第 152 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:48      字数:9322
  him; you know; and say that I was very fond of him; and
  that。  Anddash itold chap; give him these gold sleeve…
  buttons:  it's all I've got。〃 He covered his face with his
  black hands; over which the tears rolled and made
  furrows of white。  Mr。 Macmurdo had also occasion to take
  off his silk night…cap and rub it across his eyes。
  〃Go down and order some breakfast;〃 he said to his
  man in a loud cheerful voice。  〃What'll you have; Crawley?
  Some devilled kidneys and a herringlet's say。  And;
  Clay; lay out some dressing things for the Colonel:  we
  were always pretty much of a size; Rawdon; my boy; and
  neither of us ride so light as we did when we first
  entered the corps。〃 With which; and leaving the Colonel to
  dress himself; Macmurdo turned round towards the wall;
  and resumed the perusal of Bell's Life; until such time as
  his friend's toilette was complete and he was at liberty
  to commence his own。
  This; as he was about to meet a lord; Captain
  Macmurdo performed with particular care。  He waxed his
  mustachios into a state of brilliant polish and put on a
  tight cravat and a trim buff waistcoat; so that all the
  young officers in the mess…room; whither Crawley had
  preceded his friend; complimented Mac on his appearance
  at breakfast and asked if he was going to be married
  that Sunday。
  CHAPIER LV
  In Which the Same Subject is Pursued
  Becky did not rally from the state of stupor and confusion
  in which the events of the previous night had plunged
  her intrepid spirit until the bells of the Curzon Street
  Chapels were ringing for afternoon service; and rising
  from her bed she began to ply her own bell; in order to
  summon the French maid who had left her some hours
  before。
  Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley rang many times in vain; and
  though; on the last occasion; she rang with such
  vehemence as to pull down the bell…rope; Mademoiselle
  Fifine did not make her appearanceno; not though her
  mistress; in a great pet; and with the bell…rope in her hand;
  came out to the landing…place with her hair over her
  shoulders and screamed out repeatedly for her attendant。
  The truth is; she had quitted the premises for many
  hours; and upon that permission which is called French
  leave among us After picking up the trinkets in the
  drawing…room; Mademoiselle had ascended to her own
  apartments; packed and corded her own boxes there;
  tripped out and called a cab for herself; brought down
  her trunks with her own hand; and without ever so much
  as asking the aid of any of the other servants; who would
  probably have refused it; as they hated her cordially;
  and without wishing any one of them good…bye; had
  made her exit from Curzon Street。
  The game; in her opinion; was over in that little
  domestic establishment。  Fifine went off in a cab; as we
  have known more exalted persons of her nation to do
  under similar circumstances:  but; more provident or
  lucky than these; she secured not only her own property;
  but some of her mistress's (if indeed that lady could be
  said to have any property at all)and not only carried
  off the trinkets before alluded to; and some favourite
  dresses on which she had long kept her eye; but four
  richly gilt Louis Quatorze candlesticks; six gilt albums;
  keepsakes; and Books of Beauty; a gold enamelled
  snuff…box which had once belonged to Madame du Barri; and
  the sweetest little inkstand and mother…of…pearl blotting
  book; which Becky used when she composed her charming
  little pink notes; had vanished from the premises in
  Curzon Street together with Mademoiselle Fifine; and all
  the silver laid on the table for the little festin which
  Rawdon interrupted。  The plated ware Mademoiselle left
  behind her was too cumbrous; probably for which
  reason; no doubt; she also left the fire irons; the
  chimney…glasses; and the rosewood cottage piano。
  A lady very like her subsequently kept a milliner's
  shop in the Rue du Helder at Paris; where she lived with
  great credit and enjoyed the patronage of my Lord
  Steyne。  This person always spoke of England as of the
  most treacherous country in the world; and stated to her
  young pupils that she had been affreusement vole by
  natives of that island。  It was no doubt compassion for
  her misfortunes which induced the Marquis of Steyne to
  be so very kind to Madame de Saint…Amaranthe。  May
  she flourish as she deservesshe appears no more in our
  quarter of Vanity Fair。
  Hearing a buzz and a stir below; and indignant at the
  impudence of those servants who would not answer her
  summons; Mrs。 Crawley flung her morning robe round
  her and descended majestically to the drawing…room;
  whence the noise proceeded。
  The cook was there with blackened face; seated on the
  beautiful chintz sofa by the side of Mrs。 Raggles; to whom
  she was administering Maraschino。  The page with the
  sugar…loaf buttons; who carried about Becky's pink
  notes; and jumped about her little carriage with such
  alacrity; was now engaged putting his fingers into a
  cream dish; the footman was talking to Raggles; who
  had a face full of perplexity and woeand yet; though
  the door was open; and Becky had been screaming a
  half…dozen of times a few feet off; not one of her
  attendants had obeyed her call。  〃Have a little drop; do'ee
  now; Mrs。 Raggles;〃 the cook was saying as Becky
  entered; the white cashmere dressing…gown flouncing
  around her。
  〃Simpson!  Trotter!〃 the mistress of the house cried in
  great wrath。  〃How dare you stay here when you heard
  me call? How dare you sit down in my presence? Where's
  my maid?〃 The page withdrew his fingers from his mouth
  with a momentary terror; but the cook took off a glass
  of Maraschino; of which Mrs。 Raggles had had enough;
  staring at Becky over the little gilt glass as she drained
  its contents。  The liquor appeared to give the odious rebel
  courage。
  〃YOUR sofy; indeed!〃 Mrs。 Cook said。  〃I'm a settin' on
  Mrs。 Raggles's sofy。  Don't you stir; Mrs。 Raggles; Mum。
  I'm a settin' on Mr。 and Mrs。 Raggles's sofy; which they
  bought with honest money; and very dear it cost 'em;
  too。  And I'm thinkin' if I set here until I'm paid my
  wages; I shall set a precious long time; Mrs。 Raggles;
  and set I will; tooha!  ha!〃 and with this she filled
  herself another glass of the liquor and drank it with a more
  hideously satirical air。
  〃Trotter!  Simpson!  turn that drunken wretch out;〃
  screamed Mrs。 Crawley。
  〃I shawn't;〃 said Trotter the footman; 〃turn out
  yourself。  Pay our selleries; and turn me out too。  WE'LL
  go fast enough。〃
  〃Are you all here to insult me?〃 cried Becky in a fury;
  〃when Colonel Crawley comes home I'll〃
  At this the servants burst into a horse haw…haw; in
  which; however; Raggles; who still kept a most melancholy
  countenance; did not join。  〃He ain't a coming back;〃
  Mr。 Trotter resumed。  〃He sent for his things; and I
  wouldn't let 'em go; although Mr。 Raggles would; and I
  don't b'lieve he's no more a Colonel than I am。  He's
  hoff; and I suppose you're a goin' after him。  You're no
  better than swindlers; both on you。  Don't be a bullyin'
  ME。  I won't stand it。  Pay us our selleries; I say。  Pay us
  our selleries。〃 It was evident; from Mr。 Trotter's flushed
  countenance and defective intonation; that he; too; had
  had recourse to vinous stimulus。
  〃Mr。 Raggles;〃 said Becky in a passion of vexation;
  〃you will not surely let me be insulted by that drunken
  man?〃 〃Hold your noise; Trotter; do now;〃 said Simpson
  the page。  He was affected by his mistress's deplorable
  situation; and succeeded in preventing an outrageous
  denial of the epithet 〃drunken〃 on the footman's part。
  〃Oh; M'am;〃 said Raggles; 〃I never thought to live to
  see this year day:  I've known the Crawley family ever
  since I was born。  I lived butler with Miss Crawley for
  thirty years; and I little thought one of that family was
  a goin' to ruing meyes; ruing me〃said the poor fellow
  with tears in his eyes。  〃Har you a goin' to pay me? You've
  lived in this 'ouse four year。  You've 'ad my substance:
  my plate and linning。  You ho me a milk and butter bill
  of two 'undred pound; you must 'ave noo laid heggs for
  your homlets; and cream for your spanil dog。〃
  〃She didn't care what her own flesh and blood had;〃
  interposed the cook。  〃Many's the time; he'd have starved
  but for me。〃
  〃He's a charaty…boy now; Cooky;〃 said Mr。 Trotter;
  with a drunken 〃ha!  ha!〃and honest Raggles continued;
  in a lamentable tone; an enumeration of his griefs。  All he
  said was true。  Becky and her husband had ruined him。
  He had bills coming due next week and no means to meet
  them。  He would be sold up and turned out of his shop
  and his house; because he had trusted to the Crawley
  family。  His tears and lamentations made Becky more
  peevish than ever。
  〃You all seem to be against me;〃 she said bitterly。
  〃What do you want? I can't pay you on Sunday。  Come
  back to…morrow and I'll pay you everything。  I thought
  Colonel Crawley had settled with you。  He will to…morrow。
  I declare to you upon my honour that he left home this
  morning with fifteen hundred pounds in his pocket…book。
  He has left me nothing。  Apply to him。  Give me a bonnet
  and shawl and let me go out and find him。  There was a
  difference between us this morning。  You all seem to
  know it。  I promise you upon my word that you shal