第 74 节
作者:
左思右想 更新:2021-02-19 19:46 字数:9322
the old Earl said。
〃Well; my dear Blanche;〃 said the mother; 〃I suppose;
as Papa wants to go; we must go; but we needn't know
them in England; you know。〃 And so; determined to cut
their new acquaintance in Bond Street; these great folks
went to eat his dinner at Brussels; and condescending to
make him pay for their pleasure; showed their dignity
by making his wife uncomfortable; and carefully excluding
her from the conversation。 This is a species of dignity
in which the high…bred British female reigns supreme。 To
watch the behaviour of a fine lady to other and humbler
women; is a very good sport for a philosophical frequenter
of Vanity Fair。
This festival; on which honest George spent a great
deal of money; was the very dismallest of all the
entertainments which Amelia had in her honeymoon。 She
wrote the most piteous accounts of the feast home to
her mamma: how the Countess of Bareacres would not
answer when spoken to; how Lady Blanche stared at her
with her eye…glass; and what a rage Captain Dobbin was
in at their behaviour; and how my lord; as they came
away from the feast; asked to see the bill; and pronounced
it a d bad dinner; and d dear。 But though Amelia
told all these stories; and wrote home regarding
her guests' rudeness; and her own discomfiture;
old Mrs。 Sedley was mightily pleased nevertheless;
and talked about Emmy's friend; the Countess of
Bareacres; with such assiduity that the news how his son
was entertaining peers and peeresses actually came to
Osborne's ears in the City。
Those who know the present Lieutenant…General Sir
George Tufto; K。C。B。; and have seen him; as they may
on most days in the season; padded and in stays; strutting
down Pall Mall with a rickety swagger on his high…heeled
lacquered boots; leering under the bonnets of passers…
by; or riding a showy chestnut; and ogling broughams in
the Parksthose who know the present Sir George Tufto
would hardly recognise the daring Peninsular and Waterloo
officer。 He has thick curling brown hair and black
eyebrows now; and his whiskers are of the deepest
purple。 He was light…haired and bald in 1815; and stouter
in the person and in the limbs; which especially have
shrunk very much of late。 When he was about seventy
years of age (he is now nearly eighty); his hair; which
was very scarce and quite white; suddenly grew thick;
and brown; and curly; and his whiskers and eyebrows
took their present colour。 Ill…natured people say that
his chest is all wool; and that his hair; because it never
grows; is a wig。 Tom Tufto; with whose father he quarrelled
ever so many years ago; declares that Mademoiselle
de Jaisey; of the French theatre; pulled his
grandpapa's hair off in the green…room; but Tom is
notoriously spiteful and jealous; and the General's wig has
nothing to do with our story。
One day; as some of our friends of the th were
sauntering in the flower…market of Brussels; having been
to see the Hotel de Ville; which Mrs。 Major O'Dowd
declared was not near so large or handsome as her
fawther's mansion of Glenmalony; an officer of rank; with
an orderly behind him; rode up to the market; and
descending from his horse; came amongst the flowers; and
selected the very finest bouquet which money could buy。
The beautiful bundle being tied up in a paper; the officer
remounted; giving the nosegay into the charge of his
military groom; who carried it with a grin; following his
chief; who rode away in great state and self…satisfaction。
〃You should see the flowers at Glenmalony;〃 Mrs。
O'Dowd was remarking。 〃Me fawther has three Scotch
garners with nine helpers。 We have an acre of hot…houses;
and pines as common as pays in the sayson。 Our greeps
weighs six pounds every bunch of 'em; and upon me
honour and conscience I think our magnolias is as big
as taykettles。〃
Dobbin; who never used to 〃draw out〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd
as that wicked Osborne delighted in doing (much to
Amelia's terror; who implored him to spare her); fell
back in the crowd; crowing and sputtering until he
reached a safe distance; when he exploded amongst the
astonished market…people with shrieks of yelling laughter。
〃Hwhat's that gawky guggling about?〃 said Mrs。
O'Dowd。 〃Is it his nose bleedn? He always used to say
'twas his nose bleedn; till he must have pomped all the
blood out of 'um。 An't the magnolias at Glenmalony
as big as taykettles; O'Dowd?〃
〃'Deed then they are; and bigger; Peggy;〃 the Major
said。 When the conversation was interrupted in the
manner stated by the arrival of the officer who purchased
the bouquet。
〃Devlish fine horsewho is it?〃 George asked。
〃You should see me brother Molloy Malony's horse;
Molasses; that won the cop at the Curragh;〃 the Major's
wife was exclaiming; and was continuing the family
history; when her husband interrupted her by saying
〃It's General Tufto; who commands the cavalry
division〃; adding quietly; 〃he and I were both shot in
the same leg at Talavera。〃
〃Where you got your step;〃 said George with a laugh。
〃General Tufto! Then; my dear; the Crawleys are come。〃
Amelia's heart fellshe knew not why。 The sun did
not seem to shine so bright。 The tall old roofs and
gables looked less picturesque all of a sudden; though
it was a brilliant sunset; and one of the brightest and
most beautiful days at the end of May。
CHAPTER XXIX
Brussels
Mr。 Jos had hired a pair of horses for his open carriage;
with which cattle; and the smart London vehicle; he made
a very tolerable figure in the drives about Brussels。
George purchased a horse for his private riding; and
he and Captain Dobbin would often accompany the
carriage in which Jos and his sister took daily excursions
of pleasure。 They went out that day in the park for their
accustomed diversion; and there; sure enough; George's
remark with regard to the arrival of Rawdon Crawley and
his wife proved to be correct。 In the midst of a little
troop of horsemen; consisting of some of the very greatest
persons in Brussels; Rebecca was seen in the prettiest
and tightest of riding…habits; mounted on a beautiful
little Arab; which she rode to perfection (having acquired
the art at Queen's Crawley; where the Baronet; Mr。
Pitt; and Rawdon himself had given her many lessons);
and by the side of the gallant General Tufto。
〃Sure it's the Juke himself;〃 cried Mrs。 Major O'Dowd
to Jos; who began to blush violently; 〃and that's Lord
Uxbridge on the bay。 How elegant he looks! Me brother;
Molloy Malony; is as like him as two pays。〃
Rebecca did not make for the carriage; but as soon
as she perceived her old acquaintance Amelia seated in
it; acknowledged her presence by a gracious nod and
smile; and by kissing and shaking her fingers playfully
in the direction of the vehicle。 Then she resumed her
conversation with General Tufto; who asked 〃who the
fat officer was in the gold…laced cap?〃 on which Becky
replied; 〃that he was an officer in the East Indian service。〃
But Rawdon Crawley rode out of the ranks of his
company; and came up and shook hands heartily with
Amelia; and said to Jos; 〃Well; old boy; how are you?〃
and stared in Mrs。 O'Dowd's face and at。the black cock's
feathers until she began to think she had made a
conquest of him。
George; who had been delayed behind; rode up almost
immediately with Dobbin; and they touched their caps to
the august personages; among whom Osborne at once
perceived Mrs。 Crawley。 He was delighted to see Rawdon
leaning over his carriage familiarly and talking to Amelia;
and met the aide…de…camp's cordial greeting with more
than corresponding warmth。 The nods between Rawdon
and Dobbin were of the very faintest specimens of
politeness。
Crawley told George where they were stopping with
General Tufto at the Hotel du Parc; and George made
his friend promise to come speedily to Osborne's own
residence。 〃Sorry I hadn't seen you three days ago;〃
George said。 〃Had a dinner at the Restaurateur'srather a
nice thing。 Lord Bareacres; and the Countess; and Lady
Blanche; were good enough to dine with uswish we'd
had you。〃 Having thus let his friend know his claims to be
a man of fashion; Osborne parted from Rawdon; who
followed the august squadron down an alley into which
they cantered; while George and Dobbin resumed their
places; one on each side of Amelia's carriage。
〃How well the Juke looked;〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd remarked。
〃The Wellesleys and Malonys are related; but; of course;
poor I would never dream of introjuicing myself unless
his Grace thought proper to remember our family…tie。〃
〃He's a great soldier;〃 Jos said; much more at ease
now the great man was gone。 〃Was there ever a battle
won like Salamanca? Hey; Dobbin? But where was it he
learnt his art? In India; my boy! The jungle's the school
for a general; mark me that。 I knew him myself; too;
Mrs。 O'Dowd: we both of us danced the same evening
with Miss Cutler; daughter of Cutler of the Artillery; and
a devilish fine girl; at Dumdum。〃
The apparition of the great personages held them
all in talk during the drive; and at dinner; and until the
hour came when they were all to go to the Opera。
It was almost like Old England。 The house was filled
with familiar British faces; and those toilettes for whic