vanity fair(名利场)-第51节
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arms？） of his young mistress by the intervention of his
friend honest William。 A much harder heart than
George's would have melted at the sight of that sweet
face so sadly ravaged by grief and despair； and at the
simple tender accents in which she told her little broken…
hearted story： but as she did not faint when her mother；
trembling； brought Osborne to her； and as she only gave
relief to her overcharged grief； by laying her head on
her lover's shoulder and there weeping for a while the
most tender； copious； and refreshing tearsold Mrs。
Sedley； too greatly relieved； thought it was best to leave
the young persons to themselves； and so quitted Emmy
crying over George's hand； and kissing it humbly； as if he
were her supreme chief and master； and as if she were
quite a guilty and unworthy person needing every favour
and grace from him。
This prostration and sweet unrepining obedience
exquisitely touched and flattered George Osborne。 He saw a
slave before him in that simple yielding faithful creature；
and his soul within him thrilled secretly somehow
at the knowledge of his power。 He would be generous…
minded； Sultan as he was； and raise up this kneeling
Esther and make a queen of her： besides； her sadness
and beauty touched him as much as her submission； and
so he cheered her； and raised her up and forgave her； so
to speak。 All her hopes and feelings； which were dying
and withering； this her sun having been removed from
her； bloomed again and at once； its light being restored。
You would scarcely have recognised the beaming little
face upon Amelia's pillow that night as the one that was
laid there the night before； so wan； so lifeless； so
careless of all round about。 The honest Irish maid…servant；
delighted with the change； asked leave to kiss the face
that had grown all of a sudden so rosy。 Amelia put her
arms round the girl's neck and kissed her with all her
heart； like a child。 She was little more。 She had that night
a sweet refreshing sleep； like oneand what a spring of
inexpressible happiness as she woke in the morning sunshine！
〃He will be here again to…day；〃 Amelia thought。 〃He is
the greatest and best of men。〃 And the fact is； that
George thought he was one of the generousest creatures
alive： and that he was making a tremendous sacrifice in
marrying this young creature。
While she and Osborne were having their delightful
tete…a…tete above stairs； old Mrs。 Sedley and Captain
Dobbin were conversing below upon the state of the
affairs； and the chances and future arrangements of the
young people。 Mrs。 Sedley having brought the two lovers
together and left them embracing each other with all their
might； like a true woman； was of opinion that no power
on earth would induce Mr。 Sedley to consent to the match
between his daughter and the son of a man who had so
shamefully； wickedly； and monstrously treated him。 And
she told a long story about happier days and their earlier
splendours； when Osborne lived in a very humble way in
the New Road； and his wife was too glad to receive some
of Jos's little baby things； with which Mrs。 Sedley
accommodated her at the birth of one of Osborne's own
children。 The fiendish ingratitude of that man； she was
sure； had broken Mr。 S。's heart： and as for a marriage；
he would never； never； never； never consent。
〃They must run away together； Ma'am；〃 Dobbin said；
laughing； 〃and follow the example of Captain Rawdon
Crawley； and Miss Emmy's friend the little governess。〃
Was it possible？ Well she never！ Mrs。 Sedley was all
excitement about this news。 She wished that Blenkinsop were
here to hear it： Blenkinsop always mistrusted that Miss
Sharp。What an escape Jos had had！ and she described
the already well…known love…passages between Rebecca and
the Collector of Boggley Wollah。
It was not； however； Mr。 Sedley's wrath which Dobbin
feared； so much as that of the other parent concerned；
and he owned that he had a very considerable doubt
and anxiety respecting the behaviour of the black…browed
old tyrant of a Russia merchant in Russell Square。 He
has forbidden the match peremptorily； Dobbin thought。
He knew what a savage determined man Osborne was； and
how he stuck by his word。 The only chance George has
of reconcilement；〃 argued his friend； 〃is by distinguishing
himself in the coming campaign。 If he dies they both go
together。 If he fails in distinctionwhat then？ He has
some money from his mother； I have heard enough to
purchase his majorityor he must sell out and go and
dig in Canada； or rough it in a cottage in the country。〃
With such a partner Dobbin thought he would not mind
Siberiaand； strange to say； this absurd and utterly
imprudent young fellow never for a moment considered that
the want of means to keep a nice carriage and horses；
and of an income which should enable its possessors to
entertain their friends genteelly； ought to operate as bars
to the union of George and Miss Sedley。
It was these weighty considerations which made him
think too that the marriage should take place as quickly
as possible。 Was he anxious himself； I wonder； to have it
over。？as people； when death has occurred； like to press
forward the funeral； or when a parting is resolved upon；
hasten it。 It is certain that Mr。 Dobbin； having taken the
matter in hand； was most extraordinarily eager in the
conduct of it。 He urged on George the necessity of immediate
action： he showed the chances of reconciliation with
his father； which a favourable mention of his name in the
Gazette must bring about。 If need were he would go himself
and brave both the fathers in the business。 At all
events； he besought George to go through with it before
the orders came； which everybody expected； for the
departure of the regiment from England on foreign service。
Bent upon these hymeneal projects； and with the applause
and consent of Mrs。 Sedley； who did not care to
break the matter personally to her husband； Mr。 Dobbin
went to seek John Sedley at his house of call in the City；
the Tapioca Coffee…house； where； since his own offices
were shut up； and fate had overtaken him； the poor
broken…down old gentleman used to betake himself daily；
and write letters and receive them； and tie them up into
mysterious bundles； several of which he carried in the
flaps of his coat。 I don't know anything more dismal than
that business and bustle and mystery of a ruined man： those
letters from the wealthy which he shows you： those worn
greasy documents promising support and offering
condolence which he places wistfully before you； and on
which he builds his hopes of restoration and future fortune。
My beloved reader has no doubt in the course of
his experience been waylaid by many such a luckless
companion。 He takes you into the corner； he has his bundle
of papers out of his gaping coat pocket； and the tape off；
and the string in his mouth； and the favourite letters
selected and laid before you； and who does not know the
sad eager half…crazy look which he fixes on you with his
hopeless eyes？
Changed into a man of this sort； Dobbin found the
once florid； jovial； and prosperous John Sedley。 His
coat； that used to be so glossy and trim； was white at the
seams； and the buttons showed the copper。 His face had
fallen in； and was unshorn； his frill and neckcloth hung
limp under his bagging waistcoat。 When he used to treat
the boys in old days at a coffee…house； he would shout
and laugh louder than anybody there； and have all the
waiters skipping round him； it was quite painful to see
how humble and civil he was to John of the Tapioca； a
blear…eyed old attendant in dingy stockings and cracked
pumps； whose business it was to serve glasses of wafers；
and bumpers of ink in pewter； and slices of paper to the
frequenters of this dreary house of entertainment； where
nothing else seemed to be consumed。 As for William
Dobbin； whom he had tipped repeatedly in his youth； and
who had been the old gentleman's butt on a thousand
occasions； old Sedley gave his hand to him in a very
hesitating humble manner now； and called him 〃Sir。〃 A
feeling of shame and remorse took possession of William
Dobbin as the broken old man so received and addressed
him； as if he himself had been somehow guilty of the
misfortunes which had brought Sedley so low。
〃I am very glad to see you； Captain Dobbin； sir；〃 says
he； after a skulking look or two at his visitor （whose lanky
figure and military appearance caused some excitement
likewise to twinkle in the blear eyes of the waiter in the
cracked dancing pumps； and awakened the old lady in
black； who dozed among the mouldy old coffee…cups in the
bar）。 〃How is the worthy alderman； and my lady； your
excellent mother； sir？〃 He looked round at the waiter as
he said； 〃My lady；〃 as much as to say； 〃Hark ye； John； I
have friends still； and persons of rank and reputation；
too。〃 〃Are you come to do anything in my way； sir？ My
young friends Dale and Spiggot do all my business for me
now； until my new offices are ready； for I'm only here
temporarily； you know； Captain。 What can we do for you。
sir？ Will you like to take anything？〃
Dobbin； with a great deal of hesitation and stuttering；
protest
