vanity fair(名利场)-第29节

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apron…strings：　he　was　NOT　always　with　Amelia；　whilst　the
world　supposed　him　at　her　feet。　　Certain　it　is　that　on　more
occasions　than　one；　when　Captain　Dobbin　called　to　look
for　his　friend；　Miss　Osborne　（who　was　very　attentive　to
the　Captain；　and　anxious　to　hear　his　military　stories；　and
to　know　about　the　health　of　his　dear　Mamma）；　would
laughingly　point　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　square；　and
say；　〃Oh；　you　must　go　to　the　Sedleys'　to　ask　for　George；
WE　never　see　him　from　morning　till　night。〃　At　which　kind
of　speech　the　Captain　would　laugh　in　rather　an　absurd
constrained　manner；　and　turn　off　the　conversation；　like
a　consummate　man　of　the　world；　to　some　topic　of　general
interest；　such　as　the　Opera；　the　Prince's　last　ball　at
Carlton　House；　or　the　weatherthat　blessing　to　society。
　　
〃What　an　innocent　it　is；　that　pet　of　yours；〃　Miss　Maria
would　then　say　to　Miss　Jane；　upon　the　Captain's
departure。　　〃Did　you　see　how　he　blushed　at　the　mention　of
poor　George　on　duty？〃
　　
〃It's　a　pity　Frederick　Bullock　hadn't　some　of　his
modesty；　Maria；〃　replies　the　elder　sister；　with　a　toss　of　he
head。
　　
〃Modesty！　　Awkwardness　you　mean；　Jane。　　I　don't　want
Frederick　to　trample　a　hole　in　my　muslin　frock；　as
Captain　Dobbin　did　in　yours　at　Mrs。　Perkins'。〃
　　
〃In　YOUR　frock；　he；　he！　　How　could　he？　Wasn't　he
dancing　with　Amelia？〃
　　
The　fact　is；　when　Captain　Dobbin　blushed　so；　and
looked　so　awkward；　he　remembered　a　circumstance　of
which　he　did　not　think　it　was　necessary　to　inform　the
young　ladies；　viz。；　that　he　had　been　calling　at　Mr。　Sedley's
house　already；　on　the　pretence　of　seeing　George；　of
course；　and　George　wasn't　there；　only　poor　little　Amelia；
with　rather　a　sad　wistful　face；　seated　near　the　drawing…
room　window；　who；　after　some　very　trifling　stupid　talk；
ventured　to　ask；　was　there　any　truth　in　the　report　that
the　regiment　was　soon　to　be　ordered　abroad；　and　had
Captain　Dobbin　seen　Mr。　Osborne　that　day？
　　
The　regiment　was　not　ordered　abroad　as　yet；　and
Captain　Dobbin　had　not　seen　George。　　〃He　was　with　his
sister；　most　likely；〃　the　Captain　said。　　〃Should　he　go　and
fetch　the　truant？〃　　So　she　gave　him　her　hand　kindly　and
gratefully：　and　he　crossed　the　square；　and　she　waited
and　waited；　but　George　never　came。
　　
Poor　little　tender　heart！　and　so　it　goes　on　hoping　and
beating；　and　longing　and　trusting。　　You　see　it　is　not　much
of　a　life　to　describe。　　There　is　not　much　of　what　you　call
incident　in　it。　　Only　one　feeling　all　daywhen　will　he
come？　only　one　thought　to　sleep　and　wake　upon。　　I　
believe　George　was　playing　billiards　with　Captain　Cannon
in　Swallow　Street　at　the　time　when　Amelia　was　asking
Captain　Dobbin　about　him；　for　George　was　a　jolly
sociable　fellow；　and　excellent　in　all　games　of　skill。
　　
Once；　after　three　days　of　absence；　Miss　Amelia　put　on
her　bonnet；　and　actually　invaded　the　Osborne　house。
〃What！　leave　our　brother　to　come　to　us？〃　said　the　young
ladies。　　〃Have　you　had　a　quarrel；　Amelia？　Do　tell　us！〃
No；　indeed；　there　had　been　no　quarrel。　　〃Who　could
quarrel　with　him？〃　says　she；　with　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。
She　only　came　over　toto　see　her　dear　friends；　they　had
not　met　for　so　long。　　And　this　day　she　was　so　perfectly
stupid　and　awkward；　that　the　Misses　Osborne　and　their
governess；　who　stared　after　her　as　she　went　sadly　away；
wondered　more　than　ever　what　George　could　see　in　poor
little　Amelia。
　　
Of　course　they　did。　　How　was　she　to　bare　that　timid
little　heart　for　the　inspection　of　those　young　ladies　with
their　bold　black　eyes？　It　was　best　that　it　should　shrink
and　hide　itself。　　I　know　the　Misses　Osborne　were　excellent
critics　of　a　Cashmere　shawl；　or　a　pink　satin　slip；　and
when　Miss　Turner　had　hers　dyed　purple；　and　made　into
a　spencer；　and　when　Miss　Pickford　had　her　ermine
tippet　twisted　into　a　muff　and　trimmings；　I　warrant　you　the
changes　did　not　escape　the　two　intelligent　young　women
before　mentioned。　　But　there　are　things；　look　you；　of　a
finer　texture　than　fur　or　satin；　and　all　Solomon's　glories；
and　all　the　wardrobe　of　the　Queen　of　Shebathings
whereof　the　beauty　escapes　the　eyes　of　many
connoisseurs。　　And　there　are　sweet　modest　little　souls　on
which　you　light；　fragrant　and　blooming　tenderly　in　quiet　shady
places；　and　there　are　garden…ornaments；　as　big　as　brass
warming…pans；　that　are　fit　to　stare　the　sun　itself　out　of
countenance。　　Miss　Sedley　was　not　of　the　sunflower　sort；
and　I　say　it　is　out　of　the　rules　of　all　proportion　to　draw
a　violet　of　the　size　of　a　double　dahlia。
　　
No；　indeed；　the　life　of　a　good　young　girl　who　is　in　the
paternal　nest　as　yet；　can't　have　many　of　those　thrilling
incidents　to　which　the　heroine　of　romance　commonly　lays
claim。　　Snares　or　shot　may　take　off　the　old　birds　foraging
withouthawks　may　be　abroad；　from　which　they　escape
or　by　whom　they　suffer；　but　the　young　ones　in　the　nest
have　a　pretty　comfortable　unromantic　sort　of　existence
in　the　down　and　the　straw；　till　it　comes　to　their　turn；
too；　to　get　on　the　wing。　　While　Becky　Sharp　was　on　her
own　wing　in　the　country；　hopping　on　all　sorts　of　twigs；
and　amid　a　multiplicity　of　traps；　and　pecking　up　her　food
quite　harmless　and　successful；　Amelia　lay　snug　in　her
home　of　Russell　Square；　if　she　went　into　the　world；　it
was　under　the　guidance　of　the　elders；　nor　did　it　seem
that　any　evil　could　befall　her　or　that　opulent　cheery
comfortable　home　in　which　she　was　affectionately　sheltered。
Mamma　had　her　morning　duties；　and　her　daily　drive；
and　the　delightful　round　of　visits　and　shopping　which
forms　the　amusement；　or　the　profession　as　you　may　call
it；　of　the　rich　London　lady。　　Papa　conducted　his
mysterious　operations　in　the　Citya　stirring　place　in　those
days；　when　war　was　raging　all　over　Europe；　and　empires
were　being　staked；　when　the　〃Courier〃　newspaper　had
tens　of　thousands　of　subscribers；　when　one　day　brought
you　a　battle　of　Vittoria；　another　a　burning　of　Moscow；　or
a　newsman's　horn　blowing　down　Russell　Square　about
dinner…time；　announced　such　a　fact　as〃Battle　of
Leipsicsix　hundred　thousand　men　engagedtotal
defeat　of　the　Frenchtwo　hundred　thousand　killed。〃　Old
Sedley　once　or　twice　came　home　with　a　very　grave　face；
and　no　wonder；　when　such　news　as　this　was　agitating　all
the　hearts　and　all　the　Stocks　of　Europe。
　　
Meanwhile　matters　went　on　in　Russell　Square；　Bloomsbury；
just　as　if　matters　in　Europe　were　not　in　the　least
disorganised。　　The　retreat　from　Leipsic　made　no
difference　in　the　number　of　meals　Mr。　Sambo　took　in　the
servants'　hall；　the　allies　poured　into　France；　and　the
dinner…belI　rang　at　five　o'clock　just　as　usual。　　I　don't　think
poor　Amelia　cared　anything　about　Brienne　and　Montmirail；
or　was　fairly　interested　in　the　war　until　the　abdication
of　the　Emperor；　when　she　clapped　her　hands　and　said
prayersoh；　how　grateful！　and　flung　herself　into　George
Osborne's　arms　with　all　her　soul；　to　the　astonishment　of
everybody　who　witnessed　that　ebullition　of　sentiment。
The　fact　is；　peace　was　declared；　Europe　was　going　to　be
at　rest；　the　Corsican　was　overthrown；　and　Lieutenant
Osborne's　regiment　would　not　be　ordered　on　service。　　That
was　the　way　in　which　Miss　Amelia　reasoned。　　The　fate　of
Europe　was　Lieutenant　George　Osborne　to　her。　　His
dangers　being　over；　she　sang　Te　Deum。　　He　was　her　Europe：
her　emperor：　her　allied　monarchs　and　august　prince
regent。　　He　was　her　sun　and　moon；　and　I　believe　she
thought　the　grand　illumination　and　ball　at　the　Mansion
House；　given　to　the　sovereigns；　were　especially　in　honour
of　George　Osborne。
　　
We　have　talked　of　shift；　self；　and　poverty；　as　those
dismal　instructors　under　whom　poor　Miss　Becky　Sharp
got　her　education。　　Now；　love　was　Miss　Amelia　Sedley's
last　tutoress；　and　it　was　amazing　what　progress　our　young
lady　made　under　that　popular　teacher。　　In　the　course　of
fifteen　or　eighteen　months'　daily　and　constant　attention　to
this　eminent　finishing　governess；　what　a　deal　of　secrets
Amelia　learned；　which　Miss　Wirt　and　the　black…eyed
young　ladies　over　the　way；　which　old　Miss　Pinkerton　of
Chiswick　herself；　had　no　cognizance　of！　　As；　indeed；　how
should　any　of　those　prim　and　reputable　virgins？　　With
Misses　P。　and　W。　the　tender　passion　is　out　of　the
question：　I　would　not　dare　to　breathe　such　an　idea　regarding
them。　　Miss　Maria　Osborne；　it　is　true；　was　〃attached〃　to
Mr。　Frederick　Augustus　Bullock；　of　the　firm　of　Hulker；
Bullock　&　Bullock；　but　hers　was　a　most　respectable
attachment；　and　she　would　have　taken　Bullock　Senior　just
the　same；　her　mind　being　fixedas　that　of　a　well…bred
young　woman　should　beupon　a　house　in　Park　Lane；
a　country　house　at　Wimbledon；　a　handsome　chariot；　and
two　prodigious　tall　horses　and　footmen；　and　a　fourth　of
the　annual　profits　of　the　eminent　firm　of　Hulker　&
Bullock；　all　of　which　advantages　were　represented　in　the
person　of　Frederick　Augustus。　　Had　orange　blossoms　been
invented　then　（those　touching　emblems　of　female　purity
imported　by　us　from　France；　where　people's　daughters
are　universally　sold　in　marriage）；　Miss　Maria；　I　say；
would　have　assumed　the　spotless　wreath；　and　stepped　into
the　travelling　carriage　by　the　side　of　gouty；　old；　bald…
headed；　bottle…nosed　Bullock　Senior；　and　devoted　her
beautiful　existence　to　his　happiness　with　perfect　modesty
only　the　old　gentleman　was