vanity fair(名利场)-第95部分

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〃A　what？〃　said　Rawdon；　looking　up　from　an　ecarte
table。
〃A　sheep…dog！〃　said　young　Lord　Southdown。　　〃My　dear
Mrs。　Crawley；　what　a　fancy！　　Why　not　have　a　Danish
dog？　I　know　of　one　as　big　as　a　camel…leopard；　by　Jove。
It　would　almost　pull　your　brougham。　　Or　a　Persian
greyhound；　eh？　（I　propose；　if　you　please）；　or　a　little　pug
that　would　go　into　one　of　Lord　Steyne's　snuff…boxes？
There's　a　man　at　Bayswater　got　one　with　such　a　nose　that
you　mightI　mark　the　king　and　playthat　you　might
hang　your　hat　on　it。〃
〃I　mark　the　trick；〃　Rawdon　gravely　said。　　He　attended
to　his　game　commonly　and　didn't　much　meddle　with
the　conversation；　except　when　it　was　about　horses　and
betting。
〃What　CAN　you　want　with　a　shepherd's　dog？〃　the　lively
little　Southdown　continued。
〃I　mean　a　MORAL　shepherd's　dog；〃　said　Becky；　laughing
and　looking　up　at　Lord　Steyne。
〃What　the　devil's　that？〃　said　his　Lordship。
〃A　dog　to　keep　the　wolves　off　me；〃　Rebecca　continued。
〃A　companion。〃
〃Dear　little　innocent　lamb；　you　want　one；〃　said　the
marquis；　and　his　jaw　thrust　out；　and　he　began　to　grin
hideously；　his　little　eyes　leering　towards　Rebecca。
The　great　Lord　of　Steyne　was　standing　by　the　fire
sipping　coffee。　　The　fire　crackled　and　blazed　pleasantly
There　was　a　score　of　candles　sparkling　round　the　mantel
piece；　in　all　sorts　of　quaint　sconces；　of　gilt　and　bronze　and
porcelain。　　They　lighted　up　Rebecca's　figure　to　admiration；
as　she　sat　on　a　sofa　covered　with　a　pattern　of　gaudy
flowers。　　She　was　in　a　pink　dress　that　looked　as　fresh　as
a　rose；　her　dazzling　white　arms　and　shoulders　were　half…
covered　with　a　thin　hazy　scarf　through　which　they
sparkled；　her　hair　hung　in　curls　round　her　neck；　one　of　her
little　feet　peeped　out　from　the　fresh　crisp　folds　of　the
silk：　　the　prettiest　little　foot　in　the　prettiest　little　sandal
in　the　finest　silk　stocking　in　the　world。
The　candles　lighted　up　Lord　Steyne's　shining　bald　head；
which　was　fringed　with　red　hair。　　He　had　thick　bushy
eyebrows；　with　little　twinkling　bloodshot　eyes；　surrounded
by　a　thousand　wrinkles。　　His　jaw　was　underhung；　and
when　he　laughed；　two　white　buck…teeth　protruded
themselves　and　glistened　savagely　in　the　midst　of　the　grin。
He　had　been　dining　with　royal　personages；　and　wore
his　garter　and　ribbon。　　A　short　man　was　his　Lordship；
broad…chested　and　bow…legged；　but　proud　of　the　fineness
of　his　foot　and　ankle；　and　always　caressing　his　garter…
knee。
〃And　so　the　shepherd　is　not　enough；〃　said　he；　〃to
defend　his　lambkin？〃
〃The　shepherd　is　too　fond　of　playing　at　cards　and　going
to　his　clubs；〃　answered　Becky；　laughing。
〃　'Gad；　what　a　debauched　Corydon！〃　said　my　lord
〃what　a　mouth　for　a　pipe！〃
〃I　take　your　three　to　two；〃　here　said　Rawdon；　at　the
card…table。
〃Hark　at　Meliboeus；〃　snarled　the　noble　marquis；　〃he's
pastorally　occupied　too：　　he's　shearing　a　Southdown。
What　an　innocent　mutton；　hey？　Damme；　what　a　snowy
fleece！〃
Rebecca's　eyes　shot　out　gleams　of　scornful　humour。
〃My　lord；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　a　knight　of　the　Order。〃
He　had　the　collar　round　his　neck；　indeeda　gift　of　the
restored　princes　of　Spain。
Lord　Steyne　in　early　life　had　been　notorious　for　his
daring　and　his　success　at　play。　　He　had　sat　up　two　days
and　two　nights　with　Mr。　Fox　at　hazard。　　He　had　won
money　of　the　most　august　personages　of　the　realm：　　he
had　won　his　marquisate；　it　was　said；　at　the　gaming…
table；　but　he　did　not　like　an　allusion　to　those　bygone
fredaines。　　Rebecca　saw　the　scowl　gathering　over　his　heavy
brow。
She　rose　up　from　her　sofa　and　went　and　took　his　coffee
cup　out　of　his　hand　with　a　little　curtsey。　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；
〃I　must　get　a　watchdog。　　But　he　won't　bark　at　YOU。
And；　going　into　the　other　drawing…room；　she　sat　down　to
the　piano　and　began　to　sing　little　French　songs　in　such　a
charming；　thrilling　voice　that　the　mollified　nobleman
speedily　followed　her　into　that　chamber；　and　might　be　seen
nodding　his　head　and　bowing　time　over　her。
Rawdon　and　his　friend　meanwhile　played　ecarte　until
they　had　enough。　　The　Colonel　won；　but；　say　that　he　won
ever　so　much　and　often；　nights　like　these；　which　occurred
many　times　in　the　weekhis　wife　having　all　the　talk　and
all　the　admiration；　and　he　sitting　silent　without　the　circle；
not　comprehending　a　word　of　the　jokes；　the　allusions；　the
mystical　language　withinmust　have　been　rather
wearisome　to　the　ex…dragoon。
〃How　is　Mrs。　Crawley's　husband？〃　Lord　Steyne　used
to　say　to　him　by　way　of　a　good　day　when　they　met；　and
indeed　that　was　now　his　avocation　in　life。　　He　was
Colonel　Crawley　no　more。　　He　was　Mrs。　Crawley's　husband。
About　the　little　Rawdon；　if　nothing　has　been　said　all
this　while；　it　is　because　he　is　hidden　upstairs　in　a　garret
somewhere；　or　has　crawled　below　into　the　kitchen　for
companionship。　　His　mother　scarcely　ever　took　notice　of
him。　　He　passed　the　days　with　his　French　bonne　as　long
as　that　domestic　remained　in　Mr。　Crawley's　family；　and
when　the　Frenchwoman　went　away；　the　little　fellow；
howling　in　the　loneliness　of　the　night；　had　compassion　taken
on　him　by　a　housemaid；　who　took　him　out　of　his　solitary
nursery　into　her　bed　in　the　garret　hard　by　and　comforted
him。
Rebecca；　my　Lord　Steyne；　and　one　or　two　more　were
in　the　drawing…room　taking　tea　after　the　opera；　when　this
shouting　was　heard　overhead。　　〃It's　my　cherub　crying　for
his　nurse；〃　she　said。　　She　did　not　offer　to　move　to　go　and
see　the　child。　　〃Don't　agitate　your　feelings　by　going　to　look
for　him；〃　said　Lord　Steyne　sardonically。　　〃Bah！〃　replied
the　other；　with　a　sort　of　blush；　〃he'll　cry　himself　to　sleep〃；
and　they　fell　to　talking　about　the　opera。
Rawdon　had　stolen　off　though；　to　look　after　his　son
and　heir；　and　came　back　to　the　company　when　he　found
that　honest　Dolly　was　consoling　the　child。　　The　Colonel's
dressing…room　was　in　those　upper　regions。　　He　used　to　see
the　boy　there　in　private。　　They　had　interviews　together
every　morning　when　he　shaved；　Rawdon　minor　sitting　on　a
box　by　his　father's　side　and　watching　the　operation　with
never…ceasing　pleasure。　　He　and　the　sire　were　great　friends。
The　father　would　bring　him　sweetmeats　from　the　dessert
and　hide　them　in　a　certain　old　epaulet　box；　where　the
child　went　to　seek　them；　and　laughed　with　joy　on
discovering　the　treasure；　laughed；　but　not　too　loud：　　for　mamma
was　below　asleep　and　must　not　be　disturbed。　　She　did　not
go　to　rest　till　very　late　and　seldom　rose　till　after　noon。
Rawdon　bought　the　boy　plenty　of　picture…books　and
crammed　his　nursery　with　toys。　　Its　walls　were　covered　with
pictures　pasted　up　by　the　father's　own　hand　and　purchased
by　him　for　ready　money。　　When　he　was　off　duty　with
Mrs。　Rawdon　in　the　park；　he　would　sit　up　here；　passing
hours　with　the　boy；　who　rode　on　his　chest；　who　pulled　his
great　mustachios　as　if　they　were　driving…reins；　and　spent
days　with　him　in　indefatigable　gambols。　　The　room　was
a　low　room；　and　once；　when　the　child　was　not　five　years
old；　his　father；　who　was　tossing　him　wildly　up　in　his
arms；　hit　the　poor　little　chap's　skull　so　violently　against
the　ceiling　that　he　almost　dropped　the　child；　so　terrified
was　he　at　the　disaster。
Rawdon　minor　had　made　up　his　face　for　a　tremendous
howlthe　severity　of　the　blow　indeed　authorized　that
indulgence；　but　just　as　he　was　going　to　begin；　the　father
interposed。
〃For　God's　sake；　Rawdy；　don't　wake　Mamma；〃　he
cried。　　And　the　child；　looking　in　a　very　hard　and　piteous
way　at　his　father；　bit　his　lips；　clenched　his　hands；　and
didn't　cry　a　bit。　　Rawdon　told　that　story　at　the　clubs；　at
the　mess；　to　everybody　in　town。　　〃By　Gad；　sir；〃　he
explained　to　the　public　in　general；　〃what　a　good　plucked　one
that　boy　of　mine　iswhat　a　trump　he　is！　　I　half…sent　his
head　through　the　ceiling；　by　Gad；　and　he　wouldn't　cry　for
fear　of　disturbing　his　mother。〃
Sometimesonce　or　twice　in　a　weekthat　lady　visited
the　upper　regions　in　which　the　child　lived。　　She　came　like
a　vivified　figure　out　of　the　Magasin　des　Modesblandly
smiling　in　the　most　beautiful　new　clothes　and　little　gloves
and　boots。　　Wonderful　scarfs；　laces；　and　jewels　glittered
about　her。　　She　had　always　a　new　bonnet　on；　and　flowers
bloomed　perpetually　in　it；　or　else　magnificent　curling
ostrich　feathers；　soft　and　snowy　as　camellias。　　She　nodded
twice　or　thrice　patronizingly　to　the　little　boy；　who　looked
up　from　his　dinner　or　from　the　pictures　of　soldiers　he　was
painting。　　When　she　left　the　room；　an　odour　of　rose；　or
some　other　magical　fragrance；　lingered　about　the　nursery。
She　was　an　unearthly　being　in　his　eyes；　superior　to　his
fatherto　all　the　world：　　to　be　worshipped　and　admired
at　a　distance。　　To　drive　with　that　lady　in　the　carriage　was
an　awful　rite：　　he　sat　up　in　the　back　seat　and　did　not　dare
to　speak：　　he　gazed　with　all　his　eyes　at　the　beautifully
dressed　Princess　opposite　to　him。　　Gentlemen　on　splendid
prancing　horses　came　up　and　smiled　and　talked　with　her。
How　her　eyes　beamed　upon　all　of　them！　　Her　hand　used
to　quiver　and　wave　gracefully　as　they　passed。　　When
he　went　out　with　her　he　had　his　new　red　dress　on。　　His　old
brown　holland　was　good　enough　when　he　stayed　at　home。
Sometimes；　when　she　was　away；　and　Dolly　his　maid　was
making　his　bed；　he　came　into　his　mother's　room。　　It　was　as
the　abode　of　a　fairy　to　hima　mystic　chamber　of
splendour　and　delights。　　There　in　the　wardrobe　hung　those
wonderful　robespink　and　blue　and　many…tinted。　　There
was　the　jewel…case；　silver…clasped；　and　the　wondrous
bronze　hand　on　the　dressing…table；　glistening　all　over
with　a　hundred　rings。　　There　was　the　cheval…glass；　that
miracle　of　art；　in　which　he　could　just　see　his　own
wondering　head　and　the　reflection　of　Dolly　（queerly
distorted；　and　as　if　up　in　the　ceiling）；　plumping　and　patting
the　pillows　of　the　bed。　　Oh；　thou　poor　lonely　little
benighted　boy！　　Mother　is　the　name　for　God　in　the　lips　and
hearts　of　little　children；　and　here　was　one　who　was
worshipping　a　stone！
Now　Rawdon　Crawley；　rascal　as　the　Colonel　was；　had
certain　manly　tendencies　of　affection　in　his　heart　and
could　love　a　child　and　a　woman　still。　　For　Rawdon　minor
he　had　a　great　secret　tenderness　then；　which　did　not
escape　Rebecca；　though　she　did　not　talk　about　it　to　her
husband。　　It　did　not　annoy　her：　　she　was　too　good…
natured。　　It　only　increased　her　scorn　for　him。　　He　felt
somehow　ashamed　of　this　paternal　sof