vanity fair(名利场)-第11章

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in　the　dark；　but　Miss　Sedley；　laughing；　declined　to　bear
him　company　any　farther；　and　the　two　accordingly
followed　Mr。　Joseph。　　Rebecca　sang　far　better　than　her
friend　（though　of　course　Osborne　was　free　to　keep　his
opinion）；　and　exerted　herself　to　the　utmost；　and；
indeed；　to　the　wonder　of　Amelia；　who　had　never　known
her　perform　so　well。　　She　sang　a　French　song；　which
Joseph　did　not　understand　in　the　least；　and　which　George
confessed　he　did　not　understand；　and　then　a　number　of
those　simple　ballads　which　were　the　fashion　forty　years
ago；　and　in　which　British　tars；　our　King；　poor　Susan；
blue…eyed　Mary；　and　the　like；　were　the　principal　themes。
They　are　not；　it　is　said；　very　brilliant；　in　a　musical　point
of　view；　but　contain　numberless　good…natured；　simple
appeals　to　the　affections；　which　people　understood　better
than　the　milk…and…water　lagrime；　sospiri；　and　felicita
of　the　eternal　Donizettian　music　with　which　we　are
favoured　now…a…days。
Conversation　of　a　sentimental　sort；　befitting　the
subject；　was　carried　on　between　the　songs；　to　which
Sambo；　after　he　had　brought　the　tea；　the　delighted　cook；
and　even　Mrs。　Blenkinsop；　the　housekeeper；　condescended
to　listen　on　the　landing…place。
Among　these　ditties　was　one；　the　last　of　the　concert；
and　to　the　following　effect：
Ah！　bleak　and　barren　was　the　moor；
Ah！　loud　and　piercing　was　the　storm；
The　cottage　roof　was　shelter'd　sure；
The　cottage　hearth　was　bright　and　warm
An　orphan　boy　the　lattice　pass'd；
And；　as　he　mark'd　its　cheerful　glow；
Felt　doubly　keen　the　midnight　blast；
And　doubly　cold　the　fallen　snow。
They　mark'd　him　as　he　onward　prest；
With　fainting　heart　and　weary　limb；
Kind　voices　bade　him　turn　and　rest；
And　gentle　faces　welcomed　him。
The　dawn　is　upthe　guest　is　gone；
The　cottage　hearth　is　blazing　still；
Heaven　pity　all　poor　wanderers　lone！
Hark　to　the　wind　upon　the　hill！
It　was　the　sentiment　of　the　before…mentioned　words；
〃When　I'm　gone；〃　over　again。　　As　she　came　to　the　last
words；　Miss　Sharp's　〃deep…toned　voice　faltered。〃
Everybody　felt　the　allusion　to　her　departure；　and　to　her
hapless　orphan　state。　　Joseph　Sedley；　who　was　fond　of　music；
and　soft…hearted；　was　in　a　state　of　ravishment　during　the
performance　of　the　song；　and　profoundly　touched　at　its
conclusion。　　If　he　had　had　the　courage；　if　George　and　Miss
Sedley　had　remained；　according　to　the　former's　proposal；
in　the　farther　room；　Joseph　Sedley's　bachelorhood　would
have　been　at　an　end；　and　this　work　would　never　have
been　written。　　But　at　the　close　of　the　ditty；　Rebecca　quitted
the　piano；　and　giving　her　hand　to　Amelia；　walked　away
into　the　front　drawing…room　twilight；　and；　at　this
moment；　Mr。　Sambo　made　his　appearance　with　a　tray；
containing　sandwiches；　jellies；　and　some　glittering　glasses
and　decanters；　on　which　Joseph　Sedley's　attention　was
immediately　fixed。　　When　the　parents　of　the　house　of　Sedley
returned　from　their　dinner…party；　they　found　the　young
people　so　busy　in　talking；　that　they　had　not　heard　the
arrival　of　the　carriage；　and　Mr。　Joseph　was　in　the　act　of
saying；　〃My　dear　Miss　Sharp；　one　little　teaspoonful　of
jelly　to　recruit　you　after　your　immenseyouryour
delightful　exertions。〃
〃Bravo；　Jos！〃　said　Mr。　Sedley；　on　hearing　the　bantering
of　which　well…known　voice；　Jos　instantly　relapsed
into　an　alarmed　silence；　and　quickly　took　his　departure。
He　did　not　lie　awake　all　night　thinking　whether　or　not　he
was　in　love　with　Miss　Sharp；　the　passion　of　love　never
interfered　with　the　appetite　or　the　slumber　of　Mr。　Joseph
Sedley；　but　he　thought　to　himself　how　delightful　it　would
be　to　hear　such　songs　as　those　after　Cutcherrywhat　a
distinguee　girl　she　washow　she　could　speak　French
better　than　the　Governor…General's　lady　herselfand
what　a　sensation　she　would　make　at　the　Calcutta　balls。
〃It's　evident　the　poor　devil's　in　love　with　me；〃　thought
he。　　〃She　is　just　as　rich　as　most　of　the　girls　who　come
out　to　India。　　I　might　go　farther；　and　fare　worse；　egad！〃
And　in　these　meditations　he　fell　asleep。
How　Miss　Sharp　lay　awake；　thinking；　will　he　come　or
not　to…morrow？　need　not　be　told　here。　　To…morrow　came；
and；　as　sure　as　fate；　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley　made　his
appearance　before　luncheon。　　He　had　never　been　known
before　to　confer　such　an　honour　on　Russell　Square。　　George
Osborne　was　somehow　there　already　（sadly　〃putting　out〃
Amelia；　who　was　writing　to　her　twelve　dearest　friends　at
Chiswick　Mall）；　and　Rebecca　was　employed　upon　her
yesterday's　work。　　As　Joe's　buggy　drove　up；　and　while；　after
his　usual　thundering　knock　and　pompous　bustle　at　the
door；　the　ex…Collector　of　Boggley　Wollah　laboured　up
stairs　to　the　drawing…room；　knowing　glances　were
telegraphed　between　Osborne　and　Miss　Sedley；　and　the　pair；
smiling　archly；　looked　at　Rebecca；　who　actually　blushed
as　she　bent　her　fair　ringlets　over　her　knitting。　　How　her
heart　beat　as　Joseph　appearedJoseph；　puffing　from　the
staircase　in　shining　creaking　bootsJoseph；　in　a　new
waistcoat；　red　with　heat　and　nervousness；　and　blushing
behind　his　wadded　neckcloth。　　It　was　a　nervous　moment
for　all；　and　as　for　Amelia；　I　think　she　was　more　frightened
than　even　the　people　most　concerned。
Sambo；　who　flung　open　the　door　and　announced　Mr。
Joseph；　followed　grinning；　in　the　Collector's　rear；　and
bearing　two　handsome　nosegays　of　flowers；　which　the
monster　had　actually　had　the　gallantry　to　purchase　in
Covent　Garden　Market　that　morningthey　were　not　as
big　as　the　haystacks　which　ladies　carry　about　with　them
now…a…days；　in　cones　of　filigree　paper；　but　the　young
women　were　delighted　with　the　gift；　as　Joseph　presented
one　to　each；　with　an　exceedingly　solemn　bow。
〃Bravo；　Jos！〃　cried　Osborne。
〃Thank　you；　dear　Joseph；〃　said　Amelia；　quite　ready　to
kiss　her　brother；　if　he　were　so　minded。　　（And　I　think　for
a　kiss　from　such　a　dear　creature　as　Amelia；　I　would
purchase　all　Mr。　Lee's　conservatories　out　of　hand。）
〃O　heavenly；　heavenly　flowers！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Sharp；
and　smelt　them　delicately；　and　held　them　to　her　bosom；
and　cast　up　her　eyes　to　the　ceiling；　in　an　ecstasy　of
admiration。　　Perhaps　she　just　looked　first　into　the　bouquet；
to　see　whether　there　was　a　billet…doux　hidden　among　the
flowers；　but　there　was　no　letter。
〃Do　they　talk　the　language　of　flowers　at　Boggley
Wollah；　Sedley？〃　asked　Osborne；　laughing。
〃Pooh；　nonsense！〃　replied　the　sentimental　youth。
〃Bought　'em　at　Nathan's；　very　glad　you　like　'em；　and　eh；
Amelia；　my　dear；　I　bought　a　pine…apple　at　the　same
time；　which　I　gave　to　Sambo。　　Let's　have　it　for　tiffin；
very　cool　and　nice　this　hot　weather。〃　Rebecca　said　she
had　never　tasted　a　pine；　and　longed　beyond　everything
to　taste　one。
So　the　conversation　went　on。　　I　don't　know　on　what
pretext　Osborne　left　the　room；　or　why；　presently；　Amelia
went　away；　perhaps　to　superintend　the　slicing　of　the
pine…apple；　but　Jos　was　left　alone　with　Rebecca；　who　had
resumed　her　work；　and　the　green　silk　and　the　shining
needles　were　quivering　rapidly　under　her　white　slender
fingers。
〃What　a　beautiful；　BYOO…OOTIFUL　song　that　was　you　sang
last　night；　dear　Miss　Sharp；〃　said　the　Collector。　　〃It　made
me　cry　almost；　'pon　my　honour　it　did。〃
〃Because　you　have　a　kind　heart；　Mr。　Joseph；　all　the
Sedleys　have；　I　think。〃
〃It　kept　me　awake　last　night；　and　I　was　trying　to　hum
it　this　morning；　in　bed；　I　was；　upon　my　honour。　　Gollop；
my　doctor；　came　in　at　eleven　（for　I'm　a　sad　invalid；　you
know；　and　see　Gollop　every　day）；　and；　'gad！　there　I
was；　singing　away　likea　robin。〃
〃O　you　droll　creature！　Do　let　me　hear　you　sing　it。〃
〃Me？　No；　you；　Miss　Sharp；　my　dear　Miss　Sharp；　do
sing　it。
〃Not　now；　Mr。　Sedley；〃　said　Rebecca；　with　a　sigh。　　〃My
spirits　are　not　equal　to　it；　besides；　I　must　finish　the
purse。　　Will　you　help　me；　Mr。　Sedley？〃　And　before　he　had
time　to　ask　how；　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley；　of　the　East　India
Company's　service；　was　actually　seated　tete…a…tete　with
a　young　lady；　looking　at　her　with　a　most　killing　expression；
his　arms　stretched　out　before　her　in　an　imploring　attitude；
and　his　hands　bound　in　a　web　of　green　silk；　which　she
was　unwinding。
In　this　romantic　position　Osborne　and　Amelia　found
the　interesting　pair；　when　they　entered　to　announce　that
tiffin　was　ready。　　The　skein　of　silk　was　just　wound　round
the　card；　but　Mr。　Jos　had　n