vanity fair(名利场)-第83节

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generosity　in　money　matters　Dobbin　estimated　quite
correctly。
〃And　you'll　see　her　safe　out　of　Brussels　in　the　event　of
a　defeat？〃
〃A　defeat！　D　it；　sir；　it's　impossible。　　Don't　try　and
frighten　ME；〃　the　hero　cried　from　his　bed；　and　Dobbin's
mind　was　thus　perfectly　set　at　ease　now　that　Jos　had
spoken　out　so　resolutely　respecting　his　conduct　to　his
sister。　　〃At　least；〃　thought　the　Captain；　〃there　will　be　a
retreat　secured　for　her　in　case　the　worst　should　ensue。〃
If　Captain　Dobbin　expected　to　get　any　personal　comfort
and　satisfaction　from　having　one　more　view　of　Amelia
before　the　regiment　marched　away；　his　selfishness　was
punished　just　as　such　odious　egotism　deserved　to　be。　　The
door　of　Jos's　bedroom　opened　into　the　sitting…room　which
was　common　to　the　family　party；　and　opposite　this　door
was　that　of　Amelia's　chamber。　　The　bugles　had　wakened
everybody：　　there　was　no　use　in　concealment　now。　　George's
servant　was　packing　in　this　room：　　Osborne　coming　in
and　out　of　the　contiguous　bedroom；　flinging　to　the　man
such　articles　as　he　thought　fit　to　carry　on　the　campaign。
And　presently　Dobbin　had　the　opportunity　which　his
heart　coveted；　and　he　got　sight　of　Amelia's　face　once
more。　　But　what　a　face　it　was！　　So　white；　so　wild　and
despair…stricken；　that　the　remembrance　of　it　haunted　him
afterwards　like　a　crime；　and　the　sight　smote　him　with
inexpressible　pangs　of　longing　and　pity。
She　was　wrapped　in　a　white　morning　dress；　her　hair
falling　on　her　shoulders；　and　her　large　eyes　fixed　and
without　light。　　By　way　of　helping　on　the　preparations　for
the　departure；　and　showing　that　she　too　could　be　useful
at　a　moment　so　critical；　this　poor　soul　had　taken　up　a
sash　of　George's　from　the　drawers　whereon　it　lay；　and
followed　him　to　and　fro　with　the　sash　in　her　hand；　looking
on　mutely　as　his　packing　proceeded。　　She　came　out　and
stood；　leaning　at　the　wall；　holding　this　sash　against　her
bosom；　from　which　the　heavy　net　of　crimson　dropped
like　a　large　stain　of　blood。　　Our　gentle…hearted　Captain
felt　a　guilty　shock　as　he　looked　at　her。　　〃Good　God；〃
thought　he；　〃and　is　it　grief　like　this　I　dared　to　pry　into？〃
And　there　was　no　help：　　no　means　to　soothe　and　comfort
this　helpless；　speechless　misery。　　He　stood　for　a　moment
and　looked　at　her；　powerless　and　torn　with　pity；　as　a
parent　regards　an　infant　in　pain。
At　last；　George　took　Emmy's　hand；　and　led　her　back
into　the　bedroom；　from　whence　he　came　out　alone。　　The
parting　had　taken　place　in　that　moment；　and　he　was　gone。
〃Thank　Heaven　that　is　over；〃　George　thought；　bounding
down　the　stair；　his　sword　under　his　arm；　as　he　ran
swiftly　to　the　alarm　ground；　where　the　regiment　was
mustered；　and　whither　trooped　men　and　officers　hurrying
from　their　billets；　his　pulse　was　throbbing　and　his　cheeks
flushed：　　the　great　game　of　war　was　going　to　be　played；
and　he　one　of　the　players。　　What　a　fierce　excitement　of
doubt；　hope；　and　pleasure！　　What　tremendous　hazards　of
loss　or　gain！　　What　were　all　the　games　of　chance　he　had
ever　played　compared　to　this　one？　　Into　all　contests
requiring　athletic　skill　and　courage；　the　young　man；　from
his　boyhood　upwards；　had　flung　himself　with　all　his　might。
The　champion　of　his　school　and　his　regiment；　the　bravos
of　his　companions　had　followed　him　everywhere；　from
the　boys'　cricket…match　to　the　garrison…races；　he　had　won
a　hundred　of　triumphs；　and　wherever　he　went　women
and　men　had　admired　and　envied　him。　　What　qualities
are　there　for　which　a　man　gets　so　speedy　a　return　of
applause；　as　those　of　bodily　superiority；　activity；　and
valour？　　Time　out　of　mind　strength　and　courage　have　been
the　theme　of　bards　and　romances；　and　from　the　story　of
Troy　down　to　to…day；　poetry　has　always　chosen　a　soldier
for　a　hero。　　I　wonder　is　it　because　men　are　cowards　in
heart　that　they　admire　bravery　so　much；　and　place
military　valour　so　far　beyond　every　other　quality　for
reward　and　worship？
So；　at　the　sound　of　that　stirring　call　to　battle；　George
jumped　away　from　the　gentle　arms　in　which　he　had　been
dallying；　not　without　a　feeling　of　shame　（although　his
wife's　hold　on　him　had　been　but　feeble）；　that　he　should
have　been　detained　there　so　long。　　The　same　feeling　of
eagerness　and　excitement　was　amongst　all　those　friends
of　his　of　whom　we　have　had　occasional　glimpses；　from
the　stout　senior　Major；　who　led　the　regiment　into　action；
to　little　Stubble；　the　Ensign；　who　was　to　bear　its　colours
on　that　day。
The　sun　was　just　rising　as　the　march　beganit　was
a　gallant　sightthe　band　led　the　column；　playing　the
regimental　marchthen　came　the　Major　in　command；
riding　upon　Pyramus；　his　stout　chargerthen　marched
the　grenadiers；　their　Captain　at　their　head；　in　the　centre
were　the　colours；　borne　by　the　senior　and　junior　Ensigns
then　George　came　marching　at　the　head　of　his　company。
He　looked　up；　and　smiled　at　Amelia；　and　passed
on；　and　even　the　sound　of　the　music　died　away。

CHAPTER　XXXI
In　Which　Jos　Sedley　Takes　Care　of　His　Sister
Thus　all　the　superior　officers　being　summoned　on　duty
elsewhere；　Jos　Sedley　was　left　in　command　of　the　little
colony　at　Brussels；　with　Amelia　invalided；　Isidor；　his
Belgian　servant；　and　the　bonne；　who　was　maid…of…all…work
for　the　establishment；　as　a　garrison　under　him。　　Though
he　was　disturbed　in　spirit；　and　his　rest　destroyed　by
Dobbin's　interruption　and　the　occurrences　of　the　morning；
Jos　nevertheless　remained　for　many　hours　in　bed；
wakeful　and　rolling　about　there　until　his　usual　hour　of
rising　had　arrived。　　The　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens；　and
our　gallant　friends　of　the　th　miles　on　their　march；
before　the　civilian　appeared　in　his　flowered　dressing…gown
at　breakfast。
　
About　George's　absence；　his　brother…in…law　was　very
easy　in　mind。　　Perhaps　Jos　was　rather　pleased　in　his　heart
that　Osborne　was　gone；　for　during　George's　presence；　the
other　had　played　but　a　very　secondary　part　in　the
household；　and　Osborne　did　not　scruple　to　show　his　contempt
for　the　stout　civilian。　　But　Emmy　had　always　been　good
and　attentive　to　him。　　It　was　she　who　ministered　to　his
comforts；　who　superintended　the　dishes　that　he　liked；
who　walked　or　rode　with　him　（as　she　had　many；　too
many；　opportunities　of　doing；　for　where　was　George？）
and　who　interposed　her　sweet　face　between　his　anger
and　her　husband's　scorn。　　Many　timid　remonstrances　had
she　uttered　to　George　in　behalf　of　her　brother；　but　the
former　in　his　trenchant　way　cut　these　entreaties　short。
〃I'm　an　honest　man；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　I　have　a　feeling
I　show　it；　as　an　honest　man　will。　　How　the　deuce；　my
dear；　would　you　have　me　behave　respectfully　to　such　a
fool　as　your　brother？〃　　So　Jos　was　pleased　with　George's
absence。　　His　plain　hat；　and　gloves　on　a　sideboard；　and
the　idea　that　the　owner　was　away；　caused　Jos　I　don't
know　what　secret　thrill　of　pleasure。　　〃HE　won't　be
troubling　me　this　morning；〃　Jos　thought；　〃with　his
dandified　airs　and　his　impudence。〃
　
〃Put　the　Captain's　hat　into　the　ante…room；〃　he　said
to　Isidor；　the　servant。
　
〃Perhaps　he　won't　want　it　again；〃　replied　the　lackey；
looking　knowingly　at　his　master。　　He　hated　George　too；
whose　insolence　towards　him　was　quite　of　the　English
sort。
　
〃And　ask　if　Madame　is　coming　to　breakfast；〃　Mr。
Sedley　said　with　great　majesty；　ashamed　to　enter　with　a
servant　upon　the　subject　of　his　dislike　for　George。　　The
truth　is；　he　had　abused　his　brother　to　the　valet　a　score
of　times　before。
Alas！　　Madame　could　not　come　to　breakfast；　and　cut
the　tartines　that　Mr。　Jos　liked。　　Madame　was　a　great　deal
too　ill；　and　had　been　in　a　frightful　state　ever　since　her
husband's　departure；　so　her　bonne　said。　　Jos　showed　his
sympathy　by　pouring　her　out　a　large　cup　of　tea　It　was
his　way　of　exhibiting　kindness：　　and　he　improved　on　this；
he　not　only　sent　her　breakfast；　but　he　bethought　him
what　delicacies　she　would　most　like　for　dinner。
Isidor；　the　valet；　had　looked　on　very　sulkily；　while
Osborne's　servant　was　disposing　of　his　master's　baggage
previous　to　the　Captain's　departure：　　for　in　the　first　place
he　hated　Mr。　Osborne；　whose　conduct　to　him；　and　to
all　inferiors；　was　generally　overbearing　（nor　does　the
continental　domestic　like　to　be　treated　with　insolence　as
our　own　better…tempered　servants　do）；　and　secondly；　he
was　angry　that　so　many　valuables　should　be　removed
from　under　his　hands；　to　fall　into　other　people's　possession
when　the　English　discomfiture　should　arrive。　　Of　this
defeat　he　and　a　vast　number　of　other　persons　in　Brussels
and　Belgium　did　not　make　the　slightest　doubt。　　The　almost
universal　belief　was；　that　the　Emperor　would　divide
the　Prussian　and　English　armies；　annihilate　one　after　the
other；　and　march　into　Brussels　before　three　days　were
over：　　when　all　the　movables　of　his　present　masters；　who
would　be　killed；　or　fugitives；　or　prisoners；　would　lawfully
become　the　property　of　Monsieur　Isidor。
As　he　helped　Jos　through　his　toilsome　and　complicated
daily　toilette；　this　faithful　servant　would　calculate　what
he　should　do　with　the　very　articles　with　which　he　was
decorating　his　master's　person。　　He　would　make　a　present
of　the　silver　essence…bottles　and　toilet　knicknacks　to　a
young　lady　of　whom　he　was　fond；　and　keep　the　English
cutlery　and　the　large　ruby　pin　for　himself。　　It　would
look　very　smart　upon　one　of　t