vanity fair(名利场)-第121部分

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more　loyal　heart　than　Becky's　after　this　interview。　　The
name　of　her　king　was　always　on　her　lips；　and　he　was
proclaimed　by　her　to　be　the　most　charming　of　men。　　She
went　to　Colnaghi's　and　ordered　the　finest　portrait　of　him
that　art　had　produced；　and　credit　could　supply。　　She　chose
that　famous　one　in　which　the　best　of　monarchs　is
represented　in　a　frock…coat　with　a　fur　collar；　and　breeches
and　silk　stockings；　simpering　on　a　sofa　from　under　his
curly　brown　wig。　　She　had　him　painted　in　a　brooch　and
wore　itindeed　she　amused　and　somewhat　pestered　her
acquaintance　with　her　perpetual　talk　about　his　urbanity
and　beauty。　　Who　knows！　　Perhaps　the　little　woman
thought　she　might　play　the　part　of　a　Maintenon　or　a
Pompadour。
But　the　finest　sport　of　all　after　her　presentation　was　to
hear　her　talk　virtuously。　　She　had　a　few　female　acquaintances；
not；　it　must　be　owned；　of　the　very　highest　reputation
in　Vanity　Fair。　　But　being　made　an　honest　woman　of；
so　to　speak；　Becky　would　not　consort　any　longer　with
these　dubious　ones；　and　cut　Lady　Crackenbury　when　the
latter　nodded　to　her　from　her　opera…box；　and　gave　Mrs。
Washington　White　the　go…by　in　the　Ring。　　〃One　must；　my
dear；　show　one　is　somebody；〃　she　said。　　〃One　mustn't　be
seen　with　doubtful　people。　　I　pity　Lady　Crackenbury　from
my　heart；　and　Mrs。　Washington　White　may　be　a　very
good…natured　person。　　YOU　may　go　and　dine　with　them；
as　you　like　your　rubber。　　But　I　mustn't；　and　won't；　and
you　will　have　the　goodness　to　tell　Smith　to　say　I　am　not
at　home　when　either　of　them　calls。〃
The　particulars　of　Becky's　costume　were　in　the　newspapers
feathers；　lappets；　superb　diamonds；　and　all　the
rest。　　Lady　Crackenbury　read　the　paragraph　in　bitterness
of　spirit　and　discoursed　to　her　followers　about　the　airs
which　that　woman　was　giving　herself。　　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley
and　her　young　ladies　in　the　country　had　a　copy　of　the
Morning　Post　from　town；　and　gave　a　vent　to　their　honest
indignation。　　〃If　you　had　been　sandy…haired；　green…eyed；
and　a　French　rope…dancer's　daughter；〃　Mrs。　Bute　said
to　her　eldest　girl　（who；　on　the　contrary；　was　a　very
swarthy；　short；　and　snub…nosed　young　lady）；　〃You　might
have　had　superb　diamonds　forsooth；　and　have　been
presented　at　Court　by　your　cousin；　the　Lady　Jane。　　But　you're
only　a　gentlewoman；　my　poor　dear　child。　　You　have　only
some　of　the　best　blood　in　England　in　your　veins；　and
good　principles　and　piety　for　your　portion。　　I；　myself；
the　wife　of　a　Baronet's　younger　brother；　too；　never
thought　of　such　a　thing　as　going　to　Courtnor　would
other　people；　if　good　Queen　Charlotte　had　been　alive。〃
In　this　way　the　worthy　Rectoress　consoled　herself；　and
her　daughters　sighed　and　sat　over　the　Peerage　all　night。
A　few　days　after　the　famous　presentation；　another
great　and　exceeding　honour　was　vouchsafed　to　the
virtuous　Becky。　　Lady　Steyne's　carriage　drove　up　to　Mr。
Rawdon　Crawley's　door；　and　the　footman；　instead　of　driving
down　the　front　of　the　house；　as　by　his　tremendous
knocking　he　appeared　to　be　inclined　to　do；　relented　and　only
delivered　in　a　couple　of　cards；　on　which　were　engraven
the　names　of　the　Marchioness　of　Steyne　and　the
Countess　of　Gaunt。　　If　these　bits　of　pasteboard　had　been
beautiful　pictures；　or　had　had　a　hundred　yards　of　Malines　lace
rolled　round　them；　worth　twice　the　number　of　guineas；
Becky　could　not　have　regarded　them　with　more　pleasure。
You　may　be　sure　they　occupied　a　conspicuous　place　in
the　china　bowl　on　the　drawing…room　table；　where　Becky
kept　the　cards　of　her　visitors。　　Lord！　lord！　how　poor
Mrs。　Washington　White's　card　and　Lady　Crackenbury's
cardwhich　our　little　friend　had　been　glad　enough　to
get　a　few　months　back；　and　of　which　the　silly　little
creature　was　rather　proud　onceLord！　lord！　I　say；　how　soon
at　the　appearance　of　these　grand　court　cards；　did　those
poor　little　neglected　deuces　sink　down　to　the　bottom　of
the　pack。　　Steyne！　　Bareacres；　Johnes　of　Helvellyn！　　and
Caerylon　of　Camelot！　we　may　be　sure　that　Becky　and
Briggs　looked　out　those　august　names　in　the　Peerage；
and　followed　the　noble　races　up　through　all　the
ramifications　of　the　family　tree。
My　Lord　Steyne　coming　to　call　a　couple　of　hours
afterwards；　and　looking　about　him；　and　observing
everything　as　was　his　wont；　found　his　ladies'　cards　already
ranged　as　the　trumps　of　Becky's　hand；　and　grinned；　as
this　old　cynic　always　did　at　any　naive　display　of　human
weakness。　　Becky　came　down　to　him　presently；　whenever
the　dear　girl　expected　his　lordship；　her　toilette　was
prepared；　her　hair　in　perfect　order；　her　mouchoirs；　aprons；
scarfs；　little　morocco　slippers；　and　other　female
gimcracks　arranged；　and　she　seated　in　some　artless　and
agreeable　posture　ready　to　receive　himwhenever　she
was　surprised；　of　course；　she　had　to　fly　to　her　apartment
to　take　a　rapid　survey　of　matters　in　the　glass；　and
to　trip　down　again　to　wait　upon　the　great　peer。
She　found　him　grinning　over　the　bowl。　　She　was
discovered；　and　she　blushed　a　little。　　〃Thank　you；
Monseigneur；〃　she　said。　　〃You　see　your　ladies　have
been　here。　　How　good　of　you！　　I　couldn't　come　before
I　was　in　the　kitchen　making　a　pudding。〃
〃I　know　you　were；　I　saw　you　through　the　area…railings
as　I　drove　up；〃　replied　the　old　gentleman。
〃You　see　everything；〃　she　replied。
〃A　few　things；　but　not　that；　my　pretty　lady；〃　he　said
good…naturedly。　　〃You　silly　little　fibster！　　I　heard　you　in
the　room　overhead；　where　I　have　no　doubt　you　were
putting　a　little　rouge　onyou　must　give　some　of　yours　to
my　Lady　Gaunt；　whose　complexion　is　quite　preposterous
and　I　heard　the　bedroom　door　open；　and　then　you
came　downstairs。〃
〃Is　it　a　crime　to　try　and　look　my　best　when　YOU　come
here？〃　answered　Mrs。　Rawdon　plaintively；　and　she　rubbed
her　cheek　with　her　handkerchief　as　if　to　show　there　was
no　rouge　at　all；　only　genuine　blushes　and　modesty　in　her
case。　　About　this　who　can　tell？　I　know　there　is　some
rouge　that　won't　come　off　on　a　pocket…handkerchief；
and　some　so　good　that　even　tears　will　not　disturb　it。
〃Well；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　twiddling　round　his
wife's　card；　〃you　are　bent　on　becoming　a　fine　lady。
You　pester　my　poor　old　life　out　to　get　you　into　the
world。　　You　won't　be　able　to　hold　your　own　there；　you
silly　little　fool。　　You've　got　no　money。〃
〃You　will　get　us　a　place；〃　interposed　Becky；　〃as　quick
as　possible。〃
〃You've　got　no　money；　and　you　want　to　compete　with
those　who　have。　　You　poor　little　earthenware　pipkin；　you
want　to　swim　down　the　stream　along　with　the　great　cop…
per　kettles。　　All　women　are　alike。　　Everybody　is　striving
for　what　is　not　worth　the　having！　　Gad！　　I　dined　with　the
King　yesterday；　and　we　had　neck　of　mutton　and　turnips。
A　dinner　of　herbs　is　better　than　a　stalled　ox　very　often。
You　will　go　to　Gaunt　House。　　You　give　an　old　fellow　no
rest　until　you　get　there。　　It's　not　half　so　nice　as　here。
You'll　be　bored　there。　　I　am。　　My　wife　is　as　gay　as　Lady
Macbeth；　and　my　daughters　as　cheerful　as　Regan　and
Goneril。　　I　daren't　sleep　in　what　they　call　my　bedroom。
The　bed　is　like　the　baldaquin　of　St。　　Peter's；　and　the
pictures　frighten　me。　　I　have　a　little　brass　bed　in　a
dressing…room；　and　a　little　hair　mattress　like　an　anchorite。
I　am　an　anchorite。　　Ho！　　ho！　　You'll　be　asked　to　dinner　next
week。　　And　gare　aux　femmes；　look　out　and　hold　your
own！　　How　the　women　will　bully　you！〃　This　was　a　very
long　speech　for　a　man　of　few　words　like　my　Lord　Steyne；
nor　was　it　the　first　which　he　uttered　for　Becky's　benefit
on　that　day。
Briggs　looked　up　from　the　work…table　at　which　she
was　seated　in　the　farther　room　and　gave　a　deep　sigh
as　she　heard　the　great　Marquis　speak　so　lightly　of　her　sex。
〃If　you　don't　turn　off　that　abominable　sheep…dog；〃　said
Lord　Steyne；　with　a　savage　look　over　his　shoulder　at
her；　〃I　will　have　her　poisoned。〃
〃I　always　give　my　dog　dinner　from　my　own　plate；〃
said　Rebecca；　laughing　mischievously；　and　having
enjoyed　for　some　time　the　discomfiture　of　my　lord；　who
hated　poor　Briggs　for　interrupting　his　tete…a…tete
with　the　fair　Colonel's　wife；　Mrs。　Rawdon　at　length　had
pity　upon　her　admirer；　and　calling　to　Briggs；　praised　the
fineness　of　the　weather　to　her　and　bade　her　to　take　out
the　child　for　a　walk。
〃I　can't　send　her　away；〃　Becky　said　presently；　after
a　pause；　and　in　a　very　sad　voice。　　Her　eyes　filled　with
tears　as　she　spoke；　and　she　turned　away　her　head。
〃You　owe　her　her　wages；　I　suppose？〃　said　the　Peer。
〃Worse　than　that；〃　said　Becky；　still　casting　down　her
eyes；　〃I　have　ruined　her。〃
〃Ruined　her？　Then　why　don't　you　turn　her　out？〃　the
gentleman　asked。
〃Men　do　that；〃　Becky　answered　bitterly。　　〃Women　are
not　so　bad　as　you。　　Last　year；　when　we　were　reduced
to　our　last　guinea；　she　gave　us　everything。　　She　shall
never　leave　me；　until　we　are　ruined　utterly　ourselves；
which　does　not　seem　far　off；　or　until　I　can　pay　her　the
utmost　farthing。〃
it；　how　much　is　it？〃　said　the　Peer　with　an　oath。
And　Becky；　reflecting　on　the　largeness　of　his　means；
mentioned　not　only　the　sum　which　she　had　borrowed　from
Miss　Briggs；　but　one　of　nearly　double　the　amount。
This　caused　the　Lord　Steyne　to　break　out　in　another
brief　and　energetic　expression　of　anger；　at　which　Rebecca
held　down　her　head　the　more　and　cried　bitterly。　　〃I　could
not　help　it。　　It　was　my　only　chance。　　I　dare　not　tell　my
husband。　　He　would　kill　me　if　I　told　him　what　I　have
done。　　I　have　kept　it　a　secret　from　everybody　but　you
and　you　forced　it　from　me。　　Ah；　what　shall　I　do；　Lord
Steyne？　for　I　am　very；　very　unhappy！〃
Lord　Steyne　made　no　reply　except　by　beating　the
devil's　tattoo　and　biting　his　nails。　　At　last　he　clapped
his　hat　on　his　head　and　flung　out　of　the　room。　　Rebecca
did　not　rise　from　her　attitude　of　misery　until　the　door
slammed　upon　him　and　his　carriage　whirled　away。　　Then
she　rose　up　with　the　queerest　expression　of　victorious
mischief　glittering　in　her　green　eyes。　　She　burst　out　laughing
once　or　twice　to　herself；　as　she　sat　at　work；　and
sitting　down　to　the　piano；　she　rattled　away　a　triumphant
voluntary　on　the　keys；　which　made　the　people　pause
under　her　window　to　listen　to　her　brilliant　music。
That　night；　there　came　two　notes　from　Gaunt　House
for　the　little　woman；　the　one　containing　a　card　of
invitation　from　Lord　and　Lady　Steyne　to　a　dinner　at　Gaunt
House　next　Friday；　while　the　other　enclosed　a　slip