vanity fair(名利场)-第70节

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instantly　leave　all　his　business　in　life　to　attend　on　the
Captain's　pleasure。　　He　did　not　see　the　sneer　of　contempt
which　passed　all　round　the　room；　from　the　first
clerk　to　the　articled　gents；　from　the　articled　gents　to　the
ragged　writers　and　white…faced　runners；　in　clothes　too
tight　for　them；　as　he　sate　there　tapping　his　boot　with　his
cane；　and　thinking　what　a　parcel　of　miserable　poor　devils
these　were。　　The　miserable　poor　devils　knew　all　about　his
affairs。　　They　talked　about　them　over　their　pints　of　beer
at　their　public…house　clubs　to　other　clerks　of　a　night。
Ye　gods；　what　do　not　attorneys　and　attorneys'　clerks
know　in　London！　　Nothing　is　hidden　from　their
inquisition；　and　their　families　mutely　rule　our　city。
Perhaps　George　expected；　when　he　entered　Mr。　Higgs's
apartment；　to　find　that　gentleman　commissioned　to　give
him　some　message　of　compromise　or　conciliation　from
his　father；　perhaps　his　haughty　and　cold　demeanour
was　adopted　as　a　sign　of　his　spirit　and　resolution：　　but　if
so；　his　fierceness　was　met　by　a　chilling　coolness　and
indifference　on　the　attorney's　part；　that　rendered
swaggering　absurd。　　He　pretended　to　be　writing　at　a　paper；
when　the　Captain　entered。　　〃Pray；　sit　down；　sir；〃　said　he；
〃and　I　will　attend　to　your　little　affair　in　a　moment。　　Mr。
Poe；　get　the　release　papers；　if　you　please〃；　and　then　he
fell　to　writing　again。
Poe　having　produced　those　papers；　his　chief　calculated
the　amount　of　two　thousand　pounds　stock　at　the　rate　of
the　day；　and　asked　Captain　Osborne　whether　he　would
take　the　sum　in　a　cheque　upon　the　bankers；　or　whether
he　should　direct　the　latter　to　purchase　stock　to　that
amount。　　〃One　of　the　late　Mrs。　Osborne's　trustees　is　out
of　town；〃　he　said　indifferently；　〃but　my　client　wishes　to
meet　your　wishes；　and　have　done　with　the　business　as
quick　as　possible。〃
〃Give　me　a　cheque；　sir；〃　said　the　Captain　very　surlily。
〃Damn　the　shillings　and　halfpence；　sir；〃　he　added；　as　the
lawyer　was　making　out　the　amount　of　the　draft；　and；
flattering　himself　that　by　this　stroke　of　magnanimity　he
had　put　the　old　quiz　to　the　blush；　he　stalked　out　of
the　office　with　the　paper　in　his　pocket。
〃That　chap　will　be　in　gaol　in　two　years；〃　Mr。　Higgs　said
to　Mr。　Poe。
〃Won't　O。　come　round；　sir；　don't　you　think？〃
〃Won't　the　monument　come　round；〃　Mr。　Higgs　replied。
〃He's　going　it　pretty　fast；〃　said　the　clerk。　　〃He's　only
married　a　week；　and　I　saw　him　and　some　other　military
chaps　handing　Mrs。　Highflyer　to　her　carriage　after　the
play。〃　And　then　another　case　was　called；　and　Mr。　George
Osborne　thenceforth　dismissed　from　these　worthy
gentlemen's　memory。
The　draft　was　upon　our　friends　Hulker　and　Bullock　of
Lombard　Street；　to　whose　house；　still　thinking　he　was
doing　business；　George　bent　his　way；　and　from　whom　he
received　his　money。　　Frederick　Bullock；　Esq。；　whose
yellow　face　was　over　a　ledger；　at　which　sate　a　demure　clerk；
happened　to　be　in　the　banking…room　when　George　entered。
His　yellow　face　turned　to　a　more　deadly　colour
when　he　saw　the　Captain；　and　he　slunk　back　guiltily　into
the　inmost　parlour。　　George　was　too　busy　gloating　over
the　money　（for　he　had　never　had　such　a　sum　before）；　to
mark　the　countenance　or　flight　of　the　cadaverous　suitor
of　his　sister。
Fred　Bullock　told　old　Osborne　of　his　son's　appearance
and　conduct。　　〃He　came　in　as　bold　as　brass；〃　said
Frederick。　　〃He　has　drawn　out　every　shilling。　　How　long
will　a　few　hundred　pounds　last　such　a　chap　as　that？〃　
Osborne　swore　with　a　great　oath　that　he　little　cared　when　or
how　soon　he　spent　it。　　Fred　dined　every　day　in　Russell
Square　now。　　But　altogether；　George　was　highly　pleased
with　his　day's　business。　　All　his　own　baggage　and　outfit
was　put　into　a　state　of　speedy　preparation；　and　he　paid
Amelia's　purchases　with　cheques　on　his　agents；　and　with
the　splendour　of　a　lord。

CHAPTER　XXVII
In　Which　Amelia　Joins　Her　Regiment
When　Jos's　fine　carriage　drove　up　to　the　inn　door　at
Chatham；　the　first　face　which　Amelia　recognized　was　the
friendly　countenance　of　Captain　Dobbin；　who　had　been
pacing　the　street　for　an　hour　past　in　expectation　of　his
friends'　arrival。　　The　Captain；　with　shells　on　his　frockcoat；
and　a　crimson　sash　and　sabre；　presented　a　military
appearance；　which　made　Jos　quite　proud　to　be　able　to
claim　such　an　acquaintance；　and　the　stout　civilian　hailed
him　with　a　cordiality　very　different　from　the　reception
which　Jos　vouchsafed　to　his　friend　in　Brighton　and　Bond
Street。
Along　with　the　Captain　was　Ensign　Stubble；　who；　as
the　barouche　neared　the　inn；　burst　out　with　an　exclamation
of　〃By　Jove！　what　a　pretty　girl〃；　highly　applauding
Osborne's　choice。　　Indeed；　Amelia　dressed　in　her　wedding…
pelisse　and　pink　ribbons；　with　a　flush　in　her　face；
occasioned　by　rapid　travel　through　the　open　air；　looked　so
fresh　and　pretty；　as　fully　to　justify　the　Ensign's　compliment。
Dobbin　liked　him　for　making　it。　　As　he　stepped　forward
to　help　the　lady　out　of　the　carriage；　Stubble　saw
what　a　pretty　little　hand　she　gave　him；　and　what　a　sweet
pretty　little　foot　came　tripping　down　the　step。　　He　blushed
profusely；　and　made　the　very　best　bow　of　which　he　was
capable；　to　which　Amelia；　seeing　the　number　of　the　the
regiment　embroidered　on　the　Ensign's　cap；　replied　with　a
blushing　smile；　and　a　curtsey　on　her　part；　which　finished
the　young　Ensign　on　the　spot。　　Dobbin　took　most　kindly　to
Mr。　Stubble　from　that　day；　and　encouraged　him　to　talk
about　Amelia　in　their　private　walks；　and　at　each　other's
quarters。　　It　became　the　fashion；　indeed；　among　all　the
honest　young　fellows　of　the　th　to　adore　and　admire
Mrs。　Osborne。　　Her　simple　artless　behaviour；　and
modest　kindness　of　demeanour；　won　all　their　unsophisticated
hearts；　all　which　simplicity　and　sweetness　are　quite
impossible　to　describe　in　print。　　But　who　has　not　beheld
these　among　women；　and　recognised　the　presence　of　all
sorts　of　qualities　in　them；　even　though　they　say　no　more
to　you　than　that　they　are　engaged　to　dance　the　next
quadrille；　or　that　it　is　very　hot　weather？　　George；　always　the
champion　of　his　regiment；　rose　immensely　in　the　opinion
of　the　youth　of　the　corps；　by　his　gallantry　in　marrying　this
portionless　young　creature；　and　by　his　choice　of　such　a
pretty　kind　partner。
In　the　sitting…room　which　was　awaiting　the　travellers；
Amelia；　to　her　surprise；　found　a　letter　addressed　to　Mrs。
Captain　Osborne。　　It　was　a　triangular　billet；　on　pink　paper；
and　sealed　with　a　dove　and　an　olive　branch；　and　a
profusion　of　light　blue　sealing　wax；　and　it　was　written　in
a　very　large；　though　undecided　female　hand。
〃It's　Peggy　O'Dowd's　fist；〃　said　George；　laughing。　　〃I
know　it　by　the　kisses　on　the　seal。〃　And　in　fact；　it　was　a
note　from　Mrs。　Major　O'Dowd；　requesting　the　pleasure
of　Mrs。　Osborne's　company　that　very　evening　to　a　small
friendly　party。　　〃You　must　go；〃　George　said。　　〃You　will
make　acquaintance　with　the　regiment　there。　　O'Dowd　goes
in　command　of　the　regiment；　and　Peggy　goes　in　command
But　they　had　not　been　for　many　minutes　in　the　enjoyment
of　Mrs。　O'Dowd's　letter；　when　the　door　was　flung
open；　and　a　stout　jolly　lady；　in　a　riding…habit；　followed　by
a　couple　of　officers　of　Ours；　entered　the　room。
〃Sure；　I　couldn't　stop　till　tay…time。　　Present　me；　Garge；
my　dear　fellow；　to　your　lady。　　Madam；　I'm　deloighted　to
see　ye；　and　to　present　to　you　me　husband；　Meejor
O'Dowd〃；　and　with　this；　the　jolly　lady　in　the　riding…habit
grasped　Amelia's　hand　very　warmly；　and　the　latter　knew
at　once　that　the　lady　was　before　her　whom　her　husband
had　so　often　laughed　at。　　〃You've　often　heard　of　me　from
that　husband　of　yours；〃　said　the　lady；　with　great　vivacity。
〃You've　often　heard　of　her；〃　echoed　her　husband；　the
Major。
Amelia　answered；　smiling；　〃that　she　had。〃
〃And　small　good　he's　told　you　of　me；〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd
replied；　adding　that　〃George　was　a　wicked　divvle。〃
〃That　I'll　go　bail　for；〃　said　the　Major；　trying　to　look
knowing；　at　which　George　laughed；　and　Mrs。　O'Dowd；
with　a　tap　of　her　whip；　told　the　Major　to　be　quiet；　and
then　requested　to　be　presented　in　form　to　Mrs。　Captain
Osborne。
〃This；　my　dear；〃　said　George　with　great　gravity；　〃is　my
very　good；　kind；　and　excellent　friend；　Auralia　Margaretta；
otherwise　called　Peggy。〃
〃Faith；　you're　right；〃　interposed　the　Major。
〃Otherwise　called　Peggy；　lady　of　Major　Michael
O'Dowd；　of　our　regiment；　and　daughter　of　Fitzjurld
Ber'sford　de　Burgo　Malony　of　Glenmalony；　County　Kildare。〃
〃And　Muryan　Squeer；　Doblin；〃　said　the　lady　with　calm
superiority。
〃And　Muryan　Square；　sure　enough；〃　the　Major
whispered。
〃'Twas　there　ye　coorted　me；　Meejor　dear；〃　the　lady
said；　and　the　Major　assented　to　this　as　to　every　other
proposition　which　was　made　generally　in　company。
Major　O'Dowd；　who　had　served　his　sovereign　in　every
quarter　of　the　world；　and　had　paid　for　every　step　in　his
profession　by　some　more　than　equivalent　act　of　daring
and　gallantry；　was　the　most　modest；　silent；　sheep…faced
and　meek　of　little　men；　and　as　obedient　to　his　wife　as　if
he　had　been　her　tay…boy。　　At　the　mess…table　he　sat　silently；
and　drank　a　great　deal。　　When　full　of　liquor；　he
reeled　silently　home。　　When　he　spoke；　it　was　to　agree　with
everybody　on　every　conceivable　point；　and　he　passed
through　life　in　perfect　ease　and　good…humour。　　The
hottest　suns　of　Ind