vanity fair(名利场)-第50部分

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AIRS　（these　words　were　uttered　in　the　elder　Osborne's
most　sarcastic　tones）。　　But　it　wasn't　considered　the　part
of　a　gentleman；　in　MY　time；　for　a　man　to　insult　his　father。
If　I'd　done　any　such　thing；　mine　would　have　kicked　me
downstairs；　sir。〃
〃I　never　insulted　you；　sir。　　I　said　I　begged　you　to
remember　your　son　was　a　gentleman　as　well　as　yourself。
I　know　very　well　that　you　give　me　plenty　of　money；〃
said　George　（fingering　a　bundle　of　notes　which　he　had
got　in　the　morning　from　Mr。　Chopper）。　　〃You　tell　it　me
often　enough；　sir。　　There's　no　fear　of　my　forgetting　it。〃
〃I　wish　you'd　remember　other　things　as　well；　sir；〃　the
sire　answered。　　〃I　wish　you'd　remember　that　in　this　house
so　long　as　you　choose　to　HONOUR　it　with　your　COMPANY；
CaptainI'm　the　master；　and　that　name；　and　that
thatthat　youthat　I　say〃
〃That　what；　sir？〃　George　asked；　with　scarcely　a　sneer；
filling　another　glass　of　claret。
〃！〃　burst　out　his　father　with　a　screaming　oath
〃that　the　name　of　those　Sedleys　never　be　mentioned
here；　sirnot　one　of　the　whole　damned　lot　of　'em；　sir。〃
〃It　wasn't　I；　sir；　that　introduced　Miss　Sedley's　name。　　It
was　my　sisters　who　spoke　ill　of　her　to　Miss　Swartz；　and
by　Jove　I'll　defend　her　wherever　I　go。　　Nobody　shall
speak　lightly　of　that　name　in　my　presence。　　Our　family
has　done　her　quite　enough　injury　already；　I　think；　and
may　leave　off　reviling　her　now　she's　down。　　I'll　shoot　any
man　but　you　who　says　a　word　against　her。〃
〃Go　on；　sir；　go　on；〃　the　old　gentleman　said；　his　eyes
starting　out　of　his　head。
〃Go　on　about　what；　sir？　about　the　way　in　which　we've
treated　that　angel　of　a　girl？　　Who　told　me　to　love　her？　　It
was　your　doing。　　I　might　have　chosen　elsewhere；　and
looked　higher；　perhaps；　than　your　society：　but　I　obeyed
you。　　And　now　that　her　heart's　mine　you　give　me　orders
to　fling　it　away；　and　punish　her；　kill　her　perhapsfor
the　faults　of　other　people。　　It's　a　shame；　by　Heavens；〃
said　George；　working　himself　up　into　passion　and
enthusiasm　as　he　proceeded；　〃to　play　at　fast　and　loose　with
a　young　girl's　affectionsand　with　such　an　angel　as　that
one　so　superior　to　the　people　amongst　whom　she　lived；
that　she　might　have　excited　envy；　only　she　was　so　good
and　gentle；　that　it's　a　wonder　anybody　dared　to　hate　her。
If　I　desert　her；　sir；　do　you　suppose　she　forgets　me？〃
〃I　ain't　going　to　have　any　of　this　dam　sentimental　nonsense
and　humbug　here；　sir；〃　the　father　cried　out。　　〃There
shall　be　no　beggar…marriages　in　my　family。　　If　you　choose
to　fling　away　eight　thousand　a　year；　which　you　may　have
for　the　asking；　you　may　do　it：　but　by　Jove　you　take　your
pack　and　walk　out　of　this　house；　sir。　　Will　you　do　as　I　tell
you；　once　for　all；　sir；　or　will　you　not？〃
〃Marry　that　mulatto　woman？〃　George　said；　pulling　up
his　shirt…collars。　　〃I　don't　like　the　colour；　sir。　　Ask　the
black　that　sweeps　opposite　Fleet　Market；　sir。　　I'm　not
going　to　marry　a　Hottentot　Venus。〃
Mr。　Osborne　pulled　frantically　at　the　cord　by　which　he
was　accustomed　to　summon　the　butler　when　he　wanted
wineand　almost　black　in　the　face；　ordered　that　functionary
to　call　a　coach　for　Captain　Osborne。
〃I've　done　it；〃　said　George；　coming　into　the　Slaughters'
an　hour　afterwards；　looking　very　pale。
〃What；　my　boy？〃　says　Dobbin。
George　told　what　had　passed　between　his　father　and
himself。
〃I'll　marry　her　to…morrow；〃　he　said　with　an　oath。　　〃I
love　her　more　every　day；　Dobbin。〃

CHAPTER　XXII
A　Marriage　and　Part　of　a　Honeymoon
Enemies　the　most　obstinate　and　courageous　can't　hold
out　against　starvation；　so　the　elder　Osborne　felt　himself
pretty　easy　about　his　adversary　in　the　encounter　we　have
just　described；　and　as　soon　as　George's　supplies　fell
short；　confidently　expected　his　unconditional　submission。
It　was　unlucky；　to　be　sure；　that　the　lad　should　have　secured
a　stock　of　provisions　on　the　very　day　when　the　first
encounter　took　place；　but　this　relief　was　only　temporary；
old　Osborne　thought；　and　would　but　delay　George's
surrender。　　No　communication　passed　between　father　and
son　for　some　days。　　The　former　was　sulky　at　this　silence；
but　not　disquieted；　for；　as　he　said；　he　knew　where　he
could　put　the　screw　upon　George；　and　only　waited　the
result　of　that　operation。　　He　told　the　sisters　the　upshot　of
the　dispute　between　them；　but　ordered　them　to　take　no
notice　of　the　matter；　and　welcome　George　on　his　return
as　if　nothing　had　happened。　　His　cover　was　laid　as　usual
every　day；　and　perhaps　the　old　gentleman　rather　anxiously
expected　him；　but　he　never　came。　　Some　one　inquired
at　the　Slaughters'　regarding　him；　where　it　was　said
that　he　and　his　friend　Captain　Dobbin　had　left　town。
One　gusty；　raw　day　at　the　end　of　Aprilthe　rain　whipping
the　pavement　of　that　ancient　street　where　the　old
Slaughters'　Coffee…house　was　once　situatedGeorge　Osborne
came　into　the　coffee…room；　looking　very　haggard
and　pale；　although　dressed　rather　smartly　in　a　blue　coat
and　brass　buttons；　and　a　neat　buff　waistcoat　of　the　fashion
of　those　days。　　Here　was　his　friend　Captain　Dobbin；
in　blue　and　brass　too；　having　abandoned　the　military
frock　and　French…grey　trousers；　which　were　the　usual
coverings　of　his　lanky　person。
Dobbin　had　been　in　the　coffee…room　for　an　hour　or
more。　　He　had　tried　all　the　papers；　but　could　not　read
them。　　He　had　looked　at　the　clock　many　scores　of　times；
and　at　the　street；　where　the　rain　was　pattering　down；
and　the　people　as　they　clinked　by　in　pattens；　left　long
reflections　on　the　shining　stone：　he　tattooed　at　the　table：
he　bit　his　nails　most　completely；　and　nearly　to　the　quick
（he　was　accustomed　to　ornament　his　great　big　hands　in
this　way）：　he　balanced　the　tea…spoon　dexterously　on　the
milk　jug：　upset　it；　&c。；　&c。；　and　in　fact　showed　those
signs　of　disquietude；　and　practised　those　desperate
attempts　at　amusement；　which　men　are　accustomed　to
employ　when　very　anxious；　and　expectant；　and　perturbed
in　mind。
Some　of　his　comrades；　gentlemen　who　used　the　room；
joked　him　about　the　splendour　of　his　costume　and　his
agitation　of　manner。　　One　asked　him　if　he　was　going　to　be
married？　　Dobbin　laughed；　and　said　he　would　send　his
acquaintance　（Major　Wagstaff　of　the　Engineers）　a　piece　of
cake　when　that　event　took　place。　　At　length　Captain　Osborne
made　his　appearance；　very　smartly　dressed；　but
very　pale　and　agitated　as　we　have　said。　　He　wiped　his
pale　face　with　a　large　yellow　bandanna　pocket…handkerchief
that　was　prodigiously　scented。　　He　shook　hands　with
Dobbin；　looked　at　the　clock；　and　told　John；　the　waiter；
to　bring　him　some　curacao。　　Of　this　cordial　he　swallowed
off　a　couple　of　glasses　with　nervous　eagerness。
His　friend　asked　with　some　interest　about　his　health。
〃Couldn't　get　a　wink　of　sleep　till　daylight；　Dob；〃　said
he。　　〃Infernal　headache　and　fever。　　Got　up　at　nine；　and
went　down　to　the　Hummums　for　a　bath。　　I　say；　Dob；　I　feel
just　as　I　did　on　the　morning　I　went　out　with　Rocket　at
Quebec。〃
〃So　do　I；〃　William　responded。　　〃I　was　a　deuced　deal
more　nervous　than　you　were　that　morning。　　You　made　a
famous　breakfast；　I　remember。　　Eat　something　now。〃
〃You're　a　good　old　fellow；　Will。　　I'll　drink　your　health；
old　boy；　and　farewell　to〃
〃No；　no；　two　glasses　are　enough；〃　Dobbin　interrupted
him。　　〃Here；　take　away　the　liqueurs；　John。　　Have　some
cayenne…pepper　with　your　fowl。　　Make　haste　though；　for　it
is　time　we　were　there。〃
It　was　about　half　an　hour　from　twelve　when　this
brief　meeting　and　colloquy　took　place　between　the　two
captains。　　A　coach；　into　which　Captain　Osborne's　servant
put　his　master's　desk　and　dressing…case；　had　been　in
waiting　for　some　time；　and　into　this　the　two　gentlemen
hurried　under　an　umbrella；　and　the　valet　mounted　on　the
box；　cursing　the　rain　and　the　dampness　of　the　coachman
who　was　steaming　beside　him。　　〃We　shall　find　a　better
trap　than　this　at　the　church…door；〃　says　he；　〃that's　a
comfort。〃　And　the　carriage　drove　on；　taking　the　road
down　Piccadilly；　where　Apsley　House　and　St。　George's
Hospital　wore　red　jackets　still；　where　there　were　oil…
lamps；　where　Achilles　was　not　yet　born；　nor　the　Pimlico
arch　raised；　nor　the　hideous　equestrian　monster　which
pervades　it　and　the　neighbourhood；　and　so　they　drove
down　by　Brompton　to　a　certain　chapel　near　the　Fulham
Road　there。
A　chariot　was　in　waiting　with　four　horses；　likewise　a
coach　of　the　kind　called　glass　coaches。　　Only　a　very　few
idlers　were　collected　on　account　of　the　dismal　rain。
〃Hang　it！〃　said　George；　〃I　said　only　a　pair。〃
〃My　master　would　have　four；〃　said　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley's
servant；　who　was　in　waiting；　and　he　and　Mr。　Osborne's
man　agreed　as　they　followed　George　and　William　into
the　church；　that　it　was　a　〃reg'lar　shabby　turn
hout；　and　with　scarce　so　much　as　a　breakfast　or　a
wedding　faviour。〃
〃Here　you　are；〃　said　our　old　friend；　Jos　Sedley；　coming
forward。　　〃You're　five　minutes　late；　George；　my　boy。
What　a　day；　eh？　Demmy；　it's　like　the　commencement　of
the　rainy　season　in　Bengal。　　But　you'll　find　my　carriage
is　watertight。　　Come　along；　my　mother　and　Emmy　are　in　the
vestry。〃
Jos　Sedley　was　splendid。　　He　was　fatter　than　ever。　　His
shirt　collars　were　higher；　his　face　was　redder；　his　shirt…
frill　flaunted　gorgeously　out　of　his　variegated　waistcoat。
Varnished　boots　were　not　invented　as　yet；　but　the　Hessians
on　his　beautiful　legs　shone　so；　that　they　must　have　been
the　identical　pair　in　which　the　gentleman　in　the　old　picture
used　to　shave　himself；　and　on　his　light　green　coat
there　bloomed　a　fine　wedding　favour；　like　a　great　white
spreading　magnolia。
In　a　word；　George　had　thrown　the　great　cast。　　He　was
going　to　be　married。　　Hence　his　pallor　and　nervousness
his　sleepless　night　and　agitation　in　the　morning。　　I　have
heard　people　who　have　gone　through　the　same　thing
own　to　the　same　emotion。　　After　three　or　four　ceremonies；
you　get　accustomed　to　it；　no　doubt；　but　the　first
dip；　everybody　allows；　is　awful。
The　bride　was　dressed　in　a　brown　silk　pelisse　（as
Captain　Dobbin　has　since　informed　me）；　and　wore　a　straw
bonnet　with　a　pink　ribbon；　over　the　bonnet　she　had　a
veil　of　white　Chantilly　lace；　a　gift　from　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley；
her　brother。　　Captain　Dobbin　himself　had　asked　leave
to　present　her　with　a　gold　chain　and　watch；　which　she
sported　on　this　occasion；　and　her　mother　gave　her　her
diamond　broochalmost　the　only　trinket　which　was　left
to　the　o