vanity fair(名利场)-第2章

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from　the　Mall。　　On　the　cover　was　inserted　a　copy　of　〃Lines
addressed　to　a　young　lady　on　quitting　Miss　Pinkerton's
school；　at　the　Mall；　by　the　late　revered　Doctor　Samuel
Johnson。〃　In　fact；　the　Lexicographer's　name　was　always
on　the　lips　of　this　majestic　woman；　and　a　visit　he　had
paid　to　her　was　the　cause　of　her　reputation　and　her　fortune。
Being　commanded　by　her　elder　sister　to　get　〃the　Dictionary〃
from　the　cupboard；　Miss　Jemima　had　extracted　two　copies
of　the　book　from　the　receptacle　in　question。　　When　Miss
Pinkerton　had　finished　the　inscription　in　the　first；　Jemima；
with　rather　a　dubious　and　timid　air；　handed　her　the　second。
〃For　whom　is　this；　Miss　Jemima？〃　said　Miss　Pinkerton；
with　awful　coldness。
〃For　Becky　Sharp；〃　answered　Jemima；　trembling　very
much；　and　blushing　over　her　withered　face　and　neck；　as
she　turned　her　back　on　her　sister。　　〃For　Becky　Sharp：
she's　going　too。〃
　　〃MISS　JEMIMA！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Pinkerton；　in　the
largest　capitals。　　〃Are　you　in　your　senses？　Replace　the
Dixonary　in　the　closet；　and　never　venture　to　take　such
a　liberty　in　future。〃
〃Well；　sister；　it's　only　two…and…ninepence；　and　poor
Becky　will　be　miserable　if　she　don't　get　one。〃
〃Send　Miss　Sedley　instantly　to　me；〃　said　Miss　Pinkerton。
And　so　venturing　not　to　say　another　word；　poor
Jemima　trotted　off；　exceedingly　flurried　and　nervous。
Miss　Sedley's　papa　was　a　merchant　in　London；　and　a
man　of　some　wealth；　whereas　Miss　Sharp　was　an　articled
pupil；　for　whom　Miss　Pinkerton　had　done；　as　she　thought；
quite　enough；　without　conferring　upon　her　at　parting　the
high　honour　of　the　Dixonary。
Although　schoolmistresses'　letters　are　to　be　trusted　no
more　nor　less　than　churchyard　epitaphs；　yet；　as　it　sometimes　
happens　that　a　person　departs　this　life　who　is　really
deserving　of　all　the　praises　the　stone　cutter　carves　over
his　bones；　who　IS　a　good　Christian；　a　good　parent；　child；
wife；　or　husband；　who　actually　DOES　leave　a　disconsolate
family　to　mourn　his　loss；　so　in　academies　of　the　male
and　female　sex　it　occurs　every　now　and　then　that　the
pupil　is　fully　worthy　of　the　praises　bestowed　by　the
disinterested　instructor。　　Now；　Miss　Amelia　Sedley　was　a
young　lady　of　this　singular　species；　and　deserved　not　only
all　that　Miss　Pinkerton　said　in　her　praise；　but　had　many
charming　qualities　which　that　pompous　old　Minerva　of　a
woman　could　not　see；　from　the　differences　of　rank　and
age　between　her　pupil　and　herself。
For　she　could　not　only　sing　like　a　lark；　or　a　Mrs。
Billington；　and　dance　like　Hillisberg　or　Parisot；　and
embroider　beautifully；　and　spell　as　well　as　a　Dixonary
itself；　but　she　had　such　a　kindly；　smiling；　tender；　gentle；
generous　heart　of　her　own；　as　won　the　love　of　everybody
who　came　near　her；　from　Minerva　herself　down　to　the　poor
girl　in　the　scullery；　and　the　one…eyed　tart…woman's
daughter；　who　was　permitted　to　vend　her　wares　once　a
week　to　the　young　ladies　in　the　Mall。　　She　had　twelve　intimate
and　bosom　friends　out　of　the　twenty…four　young　ladies。
Even　envious　Miss　Briggs　never　spoke　ill　of　her；　high
and　mighty　Miss　Saltire　（Lord　Dexter's　granddaughter）
allowed　that　her　figure　was　genteel；　and　as　for　Miss
Swartz；　the　rich　woolly…haired　mulatto　from　St。　Kitt's；　on
the　day　Amelia　went　away；　she　was　in　such　a　passion　of
tears　that　they　were　obliged　to　send　for　Dr。　Floss；　and　half
tipsify　her　with　salvolatile。　　Miss　Pinkerton's　attachment
was；　as　may　be　supposed　from　the　high　position　and
eminent　virtues　of　that　lady；　calm　and　dignified；　but　Miss
Jemima　had　already　whimpered　several　times　at　the　idea
of　Amelia's　departure；　and；　but　for　fear　of　her　sister；
would　have　gone　off　in　downright　hysterics；　like　the
heiress　（who　paid　double）　of　St。　Kitt's。　　Such　luxury　of
grief；　however；　is　only　allowed　to　parlour…boarders。
Honest　Jemima　had　all　the　bills；　and　the　washing；　and　the
mending；　and　the　puddings；　and　the　plate　and　crockery；
and　the　servants　to　superintend。　　But　why　speak　about
her？　　It　is　probable　that　we　shall　not　hear　of　her　again
from　this　moment　to　the　end　of　time；　and　that　when　the
great　filigree　iron　gates　are　once　closed　on　her；　she　and
her　awful　sister　will　never　issue　therefrom　into　this　little
world　of　history。
But　as　we　are　to　see　a　great　deal　of　Amelia；　there　is
no　harm　in　saying；　at　the　outset　of　our　acquaintance；　that
she　was　a　dear　little　creature；　and　a　great　mercy　it　is；
both　in　life　and　in　novels；　which　（and　the　latter　especially）
abound　in　villains　of　the　most　sombre　sort；　that
we　are　to　have　for　a　constant　companion　so　guileless
and　good…natured　a　person。　　As　she　is　not　a　heroine；　there
is　no　need　to　describe　her　person；　indeed　I　am　afraid
that　her　nose　was　rather　short　than　otherwise；　and　her
cheeks　a　great　deal　too　round　and　red　for　a　heroine；　but
her　face　blushed　with　rosy　health；　and　her　lips　with　the
freshest　of　smiles；　and　she　had　a　pair　of　eyes　which
sparkled　with　the　brightest　and　honestest　good…humour；
except　indeed　when　they　filled　with　tears；　and　that　was
a　great　deal　too　often；　for　the　silly　thing　would　cry　over
a　dead　canary…bird；　or　over　a　mouse；　that　the　cat　haply
had　seized　upon；　or　over　the　end　of　a　novel；　were　it　ever
so　stupid；　and　as　for　saying　an　unkind　word　to　her；　were
any　persons　hard…hearted　enough　to　do　sowhy；　so　much
the　worse　for　them。　　Even　Miss　Pinkerton；　that　austere
and　godlike　woman；　ceased　scolding　her　after　the　first
time；　and　though　she　no　more　comprehended　sensibility
than　she　did　Algebra；　gave　all　masters　and　teachers
particular　orders　to　treat　Miss　Sedley　with　the　utmost
gentleness；　as　harsh　treatment　was　injurious　to　her。
So　that　when　the　day　of　departure　came；　between　her
two　customs　of　laughing　and　crying；　Miss　Sedley　was
greatly　puzzled　how　to　act。　　She　was　glad　to　go　home；
and　yet　most　woefully　sad　at　leaving　school。　　For　three
days　before；　little　Laura　Martin；　the　orphan；　followed　her
about　like　a　little　dog。　　She　had　to　make　and　receive　at
least　fourteen　presentsto　make　fourteen　solemn　promises
of　writing　every　week：　　〃Send　my　letters　under　cover
to　my　grandpapa；　the　Earl　of　Dexter；〃　said　Miss　Saltire
（who；　by　the　way；　was　rather　shabby）。　　〃Never　mind　the
postage；　but　write　every　day；　you　dear　darling；〃　said　the
impetuous　and　woolly…headed；　but　generous　and
affectionate　Miss　Swartz；　and　the　orphan　little　Laura　Martin
（who　was　just　in　round…hand）；　took　her　friend's　hand
and　said；　looking　up　in　her　face　wistfully；　〃Amelia；　when
I　write　to　you　I　shall　call　you　Mamma。〃　All　which　details；
I　have　no　doubt；　JONES；　who　reads　this　book　at　his
Club；　will　pronounce　to　be　excessively　foolish；　trivial；
twaddling；　and　ultra…sentimental。　　Yes；　I　can　see　Jones
at　this　minute　（rather　flushed　with　his　joint　of　mutton
and　half　pint　of　wine）；　taking　out　his　pencil　and　scoring
under　the　words　〃foolish；　twaddling；〃　&c。；　and　adding　to
them　his　own　remark　of　〃QUITE　TRUE。〃　Well；　he　is　a　lofty
man　of　genius；　and　admires　the　great　and　heroic　in　life
and　novels；　and　so　had　better　take　warning　and　go　elsewhere。
Well；　then。　　The　flowers；　and　the　presents；　and　the
trunks；　and　bonnet…boxes　of　Miss　Sedley　having　been
arranged　by　Mr。　Sambo　in　the　carriage；　together　with　a
very　small　and　weather…beaten　old　cow's…skin　trunk　with
Miss　Sharp's　card　neatly　nailed　upon　it；　which　was
delivered　by　Sambo　with　a　grin；　and　packed　by　the
coachman　with　a　corresponding　sneerthe　hour　for　parting
came；　and　the　grief　of　that　moment　was　considerably
lessened　by　the　admirable　discourse　which　Miss　Pinkerton
addressed　to　her　pupil。　　Not　that　the　parting　speech　caused
Amelia　to　philosophise；　or　that　it　armed　her　in　any
way　with　a　calmness；　the　result　of　argument；　but　it　was
intolerably　dull；　pompous；　and　tedious；　and　having　the
fear　of　her　schoolmistress　greatly　before　her　eyes；　Miss
Sedley　did　not　venture；　in　her　presence；　to　give　way　to
any　ebullitions　of　private　grief。　　A　seed…cake　and　a　bottle
of　wine　were　produced　in　the　drawing…room；　as　on　the
solemn　occasions　of　the　visits　of　parents；　and　these
refreshments　being　partaken　of；　Miss　Sedley　was　at
liberty　to　depart。
〃You'll　go　in　and　say　good…by　to　Miss　Pinkerton；
Becky！〃　said　Miss　Jemima　to　a　young　lady　of　whom
nobody　took　any　notice；　and　who　was　coming　downstairs
with　h