vanity fair(名利场)-第85节

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witness　of　the　amusements　in　which　the　pair　chose　to
indulge。　　〃Ah！〃　thought　Jos；　〃now　she　wants　me　she
comes　to　me。　　When　there　is　nobody　else　in　the　way　she
can　think　about　old　Joseph　Sedley！〃　　But　besides　these
doubts　he　felt　flattered　at　the　idea　Rebecca　expressed
of　his　courage。
He　blushed　a　good　deal；　and　put　on　an　air　of　importance。
〃I　should　like　to　see　the　action；〃　he　said。　　〃Every
man　of　any　spirit　would；　you　know。　　I've　seen　a　little
service　in　India；　but　nothing　on　this　grand　scale。〃
〃You　men　would　sacrifice　anything　for　a　pleasure；〃
Rebecca　answered。　　〃Captain　Crawley　left　me　this　morning
as　gay　as　if　he　were　going　to　a　hunting　party。　　What
does　he　care？　　What　do　any　of　you　care　for　the　agonies
and　tortures　of　a　poor　forsaken　woman？　　（I　wonder
whether　he　could　really　have　been　going　to　the　troops；
this　great　lazy　gourmand？）　　Oh！　　dear　Mr。　Sedley；　I　have
come　to　you　for　comfortfor　consolation。　　I　have　been
on　my　knees　all　the　morning。　　I　tremble　at　the　frightful
danger　into　which　our　husbands；　our　friends；　our　brave
troops　and　allies；　are　rushing。　　And　I　come　here　for　shelter；
and　find　another　of　my　friendsthe　last　remaining　to
mebent　upon　plunging　into　the　dreadful　scene！〃
〃My　dear　madam；〃　Jos　replied；　now　beginning　to　be
quite　soothed；　〃don't　be　alarmed。　　I　only　said　I　should
like　to　gowhat　Briton　would　not？　　But　my　duty　keeps
me　here：　　I　can't　leave　that　poor　creature　in　the　next
room。〃　And　he　pointed　with　his　finger　to　the　door　of
the　chamber　in　which　Amelia　was。
〃Good　noble　brother！〃　Rebecca　said；　putting　her
handkerchief　to　her　eyes；　and　smelling　the　eau…de…cologne
with　which　it　was　scented。　　〃I　have　done　you　injustice：
you　have　got　a　heart。　　I　thought　you　had　not。〃
〃O；　upon　my　honour！〃　Jos　said；　making　a　motion　as
if　he　would　lay　his　hand　upon　the　spot　in　question。　　〃You
do　me　injustice；　indeed　you　domy　dear　Mrs。　Crawley。〃
〃I　do；　now　your　heart　is　true　to　your　sister。　　But　I
remember　two　years　agowhen　it　was　false　to　me！〃
Rebecca　said；　fixing　her　eyes　upon　him　for　an　instant；　and
then　turning　away　into　the　window。
Jos　blushed　violently。　　That　organ　which　he　was
accused　by　Rebecca　of　not　possessing　began　to　thump
tumultuously。　　He　recalled　the　days　when　he　had　fled　from
her；　and　the　passion　which　had　once　inflamed　himthe
days　when　he　had　driven　her　in　his　curricle：　　when　she
had　knit　the　green　purse　for　him：　　when　he　had　sate
enraptured　gazing　at　her　white　arms　and　bright　eyes。
〃I　know　you　think　me　ungrateful；〃　Rebecca　continued；
coming　out　of　the　window；　and　once　more　looking　at
him　and　addressing　him　in　a　low　tremulous　voice。　　〃Your
coldness；　your　averted　looks；　your　manner　when　we　have
met　of　latewhen　I　came　in　just　now；　all　proved　it　to
me。　　But　were　there　no　reasons　why　I　should　avoid　you？
Let　your　own　heart　answer　that　question。　　Do　you　think
my　husband　was　too　much　inclined　to　welcome　you？
The　only　unkind　words　I　have　ever　had　from　him　（I
will　do　Captain　Crawley　that　justice）　have　been　about
youand　most　cruel；　cruel　words　they　were。〃
〃Good　gracious！　what　have　I　done？〃　asked　Jos　in　a
flurry　of　pleasure　and　perplexity；　〃what　have　I　done
toto？〃
〃Is　jealousy　nothing？〃　said　Rebecca。　　〃He　makes　me
miserable　about　you。　　And　whatever　it　might　have　been
oncemy　heart　is　all　his。　　I　am　innocent　now。　　Am　I
not；　Mr。　Sedley？〃
All　Jos's　blood　tingled　with　delight；　as　he　surveyed
this　victim　to　his　attractions。　　A　few　adroit　words；　one
or　two　knowing　tender　glances　of　the　eyes；　and　his　heart
was　inflamed　again　and　his　doubts　and　suspicions
forgotten。　　From　Solomon　downwards；　have　not　wiser　men
than　he　been　cajoled　and　befooled　by　women？　　〃If　the
worst　comes　to　the　worst；〃　Becky　thought；　〃my　retreat
is　secure；　and　I　have　a　right…hand　seat　in　the　barouche。〃
There　is　no　knowing　into　what　declarations　of　love
and　ardour　the　tumultuous　passions　of　Mr。　Joseph
might　have　led　him；　if　Isidor　the　valet　had　not　made
his　reappearance　at　this　minute；　and　begun　to　busy
himself　about　the　domestic　affairs。　　Jos；　who　was　just　going
to　gasp　out　an　avowal；　choked　almost　with　the　emotion
that　he　was　obliged　to　restrain。　　Rebecca　too　bethought
her　that　it　was　time　she　should　go　in　and　comfort　her
dearest　Amelia。　　〃Au　revoir；〃　she　said；　kissing　her　hand
to　Mr。　Joseph；　and　tapped　gently　at　the　door　of　his
sister's　apartment。　　As　she　entered　and　closed　the　door
on　herself；　he　sank　down　in　a　chair；　and　gazed　and
sighed　and　puffed　portentously。　　〃That　coat　is　very　tight
for　Milor；〃　Isidor　said；　still　having　his　eye　on　the　frogs；
but　his　master　heard　him　not：　　his　thoughts　were
elsewhere：　　now　glowing；　maddening；　upon　the　contemplation
of　the　enchanting　Rebecca：　　anon　shrinking　guiltily
before　the　vision　of　the　jealous　Rawdon　Crawley；　with　his
curling；　fierce　mustachios；　and　his　terrible　duelling　pistols
loaded　and　cocked。
Rebecca's　appearance　struck　Amelia　with　terror；　and
made　her　shrink　back。　　It　recalled　her　to　the　world　and
the　remembrance　of　yesterday。　　In　the　overpowering　fears
about　to…morrow　she　had　forgotten　Rebeccajealousy
everything　except　that　her　husband　was　gone　and　was
in　danger。　　Until　this　dauntless　worldling　came　in　and
broke　the　spell；　and　lifted　the　latch；　we　too　have
forborne　to　enter　into　that　sad　chamber。　　How　long　had　that
poor　girl　been　on　her　knees！　　what　hours　of　speechless
prayer　and　bitter　prostration　had　she　passed　there！　　The
war…chroniclers　who　write　brilliant　stories　of　fight　and
triumph　scarcely　tell　us　of　these。　　These　are　too　mean
parts　of　the　pageant：　　and　you　don't　hear　widows'　cries
or　mothers'　sobs　in　the　midst　of　the　shouts　and　jubilation
in　the　great　Chorus　of　Victory。　　And　yet　when　was
the　time　that　such　have　not　cried　out：　　heart…broken；
humble　protestants；　unheard　in　the　uproar　of　the　triumph！
After　the　first　movement　of　terror　in　Amelia's　mind
when　Rebecca's　green　eyes　lighted　upon　her；　and
rustling　in　her　fresh　silks　and　brilliant　ornaments；　the　latter
tripped　up　with　extended　arms　to　embrace　hera　feeling
of　anger　succeeded；　and　from　being　deadly　pale　before；
her　face　flushed　up　red；　and　she　returned　Rebecca's　look
after　a　moment　with　a　steadiness　which　surprised　and
somewhat　abashed　her　rival。
〃Dearest　Amelia；　you　are　very　unwell；〃　the　visitor　said；
putting　forth　her　hand　to　take　Amelia's。　　〃What　is　it？
I　could　not　rest　until　I　knew　how　you　were。〃
Amelia　drew　back　her　handnever　since　her　life
began　had　that　gentle　soul　refused　to　believe　or　to
answer　any　demonstration　of　good…will　or　affection。　　But
she　drew　back　her　hand；　and　trembled　all　over。　　〃Why
are　you　here；　Rebecca？〃　she　said；　still　looking　at　her
solemnly　with　her　large　eyes。　　These　glances　troubled　her
visitor。
〃She　must　have　seen　him　give　me　the　letter　at　the
ball；〃　Rebecca　thought。　　〃Don't　be　agitated；　dear　Amelia；〃
she　said；　looking　down。　　〃I　came　but　to　see　if　I　could
if　you　were　well。〃
〃Are　you　well？〃　said　Amelia。　　〃I　dare　say　you　are。
You　don't　love　your　husband。　　You　would　not　be　here　if
you　did。　　Tell　me；　Rebecca；　did　I　ever　do　you　anything
but　kindness？〃
〃Indeed；　Amelia；　no；〃　the　other　said；　still　hanging
down　her　head。
〃When　you　were　quite　poor；　who　was　it　that　befriended
you？　　Was　I　not　a　sister　to　you？　　You　saw　us
all　in　happier　days　before　he　married　me。　　I　was　all　in
all　then　to　him；　or　would　he　have　given　up　his　fortune；
his　family；　as　he　nobly　did　to　make　me　happy？　　Why　did
you　come　between　my　love　and　me？　　Who　sent　you　to
separate　those　whom　God　joined；　and　take　my　darling's
heart　from　me　my　own　husband？　Do　you　think　you
could　I　love　him　as　I　did？　　His　love　was　everything　to　me。
You　knew　it；　and　wanted　to　rob　me　of　it。　　For　shame；
Rebecca；　bad　and　wicked　womanfalse　friend　and　false
wife。〃
〃Amelia；　I　protest　before　God；　I　have　done　my
husband　no　wrong；〃　Rebecca　said；　turning　from　her。
〃Have　you　done　me　no　wrong；　Rebecca？　　You　did　not
succeed；　but　you　tried。　　Ask　your　heart　if　you　did　not。〃
She　knows　nothing；　Rebecca　thought。
〃He　came　back　to　me。　　I　knew　he　would。　　I　knew　that
no　falsehood；　no　flattery；　could　keep　him　from　me　long。
I　knew　he　would　come。　　I　prayed　so　that　he　should。〃
The　poor　girl　spoke　these　words　with　a　spirit　and
volubility　which　Rebecca　had　never　before　seen　in　her；
and　before　which　the　latter　was　quite　dumb。　　〃But　what
have　I　done　to　you；〃　she　continued　in　a　more　pitiful　tone；
〃that　you　should　try　and　take　him　from　me？　　I　had　him
but　for　six　weeks。　　You　might　have　spared　me　those；
Rebecca。　　And　yet；　from　the　very　first　day　of　our　wedding；
you　came　and　blighted　it。　　Now　he　is　gone；　are　you　come
to　see　how　unhappy　I　am？〃　she　continued。　　〃You　made
me　wretched　enough　for　the　past　fortnight：　　you　might
have　spared　me　to…day。〃
〃II　never　came　here；〃　interposed　Rebecca；　with
unlucky　truth。
〃No。　　You　didn't　come。　　You　took　him　away。　　Are　you
come　to　fetch　him　from　me？〃　she　continued　in　a　wilder
tone。　　〃He　was　here；　but　he　is　gone　now。　　There　on　that
very　sofa　he　sate。　　Don't　touch　it。　　We　sate　and　talked
there。　　I　was　on　his　knee；　and　my　arms　were　round　his
neck；　and　we　said　'Our　Father。'　Yes；　he　was　here：　　and
they　came　and　took　him　away；　but　he　promised　me　to
come　back。〃
〃He　will　come　back；　my　dear；〃　said　Rebecca；　touched
in　spite　of　herself。