vanity fair(名利场)-第82节

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must　be　worth　thirty　or　forty。　　Please　to　put　THAT　up　the
spout；　ma'am；　with　my　pins；　and　rings；　and　watch　and
chain；　and　things。　　They　cost　a　precious　lot　of　money。　　Miss
Crawley；　I　know；　paid　a　hundred　down　for　the　chain　and
ticker。　　Gold　tops　and　bottles；　indeed！　　dammy；　I'm　sorry
I　didn't　take　more　now。　　Edwards　pressed　on　me　a　silver…
gilt　boot…jack；　and　I　might　have　had　a　dressing…case　fitted
up　with　a　silver　warming…pan；　and　a　service　of　plate。　　But
we　must　make　the　best　of　what　we've　got；　Becky；　you
know。〃
And　so；　making　his　last　dispositions；　Captain　Crawley；
who　had　seldom　thought　about　anything　but　himself；　until
the　last　few　months　of　his　life；　when　Love　had　obtained
the　mastery　over　the　dragoon；　went　through　the　various
items　of　his　little　catalogue　of　effects；　striving　to　see　how
they　might　be　turned　into　money　for　his　wife's　benefit；　in
case　any　accident　should　befall　him。　　He　pleased　himself
by　noting　down　with　a　pencil；　in　his　big　schoolboy
handwriting；　the　various　items　of　his　portable　property　which
might　be　sold　for　his　widow's　advantage　as；　for　example；
〃My　double…barril　by　Manton；　say　40　guineas；　my　driving
cloak；　lined　with　sable　fur；　50　pounds；　my　duelling　pistols　in
rosewood　case　（same　which　I　shot　Captain　Marker）；
20　pounds；　my　regulation　saddle…holsters　and　housings；　my
Laurie　ditto；〃　and　so　forth；　over　all　of　which　articles　he
made　Rebecca　the　mistress。
Faithful　to　his　plan　of　economy；　the　Captain　dressed
himself　in　his　oldest　and　shabbiest　uniform　and　epaulets；
leaving　the　newest　behind；　under　his　wife's　（or　it　might
be　his　widow's）　guardianship。　　And　this　famous　dandy　of
Windsor　and　Hyde　Park　went　off　on　his　campaign　with　a
kit　as　modest　as　that　of　a　sergeant；　and　with　something
like　a　prayer　on　his　lips　for　the　woman　he　was　leaving。
He　took　her　up　from　the　ground；　and　held　her　in　his
arms　for　a　minute；　tight　pressed　against　his　strong…beating
heart。　　His　face　was　purple　and　his　eyes　dim；　as　he　put　her
down　and　left　her。　　He　rode　by　his　General's　side；　and
smoked　his　cigar　in　silence　as　they　hastened　after　the
troops　of　the　General's　brigade；　which　preceded　them；
and　it　was　not　until　they　were　some　miles　on　their　way
that　he　left　off　twirling　his　moustache　and　broke　silence。
And　Rebecca；　as　we　have　said；　wisely　determined　not　to
give　way　to　unavailing　sentimentality　on　her　husband's
departure。　　She　waved　him　an　adieu　from　the　window；　and
stood　there　for　a　moment　looking　out　after　he　was　gone。
The　cathedral　towers　and　the　full　gables　of　the　quaint　old
houses　were　just　beginning　to　blush　in　the　sunrise。　　There
had　been　no　rest　for　her　that　night。　　She　was　still　in　her
pretty　ball…dress；　her　fair　hair　hanging　somewhat　out　of
curl　on　her　neck；　and　the　circles　round　her　eyes　dark　with
watching。　　〃What　a　fright　I　seem；〃　she　said；　examining
herself　in　the　glass；　〃and　how　pale　this　pink　makes　one
look！〃　　So　she　divested　herself　of　this　pink　raiment；　in
doing　which　a　note　fell　out　from　her　corsage；　which　she
picked　up　with　a　smile；　and　locked　into　her　dressing…box。
And　then　she　put　her　bouquet　of　the　ball　into　a　glass　of
water；　and　went　to　bed；　and　slept　very　comfortably。
The　town　was　quite　quiet　when　she　woke　up　at　ten
o'clock；　and　partook　of　coffee；　very　requisite　and
comforting　after　the　exhaustion　and　grief　of　the　morning's
occurrences。
This　meal　over；　she　resumed　honest　Rawdon's　calculations
of　the　night　previous；　and　surveyed　her　position。
Should　the　worst　befall；　all　things　considered；　she　was
pretty　well　to　do。　　There　were　her　own　trinkets　and　trousseau；
in　addition　to　those　which　her　husband　had　left　behind。
Rawdon's　generosity；　when　they　were　first　married；
has　already　been　described　and　lauded。　　Besides　these；
and　the　little　mare；　the　General；　her　slave　and　worshipper；
had　made　her　many　very　handsome　presents；　in　the　shape
of　cashmere　shawls　bought　at　the　auction　of　a　bankrupt
French　general's　lady；　and　numerous　tributes　from　the
jewellers'　shops；　all　of　which　betokened　her　admirer's
taste　and　wealth。　　As　for　〃tickers；〃　as　poor　Rawdon　called
watches；　her　apartments　were　alive　with　their　clicking。
For；　happening　to　mention　one　night　that　hers；　which
Rawdon　had　given　to　her；　was　of　English　workmanship；
and　went　ill；　on　the　very　next　morning　there　came　to　her
a　little　bijou　marked　Leroy；　with　a　chain　and　cover
charmingly　set　with　turquoises；　and　another　signed　Brequet；
which　was　covered　with　pearls；　and　yet　scarcely　bigger
than　a　half…crown。　　General　Tufto　had　bought　one；　and
Captain　Osborne　had　gallantly　presented　the　other。　　Mrs。
Osborne　had　no　watch；　though；　to　do　George　justice；　she
might　have　had　one　for　the　asking；　and　the　Honourable
Mrs。　Tufto　in　England　had　an　old　instrument　of　her
mother's　that　might　have　served　for　the　plate…warming
pan　which　Rawdon　talked　about。　　If　Messrs。　Howell　and
James　were　to　publish　a　list　of　the　purchasers　of　all　the
trinkets　which　they　sell；　how　surprised　would　some
families　be：　and　if　all　these　ornaments　went　to　gentlemen's
lawful　wives　and　daughters；　what　a　profusion　of　jewellery
there　would　be　exhibited　in　the　genteelest　homes　of
Vanity　Fair！
Every　calculation　made　of　these　valuables　Mrs。　Rebecca
found；　not　without　a　pungent　feeling　of　triumph　and　self…
satisfaction；　that　should　circumstances　occur；　she　might
reckon　on　six　or　seven　hundred　pounds　at　the　very　least；
to　begin　the　world　with；　and　she　passed　the　morning
disposing；　ordering；　looking　out；　and　locking　up　her
properties　in　the　most　agreeable　manner。　　Among　the　notes
in　Rawdon's　pocket…book　was　a　draft　for　twenty　pounds
on　Osborne's　banker。　　This　made　her　think　about　Mrs。
Osborne。　　〃I　will　go　and　get　the　draft　cashed；〃　she　said；
〃and　pay　a　visit　afterwards　to　poor　little　Emmy。〃　If　this
is　a　novel　without　a　hero；　at　least　let　us　lay　claim　to　a
heroine。　　No　man　in　the　British　army　which　has　marched
away；　not　the　great　Duke　himself；　could　be　more　cool　or
collected　in　the　presence　of　doubts　and　difficulties；　than
the　indomitable　little　aide…de…camp's　wife。
And　there　was　another　of　our　acquaintances　who　was
also　to　be　left　behind；　a　non…combatant；　and　whose　emotions
and　behaviour　we　have　therefore　a　right　to　know。
This　was　our　friend　the　ex…collector　of　Boggley　Wollah；
whose　rest　was　broken；　like　other　people's；　by　the　sounding
of　the　bugles　in　the　early　morning。　　Being　a　great
sleeper；　and　fond　of　his　bed；　it　is　possible　he　would　have
snoozed　on　until　his　usual　hour　of　rising　in　the　forenoon；
in　spite　of　all　the　drums；　bugles；　and　bagpipes　in　the
British　army；　but　for　an　interruption；　which　did　not　come
from　George　Osborne；　who　shared　Jos's　quarters　with
him；　and　was　as　usual　occupied　too　much　with　his　own
affairs　or　with　grief　at　parting　with　his　wife；　to　think　of
taking　leave　of　his　slumbering　brother…in…lawit　was　not
George；　we　say；　who　interposed　between　Jos　Sedley　and
sleep；　but　Captain　Dobbin；　who　came　and　roused　him　up；
insisting　on　shaking　hands　with　him　before　his　departure。
〃Very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Jos；　yawning；　and　wishing
the　Captain　at　the　deuce。
〃II　didn't　like　to　go　off　without　saying　good…bye；　you
know；〃　Dobbin　said　in　a　very　incoherent　manner；　〃because
you　know　some　of　us　mayn't　come　back　again；　and
I　like　to　see　you　all　well；　andand　that　sort　of　thing；　you
know。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Jos　asked；　rubbing　his　eyes。　　The
Captain　did　not　in　the　least　hear　him　or　look　at　the　stout
gentleman　in　the　nightcap；　about　whom　he　professed　to
have　such　a　tender　interest。　　The　hypocrite　was　looking
and　listening　with　all　his　might　in　the　direction　of　George's
apartments；　striding　about　the　room；　upsetting　the　chairs；
beating　the　tattoo；　biting　his　nails；　and　showing　other
signs　of　great　inward　emotion。
Jos　had　always　had　rather　a　mean　opinion　of　the
Captain；　and　now　began　to　think　his　courage　was　somewhat
equivocal。　　〃What　is　it　I　can　do　for　you；　Dobbin？〃　he　said；
in　a　sarcastic　tone。
〃I　tell　you　what　you　can　do；〃　the　Captain　replied；　coming
up　to　the　bed；　〃we　march　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour；
Sedley；　and　neither　George　nor　I　may　ever　come　back。
Mind　you；　you　are　not　to　stir　from　this　town　until　you
ascertain　how　things　go。　　You　are　to　stay　here　and　watch
over　your　sister；　and　comfort　her；　and　see　that　no　harm
comes　to　her。　　If　anything　happens　to　George；　remember
she　has　no　one　but　you　in　the　world　to　look　to。　　If　it　goes
wrong　with　the　army；　you'll　see　her　safe　back　to　England；
and　you　will　promise　me　on　your　word　that　you　will
never　desert　her。　　I　know　you　won't：　　as　far　as　money　goes；
you　were　always　free　enough　with　that。　　Do　you　want　any？
I　mean；　have　you　enough　gold　to　take　you　back　to
England　in　case　of　a　misfortune？〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Jos；　majestically；　〃when　I　want　money；　I
know　where　to　ask　for　it。　　And　as　for　my　sister；　you
needn't　tell　me　how　I　ought　to　behave　to　her。〃
〃You　speak　like　a　man　of　spirit；　Jos；〃　the　other　answered
good…naturedly；　〃and　I　am　glad　that　George　can
leave　her　in　such　good　hands。　　So　I　may　give　him　your
word　of　honour；　may　I；　that　in　case　of　extremity　you
will　stand　by　her？〃
〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　answered　Mr。　Jos；　whose
generosity　in　money　matters　Dobbin　estimated　quite
correctly。
〃And　you'll　see　her　safe　out　of　Brussels