第 57 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:46      字数:9322
  young officers of the Heavies; who are pretty sure to be
  pacing the cliff; or again it is a City man; with a nautical
  turn; and a telescope; the size of a six…pounder; who has
  his instrument pointed seawards; so as to command every
  pleasure…boat; herring…boat; or bathing…machine that
  comes to; or quits; the shore; &c。; &c。  But have we any
  leisure for a description of Brighton?for Brighton; a
  clean Naples with genteel lazzaronifor Brighton; that
  always looks brisk; gay; and gaudy; like a harlequin's
  jacketfor Brighton; which used to be seven hours
  distant from London at the time of our story; which is now
  only a hundred minutes off; and which may approach
  who knows how much nearer; unless Joinville comes and
  untimely bombards it?
  〃What a monstrous fine girl that is in the lodgings
  over the milliner's;〃 one of these three promenaders
  remarked to the other; 〃Gad; Crawley; did you see what a
  wink she gave me as I passed?〃
  〃Don't break her heart; Jos; you rascal;〃 said another。
  〃Don't trifle with her affections; you Don Juan!〃
  〃Get away;〃 said Jos Sedley; quite pleased; and leering up
  at the maid…servant in question with a most killing
  ogle。  Jos was even more splendid at Brighton than he had
  been at his sister's marriage。  He had brilliant under…waistcoats;
  any one of which would have set up a moderate buck。
  He sported a military frock…coat; ornamented with
  frogs; knobs; black buttons; and meandering embroidery。
  He had affected a military appearance and habits of late;
  and he walked with his two friends; who were of that
  profession; clinking his boot…spurs; swaggering prodigiously;
  and shooting death…glances at all the servant girls
  who were worthy to be slain。
  〃What shall we do; boys; till the ladies return?〃 the
  buck asked。  The ladies were out to Rottingdean in his
  carriage on a drive。
  〃Let's have a game at billiards;〃 one of his friends
  saidthe tall one; with lacquered mustachios。
  〃No; dammy; no; Captain;〃 Jos replied; rather
  alarmed。  〃No billiards to…day; Crawley; my boy;
  yesterday was enough。〃
  〃You play very well;〃 said Crawley; laughing。  〃Don't
  he; Osborne? How well he made that…five stroke; eh?〃
  〃Famous;〃 Osborne said。  〃Jos is a devil of a fellow
  at billiards; and at everything else; too。  I wish there were
  any tiger…hunting about here! we might go and kill a few
  before dinner。  (There goes a fine girl! what an ankle; eh;
  Jos?) Tell us that story about the tiger…hunt; and the
  way you did for him in the jungleit's a wonderful story
  that; Crawley。〃 Here George Osborne gave a yawn。  〃It's
  rather slow work;〃 said he; 〃down here; what shall we
  do?〃
  〃Shall we go and look at some horses that Snaffler's
  just brought from Lewes fair?〃 Crawley said。
  〃Suppose we go and have some jellies at Dutton's;〃
  and the rogue Jos; willing to kill two birds with one
  stone。  〃Devilish fine gal at Dutton's。〃
  〃Suppose we go and see the Lightning come in; it's
  just about time?〃 George said。  This advice prevailing
  over the stables and the jelly; they turned towards the
  coach…office to witness the Lightning's arrival。
  As they passed; they met the carriageJos Sedley's
  open carriage; with its magnificent armorial bearings
  that splendid conveyance in which he used to drive; about
  at Cheltonham; majestic and solitary; with his arms
  folded; and his hat cocked; or; more happy; with ladies
  by his side。
  Two were in the carriage now: one a little person; with
  light hair; and dressed in the height of the fashion; the
  other in a brown silk pelisse; and a straw bonnet with
  pink ribbons; with a rosy; round; happy face; that did
  you good to behold。  She checked the carriage as it
  neared the three gentlemen; after which exercise of
  authority she looked rather nervous; and then began to
  blush most absurdly。  〃We have had a delightful drive;
  George;〃 she said; 〃andand we're so glad to come back;
  and; Joseph; don't let him be late。〃
  〃Don't be leading our husbands into mischief; Mr。
  Sedley; you wicked; wicked man you;〃 Rebecca said;
  shaking at Jos a pretty little finger covered with the
  neatest French kid glove。  〃No billiards; no smoking; no
  naughtiness!〃
  〃My dear Mrs。 CrawleyAh now! upon my honour!〃
  was all Jos could ejaculate by way of reply; but he managed
  to fall into a tolerable attitude; with his head lying
  on his shoulder; grinning upwards at his victim; with one
  hand at his back; which he supported on his cane; and
  the other hand (the one with the diamond ring) fumbling
  in his shirt…frill and among his under…waistcoats。  As the
  carriage drove off he kissed the diamond hand to the fair
  ladies within。  He wished all Cheltenham; all Chowringhee;
  all Calcutta; could see him in that position; waving his
  hand to such a beauty; and in company with such a
  famous buck as Rawdon Crawley of the Guards。
  Our young bride and bridegroom had chosen Brighton
  as the place where they would pass the first few days after
  their marriage; and having engaged apartments at the
  Ship Inn; enjoyed themselves there in great comfort and
  quietude; until Jos presently joined them。  Nor was he
  the only companion they found there。  As they were
  coming into the hotel from a sea…side walk one afternoon;
  on whom should they light but Rebecca and her
  husband。  The recognition was immediate。  Rebecca flew
  into the arms of her dearest friend。  Crawley and Osborne
  shook hands together cordially enough: and Becky; in
  the course of a very few hours; found means to make the
  latter forget that little unpleasant passage of words which
  had happened between them。  〃Do you remember the last
  time we met at Miss Crawley's; when I was so rude to
  you; dear Captain Osborne? I thought you seemed careless
  about dear Amelia。  It was that made me angry: and
  so pert: and so unkind: and so ungrateful。  Do forgive
  me!〃 Rebecca said; and she held out her hand with so
  frank and winning a grace; that Osborne could not but
  take it。  By humbly and frankly acknowledging yourself to
  be in the wrong; there is no knowing; my son; what good
  you may do。  I knew once a gentleman and very worthy
  practitioner in Vanity Fair; who used to do little wrongs
  to his neighbours on purpose; and in order to apologise
  for them in an open and manly way afterwardsand
  what ensued?  My friend Crocky Doyle was liked everywhere;
  and deemed to be rather impetuousbut the honestest
  fellow。  Becky's humility passed for sincerity with
  George Osborne。
  These two young couples had plenty of tales to relate
  to each other。  The marriages of either were discussed;
  and their prospects in life canvassed with the greatest
  frankness and interest on both sides。  George's marriage
  was to be made known to his father by his friend
  Captain Dobbin; and young Osborne trembled rather for the
  result of that communication。  Miss Crawley; on whom
  all Rawdon's hopes depended; still held out。  Unable to
  make an entry into her house in Park Lane; her
  affectionate nephew and niece had followed her to
  Brighton; where they had emissaries continually planted
  at her door。
  〃I wish you could see some of Rawdon's friends who
  are always about our door;〃 Rebecca said; laughing。  〃Did
  you ever see a dun; my dear; or a bailiff and his man?
  Two of the abominable wretches watched all last week
  at the greengrocer's opposite; and we could not get away
  until Sunday。  If Aunty does not relent; what shall we
  do?〃
  Rawdon; with roars of laughter; related a dozen amusing
  anecdotes of his duns; and Rebecca's adroit treatment
  of them。  He vowed with a great oath that there was
  no woman in Europe who could talk a creditor over as
  she could。  Almost immediately after their marriage; her
  practice had begun; and her husband found the immense
  value of such a wife。  They had credit in plenty; but they
  had bills also in abundance; and laboured under a scarcity
  of ready money。  Did these debt…difficulties affect Rawdon's
  good spirits?  No。  Everybody in Vanity Fair must
  have remarked how well those live who are comfortably
  and thoroughly in debt: how they deny themselves nothing;
  how jolly and easy they are in their minds。  Rawdon
  and his wife had the very best apartments at the inn at
  Brighton; the landlord; as he brought in the first dish;
  bowed before them as to his greatest customers: and
  Rawdon abused the dinners and wine with an audacity
  which no grandee in the land could surpass。  Long custom;
  a manly appearance; faultless boots and clothes;
  and a happy fierceness of manner; will often help a man
  as much as a great balance at the banker's。
  The two wedding parties met constantly in each other's
  apartments。  After two or three nights the gentlemen of an
  evening had a little piquet; as their wives sate and chatted
  apart。  This pastime; and the arrival of Jos Sedley; who
  made his appearance in his grand open carriage; and who
  played a few games at billiards with Captain Crawley;
  replenished Rawdon's purse somewhat; and gave him the
  benefit of that ready money for which the greatest spirits
  are sometimes at a stand…still。
  So the three gentlemen walked down to see the Lightning
  coach come in。  Punctual to the minute; the coach
  crowded inside and out; the guard blowing his accustomed
  tune on the hornthe Lightning came tearing
  down the street; an