第 36 节
作者:
左思右想 更新:2021-02-19 19:46 字数:9322
suspicion all the while of her affectionate nurse and friend。
It must have often crossed Miss Crawley's mind that
nobody does anything for nothing。 If she measured her own
feeling towards the world; she must have been pretty
well able to gauge those of the world towards herself;
and perhaps she reflected that it is the ordinary lot of
people to have no friends if they themselves care for
nobody。
Well; meanwhile Becky was the greatest comfort and
convenience to her; and she gave her a couple of new
gowns; and an old necklace and shawl; and showed her
friendship by abusing all her intimate acquaintances to
her new confidante (than which there can't be a more
touching proof of regard); and meditated vaguely some
great future benefitto marry her perhaps to Clump;
the apothecary; or to settle her in some advantageous
way of life; or at any rate; to send her back to Queen's
Crawley when she had done with her; and the full
London season had begun。
When Miss Crawley was convalescent and descended
to the drawing…room; Becky sang to her; and otherwise
amused her; when she was well enough to drive out;
Becky accompanied her。 And amongst the drives which
they took; whither; of all places in the world; did Miss
Crawley's admirable good…nature and friendship actually
induce her to penetrate; but to Russell Square;
Bloomsbury; and the house of John Sedley; Esquire。
Ere that event; many notes had passed; as may be
imagined; between the two dear friends。 During the
months of Rebecca's stay in Hampshire; the eternal
friendship had (must it be owned?) suffered considerable
diminution; and grown so decrepit and feeble with old
age as to threaten demise altogether。 The fact is; both
girls had their own real affairs to think of: Rebecca her
advance with her employersAmelia her own absorbing
topic。 When the two girls met; and flew into each other's
arms with that impetuosity which distinguishes the
behaviour of young ladies towards each other; Rebecca
performed her part of the embrace with the most perfect
briskness and energy。 Poor little Amelia blushed as she
kissed her friend; and thought she had been guilty of
something very like coldness towards her。
Their first interview was but a very short one。 Amelia
was just ready to go out for a walk。 Miss Crawley was
waiting in her carriage below; her people wondering at
the locality in which they found themselves; and gazing
upon honest Sambo; the black footman of Bloomsbury;
as one of the queer natives of the place。 But when Amelia
came down with her kind smiling looks (Rebecca must
introduce her to her friend; Miss Crawley was longing
to see her; and was too ill to leave her carriage)when;
I say; Amelia came down; the Park Lane shoulder…knot
aristocracy wondered more and more that such a thing
could come out of Bloomsbury; and Miss Crawley was
fairly captivated by the sweet blushing face of the young
lady who came forward so timidly and so gracefully to
pay her respects to the protector of her friend。
〃What a complexion; my dear! What a sweet voice!〃
Miss Crawley said; as they drove away westward after
the little interview。 〃My dear Sharp; your young friend
is charming。 Send for her to Park Lane; do you hear?〃
Miss Crawley had a good taste。 She liked natural
mannersa little timidity only set them off。 She liked pretty
faces near her; as she liked pretty pictures and nice
china。 She talked of Amelia with rapture half a dozen
times that day。 She mentioned her to Rawdon Crawley;
who came dutifully to partake of his aunt's chicken。
Of course; on this Rebecca instantly stated that Amelia
was engaged to be marriedto a Lieutenant Osborne
a very old flame。
〃Is he a man in a line…regiment?〃 Captain Crawley
asked; remembering after an effort; as became a
guardsman; the number of the regiment; the th。
Rebecca thought that was the regiment。 〃The
Captain's name;〃 she said; 〃was Captain Dobbin。〃
〃A lanky gawky fellow;〃 said Crawley; 〃tumbles over
everybody。 I know him; and Osborne's a goodish…looking
fellow; with large black whiskers?〃
〃Enormous;〃 Miss Rebecca Sharp said; 〃and
enormously proud of them; I assure you。〃
Captain Rawdon Crawley burst into a horse…laugh by
way of reply; and being pressed by the ladies to explain;
did so when the explosion of hilarity was over。 〃He
fancies he can play at billiards;〃 said he。 〃I won two
hundred of him at the Cocoa…Tree。 HE play; the young
flat! He'd have played for anything that day; but his friend
Captain Dobbin carried him off; hang him!〃
〃Rawdon; Rawdon; don't be so wicked;〃 Miss Crawley
remarked; highly pleased。
〃Why; ma'am; of all the young fellows I've seen out
of the line; I think this fellow's the greenest。 Tarquin and
Deuceace get what money they like out of him。 He'd go
to the deuce to be seen with a lord。 He pays their
dinners at Greenwich; and they invite the company。〃
〃And very pretty company too; I dare say。〃
〃Quite right; Miss Sharp。 Right; as usual; Miss Sharp。
Uncommon pretty companyhaw; haw!〃 and the
Captain laughed more and more; thinking he had made a
good joke。
〃Rawdon; don't be naughty!〃 his aunt exclaimed。
〃Well; his father's a City manimmensely rich; they
say。 Hang those City fellows; they must bleed; and I've
not done with him yet; I can tell you。 Haw; haw!〃
〃Fie; Captain Crawley; I shall warn Amelia。 A
gambling husband!〃
〃Horrid; ain't he; hey?〃 the Captain said with great
solemnity; and then added; a sudden thought having
struck him: 〃Gad; I say; ma'am; we'll have him here。〃
〃Is he a presentable sort of a person?〃 the aunt
inquired。
〃Presentable?oh; very well。 You wouldn't see any
difference;〃 Captain Crawley answered。 〃Do let's have
him; when you begin to see a few people; and his
whatdyecallemhis inamoratoeh; Miss Sharp; that's what
you call itcomes。 Gad; I'll write him a note; and have
him; and I'll try if he can play piquet as well as billiards。
Where does he live; Miss Sharp?〃
Miss Sharp told Crawley the Lieutenant's town address;
and a few days after this conversation; Lieutenant
Osborne received a letter; in Captain Rawdon's
schoolboy hand; and enclosing a note of invitation from
Miss Crawley。
Rebecca despatched also an invitation to her darling
Amelia; who; you may be sure; was ready enough to
accept it when she heard that George was to be of the
party。 It was arranged that Amelia was to spend the
morning with the ladies of Park Lane; where all were
very kind to her。 Rebecca patronised her with calm
superiority: she was so much the cleverer of the two; and
her friend so gentle and unassuming; that she always
yielded when anybody chose to command; and so took
Rebecca's orders with perfect meekness and good humour。
Miss Crawley's graciousness was also remarkable。 She
continued her raptures about little Amelia; talked about
her before her face as if she were a doll; or a servant;
or a picture; and admired her with the most benevolent
wonder possible。 I admire that admiration which the
genteel world sometimes extends to the commonalty。
There is no more agreeable object in life than to see
Mayfair folks condescending。 Miss Crawley's prodigious
benevolence rather fatigued poor little Amelia; and I am
not sure that of the three ladies in Park Lane she did
not find honest Miss Briggs the most agreeable。 She
sympathised with Briggs as with all neglected or gentle
people: she wasn't what you call a woman of spirit。
George came to dinnera repast en garcon with
Captain Crawley。
The great family coach of the Osbornes transported
him to Park Lane from Russell Square; where the young
ladies; who were not themselves invited; and professed
the greatest indifference at that slight; nevertheless looked
at Sir Pitt Crawley's name in the baronetage; and learned
everything which that work had to teach about the
Crawley family and their pedigree; and the Binkies; their
relatives; &c。; &c。 Rawdon Crawley received George Osborne
with great frankness and graciousness: praised his play at
billiards: asked him when he would have his revenge:
was interested about Osborne's regiment: and would have
proposed piquet to him that very evening; but Miss
Crawley absolutely forbade any gambling in her house;
so that the young Lieutenant's purse was not lightened
by his gallant patron; for that day at least。 However; they
made an engagement for the next; somewhere: to look
at a horse that Crawley had to sell; and to try him in the
Park; and to dine together; and to pass the evening with
some jolly fellows。 〃That is; if you're not on duty to that
pretty Miss Sedley;〃 Crawley said; with a knowing wink。
〃Monstrous nice girl; 'pon my honour; though; Osborne;〃
he was good enough to add。 〃Lots of tin; I suppose; eh?〃
Osborne wasn't on duty; he would join Crawley with
pleasure: and the latter; when they met the next day;
praised his new friend's horsemanshipas he might with
perfect honestyand introduced him to three or four
young men of the first fashion; whose acquaintance
immensely elated the simple young officer。
〃How's little Miss Sharp; by…the…bye?〃 Osborne inquired
of his frien