vanity fair(名利场)-第35节

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came　down　the　corridor　ever　so　quietly；　his　father's
door　was　sure　to　open；　and　the　hyena　face　of　the　old
gentleman　to　glare　out。　　What　was　it　set　one　to　watch
the　other　so？　　A　generous　rivalry；　no　doubt；　as　to　which
should　be　most　attentive　to　the　dear　sufferer　in　the　state
bedroom。　　Rebecca　used　to　come　out　and　comfort　both
of　them；　or　one　or　the　other　of　them　rather。　　Both　of
these　worthy　gentlemen　were　most　anxious　to　have　news
of　the　invalid　from　her　little　confidential　messenger。
　　
At　dinnerto　which　meal　she　descended　for　half　an
hourshe　kept　the　peace　between　them：　after　which　she
disappeared　for　the　night；　when　Rawdon　would　ride　over
to　the　depot　of　the　150th　at　Mudbury；　leaving　his　papa
to　the　society　of　Mr。　Horrocks　and　his　rum　and　water。
She　passed　as　weary　a　fortnight　as　ever　mortal　spent　in
Miss　Crawley's　sick…room；　but　her　little　nerves　seemed
to　be　of　iron；　as　she　was　quite　unshaken　by　the　duty　and
the　tedium　of　the　sick…chamber。
　　
She　never　told　until　long　afterwards　how　painful　that
duty　was；　how　peevish　a　patient　was　the　jovial　old　lady；
how　angry；　how　sleepless；　in　what　horrors　of　death；
during　what　long　nights　she　lay　moaning；　and　in　almost
delirious　agonies　respecting　that　future　world　which　she
quite　ignored　when　she　was　in　good　health。Picture　to
yourself；　oh　fair　young　reader；　a　worldly；　selfish；
graceless；　thankless；　religionless　old　woman；　writhing　in　pain
and　fear；　and　without　her　wig。　　Picture　her　to　yourself；
and　ere　you　be　old；　learn　to　love　and　pray！
　　
Sharp　watched　this　graceless　bedside　with　indomitable
patience。　　Nothing　escaped　her；　and；　like　a　prudent　steward；
she　found　a　use　for　everything。　　She　told　many　a
good　story　about　Miss　Crawley's　illness　in　after　days
stories　which　made　the　lady　blush　through　her　artificial
carnations。　　During　the　illness　she　was　never　out　of
temper；　always　alert；　she　slept　light；　having　a　perfectly　clear
conscience；　and　could　take　that　refreshment　at　almost
any　minute's　warning。　　And　so　you　saw　very　few　traces　of
fatigue　in　her　appearance。　　Her　face　might　be　a　trifle
paler；　and　the　circles　round　her　eyes　a　little　blacker　than
usual；　but　whenever　she　came　out　from　the　sick…room
she　was　always　smiling；　fresh；　and　neat；　and　looked　as
trim　in　her　little　dressing…gown　and　cap；　as　in　her
smartest　evening　suit。
　　
The　Captain　thought　so；　and　raved　about　her　in
uncouth　convulsions。　　The　barbed　shaft　of　love　had
penetrated　his　dull　hide。　　Six　weeksappropinquity
opportunityhad　victimised　him　completely。　　He　made　a
confidante　of　his　aunt　at　the　Rectory；　of　all　persons　in　the
world。　　She　rallied　him　about　it；　she　had　perceived　his
folly；　she　warned　him；　she　finished　by　owning　that　little
Sharp　was　the　most　clever；　droll；　odd；　good…natured；
simple；　kindly　creature　in　England。　　Rawdon　must　not
trifle　with　her　affections；　thoughdear　Miss　Crawley
would　never　pardon　him　for　that；　for　she；　too；　was　quite
overcome　by　the　little　governess；　and　loved　Sharp　like　a
daughter。　　Rawdon　must　go　awaygo　back　to　his
regiment　and　naughty　London；　and　not　play　with　a　poor
artless　girl's　feelings。
　　
Many　and　many　a　time　this　good…natured　lady；
compassionating　the　forlorn　life…guardsman's　condition；
gave　him　an　opportunity　of　seeing　Miss　Sharp　at　the　Rectory；
and　of　walking　home　with　her；　as　we　have　seen。　　When
men　of　a　certain　sort；　ladies；　are　in　love；　though　they
see　the　hook　and　the　string；　and　the　whole　apparatus
with　which　they　are　to　be　taken；　they　gorge　the　bait
neverthelessthey　must　come　to　itthey　must　swallow
itand　are　presently　struck　and　landed　gasping。　　Rawdon
saw　there　was　a　manifest　intention　on　Mrs。　Bute's　part
to　captivate　him　with　Rebecca。　　He　was　not　very　wise；
but　he　was　a　man　about　town；　and　had　seen　several
seasons。　　A　light　dawned　upon　his　dusky　soul；　as　he　thought；
through　a　speech　of　Mrs。　Bute's。
　　
〃Mark　my　words；　Rawdon；〃　she　said。　　〃You　will　have
Miss　Sharp　one　day　for　your　relation。〃
　　
〃What　relationmy　cousin；　hey；　Mrs。　Bute？　James
sweet　on　her；　hey？〃　inquired　the　waggish　officer。
　　
〃More　than　that；〃　Mrs。　Bute　said；　with　a　flash　from
her　black　eyes。
　　
〃Not　Pitt？　　He　sha'n't　have　her。　　The　sneak　a'n't
worthy　of　her。　　He's　booked　to　Lady　Jane　Sheepshanks。〃
　　
〃You　men　perceive　nothing。　　You　silly；　blind　creature
if　anything　happens　to　Lady　Crawley；　Miss　Sharp　will
be　your　mother…in…law；　and　that's　what　will　happen。〃
　　
Rawdon　Crawley；　Esquire；　gave　vent　to　a　prodigious
whistle；　in　token　of　astonishment　at　this　announcement。
He　couldn't　deny　it。　　His　father's　evident　liking　for　Miss
Sharp　had　not　escaped　him。　　He　knew　the　old　gentleman's
character　well；　and　a　more　unscrupulous　oldwhyou
he　did　not　conclude　the　sentence；　but　walked　home；
curling　his　mustachios；　and　convinced　he　had　found　a
clue　to　Mrs。　Bute's　mystery。
　　
〃By　Jove；　it's　too　bad；〃　thought　Rawdon；　〃too　bad；　by
Jove！　I　do　believe　the　woman　wants　the　poor　girl　to　be
ruined；　in　order　that　she　shouldn't　come　into　the　family
as　Lady　Crawley。〃
　　
When　he　saw　Rebecca　alone；　he　rallied　her　about　his
father's　attachment　in　his　graceful　way。　　She　flung　up　her
head　scornfully；　looked　him　full　in　the　face；　and　said；
　　
〃Well；　suppose　he　is　fond　of　me。　　I　know　he　is；　and
others　too。　　You　don't　think　I　am　afraid　of　him；　Captain
Crawley？　　You　don't　suppose　I　can't　defend　my　own
honour；〃　said　the　little　woman；　looking　as　stately　as　a
queen。
　　
〃Oh；　ah；　whygive　you　fair　warninglook　out；　you
knowthat's　all；〃　said　the　mustachio…twiddler。
　　
〃You　hint　at　something　not　honourable；　then？〃　said
she；　flashing　out。
〃O　GadreallyMiss　Rebecca；〃　the　heavy　dragoon
interposed。
　　
〃Do　you　suppose　I　have　no　feeling　of　self…respect；
because　I　am　poor　and　friendless；　and　because　rich　people
have　none？　　Do　you　think；　because　I　am　a　governess；　I
have　not　as　much　sense；　and　feeling；　and　good　breeding
as　you　gentlefolks　in　Hampshire？　I'm　a　Montmorency。
Do　you　suppose　a　Montmorency　is　not　as　good　as　a
Crawley？〃
　　
When　Miss　Sharp　was　agitated；　and　alluded　to　her
maternal　relatives；　she　spoke　with　ever　so　slight　a
foreign　accent；　which　gave　a　great　charm　to　her　clear
ringing　voice。　　〃No；〃　she　continued；　kindling　as　she　spoke　to
the　Captain；　〃I　can　endure　poverty；　but　not　shame
neglect；　but　not　insult；　and　insult　fromfrom　you。〃
　　
Her　feelings　gave　way；　and　she　burst　into　tears。
　　
〃Hang　it；　Miss　SharpRebeccaby　Joveupon　my
soul；　I　wouldn't　for　a　thousand　pounds。　　Stop；　Rebecca！〃
　　
She　was　gone。　　She　drove　out　with　Miss　Crawley　that
day。　　It　was　before　the　latter's　illness。　　At　dinner　she　was
unusually　brilliant　and　lively；　but　she　would　take　no
notice　of　the　hints；　or　the　nods；　or　the　clumsy　expostulations
of　the　humiliated；　infatuated　guardsman。　　Skirmishes
of　this　sort　passed　perpetually　during　the　little　campaign
tedious　to　relate；　and　similar　in　result。　　The　Crawley
heavy　cavalry　was　maddened　by　defeat；　and　routed
every　day。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
If　the　Baronet　of　Queen's　Crawley　had　not　had　the
fear　of　losing　his　sister's　legacy　before　his　eyes；　he　never
would　have　permitted　his　dear　girls　to　lose　the　educational
blessings　which　their　invaluable　governess　was　conferring
upon　them。　　The　old　house　at　home　seemed　a　desert
without　her；　so　useful　and　pleasant　had　Rebecca
made　herself　there。　　Sir　Pitt's　letters　were　not　copied　and
corrected；　his　books　not　made　up；　his　household
business　and　manifold　schemes　neglected；　now　that　his　little
secretary　was　away。　　And　it　was　easy　to　see　how　necessary
such　an　amanuensis　was　to　him；　by　the　tenor　and
spelling　of　the　numerous　letters　which　he　sent　to　her；
entreating　her　and　commanding　her　to　return。　　Almost　every
day　brought　a　frank　from　the　Baronet；　enclosing　the
most　urgent　prayers　to　Becky　for　her　return；　or　conveying
pathetic　statements　to　Miss　Crawley；　regarding　the
neglected　state　of　his　daughters'　education；　of　which
documents　Miss　Crawley　took　very　little　heed。
　　
Miss　Briggs　was　not　formally　dismissed；　but　her　place
as　companion　was　a　sinecure　and　a　derision；　and　her
company　was　the　fat　spaniel　in　the　drawing…room；　or
occasionally　the　discontented　Firkin　in　the　housekeeper's
closet。　　Nor　though　the　old　lady　would　by　no　means
hear　of　Rebecca's　departure；　was　the　latter　regularly
installed　in　office　in　Park　Lane。　　Like　many　wealthy　people；
it　was　Miss　Crawley's　habit　to　accept　as　much　service　as
she　could　get　from　her　inferiors；　and　good…naturedly　to
take　leave　of　them　when　she　no　longer　found　them
useful。　　Gratitude　among　certain　rich　folks　is　scarcely　natural
or　to　be　thought　of。　　They　take　needy　people's　services
as　their　due。　　Nor　have　you；　O　poor　parasite　and　humble
hanger…on；　much　reason　to　complain！　　Your　friendship
for　Dives　is　about　as　sincere　as　the　return　which　it　usually
gets。　　It　is　money　you　love；　and　not　the　man；　and　were
Croesus　and　his　footman　to　change　places　you　know；
you　poor　rogue；　who　would　have　the　benefit　of　your
allegiance。
　　
And　I　am　not　sure　that；　in　spite　of　Rebecca's　simplicity
and　activity；　and　gentleness　and　untiring　good
humour；　the　shrewd　old　London　lady；　upon　whom　these
treasures　of　friendship　were　lavished；　had　not　a　lurking
suspicion　all　the　while　of　her　affectionate　nurse　and　f