vanity fair(名利场)-第147节

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with　an　air　which　surprised　the　latter。
He　told　Lady　Jane　of　this　second　proof　of　Steyne's
bounty；　and　she；　too；　looked　odd　and　alarmed；　so　did
Sir　Pitt。　　〃She　is　too　clever　andand　gay　to　be　allowed
to　go　from　party　to　party　without　a　companion；〃　both
said。　　〃You　must　go　with　her；　Rawdon；　wherever　she
goes；　and　you　must　have　somebody　with　herone　of　the
girls　from　Queen's　Crawley；　perhaps；　though　they　were
rather　giddy　guardians　for　her。〃
Somebody　Becky　should　have。　　But　in　the　meantime
it　was　clear　that　honest　Briggs　must　not　lose　her　chance
of　settlement　for　life；　and　so　she　and　her　bags　were
packed；　and　she　set　off　on　her　journey。　　And　so　two　of
Rawdon's　out…sentinels　were　in　the　hands　of　the　enemy。
Sir　Pitt　went　and　expostulated　with　his　sister…in…law
upon　the　subject　of　the　dismissal　of　Briggs　and　other
matters　of　delicate　family　interest。　　In　vain　she　pointed
out　to　him　how　necessary　was　the　protection　of　Lord
Steyne　for　her　poor　husband；　how　cruel　it　would　be　on
their　part　to　deprive　Briggs　of　the　position　offered　to　her。
Cajolements；　coaxings；　smiles；　tears　could　not　satisfy　Sir
Pitt；　and　he　had　something　very　like　a　quarrel　with　his
once　admired　Becky。　　He　spoke　of　the　honour　of　the
family；　the　unsullied　reputation　of　the　Crawleys；
expressed　himself　in　indignant　tones　about　her　receiving
those　young　Frenchmenthose　wild　young　men　of　fashion；
my　Lord　Steyne　himself；　whose　carriage　was　always
at　her　door；　who　passed　hours　daily　in　her　company；
and　whose　constant　presence　made　the　world　talk　about
her。　　As　the　head　of　the　house　he　implored　her　to　be
more　prudent。　　Society　was　already　speaking　lightly　of
her。　　Lord　Steyne；　though　a　nobleman　of　the　greatest
station　and　talents；　was　a　man　whose　attentions　would
compromise　any　woman；　he　besought；　he　implored；　he
commanded　his　sister…in…law　to　be　watchful　in　her
intercourse　with　that　nobleman。
Becky　promised　anything　and　everything　Pitt　wanted；
but　Lord　Steyne　came　to　her　house　as　often　as　ever；
and　Sir　Pitt's　anger　increased。　　I　wonder　was　Lady　Jane
angry　or　pleased　that　her　husband　at　last　found　fault
with　his　favourite　Rebecca？　Lord　Steyne's　visits
continuing；　his　own　ceased；　and　his　wife　was　for　refusing
all　further　intercourse　with　that　nobleman　and　declining
the　invitation　to　the　charade…night　which　the　marchioness
sent　to　her；　but　Sir　Pitt　thought　it　was　necessary　to
accept　it；　as　his　Royal　Highness　would　be　there。
Although　he　went　to　the　party　in　question；　Sir　Pitt
quitted　it　very　early；　and　his　wife；　too；　was　very　glad
to　come　away。　　Becky　hardly　so　much　as　spoke　to　him　or
noticed　her　sister…in…law。　　Pitt　Crawley　declared　her
behaviour　was　monstrously　indecorous；　reprobated　in
strong　terms　the　habit　of　play…acting　and　fancy　dressing
as　highly　unbecoming　a　British　female；　and　after　the
charades　were　over；　took　his　brother　Rawdon　severely
to　task　for　appearing　himself　and　allowing　his　wife　to
join　in　such　improper　exhibitions。
Rawdon　said　she　should　not　join　in　any　more　such
amusementsbut　indeed；　and　perhaps　from　hints　from
his　elder　brother　and　sister；　he　had　already　become　a
very　watchful　and　exemplary　domestic　character。　　He　left
off　his　clubs　and　billiards。　　He　never　left　home。　　He　took
Becky　out　to　drive；　he　went　laboriously　with　her　to　all
her　parties。　　Whenever　my　Lord　Steyne　called；　he　was
sure　to　find　the　Colonel。　　And　when　Becky　proposed　to
go　out　without　her　husband；　or　received　invitations　for
herself；　he　peremptorily　ordered　her　to　refuse　them：　　and
there　was　that　in　the　gentleman's　manner　which　enforced
obedience。　　Little　Becky；　to　do　her　justice；　was　charmed
with　Rawdon's　gallantry。　　If　he　was　surly；　she　never　was。
Whether　friends　were　present　or　absent；　she　had　always
a　kind　smile　for　him　and　was　attentive　to　his　pleasure
and　comfort。　　It　was　the　early　days　of　their　marriage　over
again：　　the　same　good　humour；　prevenances；　merriment；
and　artless　confidence　and　regard。　　〃How　much　pleasanter
it　is；〃　she　would　say；　〃to　have　you　by　my　side　in　the
carriage　than　that　foolish　old　Briggs！　　Let　us　always　go　on
so；　dear　Rawdon。　　How　nice　it　would　be；　and　how　happy
we　should　always　be；　if　we　had　but　the　money！〃　He
fell　asleep　after　dinner　in　his　chair；　he　did　not　see　the
face　opposite　to　him；　haggard；　weary；　and　terrible；　it
lighted　up　with　fresh　candid　smiles　when　he　woke。　　It
kissed　him　gaily。　　He　wondered　that　he　had　ever　had
suspicions。　　No；　he　never　had　suspicions；　all　those　dumb
doubts　and　surly　misgivings　which　had　been　gathering　on
his　mind　were　mere　idle　jealousies。　　She　was　fond　of　him；
she　always　had　been。　　As　for　her　shining　in　society；　it
was　no　fault　of　hers；　she　was　formed　to　shine　there。
Was　there　any　woman　who　could　talk；　or　sing；　or　do
anything　like　her？　If　she　would　but　like　the　boy！
Rawdon　thought。　　But　the　mother　and　son　never　could　be
brought　together。
And　it　was　while　Rawdon's　mind　was　agitated　with
these　doubts　and　perplexities　that　the　incident　occurred
which　was　mentioned　in　the　last　chapter；　and　the
unfortunate　Colonel　found　himself　a　prisoner　away　from
home。

CHAPTER　LIII

Friend　Rawdon　drove　on　then　to　Mr。　Moss's　mansion
in　Cursitor　Street；　and　was　duly　inducted　into　that
dismal　place　of　hospitality。　　Morning　was　breaking
over　the　cheerful　house…tops　of　Chancery　Lane　as　the
rattling　cab　woke　up　the　echoes　there。　　A　little
pink…eyed　Jew…boy；　with　a　head　as　ruddy　as　the　rising
morn；　let　the　party　into　the　house；　and　Rawdon　was
welcomed　to　the　ground…floor　apartments　by　Mr。　Moss；　his
travelling　companion　and　host；　who　cheerfully　asked　him
if　he　would　like　a　glass　of　something　warm　after　his　drive。
The　Colonel　was　not　so　depressed　as　some　mortals
would　be；　who；　quitting　a　palace　and　a　placens　uxor；
find　themselves　barred　into　a　spunging…house；　for；　if　the
truth　must　be　told；　he　had　been　a　lodger　at　Mr。　Moss's
establishment　once　or　twice　before。　　We　have　not　thought
it　necessary　in　the　previous　course　of　this　narrative　to
mention　these　trivial　little　domestic　incidents：　　but　the
reader　may　be　assured　that　they　can't　unfrequently　occur
in　the　life　of　a　man　who　lives　on　nothing　a　year。
Upon　his　first　visit　to　Mr。　Moss；　the　Colonel；　then
a　bachelor；　had　been　liberated　by　the　generosity　of　his
aunt；　on　the　second　mishap；　little　Becky；　with　the　greatest
spirit　and　kindness；　had　borrowed　a　sum　of　money　from
Lord　Southdown　and　had　coaxed　her　husband's　creditor
（who　was　her　shawl；　velvet…gown；　lace　pocket…handkerchief；
trinket；　and　gim…crack　purveyor；　indeed）　to　take
a　portion　of　the　sum　claimed　and　Rawdon's　promissory
note　for　the　remainder：　　so　on　both　these　occasions　the
capture　and　release　had　been　conducted　with　the　utmost
gallantry　on　all　sides；　and　Moss　and　the　Colonel　were
therefore　on　the　very　best　of　terms。
〃You'll　find　your　old　bed；　Colonel；　and　everything
comfortable；〃　that　gentleman　said；　〃as　I　may　honestly　say。
You　may　be　pretty　sure　its　kep　aired；　and　by　the　best
of　company；　too。　　It　was　slep　in　the　night　afore　last　by
the　Honorable　Capting　Famish；　of　the　Fiftieth　Dragoons；
whose　Mar　took　him　out；　after　a　fortnight；　jest　to　punish
him；　she　said。　　But；　Law　bless　you；　I　promise　you；　he
punished　my　champagne；　and　had　a　party　ere　every　night
reglar　tip…top　swells；　down　from　the　clubs　and　the
West　EndCapting　Ragg；　the　Honorable　Deuceace；　who
lives　in　the　Temple；　and　some　fellers　as　knows　a　good
glass　of　wine；　I　warrant　you。　　I've　got　a　Doctor　of
Diwinity　upstairs；　five　gents　in　the　coffee…room；　and　Mrs。
Moss　has　a　tably…dy…hoty　at　half…past　five；　and　a　little
cards　or　music　afterwards；　when　we　shall　be　most　happy
to　see　you。〃
〃I'll　ring　when　I　want　anything；〃　said　Rawdon　and
went　quietly　to　his　bedroom。　　He　was　an　old　soldier；
we　have　said；　and　not　to　be　disturbed　by　any　little　shocks
of　fate。　　A　weaker　man　would　have　sent　off　a　letter　to　his
wife　on　the　instant　of　his　capture。　　〃But　what　is　the　use
of　disturbing　her　night's　rest？〃　thought　Rawdon。　　〃She
won't　know　whether　I　am　in　my　room　or　not。　　It　will
be　time　enough　to　write　to　her　when　she　has　had　her
sleep　out；　and　I　have　had　mine。　　It's　only　a　hundred…
and…seventy；　and　the　deuce　is　in　it　if　we　can't　raise
that。〃　And　so；　thinking　about　little　Rawdon　（whom　he
would　not　have　know　that　he　was　in　such　a　queer　place）；
the　Colonel　turned　into　the　bed　lately　occupied　by
Captain　Famish　and　fell　asleep。　　It　was　ten　o'clock　when
he　woke　up；　and　the　ruddy…headed　youth　brought　him；
with　conscious　pride；　a　fine　silver　dressing…case；　wherewith
he　might　perform　the　operation　of　shaving。　　Indeed
Mr。　Moss's　house；　though　somewhat　dirty；　was　splendid
throughout。　　There　were　dirty　trays；　and　wine…coolers　en
permanence　on　the　sideboard；　huge　dirty　gilt　cornices；
with　dingy　yellow　satin　hangings　to　the　barred　windows
which　looked　into　Cursitor　Streetvast　and　dirty　gilt
picture　frames　surrounding　pieces　sporting　and　sacred；　all
of　which　works　were　by　the　greatest　mastersand　fetched
the　greatest　prices；　too；　in　the　bill　transactions；　in　the
course　of　which　they　were　sold　and　bought　over　and
over　again。　　The　Colonel's　breakfast　was　served　to　him
in　the　same　dingy　and　gorgeous　plated　ware。　　Miss　Moss；
a　dark…eyed　maid　in　curl…papers；　appeared　with　the