vanity fair(名利场)-第48节
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child。 How was she？ How did she look？ What did she
say？ His comrade took his hand； and looked him in the
face。
〃George； she's dying；〃 William Dobbin saidand could
speak no more。
There was a buxom Irish servant…girl； who performed
all the duties of the little house where the Sedley family
had found refuge： and this girl had in vain； on many
previous days； striven to give Amelia aid or consolation。
Emmy was much too sad to answer； or even to be aware
of the attempts the other was making in her favour。
Four hours after the talk between Dobbin and Osborne；
this servant…maid came into Amelia's room； where she
sate as usual； brooding silently over her lettersher
little treasures。 The girl； smiling； and looking arch and
happy； made many trials to attract poor Emmy's
attention； who； however； took no heed of her。
〃Miss Emmy；〃 said the girl。
〃I'm coming；〃 Emmy said； not looking round。
〃There's a message；〃 the maid went on。 〃There's
somethingsomebodysure； here's a new letter for you
don't be reading them old ones any more。〃 And she gave
her a letter； which Emmy took； and read。
〃I must see you；〃 the letter said。 〃Dearest Emmy
dearest lovedearest wife； come to me。〃
George and her mother were outside； waiting until she
had read the letter。
CHAPTER XIX
Miss Crawley at Nurse
We have seen how Mrs。 Firkin； the lady's maid； as soon
as any event of importance to the Crawley family came
to her knowledge； felt bound to communicate it to Mrs。
Bute Crawley； at the Rectory； and have before
mentioned how particularly kind and attentive that good…
natured lady was to Miss Crawley's confidential servant。
She had been a gracious friend to Miss Briggs； the
companion； also； and had secured the latter's good…will by a
number of those attentions and promises； which cost so
little in the making； and are yet so valuable and agreeable to
the recipient。 Indeed every good economist and
manager of a household must know how cheap and yet
how amiable these professions are； and what a flavour
they give to the most homely dish in life。 Who was the
blundering idiot who said that 〃fine words butter no
parsnips〃？ Half the parsnips of society are served and
rendered palatable with no other sauce。 As the immortal
Alexis Soyer can make more delicious soup for a half…
penny than an ignorant cook can concoct with pounds of
vegetables and meat； so a skilful artist will make a few
simple and pleasing phrases go farther than ever so much
substantial benefit…stock in the hands of a mere bungler。
Nay； we know that substantial benefits often sicken some
stomachs； whereas； most will digest any amount of fine
words； and be always eager for more of the same food。
Mrs。 Bute had told Briggs and Firkin so often of the
depth of her affection for them； and what she would do；
if she had Miss Crawley's fortune； for friends so excellent
and attached； that the ladies in question had the deepest
regard for her； and felt as much gratitude and
confidence as if Mrs。 Bute had loaded them with the most
expensive favours。
Rawdon Crawley； on the other hand； like a selfish
heavy dragoon as he was； never took the least trouble to
conciliate his aunt's aides…de…camp； showed his contempt
for the pair with entire franknessmade Firkin pull off
his boots on one occasionsent her out in the rain on
ignominious messagesand if he gave her a guinea； flung
it to her as if it were a box on the ear。 As his aunt； too；
made a butt of Briggs； the Captain followed the
example； and levelled his jokes at herjokes about as
delicate as a kick from his charger。 Whereas； Mrs。 Bute
consulted her in matters of taste or difficulty； admired
her poetry； and by a thousand acts of kindness and
politeness； showed her appreciation of Briggs； and if she
made Firkin a twopenny…halfpenny present； accompanied
it with so many compliments； that the twopence…half…
penny was transmuted into gold in the heart of the grateful
waiting…maid； who； besides； was looking forwards
quite contentedly to some prodigious benefit which must
happen to her on the day when Mrs。 Bute came into her
fortune。
The different conduct of these two people is pointed
out respectfully to the attention of persons commencing
the world。 Praise everybody； I say to such： never be
squeamish； but speak out your compliment both point…
blank in a man's face； and behind his back； when
you know there is a reasonable chance of his hearing it
again。 Never lose a chance of saying a kind word。 As
Collingwood never saw a vacant place in his estate but
he took an acorn out of his pocket and popped it in；
so deal with your compliments through life。 An acorn
costs nothing； but it may sprout into a prodigious bit of
timber。
In a word； during Rawdon Crawley's prosperity； he was
only obeyed with sulky acquiescence； when his disgrace
came； there was nobody to help or pity him。 Whereas；
when Mrs。 Bute took the command at Miss Crawley's
house； the garrison there were charmed to act under
such a leader； expecting all sorts of promotion from her
promises； her generosity； and her kind words。
That he would consider himself beaten； after one defeat；
and make no attempt to regain the position he had
lost； Mrs。 Bute Crawley never allowed herself to suppose。
She knew Rebecca to be too clever and spirited and
desperate a woman to submit without a struggle； and felt
that she must prepare for that combat； and be incessantly
watchful against assault； or mine； or surprise。
In the first place； though she held the town； was she
sure of the principal inhabitant？ Would Miss Crawley
herself hold out； and had she not a secret longing to
welcome back the ousted adversary？ The old lady liked
Rawdon； and Rebecca； who amused her。 Mrs。 Bute could
not disguise from herself the fact that none of her party
could so contribute to the pleasures of the town…bred
lady。 〃My girls' singing； after that little odious governess's；
I know is unbearable；〃 the candid Rector's wife
owned to herself。 〃She always used to go to sleep when
Martha and Louisa played their duets。 Jim's stiff
college manners and poor dear Bute's talk about his dogs
and horses always annoyed her。 If I took her to the
Rectory； she would grow angry with us all； and fly； I
know she would； and might fall into that horrid
Rawdon's clutches again； and be the victim of that little
viper of a Sharp。 Meanwhile； it is clear to me that she is
exceedingly unwell； and cannot move for some weeks； at
any rate； during which we must think of some plan to
protect her from the arts of those unprincipled people。〃
In the very best…of moments； if anybody told Miss
Crawley that she was； or looked ill； the trembling old
lady sent off for her doctor； and I daresay she was very
unwell after the sudden family event； which might serve
to shake stronger nerves than hers。 At least； Mrs。 Bute
thought it was her duty to inform the physician； and the
apothecary； and the dame…de…compagnie； and the domestics；
that Miss Crawley was in a most critical state； and
that they were to act accordingly。 She had the street laid
knee…deep with straw； and the knocker put by with Mr。
Bowls's plate。 She insisted that the Doctor should call
twice a day； and deluged her patient with draughts every
two hours。 When anybody entered the room； she uttered
a shshshsh so sibilant and ominous； that it frightened the
poor old lady in her bed； from which she could
not look without seeing Mrs。 Bute's beady eyes eagerly
fixed on her； as the latter sate steadfast in the arm…chair
by the bedside。 They seemed to lighten in the dark （for
she kept the curtains closed） as she moved about the
room on velvet paws like a cat。 There Miss Crawley lay
for daysever so many daysMr。 Bute reading books
of devotion to her： for nights； long nights； during which
she had to hear the watchman sing； the night…light sputter；
visited at midnight； the last thing； by the stealthy apothecary；
and then left to look at Mrs。 Bute's twinkling eyes；
or the flicks of yellow that the rushlight threw on the
dreary darkened ceiling。 Hygeia herself would have
fallen sick under such a regimen； and how much more
this poor old nervous victim？ It has been said that when
she was in health and good spirits； this venerable
inhabitant of Vanity Fair had as free notions about religion
and morals as Monsieur de Voltaire himself could desire；
but when illness overtook her； it was aggravated by
the most dreadful terrors of death； and an utter cowardice
took possession of the prostrate old sinner。
Sick…bed homilies and pious reflections are； to be sure；
out of place in mere story…books； and we are not going
（after the fashion of some novelists of the present day）
to cajole the。public into a sermon； when it is only a
comedy that the reader pays his money to witness。 But；
without preaching； the truth may surely be borne in mind；
that the bustle； and triumph； and laughter； and gaiety
which Vanity Fair exhibits in public； do not always pursue
the performer into private life； and that the most
dreary depression of spirits and dismal repentances
sometimes overcome him。 Recollection of the best ordained
banquets will scarcely cheer sick epicures。 Reminiscences
of the most becoming
