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