vanity fair(名利场)-第18节

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〃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　new…comer；　the　conversation
continued　for　a　considerable　time。　　Whatever　Sir　Pitt
Crawley's　qualities　might　be；　good　or　bad；　he　did　not　make
the　least　disguise　of　them。　　He　talked　of　himself　incessantly；　
sometimes　in　the　coarsest　and　vulgarest　Hampshire　accent；
　sometimes　adopting　the　tone　of　a　man　of　the　world。　　And　so；
with　injunctions　to　Miss　Sharp　to　be　ready　at　five　in　the
morning；　he　bade　her　good　night。　　　〃You'll　sleep　with　Tinker
to…night；〃　he　said；　〃it's　a　big　bed；　and　there's　room　for　two。
Lady　Crawley　died　in　it。　　Good　night。〃
Sir　Pitt　went　off　after　this　benediction；　and　the　solemn
Tinker；　rushlight　in　hand；　led　the　way　up　the　great
bleak　stone　stairs；　past　the　great　dreary　drawing…room
doors；　with　the　handles　muffled　up　in　paper；　into　the
great　front　bedroom；　where　Lady　Crawley　had　slept　her
last。　　The　bed　and　chamber　were　so　funereal　and　gloomy；
you　might　have　fancied；　not　only　that　Lady　Crawley　died
in　the　room；　but　that　her　ghost　inhabited　it。　　Rebecca
sprang　about　the　apartment；　however；　with　the　greatest
liveliness；　and　had　peeped　into　the　huge　wardrobes；　and
the　closets；　and　the　cupboards；　and　tried　the　drawers
which　were　locked；　and　examined　the　dreary　pictures
and　toilette　appointments；　while　the　old　charwoman
was　saying　her　prayers。　　〃I　shouldn't　like　to　sleep　in　this
yeer　bed　without　a　good　conscience；　Miss；〃　said　the　old
woman。　　〃There's　room　for　us　and　a　half…dozen　of　ghosts
in　it；〃　says　Rebecca。　　〃Tell　me　all　about　Lady　Crawley
and　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　and　everybody；　my　DEAR　Mrs。
Tinker。〃
But　old　Tinker　was　not　to　be　pumped　by　this　little
cross…questioner；　and　signifying　to　her　that　bed　was　a
place　for　sleeping；　not　conversation；　set　up　in　her　corner
of　the　bed　such　a　snore　as　only　the　nose　of　innocence
can　produce。　　Rebecca　lay　awake　for　a　long；　long　time；
thinking　of　the　morrow；　and　of　the　new　world　into　which
she　was　going；　and　of　her　chances　of　success　there。　　The
rushlight　flickered　in　the　basin。　　The　mantelpiece　cast　up
a　great　black　shadow；　over　half　of　a　mouldy　old　sampler；
which　her　defunct　ladyship　had　worked；　no　doubt；　and
over　two　little　family　pictures　of　young　lads；　one　in　a
college　gown；　and　the　other　in　a　red　jacket　like　a　soldier。
When　she　went　to　sleep；　Rebecca　chose　that　one　to
dream　about。
　　
At　four　o'clock；　on　such　a　roseate　summer's　morning
as　even　made　Great　Gaunt　Street　look　cheerful；　the
faithful　Tinker；　having　wakened　her　bedfellow；　and　bid　her
prepare　for　departure；　unbarred　and　unbolted　the　great
hall　door　（the　clanging　and　clapping　whereof　startled
the　sleeping　echoes　in　the　street）；　and　taking　her　way
into　Oxford　Street；　summoned　a　coach　from　a　stand
there。　　It　is　needless　to　particularize　the　number　of　the
vehicle；　or　to　state　that　the　driver　was　stationed　thus
early　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Swallow　Street；　in　hopes
that　some　young　buck；　reeling　homeward　from　the　tavern；
might　need　the　aid　of　his　vehicle；　and　pay　him　with
the　generosity　of　intoxication。
　　
It　is　likewise　needless　to　say　that　the　driver；　if　he　had
any　such　hopes　as　those。above　stated；　was　grossly
disappointed；　and　that　the　worthy　Baronet　whom　he　drove
to　the　City　did　not　give　him　one　single　penny　more　than
his　fare。　　It　was　in　vain　that　Jehu　appealed　and　stormed；
that　he　flung　down　Miss　Sharp's　bandboxes　in　the　gutter
at　the　'Necks；　and　swore　he　would　take　the　law　of　his
fare。
　　
〃You'd　better　not；〃　said　one　of　the　ostlers；　〃it's　Sir
Pitt　Crawley。〃
　　
〃So　it　is；　Joe；〃　cried　the　Baronet；　approvingly；　〃and
I'd　like　to　see　the　man　can　do　me。〃
　　
〃So　should　oi；〃　said　Joe；　grinning　sulkily；　and
mounting　the　Baronet's　baggage　on　the　roof　of　the　coach。
　　
〃Keep　the　box　for　me；　Leader；〃　exclaims　the　Member
of　Parliament　to　the　coachman；　who　replied；　〃Yes；
Sir　Pitt；〃　with　a　touch　of　his　hat；　and　rage　in　his　soul
（for　he　had　promised　the　box　to　a　young　gentleman
from　Cambridge；　who　would　have　given　a　crown　to　a
certainty）；　and　Miss　Sharp　was　accommodated　with　a
back　seat　inside　the　carriage；　which　might　be　said　to　be
carrying　her　into　the　wide　world。
　　
How　the　young　man　from　Cambridge　sulkily　put　his
five　great…coats　in　front；　but　was　reconciled　when　little
Miss　Sharp　was　made　to　quit　the　carriage；　and　mount
up　beside　himwhen　he　covered　her　up　in　one　of　his
Benjamins；　and　became　perfectly　good…humouredhow
the　asthmatic　gentleman；　the　prim　lady；　who　declared
upon　her　sacred　honour　she　had　never　travelled　in　a
public　carriage　before　（there　is　always　such　a　lady　in　a
coachAlas！　was；　for　the　coaches；　where　are　they？）；
and　the　fat　widow　with　the　brandy…bottle；　took　their
places　insidehow　the　porter　asked　them　all　for　money；
and　got　sixpence　from　the　gentleman　and　five　greasy
halfpence　from　the　fat　widowand　how　the　carriage
at　length　drove　awaynow　threading　the　dark　lanes　of
Aldersgate；　anon　clattering　by　the　Blue　Cupola　of　St。
Paul's；　jingling　rapidly　by　the　strangers'　entry　of　Fleet…
Market；　which；　with　Exeter　'Change；　has　now　departed
to　the　world　of　shadowshow　they　passed　the　White
Bear　in　Piccadilly；　and　saw　the　dew　rising　up　from　the
market…gardens　of　Knightsbridgehow　Turnhamgreen；
Brentwood；　Bagshot；　were　passedneed　not　be　told　here。
But　the　writer　of　these　pages；　who　has　pursued　in　former
days；　and　in　the　same　bright　weather；　the　same　remarkable
journey；　cannot　but　think　of　it　with　a　sweet　and
tender　regret。　　Where　is　the　road　now；　and　its　merry
incidents　of　life？　Is　there　no　Chelsea　or　Greenwich　for
the　old　honest　pimple…nosed　coachmen？　　I　wonder　where
are　they；　those　good　fellows？　Is　old　Weller　alive　or　dead？
and　the　waiters；　yea；　and　the　inns　at　which　they　waited；
and　the　cold　rounds　of　beef　inside；　and　the　stunted　ostler；
with　his　blue　nose　and　clinking　pail；　where　is　he；　and
where　is　his　generation？　　To　those　great　geniuses　now　in
petticoats；　who　shall　write　novels　for　the　beloved　reader's
children；　these　men　and　things　will　be　as　much　legend
and　history　as　Nineveh；　or　Coeur　de　Lion；　or　Jack
Sheppard。　　For　them　stage…coaches　will　have　become　romances
a　team　of　four　bays　as　fabulous　as　Bucephalus　or　Black
Bess。　　Ah；　how　their　coats　shone；　as　the　stable…men　pulled
their　clothes　off；　and　away　they　wentah；　how　their
tails　shook；　as　with　smoking　sides　at　the　stage's　end
they　demurely　walked　away　into　the　inn…yard。　　Alas！　　we
shall　never　hear　the　horn　sing　at　midnight；　or　see　the
pike…gates　fly　open　any　more。　　Whither；　however；　is　the
light　four…inside　Trafalgar　coach　carrying　us？　Let　us　be
set　down　at　Queen's　Crawley　without　further　divagation；
and　see　how　Miss　Rebecca　Sharp　speeds　there。

CHAPTER　VIII
Miss　Rebecca　Sharp　to　Miss　Amelia　Sedley；
Russell　Square；　London。
（Free。Pitt　Crawley。）
MY　DEAREST；　SWEETEST　AMELIA；
　　　　　
With　what　mingled　joy　and　sorrow　do　I　take　up　the
pen　to　write　to　my　dearest　friend！　　Oh；　what　a　change
between　to…day　and　yesterday！　Now　I　am　friendless　and
alone；　yesterday　I　was　at　home；　in　the　sweet　company
of　a　sister；　whom　I　shall　ever；　ever　cherish！
　　
I　will　not　tell　you　in　what　tears　and　sadness　I　passed
the　fatal　night　in　which　I　separated　from　you。　　YOU　went
on　Tuesday　to　joy　and　happiness；　with　your　mother　and
YOUR　DEVOTED　YOUNG　SOLDIER　by　your　side；　and　I　thought
of　you　all　night；　dancing　at　the　Perkins's；　the　prettiest；
I　am　sure；　of　all　the　young　ladies　at　the　Ball。　　I　was
brought　by　the　groom　in　the　old　carriage　to　Sir　Pitt
Crawley's　town　house；　where；　after　John　the　groom　had
behaved　most　rudely　and　insolently　to　me　（alas！　'twas
safe　to　insult　poverty　and　misfortune！）；　I　was　given　over
to　Sir　P。's　care；　and　made　to　pass　the　night　in　an　old
gloomy　bed；　and　by　the　side　of　a　horrid　gloomy　old
charwoman；　who　keeps　the　house。　　I　did　not　sleep　one
single　wink　the　whole　night。
　　
Sir　Pitt　is　not　what　we　silly　girls；　when　we　used　to
read　Cecilia　at　Chiswick；　imagined　a　baronet　must　have
been。　　Anything；　indeed；　less　like　Lord　Orville　cannot　be
imagined。　　Fancy　an　old；　stumpy；　short；　vulgar；　and　very
dirty　man；　in　old　clothes　and　shabby　old　gaiters；　who
smokes　a　horrid　pipe；　and　cooks　his　own　horrid　supper
in　a　saucepan。　　He　speaks　with　a　country　accent；　and
swore　a　great　deal　at　the　old　charwoman；　at　the　hackney
coachman　who　drove　us　to　the　inn　where　the　coach　went
from；　and　on　which　I　made　the　journey　OUTSIDE　FOR　THE
GREATER　PART　OF　THE　WAY。
　　
I　was　awakened　at　daybreak　by　the　charwoman；　and
having　arrived　at　the　inn；　was　at　first　placed　inside　the
coach。　　But；　when　we　got　to　a　place　called　Leakington；
where　the　rain　began　to　fall　very　heavilywill　you
believe　it？I　was　forced　to　come　outside；　for　Sir　Pitt　is　a
proprietor　of　the　coach；　and　as　a　passenger　came　at
Mudbury；　who　wanted　an　inside　place；　I　was　obliged　to
go　outside　in　the　rain；　where；　however；　a　young
gentleman　from　Cambridge　College　sheltered　me　very
kindly　in　one　of　his　several　great　coats。
　　
This　gentleman　and　the　guard　seemed　to　know　Sir
Pitt　very　well；　and　laughed　at　him　a　great　deal。　　They
both　agreed　in　calling　him　an　old　screw；　which　means　a
very　stingy；　avaricious　person。　　He　never　gives　any　money
to　anybody；　they　said　（