vanity fair(名利场)-第59部分

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not　all　his　conversation　during　dinner…time　tended　to
prove　there　was　none？　　He　became　very　confused　and
silent。
〃I　must　and　will　go；〃　Amelia　cried　with　the　greatest
spirit；　and　George；　applauding　her　resolution；　patted　her
under　the　chin；　and　asked　all　the　persons　present　if
they　ever　saw　such　a　termagant　of　a　wife；　and　agreed
that　the　lady　should　bear　him　company。　　〃We'll　have
Mrs。　O'Dowd　to　chaperon　you；〃　he　said。　　What　cared　she
so　long　as　her　husband　was　near　her？　　Thus　somehow
the　bitterness　of　a　parting　was　juggled　away。　　Though　war
and　danger　were　in　store；　war　and　danger　might　not
befall　for　months　to　come。　　There　was　a　respite　at　any　rate；
which　made　the　timid　little　Amelia　almost　as　happy　as
a　full　reprieve　would　have　done；　and　which　even　Dobbin
owned　in　his　heart　was　very　welcome。　　For；　to　be　permitted
to　see　her　was　now　the　greatest　privilege　and　hope
of　his　life；　and　he　thought　with　himself　secretly　how　he
would　watch　and　protect　her。　　I　wouldn't　have　let　her　go
if　I　had　been　married　to　her；　he　thought。　　But　George　was
the　master；　and　his　friend　did　not　think　fit　to　remonstrate。
Putting　her　arm　round　her　friend's　waist；　Rebecca　at
length　carried　Amelia　off　from　the　dinner…table　where　so
much　business　of　importance　had　been　discussed；　and
left　the　gentlemen　in　a　highly　exhilarated　state；　drinking
and　talking　very　gaily。
In　the　course　of　the　evening　Rawdon　got　a　little　family…
note　from　his　wife；　which；　although　he　crumpled　it　up
and　burnt　it　instantly　in　the　candle；　we　had　the　good
luck　to　read　over　Rebecca's　shoulder。　　〃Great　news；〃　she
wrote。　　〃Mrs。　Bute　is　gone。　　Get　the　money　from　Cupid　tonight；
as　he'll　be　off　to…morrow　most　likely。　　Mind　this。
R。〃　So　when　the　little　company　was　about　adjourning
to　coffee　in　the　women's　apartment；　Rawdon　touched
Osborne　on　the　elbow；　and　said　gracefully；　〃I　say；　Osborne；
my　boy；　if　quite　convenient；　I'll　trouble　you　for
that　'ere　small　trifle。〃　It　was　not　quite　convenient；　but
nevertheless　George　gave　him　a　considerable　present
instalment　in　bank…notes　from　his　pocket…book；　and　a　bill
on　his　agents　at　a　week's　date；　for　the　remaining　sum。
This　matter　arranged；　George；　and　Jos；　and　Dobbin；
held　a　council　of　war　over　their　cigars；　and　agreed　that　a
general　move　should　be　made　for　London　in　Jos's　open
carriage　the　next　day。　　Jos；　I　think；　would　have　preferred
staying　until　Rawdon　Crawley　quitted　Brighton；　but　Dobbin
and　George　overruled　him；　and　he　agreed　to　carry
the　party　to　town；　and　ordered　four　horses；　as　became　his
dignity。　　With　these　they　set　off　in　state；　after　breakfast；
the　next　day。　　Amelia　had　risen　very　early　in　the　morning；
and　packed　her　little　trunks　with　the　greatest　alacrity；
while　Osborne　lay　in　bed　deploring　that　she　had　not　a
maid　to　help　her。　　She　was　only　too　glad；　however；　to
perform　this　office　for　herself。　　A　dim　uneasy　sentiment
about　Rebecca　filled　her　mind　already；　and　although　they
kissed　each　other　most　tenderly　at　parting；　yet　we　know
what　jealousy　is；　and　Mrs。　Amelia　possessed　that　among
other　virtues　of　her　sex。
Besides　these　characters　who　are　coming　and　going
away；　we　must　remember　that　there　were　some　other　old
friends　of　ours　at　Brighton；　Miss　Crawley；　namely；　and
the　suite　in　attendance　upon　her。　　Now；　although　Rebecca
and　her　husband　were　but　at　a　few　stones'　throw　of　the
lodgings　which　the　invalid　Miss　Crawley　occupied；　the
old　lady's　door　remained　as　pitilessly　closed　to　them　as　it
had　been　heretofore　in　London。　　As　long　as　she　remained
by　the　side　of　her　sister…in…law；　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley　took
care　that　her　beloved　Matilda　should　not　be　agitated　by　a
meeting　with　her　nephew。　　When　the　spinster　took　her
drive；　the　faithful　Mrs。　Bute　sate　beside　her　in　the　carriage。
When　Miss　Crawley　took　the　air　in　a　chair；　Mrs。
Bute　marched　on　one　side　of　the　vehicle；　whilst　honest
Briggs　occupied　the　other　wing。　　And　if　they　met　Rawdon
and　his　wife　by　chancealthough　the　former　constantly
and　obsequiously　took　off　his　hat；　the　Miss…Crawley　party
passed　him　by　with　such　a　frigid　and　killing　indifference；
that　Rawdon　began　to　despair。
〃We　might　as　well　be　in　London　as　here；〃　Captain
Rawdon　often　said；　with　a　downcast　air。
〃A　comfortable　inn　in　Brighton　is　better　than　a
spunging…house　in　Chancery　Lane；〃　his　wife　answered；　who　was
of　a　more　cheerful　temperament。　　〃Think　of　those　two
aides…de…camp　of　Mr。　Moses；　the　sheriff's…officer；　who
watched　our　lodging　for　a　week。　　Our　friends　here　are
very　stupid；　but　Mr。　Jos　and　Captain　Cupid　are　better
companions　than　Mr。　Moses's　men；　Rawdon；　my　love。〃
〃I　wonder　the　writs　haven't　followed　me　down　here；〃
Rawdon　continued；　still　desponding。
〃When　they　do；　we'll　find　means　to　give　them　the　slip；〃
said　dauntless　little　Becky；　and　further　pointed　out　to　her
husband　the　great　comfort　and　advantage　of　meeting
Jos　and　Osborne；　whose　acquaintance　had　brought　to
Rawdon　Crawley　a　most　timely　little　supply　of　ready
money。
〃It　will　hardly　be　enough　to　pay　the　inn　bill；〃　grumbled
the　Guardsman。
〃Why　need　we　pay　it？〃　said　the　lady；　who　had　an　answer
for　everything。
Through　Rawdon's　valet；　who　still　kept　up　a　trifling
acquaintance　with　the　male　inhabitants　of　Miss　Crawley's
servants'　hall；　and　was　instructed　to　treat　the　coachman
to　drink　whenever　they　met；　old　Miss　Crawley's　movements
were　pretty　well　known　by　our　young　couple；　and
Rebecca　luckily　bethought　herself　of　being　unwell；　and　of
calling　in　the　same　apothecary　who　was　in　attendance
upon　the　spinster；　so　that　their　information　was　on　the
whole　tolerably　complete。　　Nor　was　Miss　Briggs；　although
forced　to　adopt　a　hostile　attitude；　secretly　inimical　to
Rawdon　and　his　wife。　　She　was　naturally　of　a　kindly　and
forgiving　disposition。　　Now　that　the　cause　of　jealousy　was
removed；　her　dislike　for　Rebecca　disappeared　also；　and
she　remembered　the　latter's　invariable　good　words
and　good　humour。　　And；　indeed；　she　and　Mrs。
Firkin；　the　lady's…maid；　and　the　whole　of　Miss　Crawley's
household；　groaned　under　the　tyranny　of　the
triumphant　Mrs。　Bute。
As　often　will　be　the　case；　that　good　but　imperious
woman　pushed　her　advantages　too　far；　and　her　successes
quite　unmercifully。　　She　had　in　the　course　of　a　few　weeks
brought　the　invalid　to　such　a　state　of　helpless　docility；
that　the　poor　soul　yielded　herself　entirely　to　her　sister's
orders；　and　did　not　even　dare　to　complain　of　her　slavery
to　Briggs　or　Firkin。　　Mrs。　Bute　measured　out　the　glasses
of　wine　which　Miss　Crawley　was　daily　allowed　to　take；
with　irresistible　accuracy；　greatly　to　the　annoyance　of
Firkin　and　the　butler；　who　found　themselves　deprived　of
control　over　even　the　sherry…bottle。　　She　apportioned　the
sweetbreads；　jellies；　chickens；　their　quantity　and　order。
Night　and　noon　and　morning　she　brought　the　abominable
drinks　ordained　by　the　Doctor；　and　made　her　patient
swallow　them　with　so　affecting　an　obedience　that　Firkin
said　〃my　poor　Missus　du　take　her　physic　like　a　lamb。〃　She
prescribed　the　drive　in　the　carriage　or　the　ride　in　the
chair；　and；　in　a　word；　ground　down　the　old　lady　in　her
convalescence　in　such　a　way　as　only　belongs　to　your
proper…managing；　motherly　moral　woman。　　If　ever　the
patient　faintly　resisted；　and　pleaded　for　a　little　bit　more
dinner　or　a　little　drop　less　medicine；　the　nurse　threatened
her　with　instantaneous　death；　when　Miss　Crawley
instantly　gave　in。　　〃She's　no　spirit　left　in　her；〃　Firkin
remarked　to　Briggs；　〃she　ain't　ave　called　me　a　fool　these
three　weeks。〃　Finally；　Mrs。　Bute　had　made　up　her　mind
to　dismiss　the　aforesaid　honest　lady's…maid；　Mr。　Bowls
the　large　confidential　man；　and　Briggs　herself；　and　to
send　for　her　daughters　from　the　Rectory；　previous　to
removing　the　dear　invalid　bodily　to　Queen's　Crawley；　when
an　odious　accident　happened　which　called　her　away　from
duties　so　pleasing。　　The　Reverend　Bute　Crawley；　her
husband；　riding　home　one　night；　fell　with　his　horse　and
broke　his　collar…bone。　　Fever　and　inflammatory　symptoms
set　in；　and　Mrs。　Bute　was　forced　to　leave　Sussex　for
Hampshire。　　As　soon　as　ever　Bute　was　restored；　she
promised　to　return　to　her　dearest　friend；　and　departed；
leaving　the　strongest　injunctions　with　the　household
regarding　their　behaviour　to　their　mistress；　and　as　soon　as
she　got　into　the　Southampton　coach；　there　was　such　a
jubilee　and　sense　of　relief　in　all　Miss　Crawley's　house；
as　the　company　of　persons　assembled　there　had　not
experienced　for　many　a　week　before。　　That　very　day　Miss
Crawley　left　off　her　afternoon　dose　of　medicine：　　that
afternoon　Bowls　opened　an　independent　bottle　of　sherry
for　himself　and　Mrs。　Firkin：　　that　night　Miss　Crawley
and　Miss　Briggs　indulged　in　a　game　of　piquet　instead
of　one　of　Porteus's　sermons。　　It　was　as　in　the　old　nursery…
story；　when　the　stick　forgot　to　beat　the　dog；　and　the
whole　course　of　events　underwent　a　peaceful　and　happy
revolution。
At　a　very　early　hour　in　the　morning；　twice　or　thrice　a
week；　Miss　Briggs　used　to　betake　herself　to　a　bathing…
machine；　and　disport　in　the　water　in　a　flannel　gown　and
an　oilskin　cap。　　Rebecca；　as　we　have　seen；　was　aware　of
this　circumstance；　and　though　she　did　not　attempt　to
storm　Briggs　as　she　had　threatened；　and　actually　dive
into　that　lady's　presence　and　surprise　her　under　the
sacredness　of　the　awning；　Mrs。　Rawdon　determined　to
attack　Briggs　as　she　came　away　from　her　bath；　refreshed
and　invigorated　by　her　dip；　and　likely　to　be　in　good
humour。
So　getting　up　very　early　the　next　morning；　Becky
brought　the　telescope　in　their　sitting…room；　which　faced
the　sea；　to　bear　upon　the　bathing…machines　on　the　beach；
saw　Briggs　arrive；　enter　her　box；　and　put　out　to　sea；
and　was　on　the　shore　just　as　the　nymph　of　whom　she
came　in　quest　stepped　out　of　the　little　caravan　on　to　the
shingles。　　It　was　a　pretty　picture：　　the　beach；　the　bathing…
women's　faces；　the　long　line　of　rocks　and　building　were
blushing　and　bright　in　the　sunshine。　　Rebecca　wore　a　kind；
tender　smile　on　her　face；　and　was　holding　out　her　pretty
white　hand　as　Briggs　emerged　from　the　box。　　What　could
Briggs　do　but　accept　the　salutation？
〃Miss　ShMrs。　Crawley；〃　she　said。
Mrs。　Crawley　seized　her　hand；　pressed　it　to　her　heart；
and　with　a　sudden　impulse；　flinging　her　arms　round
Briggs；　kissed　her　affectionately。