vanity fair(名利场)-第32节

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Holding　this　kind　of　conversation；　and　building
numberless　castles　in　the　air　（which　Amelia　adorned　with　all
sorts　of　flower…gardens；　rustic　walks；　country　churches；
Sunday　schools；　and　the　like；　while　George　had　his
mind's　eye　directed　to　the　stables；　the　kennel；　and　the
cellar）；　this　young　pair　passed　away　a　couple　of　hours
very　pleasantly；　and　as　the　Lieutenant　had　only　that
single　day　in　town；　and　a　great　deal　of　most　important
business　to　transact；　it　was　proposed　that　Miss　Emmy　should
dine　with　her　future　sisters…in…law。　　This　invitation　was
accepted　joyfully。　　He　conducted　her　to　his　sisters；　where
he　left　her　talking　and　prattling　in　a　way　that　astonished
those　ladies；　who　thought　that　George　might　make
something　of　her；　and　he　then　went　off　to　transact
his　business。
　　　
In　a　word；　he　went　out　and　ate　ices　at　a　pastry…cook's
shop　in　Charing　Cross；　tried　a　new　coat　in　Pall　Mall；
dropped　in　at　the　Old　Slaughters'；　and　called　for　Captain
Cannon；　played　eleven　games　at　billiards　with　the
Captain；　of　which　he　won　eight；　and　returned　to　Russell
Square　half　an　hour　late　for　dinner；　but　in　very　good
humour。
It　was　not　so　with　old　Mr。　Osborne。　　When　that
gentleman　came　from　the　City；　and　was　welcomed　in　the
drawing…room　by　his　daughters　and　the　elegant　Miss
Wirt；　they　saw　at　once　by　his　facewhich　was　puffy；
solemn；　and　yellow　at　the　best　of　timesand　by　the
scowl　and　twitching　of　his　black　eyebrows；　that　the　heart
within　his　large　white　waistcoat　was　disturbed　and
uneasy。　　When　Amelia　stepped　forward　to　salute　him；　which
she　always　did　with　great　trembling　and　timidity；　he　gave
a　surly　grunt　of　recognition；　and　dropped　the　little　hand
out　of　his　great　hirsute　paw　without　any　attempt　to　hold
it　there。　　He　looked　round　gloomily　at　his　eldest　daughter；
　who；　comprehending　the　meaning　of　his　look；　which
asked　unmistakably；　〃Why　the　devil　is　she　here？〃　said
at　once：
　　
〃George　is　in　town；　Papa；　and　has　gone　to　the　Horse
Guards；　and　will　be　back　to　dinner。〃
　　
〃O　he　is；　is　he？　I　won't　have　the　dinner　kept　waiting
for　him；　Jane〃；　with　which　this　worthy　man　lapsed　into
his　particular　chair；　and　then　the　utter　silence　in　his
genteel；　well…furnished　drawing…room　was　only
interrupted　by　the　alarmed　ticking　of　the　great　French　clock。
　　
When　that　chronometer；　which　was　surmounted　by　a
cheerful　brass　group　of　the　sacrifice　of　Iphigenia；　tolled
five　in　a　heavy　cathedral　tone；　Mr。　Osborne　pulled　the
bell　at　his　right　hand…violently；　and　the　butler　rushed　up。
　　
〃Dinner！〃　roared　Mr。　Osborne。
　　
〃Mr。　George　isn't　come　in；　sir；〃　interposed　the　man。
　　
〃Damn　Mr。　George；　sir。　　Am　I　master　of　the　house？
DINNER！~　Mr。　Osborne　scowled。　　Amelia　trembled。　　A
telegraphic　communication　of　eyes　passed　between　the　other
three　ladies。　　The　obedient　bell　in　the　lower　regions　began
ringing　the　announcement　of　the　meal。　　The　tolling　over；
the　head　of　the　family　thrust　his　hands　into　the　great
tail…pockets　of　his　great　blue　coat　with　brass　buttons；　and
without　waiting　for　a　further　announcement　strode
downstairs　alone；　scowling　over　his　shoulder　at　the　four
females。
　　
〃What's　the　matter　now；　my　dear？〃　asked　one　of　the
other；　as　they　rose　and　tripped　gingerly　behind　the　sire。
　　
〃I　suppose　the　funds　are　falling；〃　whispered　Miss　Wirt；
and　so；　trembling　and　in　silence；　this　hushed　female
company　followed　their　dark　leader。　　They　took　their　places
in　silence。　　He　growled　out　a　blessing；　which　sounded　as
gruffly　as　a　curse。　　The　great　silver　dish…covers　were
removed。　　Amelia　trembled　in　her　place；　for　she　was　next
to　the　awful　Osborne；　and　alone　on　her　side　of　the　table
the　gap　being　occasioned　by　the　absence　of　George。
　　
〃Soup？〃　says　Mr。　Osborne；　clutching　the　ladle；　fixing
his　eyes　on　her；　in　a　sepulchral　tone；　and　having　helped
her　and　the　rest；　did　not　speak　for　a　while。
　　
〃Take　Miss　Sedley's　plate　away；〃　at　last　he　said。　　〃She
can't　eat　the　soupno　more　can　I。　　It's　beastly。　　Take　away
the　soup；　Hicks；　and　to…morrow　turn　the　cook　out　of
the　house；　Jane。〃
　　
Having　concluded　his　observations　upon　the　soup；　Mr。
Osborne　made　a　few　curt　remarks　respecting　the　fish；
also　of　a　savage　and　satirical　tendency；　and　cursed
Billingsgate　with　an　emphasis　quite　worthy　of　the　place。
Then　he　lapsed　into　silence；　and　swallowed　sundry
glasses　of　wine；　looking　more　and　more　terrible；　till　a
brisk　knock　at　the　door　told　of　George's　arrival　when
everybody　began　to　rally。
　　
〃He　could　not　come　before。　　General　Daguilet　had　kept
him　waiting　at　the　Horse　Guards。　　Never　mind　soup　or
fish。　　Give　him　anythinghe　didn't　care　what。　　Capital
muttoncapital　everything。〃　His　good　humour　contrasted
with　his　father's　severity；　and　he　rattled　on　unceasingly
during　dinner；　to　the　delight　of　allof　one　especially；
who　need　not　be　mentioned。
　　
As　soon　as　the　young　ladies　had　discussed　the　orange
and　the　glass　of　wine　which　formed　the　ordinary
conclusion　of　the　dismal　banquets　at　Mr。　Osborne's　house；
the　signal　to　make　sail　for　the　drawing…room　was　given；
and　they　all　arose　and　departed。　　Amelia　hoped　George
would　soon　join　them　there。　　She　began　playing　some　of
his　favourite　waltzes　（then　newly　imported）　at　the　great
carved…legged；　leather…cased　grand　piano　in　the　drawing…
room　overhead。　　This　little　artifice　did　not　bring　him。　　He
was　deaf　to　the　waltzes；　they　grew　fainter　and　fainter；
the　discomfited　performer　left　the　huge　instrument
presently；　and　though　her　three　friends　performed　some　of
the　loudest　and　most　brilliant　new　pieces　of　their
repertoire；　she　did　not　hear　a　single　note；　but　sate　thinking；
and　boding　evil。　　Old　Osborne's　scowl；　terrific　always；　had
never　before　looked　so　deadly　to　her。　　His　eyes　followed
her　out　of　the　room；　as　if　she　had　been　guilty　of　something。
When　they　brought　her　coffee；　she　started　as
though　it　were　a　cup　of　poison　which　Mr。　Hicks；　the
butler；　wished　to　propose　to　her。　　What　mystery　was
there　lurking？　Oh；　those　women！　　They　nurse　and　cuddle
their　presentiments；　and　make　darlings　of　their　ugliest
thoughts；　as　they　do　of　their　deformed　children。
　　
The　gloom　on　the　paternal　countenance　had　also
impressed　George　Osborne　with　anxiety。　　With　such
eyebrows；　and　a　look　so　decidedly　bilious；　how　was　he　to
extract　that　money　from　the　governor；　of　which　George
was　consumedly　in　want？　He　began　praising　his　father's
wine。　　That　was　generally　a　successful　means　of　cajoling
the　old　gentleman。
　　
〃We　never　got　such　Madeira　in　the　West　Indies；　sir；　as
yours。　　Colonel　Heavytop　took　off　three　bottles　of　that　you
sent　me　down；　under　his　belt　the　other　day。〃
　　
〃Did　he？〃　said　the　old　gentleman。　　〃It　stands　me　in
eight　shillings　a　bottle。〃
　　
〃Will　you　take　six　guineas　a　dozen　for　it；　sir？〃　said
George；　with　a　laugh。　　〃There's　one　of　the　greatest　men　in
the　kingdom　wants　some。〃
　　
〃Does　he？〃　growled　the　senior。　　〃Wish　he　may　get　it。〃
　　
〃When　General　Daguilet　was　at　Chatham；　sir；　Heavytop
gave　him　a　breakfast；　and　asked　me　for　some　of　the
wine。　　The　General　liked　it　just　as　wellwanted　a　pipe
for　the　Commander…in…Chief。　　He's　his　Royal　Highness's
right…hand　man。〃
　　
〃It　is　devilish　fine　wine；〃　said　the　Eyebrows；　and　they
looked　more　good…humoured；　and　George　was　going　to
take　advantage　of　this　complacency；　and　bring　the
supply　question　on　the　mahogany；　when　the　father；　relapsing
into　solemnity；　though　rather　cordial　in　manner；　bade
him　ring　the　bell　for　claret。　　〃And　we'll　see　if　that's　as
good　as　the　Madeira；　George；　to　which　his　Royal
Highness　is　welcome；　I'm　sure。　　And　as　we　are　drinking　it；
I'll　talk　to　you　about　a　matter　of　importance。〃
　　
Amelia　heard　the　claret　bell　ringing　as　she　sat
nervously　upstairs。　　She　thought；　somehow；　it　was　a
mysterious　and　presentimental　bell。　　Of　the　presentiments
which　some　people　are　always　having；　some　surely
must　come　right。
　　
〃What　I　want　to　know；　George；〃　the　old　gentleman
said；　after　slowly　smacking　his　first　bumper〃what　I
want　to　know　is；　how　you　andahthat　little　thing
upstairs；　are　carrying　on？〃
　　
〃I　think；　sir；　it　is　not　hard　to　see；〃　George　said；　with　a
self…satisfied　grin。　　〃Pretty　clear；　sir。What　capital　wine！〃
　　
〃What　d'you　mean；　pretty　clear；　sir？〃
　　
〃Why；　hang　it；　sir；　don't　push　me　too　hard。　　I'm　a
modest　man。　　IahI　don't　set　up　to　be　a　lady…killer；
but　I　do　own　that　she's　as　devilish　fond　of　me　as　she
can　be。　　Anybody　can　see　that　with　half　an　eye。〃
　　
〃And　you　yourself？〃
　　
〃Why；　sir；　didn't　you　order　me　to　marry　her；　and　ain't
I　a　good　boy？　Haven't　our　Papas　settled　it　ever　so　long？〃
　　
〃A　pretty　boy；　indeed。　　Haven't　I　heard　of　your　doings；
sir；　with　Lord　Tarquin；　Captain　Crawley　of　the　Guards；
~the　Honourable　Mr。　Deuceace　and　that　set。　　Have　a　care
sir；　have　a　care。〃
　　
The　old　gentleman　pronounced　these　aristocratic
names　with　the　greatest　gusto。　　Whenever　he　met　a　great
man　he　grovelled　before　him；　and　my…lorded　him　as　only
a　free…born　Briton　can　do。　　He　came　home　and　looked
out　his　history　in　the　Peerage：　he　introduced　his　name
into　his　daily　conversation；　he　bragged　about　his
Lordship　to　his　daughters。　　He　fell　down　prostrate　and　basked
in　him　as　a　Neapolitan　beggar　does　in　the　sun。　　George
was　alarmed　when　he　heard　the　names。