vanity fair(名利场)-第41节
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a time。 Had Rebecca's resolutions been entirely different；
he would have followed them as implicitly。 〃You have
head enough for both of us； Beck；〃 said he。 〃You're sure
to get us out of the scrape。 I never saw your equal； and
I've met with some clippers in my time too。〃 And with
this simple confession of faith； the love…stricken dragoon
left her to execute his part of the project which she had
formed for the pair。
It consisted simply in the hiring of quiet lodgings at
Brompton； or in the neighbourhood of the barracks； for
Captain and Mrs。 Crawley。 For Rebecca had determined；
and very prudently； we think； to fly。 Rawdon was
only too happy at her resolve； he had been entreating
her to take this measure any time for weeks past。 He
pranced off to engage the lodgings with all the impetuosity
of love。 He agreed to pay two guineas a week so readily；
that the landlady regretted she had asked him so little。
He ordered in a piano； and half a nursery…house full of
flowers： and a heap of good things。 As for shawls； kid
gloves； silk stockings； gold French watches； bracelets and
perfumery； he sent them in with the profusion of blind
love and unbounded credit。 And having relieved his mind
by this outpouring of generosity； he went and dined
nervously at the club； waiting until the great moment of his
life should come。
The occurrences of the previous day； the admirable
conduct of Rebecca in refusing an offer so advantageous
to her； the secret unhappiness preying upon her； the
sweetness and silence with which she bore her affliction；
made Miss Crawley much more tender than usual。 An
event of this nature； a marriage； or a refusal； or a
proposal； thrills through a whole household of women； and
sets all their hysterical sympathies at work。 As an
observer of human nature； I regularly frequent St。 George's；
Hanover Square； during the genteel marriage season； and
though I have never seen the bridegroom's male friends
give way to tears； or the beadles and officiating clergy
any way affected； yet it is not at all uncommon to see
women who are not in the least concerned in the
operations going onold ladies who are long past marrying；
stout middle…aged females with plenty of sons and daughters；
let alone pretty young creatures in pink bonnets； who
are on their promotion； and may naturally take an
interest in the ceremonyI say it is quite common to see
the women present piping； sobbing； sniffling； hiding their
little faces in their little useless pocket…handkerchiefs；
and heaving； old and young； with emotion。 When my
friend； the fashionable John Pimlico； married the lovely
Lady Belgravia Green Parker； the excitement was so
general that even the little snuffy old pew…opener who let me
into the seat was in tears。 And wherefore？ I inquired of
my own soul： she was not going to be married。
Miss Crawley and Briggs in a word； after the affair of
Sir Pitt； indulged in the utmost luxury of sentiment； and
Rebecca became an object of the most tender interest to
them。 In her absence Miss Crawley solaced herself with
the most sentimental of the novels in her library。 Little
Sharp； with her secret griefs； was the heroine of the day。
That night Rebecca sang more sweetly and talked more
pleasantly than she had ever been heard to do in Park
Lane。 She twined herself round the heart of Miss Crawley。
She spoke lightly and laughingly of Sir Pitt's proposal；
ridiculed it as the foolish fancy of an old man； and her
eyes filled with tears； and Briggs's heart with unutterable
pangs of defeat； as she said she desired no other lot than
to remain for ever with her dear benefactress。 〃My dear
little creature；〃 the old lady said； 〃I don't intend to let
you stir for years； that you may depend upon it。 As for
going back to that odious brother of mine after what
has passed； it is out of the question。 Here you stay with me
and Briggs。 Briggs wants to go to see her relations very
often。 Briggs； you may go when you like。 But as for you；
my dear； you must stay and take care of the old woman。〃
If Rawdon Crawley had been then and there present；
instead of being at the club nervously drinking claret； the
pair might have gone down on their knees before the old
spinster； avowed all； and been forgiven in a twinkling。
But that good chance was denied to the young couple；
doubtless in order that this story might be written； in
which numbers of their wonderful adventures are narrated
adventures which could never have occurred to them
if they had been housed and sheltered under the
comfortable uninteresting forgiveness of Miss Crawley。
Under Mrs。 Firkin's orders； in the Park Lane establishment；
was a young woman from Hampshire； whose business it was；
among other duties； to knock at Miss Sharp's door with
that jug of hot water which Firkin would rather have
perished than have presented to the intruder。 This
girl； bred on the family estate； had a brother in Captain
Crawley's troop； and if the truth were known； I daresay
it would come out that she was aware of certain arrangements；
which have a great deal to do with this history。
At any rate she purchased a yellow shawl； a pair of green
boots； and a light blue hat with a red feather with three
guineas which Rebecca gave her； and as little Sharp was
by no means too liberal with her money； no doubt it
was for services rendered that Betty Martin was so bribed。
On the second day after Sir Pitt Crawley's offer to
Miss Sharp； the sun rose as usual； and at the usual hour
Betty Martin； the upstairs maid； knocked at the door of
the governess's bedchamber。
No answer was returned； and she knocked again。 Silence
was still uninterrupted； and Betty； with the hot water；
opened the door and entered the chamber。
The little white dimity bed was as smooth and trim as
on the day previous； when Betty's own hands had helped
to make it。 Two little trunks were corded in one end of
the room； and on the table before the windowon the
pincushion the great fat pincushion lined with pink
inside； and twilled like a lady's nightcaplay a letter。 It
had been reposing there probably all night。
Betty advanced towards it on tiptoe； as if she were
afraid to awake itlooked at it； and round the room；
with an air of great wonder and satisfaction； took up the
letter； and grinned intensely as she turned it round and
over； and finally carried it into Miss Briggs's room
below。
How could Betty tell that the letter was for Miss Briggs；
I should like to know？ All the schooling Betty had had
was at Mrs。 Bute Crawley's Sunday school； and she could
no more read writing than Hebrew。
〃La； Miss Briggs；〃 the girl exclaimed； 〃O； Miss；
something must have happenedthere's nobody in Miss
Sharp's room； the bed ain't been slep in； and she've run
away； and left this letter for you； Miss。〃
〃WHAT！〃 cries Briggs； dropping her comb； the thin wisp
of faded hair falling over her shoulders； 〃an elopement！
Miss Sharp a fugitive！ What； what is this？〃 and she eagerly
broke the neat seal； and； as they say； 〃devoured the
contents〃 of the letter addressed to her。
Dear Miss Briggs ＇the refugee wrote＇； the kindest
heart in the world； as yours is； will pity and sympathise
with me and excuse me。 With tears； and prayers； and
blessings； I leave the home where the poor orphan has
ever met with kindness and affection。 Claims even
superior to those of my benefactress call me hence。 I go to
my dutyto my HUSBAND。 Yes； I am married。 My
husband COMMANDS me to seek the HUMBLE HOME which
we call ours。 Dearest Miss Briggs； break the news as your
delicate sympathy will know how to do itto my dear；
my beloved friend and benefactress。 Tell her； ere I went；
I shed tears on her dear pillowthat pillow that I have
so often soothed in sicknessthat I long AGAIN to watch
Oh； with what joy shall I return to dear Park Lane！
How I tremble for the answer which is to SEAL MY FATE！
When Sir Pitt deigned to offer me his hand； an honour
of which my beloved Miss Crawley said I was DESERVING
（my blessings go with her for judging the poor orphan
worthy to be HER SISTER！） I told Sir Pitt that I was already
A WIFE。 Even he forgave me。 But my courage failed me；
when I should have told him allthat I could not be
his wife； for I WAS HIS DAUGHTER！ I am wedded to the best
and most generous of menMiss Crawley's Rawdon is
MY Rawdon。 At his COMMAND I open my lips； and
follow him to our humble home； as I would THROUGH THE
WORLD。 O； my excellent and kind friend； intercede with
my Rawdon's beloved aunt for him and the poor girl to
whom all HIS NOBLE RACE have shown such UNPARALLELED
AFFECTION。 Ask Miss Crawley to receive HER CHILDREN。 I
can say no more； but blessings； blessings on all in the
dear house I leave； prays
Your affectionate and GRATEFUL
Rebecca Crawley。
Midnight。
Just as Briggs had finished reading this affecting and
interesting document； which reinstated her in her position
as first confidante of Miss Crawley； Mrs。 Firkin entered
the room。 〃Here's Mrs。 Bute Crawley just arrived by
the mail from Hampshire； and wants some tea； will you
come down and make breakfast； Miss？〃
And to the surprise of Firkin； clasping her dres
