vanity fair(名利场)-第184节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


quite　the　reverse　from　a　pleasurable　one；　he　made　use　of
a　brief　but　improper　expression　regarding　a　poor　woman
in　distress；　saying；　in　fact；　〃The　little　minx；　has　she
come　to　light　again？〃　He　never　had　had　the　slightest　liking
for　her；　but　had　heartily　mistrusted　her　from　the　very
first　moment　when　her　green　eyes　had　looked　at；　and
turned　away　from；　his　own。
〃That　little　devil　brings　mischief　wherever　she　goes；〃
the　Major　said　disrespectfully。　　〃Who　knows　what　sort　of
life　she　has　been　leading？　And　what　business　has　she
here　abroad　and　alone？　Don't　tell　me　about　persecutors
and　enemies；　an　honest　woman　always　has　friends　and
never　is　separated　from　her　family。　　Why　has　she　left　her
husband？　He　may　have　been　disreputable　and　wicked；　as
you　say。　　He　always　was。　　I　remember　the　confounded
blackleg　and　the　way　in　which　he　used　to　cheat　and
hoodwink　poor　George。　　Wasn't　there　a　scandal　about　their
separation？　I　think　I　heard　something；〃　cried　out　Major
Dobbin；　who　did　not　care　much　about　gossip；　and　whom
Jos　tried　in　vain　to　convince　that　Mrs。　Becky　was　in　all
respects　a　most　injured　and　virtuous　female。
〃Well；　well；　let's　ask　Mrs。　George；〃　said　that　arch…
diplomatist　of　a　Major。　　〃Only　let　us　go　and　consult　her。
I　suppose　you　will　allow　that　she　is　a　good　judge　at　any
rate；　and　knows　what　is　right　in　such　matters。〃
〃Hm！　　Emmy　is　very　well；〃　said　Jos；　who　did　not
happen　to　be　in　love　with　his　sister。
〃Very　well？　By　Gad；　sir；　she's　the　finest　lady　I　ever
met　in　my　life；〃　bounced　out　the　Major。　　〃I　say　at　once；
let　us　go　and　ask　her　if　this　woman　ought　to　be　visited
or　notI　will　be　content　with　her　verdict。〃　Now　this
odious；　artful　rogue　of　a　Major　was　thinking　in　his　own
mind　that　he　was　sure　of　his　case。　　Emmy；　he　remembered；
was　at　one　time　cruelly　and　deservedly　jealous　of
Rebecca；　never　mentioned　her　name　but　with　a　shrinking
and　terrora　jealous　woman　never　forgives；　thought
Dobbin：　　and　so　the　pair　went　across　the　street　to　Mrs。
George's　house；　where　she　was　contentedly　warbling　at
a　music　lesson　with　Madame　Strumpff。
When　that　lady　took　her　leave；　Jos　opened　the　business
with　his　usual　pomp　of　words。　　〃Amelia；　my　dear；〃
said　he；　〃I　have　just　had　the　most　extraordinaryyes
God　bless　my　soul！　　the　most　extraordinary　adventure
an　old　friendyes；　a　most　interesting　old　friend　of
yours；　and　I　may　say　in　old　times；　has　just　arrived　here；
and　I　should　like　you　to　see　her。〃
〃Her！〃　said　Amelia；　〃who　is　it？　Major　Dobbin；　if　you
please　not　to　break　my　scissors。〃　The　Major　was　twirling
them　round　by　the　little　chain　from　which　they　sometimes
hung　to　their　lady's　waist；　and　was　thereby　endangering
his　own　eye。
　
It　is　a　woman　whom　I　dislike　very　much；〃　said　the
Major；　doggedly；　〃and　whom　you　have　no　cause　to　love。〃
〃It　is　Rebecca；　I'm　sure　it　is　Rebecca；〃　Amelia　said；
blushing　and　being　very　much　agitated。
〃You　are　right；　you　always　are；〃　Dobbin　answered。
Brussels；　Waterloo；　old；　old　times；　griefs；　pangs；
remembrances；　rushed　back　into　Amelia's　gentle
heart　and　caused　a　cruel　agitation　there。
〃Don't　let　me　see　her；〃　Emmy　continued。　　〃I　couldn't
see　her。〃
〃I　told　you　so；〃　Dobbin　said　to　Jos。
〃She　is　very　unhappy；　andand　that　sort　of　thing；〃
Jos　urged。　　〃She　is　very　poor　and　unprotected；　and　has
been　illexceedingly　illand　that　scoundrel　of　a
husband　has　deserted　her。〃
〃Ah！〃　said　Amelia
〃She　hasn't　a　friend　in　the　world；〃　Jos　went　on；　not
undexterously；　〃and　she　said　she　thought　she　might　trust　in
you。　　She's　so　miserable；　Emmy。　　She　has　been　almost　mad
with　grief。　　Her　story　quite　affected　me'pon　my　word
and　honour；　it　didnever　was　such　a　cruel　persecution
borne　so　angelically；　I　may　say。　　Her　family　has　been
most　cruel　to　her。〃
〃Poor　creature！〃　Amelia　said。
〃And　if　she　can　get　no　friend；　she　says　she　thinks　she'll
die；〃　Jos　proceeded　in　a　low　tremulous　voice。　　〃God　bless
my　soul！　　do　you　know　that　she　tried　to　kill　herself？　She
carries　laudanum　with　herI　saw　the　bottle　in　her　room
such　a　miserable　little　roomat　a　third…rate　house；
the　Elephant；　up　in　the　roof　at　the　top　of　all。　　I　went
there。〃
This　did　not　seem　to　affect　Emmy。　　She　even　smiled　a
little。　　Perhaps　she　figured　Jos　to　herself　panting　up　the
stair。
〃She's　beside　herself　with　grief；〃　he　resumed。　　〃The
agonies　that　woman　has　endured　are　quite　frightful　to
hear　of。　　She　had　a　little　boy；　of　the　same　age　as　Georgy。〃
〃Yes；　yes；　I　think　I　remember；〃　Emmy　remarked。
〃Well？〃
〃The　most　beautiful　child　ever　seen；〃　Jos　said；　who
was　very　fat；　and　easily　moved；　and　had　been　touched　by
the　story　Becky　told；　〃a　perfect　angel；　who　adored　his
mother。　　The　ruffians　tore　him　shrieking　out　of　her　arms；
and　have　never　allowed　him　to　see　her。〃
〃Dear　Joseph；〃　Emmy　cried　out；　starting　up　at　once；
〃let　us　go　and　see　her　this　minute。〃　And　she　ran　into　her
adjoining　bedchamber；　tied　on　her　bonnet　in　a　flutter；
came　out　with　her　shawl　on　her　arm；　and　ordered
Dobbin　to　follow。
He　went　and　put　her　shawlit　was　a　white　cashmere；
consigned　to　her　by　the　Major　himself　from　Indiaover
her　shoulders。　　He　saw　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to
obey；　and　she　put　her　hand　into　his　arm；　and　they　went
away。
〃It　is　number　92；　up　four　pair　of　stairs；〃　Jos　said；
perhaps　not　very　willing　to　ascend　the　steps　again；　but　he
placed　himself　in　the　window　of　his　drawing…room；　which
commands　the　place　on　which　the　Elephant　stands；　and
saw　the　pair　marching　through　the　market。
It　was　as　well　that　Becky　saw　them　too　from　her　garret；
for　she　and　the　two　students　were　chattering　and　laughing
there；　they　had　been　joking　about　the　appearance　of
Becky's　grandpapawhose　arrival　and　departure　they
had　witnessedbut　she　had　time　to　dismiss　them；　and
have　her　little　room　clear　before　the　landlord　of　the
Elephant；　who　knew　that　Mrs。　Osborne　was　a　great　favourite
at　the　Serene　Court；　and　respected　her　accordingly；　led
the　way　up　the　stairs　to　the　roof　story；　encouraging
Miladi　and　the　Herr　Major　as　they　achieved　the　ascent。
〃Gracious　lady；　gracious　lady！〃　said　the　landlord；
knocking　at　Becky's　door；　he　had　called　her　Madame　the
day　before；　and　was　by　no　means　courteous　to　her。
〃Who　is　it？〃　Becky　said；　putting　out　her　head；　and　she
gave　a　little　scream。　　There　stood　Emmy　in　a　tremble；
and　Dobbin；　the　tall　Major；　with　his　cane。
He　stood　still　watching；　and　very　much　interested　at
the　scene；　but　Emmy　sprang　forward　with　open　arms
towards　Rebecca；　and　forgave　her　at　that　moment；　and
embraced　her　and　kissed　her　with　all　her　heart。　　Ah；　poor
wretch；　when　was　your　lip　pressed　before　by　such　pure
kisses？

CHAPTER　LXVI
Amantium　Irae
Frankness　and　kindness　like　Amelia's　were　likely　to
touch　even　such　a　hardened　little　reprobate　as　Becky。　　She
returned　Emmy's　caresses　and　kind　speeches　with
something　very　like　gratitude；　and　an　emotion　which；　if　it　was
not　lasting；　for　a　moment　was　almost　genuine。　　That　was
a　lucky　stroke　of　hers　about　the　child　〃torn　from　her
arms　shrieking。〃　It　was　by　that　harrowing　misfortune
that　Becky　had　won　her　friend　back；　and　it　was　one　of　the
very　first　points；　we　may　be　certain；　upon　which　our　poor
simple　little　Emmy　began　to　talk　to　her　new…found
acquaintance。
〃And　so　they　took　your　darling　child　from　you？〃　our
simpleton　cried　out。　　〃Oh；　Rebecca；　my　poor　dear　suffering
friend；　I　know　what　it　is　to　lose　a　boy；　and　to　feel
for　those　who　have　lost　one。　　But　please　Heaven　yours
will　be　restored　to　you；　as　a　merciful　merciful　Providence
has　brought　me　back　mine。〃
〃The　child；　my　child？　Oh；　yes；　my　agonies　were　frightful；〃
Becky　owned；　not　perhaps　without　a　twinge　of　conscience。
It　jarred　upon　her　to　be　obliged　to　commence
instantly　to　tell　lies　in　reply　to　so　much　confidence　and
simplicity。　　But　that　is　the　misfortune　of　beginning　with
this　kind　of　forgery。　　When　one　fib　becomes　due　as　it
were；　you　must　forge　another　to　take　up　the　old
acceptance；　and　so　the　stock　of　your　lies　in　circulation
inevitably　multiplies；　and　the　danger　of　detection　increases
every　day。
〃My　agonies；〃　Becky　continued；　〃were　terrible　（I　hope
she　won't　sit　down　on　the　bottle）　when　they　took　him
away　from　me；　I　thought　I　should　die；　but　I　fortunately
had　a　brain　fever；　during　which　my　doctor　gave　me　up；
andand　I　recovered；　andand　here　I　am；　poor　and
friendless。〃
〃How　old　is　he？〃　Emmy　asked。
〃Eleven；〃　said　Becky。
〃Eleven！〃　cried　the　other。　　〃Why；　he　was　born　the　same
year　with　Georgy；　who　is〃
〃I　know；　I　know；〃　Becky　cried　out；　who　had　in　fact
quite　forgotten　all　about　little　Rawdon's　age。　　〃Grief　has
made　me　forget　so　many　things；　dearest　Amelia。　　I　am
very　much　changed：　　half…wild　sometimes。　　He　was　eleven
when　they　took　him　away　from　me。　　Bless　his　sweet
face；　I　have　never　seen　it　again。〃
〃Was　he　fair　or　dark？〃　went　on　that　absurd　little
Emmy。　　〃Show　me　his　hair。〃
Becky　almost　laughed　at　her　simplicity。　　〃Not　to…day；
lovesome　other　time；　when　my　trunks　arrive　from
Leipzig；　whence　I　came　to　this　placeand　a　little　drawing
of　him；　which　I　made　in　happy　days。〃
〃Poor　Becky；　poor　Becky！〃　said　Emmy。　　〃How　thankful；
how　thankful　I　ought　to　be〃；　（though　I　doubt　whether
that　practice　of　piety　inculcated　upon　us　by　our
womankind　in　early　youth；　namely；　to　be　thankful　because
we　are　better　off　than　some