第 60 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:46      字数:9322
  submission。  Both had been expecting it for some daysand
  〃Lord! Chopper; what a marriage we'll have!〃 Mr。
  Osborne said to his clerk; snapping his big fingers; and
  jingling all the guineas and shillings in his great pockets
  as he eyed his subordinate with a look of triumph。
  With similar operations conducted in both pockets;
  and a knowing jolly air; Osborne from his chair regarded
  Dobbin seated blank and silent opposite to him。  〃What
  a bumpkin he is for a Captain in the army;〃 old Osborne
  thought。  〃I wonder George hasn't taught him better
  manners。〃
  At last Dobbin summoned courage to begin。  〃Sir;〃 said
  he; 〃I've brought you some very grave news。  I have been
  at the Horse Guards this morning; and there's no doubt
  that our regiment will be ordered abroad; and on its
  way to Belgium before the week is over。  And you know;
  sir; that we shan't be home again before a tussle which
  may be fatal to many of us。〃
  Osborne looked grave。  〃My s ; the regiment will
  do its duty; sir; I daresay;〃 he said。
  〃The French are very strong; sir;〃 Dobbin went on。
  〃The Russians and Austrians will be a long time before
  they can bring their troops down。  We shall have the first
  of the fight; sir; and depend on it Boney will take care
  that it shall be a hard one。〃
  〃What are you driving at; Dobbin?〃 his interlocutor
  said; uneasy and with a scowl。  〃I suppose no Briton's
  afraid of any d Frenchman; hey?〃
  〃I only mean; that before we go; and considering the
  great and certain risk that hangs over every one of us
  if there are any differences between you and Georgeit
  would be as well; sir; thatthat you should shake hands:
  wouldn't it?  Should anything happen to him; I think you
  would never forgive yourself if you hadn't parted in
  charity。〃
  As he said this; poor William Dobbin blushed crimson;
  and felt and owned that he himself was a traitor。  But
  for him; perhaps; this severance need never have taken
  place。  Why had not George's marriage been delayed?
  What call was there to press it on so eagerly?  He felt that
  George would have parted from Amelia at any rate without
  a mortal pang。  Amelia; too; MIGHT have recovered the
  shock of losing him。  It was his counsel had brought
  about this marriage; and all that was to ensue from it。
  And why was it?  Because he loved her so much that he
  could not bear to see her unhappy:  or because his own
  sufferings of suspense were so unendurable that he was
  glad to crush them at onceas we hasten a funeral
  after a death; or; when a separation from those we love
  is imminent; cannot rest until the parting be over。
  〃You are a good fellow; William;〃 said Mr。 Osborne in
  a softened voice; 〃and me and George shouldn't part in
  anger; that is true。  Look here。  I've done for him as
  much as any father ever did。  He's had three times as
  much money from me; as I warrant your father ever
  gave you。  But I don't brag about that。  How I've toiled
  for him; and worked and employed my talents and energy;
  I won't say。  Ask Chopper。  Ask himself。  Ask the City of
  London。  Well; I propose to him such a marriage as any
  nobleman in the land might be proud ofthe only thing
  in life I ever asked himand he refuses me。  Am I wrong?
  Is the quarrel of MY making?  What do I seek but his
  good; for which I've been toiling like a convict ever since
  he was born?  Nobody can say there's anything selfish in
  me。  Let him come back。  I say; here's my hand。  I say;
  forget and forgive。  As for marrying now; it's out of the
  question。  Let him and Miss S。 make it up; and make out the
  marriage afterwards; when he comes back a Colonel;
  for he shall be a Colonel; by G he shall; if money
  can do it。  I'm glad you've brought him round。  I know it's
  you; Dobbin。  You've took him out of many a scrape
  before。  Let him come。  I shan't be hard。  Come along; and
  dine in Russell Square to…day: both of you。  The old shop;
  the old hour。  You'll find a neck of venison; and no
  questions asked。〃
  This praise and confidence smote Dobbin's heart very
  keenly。  Every moment the colloquy continued in this
  tone; he felt more and more guilty。  〃Sir;〃 said he; 〃I
  fear you deceive yourself。  I am sure you do。  George is
  much too high…minded a man ever to marry for money。  A
  threat on your part that you would disinherit him in
  case of disobedience would only be followed by resistance
  on his。〃
  〃Why; hang it; man; you don't call offering him eight
  or ten thousand a year threatening him?'' Mr。 Osborne
  said; with still provoking good humour。  〃'Gad; if Miss
  S。 will have me; I'm her man。  I ain't particular about a
  shade or so of tawny。〃 And the old gentleman gave his
  knowing grin and coarse laugh。
  〃You forget; sir; previous engagements into which
  Captain Osborne had entered;〃 the ambassador said; gravely。
  〃What engagements? What the devil do you mean?
  You don't mean;〃 Mr。 Osborne continued; gathering
  wrath and astonishment as the thought now first came
  upon him; 〃you don't mean that he's such a d fool
  as to be still hankering after that swindling old bankrupt's
  daughter?  You've not come here for to make me
  suppose that he wants to marry HER?  Marry HER; that IS
  a good one。  My son and heir marry a beggar's girl out of
  a gutter。  D him; if he does; let him buy a broom
  and sweep a crossing。  She was always dangling and ogling
  after him; I recollect now; and I've no doubt she was
  put on by her old sharper of a father。〃
  〃Mr。 Sedley was your very good friend; sir;〃 Dobbin
  interposed; almost pleased at finding himself growing
  angry。  〃Time was you called him better names than
  rogue and swindler。  The match was of your making。
  George had no right to play fast and loose〃
  〃Fast and loose!〃 howled out old Osborne。  〃Fast and
  loose!  Why; hang me; those are the very words my
  gentleman used himself when he gave himself airs; last
  Thursday was a fortnight; and talked about the British army
  to his father who made him。  What; it's you who have
  been a setting of him upis it? and my service to you;
  CAPTAIN。  It's you who want to introduce beggars into my
  family。  Thank you for nothing; Captain。  Marry HER indeed
  he; he! why should he?  I warrant you she'd go to him
  fast enough without。〃
  〃Sir;〃 said Dobbin; starting up in undisguised anger;
  〃no man shall abuse that lady in my hearing; and you
  least of all。〃
  〃O; you're a…going to call me out; are you?  Stop; let me
  ring the bell for pistols for two。  Mr。 George sent you
  here to insult his father; did he?〃 Osborne said; pulling
  at the bell…cord。
  〃Mr。 Osborne;〃 said Dobbin; with a faltering voice;
  〃it's you who are insulting the best creature in the world。
  You had best spare her; sir; for she's your son's wife。〃
  And with this; feeling that he could say no more; Dobbin
  went away; Osborne sinking back in his chair; and
  looking wildly after him。  A clerk came in; obedient to the
  bell; and the Captain was scarcely out of the court where
  Mr。 Osborne's offices were; when Mr。 Chopper the chief
  clerk came rushing hatless after him。
  〃For God's sake; what is it?〃 Mr。 Chopper said; catching
  the Captain by the skirt。  〃The governor's in a fit。
  What has Mr。 George been doing?〃
  〃He married Miss Sedley five days ago;〃 Dobbin replied。
  〃I was his groomsman; Mr。 Chopper; and you must
  stand his friend。〃
  The old clerk shook his head。  〃If that's your news;
  Captain; it's bad。  The governor will never forgive him。〃
  Dobbin begged Chopper to report progress to him at
  the hotel where he was stopping; and walked off moodily
  westwards; greatly perturbed as to the past and the
  future。
  When the Russell Square family came to dinner that
  evening; they found the father of the house seated in his
  usual place; but with that air of gloom on his face; which;
  whenever it appeared there; kept the whole circle silent。
  The ladies; and Mr。 Bullock who dined with them; felt
  that the news had been communicated to Mr。 Osborne。
  His dark looks affected Mr。 Bullock so far as to render
  him still and quiet: but he was unusually bland and
  attentive to Miss Maria; by whom he sat; and to her sister
  presiding at the head of the table。
  Miss Wirt; by consequence; was alone on her side of
  the board; a gap being left between her and Miss Jane
  Osborne。  Now this was George's place when he dined at
  home; and his cover; as we said; was laid for him in
  expectation of that truant's return。  Nothing occurred
  during dinner…time except smiling Mr。 Frederick's flagging
  confidential whispers; and the clinking of plate and china;
  to interrupt the silence of the repast。  The servants went
  about stealthily doing their duty。  Mutes at funerals could
  not look more glum than the domestics of Mr。 Osborne
  The neck of venison of which he had invited Dobbin to
  partake; was carved by him in perfect silence; but his
  own share went away almost untasted; though he drank
  much; and the butler assiduously filled his glass。
  At last; just at the end of the dinner; his eyes; which
  had been staring at everybody in turn; fixed themselves
  for a while upon the plate laid for George。  He pointed
  to it presently with his left hand。  His daughters looked at
  him and did not comprehend; or choose to comprehend;
  the signal; nor did the servants at first understand it。
  〃Take that plate away;〃 at last he said; ge