vanity fair(名利场)-第26节

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to　put　on　the　brightest　pea…green　in　her　wardrobe；　and
my　pupils　leave　off　their　thick　shoes　and　tight　old
tartan　pelisses；　and　wear　silk　stockings　and　muslin　frocks；
as　fashionable　baronets'　daughters　should。　　Rose　came　in
yesterday　in　a　sad　plightthe　Wiltshire　sow　（an
enormous　pet　of　hers）　ran　her　down；　and　destroyed　a　most
lovely　flowered　lilac　silk　dress　by　dancing　over　ithad
this　happened　a　week　ago；　Sir　Pitt　would　have　sworn
frightfully；　have　boxed　the　poor　wretch's　ears；　and　put
her　upon　bread　and　water　for　a　month。　　All　he　said　was；
〃I'll　serve　you　out；　Miss；　when　your　aunt's　gone；〃　and
laughed　off　the　accident　as　quite　trivial。　　Let　us　hope　his
wrath　will　have　passed　away　before　Miss　Crawley's
departure。　　I　hope　so；　for　Miss　Rose's　sake；　I　am　sure。
What　a　charming　reconciler　and　peacemaker　money　is！
　　
Another　admirable　effect　of　Miss　Crawley　and　her
seventy　thousand　pounds　is　to　be　seen　in　the　conduct
of　the　two　brothers　Crawley。　　I　mean　the　baronet　and
the　rector；　not　OUR　brothersbut　the　former；　who　hate
each　other　all　the　year　round；　become　quite　loving　at
Christmas。　　I　wrote　to　you　last　year　how　the　abominable
horse…racing　rector　was　in　the　habit　of　preaching　clumsy
sermons　at　us　at　church；　and　how　Sir　Pitt　snored　in
answer。　　When　Miss　Crawley　arrives　there　is　no　such　thing
as　quarrelling　heard　ofthe　Hall　visits　the　Rectory；　and
vice　versathe　parson　and　the　Baronet　talk　about　the
pigs　and　the　poachers；　and　the　county　business；　in　the
most　affable　manner；　and　without　quarrelling　in　their
cups；　I　believeindeed　Miss　Crawley　won't　hear　of　their
quarrelling；　and　vows　that　she　will　leave　her　money　to
the　Shropshire　Crawleys　if　they　offend　her。　　If　they　were
clever　people；　those　Shropshire　Crawleys；　they　might
have　it　all；　I　think；　but　the　Shropshire　Crawley　is　a
clergyman　like　his　Hampshire　cousin；　and　mortally　offended
Miss　Crawley　（who　had　fled　thither　in　a　fit　of　rage
against　her　impracticable　brethren）　by　some　strait…laced
notions　of　morality。　　He　would　have　prayers　in　the　house；
I　believe。
　　
Our　sermon　books　are　shut　up　when　Miss　Crawley
arrives；　and　Mr。　Pitt；　whom　she　abominates；　finds　it
convenient　to　go　to　town。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　young
dandy〃blood；〃　I　believe；　is　the　termCaptain　Crawley
makes　his　appearance；　and　I　suppose　you　will　like　to
know　what　sort　of　a　person　he　is。
　　
Well；　he　is　a　very　large　young　dandy。　　He　is　six　feet
high；　and　speaks　with　a　great　voice；　and　swears　a　great
deal；　and　orders　about　the　servants；　who　all　adore　him
nevertheless；　for　he　is　very　generous　of　his　money；　and
the　domestics　will　do　anything　for　him。　　Last　week　the
keepers　almost　killed　a　bailiff　and　his　man　who　came
down　from　London　to　arrest　the　Captain；　and　who　were
found　lurking　about　the　Park　wallthey　beat　them；
ducked　them；　and　were　going　to　shoot　them　for
poachers；　but　the　baronet　interfered。
　　
The　Captain　has　a　hearty　contempt　for　his　father；　I
can　see；　and　calls　him　an　old　PUT；　an　old　SNOB；　an　old
CHAW…BACON；　and　numberless　other　pretty　names。　　He　has
a　DREADFUL　REPUTATION　among　the　ladies。　　He　brings　his
hunters　home　with　him；　lives　with　the　Squires　of　the
county；　asks　whom　he　pleases　to　dinner；　and　Sir　Pitt
dares　not　say　no；　for　fear　of　offending　Miss　Crawley；
and　missing　his　legacy　when　she　dies　of　her　apoplexy。
Shall　I　tell　you　a　compliment　the　Captain　paid　me？　　I
must；　it　is　so　pretty。　　One　evening　we　actually　had　a
dance；　there　was　Sir　Huddleston　Fuddleston　and　his
family；　Sir　Giles　Wapshot　and　his　young　ladies；　and　I
don't　know　how　many　more。　　Well；　I　heard　him　say
〃By　Jove；　she's　a　neat　little　filly！〃　meaning　your　humble
servant；　and　he　did　me　the　honour　to　dance　two　country…
dances　with　me。　　He　gets　on　pretty　gaily　with　the　young
Squires；　with　whom　he　drinks；　bets；　rides；　and　talks
about　hunting　and　shooting；　but　he　says　the　country
girls　are　BORES；　indeed；　I　don't　think　he　is　far　wrong。
You　should　see　the　contempt　with　which　they　look　down
on　poor　me！　When　they　dance　I　sit　and　play　the　piano
very　demurely；　but　the　other　night；　coming　in　rather
flushed　from　the　dining…room；　and　seeing　me　employed
in　this　way；　he　swore　out　loud　that　I　was　the　best　dancer
in　the　room；　and　took　a　great　oath　that　he　would　have
the　fiddlers　from　Mudbury。
　　
〃I'll　go　and　play　a　country…dance；〃　said　Mrs。　Bute
Crawley；　very　readily　（she　is　a　little；　black…faced　old
woman　in　a　turban；　rather　crooked；　and　with　very
twinkling　eyes）；　and　after　the　Captain　and　your　poor　little
Rebecca　had　performed　a　dance　together；　do　you　know
she　actually　did　me　the　honour　to　compliment　me　upon
my　steps！　Such　a　thing　was　never　heard　of　before；　the
proud　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley；　first　cousin　to　the　Earl　of
Tiptoff；　who　won't　condescend　to　visit　Lady　Crawley；
except　when　her　sister　is　in　the　country。　　Poor　Lady
Crawley！　during　most　part　of　these　gaieties；　she　is
upstairs　taking　pills。
　　
Mrs。　Bute　has　all　of　a　sudden　taken　a　great　fancy　to
me。　　〃My　dear　Miss　Sharp；〃　she　says；　〃why　not　bring
over　your　girls　to　the　Rectory？their　cousins　will　be　so
happy　to　see　them。〃　I　know　what　she　means。　　Signor
Clementi　did　not　teach　us　the　piano　for　nothing；　at
which　price　Mrs。　Bute　hopes　to　get　a　professor　for　her
children。　　I　can　see　through　her　schemes；　as　though　she
told　them　to　me；　but　I　shall　go；　as　I　am　determined　to
make　myself　agreeableis　it　not　a　poor　governess's
duty；　who　has　not　a　friend　or　protector　in　the　world？
The　Rector's　wife　paid　me　a　score　of　compliments　about
the　progress　my　pupils　made；　and　thought；　no　doubt；　to
touch　my　heartpoor；　simple；　country　soul！as　if　I
cared　a　fig　about　my　pupils！
　　
Your　India　muslin　and　your　pink　silk；　dearest　Amelia；
are　said　to　become　me　very　well。　　They　are　a　good　deal
worn　now；　but；　you　know；　we　poor　girls　can't　afford　des
fraiches　toilettes。　　Happy；　happy　you！　who　have　but　to
drive　to　St。　James's　Street；　and　a　dear　mother　who　will
give　you　any　thing　you　ask。　　Farewell；　dearest　girl；
Your　affectionate
Rebecca。
P。S。I　wish　you　could　have　seen　the　faces　of　the
Miss　Blackbrooks　（Admiral　Blackbrook's　daughters；　my
dear）；　fine　young　ladies；　with　dresses　from　London；
when　Captain　Rawdon　selected　poor　me　for　a　partner！
When　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley　（whose　artifices　our　ingenious
Rebecca　had　so　soon　discovered）　had　procured　from
Miss　Sharp　the　promise　of　a　visit；　she　induced　the　all…
powerful　Miss　Crawley　to　make　the　necessary　application
to　Sir　Pitt；　and　the　good…natured　old　lady；　who　loved　to
be　gay　herself；　and　to　see　every　one　gay　and　happy　round
about　her；　was　quite　charmed；　and　ready　to　establish　a
reconciliation　and　intimacy　between　her　two　brothers。
It　was　therefore　agreed　that　the　young　people　of　both
families　should　visit　each　other　frequently　for　the　future；
and　the　friendship　of　course　lasted　as　long　as　the　jovial
old　mediatrix　was　there　to　keep　the　peace。
　　
〃Why　did　you　ask　that　scoundrel；　Rawdon　Crawley；　to
dine？〃　said　the　Rector　to　his　lady；　as　they　were　walking
home　through　the　park。　　〃I　don't　want　the　fellow。　　He　looks
down　upon　us　country　people　as　so　many　blackamoors。
He's　never　content　unless　he　gets　my　yellow…sealed　wine；
which　costs　me　ten　shillings　a　bottle；　hang　him！　Besides；
he's　such　an　infernal　characterhe's　a　gamblerhe's　a
drunkardhe's　a　profligate　in　every　way。　　He　shot　a　man
in　a　duelhe's　over　head　and　ears　in　debt；　and　he's
robbed　me　and　mine　of　the　best　part　of　Miss　Crawley's
fortune。　　Waxy　says　she　has　him〃here　the　Rector　shook
his　fist　at　the　moon；　with　something　very　like　an　oath；
and　added；　in　a　melancholious　tone；　〃；　down　in　her　will
for　fifty　thousand；　and　there　won't　be　above　thirty　to
divide。〃
　　
〃I　think　she's　going；〃　said　the　Rector's　wife。　　〃She　was
very　red　in　the　face　when　we　left　dinner。　　I　was　obliged
to　unlace　her。〃
　　
〃She　drank　seven　glasses　of　champagne；〃　said　the
reverend　gentleman；　in　a　low　voice；　〃and　filthy　champagne
it　is；　too；　that　my　brother　poisons　us　withbut　you
women　never　know　what's　what。〃
　　
〃We　know　nothing；〃　said　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley。
　　
〃She　drank　cherry…brandy　after　dinner；〃　continued　his
Reverence；　〃and　took　curacao　with　her　coffee。　　I
wouldn't　take　a　glass　for　a　five…pound　note：　it　kills　me
with　heartburn。　　She　can't　stand　it；　Mrs。　Crawleyshe
must　goflesh　and　blood　won't　bear　it！　and　I　lay　five　to
two；　Matilda　drops　in　a　year。〃
　　
Indulging　in　these　solemn　speculations；　and　thinking
about　his　debts；　and　his　son　Jim　at　College；　and　Frank　at
Woolwich；　and　the　four　girls；　who　were　no　beauties；　poor
things；　and　would　not　have　a　penny　but　what　they　got　from
the　aunt's　expected　legacy；　the　Rector　and　his　lady　walked
on　for　a　while。
　　
〃Pitt　can't　be　such　an　infernal　villain　as　to　sell　the
reversion　of　the　living。　　And　that　Methodist　milksop　of　an
eldest　son　looks　to　Parliament；〃　continued　Mr。　Crawley；
after　a　pause。
　　
〃Sir　Pitt　Crawley　will　do　anything；〃　said　the　Rector's
wife。　　〃We　must　get　Miss　Crawley　to　make　him　promise　it
to　James。〃
　　
〃Pitt　will　promise　anything；〃　replied　the　brother。　　〃He
promised　he'd　pay　my　college　bills；　when　my　father　died；
he　promised　he'd　build　the　new　wing　to　the　Rectory；
he　promised　he'd　let　me　have　Jibb's　field　and　the　Six…
acre　Meadowand　much　he　executed　his　promis