vanity fair(名利场)-第5节

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egad！〃　and　before　the　carriage　arrived　in　Russell　Square；
a　great　deal　of　conversation　had　taken　place　about　the
Drawing…room；　and　whether　or　not　young　ladies　wore
powder　as　well　as　hoops　when　presented；　and　whether
she　was　to　have　that　honour：　to　the　Lord　Mayor's　ball
she　knew　she　was　to　go。　　And　when　at　length　home　was
reached；　Miss　Amelia　Sedley　skipped　out　on　Sambo's
arm；　as　happy　and　as　handsome　a　girl　as　any　in　the　whole
big　city　of　London。　　Both　he　and　coachman　agreed　on
this　point；　and　so　did　her　father　and　mother；　and　so　did
every　one　of　the　servants　in　the　house；　as　they　stood
bobbing；　and　curtseying；　and　smiling；　in　the　hall　to
welcome　their　young　mistress。
You　may　be　sure　that　she　showed　Rebecca　over　every
room　of　the　house；　and　everything　in　every　one　of　her
drawers；　and　her　books；　and　her　piano；　and　her　dresses；
and　all　her　necklaces；　brooches；　laces；　and　gimcracks。
She　insisted　upon　Rebecca　accepting　the　white　cornelian
and　the　turquoise　rings；　and　a　sweet　sprigged　muslin；
which　was　too　small　for　her　now；　though　it　would　fit
her　friend　to　a　nicety；　and　she　determined　in　her　heart
to　ask　her　mother's　permission　to　present　her　white
Cashmere　shawl　to　her　friend。　　Could　she　not　spare　it？　and
had　not　her　brother　Joseph　just　brought　her　two　from
India？
When　Rebecca　saw　the　two　magnificent　Cashmere
shawls　which　Joseph　Sedley　had　brought　home　to　his
sister；　she　said；　with　perfect　truth；　〃that　it　must　be
delightful　to　have　a　brother；〃　and　easily　got　the　pity　of　the
tender…hearted　Amelia　for　being　alone　in　the　world；　an
orphan　without　friends　or　kindred。
〃Not　alone；〃　said　Amelia；　〃you　know；　Rebecca；　I　shall
always　be　your　friend；　and　love　you　as　a　sisterindeed
I　will。〃
〃Ah；　but　to　have　parents；　as　you　havekind；　rich；
affectionate　parents；　who　give　you　everything　you…ask
for；　and　their　love；　which　is　more　precious　than　all！
My　poor　papa　could　give　me　nothing；　and　I　had　but　two
frocks　in　all　the　world！　And　then；　to　have　a　brother；　a
dear　brother！　Oh；　how　you　must　love　him！〃
Amelia　laughed。
〃What！　don't　you　love　him？　you；　who　say　you　love
everybody？〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　~；
〃Yes；　of　course；　I　doonly〃
〃Only　what？〃
〃Only　Joseph　doesn't　seem　to　care　much　whether　I
love　him　or　not。　　He　gave　me　two　fingers　to　shake　when
he　arrived　after　ten　years'　absence！　　He　is　very　kind　and
good；　but　he　scarcely　ever　speaks　to　me；　I　think　he
loves　his　pipe　a　great　deal　better　than　his〃but　here
Amelia　checked　herself；　for　why　should　she　speak　ill　of
her　brother？　〃He　was　very　kind　to　me　as　a　child；〃　she
added；　〃I　was　but　five　years　old　when　he　went　away。〃
〃Isn't　he　very　rich？〃　said　Rebecca。　　〃They　say　all　Indian
nabobs　are　enormously　rich。〃
〃I　believe　he　has　a　very　large　income。〃
〃And　is　your　sister…in…law　a　nice　pretty　woman？〃
　
〃La！　Joseph　is　not　married；〃　said　Amelia；　laughing
again。
　
Perhaps　she　had　mentioned　the　fact　already　to　Rebecca；
but　that　young　lady　did　not　appear　to　have　remembered
it；　indeed；　vowed　and　protested　that　she　expected　to　see
a　number　of　Amelia's　nephews　and　nieces。　　She　was　quite
disappointed　that　Mr。　Sedley　was　not　married；　she　was
sure　Amelia　had　said　he　was；　and　she　doted　so　on　little
children。
〃I　think　you　must　have　had　enough　of　them　at
Chiswick；〃　said　Amelia；　rather　wondering　at　the　sudden
tenderness　on　her　friend's　part；　and　indeed　in　later　days
Miss　Sharp　would　never　have　committed　herself　so　far
as　to　advance　opinions；　the　untruth　of　which　would　have
been　so　easily　detected。　　But　we　must　remember　that　she
is　but　nineteen　as　yet；　unused　to　the　art　of　deceiving；
poor　innocent　creature！　and　making　her　own　experience
in　her　own　person。　　The　meaning　of　the　above　series　of
queries；　as　translated　in　the　heart　of　this　ingenious　young
woman；　was　simply　this：　〃If　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley　is　rich
and　unmarried；　why　should　I　not　marry　him？　I　have
only　a　fortnight；　to　be　sure；　but　there　is　no　harm　in
trying。〃　And　she　determined　within　herself　to　make　this
laudable　attempt。　　She　redoubled　her　caresses　to　Amelia；
she　kissed　the　white　cornelian　necklace　as　she　put　it
on；　and　vowed　she　would　never；　never　part　with　it。　　When
the　dinner…bell　rang　she　went　downstairs　with　her　arm
round　her　friend's　waist；　as　is　the　habit　of　young　ladies。
She　was　so　agitated　at　the　drawing…room　door；　that　she
could　hardly　find　courage　to　enter。　　〃Feel　my　heart；　how
it　beats；　dear！〃　said　she　to　her　friend。
〃No；　it　doesn't；〃　said　Amelia。　　〃Come　in；　don't　be
frightened。　　Papa　won't　do　you　any　harm。〃

CHAPTER　III
Rebecca　Is　in　Presence　of　the　Enemy
　A　VERY　stout；　puffy　man；　in　buckskins　and　Hessian
boots；　with　several　immense　neckcloths　that　rose　almost
to　his　nose；　with　a　red　striped　waistcoat　and　an　apple
green　coat　with　steel　buttons　almost　as　large　as　crown
pieces　（it　was　the　morning　costume　of　a　dandy　or　blood
of　those　days）　was　reading　the　paper　by　the　fire　when
the　two　girls　entered；　and　bounced　off　his　arm…chair；
and　blushed　excessively；　and　hid　his　entire　face　almost
in　his　neckcloths　at　this　apparition。
〃It's　only　your　sister；　Joseph；〃　said　Amelia；　laughing
and　shaking　the　two　fingers　which　he　held　out。　　〃I've
come　home　FOR　GOOD；　you　know；　and　this　is　my　friend；
Miss　Sharp；　whom　you　have　heard　me　mention。〃
〃No；　never；　upon　my　word；〃　said　the　head　under　the
neckcloth；　shaking　very　much〃that　is；　yeswhat
abominably　cold　weather；　Miss〃and　herewith　he　fell
to　poking　the　fire　with　all　his　might；　although　it　was　in　the
middle　of　June。
〃He's　very　handsome；〃　whispered　Rebecca　to　Amelia；
rather　loud。
〃Do　you　think　so？〃　said　the　latter。　　〃I'll　tell　him。〃
〃Darling！　not　for　worlds；〃　said　Miss　Sharp；　starting
back　as　timid　as　a　fawn。　　She　had　previously　made　a
respectful　virgin…like　curtsey　to　the　gentleman；　and　her
modest　eyes　gazed　so　perseveringly　on　the　carpet　that　it
was　a　wonder　how　she　should　have　found　an　opportunity
to　see　him。
〃Thank　you　for　the　beautiful　shawls；　brother；〃　said
Amelia　to　the　fire　poker。　　〃Are　they　not　beautiful；　Rebecca？〃
〃O　heavenly！〃　said　Miss　Sharp；　and　her　eyes　went
from　the　carpet　straight　to　the　chandelier。
Joseph　still　continued　a　huge　clattering　at　the　poker
and　tongs；　puffing　and　blowing　the　while；　and　turning
as　red　as　his　yellow　face　would　allow　him。　　〃I　can't
make　you　such　handsome　presents；　Joseph；〃　continued
his　sister；　〃but　while　I　was　at　school；　I　have　embroidered
for　you　a　very　beautiful　pair　of　braces。〃
〃Good　Gad！　Amelia；〃　cried　the　brother；　in　serious
alarm；　〃what　do　you　mean？〃　and　plunging　with　all　his
might　at　the　bell…rope；　that　article　of　furniture　came
away　in　his　hand；　and　increased　the　honest　fellow's
confusion。　　〃For　heaven's　sake　see　if　my　buggy's　at　the
door。　　I　CAN'T　wait。　　I　must　go。　　D　that　groom　of　mine。
I　must　go。〃
At　this　minute　the　father　of　the　family　walked　in；
rattling　his　seals　like　a　true　British　merchant。　　〃What's
the　matter；　Emmy？〃　says　he。
〃Joseph　wants　me　to　see　if　hishis　buggy　is　at　the
door。　　What　is　a　buggy；　Papa？〃
〃It　is　a　one…horse　palanquin；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；
who　was　a　wag　in　his　way。
Joseph　at　this　burst　out　into　a　wild　fit　of　laughter；
in　which；　encountering　the　eye　of　Miss　Sharp；　he　stopped
all　of　a　sudden；　as　if　he　had　been　shot。
〃This　young　lady　is　your　friend？　Miss　Sharp；　I　am
very　happy　to　see　you。　　Have　you　and　Emmy　been
quarrelling　already　with　Joseph；　that　he　wants　to　be　off？〃
〃I　promised　Bonamy　of　our　service；　sir；〃　said　Joseph；
〃to　dine　with　him。〃
〃O　fie！　didn't　you　tell　your　mother　you　would　dine
here？〃
〃But　in　this　dress　it's　impossible。〃
〃Look　at　him；　isn't　he　handsome　enough　to　dine
anywhere；　Miss　Sharp？〃
On　which；　of　course；　Miss　Sharp　looked　at　her　friend；
and　they　both　set　off　in　a　fit　of　laughter；　highly
agreeable　to　the　old　gentleman。
〃Did　you　ever　see　a　pair　of　buckskins　like　those　at
Miss　Pinkerton's？〃　continued　he；　following　up　his
advantage。
〃Gracious　heavens！　Father；〃　cried　Joseph。
〃There　now；　I　have　hurt　his　feelings。　　Mrs。　Sedley；
my　dear；　I　have　hurt　your　son's　feelings。　　I　have　alluded
to　his　buckskins。　　Ask　Miss　Sharp　if　I　haven't？　Come；
Joseph；　be　friends　with　Miss　Sharp；　and　let　us　all　go　to
dinner。〃
〃There's　a　pillau；　Joseph；　just　as　you　like　it；　and　Papa
has　brought　home　the　best　turbot　in　Billingsgate。〃
〃Come；　come；　sir；　walk　downstairs　with　Miss　Sharp；
and　I　will　follow　with　these　two　young　women；〃　said
the　father；　and　he　took　an　arm　of　wife　and　daughter
and　walked　merrily　off。
If　Miss　Rebecca　Sharp　had　determined　in　her　heart
upon　making　the　conquest　of　this　big　beau；　I　don't
think；　ladies；　we　have　any　right　to　blame　her；　for　though
the　task　of　husband…hunting　is　generally；　and　with
becoming　modesty；　entrusted　by　young　persons　to　their
mammas；　recollect　that　Miss　Sharp　had　no　kind　parent
to　arrange　these　delicate　matters　for　her；　and　that　if
she　did　not　get　a　husband　for　herself；　there　was　no　one
else　in　the　wide　world　who　would　take　the　trouble　off
her　hands。　　What　causes　young　people　to　〃come　out；〃
but　the　noble　ambition　of　matrimony？　What　sends　them
trooping　to　watering…places？　What　keeps　them　dancing
till　five　o'clock　in　the　morning　through　a　whole　mortal
season？　What　causes　them　to　labour　at　pianoforte　sonatas；
and　to　learn　four　songs　from　a　fashionable　m