vanity fair(名利场)- 第7部分

　　　　　
〃Yes；　how　could　you　be　so　cruel　as　to　make　me　eat
that　horrid　pepper…dish　at　dinner；　the　first　day　I　ever
saw　you？　You　are　not　so　good　to　me　as　dear　Amelia。〃
　　　　　
〃He　doesn't　know　you　so　well；〃　cried　Amelia。
　　　　　
〃I　defy　anybody　not　to　be　good　to　you；　my　dear；〃
said　her　mother。
　　　　　
〃The　curry　was　capital；　indeed　it　was；〃　said　Joe；　quite
gravely。　　〃Perhaps　there　was　NOT　enough　citron　juice　in
itno；　there　was　NOT。〃
〃And　the　chilis？〃
〃By　Jove；　how　they　made　you　cry　out！〃　said　Joe；
caught　by　the　ridicule　of　the　circumstance；　and
exploding　in　a　fit　of　laughter　which　ended　quite
suddenly；　as　usual。
〃I　shall　take　care　how　I　let　YOU　choose　for　me
another　time；〃　said　Rebecca；　as　they　went　down
again　to　dinner。　　〃I　didn't　think　men　were　fond　of
putting　poor　harmless　girls　to　pain。〃
〃By　Gad；　Miss　Rebecca；　I　wouldn't　hurt　you　for　the
world。〃
〃No；〃　said　she；　〃I　KNOW　you　wouldn't〃；　and　then　she
gave　him　ever　so　gentle　a　pressure　with　her　little　hand；
and　drew　it　back　quite　frightened；　and　looked　first　for
one　instant　in　his　face；　and　then　down　at　the　carpet…
rods；　and　I　am　not　prepared　to　say　that　Joe's　heart　did
not　thump　at　this　little　involuntary；　timid；　gentle　motion
of　regard　on　the　part　of　the　simple　girl。
It　was　an　advance；　and　as　such；　perhaps；　some　ladies
of　indisputable　correctness　and　gentility　will　condemn　the
action　as　immodest；　but；　you　see；　poor　dear　Rebecca
had　all　this　work　to　do　for　herself。　　If　a　person　is　too
poor　to　keep　a　servant；　though　ever　so　elegant；　he　must
sweep　his　own　rooms：　if　a　dear　girl　has　no　dear　Mamma
to　settle　matters　with　the　young　man；　she　must　do　it
for　herself。　　And　oh；　what　a　mercy　it　is　that　these　women
do　not　exercise　their　powers　oftener！　We　can't　resist
them；　if　they　do。　　Let　them　show　ever　so　little　inclination；
and　men　go　down　on　their　knees　at　once：　old　or　ugly；
it　is　all　the　same。　　And　this　I　set　down　as　a　positive
truth。　　A　woman　with　fair　opportunities；　and　without　an
absolute　hump；　may　marry　WHOM　SHE　LIKES。　　Only　let　us
be　thankful　that　the　darlings　are　like　the　beasts　of　the
field；　and　don't　know　their　own　power。　　They　would
overcome　us　entirely　if　they　did。
〃Egad！〃　thought　Joseph；　entering　the　dining…room；　〃I
exactly　begin　to　feel　as　I　did　at　Dumdum　with　Miss
Cutler。〃　Many　sweet　little　appeals；　half　tender；　half
jocular；　did　Miss　Sharp　make　to　him　about　the　dishes
at　dinner；　for　by　this　time　she　was　on　a　footing　of
considerable　familiarity　with　the　family；　and　as　for　the
girls；　they　loved　each　other　like　sisters。　　Young　unmarried
girls　always　do；　if　they　are　in　a　house　together　for　ten
days。
As　if　bent　upon　advancing　Rebecca's　plans　in　every
waywhat　must　Amelia　do；　but　remind　her　brother　of
a　promise　made　last　Easter　holidays〃When　I　was　a
girl　at　school；〃　said　she；　laughinga　promise　that　he；
Joseph；　would　take　her　to　Vauxhall。　　〃Now；〃　she　said；
〃that　Rebecca　is　with　us；　will　be　the　very　time。〃
〃O；　delightful！〃　said　Rebecca；　going　to　clap　her　hands；
but　she　recollected　herself；　and　paused；　like　a　modest
creature；　as　she　was。
〃To…night　is　not　the　night；〃　said　Joe。
　
〃Well；　to…morrow。〃
　
〃To…morrow　your　Papa　and　I　dine　out；〃　said　Mrs。
Sedley。
〃You　don't　suppose　that　I'm　going；　Mrs。　Sed？〃　said
her　husband；　〃and　that　a　woman　of　your　years　and　size
is　to　catch　cold；　in　such　an　abominable　damp　place？〃
'The　children　must　have　someone　with　them；〃　cried
Mrs。　Sedley。
〃Let　Joe　go；〃　said…his　father；　laughing。　　〃He's　big
enough。〃　At　which　speech　even　Mr。　Sambo　at　the
sideboard　burst　out　laughing；　and　poor　fat　Joe　felt
inclined　to　become　a　parricide　almost。
〃Undo　his　stays！〃　continued　the　pitiless　old　gentleman。
〃Fling　some　water　in　his　face；　Miss　Sharp；　or　carry　him
upstairs：　the　dear　creature's　fainting。　　Poor　victim！　carry
him　up；　he's　as　light　as　a　feather！〃
〃If　I　stand　this；　sir；　I'm　d！〃　roared　Joseph。
〃Order　Mr。　Jos's　elephant；　Sambo！〃　cried　the　father。
〃Send　to　Exeter　'Change；　Sambo〃；　but　seeing　Jos　ready
almost　to　cry　with　vexation；　the　old　joker　stopped　his
laughter；　and　said；　holding　out　his　hand　to　his　son；　〃It's
all　fair　on　the　Stock　Exchange；　Josand；　Sambo；　never
mind　the　elephant；　but　give　me　and　Mr。　Jos　a　glass　of
Champagne。　　Boney　himself　hasn't　got　such　in　his　cellar；
my　boy！〃
A　goblet　of　Champagne　restored　Joseph's　equanimity；
and　before　the　bottle　was　emptied；　of　which　as　an　invalid
he　took　two…thirds；　he　had　agreed　to　take　the　young
ladies　to　Vauxhall。
〃The　girls　must　have　a　gentleman　apiece；〃　said　the　old
gentleman。　　〃Jos　will　be　sure　to　leave　Emmy　in　the　crowd；
he　will　be　so　taken　up　with　Miss　Sharp　here。　　Send　to　96；
and　ask　George　Osborne　if　he'll　come。〃
At　this；　I　don't　know　in　the　least　for　what　reason；
Mrs。　Sedley　looked　at　her　husband　and　laughed。　　Mr。
Sedley's　eyes　twinkled　in　a　manner　indescribably
roguish；　and　he　looked　at　Amelia；　and　Amelia；　hanging
down　her　head；　blushed　as　only　young　ladies　of　seventeen
know　how　to　blush；　and　as　Miss　Rebecca　Sharp　never
blushed　in　her　lifeat　least　not　since　she　was　eight
years　old；　and　when　she　was　caught　stealing　jam　out　of
a　cupboard　by　her　godmother。　　〃Amelia　had　better　write
a　note；〃　said　her　father；　〃and　let　George　Osborne　see
what　a　beautiful　handwriting　we　have　brought　back　from
Miss　Pinkerton's。　　Do　you　remember　when　you　wrote　to
him　to　come　on　Twelfth…night；　Emmy；　and　spelt　twelfth
without　the　f？〃
〃That　was　years　ago；〃　said　Amelia。
〃It　seems　like　yesterday；　don't　it；　John？〃　said　Mrs。
Sedley　to　her　husband；　and　that　night　in　a　conversation
which　took　place　in　a　front　room　in　the　second　floor；
in　a　sort　of　tent；　hung　round　with　chintz　of　a　rich　and
fantastic　India　pattern；　and　double　with　calico　of　a
tender　rose…colour；　in　the　interior　of　which　species　of
marquee　was　a　featherbed；　on　which　were　two　pillows；
on　which　were　two　round　red　faces；　one　in　a　laced
nightcap；　and　one　in　a　simple　cotton　one；　ending　in　a　tassel
in　A　CURTAIN　LECTURE；　I　say；　Mrs。　Sedley　took　her
husband　to　task　for　his　cruel　conduct　to　poor　Joe。
〃It　was　quite　wicked　of　you；　Mr。　Sedley；〃　said　she；
〃to　torment　the　poor　boy　so。〃
〃My　dear；〃　said　the　cotton…tassel　in　defence　of　his
conduct；　〃Jos　is　a　great　deal　vainer　than　you　ever　were
in　your　life；　and　that's　saying　a　good　deal。　　Though；　some
thirty　years　ago；　in　the　year　seventeen　hundred　and
eightywhat　was　it？perhaps　you　had　a　right　to　be
vainI　don't　say　no。　　But　I've　no　patience　with　Jos　and
his　dandified　modesty。　　It　is　out…Josephing　Joseph；　my　dear；
and　all　the　while　the　boy　is　only　thinking　of　himself；
and　what　a　fine　fellow　he　is。　　I　doubt；　Ma'am；　we　shall
have　some　trouble　with　him　yet。　　Here　is　Emmy's　little
friend　making　love　to　him　as　hard　as　she　can；　that's
quite　clear；　and　if　she　does　not　catch　him　some　other
will。　　That　man　is　destined　to　be　a　prey　to　woman；　as
I　am　to　go　on　'Change　every　day。　　It's　a　mercy　he　did
not　bring　us　over　a　black　daughter…in…law；　my　dear。　　But；
mark　my　words；　the　first　woman　who　fishes　for　him；
hooks　him。〃
〃She　shall　go　off　to…morrow；　the　little　artful　creature；〃
said　Mrs。　Sedley；　with　great　energy。
〃Why　not　she　as　well　as　another；　Mrs。　Sedley？　The
girl's　a　white　face　at　any　rate。　　I　don't　care　who　marries
him。　　Let　Joe　please　himself。〃
And　presently　the　voices　of　the　two　speakers　were
hushed；　or　were　replaced　by　the　gentle　but　unromantic
music　of　the　nose；　and　save　when　the　church　bells
tolled　the　hour　and　the　watchman　called　it；　all　was
silent　at　the　house　of　John　Sedley；　Esquire；　of　Russell
Square；　and　the　Stock　Exchange。
When　morning　came；　the　good…natured　Mrs。　Sedley　no
longer　thought　of　executing　her　threats　with　regard　to
Miss　Sharp；　for　though　nothing　is　more　keen；　nor　more
common；　nor　more　justifiable；　than　maternal　jealousy；
yet　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　suppose　that　the　little；
humble；　grateful；　gentle　governess　would　dare　to　look
up　to　such　a　magnificent　personage　as　the　Collector　of
Boggley　Wollah。　　The　petition；　too；　for　an　extension　of
the　young　lady's　leave　of　absence　had　already　been
despatched；　and　it　would　be　difficult　to　find　a　pretext　for
abruptly　dismissing　her。
And　as　if　all　things　conspired　in　favour　of　the　gentle
Rebecca；　the　very　elements　（although　she　was　not
inclined　at　first　to　acknowledge　their　action　in　her　behalf）
interposed　to　aid　her。　　For　on　the　evening　appointed　for
the　Vauxhall　party；　George　Osborne　having　come　to
dinner；　and　the　elders　of　the　house　having　departed；
according　to　invitation；　to　dine　with　Alderman　Balls　at
Highbury　Barn；　there　came　on　such　a　thunder…storm　as　only
happens　on　Vauxhall　nights；　and　as　obliged　the　young
people；　perforce；　to　remain　at　home。　　Mr。　Osborne　did
not　seem　in　the　least　disappointed　at　this　occurrence。
He　and　Joseph　Sedley　drank　a　fitting　quantity　of
port…wine；　tete…a…tete；　in　the　dining…room；　during　the
drinking　of　which　Sedley　told　a　number　of　his　best　Indian
stories；　for　he　was　extremely　talkative　in　man's　society；
and　afterwards　Miss　Amelia　Sedley　did　the　honours　of
the　drawing…room；　and　these　four　young　persons　passed
such　a　comfortable　evening　together；　that　they　declared
they　were　rather　glad　of　the　thunder…storm　than
otherwise；　which　had　caused　them　to　put　off　their
visit　to　Vauxhall。
Osborne　was　Sedley's　godson；　and　had　been　one　of　the
family　any　time　these　three…and…twenty　years。　　At　six
weeks　old；　he　had　received　from　John　Sedley　a　present
of　a　silver　cup；　at　six　months　old；　a　coral　with　gold
whistle　and　bells；　from　his　youth　upwards　he　was
〃tipped〃　regularly　by　the　old　gentleman　at　Christmas：
and　on　going　back　to　school；　he　remembered　perfectly
well　being　thrashed　by　Joseph　Sedley；　when　the　latter
was　a　big；　swaggering　hobbadyhoy；　and　George　an
impudent　urchin　of　ten　years　old。　　In　a　word；　George　was
as　familiar　with　the　family　as　such　daily　acts　of
kindness　and　intercourse　could　make　him。
〃Do　you　remember；　Sedley；　what　a　fury　you　were　in；
when　I　cut　off　the　tassels　of　your　Hessian　boots；　and
how　Misshem！how　Amelia　rescued　me　from　a
beating；　by　falling　down　on　her　knees　and　crying　out　to
her　brother　Jos；　not　to　beat　little　George？〃
Jos　remembered　this　remarkable　circumstance
perfectly　well；　but　vowed　that　he　had　totally
forgotten　it。
〃Well；　do　you　remember　coming　down　in　a　gig　to　Dr。