with　an　oath　that
she　was　perfection；　and　engaged　her　again　and　again　in
conversation。　　Little　Becky's　soul　swelled　with　pride　and
delight　at　these　honours；　she　saw　fortune；　fame；　fashion
before　her。　　Lord　Steyne　was　her　slave；　followed　her
everywhere；　and　scarcely　spoke　to　any　one　in　the　room
beside；　and　paid　her　the　most　marked　compliments　and
attention。　　She　still　appeared　in　her　Marquise　costume
and　danced　a　minuet　with　Monsieur　de　Truffigny；
Monsieur　Le　Duc　de　la　Jabotiere's　attache；　and　the
Duke；　who　had　all　the　traditions　of　the　ancient　court；
pronounced　that　Madame　Crawley　was　worthy　to　have
been　a　pupil　of　Vestris；　or　to　have　figured　at　Versailles。
Only　a　feeling　of　dignity；　the　gout；　and　the　strongest
sense　of　duty　and　personal　sacrifice　prevented　his
Excellency　from　dancing　with　her　himself；　and　he　declared
in　public　that　a　lady　who　could　talk　and　dance　like　Mrs。
Rawdon　was　fit　to　be　ambassadress　at　any　court　in
Europe。　　He　was　only　consoled　when　he　heard　that　she
was　half　a　Frenchwoman　by　birth。　　〃None　but　a
compatriot；〃　his　Excellency　declared；　〃could　have　performed
that　majestic　dance　in　such　a　way。〃
Then　she　figured　in　a　waltz　with　Monsieur　de
Klingenspohr；　the　Prince　of　Peterwaradin's　cousin　and
attache。　　The　delighted　Prince；　having　less　retenue　than
his　French　diplomatic　colleague；　insisted　upon　taking　a
turn　with　the　charming　creature；　and　twirled　round　the
ball…room　with　her；　scattering　the　diamonds　out　of　his
boot…tassels　and　hussar　jacket　until　his　Highness　was　fairly
out　of　breath。　　Papoosh　Pasha　himself　would　have　liked
to　dance　with　her　if　that　amusement　had　been　the　custom
of　his　country。　　The　company　made　a　circle　round　her
and　applauded　as　wildly　as　if　she　had　been　a　Noblet　or
a　Taglioni。　　Everybody　was　in　ecstacy；　and　Becky　too；
you　may　be　sure。　　She　passed　by　Lady　Stunnington　with
a　look　of　scorn。　　She　patronized　Lady　Gaunt　and　her
astonished　and　mortified　sister…in…lawshe　ecrased　all
rival　charmers。　　As　for　poor　Mrs。　Winkworth；　and　her
long　hair　and　great　eyes；　which　had　made　such　an　effect
at　the　commencement　of　the　eveningwhere　was　she
now？　Nowhere　in　the　race。　　She　might　tear　her　long　hair
and　cry　her　great　eyes　out；　but　there　was　not　a　person
to　heed　or　to　deplore　the　discomfiture。
The　greatest　triumph　of　all　was　at　supper　time。　　She
was　placed　at　the　grand　exclusive　table　with　his　Royal
Highness　the　exalted　personage　before　mentioned；　and
the　rest　of　the　great　guests。　　She　was　served　on　gold
plate。　　She　might　have　had　pearls　melted　into　her
champagne　if　she　likedanother　Cleopatraand　the　potentate
of　Peterwaradin　would　have　given　half　the　brilliants　off
his　jacket　for　a　kind　glance　from　those　dazzling　eyes。
Jabotiere　wrote　home　about　her　to　his　government。　　The
ladies　at　the　other　tables；　who　supped　off　mere　silver　and
marked　Lord　Steyne's　constant　attention　to　her；　vowed
it　was　a　monstrous　infatuation；　a　gross　insult　to　ladies　of
rank。　　If　sarcasm　could　have　killed；　Lady　Stunnington
would　have　slain　her　on　the　spot。
Rawdon　Crawley　was　scared　at　these　triumphs。　　They
seemed　to　separate　his　wife　farther　than　ever　from　him
somehow。　　He　thought　with　a　feeling　very　like　pain　how
immeasurably　she　was　his　superior。
When　the　hour　of　departure　came；　a　crowd　of　young
men　followed　her　to　her　carriage；　for　which　the　people
without　bawled；　the　cry　being　caught　up　by　the　link…men
who　were　stationed　outside　the　tall　gates　of　Gaunt
House；　congratulating　each　person　who　issued　from　the
gate　and　hoping　his　Lordship　had　enjoyed　this　noble
party。
Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley's　carriage；　coming　up　to　the
gate　after　due　shouting；　rattled　into　the　illuminated
court…yard　and　drove　up　to　the　covered　way。　　Rawdon
put　his　wife　into　the　carriage；　which　drove　off。　　Mr。
Wenham　had　proposed　to　him　to　walk　home；　and　offered
the　Colonel　the　refreshment　of　a　cigar。
They　lighted　their　cigars　by　the　lamp　of　one　of　the
many　link…boys　outside；　and　Rawdon　walked　on　with　his
friend　Wenham。　　Two　persons　separated　from　the　crowd
and　followed　the　two　gentlemen；　and　when　they　had
walked　down　Gaunt　Square　a　few　score　of　paces；　one
of　the　men　came　up　and；　touching　Rawdon　on　the　shoulder；
said；　〃Beg　your　pardon；　Colonel；　I　vish　to　speak　to
you　most　particular。〃　This　gentleman's　acquaintance
gave　a　loud　whistle　as　the　latter　spoke；　at　which　signal　a
cab　came　clattering　up　from　those　stationed　at　the　gate
of　Gaunt　Houseand　the　aide…de…camp　ran　round　and
placed　himself　in　front　of　Colonel　Crawley。
That　gallant　officer　at　once　knew　what　had　befallen
him。　　He　was　in　the　hands　of　the　bailiffs。　　He　started　back；
falling　against　the　man　who　had　first　touched　him。
〃We're　three　on　usit's　no　use　bolting；〃　the　man
behind　said。
〃It's　you；　Moss；　is　it？〃　said　the　Colonel；　who　appeared
to　know　his　interlocutor。　　〃How　much　is　it？〃
〃Only　a　small　thing；〃　whispered　Mr。　Moss；　of　Cursitor
Street；　Chancery　Lane；　and　assistant　officer　to　the　Sheriff
of　Middlesex〃One　hundred　and　sixty…six；　six　and　eight…
pence；　at　the　suit　of　Mr。　Nathan。〃
〃Lend　me　a　hundred；　Wenham；　for　God's　sake；〃　poor
Rawdon　said〃I've　got　seventy　at　home。〃
〃I've　not　got　ten　pounds　in　the　world；〃　said　poor　Mr。
Wenham〃Good　night；　my　dear　fellow。〃
〃Good　night；〃　said　Rawdon　ruefully。　　And　Wenham
walked　awayand　Rawdon　Crawley　finished　his　cigar
as　the　cab　drove　under　Temple　Bar。

CHAPTER　LII
In　Which　Lord　Steyne　Shows　Himself　in　a　Most　Amiable　Light
When　Lord　Steyne　was　benevolently　disposed；　he　did
nothing　by　halves；　and　his　kindness　towards　the　Crawley
family　did　the　greatest　honour　to　his　benevolent
discrimination。　　His　lordship　extended　his　good…will　to　little
Rawdon：　　he　pointed　out　to　the　boy's　parents　the　necessity
of　sending　him　to　a　public　school；　that　he　was　of
an　age　now　when　emulation；　the　first　principles　of　the
Latin　language；　pugilistic　exercises；　and　the　society　of
his　fellow…boys　would　be　of　the　greatest　benefit　to　the
boy。　　His　father　objected　that　he　was　not　rich　enough　to
send　the　child　to　a　good　public　school；　his　mother　that
Briggs　was　a　capital　mistress　for　him；　and　had　brought
him　on　（as　indeed　was　the　fact）　famously　in　English；
the　Latin　rudiments；　and　in　general　learning：　　but　all　these
objections　disappeared　before　the　generous　perseverance
of　the　Marquis　of　Steyne。　　His　lordship　was　one　of　the
governors　of　that　famous　old　collegiate　institution　called
the　Whitefriars。　　It　had　been　a　Cistercian　Convent　in　old
days；　when　the　Smithfield；　which　is　contiguous　to　it；　was
a　tournament　ground。　　Obstinate　heretics　used　to　be
brought　thither　convenient　for　burning　hard　by。　　Henry
VIII；　the　Defender　of　the　Faith；　seized　upon　the
mona