vanity fair(名利场)-第51部分

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sported　on　this　occasion；　and　her　mother　gave　her　her
diamond　broochalmost　the　only　trinket　which　was　left
to　the　old　lady。　　As　the　service　went　on；　Mrs。　Sedley　sat
and　whimpered　a　great　deal　in　a　pew；　consoled　by　the
Irish　maid…servant　and　Mrs。　Clapp　from　the　lodgings。
Old　Sedley　would　not　be　present。　　Jos　acted　for　his　father；
giving　away　the　bride；　whilst　Captain　Dobbin　stepped　up
as　groomsman　to　his　friend　George。
There　was　nobody　in　the　church　besides　the　officiating
persons　and　the　small　marriage　party　and　their　attendants。
The　two　valets　sat　aloof　superciliously。　　The　rain
came　rattling　down　on　the　windows。　　In　the　intervals　of
the　service　you　heard　it；　and　the　sobbing　of　old　Mrs。
Sedley　in　the　pew。　　The　parson's　tones　echoed　sadly
through　the　empty　walls。　　Osborne's　〃I　will〃　was　sounded
in　very　deep　bass。　　Emmy's　response　came　fluttering　up
to　her　lips　from　her　heart；　but　was　scarcely　heard　by
anybody　except　Captain　Dobbin。
When　the　service　was　completed；　Jos　Sedley　came
forward　and　kissed　his　sister；　the　bride；　for　the　first　time
for　many　monthsGeorge's　look　of　gloom　had　gone；　and
he　seemed　quite　proud　and　radiant。　　〃It's　your　turn；
William；〃　says　he；　putting　his　hand　fondly　upon　Dobbin's
shoulder；　and　Dobbin　went　up　and　touched　Amelia　on
the　cheek。
Then　they　went　into　the　vestry　and　signed　the　register。
〃God　bless　you；　Old　Dobbin；〃　George　said；　grasping　him
by　the　hand；　with　something　very　like　moisture　glistening
in　his　eyes。　　William　replied　only　by　nodding　his　head。
His　heart　was　too　full　to　say　much。
〃Write　directly；　and　come　down　as　soon　as　you　can；
you　know；〃　Osborne　said。　　After　Mrs。　Sedley　had　taken　an
hysterical　adieu　of　her　daughter；　the　pair　went　off　to　the
carriage。　　〃Get　out　of　the　way；　you　little　devils；〃　George
cried　to　a　small　crowd　of　damp　urchins；　that　were　hanging
about　the　chapel…door。　　The　rain　drove　into　the　bride
and　bridegroom's　faces　as　they　passed　to　the　chariot。
The　postilions'　favours　draggled　on　their　dripping　jackets。
The　few　children　made　a　dismal　cheer；　as　the　carriage；
splashing　mud；　drove　away。
William　Dobbin　stood　in　the　church…porch；　looking　at　it；
a　queer　figure。　　The　small　crew　of　spectators　jeered　him。
He　was　not　thinking　about　them　or　their　laughter。
〃Come　home　and　have　some　tiffin；　Dobbin；〃　a　voice
cried　behind　him；　as　a　pudgy　hand　was　laid　on　his　shoulder；
and　the　honest　fellow's　reverie　was　interrupted。　　But
the　Captain　had　no　heart　to　go　a…feasting　with　Jos　Sedley。
He　put　the　weeping　old　lady　and　her　attendants　into　the
carriage　along　with　Jos；　and　left　them　without　any　farther
words　passing。　　This　carriage；　too；　drove　away；　and　the
urchins　gave　another　sarcastical　cheer。
〃Here；　you　little　beggars；〃　Dobbin　said；　giving　some
sixpences　amongst　them；　and　then　went　off　by　himself
through　the　rain。　　It　was　all　over。　　They　were　married；　and
happy；　he　prayed　God。　　Never　since　he　was　a　boy　had　he
felt　so　miserable　and　so　lonely。　　He　longed　with　a　heart…
sick　yearning　for　the　first　few　days　to　be　over；　that　he
might　see　her　again。
Some　ten　days　after　the　above　ceremony；　three　young
men　of　our　acquaintance　were　enjoying　that　beautiful
prospect　of　bow　windows　on　the　one　side　and　blue　sea
on　the　other；　which　Brighton　affords　to　the　traveller。
Sometimes　it　is　towards　the　oceansmiling　with　countless
dimples；　speckled　with　white　sails；　with　a　hundred
bathing…machines　kissing　the　skirt　of　his　blue　garment
that　the　Londoner　looks　enraptured：　sometimes；　on　the
contrary；　a　lover　of　human　nature　rather　than　of　prospects
of　any　kind；　it　is　towards　the　bow　windows　that
he　turns；　and　that　swarm　of　human　life　which　they
exhibit。　　From　one　issue　the　notes　of　a　piano；　which　a　young
lady　in　ringlets　practises　six　hours　daily；　to　the　delight
of　the　fellow…lodgers：　at　another；　lovely　Polly；　the　nurse…
maid；　may　be　seen　dandling　Master　Omnium　in　her　arms：
whilst　Jacob；　his　papa；　is　beheld　eating　prawns；　and
devouring　the　Times　for　breakfast；　at　the　window　below。
Yonder　are　the　Misses　Leery；　who　are　looking　out　for　the
young　officers　of　the　Heavies；　who　are　pretty　sure　to　be
pacing　the　cliff；　or　again　it　is　a　City　man；　with　a　nautical
turn；　and　a　telescope；　the　size　of　a　six…pounder；　who　has
his　instrument　pointed　seawards；　so　as　to　command　every
pleasure…boat；　herring…boat；　or　bathing…machine　that
comes　to；　or　quits；　the　shore；　&c。；　&c。　　But　have　we　any
leisure　for　a　description　of　Brighton？for　Brighton；　a
clean　Naples　with　genteel　lazzaronifor　Brighton；　that
always　looks　brisk；　gay；　and　gaudy；　like　a　harlequin's
jacketfor　Brighton；　which　used　to　be　seven　hours
distant　from　London　at　the　time　of　our　story；　which　is　now
only　a　hundred　minutes　off；　and　which　may　approach
who　knows　how　much　nearer；　unless　Joinville　comes　and
untimely　bombards　it？
〃What　a　monstrous　fine　girl　that　is　in　the　lodgings
over　the　milliner's；〃　one　of　these　three　promenaders
remarked　to　the　other；　〃Gad；　Crawley；　did　you　see　what　a
wink　she　gave　me　as　I　passed？〃
〃Don't　break　her　heart；　Jos；　you　rascal；〃　said　another。
〃Don't　trifle　with　her　affections；　you　Don　Juan！〃
〃Get　away；〃　said　Jos　Sedley；　quite　pleased；　and　leering　up
at　the　maid…servant　in　question　with　a　most　killing
ogle。　　Jos　was　even　more　splendid　at　Brighton　than　he　had
been　at　his　sister's　marriage。　　He　had　brilliant　under…waistcoats；
any　one　of　which　would　have　set　up　a　moderate　buck。
He　sported　a　military　frock…coat；　ornamented　with
frogs；　knobs；　black　buttons；　and　meandering　embroidery。
He　had　affected　a　military　appearance　and　habits　of　late；
and　he　walked　with　his　two　friends；　who　were　of　that
profession；　clinking　his　boot…spurs；　swaggering　prodigiously；
and　shooting　death…glances　at　all　the　servant　girls
who　were　worthy　to　be　slain。
〃What　shall　we　do；　boys；　till　the　ladies　return？〃　the
buck　asked。　　The　ladies　were　out　to　Rottingdean　in　his
carriage　on　a　drive。
〃Let's　have　a　game　at　billiards；〃　one　of　his　friends
saidthe　tall　one；　with　lacquered　mustachios。
〃No；　dammy；　no；　Captain；〃　Jos　replied；　rather
alarmed。　　〃No　billiards　to…day；　Crawley；　my　boy；
yesterday　was　enough。〃
〃You　play　very　well；〃　said　Crawley；　laughing。　　〃Don't
he；　Osborne？　How　well　he　made　that…five　stroke；　eh？〃
〃Famous；〃　Osborne　said。　　〃Jos　is　a　devil　of　a　fellow
at　billiards；　and　at　everything　else；　too。　　I　wish　there　were
any　tiger…hunting　about　here！　we　might　go　and　kill　a　few
before　dinner。　　（There　goes　a　fine　girl！　what　an　ankle；　eh；
Jos？）　Tell　us　that　story　about　the　tiger…hunt；　and　the
way　you　did　for　him　in　the　jungleit's　a　wonderful　story
that；　Crawley。〃　Here　George　Osborne　gave　a　yawn。　　〃It's
rather　slow　work；〃　said　he；　〃down　here；　what　shall　we
do？〃
〃Shall　we　go　and　look　at　some　horses　that　Snaffler's
just　brought　from　Lewes　fair？〃　Crawley　said。
〃Suppose　we　go　and　have　some　jellies　at　Dutton's；〃
and　the　rogue　Jos；　willing　to　kill　two　birds　with　one
stone。　　〃Devilish　fine　gal　at　Dutton's。〃
〃Suppose　we　go　and　see　the　Lightning　come　in；　it's
just　about　time？〃　George　said。　　This　advice　prevailing
over　the　stables　and　the　jelly；　they　turned　towards　the
coach…office　to　witness　the　Lightning's　arrival。
As　they　passed；　they　met　the　carriageJos　Sedley's
open　carriage；　with　its　magnificent　armorial　bearings
that　splendid　conveyance　in　which　he　used　to　drive；　about
at　Cheltonham；　majestic　and　solitary；　with　his　arms
folded；　and　his　hat　cocked；　or；　more　happy；　with　ladies
by　his　side。
Two　were　in　the　carriage　now：　one　a　little　person；　with
light　hair；　and　dressed　in　the　height　of　the　fashion；　the
other　in　a　brown　silk　pelisse；　and　a　straw　bonnet　with
pink　ribbons；　with　a　rosy；　round；　happy　face；　that　did
you　good　to　behold。　　She　checked　the　carriage　as　it
neared　the　three　gentlemen；　after　which　exercise　of
authority　she　looked　rather　nervous；　and　then　began　to
blush　most　absurdly。　　〃We　have　had　a　delightful　drive；
George；〃　she　said；　〃andand　we're　so　glad　to　come　back；
and；　Joseph；　don't　let　him　be　late。〃
〃Don't　be　leading　our　husbands　into　mischief；　Mr。
Sedley；　you　wicked；　wicked　man　you；〃　Rebecca　said；
shaking　at　Jos　a　pretty　little　finger　covered　with　the
neatest　French　kid　glove。　　〃No　billiards；　no　smoking；　no
naughtiness！〃
〃My　dear　Mrs。　CrawleyAh　now！　upon　my　honour！〃
was　all　Jos　could　ejaculate　by　way　of　reply；　but　he　managed
to　fall　into　a　tolerable　attitude；　with　his　head　lying
on　his　shoulder；　grinning　upwards　at　his　victim；　with　one
hand　at　his　back；　which　he　supported　on　his　cane；　and
the　other　hand　（the　one　with　the　diamond　ring）　fumbling
in　his　shirt…frill　and　among　his　under…waistcoats。　　As　the
carriage　drove　off　he　kissed　the　diamond　hand　to　the　fair
ladies　within。　　He　wished　all　Cheltenham；　all　Chowringhee；
all　Calcutta；　could　see　him　in　that　position；　waving　his
hand　to　such　a　beauty；　and　in　company　with　such　a
famous　buck　as　Rawdon　Crawley　of　the　Guards。
Our　young　bride　and　bridegroom　had　chosen　Brighton
as　the　place　where　they　would　pass　the　first　few　days　after
their　marriage；　and　having　engaged　apartments　at　the
Ship　Inn；　enjoyed　themselves　there　in　great　comfort　and
quietude；　until　Jos　presently　joined　them。　　Nor　was　he
the　only　companion　they　found　there。　　As　they　were
coming　into　the　hotel　from　a　sea…side　walk　one　afternoon；
on　whom　should　they　light　but　Rebecca　and　her
husband。　　The　recognition　was　immediate。　　Rebecca　flew
into　the　arms　of　her　dearest　friend。　　Crawley　and　Osborne
shook　hands　together　cordially　enough：　and　Becky；　in
the　course　of　a　very　few　hours；　found　means　to　make　the
latter　forget　that　little　unpleasant　passage　of　words　which
had　happened　between　them。　　〃Do　you　remember　the　last
time　we　met　at　Miss　Crawley's；　when　I　was　so　rude　to
you；　dear　Captain　Osborne？　I　thought　you　seemed　careless
about　dear　Amelia。　　It　was　that　made　me　angry：　and
so　pert：　and　so　unkind：　and　so　ungrateful。　　Do　forgive
me！〃　Rebecca　said；　and　she　held　out　her　hand　with　so
frank　and　winning　a　grace；　that　Osborne　could　not　but
take　it。　　By　humbly　and　frankly　acknowledging　yourself　to
be　in　the　wrong；　there　is　no　knowing；　my　son；　what　good
you　may　do。　　I　knew　once　a　gentleman　and　very　worthy
practitioner　in　Vanity　Fair；　who　used　to　do　little　wrongs
to　his　neighbours　on　purpose；　and　in　order　to　apologise
for　them　i