vanity fair(名利场)-第86节

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come　back。〃
〃He　will　come　back；　my　dear；〃　said　Rebecca；　touched
in　spite　of　herself。
〃Look；〃　said　Amelia；　〃this　is　his　sashisn't　it　a　pretty
colour？''　and　she　took　up　the　fringe　and　kissed　it。　　She
had　tied　it　round　her　waist　at　some　part　of　the　day。　　She
had　forgotten　her　anger；　her　jealousy；　the　very　presence
of　her　rival　seemingly。　　For　she　walked　silently　and　almost
with　a　smile　on　her　face；　towards　the　bed；　and　began　to
smooth　down　George's　pillow。
Rebecca　walked；　too；　silently　away。　　〃How　is　Amelia？〃
asked　Jos；　who　still　held　his　position　in　the　chair。
〃There　should　be　somebody　with　her；〃　said　Rebecca。
〃I　think　she　is　very　unwell〃：　　and　she　went　away　with　a
very　grave　face；　refusing　Mr。　Sedley's　entreaties　that　she
would　stay　and　partake　of　the　early　dinner　which　he　had
ordered。
Rebecca　was　of　a　good…natured　and　obliging　disposition；
and　she　liked　Amelia　rather　than　otherwise。　　Even
her　hard　words；　reproachful　as　they　were；　were
complimentarythe　groans　of　a　person　stinging　under　defeat。
Meeting　Mrs。　O'Dowd；　whom　the　Dean's　sermons　had
by　no　means　comforted；　and　who　was　walking　very
disconsolately　in　the　Parc；　Rebecca　accosted　the　latter；
rather　to　the　surprise　of　the　Major's　wife；　who　was　not
accustomed　to　such　marks　of　politeness　from　Mrs。
Rawdon　Crawley；　and　informing　her　that　poor　little　Mrs。
Osborne　was　in　a　desperate　condition；　and　almost　mad
with　grief；　sent　off　the　good…natured　Irishwoman　straight
to　see　if　she　could　console　her　young　favourite。
〃I've　cares　of　my　own　enough；〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd　said；
gravely；　〃and　I　thought　poor　Amelia　would　be　little
wanting　for　company　this　day。　　But　if　she's　so　bad　as　you
say；　and　you　can't　attend　to　her；　who　used　to　be　so
fond　of　her；　faith　I'll　see　if　I　can　be　of　service。　　And　so
good　marning　to　ye；　Madam〃；　with　which　speech　and　a
toss　of　her　head；　the　lady　of　the　repayther　took　a
farewell　of　Mrs。　Crawley；　whose　company　she　by　no　means
courted。
Becky　watched　her　marching　off；　with　a　smile　on　her
lip。　　She　had　the　keenest　sense　of　humour；　and　the
Parthian　look　which　the　retreating　Mrs。　O'Dowd　flung
over　her　shoulder　almost　upset　Mrs。　Crawley's　gravity。
〃My　service　to　ye；　me　fine　Madam；　and　I'm　glad　to　see
ye　so　cheerful；〃　thought　Peggy。　　〃It's　not　YOU　that　will　cry
your　eyes　out　with　grief；　anyway。〃　And　with　this　she
passed　on；　and　speedily　found　her　way　to　Mrs。　Osborne's
lodgings。
The　poor　soul　was　still　at　the　bedside；　where　Rebecca
had　left　her；　and　stood　almost　crazy　with　grief。　　The
Major's　wife；　a　stronger…minded　woman；　endeavoured　her
best　to　comfort　her　young　friend。　　〃You　must　bear　up；
Amelia；　dear；〃　she　said　kindly；　〃for　he　mustn't　find　you
ill　when　he　sends　for　you　after　the　victory。　　It's　not　you
are　the　only　woman　that　are　in　the　hands　of　God　this
day。〃
〃I　know　that。　　I　am　very　wicked；　very　weak；〃　Amelia
said。　　She　knew　her　own　weakness　well　enough。　　The
presence　of　the　more　resolute　friend　checked　it；　however；　and
she　was　the　better　of　this　control　and　company。　　They
went　on　till　two　o'clock；　their　hearts　were　with　the　column
as　it　marched　farther　and　farther　away。　　Dreadful　doubt
and　anguishprayers　and　fears　and　griefs　unspeakable
followed　the　regiment。　　It　was　the　women's　tribute　to　the
war。　　It　taxes　both　alike；　and　takes　the　blood　of　the　men；
and　the　tears　of　the　women。
At　half…past　two；　an　event　occurred　of　daily　importance
to　Mr。　Joseph：　the　dinner…hour　arrived。　　Warriors
may　fight　and　perish；　but　he　must　dine。　　He　came　into
Amelia's　room　to　see　if　he　could　coax　her　to　share　that
meal。　　〃Try；〃　said　he；　〃the　soup　is　very　good。　　Do　try；
Emmy；〃　and　he　kissed　her　hand。　　Except　when　she　was
married；　he　had　not　done　so　much　for　years　before。　　〃You
are　very　good　and　kind；　Joseph；〃　she　said。　　〃Everybody
is；　but；　if　you　please；　I　will　stay　in　my　room　to…day。〃
The　savour　of　the　soup；　however；　was　agreeable　to
Mrs。　O'Dowd's　nostrils：　and　she　thought　she　would　bear
Mr。　Jos　company。　　So　the　two　sate　down　to　their　meal。
〃God　bless　the　meat；〃　said　the　Major's　wife；　solemnly：
she　was　thinking　of　her　honest　Mick；　riding　at　the　head
of　his　regiment：　　〃　'Tis　but　a　bad　dinner　those　poor
boys　will　get　to…day；〃　she　said；　with　a　sigh；　and　then；
like　a　philosopher；　fell　to。
Jos's　spirits　rose　with　his　meal。　　He　would　drink　the
regiment's　health；　or；　indeed；　take　any　other　excuse　to
indulge　in　a　glass　of　champagne。　　〃We'll　drink　to　O'Dowd
and　the　brave　th；〃　said　he；　bowing　gallantly　to　his
guest。　　〃Hey；　Mrs。　O'Dowd？　　Fill　Mrs。　O'Dowd's　glass；
Isidor。〃
But　all　of　a　sudden；　Isidor　started；　and　the　Major's
wife　laid　down　her　knife　and　fork。　　The　windows　of　the
room　were　open；　and　looked　southward；　and　a　dull　distant
sound　came　over　the　sun…lighted　roofs　from　that
direction。　　''What　is　it？〃　said　Jos。　　〃Why　don't　you　pour；　you
rascal？〃
〃Cest　le　feu！〃　said　Isidor；　running　to　the　balcony。
〃God　defend　us；　it's　cannon！〃　Mrs。　O'Dowd　cried；
starting　up；　and　followed　too　to　the　window。　　A　thousand
pale　and　anxious　faces　might　have　been　seen　looking
from　other　casements。　　And　presently　it　seemed　as　if　the
whole　population　of　the　city　rushed　into　the　streets。

CHAPTER　XXXII
In　Which　Jos　Takes　Flight；　and　the　War　Is　Brought　to　a　Close
We　of　peaceful　London　City　have　never　beheldand
please　God　never　shall　witnesssuch　a　scene　of　hurry
and　alarm；　as　that　which　Brussels　presented。　　Crowds
rushed　to　the　Namur　gate；　from　which　direction　the　noise
proceeded；　and　many　rode　along　the　level　chaussee；　to
be　in　advance　of　any　intelligence　from　the　army。　　Each
man　asked　his　neighbour　for　news；　and　even　great
English　lords　and　ladies　condescended　to　speak　to　persons
whom　they　did　not　know。　　The　friends　of　the　French　went
abroad；　wild　with　excitement；　and　prophesying　the
triumph　of　their　Emperor。　　The　merchants　closed　their
shops；　and　came　out　to　swell　the　general　chorus　of　alarm
and　clamour。　　Women　rushed　to　the　churches；　and
crowded　the　chapels；　and　knelt　and　prayed　on　the　flags
and　steps。　　The　dull　sound　of　the　cannon　went　on　rolling；
rolling。　　Presently　carriages　with　travellers　began　to　leave
the　town；　galloping　away　by　the　Ghent　barrier。　　The
prophecies　of　the　French　partisans　began　to　pass　for
facts。　　〃He　has　cut　the　armies　in　two；〃　it　was　said。　　〃He　is
marching　straight　on　Brussels。　　He　will　overpower　the
English；　and　be　here　to…night。〃　〃He　will　overpower　the
English；〃　shrieked　Isidor　to　his　master；　〃and　will　be　here
to…night。〃　The　man　bounded　in　and　out　from　the　lodgings
to　the　street；　always　returning　with　some　fresh　particulars
of　disaster。　　Jos's　face　grew　paler　and　paler。　　Alarm　began
to　take　entire　possession　of　the　stout　civilian。　　All　the
champagne　he　drank　brought　no　courage　to　him。　　Before
sunset　he　was　worked　up　to　such　a　pitch　of　nervousness
as　gratified　his　friend　Isidor　to　behold；　who　now　counted
surely　upon　the　spoils　of　the　owner　of　the　laced　coat。
The　women　were　away　all　this　time。　　After　hearing
the　firing　for　a　moment；　the　stout　Major's　wife　bethought
her　of　her　friend　in　the　next　chamber；　and　ran　in　to　watch；
and　if　possible　to　console；　Amelia。　　The　idea　that　she　had
that　helpless　and　gentle　creature　to　protect；　gave
additional　strength　to　the　natural　courage　of　the　honest
Irishwoman。　　She　passed　five　hours　by　her　friend's　side；
sometimes　in　remonstrance；　sometimes　talking　cheerfully；
oftener　in　silence　and　terrified　mental　supplication。　　〃I
never　let　go　her　hand　once；〃　said　the　stout　lady
afterwards；　〃until　after　sunset；　when　the　firing　was　over。〃
Pauline；　the　bonne；　was　on　her　knees　at　church　hard　by；
praying　for　son　homme　a　elle。
When　the　noise　of　the　cannonading　was　over；　Mrs。
O'Dowd　issued　out　of　Amelia's　room　into　the　parlour
adjoining；　where　Jos　sate　with　two　emptied　flasks；　and
courage　entirely　gone。　　Once　or　twice　he　had　ventured　into
his　sister's　bedroom；　looking　very　much　alarmed；　and
as　if　he　would　say　something。　　But　the　Major's　wife　kept
her　place；　and　he　went　away　without　disburthening
himself　of　his　speech。　　He　was　ashamed　to　tell　her　that　he
wanted　to　fly。
But　when　she　made　her　appearance　in　the　dining…room；
where　he　sate　in　the　twilight　in　the　cheerless　company
of　his　empty　champagne　bottles；　he　began　to　open　his
mind　to　her。
〃Mrs。　O'Dowd；〃　he　said；　〃hadn't　you　better　get　Amelia
ready？〃
〃Are　you　going　to　take　her　out　for　a　walk？〃　said　the
Major's　lady；　〃sure　she's　too　weak　to　stir。〃
〃II've　ordered　the　carriage；〃　he　said；　〃andand
post…horses；　Isidor　is　gone　for　them；〃　Jos　continued。
〃What　do　you　want　with　driving　to…night？〃　answered
the　lady。　　〃Isn't　she　better　on　her　bed？　　I've　just　got　her
to　lie　down。〃
〃Get　her　up；〃　said　Jos；　〃she　must　get　up；　I　say〃：　　and
he　stamped　his　foot　energetically。　　〃I　say　the　horses　are
orderedyes；　the　horses　are　ordered。　　It's　all　over；　and〃
〃And　what？〃　asked　Mrs。　O'Dowd。
〃I'm　off　for　Ghent；〃　Jos　answered。　　〃Everybody　is
going；　there's　a　place　for　you！　　We　shall　start　in　half…an…
hour。〃
The　Major's　wife　looked　at　him　with　infinite　scorn。　　〃I
don't　move　till　O'Dowd　gives　me　the　route；〃　said　she。
〃You　may　go　if　you　like；　Mr。　Sedley；　but；　faith；　Amelia
and　I　stop　here。〃
〃She　SHALL　go；〃　said　Jos；　with　another　stamp　of　his
foot。　　Mrs。　O'Dowd　put　herself　with　arms　akimbo　before
the