vanity fair(名利场)-第17节
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other male and female members of the Crawley family。
Sir Pitt was first married to Grizzel； sixth daughter of
Mungo Binkie； Lord Binkie； and cousin； in consequence；
of Mr。 Dundas。 She brought him two sons： Pitt； named
not so much after his father as after the heaven…born
minister； and Rawdon Crawley； from the Prince of
Wales's friend； whom his Majesty George IV forgot so
completely。 Many years after her ladyship's demise； Sir
Pitt led to the altar Rosa； daughter of Mr。 G。 Dawson；
of Mudbury； by whom he had two daughters； for whose
benefit Miss Rebecca Sharp was now engaged as
governess。 It will be seen that the young lady was come into a
family of very genteel connexions； and was about to move
in a much more distinguished circle than that humble one
which she had just quitted in Russell Square。
She had received her orders to join her pupils； in a
note which was written upon an old envelope； and which
contained the following words：
Sir Pitt Crawley begs Miss Sharp and baggidge may be
hear on Tuesday； as I leaf for Queen's Crawley to…morrow
morning ERLY。
Great Gaunt Street。
Rebecca had never seen a Baronet； as far as she knew；
and as soon as she had taken leave of Amelia； and
counted the guineas which good…natured Mr。 Sedley had
put into a purse for her； and as soon as she had done
wiping her eyes with her handkerchief （which operation
she concluded the very moment the carriage had turned
the corner of the street）； she began to depict in her own
mind what a Baronet must be。 〃I wonder； does he wear
a star？〃 thought she； 〃or is it only lords that wear stars？
But he will be very handsomely dressed in a court suit；
with ruffles； and his hair a little powdered； like Mr。
Wroughton at Covent Garden。 I suppose he will be
awfully proud； and that I shall be treated most
contemptuously。 Still I must bear my hard lot as well
as I canat least； I shall be amongst GENTLEFOLKS； and
not with vulgar city people〃： and she fell to thinking of
her Russell Square friends with that very same philosophical
bitterness with which； in a certain apologue； the fox is
represented as speaking of the grapes。
Having passed through Gaunt Square into Great Gaunt
Street； the carriage at length stopped at a tall gloomy
house between two other tall gloomy houses； each with a
hatchment over the middle drawing…room window； as is
the custom of houses in Great Gaunt Street； in which
gloomy locality death seems to reign perpetual。 The
shutters of the first…floor windows of Sir Pitt's mansion
were closedthose of the dining…room were partially open；
and the blinds neatly covered up in old newspapers。
John； the groom； who had driven the carriage alone；
did not care to descend to ring the bell； and so prayed a
passing milk…boy to perform that office for him。 When the
bell was rung； a head appeared between the interstices of
the dining…room shutters； and the door was opened by a
man in drab breeches and gaiters； with a dirty old coat；
a foul old neckcloth lashed round his bristly neck； a
shining bald head； a leering red face； a pair of twinkling grey
eyes； and a mouth perpetually on the grin
〃This Sir Pitt Crawley's？〃 says John； from the box。
〃Ees；〃 says the man at the door； with a nod。
〃Hand down these 'ere trunks then；〃 said John。
〃Hand 'n down yourself；〃 said the porter。
〃Don't you see I can't leave my hosses？ Come； bear a
hand； my fine feller； and Miss will give you some beer；〃
said John； with a horse…laugh； for he was no longer
respectful to Miss Sharp； as her connexion with the family
was broken off； and as she had given nothing to the
servants on coming away。
The bald…headed man； taking his hands out of his
breeches pockets； advanced on this summons； and
throwing Miss Sharp's trunk over his shoulder； carried it into
the house。
〃Take this basket and shawl； if you please； and open
the door；〃 said Miss Sharp； and descended from the
carriage in much indignation。 〃I shall write to Mr。 Sedley
and inform him of your conduct；〃 said she to the groom。
〃Don't；〃 replied that functionary。 〃I hope you've forgot
nothink？ Miss 'Melia's gowndshave you got themas
the lady's maid was to have 'ad？ I hope they'll fit you。
Shut the door； Jim； you'll get no good out of 'ER；〃
continued John； pointing with his thumb towards Miss Sharp：
〃a bad lot； I tell you； a bad lot；〃 and so saying； Mr。
Sedley's groom drove away。 The truth is； he was attached
to the lady's maid in question； and indignant that she
should have been robbed of her perquisites。
On entering the dining…room； by the orders of the
individual in gaiters； Rebecca found that apartment not
more cheerful than such rooms usually are； when genteel
families are out of town。 The faithful chambers seem； as
it were； to mourn the absence of their masters。 The turkey
carpet has rolled itself up； and retired sulkily under the
sideboard： the pictures have hidden their faces behind old
sheets of brown paper： the ceiling lamp is muffled up in a
dismal sack of brown holland： the window…curtains have
disappeared under all sorts of shabby envelopes： the
marble bust of Sir Walpole Crawley is looking from its
black corner at the bare boards and the oiled fire…irons；
and the empty card…racks over the mantelpiece： the
cellaret has lurked away behind the carpet： the chairs are
turned up heads and tails along the walls： and in the
dark corner opposite the statue； is an old…fashioned
crabbed knife…box； locked and sitting on a dumb waiter。
Two kitchen chairs； and a round table； and an
attenuated old poker and tongs were； however； gathered
round the fire…place； as was a saucepan over a feeble
sputtering fire。 There was a bit of cheese and bread； and
a tin candlestick on the table； and a little black porter
in a pint…pot。
〃Had your dinner； I suppose？ It is not too warm for
you？ Like a drop of beer？〃
〃Where is Sir Pitt Crawley？〃 said Miss Sharp
majestically。
〃He； he！ I'm Sir Pitt Crawley。 Reklect you owe me a
pint for bringing down your luggage。 He； he！ Ask
Tinker if I aynt。 Mrs。 Tinker； Miss Sharp； Miss
Governess； Mrs。 Charwoman。 Ho； ho！〃
The lady addressed as Mrs。 Tinker at this moment
made her appearance with a pipe and a paper of tobacco；
for which she had been despatched a minute before
Miss Sharp's arrival； and she handed the articles over to
Sir Pitt； who had taken his seat by the fire。
〃Where's the farden？〃 said he。 〃I gave you three
halfpence。 Where's the change； old Tinker？〃
〃There！〃 replied Mrs。 Tinker； flinging down the coin；
it's only baronets as cares about farthings。〃
〃A farthing a day is seven shillings a year；〃 answered
the M。P。； 〃seven shillings a year is the interest of seven
guineas。 Take care of your farthings； old Tinker； and your
guineas will come quite nat'ral。〃
〃You may be sure it's Sir Pitt Crawley； young woman；〃
said Mrs。 Tinker； surlily； 〃because he looks to his
farthings。 You'll know him better afore long。〃
〃And like me none the worse； Miss Sharp；〃 said the
old gentleman； with an air almost of politeness。 〃I must
be just before I'm generous。〃
〃He never gave away a farthing in his life；〃 growled
Tinker。
〃Never； and never will： it's against my principle。 Go
and get another chair from the kitchen； Tinker； if you
want to sit down； and then we'll have a bit of supper。〃
Presently the baronet plunged a fork into the saucepan
on the fire； and withdrew from the pot a piece of tripe
and an onion； which he divided into pretty equal
portions； and of which he partook with Mrs。 Tinker。 〃You
see； Miss Sharp； when I'm not here Tinker's on board
wages： when I'm in town she dines with the family。
Haw！ haw！ I'm glad Miss Sharp's not hungry； ain't you；
Tink？〃 And they fell to upon their frugal supper。
After supper Sir Pitt Crawley began to smoke his
pipe； and when it became quite dark； he lighted the
rushlight in the tin candlestick； and producing from an
interminable pocket a huge mass of papers； began reading
them； and putting them in order。
〃I'm here on law business； my dear； and that's how it
happens that I shall have the pleasure of such a pretty
travelling companion to…morrow。〃
〃He's always at law business；〃 said Mrs。 Tinker；
taking up the pot of porter。
〃Drink and drink about；〃 said the Baronet。 〃Yes； my
dear； Tinker is quite right： I've lost and won more
lawsuits than any man in England。 Look here at Crawley；
Bart。 v。 Snaffle。 I'll throw him over； or my name's not
Pitt Crawley。 Podder and another versus Crawley； Bart。
Overseers of Snaily parish against Crawley； Bart。 They
can't prove it's common： I'll defy 'em； the land's mine。
It no more belongs to the parish than it does to you or
Tinker here。 I'll beat 'em； if it cost me a thousand guineas。
Look over the papers； you may if you like； my dear。
Do you write a good hand？ I'll make you useful when
we're at Queen's Crawley； depend on it； Miss Sharp。
Now the dowager's dead I want some one。〃
〃She was as bad as he；〃 said Tinker。 〃She took the
law of every one of her tradesmen； and turned away
forty…eight footmen in four year。〃
〃She was closevery close；〃 said the Baronet； simply；
〃but she was a valyble woman to me； and saved me a
steward。〃And in this confidential strain； and much to
the amusement of the
