vanity fair(名利场)- 第23部分

　　
Either　of　these　young　ladies　is　PERFECTLY　QUALIFIED　to
instruct　in　Greek；　Latin；　and　the　rudiments　of　Hebrew；
in　mathematics　and　history；　in　Spanish；　French；　Italian；
and　geography；　in　music；　vocal　and　instrumental；　in
dancing；　without　the　aid　of　a　master；　and　in　the
elements　of　natural　sciences。　　In　the　use　of　the　globes　both
are　proficients。　　In　addition　to　these　Miss　Tuffin；　who　is
daughter　of　the　late　Reverend　Thomas　Tuffin　（Fellow
of　Corpus　College；　Cambridge）；　can　instruct　in　the
Syriac　language；　and　the　elements　of　Constitutional　law。
But　as　she　is　only　eighteen　years　of　age；　and　of
exceedingly　pleasing　personal　appearance；　perhaps　this
young　lady　may　be　objectionable　in　Sir　Huddleston
Fuddleston's　family。
　　
Miss　Letitia　Hawky；　on　the　other　hand；　is　not
personally　well…favoured。　　She　is…twenty…nine；　her　face
is　much　pitted　with　the　small…pox。　　She　has　a　halt　in　her
gait；　red　hair；　and　a　trifling　obliquity　of　vision。　　Both
ladies　are　endowed　with　EVERY　MORAL　AND　RELIGIOUS
VIRTUE。　　Their　terms；　of　course；　are　such　as　their
accomplishments　merit。　　With　my　most　grateful　respects
to　the　Reverend　Bute　Crawley；　I　have　the　honour　to　be；
Dear　Madam；
　　　　　　
Your　most　faithful　and　obedient　servant；
Barbara　Pinkerton。
P。S。　　The　Miss　Sharp；　whom　you　mention　as
governess　to　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　Bart。；　M。P。；　was　a　pupil
of　mine；　and　I　have　nothing　to　say　in　her　disfavour。
Though　her　appearance　is　disagreeable；　we　cannot
control　the　operations　of　nature：　and　though　her　parents
were　disreputable　（her　father　being　a　painter；　several
times　bankrupt；　and　her　mother；　as　I　have　since　learned；
with　horror；　a　dancer　at　the　Opera）；　yet　her　talents　are
considerable；　and　I　cannot　regret　that　I　received　her
OUT　OF　CHARITY。　　My　dread　is；　lest　the　principles　of　the
motherwho　was　represented　to　me　as　a　French
Countess；　forced　to　emigrate　in　the　late　revolutionary　horrors；
but　who；　as　I　have　since　found；　was　a　person　of　the
very　lowest　order　and　moralsshould　at　any　time　prove
to　be　HEREDITARY　in　the　unhappy　young　woman　whom　I
took　as　AN　OUTCAST。　　But　her　principles　have　hitherto
been　correct　（I　believe）；　and　I　am　sure　nothing　will
occur　to　injure　them　in　the　elegant　and　refined　circle
of　the　eminent　Sir　Pitt　Crawley。
Miss　Rebecca　Sharp　to　Miss　Amelia　Sedley。
I　have　not　written　to　my　beloved　Amelia　for　these
many　weeks　past；　for　what　news　was　there　to　tell　of　the
sayings　and　doings　at　Humdrum　Hall；　as　I　have
christened　it；　and　what　do　you　care　whether　the　turnip　crop
is　good　or　bad；　whether　the　fat　pig　weighed　thirteen
stone　or　fourteen；　and　whether　the　beasts　thrive　well
upon　mangelwurzel？　Every　day　since　I　last　wrote　has
been　like　its　neighbour。　　Before　breakfast；　a　walk　with
Sir　Pitt　and　his　spud；　after　breakfast　studies　（such　as
they　are）　in　the　schoolroom；　after　schoolroom；　reading
and　writing　about　lawyers；　leases；　coal…mines；　canals；
with　Sir　Pitt　（whose　secretary　I　am　become）；　after
dinner；　Mr。　Crawley's　discourses　on　the　baronet's
backgammon；　during　both　of　which　amusements　my　lady
looks　on　with　equal　placidity。　　She　has　become　rather
more　interesting　by　being　ailing　of　late；　which　has
brought　a　new　visitor　to　the　Hall；　in　the　person　of　a
young　doctor。　　Well；　my　dear；　young　women　need　never
despair。　　The　young　doctor　gave　a　certain　friend　of　yours
to　understand　that；　if　she　chose　to　be　Mrs。　Glauber；　she
was　welcome　to　ornament　the　surgery！　I　told　his
impudence　that　the　gilt　pestle　and　mortar　was　quite
ornament　enough；　as　if　I　was　born；　indeed；　to　be　a　country
surgeon's　wife！　Mr。　Glauber　went　home　seriously
indisposed　at　his　rebuff；　took　a　cooling　draught；　and　is　now
quite　cured。　　Sir　Pitt　applauded　my　resolution　highly；
he　would　be　sorry　to　lose　his　little　secretary；　I　think；
and　I　believe　the　old　wretch　likes　me　as　much　as　it　is　in
his　nature　to　like　any　one。　　Marry；　indeed！　and　with　a
country　apothecary；　afterNo；　no；　one　cannot　so
soon　forget　old　associations；　about　which　I　will　talk　no
more。　　Let　us　return　to　Humdrum　Hall。
For　some　time　past　it　is　Humdrum　Hall　no　longer。
My　dear；　Miss　Crawley　has　arrived　with　her　fat　horses；
fat　servants；　fat　spanielthe　great　rich　Miss　Crawley；
with　seventy　thousand　pounds　in　the　five　per　cents。；
whom；　or　I　had　better　say　WHICH；　her　two　brothers
adore。　　She　looks　very　apoplectic；　the　dear　soul；　no
wonder　her　brothers　are　anxious　about　her。　　You　should　see
them　struggling　to　settle　her　cushions；　or　to　hand　her
coffee！　〃When　I　come　into　the　country；〃　she　says　（for
she　has　a　great　deal　of　humour）；　〃I　leave　my　toady；
Miss　Briggs；　at　home。　　My　brothers　are　my　toadies　here；
my　dear；　and　a　pretty　pair　they　are！〃
　　
When　she　comes　into　the　country　our　hall　is　thrown
open；　and　for　a　month；　at　least；　you　would　fancy　old
Sir　Walpole　was　come　to　life　again。　　We　have　dinner…
parties；　and　drive　out　in　the　coach…and…fourthe
footmen　put　on　their　newest　canary…coloured　liveries；　we
drink　claret　and　champagne　as　if　we　were　accustomed
to　it　every　day。　　We　have　wax　candles　in　the　schoolroom；
and　fires　to　warm　ourselves　with。　　Lady　Crawley　is　made
to　put　on　the　brightest　pea…green　in　her　wardrobe；　and
my　pupils　leave　off　their　thick　shoes　and　tight　old
tartan　pelisses；　and　wear　silk　stockings　and　muslin　frocks；
as　fashionable　baronets'　daughters　should。　　Rose　came　in
yesterday　in　a　sad　plightthe　Wiltshire　sow　（an
enormous　pet　of　hers）　ran　her　down；　and　destroyed　a　most
lovely　flowered　lilac　silk　dress　by　dancing　over　ithad
this　happened　a　week　ago；　Sir　Pitt　would　have　sworn
frightfully；　have　boxed　the　poor　wretch's　ears；　and　put
her　upon　bread　and　water　for　a　month。　　All　he　said　was；
〃I'll　serve　you　out；　Miss；　when　your　aunt's　gone；〃　and
laughed　off　the　accident　as　quite　trivial。　　Let　us　hope　his
wrath　will　have　passed　away　before　Miss　Crawley's
departure。　　I　hope　so；　for　Miss　Rose's　sake；　I　am　sure。
What　a　charming　reconciler　and　peacemaker　money　is！
　　
Another　admirable　effect　of　Miss　Crawley　and　her
seventy　thousand　pounds　is　to　be　seen　in　the　conduct
of　the　two　brothers　Crawley。　　I　mean　the　baronet　and
the　rector；　not　OUR　brothersbut　the　former；　who　hate
each　other　all　the　year　round；　become　quite　loving　at
Christmas。　　I　wrote　to　you　last　year　how　the　abominable
horse…racing　rector　was　in　the　habit　of　preaching　clumsy
sermons　at　us　at　church；　and　how　Sir　Pitt　snored　in
answer。　　When　Miss　Crawley　arrives　there　is　no　such　thing
as　quarrelling　heard　ofthe　Hall　visits　the　Rectory；　and
vice　versathe　parson　and　the　Baronet　talk　about　the
pigs　and　the　poachers；　and　the　county　business；　in　the
most　affable　manner；　and　without　quarrelling　in　their
cups；　I　believeindeed　Miss　Crawley　won't　hear　of　their
quarrelling；　and　vows　that　she　will　leave　her　money　to
the　Shropshire　Crawleys　if　they　offend　her。　　If　they　were
clever　people；　those　Shropshire　Crawleys；　they　might
have　it　all；　I　think；　but　the　Shropshire　Crawley　is　a
clergyman　like　his　Hampshire　cousin；　and　mortally　offended
Miss　Crawley　（who　had　fled　thither　in　a　fit　of　rage
against　her　impracticable　brethren）　by　some　strait…laced
notions　of　morality。　　He　would　have　prayers　in　the　house；
I　believe。
　　
Our　sermon　books　are　shut　up　when　Miss　Crawley
arrives；　and　Mr。　Pitt；　whom　she　abominates；　finds　it
convenient　to　go　to　town。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　young
dandy〃blood；〃　I　believe；　is　the　termCaptain　Crawley
makes　his　appearance；　and　I　suppose　you　will　like　to
know　what　sort　of　a　person　he　is。
　　
Well；　he　is　a　very　large　young　dandy。　　He　is　six　feet
high；　and　speaks　with　a　great　voice；　and　swears　a　great
deal；　and　orders　about　the　servants；　who　all　adore　him
nevertheless；　for　he　is　very　generous　of　his　money；　and
the　domestics　will　do　anything　for　him。　　Last　week　the
keepers　almost　killed　a　bailiff　and　his　man　who　came
down　from　London　to　arrest　the　Captain；　and　who　were
found　lurking　about　the　Park　wallthey　beat　them；
ducked　them；　and　were　going　to　shoot　them　for
poachers；　but　the　baronet　interfered。
　　
The　Captain　has　a　hearty　contempt　for　his　father；　I
can　see；　and　calls　him　an　old　PUT；　an　old　SNOB；　an　old
CHAW…BACON；　and　numberless　other　pretty　names。　　He　has
a　DREADFUL　REPUTATION　among　the　ladies。　　He　brings　his
hunters　home　with　him；　lives　with　the　Squires　of　the
county；　asks　whom　he　pleases　to　dinner；　and　Sir　Pitt
dares　not　say　no；　for　fear　of　offending　Miss　Crawley；
and　missing　his　legacy　when　she　dies　of　her　apoplexy。
Shall　I　tell　you　a　compliment　the　Captain　paid　me？　　I
must；　it　is　so　pretty。　　One　evening　we　actually　had　a
dance；　there　was　Sir　Huddleston　Fuddleston　and　his
family；　Sir　Giles　Wapshot　and　his　young　ladies；　and　I
don't　know　how　many　more。　　Well；　I　heard　him　say
〃By　Jove；　she's　a　neat　little　filly！〃　meaning　your　humble
servant；　and　he　did　me　the　honour　to　dance　two　country…
dances　with　me。　　He　gets　on　pretty　gaily　with　the　young
Squires；　with　whom　he　drinks；　bets；　rides；　and　talks
about　hunting　and　shooting；　but　he　says　the　country
girls　are　BORES；　indeed；　I　don't　think　he　is　far　wrong。
You　should　see　the　contempt　with　which　they　look　down
on　poor　me！　When　they　dance　I　sit　and　play　the　piano
very　demurely；　but　the　other　night；　coming　in　rather
flushed　from　the　dining…room；　and　seeing　me　employed
in　this　way；　he　swore　out　loud　that　I　was　the　best　dancer
in　the　room；　and　took　a　great　oath　that　he　would　have
the　fiddlers　from　Mudbury。
　　
〃I'll　go　and　play　a　country…dance；〃　said　Mrs。　Bute
Crawley；　very　readily　（she　is　a　little；　black…faced　old
woman　in　a　turban；　rather　crooked；　and　with　very
twinkling　eyes）；　and　after　the　Captain　and　your　poor　little
Rebecca　had　performed　a　dance　together；　do　you　know
she　actually　did　me　the　honour　to　compliment　me　upon
my　steps！　Such　a　thing　was　never　heard　of　before；　the
proud　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley；　first　cousin　to　the　Earl　of
Tiptoff；　who　won't　condescend　to　visit　Lady　Crawley；
except　when　her　sister　is　in　the　country。　　Poor　Lady
Crawley！　during　most　part　of　these　gaieties；　she　is
upstairs　taking　pills。
　　
Mrs。　Bute　has　all　of　a　sudden　taken　a　great　fancy　to
me。　　〃My　dear　Miss　Sharp；〃　she　says；　〃why　not　bring
over　your　girls　to　the　Rectory？their　cousins　will　be　so
happy　to　see　them。〃　I　know　what　she　means。　　Signor
Clementi　did　not　teach　us　the　piano