vanity fair(名利场)-第38节

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Crawley's　family　circle。　　〃I　suppose　I　must　put　off　my
party　for　the　3rd；〃　Miss　Crawley　said；　and　added；　after　a
pause；　〃I　hope　my　brother　will　have　the　decency　not　to
marry　again。〃　〃What　a　confounded　rage　Pitt　will　be　in　if
he　does；〃　Rawdon　remarked；　with　his　usual　regard　for　his
elder　brother。　　Rebecca　said　nothing。　　She　seemed　by　far　the
gravest　and　most　impressed　of　the　family。　　She　left　the
room　before　Rawdon　went　away　that　day；　but　they　met
by　chance　below；　as　he　was　going　away　after　taking　leave；
and　had　a　parley　together。
　　
On　the　morrow；　as　Rebecca　was　gazing　from　the　window；
she　startled　Miss　Crawley；　who　was　placidly　occupied
with　a　French　novel；　by　crying　out　in　an　alarmed
tone；　〃Here's　Sir　Pitt；　Ma'am！〃　and　the　Baronet's　knock
followed　this　announcement。
　　
〃My　dear；　I　can't　see　him。　　I　won't　see　him。　　Tell　Bowls
not　at　home；　or　go　downstairs　and　say　I'm　too　ill　to
receive　any　one。　　My　nerves　really　won't　bear　my　brother
at　this　moment；〃　cried　out　Miss　Crawley；　and　resumed
the　novel。
　　
〃She's　too　ill　to　see　you；　sir；〃　Rebecca　said；　tripping
down　to　Sir　Pitt；　who　was　preparing　to　ascend。
　　
〃So　much　the　better；〃　Sir　Pitt　answered。　　〃I　want　to
see　YOU；　Miss　Becky。　　Come　along　a　me　into　the　parlour；〃
and　they　entered　that　apartment　together。
　　
〃I　wawnt　you　back　at　Queen's　Crawley；　Miss；〃　the
baronet　said；　fixing　his　eyes　upon　her；　and　taking　off　his
black　gloves　and　his　hat　with　its　great　crape　hat…band。
His　eyes　had　such　a　strange　look；　and　fixed　upon　her　so
steadfastly；　that　Rebecca　Sharp　began　almost　to　tremble。
　　
〃I　hope　to　come　soon；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃as
soon　as　Miss　Crawley　is　betterand　return　toto　the
dear　children。〃
　　
〃You've　said　so　these　three　months；　Becky；〃　replied
Sir　Pitt；　〃and　still　you　go　hanging　on　to　my　sister；　who'll
fling　you　off　like　an　old　shoe；　when　she's　wore　you　out。
I　tell　you　I　want　you。　　I'm　going　back　to　the　Vuneral。
Will　you　come　back？　　Yes　or　no？〃
〃I　daren'tI　don't　thinkit　would　be　rightto　be
alonewith　you；　sir；〃　Becky　said；　seemingly　in　great
agitation。
　　
〃I　say　agin；　I　want　you；〃　Sir　Pitt　said；　thumping　the
table。　　〃I　can't　git　on　without　you。　　I　didn't　see　what　it　was
till　you　went　away。　　The　house　all　goes　wrong。　　It's　not
the　same　place。　　All　my　accounts　has　got　muddled　agin。
You　MUST　come　back。　　Do　come　back。　　Dear　Becky；　do
come。〃
　　
〃Comeas　what；　sir？〃　Rebecca　gasped　out。
　　
〃Come　as　Lady　Crawley；　if　you　like；〃　the　Baronet
said；　grasping　his　crape　hat。　　〃There！　will　that　zatusfy　you？
Come　back　and　be　my　wife。　　Your　vit　vor't。　　Birth　be
hanged。　　You're　as　good　a　lady　as　ever　I　see。　　You've　got
more　brains　in　your　little　vinger　than　any　baronet's　wife
in　the　county。　　Will　you　come？　Yes　or　no？〃
　　
〃Oh；　Sir　Pitt！〃　Rebecca　said；　very　much　moved。
　　
〃Say　yes；　Becky；〃　Sir　Pitt　continued。　　〃I'm　an　old　man；
but　a　good'n。　　I'm　good　for　twenty　years。　　I'll　make　you
happy；　zee　if　I　don't。　　You　shall　do　what　you　like；　spend
what　you　like；　and　'ave　it　all　your　own　way。　　I'll　make
you　a　zettlement。　　I'll　do　everything　reglar。　　Look　year！〃
and　the　old　man　fell　down　on　his　knees　and　leered　at
her　like　a　satyr。
　　
Rebecca　started　back　a　picture　of　consternation。　　In
the　course　of　this　history　we　have　never　seen　her　lose　her
presence　of　mind；　but　she　did　now；　and　wept　some　of　the
most　genuine　tears　that　ever　fell　from　her　eyes。
　　
〃Oh；　Sir　Pitt！〃　she　said。　　〃Oh；　sirII'm　married
ALREADY。〃

CHAPTER　XV
In　Which　Rebecca's　Husband　Appears
for　a　Short　Time
Every　reader　of　a　sentimental　turn　（and　we　desire
no　other）　must　have　been　pleased　with　the
tableau　with　which　the　last　act　of　our　little
drama　concluded；　for　what　can　be　prettier　than
an　image　of　Love　on　his　knees　before　Beauty？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
But　when　Love　heard　that　awful　confession　from
Beauty　that　she　was　married　already；　he
bounced　up　from　his　attitude　of　humility　on　the　carpet；
uttering　exclamations　which　caused　poor　little　Beauty　to
be　more　frightened　than　she　was　when　she　made　her
avowal。　　〃Married；　you're　joking；〃　the　Baronet　cried；　after
the　first　explosion　of　rage　and　wonder。　　〃You're
making　vun　of　me；　Becky。　　Who'd　ever　go　to　marry　you
without　a　shilling　to　your　vortune？〃
　　
〃Married！　married！〃　Rebecca　said；　in　an　agony　of　tears
her　voice　choking　with　emotion；　her　handkerchief　up
to　her　ready　eyes；　fainting　against　the　mantelpiece　a
figure　of　woe　fit　to　melt　the　most　obdurate　heart。　　〃0
Sir　Pitt；　dear　Sir　Pitt；　do　not　think　me　ungrateful　for　all
your　goodness　to　me。　　It　is　only　your　generosity　that　has
extorted　my　secret。〃
〃Generosity　be　hanged！〃　Sir　Pitt　roared　out。　　〃Who　is
it　tu；　then；　you're　married？　Where　was　it？〃
　　　
〃Let　me　come　back　with　you　to　the　country；　sir！　　Let
me　watch　over　you　as　faithfully　as　ever！　　Don't；　don't
separate　me　from　dear　Queen's　Crawley！〃
　　　
〃The　feller　has　left　you；　has　he？〃　the　Baronet　said；
beginning；　as　he　fancied；　to　comprehend。　　〃Well；　Becky
come　back　if　you　like。　　You　can't　eat　your　cake　and　have
it。　　Any　ways　I　made　you　a　vair　offer。　　Coom　back　as
governessyou　shall　have　it　all　your　own　way。〃　She
held　out　one　hand。　　She　cried　fit　to　break　her　heart；　her
ringlets　fell　over　her　face；　and　over　the　marble
mantelpiece　where　she　laid　it。
　　　
〃So　the　rascal　ran　off；　eh？〃　　Sir　Pitt　said；　with　a　hideous
attempt　at　consolation。　　〃Never　mind；　Becky；　I'LL　take
care　of　'ee。〃
　　　
〃Oh；　sir！　it　would　be　the　pride　of　my　life　to　go　back
to　Queen's　Crawley；　and　take　care　of　the　children；　and
of　you　as　formerly；　when　you　said　you　were　pleased　with
the　services　of　your　little　Rebecca。　　When　I　think　of　what
you　have　just　offered　me；　my　heart　fills　with　gratitude
indeed　it　does。　　I　can't　be　your　wife；　sir；　let　melet　me　be
your　daughter。〃
　　
Saying　which；　Rebecca　went　down　on　HER　knees　in　a
most　tragical　way；　and；　taking　Sir　Pitt's　horny　black
hand　between　her　own　two　（which　were　very　pretty　and
white；　and　as　soft　as　satin）；　looked　up　in　his　face　with　an
expression　of　exquisite　pathos　and　confidence；　when
when　the　door　opened；　and　Miss　Crawley　sailed　in。
　　
Mrs。　Firkin　and　Miss　Briggs；　who　happened　by　chance
to　be　at　the　parlour　door　soon　after　the　Baronet　and
Rebecca　entered　the　apartment；　had　also　seen　accidentally；
through　the　keyhole；　the　old　gentleman　prostrate
before　the　governess；　and　had　heard　the　generous　proposal
which　he　made　her。　　It　was　scarcely　out　of　his　mouth
when　Mrs。　Firkin　and　Miss　Briggs　had　streamed　up　the
stairs；　had　rushed　into　the　drawing…room　where　Miss
Crawley　was　reading　the　French　novel；　and　had　given
that　old　lady　the　astounding　intelligence　that　Sir　Pitt
was　on　his　knees；　proposing　to　Miss　Sharp。　　And　if　you
calculate　the　time　for　the　above　dialogue　to　take　place
the　time　for　Briggs　and　Firkin　to　fly　to　the　drawing…
roomthe　time　for　Miss　Crawley　to　be　astonished；　and
to　drop　her　volume　of　Pigault　le　Brunand　the　time　for
her　to　come　downstairsyou　will　see　how　exactly
accurate　this　history　is；　and　how　Miss　Crawley　must　have
appeared　at　the　very　instant　when　Rebecca　had　assumed
the　attitude　of　humility。
　　
〃It　is　the　lady　on　the　ground；　and　not　the　gentleman；〃
Miss　Crawley　said；　with　a　look　and　voice　of　great　scorn。
〃They　told　me　that　YOU　were　on　your　knees；　Sir　Pitt：　do
kneel　once　more；　and　let　me　see　this　pretty　couple！〃
　　
〃I　have　thanked　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　Ma'am；〃　Rebecca
said；　rising；　〃and　have　told　him　thatthat　I　never　can
become　Lady　Crawley。〃
　　
〃Refused　him！〃　　Miss　Crawley　said；　more　bewildered
than　ever。　　Briggs　and　Firkin　at　the　door　opened　the　eyes
of　astonishment　and　the　lips　of　wonder。
　　
〃Yesrefused；〃　Rebecca　continued；　with　a　sad；
tearful　voice。
　　
〃And　am　I　to　credit　my　ears　that　you　absolutely
proposed　to　her；　Sir　Pitt？〃　the　old　lady　asked。
　　
〃Ees；〃　said　the　Baronet；　〃I　did。〃
　　
〃And　she　refused　you　as　she　says？〃
　　
〃Ees；〃　Sir　Pitt　said；　his　features　on　a　broad　grin。
　　
〃It　does　not　seem　to　break　your　heart　at　any　rate；〃
Miss　Crawley　remarked。
　　
〃Nawt　a　bit；〃　answered　Sir　Pitt；　with　a　coolness　and
good…humour　which　set　Miss　Crawley　almost　mad　with
bewilderment。　　That　an　old　gentleman　of　station　should
fall　on　his　knees　to　a　penniless　governess；　and　burst　out
laughing　because　she　refused　to　marry　himthat　a
penniless　governess　should　refuse　a　Baronet　with　four
thousand　a　yearthese　were　mysteries　which　Miss　Crawley
could　never　comprehend。　　It　surpassed　any　complications
of　intrigue　in　her　favourite　Pigault　le　Brun。
　　
〃I'm　glad　you　think　it　good　sport；　brother；〃　she
continued；　groping　wildly　through　this　amazement。
　　
〃Vamous；〃　said　Sir　Pitt。　　〃Who'd　ha'　thought　it！　what　a
sly　little　devil！　what　a　little　fox　it　waws！〃　he　muttered
to　himself；　chuckling　with　pleasure。
　　
〃Who'd　have　thought　what？〃　cries　Miss　Crawley；
stamping　with　her　foot。　　〃Pray；　Miss　Sharp；　are　you
waiting　for　the　Prince　Regent's　divorce；　that　you　don't　think
our　family　good　enough　for　you？〃
　　
〃My　attitude；〃　Rebecca　said；　〃when　you　came　in；
ma'am；　did　not　look　as　if　I　despised　such　an　honour　as
this　goodthis　noble　man　has　deigned　to　offer　me。　　Do
you　think　I　have　no　heart？　　Have　you　all　loved　me；　and
been　so　kind　to　the　poor　orphandesertedgirl；　and
am　I　to　feel　nothing？　　O　my　friends！　　O　my　ben