vanity fair(名利场)-第56节

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coverings　of　his　lanky　person。
Dobbin　had　been　in　the　coffee…room　for　an　hour　or
more。　　He　had　tried　all　the　papers；　but　could　not　read
them。　　He　had　looked　at　the　clock　many　scores　of　times；
and　at　the　street；　where　the　rain　was　pattering　down；
and　the　people　as　they　clinked　by　in　pattens；　left　long
reflections　on　the　shining　stone：　he　tattooed　at　the　table：
he　bit　his　nails　most　completely；　and　nearly　to　the　quick
（he　was　accustomed　to　ornament　his　great　big　hands　in
this　way）：　he　balanced　the　tea…spoon　dexterously　on　the
milk　jug：　upset　it；　&c。；　&c。；　and　in　fact　showed　those
signs　of　disquietude；　and　practised　those　desperate
attempts　at　amusement；　which　men　are　accustomed　to
employ　when　very　anxious；　and　expectant；　and　perturbed
in　mind。
Some　of　his　comrades；　gentlemen　who　used　the　room；
joked　him　about　the　splendour　of　his　costume　and　his
agitation　of　manner。　　One　asked　him　if　he　was　going　to　be
married？　　Dobbin　laughed；　and　said　he　would　send　his
acquaintance　（Major　Wagstaff　of　the　Engineers）　a　piece　of
cake　when　that　event　took　place。　　At　length　Captain　Osborne
made　his　appearance；　very　smartly　dressed；　but
very　pale　and　agitated　as　we　have　said。　　He　wiped　his
pale　face　with　a　large　yellow　bandanna　pocket…handkerchief
that　was　prodigiously　scented。　　He　shook　hands　with
Dobbin；　looked　at　the　clock；　and　told　John；　the　waiter；
to　bring　him　some　curacao。　　Of　this　cordial　he　swallowed
off　a　couple　of　glasses　with　nervous　eagerness。
His　friend　asked　with　some　interest　about　his　health。
〃Couldn't　get　a　wink　of　sleep　till　daylight；　Dob；〃　said
he。　　〃Infernal　headache　and　fever。　　Got　up　at　nine；　and
went　down　to　the　Hummums　for　a　bath。　　I　say；　Dob；　I　feel
just　as　I　did　on　the　morning　I　went　out　with　Rocket　at
Quebec。〃
〃So　do　I；〃　William　responded。　　〃I　was　a　deuced　deal
more　nervous　than　you　were　that　morning。　　You　made　a
famous　breakfast；　I　remember。　　Eat　something　now。〃
〃You're　a　good　old　fellow；　Will。　　I'll　drink　your　health；
old　boy；　and　farewell　to〃
〃No；　no；　two　glasses　are　enough；〃　Dobbin　interrupted
him。　　〃Here；　take　away　the　liqueurs；　John。　　Have　some
cayenne…pepper　with　your　fowl。　　Make　haste　though；　for　it
is　time　we　were　there。〃
It　was　about　half　an　hour　from　twelve　when　this
brief　meeting　and　colloquy　took　place　between　the　two
captains。　　A　coach；　into　which　Captain　Osborne's　servant
put　his　master's　desk　and　dressing…case；　had　been　in
waiting　for　some　time；　and　into　this　the　two　gentlemen
hurried　under　an　umbrella；　and　the　valet　mounted　on　the
box；　cursing　the　rain　and　the　dampness　of　the　coachman
who　was　steaming　beside　him。　　〃We　shall　find　a　better
trap　than　this　at　the　church…door；〃　says　he；　〃that's　a
comfort。〃　And　the　carriage　drove　on；　taking　the　road
down　Piccadilly；　where　Apsley　House　and　St。　George's
Hospital　wore　red　jackets　still；　where　there　were　oil…
lamps；　where　Achilles　was　not　yet　born；　nor　the　Pimlico
arch　raised；　nor　the　hideous　equestrian　monster　which
pervades　it　and　the　neighbourhood；　and　so　they　drove
down　by　Brompton　to　a　certain　chapel　near　the　Fulham
Road　there。
A　chariot　was　in　waiting　with　four　horses；　likewise　a
coach　of　the　kind　called　glass　coaches。　　Only　a　very　few
idlers　were　collected　on　account　of　the　dismal　rain。
〃Hang　it！〃　said　George；　〃I　said　only　a　pair。〃
〃My　master　would　have　four；〃　said　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley's
servant；　who　was　in　waiting；　and　he　and　Mr。　Osborne's
man　agreed　as　they　followed　George　and　William　into
the　church；　that　it　was　a　〃reg'lar　shabby　turn
hout；　and　with　scarce　so　much　as　a　breakfast　or　a
wedding　faviour。〃
〃Here　you　are；〃　said　our　old　friend；　Jos　Sedley；　coming
forward。　　〃You're　five　minutes　late；　George；　my　boy。
What　a　day；　eh？　Demmy；　it's　like　the　commencement　of
the　rainy　season　in　Bengal。　　But　you'll　find　my　carriage
is　watertight。　　Come　along；　my　mother　and　Emmy　are　in　the
vestry。〃
Jos　Sedley　was　splendid。　　He　was　fatter　than　ever。　　His
shirt　collars　were　higher；　his　face　was　redder；　his　shirt…
frill　flaunted　gorgeously　out　of　his　variegated　waistcoat。
Varnished　boots　were　not　invented　as　yet；　but　the　Hessians
on　his　beautiful　legs　shone　so；　that　they　must　have　been
the　identical　pair　in　which　the　gentleman　in　the　old　picture
used　to　shave　himself；　and　on　his　light　green　coat
there　bloomed　a　fine　wedding　favour；　like　a　great　white
spreading　magnolia。
In　a　word；　George　had　thrown　the　great　cast。　　He　was
going　to　be　married。　　Hence　his　pallor　and　nervousness
his　sleepless　night　and　agitation　in　the　morning。　　I　have
heard　people　who　have　gone　through　the　same　thing
own　to　the　same　emotion。　　After　three　or　four　ceremonies；
you　get　accustomed　to　it；　no　doubt；　but　the　first
dip；　everybody　allows；　is　awful。
The　bride　was　dressed　in　a　brown　silk　pelisse　（as
Captain　Dobbin　has　since　informed　me）；　and　wore　a　straw
bonnet　with　a　pink　ribbon；　over　the　bonnet　she　had　a
veil　of　white　Chantilly　lace；　a　gift　from　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley；
her　brother。　　Captain　Dobbin　himself　had　asked　leave
to　present　her　with　a　gold　chain　and　watch；　which　she
sported　on　this　occasion；　and　her　mother　gave　her　her
diamond　broochalmost　the　only　trinket　which　was　left
to　the　old　lady。　　As　the　service　went　on；　Mrs。　Sedley　sat
and　whimpered　a　great　deal　in　a　pew；　consoled　by　the
Irish　maid…servant　and　Mrs。　Clapp　from　the　lodgings。
Old　Sedley　would　not　be　present。　　Jos　acted　for　his　father；
giving　away　the　bride；　whilst　Captain　Dobbin　stepped　up
as　groomsman　to　his　friend　George。
There　was　nobody　in　the　church　besides　the　officiating
persons　and　the　small　marriage　party　and　their　attendants。
The　two　valets　sat　aloof　superciliously。　　The　rain
came　rattling　down　on　the　windows。　　In　the　intervals　of
the　service　you　heard　it；　and　the　sobbing　of　old　Mrs。
Sedley　in　the　pew。　　The　parson's　tones　echoed　sadly
through　the　empty　walls。　　Osborne's　〃I　will〃　was　sounded
in　very　deep　bass。　　Emmy's　response　came　fluttering　up
to　her　lips　from　her　heart；　but　was　scarcely　heard　by
anybody　except　Captain　Dobbin。
When　the　service　was　completed；　Jos　Sedley　came
forward　and　kissed　his　sister；　the　bride；　for　the　first　time
for　many　monthsGeorge's　look　of　gloom　had　gone；　and
he　seemed　quite　proud　and　radiant。　　〃It's　your　turn；
William；〃　says　he；　putting　his　hand　fondly　upon　Dobbin's
shoulder；　and　Dobbin　went　up　and　touched　Amelia　on
the　cheek。
Then　they　went　into　the　vestry　and　signed　the　register。
〃God　bless　you；　Old　Dobbin；〃　George　said；　grasping　him
by　the　hand；　with　something　very　like　moisture　glistening
in　his　eyes。　　William　replied　only　by　nodding　his　head。
His　heart　was　too　full　to　say　much。
〃Write　directly；　and　come　down　as　soon　as　you　can；
you　know；〃　Osborne　said。　　After　Mrs。　Sedley　had　taken　an
hysterical　adieu　of　her　daughter；　the　pair　went　off　to　the
carriage。　　〃Get　out　of　the　way；　you　little　devils；〃　George
cried　to　a　small　crowd　of　damp　urchins；　that　were　hanging
about　the　chapel…door。　　The　rain　drove　into　the　bride
and　bridegroom's　faces　as　they　passed　to　the　chariot。
The　postilions'　favours　draggled　on　their　dripping　jackets。
The　few　children　made　a　dismal　cheer；　as　the　carriage；
splashing　mud；　drove　away。
William　Dobbin　stood　in　the　church…porch；　looking　at　it；
a　queer　figure。　　The　small　crew　of　spectators　jeered　him。
He　was　not　thinking　about　them　or　their　laughter。
〃Come　home　and　have　some　tiffin；　Dobbin；〃　a　voice
cried　behind　him；　as　a　pudgy　hand　was　laid　on　his　shoulder；
and　the　honest　fellow's　reverie　was　interrupted。　　But
the　Captain　had　no　heart　to　go　a…feasting　with　Jos　Sedley。
He　put　the　weeping　old　lady　and　her　attendants　into　the
carriage　along　with　Jos；　and　left　them　without　any　farther
words　passing。　　This　carriage；　too；　drove　away；　and　the
urchins　gave　another　sarcastical　cheer。
〃Here；　you　little　beggars；〃　Dobbin　said；　giving　some
sixpences　amongst　them；　and　then　went　off　by　himself
through　the　rain。　　It　was　all　over。　　They　were　married；　and
happy；　he　prayed　God。　　Never　since　he　was　a　boy　had　he
felt　so　miserable　and　so　lonely。　　He　longed　with　a　heart…
sick　yearning　for　the　first　few　days　to　be　over；　that　he
might　see　her　again。
Some　ten　days　after　the　above　ceremony；　three　young
men　of　our　acquaintance　were　enjoying　that　beautiful
prospect　of　bow　windows　on　the　one　side　and　blue　sea
on　the　other；　which　Brighton　affords　to　the　traveller。
Sometimes　it　is　towards　the　oceansmiling　with　countless
dimples；　speckled　with　white　sails；　with　a　hundred
bathing…machines　kissing　the　skirt　of　his　blue　garment
that　the　Londoner　looks　enraptured：　sometimes；　on　the
contrary；　a　lover　of　human　nature　rather　than　of　prospects
of　any　kind；　it　is　towards　the　bow　windows　that
he　turns；　and　that　swarm　of　human　life　which　they
exhibit。　　From　one　issue　the　notes　of　a　piano；　which　a　young
lady　in　ringlets　practises　six　hours　daily；　to　the　delight
of　the　fellow…lodgers：　at　another；　lovely　Polly；　the　nurse…
maid；　may　be　seen　dandling　Master　Omnium　in　her　arms：
whilst　Jacob；　his　papa；　is　beheld　eating　prawns；　and
devouring　the　Times　for　breakfast；　at　the　window　below。
Yonder　are　the　Misses　Leery；　who　are　looking　out　for　the
young　officers　of　the　Heavies；　who　are　pretty　sure　to　be
pacing　the　cliff；　or　again　it　is　a　City　man；　with　a　nautical
turn；　and　a　telescope；