vanity fair(名利场)-第60节

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submission。　　Both　had　been　expecting　it　for　some　daysand
〃Lord！　Chopper；　what　a　marriage　we'll　have！〃　Mr。
Osborne　said　to　his　clerk；　snapping　his　big　fingers；　and
jingling　all　the　guineas　and　shillings　in　his　great　pockets
as　he　eyed　his　subordinate　with　a　look　of　triumph。
With　similar　operations　conducted　in　both　pockets；
and　a　knowing　jolly　air；　Osborne　from　his　chair　regarded
Dobbin　seated　blank　and　silent　opposite　to　him。　　〃What
a　bumpkin　he　is　for　a　Captain　in　the　army；〃　old　Osborne
thought。　　〃I　wonder　George　hasn't　taught　him　better
manners。〃
At　last　Dobbin　summoned　courage　to　begin。　　〃Sir；〃　said
he；　〃I've　brought　you　some　very　grave　news。　　I　have　been
at　the　Horse　Guards　this　morning；　and　there's　no　doubt
that　our　regiment　will　be　ordered　abroad；　and　on　its
way　to　Belgium　before　the　week　is　over。　　And　you　know；
sir；　that　we　shan't　be　home　again　before　a　tussle　which
may　be　fatal　to　many　of　us。〃
　　Osborne　looked　grave。　　〃My　s　；　the　regiment　will
do　its　duty；　sir；　I　daresay；〃　he　said。
〃The　French　are　very　strong；　sir；〃　Dobbin　went　on。
〃The　Russians　and　Austrians　will　be　a　long　time　before
they　can　bring　their　troops　down。　　We　shall　have　the　first
of　the　fight；　sir；　and　depend　on　it　Boney　will　take　care
that　it　shall　be　a　hard　one。〃
〃What　are　you　driving　at；　Dobbin？〃　his　interlocutor
said；　uneasy　and　with　a　scowl。　　〃I　suppose　no　Briton's
afraid　of　any　d　Frenchman；　hey？〃
〃I　only　mean；　that　before　we　go；　and　considering　the
great　and　certain　risk　that　hangs　over　every　one　of　us
if　there　are　any　differences　between　you　and　Georgeit
would　be　as　well；　sir；　thatthat　you　should　shake　hands：
wouldn't　it？　　Should　anything　happen　to　him；　I　think　you
would　never　forgive　yourself　if　you　hadn't　parted　in
charity。〃
As　he　said　this；　poor　William　Dobbin　blushed　crimson；
and　felt　and　owned　that　he　himself　was　a　traitor。　　But
for　him；　perhaps；　this　severance　need　never　have　taken
place。　　Why　had　not　George's　marriage　been　delayed？
What　call　was　there　to　press　it　on　so　eagerly？　　He　felt　that
George　would　have　parted　from　Amelia　at　any　rate　without
a　mortal　pang。　　Amelia；　too；　MIGHT　have　recovered　the
shock　of　losing　him。　　It　was　his　counsel　had　brought
about　this　marriage；　and　all　that　was　to　ensue　from　it。
And　why　was　it？　　Because　he　loved　her　so　much　that　he
could　not　bear　to　see　her　unhappy：　　or　because　his　own
sufferings　of　suspense　were　so　unendurable　that　he　was
glad　to　crush　them　at　onceas　we　hasten　a　funeral
after　a　death；　or；　when　a　separation　from　those　we　love
is　imminent；　cannot　rest　until　the　parting　be　over。
〃You　are　a　good　fellow；　William；〃　said　Mr。　Osborne　in
a　softened　voice；　〃and　me　and　George　shouldn't　part　in
anger；　that　is　true。　　Look　here。　　I've　done　for　him　as
much　as　any　father　ever　did。　　He's　had　three　times　as
much　money　from　me；　as　I　warrant　your　father　ever
gave　you。　　But　I　don't　brag　about　that。　　How　I've　toiled
for　him；　and　worked　and　employed　my　talents　and　energy；
I　won't　say。　　Ask　Chopper。　　Ask　himself。　　Ask　the　City　of
London。　　Well；　I　propose　to　him　such　a　marriage　as　any
nobleman　in　the　land　might　be　proud　ofthe　only　thing
in　life　I　ever　asked　himand　he　refuses　me。　　Am　I　wrong？
Is　the　quarrel　of　MY　making？　　What　do　I　seek　but　his
good；　for　which　I've　been　toiling　like　a　convict　ever　since
he　was　born？　　Nobody　can　say　there's　anything　selfish　in
me。　　Let　him　come　back。　　I　say；　here's　my　hand。　　I　say；
forget　and　forgive。　　As　for　marrying　now；　it's　out　of　the
question。　　Let　him　and　Miss　S。　make　it　up；　and　make　out　the
marriage　afterwards；　when　he　comes　back　a　Colonel；
for　he　shall　be　a　Colonel；　by　G　he　shall；　if　money
can　do　it。　　I'm　glad　you've　brought　him　round。　　I　know　it's
you；　Dobbin。　　You've　took　him　out　of　many　a　scrape
before。　　Let　him　come。　　I　shan't　be　hard。　　Come　along；　and
dine　in　Russell　Square　to…day：　both　of　you。　　The　old　shop；
the　old　hour。　　You'll　find　a　neck　of　venison；　and　no
questions　asked。〃
This　praise　and　confidence　smote　Dobbin's　heart　very
keenly。　　Every　moment　the　colloquy　continued　in　this
tone；　he　felt　more　and　more　guilty。　　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃I
fear　you　deceive　yourself。　　I　am　sure　you　do。　　George　is
much　too　high…minded　a　man　ever　to　marry　for　money。　　A
threat　on　your　part　that　you　would　disinherit　him　in
case　of　disobedience　would　only　be　followed　by　resistance
on　his。〃
〃Why；　hang　it；　man；　you　don't　call　offering　him　eight
or　ten　thousand　a　year　threatening　him？''　Mr。　Osborne
said；　with　still　provoking　good　humour。　　〃'Gad；　if　Miss
S。　will　have　me；　I'm　her　man。　　I　ain't　particular　about　a
shade　or　so　of　tawny。〃　And　the　old　gentleman　gave　his
knowing　grin　and　coarse　laugh。
〃You　forget；　sir；　previous　engagements　into　which
Captain　Osborne　had　entered；〃　the　ambassador　said；　gravely。
〃What　engagements？　What　the　devil　do　you　mean？
You　don't　mean；〃　Mr。　Osborne　continued；　gathering
wrath　and　astonishment　as　the　thought　now　first　came
upon　him；　〃you　don't　mean　that　he's　such　a　d　fool
as　to　be　still　hankering　after　that　swindling　old　bankrupt's
daughter？　　You've　not　come　here　for　to　make　me
suppose　that　he　wants　to　marry　HER？　　Marry　HER；　that　IS
a　good　one。　　My　son　and　heir　marry　a　beggar's　girl　out　of
a　gutter。　　D　him；　if　he　does；　let　him　buy　a　broom
and　sweep　a　crossing。　　She　was　always　dangling　and　ogling
after　him；　I　recollect　now；　and　I've　no　doubt　she　was
put　on　by　her　old　sharper　of　a　father。〃
〃Mr。　Sedley　was　your　very　good　friend；　sir；〃　Dobbin
interposed；　almost　pleased　at　finding　himself　growing
angry。　　〃Time　was　you　called　him　better　names　than
rogue　and　swindler。　　The　match　was　of　your　making。
George　had　no　right　to　play　fast　and　loose〃
〃Fast　and　loose！〃　howled　out　old　Osborne。　　〃Fast　and
loose！　　Why；　hang　me；　those　are　the　very　words　my
gentleman　used　himself　when　he　gave　himself　airs；　last
Thursday　was　a　fortnight；　and　talked　about　the　British　army
to　his　father　who　made　him。　　What；　it's　you　who　have
been　a　setting　of　him　upis　it？　and　my　service　to　you；
CAPTAIN。　　It's　you　who　want　to　introduce　beggars　into　my
family。　　Thank　you　for　nothing；　Captain。　　Marry　HER　indeed
he；　he！　why　should　he？　　I　warrant　you　she'd　go　to　him
fast　enough　without。〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Dobbin；　starting　up　in　undisguised　anger；
〃no　man　shall　abuse　that　lady　in　my　hearing；　and　you
least　of　all。〃
〃O；　you're　a…going　to　call　me　out；　are　you？　　Stop；　let　me
ring　the　bell　for　pistols　for　two。　　Mr。　George　sent　you
here　to　insult　his　father；　did　he？〃　Osborne　said；　pulling
at　the　bell…cord。
〃Mr。　Osborne；〃　said　Dobbin；　with　a　faltering　voice；
〃it's　you　who　are　insulting　the　best　creature　in　the　world。
You　had　best　spare　her；　sir；　for　she's　your　son's　wife。〃
And　with　this；　feeling　that　he　could　say　no　more；　Dobbin
went　away；　Osborne　sinking　back　in　his　chair；　and
looking　wildly　after　him。　　A　clerk　came　in；　obedient　to　the
bell；　and　the　Captain　was　scarcely　out　of　the　court　where
Mr。　Osborne's　offices　were；　when　Mr。　Chopper　the　chief
clerk　came　rushing　hatless　after　him。
〃For　God's　sake；　what　is　it？〃　Mr。　Chopper　said；　catching
the　Captain　by　the　skirt。　　〃The　governor's　in　a　fit。
What　has　Mr。　George　been　doing？〃
〃He　married　Miss　Sedley　five　days　ago；〃　Dobbin　replied。
〃I　was　his　groomsman；　Mr。　Chopper；　and　you　must
stand　his　friend。〃
The　old　clerk　shook　his　head。　　〃If　that's　your　news；
Captain；　it's　bad。　　The　governor　will　never　forgive　him。〃
Dobbin　begged　Chopper　to　report　progress　to　him　at
the　hotel　where　he　was　stopping；　and　walked　off　moodily
westwards；　greatly　perturbed　as　to　the　past　and　the
future。
When　the　Russell　Square　family　came　to　dinner　that
evening；　they　found　the　father　of　the　house　seated　in　his
usual　place；　but　with　that　air　of　gloom　on　his　face；　which；
whenever　it　appeared　there；　kept　the　whole　circle　silent。
The　ladies；　and　Mr。　Bullock　who　dined　with　them；　felt
that　the　news　had　been　communicated　to　Mr。　Osborne。
His　dark　looks　affected　Mr。　Bullock　so　far　as　to　render
him　still　and　quiet：　but　he　was　unusually　bland　and
attentive　to　Miss　Maria；　by　whom　he　sat；　and　to　her　sister
presiding　at　the　head　of　the　table。
Miss　Wirt；　by　consequence；　was　alone　on　her　side　of
the　board；　a　gap　being　left　between　her　and　Miss　Jane
Osborne。　　Now　this　was　George's　place　when　he　dined　at
home；　and　his　cover；　as　we　said；　was　laid　for　him　in
expectation　of　that　truant's　return。　　Nothing　occurred
during　dinner…time　except　smiling　Mr。　Frederick's　flagging
confidential　whispers；　and　the　clinking　of　plate　and　china；
to　interrupt　the　silence　of　the　repast。　　The　servants　went
about　stealthily　doing　their　duty。　　Mutes　at　funerals　could
not　look　more　glum　than　the　domestics　of　Mr。　Osborne
The　neck　of　venison　of　which　he　had　invited　Dobbin　to
partake；　was　carved　by　him　in　perfect　silence；　but　his
own　share　went　away　almost　untasted；　though　he　drank
much；　and　the　butler　assiduously　filled　his　glass。
At　last；　just　at　the　end　of　the　dinner；　his　eyes；　which
had　been　staring　at　everybody　in　turn；　fixed　themselves
for　a　while　upon　the　plate　laid　for　George。　　He　pointed
to　it　presently　with　his　left　hand。　　His　daughters　looked　at
him　and　did　not　comprehend；　or　choose　to　comprehend；
the　signal；　nor　did　the　servants　at　first　understand　it。
〃Take　that　plate　away；〃　at　last　he　said；　ge