vanity fair(名利场)-第114部分

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Therefore　it　was　that　this　roguish　diplomatist　has　grown
so　hospitable；　that　he　was　so　civil　to　oratorios　and
hospitals；　so　kind　to　Deans　and　Chapters；　so　generous　in
giving　and　accepting　dinners；　so　uncommonly　gracious　to
farmers　on　market…days；　and　so　much　interested　about
county　business；　and　that　the　Christmas　at　the　Hall　was　the
gayest　which　had　been　known　there　for　many　a　long　day。
On　Christmas　Day　a　great　family　gathering　took　place。
All　the　Crawleys　from　the　Rectory　came　to　dine。　　Rebecca
was　as　frank　and　fond　of　Mrs。　Bute　as　if　the　other　had
never　been　her　enemy；　she　was　affectionately　interested
in　the　dear　girls；　and　surprised　at　the　progress　which　they
had　made　in　music　since　her　time；　and　insisted　upon
encoring　one　of　the　duets　out　of　the　great　song…books
which　Jim；　grumbling；　had　been　forced　to　bring　under　his
arm　from　the　Rectory。　　Mrs。　Bute；　perforce；　was　obliged
to　adopt　a　decent　demeanour　towards　the　little　adventuress
of　course　being　free　to　discourse　with　her　daughters
afterwards　about　the　absurd　respect　with　which　Sir　Pitt
treated　his　sister…in…law。　　But　Jim；　who　had　sat　next　to
her　at　dinner；　declared　she　was　a　trump；　and　one　and　all
of　the　Rector's　family　agreed　that　the　little　Rawdon　was　a
fine　boy。　　They　respected　a　possible　baronet　in　the　boy；
between　whom　and　the　title　there　was　only　the　little
sickly　pale　Pitt　Binkie。
The　children　were　very　good　friends。　　Pitt　Binkie　was　too
little　a　dog　for　such　a　big　dog　as　Rawdon　to　play　with；　and
Matilda　being　only　a　girl；　of　course　not　fit　companion
for　a　young　gentleman　who　was　near　eight　years　old；　and
going　into　jackets　very　soon。　　He　took　the　command　of
this　small　party　at　oncethe　little　girl　and　the　little　boy
following　him　about　with　great　reverence　at　such　times
as　he　condescended　to　sport　with　them。　　His　happiness
and　pleasure　in　the　country　were　extreme。　　The　kitchen
garden　pleased　him　hugely；　the　flowers　moderately；　but
the　pigeons　and　the　poultry；　and　the　stables　when　he
was　allowed　to　visit　them；　were　delightful　objects　to
him。　　He　resisted　being　kissed　by　the　Misses　Crawley；
but　he　allowed　Lady　Jane　sometimes　to　embrace　him；　and
it　was　by　her　side　that　he　liked　to　sit　when；　the　signal
to　retire　to　the　drawing…room　being　given；　the　ladies
left　the　gentlemen　to　their　claretby　her　side　rather
than　by　his　mother。　　For　Rebecca；　seeing　that　tenderness
was　the　fashion；　called　Rawdon　to　her　one　evening　and
stooped　down　and　kissed　him　in　the　presence　of　all　the
ladies。
He　looked　her　full　in　the　face　after　the　operation；
trembling　and　turning　very　red；　as　his　wont　was　when
moved。　　〃You　never　kiss　me　at　home；　Mamma；〃　he　said；
at　which　there　was　a　general　silence　and　consternation　and
a　by　no　means　pleasant　look　in　Becky's　eyes。
Rawdon　was　fond　of　his　sister…in…law；　for　her　regard
for　his　son。　　Lady　Jane　and　Becky　did　not　get　on　quite　so
well　at　this　visit　as　on　occasion　of　the　former　one；　when
the　Colonel's　wife　was　bent　upon　pleasing。　　Those　two
speeches　of　the　child　struck　rather　a　chill。　　Perhaps　Sir
Pitt　was　rather　too　attentive　to　her。
But　Rawdon；　as　became　his　age　and　size；　was　fonder
of　the　society　of　the　men　than　of　the　women；　and　never
wearied　of　accompanying　his　sire　to　the　stables；　whither
the　Colonel　retired　to　smoke　his　cigarJim；　the　Rector's
son；　sometimes　joining　his　cousin　in　that　and　other　amusements。
He　and　the　Baronet's　keeper　were　very　close
friends；　their　mutual　taste　for　〃dawgs〃　bringing　them
much　together。　　On　one　day；　Mr。　James；　the　Colonel；　and
Horn；　the　keeper；　went　and　shot　pheasants；　taking　little
Rawdon　with　them。　　On　another　most　blissful　morning；
these　four　gentlemen　partook　of　the　amusement　of
rat…hunting　in　a　barn；　than　which　sport　Rawdon　as　yet　had
never　seen　anything　more　noble。　　They　stopped　up　the
ends　of　certain　drains　in　the　barn；　into　the　other　openings
of　which　ferrets　were　inserted；　and　then　stood　silently
aloof；　with　uplifted　stakes　in　their　hands；　and　an　anxious
little　terrier　（Mr。　James's　celebrated　〃dawg〃　Forceps；
indeed）　scarcely　breathing　from　excitement；　listening
motionless　on　three　legs；　to　the　faint　squeaking　of　the
rats　below。　　Desperately　bold　at　last；　the　persecuted
animals　bolted　above…groundthe　terrier　accounted　for　one；
the　keeper　for　another；　Rawdon；　from　flurry　and
excitement；　missed　his　rat；　but　on　the　other　hand　he
half…murdered　a　ferret。
But　the　greatest　day　of　all　was　that　on　which　Sir
Huddlestone　Fuddlestone's　hounds　met　upon　the　lawn
at　Queen's　Crawley。
That　was　a　famous　sight　for　little　Rawdon。　　At　half…past
ten；　Tom　Moody；　Sir　Huddlestone　Fuddlestone's
huntsman；　was　seen　trotting　up　the　avenue；　followed　by　the
noble　pack　of　hounds　in　a　compact　bodythe　rear　being
brought　up　by　the　two　whips　clad　in　stained　scarlet
frockslight　hard…featured　lads　on　well…bred　lean　horses；
possessing　marvellous　dexterity　in　casting　the　points　of
their　long　heavy　whips　at　the　thinnest　part　of　any　dog's
skin　who　dares　to　straggle　from　the　main　body；　or　to
take　the　slightest　notice；　or　even　so　much　as　wink；　at　the
hares　and　rabbits　starting　under　their　noses。
Next　comes　boy　Jack；　Tom　Moody's　son；　who　weighs
five　stone；　measures　eight…and…forty　inches；　and　will　never
be　any　bigger。　　He　is　perched　on　a　large　raw…boned　hunter；
half…covered　by　a　capacious　saddle。　　This　animal　is　Sir
Huddlestone　Fuddlestone's　favourite　horse　the　Nob。
Other　horses；　ridden　by　other　small　boys；　arrive　from
time　to　time；　awaiting　their　masters；　who　will　come
cantering　on　anon。
Tom　Moody　rides　up　to　the　door　of　the　Hall；　where　he
is　welcomed　by　the　butler；　who　offers　him　drink；　which　he
declines。　　He　and　his　pack　then　draw　off　into　a　sheltered
corner　of　the　lawn；　where　the　dogs　roll　on　the　grass；　and
play　or　growl　angrily　at　one　another；　ever　and　anon
breaking　out　into　furious　fight　speedily　to　be　quelled　by
Tom's　voice；　unmatched　at　rating；　or　the　snaky　thongs
of　the　whips。
Many　young　gentlemen　canter　up　on　thoroughbred
hacks；　spatter…dashed　to　the　knee；　and　enter　the　house　to
drink　cherry…brandy　and　pay　their　respects　to　the　ladies；
or；　more　modest　and　sportsmanlike；　divest　themselves
of　their　mud…boots；　exchange　their　hacks　for　their　hunters；
and　warm　their　blood　by　a　preliminary　gallop　round　the
lawn。　　Then　they　collect　round　the　pack　in　the　corner　and
talk　with　Tom　Moody　of　past　sport；　and　the　merits　of
Sniveller　and　Diamond；　and　of　the　state　of　the　country
and　of　the　wretched　breed　of　foxes。
Sir　Huddlestone　presently　appears　mounted　on　a　clever
cob　and　rides　up　to　the　Hall；　where　he　enters　and　does　the
civil　thing　by　the　ladies；　after　which；　being　a　man　of
few　words；　he　proceeds　to　business。　　The　hounds　are
drawn　up　to　the　hall…door；　and　little　Rawdon　descends
amongst　them；　excited　yet　half…alarmed　by　the　caresses
which　they　bestow　upon　him；　at　the　thumps　he　receives
from　their　waving　tails；　and　at　their　canine　bickerings；
scarcely　restrained　by　Tom　Moody's　tongue　and　lash。
Meanwhile；　Sir　Huddlestone　has　hoisted　himself
unwieldily　on　the　Nob：　　〃Let's　try　Sowster's　Spinney；　Tom；〃
says　the　Baronet；　〃Farmer　Mangle　tells　me　there　are　two
foxes　in　it。〃　Tom　blows　his　horn　and　trots　off；　followed　by
the　pack；　by　the　whips；　by　the　young　gents　from
Winchester；　by　the　farmers　of　the　neighbourhood；　by　the
labourers　of　the　parish　on　foot；　with　whom　the　day　is
a　great　holiday；　Sir　Huddlestone　bringing　up　the　rear　with
Colonel　Crawley；　and　the　whole　cortege　disappears
down　the　avenue。
The　Reverend　Bute　Crawley　（who　has　been　too　modest
to　appear　at　the　public　meet　before　his　nephew's
windows）；　whom　Tom　Moody　remembers　forty　years　back
a　slender　divine　riding　the　wildest　horses；　jumping　the
widest　brooks；　and　larking　over　the　newest　gates　in　the
countryhis　Reverence；　we　say；　happens　to　trot　out　from
the　Rectory　Lane　on　his　powerful　black　horse　just　as　Sir
Huddlestone　passes；　he　joins　the　worthy　Baronet。　　Hounds
and　horsemen　disappear；　and　little　Rawdon　remains　on　the
doorsteps；　wondering　and　happy。
During　the　progress　of　this　memorable　holiday；　little
Rawdon；　if　he　had　got　no　special　liking　for　his　uncle；
always　awful　and　cold　and　locked　up　in　his　study；　plunged
in　justice…business　and　surrounded　by　bailiffs　and　farmers
has　gained　the　good　graces　of　his　married　and　maiden
aunts；　of　the　two　little　folks　of　the　Hall；　and　of　Jim　of　the
Rectory；　whom　Sir　Pitt　is　encouraging　to　pay　his　addresses
to　one　of　the　young　ladies；　with　an　understanding　doubtless
that　he　shall　be　presented　to　the　living　when　it　shall
be　vacated　by　his　fox…hunting　old　sire。　　Jim　has　given　up
that　sport　himself　and　confines　himself　to　a　little　harmless
duck…　or　snipe…shooting；　or　a　little　quiet　trifling　with　the
rats　during　the　Christmas　holidays；　after　which　he　will
return　to　the　University　and　try　and　not　be　plucked；　once
more。　　He　has　already　eschewed　green　coats；　red
neckcloths；　and　other　worldly　ornaments；　and　is　preparing
himself　for　a　change　in　his　condition。　　In　this　cheap　and
thrifty　way　Sir　Pitt　tries　to　pay　off　his　debt　to　his　family。
Also　before　this　merry　Christmas　was　over；　the　Baronet
had　screwed　up　courage　enough　to　give　his　brother
another　draft　on　his　bankers；　and　for　no　less　a　sum　than　a
hundred　pounds；　an　act　which　caused　Sir　Pitt　cruel　pangs
at　first；　but　which　made　him　glow　afterwards　to　think
himself　one　of　the　most　generous　of　men。　　Rawdon　and　his
son　went　away　with　the　utmost　heaviness　of　heart。　　Becky
and　the　ladies　parted　with　some　alacrity；　however；　and　our
friend　returned　to　London　to　commence　those　avocations
with　which　we　find　her　occupied　when　this　chapter　begins。
Under　her　care　the　Crawley　House　in　Great　Gaunt　Street
was　quite　rejuvenescent　and　ready　for　the　reception　of
Sir　Pitt　and　his　family；　when　the　Baronet　came　to
London　to　attend　his　duties　in　Parliament　and　to　assume　that
position　in　the　country　for　which　his　vast　genius　fitted
him。
For　the　first　session；　this　profound　dissembler　hid　his
projects　and　never　opened　his　lips　but　to　present　a
petition　from　Mudbury。　　But　he　attended　assiduously　in　his
place　and　learned　thoroughly　the　routine　and　business　of
the　House。　　At　home　he　gave　himself　up　to　the　perusal　of
Blue　Books；　to　the　alarm　and　wonder　of　Lady　Jane；　who
thought　he　w