the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第4节
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peeping at the landing…place。
Fancy how all these small incidents augmented the heap of Lady
Gorgon's anger and injuries！ She was a dull phlegmatic woman for the
most part； and contented herself generally with merely despising her
neighbours； but oh！ what a fine active hatred raged in her bosom for
victorious Scully！ At this moment Mr。 Perkins had finished shaking
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hands with his NapoleonNapoleon seemed bent upon some tremendous
enterprise。 He was looking at Lady Gorgon very hard。
〃She's a fine woman；〃 said Scully； thoughtfully； he was still holding
the hand of Perkins。 And then； after a pause； 〃Gad！ I think I'll try。〃
〃Try what； sir？〃
〃She's a DEUCED fine woman！〃 burst out again the tender solicitor。 〃I
WILL go。 Springer； tell the fiddlers to strike up。〃
Springer scuttled across the room； and gave the leader of the band a
knowing nod。 Suddenly； 〃God save the King〃 ceased； and 〃Sir Roger de
Coverley〃 began。 The rival forces eyed each other； Mr。 Scully；
accompanied by his friend； came forward； looking very red； and fumbling
two large kid gloves。
〃HE'S GOING TO ASK ME TO DANCE；〃 hissed out Lady Gorgon；
with a dreadful intuition； and she drew back behind her lord。
〃D… it； madam； THEN DANCE with him！〃 said the General。 〃Don't
you see that the scoundrel is carrying it all his own way！ … him！ and
… him！ and … him！〃 （All of which dashes the reader may fill up with
oaths of such strength as may be requisite）。
〃General！〃 cried Lady Gorgon； but could say no more。 Scully was
before her。
〃Madam！〃 exclaimed the Liberal Member for Oldborough； 〃in a
moment like thisI saythat isthat on the present occasionyour
Ladyshipunaccustomed as I ampooh； pshaWILL your Ladyship give
me the distinguished honour and pleasure of going down the country…
dance with your Ladyship？〃
An immense heave of her Ladyship's ample chest was perceptible。
Yards of blond lace； which might be compared to a foam of the sea； were
agitated at the same moment； and by the same mighty emotion。 The river
of diamonds which flowed round her Ladyship's neck； seemed to swell
and to shine more than ever。 The tall plumes on her ambrosial head
bowed down beneath the storm。 In other words； Lady Gorgon； in a
furious rage； which she was compelled to restrain； trembled； drew up； and
bowing majestically； said；
〃Sir； I shall have much pleasure。〃 With this； she extended her hand。
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Scully； trembling； thrust forward one of his huge kid…gloves； and led her to
the head of the country…dance。 John Perkinswho I presume had been
drinking pretty freely； so as to have forgotten his ordinary bashfulness
looked at the three Gorgons in blue； then at the pretty smiling one in white；
and stepping up to her； without the smallest hesitation； asked her if she
would dance with him。
The young lady smilingly agreed。 The great example of Scully and
Lady Gorgon was followed by all dancing men and women。 Political
enmities were forgotten。 Whig voters invited Tory voters' wives to the
dance。 The daughters of Reform accepted the hands of the sons of
Conservatism。 The reconciliation of the Romans and Sabines was not
more touching than this sweet fusion。 Whackwhack！ Springer
clapped his hands； and the fiddlers adroitly obeying the cheerful signal；
began playing 〃Sir Roger de Coverley〃 louder than ever。
I do not know by what extraordinary charm （nescio qua praeter
solitum； etc。）； but young Perkins； who all his life had hated country…dances；
was delighted with this one； and skipped and laughed； poussetting；
crossing； down…the…middling； with his merry little partner； till every one of
the bettermost sort of the thirty…nine couples had dropped panting away；
and till the youngest Miss Gorgon； coming up to his partner； said in a loud
hissing scornful whisper； 〃Lucy； Mamma thinks you have danced quite
enough with thisthis person。〃 And Lucy； blushing； starting back； and
looking at Perkins in a very melancholy way； made him a little curtsey；
and went off to the Gorgonian party with her cousin。 Perkins was too
frightened to lead her back to her placetoo frightened at first； and then
too angry。 〃Person！〃 said he： his soul swelled with a desperate
republicanism： he went back to his patron more of a Radical than ever。
He found that gentleman in the solitary tea…room； pacing up and down
before the observant landlady and handmaidens of the 〃Gorgon Arms；〃
wiping his brows； gnawing his fingershis ears looming over his stiff
white shirt…collar as red as fire。 Once more the great man seized John
Perkins's hand as the latter came up。
〃D… the aristocrats！〃 roared the ex…follower of Squaretoes。
〃And so say I！ but what's the matter； sir？〃
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〃What's the matter？Why； that womanthat infernal； haughty；
straitlaced； cold…blooded brewer's daughter！ I loved that woman； sirI
KISSED that woman； sir； twenty years ago： we were all but engaged； sir：
we've walked for hours and hours； sirus and the governessI've got a
lock of her hair； sir； among my papers now； and to…night； would you
believe it？as soon as she got to the bottom of the set； away she wentnot
one word would she speak to me all the way down： and when I wanted
to lead her to her place； and asked her if she would have a glass of negus；
'Sir；' says she； 'I have done my duty； I bear no malice： but I consider you
a traitor to Sir George Gorgon's familya traitor and an upstart！ I
consider your speaking to me as a piece of insolent vulgarity； and beg you
will leave me to myself！' There's her speech； sir。 Twenty people heard
it； and all of her Tory set too。 I'll tell you what； Jack： at the next election
I'll put YOU up。 Oh that woman！ that woman！… …and to think that I love
her still！〃 Here Mr。 Scully paused； and fiercely consoled himself by
swallowing three cups of Mrs。 Rincer's green tea。
The fact is； that Lady Gorgon's passion had completely got the better
of her reason。 Her Ladyship was naturally cold； and artificially
extremely squeamish； and when this great red…faced enemy of hers looked
tenderly at her through his red little eyes； and squeezed her hand and
attempted to renew old acquaintance； she felt such an intolerable disgust at
his triumph； at his familiarity； and at the remembrance of her own former
liking for him； that she gave utterance to the speech above correctly
reported。 The Tories were delighted with her spirit； and Cornet Fitch；
with much glee； told the story to the General； but that officer； who was at
whist with some of his friends； flung down his cards； and coming up to his
lady； said briefly；
〃Madam； you are a fool！〃
〃I will NOT stay here to be bearded by that disgusting man！Mr。 Fitch；
call my people。Henrietta； bring Miss Lucy from that linendraper with
whom she is dancing。 I will not stay； General； once for all。〃
Henrietta ranshe hated her cousin： Cornet Fitch was departing。
〃Stop； Fitch；〃 said Sir George； seizing him by the arm。 〃You are a fool；
Lady Gorgon；〃 said he； 〃and I repeat ita … fool！ This fellow Scully is
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carrying all before him： he has talked with everybody； laugh
