vanity fair(名利场)-第37节

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immensely　elated　the　simple　young　officer。
　　
〃How's　little　Miss　Sharp；　by…the…bye？〃　Osborne　inquired
of　his　friend　over　their　wine；　with　a　dandified　air。
〃Good…natured　little　girl　that。　　Does　she　suit　you　well　at
Queen's　Crawley？　Miss　Sedley　liked　her　a　good　deal　last
year。〃
　　
Captain　Crawley　looked　savagely　at　the　Lieutenant　out
of　his　little　blue　eyes；　and　watched　him　when　he　went　up
to　resume　his　acquaintance　with　the　fair　governess。　　Her
conduct　must　have　relieved　Crawley　if　there　was　any
jealousy　in　the　bosom　of　that　life…guardsman。
　　
When　the　young　men　went　upstairs；　and　after
Osborne's　introduction　to　Miss　Crawley；　he　walked　up　to
Rebecca　with　a　patronising；　easy　swagger。　　He　was　going
to　be　kind　to　her　and　protect　her。　　He　would　even　shake
hands　with　her；　as　a　friend　of　Amelia's；　and　saying；　〃Ah；
Miss　Sharp！　how…dy…doo？〃　held　out　his　left　hand　towards
her；　expecting　that　she　would　be　quite　confounded　at
the　honour。
　　
Miss　Sharp　put　out　her　right　forefinger；　and　gave　him
a　little　nod；　so　cool　and　killing；　that　Rawdon　Crawley；
watching　the　operations　from　the　other　room；　could
hardly　restrain　his　laughter　as　he　saw　the　Lieutenant's
entire　discomfiture；　the　start　he　gave；　the　pause；　and　the
perfect　clumsiness　with　which　he　at　length　condescended
to　take　the　finger　which　was　offered　for　his　embrace。
　　
〃She'd　beat　the　devil；　by　Jove！〃　the　Captain　said；　in　a
rapture；　and　the　Lieutenant；　by　way　of　beginning　the
conversation；　agreeably　asked　Rebecca　how　she　liked　her
new　place。
　　
〃My　place？〃　said　Miss　Sharp；　coolly；　〃how　kind　of　you
to　remind　me　of　it！　　It's　a　tolerably　good　place：　the　wages
are　pretty　goodnot　so　good　as　Miss　Wirt's；　I　believe；
with　your　sisters　in　Russell　Square。　　How　are　those　young
ladies？not　that　I　ought　to　ask。〃
　　
〃Why　not？〃　Mr。　Osborne　said；　amazed。
　　
〃Why；　they　never　condescended　to　speak　to　me；　or　to
ask　me　into　their　house；　whilst　I　was　staying　with　Amelia；
but　we　poor　governesses；　you　know；　are　used　to　slights　of
this　sort。〃
　　
〃My　dear　Miss　Sharp！〃　Osborne　ejaculated。
　　
〃At　least　in　some　families；〃　Rebecca　continued。　　〃You
can't　think　what　a　difference　there　is　though。　　We　are　not
so　wealthy　in　Hampshire　as　you　lucky　folks　of　the　City。
But　then　I　am　in　a　gentleman's　familygood　old
English　stock。　　I　suppose　you　know　Sir　Pitt's　father　refused　a
peerage。　　And　you　see　how　I　am　treated。　　I　am　pretty
comfortable。　　Indeed　it　is　rather　a　good　place。　　But　how
very　good　of　you　to　inquire！〃
　　
Osborne　was　quite　savage。　　The　little　governess
patronised　him　and　persiffled　him　until　this　young
British　Lion　felt　quite　uneasy；　nor　could　he　muster　sufficient
presence　of　mind　to　find　a　pretext　for　backing　out
of　this　most　delectable　conversation。
　　　
〃I　thought　you　liked　the　City　families　pretty　well；〃　he
said；　haughtily。
　　　
〃Last　year　you　mean；　when　I　was　fresh　from　that
horrid　vulgar　school？　　Of　course　I　did。　　Doesn't　every　girl　like
to　come　home　for　the　holidays？　　And　how　was　I　to　know
any　better？　　But　oh；　Mr。　Osborne；　what　a　difference
eighteen　months'　experience　makes！　eighteen　months　spent；
pardon　me　for　saying　so；　with　gentlemen。　　As　for　dear
Amelia；　she；　I　grant　you；　is　a　pearl；　and　would　be　charming
　anywhere。　　There　now；　I　see　you　are　beginning　to　be
in　a　good　humour；　but　oh　these　queer　odd　City　people！
And　Mr。　Joshow　is　that　wonderful　Mr。　Joseph？〃
　　　
〃It　seems　to　me　you　didn't　dislike　that　wonderful　Mr。
Joseph　last　year；〃　Osborne　said　kindly。
　　　
〃How　severe　of　you！　　Well；　entre　nous；　I　didn't　break
my　heart　about　him；　yet　if　he　had　asked　me　to　do　what
you　mean　by　your　looks　（and　very　expressive　and　kind
they　are；　too）；　I　wouldn't　have　said　no。〃
　　　
Mr。　Osborne　gave　a　look　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Indeed；
how　very　obliging！〃
　　　
〃What　an　honour　to　have　had　you　for　a　brother…in…law；
you　are　thinking？　To　be　sister…in…law　to　George
Osborne；　Esquire；　son　of　John　Osborne；　Esquire；　son　of
what　was　your　grandpapa；　Mr。　Osborne？　　Well；　don't　be
angry。　　You　can't　help　your　pedigree；　and　I　quite　agree
with　you　that　I　would　have　married　Mr。　Joe　Sedley；　for
could　a　poor　penniless　girl　do　better？　　Now　you　know
the　whole　secret。　　I'm　frank　and　open；　considering　all
things；　it　was　very　kind　of　you　to　allude　to　the
circumstancevery　kind　and　polite。　　Amelia　dear；　Mr。
Osborne　and　I　were　talking　about　your　poor　brother　Joseph。
How　is　he？〃
　　　
Thus　was　George　utterly　routed。　　Not　that　Rebecca　was
in　the　right；　but　she　had　managed　most　successfully　to
put　him　in　the　wrong。　　And　he　now　shamefully　fled；
feeling；　if　he　stayed　another　minute；　that　he　would　have
been　made　to　look　foolish　in　the　presence　of　Amelia。
　　　
Though　Rebecca　had　had　the　better　of　him；　George　was
above　the　meanness　of　talebearing　or　revenge　upon　a
ladyonly　he　could　not　help　cleverly　confiding　to
Captain　Crawley；　next　day；　some　notions　of　his　regarding
Miss　Rebeccathat　she　was　a　sharp　one；　a　dangerous
one；　a　desperate　flirt；　&c。；　in　all　of　which　opinions
Crawley　agreed　laughingly；　and　with　every　one　of　which　Miss
Rebecca　was　made　acquainted　before　twenty…four　hours
were　over。　　They　added　to　her　original　regard　for　Mr。
Osborne。　　Her　woman's　instinct　had　told　her　that　it　was
George　who　had　interrupted　the　success　of　her　first
love…passage；　and　she　esteemed　him　accordingly。
　　
〃I　only　just　warn　you；〃　he　said　to　Rawdon　Crawley；
with　a　knowing　lookhe　had　bought　the　horse；　and　lost
some　score　of　guineas　after　dinner；　〃I　just　warn　youI
know　women；　and　counsel　you　to　be　on　the　look…out。〃
　　
〃Thank　you；　my　boy；〃　said　Crawley；　with　a　look　of
peculiar　gratitude。　　〃You're　wide　awake；　I　see。〃　And
George　went　off；　thinking　Crawley　was　quite　right。
　　
He　told　Amelia　of　what　he　had　done；　and　how　he　had
counselled　Rawdon　Crawleya　devilish　good；
straightforward　fellowto　be　on　his　guard　against　that
little　sly；　scheming　Rebecca。
　　
〃Against　whom？〃　Amelia　cried。
　　
〃Your　friend　the　governess。Don't　look　so　astonished。〃
　　
〃O　George；　what　have　you　done？〃　Amelia　said。　　For　her
woman's　eyes；　which　Love　had　made　sharp…sighted；　had
in　one　instant　discovered　a　secret　which　was　invisible　to
Miss　Crawley；　to　poor　virgin　Briggs；　and　above　all；
to　the　stupid　peepers　of　that　young　whiskered　prig；
Lieutenant　Osborne。
　　
For　as　Rebecca　was　shawling　her　in　an　upper　apartment；
where　these　two　friends　had　an　opportunity　for　a
little　of　that　secret　talking　and　conspiring　which　form
the　delight　of　female　life；　Amelia；　coming　up　to　Rebecca；
and　taking　her　two　little　hands　in　hers；　said；　〃Rebecca；
I　see　it　all。〃
Rebecca　kissed　her。
　　
And　regarding　this　delightful　secret；　not　one　syllable
more　was　said　by　either　of　the　young　women。　　But　it　was
destined　to　come　out　before　long。
　　
Some　short　period　after　the　above　events；　and　Miss
Rebecca　Sharp　still　remaining　at　her　patroness's　house
in　Park　Lane；　one　more　hatchment　might　have　been　seen
in　Great　Gaunt　Street；　figuring　amongst　the　many　which
usually　ornament　that　dismal　quarter。　　It　was　over　Sir
Pitt　Crawley's　house；　but　it　did　not　indicate　the　worthy
baronet's　demise。　　It　was　a　feminine　hatchment；　and
indeed　a　few　years　back　had　served　as　a　funeral　compliment
to　Sir　Pitt's　old　mother；　the　late　dowager　Lady　Crawley。
Its　period　of　service　over；　the　hatchment　had　come
down　from　the　front　of　the　house；　and　lived　in　retirement
　somewhere　in　the　back　premises　of　Sir　Pitt's　mansion。
It　reappeared　now　for　poor　Rose　Dawson。　　Sir　Pitt
was　a　widower　again。　　The　arms　quartered　on　the　shield
along　with　his　own　were　not；　to　be　sure；　poor　Rose's。
She　had　no　arms。　　But　the　cherubs　painted　on　the
scutcheon　answered　as　well　for　her　as　for　Sir　Pitt's
mother；　and　Resurgam　was　written　under　the　coat；
flanked　by　the　Crawley　Dove　and　Serpent。　　Arms　and
Hatchments；　Resurgam。Here　is　an　opportunity　for
moralising！
　　
Mr。　Crawley　had　tended　that　otherwise　friendless
bedside。　　She　went　out　of　the　world　strengthened　by　such
words　and　comfort　as　he　could　give　her。　　For　many　years
his　was　the　only　kindness　she　ever　knew；　the　only
friendship　that　solaced　in　any　way　that　feeble；　lonely　soul。
Her　heart　was　dead　long　before　her　body。　　She　had　sold
it　to　become　Sir　Pitt　Crawley's　wife。　　Mothers　and
daughters　are　making　the　same　bargain　every　day　in
Vanity　Fair。
　　
When　the　demise　took　place；　her　husband　was　in
London　attending　to　some　of　his　innumerable　schemes；
and　busy　with　his　endless　lawyers。　　He　had　found　time；
nevertheless；　to　call　often　in　Park　Lane；　and　to　despatch
many　notes　to　Rebecca；　entreating　her；　enjoining　her；
commanding　her　to　return　to　her　young　pupils　in　the
country；　who　were　now　utterly　without　companionship
during　their　mother's　illness。　　But　Miss　Crawley　would
not　hear　of　her　departure；　for　though　there　was　no　lady
of　fashion　in　London　who　would　desert　her　friends　more
complacently　as　soon　as　she　was　tired　of　their　society；
and　though　few　tired　of　them　sooner；　yet　as　long　as　her
engoument　lasted　her　attachment　was　prodigious；　and
she　clung　still　with　the　greatest　energy　to　Rebecca。
The　news　of　Lady　Crawley's　death　provoked　no　more
grief　or　comment　than　might　have　been　expected　in　Miss
Crawley's　family　circle。　　〃I　suppose　I　must　put　off　my
party　for　the　3rd；〃　Miss　C