vanity fair(名利场)-第75节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


It　was　almost　like　Old　England。　　The　house　was　filled
with　familiar　British　faces；　and　those　toilettes　for　which
the　British　female　has　long　been　celebrated。　　Mrs。
O'Dowd's　was　not　the　least　splendid　amongst　these；　and
she　had　a　curl　on　her　forehead；　and　a　set　of　Irish　diamonds
and　Cairngorms；　which　outshone　all　the　decorations
in　the　house；　in　her　notion。　　Her　presence　used　to
excruciate　Osborne；　but　go　she　would　upon　all　parties　of
pleasure　on　which　she　heard　her　young　friends　were　bent。
It　never　entered　into　her　thought　but　that　they　must　be
charmed　with　her　company。
〃She's　been　useful　to　you；　my　dear；〃　George　said　to
his　wife；　whom　he　could　leave　alone　with　less　scruple
when　she　had　this　society。　　〃But　what　a　comfort　it　is　that
Rebecca's　come：　　you　will　have　her　for　a　friend；　and　we
may　get　rid　now　of　this　damn'd　Irishwoman。〃　　To　this
Amelia　did　not　answer；　yes　or　no：　　and　how　do　we　know
what　her　thoughts　were？
The　coup　d'oeil　of　the　Brussels　opera…house　did　not
strike　Mrs。　O'Dowd　as　being　so　fine　as　the　theatre　in
Fishamble　Street；　Dublin；　nor　was　French　music　at　all
equal；　in　her　opinion；　to　the　melodies　of　her　native　country。
She　favoured　her　friends　with　these　and　other　opinions
in　a　very　loud　tone　of　voice；　and　tossed　about　a
great　clattering　fan　she　sported；　with　the　most　splendid
complacency。
〃Who　is　that　wonderful　woman　with　Amelia；　Rawdon；
love？〃　said　a　lady　in　an　opposite　box　（who；　almost　always
civil　to　her　husband　in　private；　was　more　fond　than
ever　of　him　in　company）。
〃Don't　you　see　that　creature　with　a　yellow　thing　in
her　turban；　and　a　red　satin　gown；　and　a　great　watch？〃
〃Near　the　pretty　little　woman　in　white？〃　asked　a
middle…aged　gentleman　seated　by　the　querist's　side；　with
orders　in　his　button；　and　several　under…waistcoats；　and
a　great；　choky；　white　stock。
〃That　pretty　woman　in　white　is　Amelia；　General：　　you
are　remarking　all　the　pretty　women；　you　naughty　man。〃
〃Only　one；　begad；　in　the　world！〃　said　the　General；　delighted；
and　the　lady　gave　him　a　tap　with　a　large　bouquet
which　she　had。
〃Bedad　it's　him；〃　said　Mrs。　O'Dowd；　〃and　that's　the
very　bokay　he　bought　in　the　Marshy　aux　Flures！〃　and
when　Rebecca；　having　caught　her　friend's　eye；　performed
the　little　hand…kissing　operation　once　more；　Mrs。　Major
O'D。；　taking　the　compliment　to　herself；　returned　the　salute
with　a　gracious　smile；　which　sent　that　unfortunate
Dobbin　shrieking　out　of　the　box　again。
At　the　end　of　the　act；　George　was　out　of　the　box　in　a
moment；　and　he　was　even　going　to　pay　his　respects　to
Rebecca　in　her　loge。　　He　met　Crawley　in　the　lobby；　however；
where　they　exchanged　a　few　sentences　upon　the
occurrences　of　the　last　fortnight。
〃You　found　my　cheque　all　right　at　the　agent's？
George　said；　with　a　knowing　air。
〃All　right；　my　boy；〃　Rawdon　answered。　　〃Happy　to　give
you　your　revenge。　　Governor　come　round？〃
〃Not　yet；〃　said　George；　〃but　he　will；　and　you　know　I've
some　private　fortune　through　my　mother。　　Has　Aunty
relented？〃
〃Sent　me　twenty　pound；　damned　old　screw。　　When　shall
we　have　a　meet？　　The　General　dines　out　on　Tuesday。
Can't　you　come　Tuesday？　　I　say；　make　Sedley　cut　off　his
moustache。　　What　the　devil　does　a　civilian　mean　with　a
moustache　and　those　infernal　frogs　to　his　coat！　　By…bye。
Try　and　come　on　Tuesday〃；　and　Rawdon　was　going…off
with　two　brilliant　young　gentlemen　of　fashion；　who　were；
like　himself；　on　the　staff　of　a　general　officer。
George　was　only　half　pleased　to　be　asked　to　dinner　on
that　particular　day　when　the　General　was　not　to　dine。　　〃I
will　go　in　and　pay　my　respects　to　your　wife；〃　said　he；　at
which　Rawdon　said；　〃Hm；　as　you　please；〃　looking　very
glum；　and　at　which　the　two　young　officers　exchanged
knowing　glances。　　George　parted　from　them　and　strutted
down　the　lobby　to　the　General's　box；　the　number　of　which
he　had　carefully　counted。
〃Entrez；〃　said　a　clear　little　voice；　and　our　friend　found
himself　in　Rebecca's　presence；　who　jumped　up；　clapped
her　hands　together；　and　held　out　both　of　them　to　George；
so　charmed　was　she　to　see　him。　　The　General；　with　the
orders　in　his　button；　stared　at　the　newcomer　with　a　sulky
scowl；　as　much　as　to　say；　who　the　devil　are　you？
〃My　dear　Captain　George！〃　cried　little　Rebecca　in　an
ecstasy。　　〃How　good　of　you　to　come。　　The　General　and　I
were　moping　together　tete…a…tete。　　General；　this　is　my
Captain　George　of　whom　you　heard　me　talk。〃
〃Indeed；〃　said　the　General；　with　a　very　small　bow；　〃of
what　regiment　is　Captain　George？〃
George　mentioned　the　th：　　how　he　wished　he　could
have　said　it　was　a　crack　cavalry　corps。
〃Come　home　lately　from　the　West　Indies；　I　believe。
Not　seen　much　service　in　the　late　war。　　Quartered　here；
Captain　George？〃the　General　went　on　with　killing
haughtiness。
〃Not　Captain　George；　you　stupid　man；　Captain　Osborne；〃
Rebecca　said。　　The　General　all　the　while　was　looking
savagely　from　one　to　the　other。
〃Captain　Osborne；　indeed！　Any　relation　to　the　L
Osbornes？〃
〃We　bear　the　same　arms；〃　George　said；　as　indeed　was
the　fact；　Mr。　Osborne　having　consulted　with　a　herald　in
Long　Acre；　and　picked　the　L　arms　out　of　the　peerage；
when　he　set　up　his　carriage　fifteen　years　before。　　The
General　made　no　reply　to　this　announcement；　but　took
up　his　opera…glassthe　double…barrelled　lorgnon　was　not
invented　in　those　daysand　pretended　to　examine　the
house；　but　Rebecca　saw　that　his　disengaged　eye　was
working　round　in　her　direction；　and　shooting　out
bloodshot　glances　at　her　and　George。
She　redoubled　in　cordiality。　　〃How　is　dearest　Amelia？
But　I　needn't　ask：　how　pretty　she　looks！　　And　who　is　that
nice　good…natured　looking　creature　with　hera　flame　of
yours？　　O；　you　wicked　men！　　And　there　is　Mr。　Sedley
eating　ice；　I　declare：　how　he　seems　to　enjoy　it！　　General；　why
have　we　not　had　any　ices？〃
〃Shall　I　go　and　fetch　you　some？〃　said　the　General；
bursting　with　wrath。
〃Let　ME　go；　I　entreat　you；〃　George　said。
〃No；　I　will　go　to　Amelia's　box。　　Dear；　sweet　girl！　　Give
me　your　arm；　Captain　George〃；　and　so　saying；　and　with　a
nod　to　the　General；　she　tripped　into　the　lobby。　　She　gave
George　the　queerest；　knowingest　look；　when　they　were
together；　a　look　which　might　have　been　interpreted；
〃Don't　you　see　the　state　of　affairs；　and　what　a　fool　I'm
making　of　him？〃　　But　he　did　not　perceive　it。　　He　was
thinking　of　his　own　plans；　and　lost　in　pompous　admiration
of　his　own　irresistible　powers　of　pleasing。
The　curses　to　which　the　General　gave　a　low　utterance；
as　soon　as　Rebecca　and　her　conqueror　had　quitted　him；
were　so　deep；　that　I　am　sure　no　compositor　would
venture　to　print　them　were　they　written　down。　　They　came
from　the　General's　heart；　and　a　wonderful　thing　it　is　to
think　that　the　human　heart　is　capable　of　generating　such
produce；　and　can　throw　out；　as　occasion　demands；　such
a　supply　of　lust　and　fury；　rage　and　hatred。
Amelia's　gentle　eyes；　too；　had　been　fixed　anxiously　on
the　pair；　whose　conduct　had　so　chafed　the　jealous　General；
but　when　Rebecca　entered　her　box；　she　flew　to　her
friend　with　an　affectionate　rapture　which　showed　itself；　in
spite　of　the　publicity　of　the　place；　for　she　embraced　her
dearest　friend　in　the　presence　of　the　whole　house；　at　least
in　full　view　of　the　General's　glass；　now　brought　to　bear
upon　the　Osborne　party。　　Mrs。　Rawdon　saluted　Jos；　too；
with　the　kindliest　greeting：　she　admired　Mrs。　O'Dowd's
large　Cairngorm　brooch　and　superb　Irish　diamonds；　and
wouldn't　believe　that　they　were　not　from　Golconda　direct。
She　bustled；　she　chattered；　she　turned　and　twisted；
and　smiled　upon　one；　and　smirked　on　another；　all　in　full
view　of　the　jealous　opera…glass　opposite。　　And　when　the
time　for　the　ballet　came　（in　which　there　was　no　dancer
that　went　through　her　grimaces　or　performed　her　comedy
of　action　better）；　she　skipped　back　to　her　own　box；　leaning
on　Captain　Dobbin's　arm　this　time。　　No；　she　would
not　have　George's：　he　must　stay　and　talk　to　his　dearest；
best；　little　Amelia。
〃What　a　humbug　that　woman　is！〃　honest　old　Dobbin
mumbled　to　George；　when　he　came　back　from　Rebecca's
box；　whither　he　had　conducted　her　in　perfect　silence；　and
with　a　countenance　as　glum　as　an　undertaker's。　　〃She
writhes　and　twists　about　like　a　snake。　　All　the　time　she
was　here；　didn't　you　see；　George；　how　she　was　acting　at
the　General　over　the　way？〃
〃Humbugacting！　　Hang　it；　she's　the　nicest　little
woman　in　England；〃　George　replied；　showing　his　white
teeth；　and　giving　his　ambrosial　whiskers　a　twirl。　　〃You
ain't　a　man　of　the　world；　Dobbin。　　Dammy；　look　at　her
now；　she's　talked　over　Tufto　in　no　time。　　Look　how　he's
laughing！　　Gad；　what　a　shoulder　she　has！　　Emmy；　why
didn't　you　have　a　bouquet？　　Everybody　has　a　bouquet。〃
〃Faith；　then；　why　didn't　you　BOY　one？〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd
said；　and　both　Amelia　and　William　Dobbin　thanked　her
for　this　timely　observation。　　But　beyond　this　neither　of
the　ladies　rallied。　　Amelia　was　overpowered　by　the　flash
and　the　dazzle　and　the　fashionable　talk　of　her　worldly　rival。
Even　the　O'Dowd　was　silent　and　subdued　after　Becky's
brilliant　apparition；　and　scarcely　said　a　word　more　about
Glenmalony　all　the　evening。
〃When　do　you　intend　to　give　up　play；　George；　as　you
have　promised　me；　any　time　these　hundred　years？〃　Dobbin
said　to　his　friend　a　few　days　after　the　night　at　the
Opera。　　〃When　do　you　intend