第 65 节
作者:
左思右想 更新:2021-02-19 19:46 字数:9322
any communication with me; he has flung us off; and
leaves us to poverty。 I can rough it well enough; but
you; my dear; how will you bear it? read here。〃 And he
handed her over the letter。
Amelia; with a look of tender alarm in her eyes;
listened to her noble hero as he uttered the above generous
sentiments; and sitting down on the bed; read the letter
which George gave her with such a pompous martyr…like
air。 Her face cleared up as she read the document; however。
The idea of sharing poverty and privation in company
with the beloved object is; as we have before said;
far from being disagreeable to a warm…hearted woman。
The notion was actually pleasant to little Amelia。 Then;
as usual; she was ashamed of herself for feeling happy at
such an indecorous moment; and checked her pleasure;
saying demurely; 〃O; George; how your poor heart must
bleed at the idea of being separated from your papa!〃
〃It does;〃 said George; with an agonised countenance。
〃But he can't be angry with you long;〃 she continued。
〃Nobody could; I'm sure。 He must forgive you; my
dearest; kindest husband。 O; I shall never forgive myself
if he does not。〃
〃What vexes me; my poor Emmy; is not my misfortune;
but yours;〃 George said。 〃I don't care for a little
poverty; and I think; without vanity; I've talents enough
to make my own way。〃
〃That you have;〃 interposed his wife; who thought that
war should cease; and her husband should be made a
general instantly。
〃Yes; I shall make my way as well as another;〃 Osborne
went on; 〃but you; my dear girl; how can I bear
your being deprived of the comforts and station in
society which my wife had a right to expect? My dearest
girl in barracks; the wife of a soldier in a marching
regiment; subject to all sorts of annoyance and privation!
It makes me miserable。〃
Emmy; quite at ease; as this was her husband's only
cause of disquiet; took his hand; and with a radiant face
and smile began to warble that stanza from the favourite
song of 〃Wapping Old Stairs;〃 in which the heroine; after
rebuking her Tom for inattention; promises 〃his trousers
to mend; and his grog too to make;〃 if he will be constant
and kind; and not forsake her。 〃Besides;〃 she said;
after a pause; during which she looked as pretty and
happy as any young woman need; 〃isn't two thousand
pounds an immense deal of money; George?〃
George laughed at her naivete; and finally they went
down to dinner; Amelia clinging to George's arm; still
warbling the tune of 〃Wapping Old Stairs;〃 and more
pleased and light of mind than she had been for some
days past。
Thus the repast; which at length came off; instead of
being dismal; was an exceedingly brisk and merry one。
The excitement of the campaign counteracted in George's
mind the depression occasioned by the disinheriting letter。
Dobbin still kept up his character of rattle。 He amused
the company with accounts of the army in Belgium;
where nothing but fetes and gaiety and fashion were
going on。 Then; having a particular end in view; this
dexterous captain proceeded to describe Mrs。 Major
O'Dowd packing her own and her Major's wardrobe; and
how his best epaulets had been stowed into a tea canister;
whilst her own famous yellow turban; with the bird of
paradise wrapped in brown paper; was locked up in the
Major's tin cocked…hat case; and wondered what effect
it would have at the French king's court at Ghent; or the
great military balls at Brussels。
〃Ghent! Brussels!〃 cried out Amelia with a sudden
shock and start。 〃Is the regiment ordered away; George
is it ordered away?〃 A look of terror came over the
sweet smiling face; and she clung to George as by an
instinct。
〃Don't be afraid; dear;〃 he said good…naturedly; 〃it
is but a twelve hours' passage。 It won't hurt you。 You
shall go; too; Emmy。〃
〃I intend to go;〃 said Becky。 〃I'm on the staff。 General
Tufto is a great flirt of mine。 Isn't he; Rawdon?〃
Rawdon laughed out with his usual roar。 William
Dobbin flushed up quite red。 〃She can't go;〃 he said; 〃think
of theof the danger;〃 he was going to add; but had
not all his conversation during dinner…time tended to
prove there was none? He became very confused and
silent。
〃I must and will go;〃 Amelia cried with the greatest
spirit; and George; applauding her resolution; patted her
under the chin; and asked all the persons present if
they ever saw such a termagant of a wife; and agreed
that the lady should bear him company。 〃We'll have
Mrs。 O'Dowd to chaperon you;〃 he said。 What cared she
so long as her husband was near her? Thus somehow
the bitterness of a parting was juggled away。 Though war
and danger were in store; war and danger might not
befall for months to come。 There was a respite at any rate;
which made the timid little Amelia almost as happy as
a full reprieve would have done; and which even Dobbin
owned in his heart was very welcome。 For; to be permitted
to see her was now the greatest privilege and hope
of his life; and he thought with himself secretly how he
would watch and protect her。 I wouldn't have let her go
if I had been married to her; he thought。 But George was
the master; and his friend did not think fit to remonstrate。
Putting her arm round her friend's waist; Rebecca at
length carried Amelia off from the dinner…table where so
much business of importance had been discussed; and
left the gentlemen in a highly exhilarated state; drinking
and talking very gaily。
In the course of the evening Rawdon got a little family…
note from his wife; which; although he crumpled it up
and burnt it instantly in the candle; we had the good
luck to read over Rebecca's shoulder。 〃Great news;〃 she
wrote。 〃Mrs。 Bute is gone。 Get the money from Cupid tonight;
as he'll be off to…morrow most likely。 Mind this。
R。〃 So when the little company was about adjourning
to coffee in the women's apartment; Rawdon touched
Osborne on the elbow; and said gracefully; 〃I say; Osborne;
my boy; if quite convenient; I'll trouble you for
that 'ere small trifle。〃 It was not quite convenient; but
nevertheless George gave him a considerable present
instalment in bank…notes from his pocket…book; and a bill
on his agents at a week's date; for the remaining sum。
This matter arranged; George; and Jos; and Dobbin;
held a council of war over their cigars; and agreed that a
general move should be made for London in Jos's open
carriage the next day。 Jos; I think; would have preferred
staying until Rawdon Crawley quitted Brighton; but Dobbin
and George overruled him; and he agreed to carry
the party to town; and ordered four horses; as became his
dignity。 With these they set off in state; after breakfast;
the next day。 Amelia had risen very early in the morning;
and packed her little trunks with the greatest alacrity;
while Osborne lay in bed deploring that she had not a
maid to help her。 She was only too glad; however; to
perform this office for herself。 A dim uneasy sentiment
about Rebecca filled her mind already; and although they
kissed each other most tenderly at parting; yet we know
what jealousy is; and Mrs。 Amelia possessed that among
other virtues of her sex。
Besides these characters who are coming and going
away; we must remember that there were some other old
friends of ours at Brighton; Miss Crawley; namely; and
the suite in attendance upon her。 Now; although Rebecca
and her husband were but at a few stones' throw of the
lodgings which the invalid Miss Crawley occupied; the
old lady's door remained as pitilessly closed to them as it
had been heretofore in London。 As long as she remained
by the side of her sister…in…law; Mrs。 Bute Crawley took
care that her beloved Matilda should not be agitated by a
meeting with her nephew。 When the spinster took her
drive; the faithful Mrs。 Bute sate beside her in the carriage。
When Miss Crawley took the air in a chair; Mrs。
Bute marched on one side of the vehicle; whilst honest
Briggs occupied the other wing。 And if they met Rawdon
and his wife by chancealthough the former constantly
and obsequiously took off his hat; the Miss…Crawley party
passed him by with such a frigid and killing indifference;
that Rawdon began to despair。
〃We might as well be in London as here;〃 Captain
Rawdon often said; with a downcast air。
〃A comfortable inn in Brighton is better than a
spunging…house in Chancery Lane;〃 his wife answered; who was
of a more cheerful temperament。 〃Think of those two
aides…de…camp of Mr。 Moses; the sheriff's…officer; who
watched our lodging for a week。 Our friends here are
very stupid; but Mr。 Jos and Captain Cupid are better
companions than Mr。 Moses's men; Rawdon; my love。〃
〃I wonder the writs haven't followed me down here;〃
Rawdon continued; still desponding。
〃When they do; we'll find means to give them the slip;〃
said dauntless little Becky; and further pointed out to her
husband the great comfort and advantage of meeting
Jos and Osborne; whose acquaintance had brought to
Rawdon Crawley a most timely little supply of ready
money。
〃It will hardly be enough to pay the inn bill;〃 grumbled
the Guardsman。
〃Why need we pay it?〃 said the lady; who had an answer
for everything。
Through Rawdon's valet; who still kept up a