vanity fair(名利场)-第215章

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finished　the　sentence　by　looking　up　at　the　portrait。
〃Couldn't　forget　HIM！〃　cried　out　Becky；　〃that　selfish
humbug；　that　low…bred　cockney　dandy；　that　padded
booby；　who　had　neither　wit；　nor　manners；　nor　heart；　and
was　no　more　to　be　compared　to　your　friend　with　the
bamboo　cane　than　you　are　to　Queen　Elizabeth。　　Why；
the　man　was　weary　of　you；　and　would　have　jilted　you；　but
that　Dobbin　forced　him　to　keep　his　word。　　He　owned　it
to　me。　　He　never　cared　for　you。　　He　used　to　sneer　about
you　to　me；　time　after　time；　and　made　love　to　me　the
week　after　he　married　you。〃
〃It's　false！　　It's　false！　　Rebecca；〃　cried　out　Amelia；
starting　up。
〃Look　there；　you　fool；〃　Becky　said；　still　with　provoking
good　humour；　and　taking　a　little　paper　out　of　her
belt；　she　opened　it　and　flung　it　into　Emmy's　lap。　　〃You
know　his　handwriting。　　He　wrote　that　to　mewanted　me
to　run　away　with　himgave　it　me　under　your　nose；　the
day　before　he　was　shotand　served　him　right！〃　Becky
repeated。
Emmy　did　not　hear　her；　she　was　looking　at　the　letter。
It　was　that　which　George　had　put　into　the　bouquet　and
given　to　Becky　on　the　night　of　the　Duchess　of　Richmond's
ball。　　It　was　as　she　said：　　the　foolish　young　man
had　asked　her　to　fly。
Emmy's　head　sank　down；　and　for　almost　the　last　time
in　which　she　shall　be　called　upon　to　weep　in　this　history；
she　commenced　that　work。　　Her　head　fell　to　her　bosom；　and
her　hands　went　up　to　her　eyes；　and　there　for　a　while；　she
gave　way　to　her　emotions；　as　Becky　stood　on　and
regarded　her。　　Who　shall　analyse　those　tears　and　say
whether　they　were　sweet　or　bitter？　Was　she　most　grieved
because　the　idol　of　her　life　was　tumbled　down　and
shivered　at　her　feet；　or　indignant　that　her　love　had　been　so
despised；　or　glad　because　the　barrier　was　removed　which
modesty　had　placed　between　her　and　a　new；　a　real　affection？
〃There　is　nothing　to　forbid　me　now；〃　she　thought。
〃I　may　love　him　with　all　my　heart　now。　　Oh；　I　will；　I　will；
if　he　will　but　let　me　and　forgive　me。〃　I　believe　it　was　this
feeling　rushed　over　all　the　others　which　agitated　that
gentle　little　bosom。
Indeed；　she　did　not　cry　so　much　as　Becky　expected
the　other　soothed　and　kissed　hera　rare　mark　of
sympathy　with　Mrs。　Becky。　　She　treated　Emmy　like　a　child
and　patted　her　head。　　〃And　now　let　us　get　pen　and　ink
and　write　to　him　to　come　this　minute；〃　she　said。
〃II　wrote　to　him　this　morning；〃　Emmy　said；　blushing
exceedingly。　　Becky　screamed　with　laughter〃Un
biglietto；〃　she　sang　out　with　Rosina；　〃eccolo　qua！〃the
whole　house　echoed　with　her　shrill　singing。
Two　mornings　after　this　little　scene；　although　the　day
was　rainy　and　gusty；　and　Amelia　had　had　an　exceedingly
wakeful　night；　listening　to　the　wind　roaring；　and　pitying
all　travellers　by　land　and　by　water；　yet　she　got　up　early
and　insisted　upon　taking　a　walk　on　the　Dike　with　Georgy；
and　there　she　paced　as　the　rain　beat　into　her　face；　and
she　looked　out　westward　across　the　dark　sea　line　and
over　the　swollen　billows　which　came　tumbling　and　frothing
to　the　shore。　　Neither　spoke　much；　except　now　and
then；　when　the　boy　said　a　few　words　to　his　timid
companion；　indicative　of　sympathy　and　protection。
〃I　hope　he　won't　cross　in　such　weather；〃　Emmy　said。
〃I　bet　ten　to　one　he　does；〃　the　boy　answered。　　〃Look；
Mother；　there's　the　smoke　of　the　steamer。〃　It　was　that
signal；　sure　enough。
But　though　the　steamer　was　under　way；　he　might　not
be　on　board；　he　might　not　have　got　the　letter；　he　might
not　choose　to　come。　　A　hundred　fears　poured　one　over　the
other　into　the　little　heart；　as　fast　as　the　waves　on　to　the
Dike。
The　boat　followed　the　smoke　into　sight。　　Georgy　had　a
dandy　telescope　and　got　the　vessel　under　view　in　the　most
skilful　manner。　　And　he　made　appropriate　nautical
comments　upon　the　manner　of　the　approach　of　the　steamer
as　she　came　nearer　and　nearer；　dipping　and　rising　in　the
water。　　The　signal　of　an　English　steamer　in　sight　went
fluttering　up　to　the　mast　on　the　pier。　　I　daresay　Mrs。
Amelia's　heart　was　in　a　similar　flutter。
Emmy　tried　to　look　through　the　telescope　over
George's　shoulder；　but　she　could　make　nothing　of　it。
She　only　saw　a　black　eclipse　bobbing　up　and　down
before　her　eyes。
George　took　the　glass　again　and　raked　the　vessel。
〃How　she　does　pitch！〃　he　said。　　〃There　goes　a　wave　slap
over　her　bows。　　There's　only　two　people　on　deck　besides
the　steersman。　　There's　a　man　lying　down；　and　achap
in　acloak　with　aHooray！it's　Dob；　by　Jingo！〃
He　clapped　to　the　telescope　and　flung　his　arms　round
his　mother。　　As　for　that　lady；　let　us　say　what　she　did　in
the　words　of　a　favourite　poet〃Dakruoen　gelasasa。〃　She
was　sure　it　was　William。　　It　could　be　no　other。　　What　she
had　said　about　hoping　that　he　would　not　come　was　all
hypocrisy。　　Of　course　he　would　come；　what　could　he　do
else　but　come？　She　knew　he　would　come。
The　ship　came　swiftly　nearer　and　nearer。　　As　they　went
in　to　meet　her　at　the　landing…place　at　the　quay；　Emmy's
knees　trembled　so　that　she　scarcely　could　run。　　She　would
have　liked　to　kneel　down　and　say　her　prayers　of　thanks
there。　　Oh；　she　thought；　she　would　be　all　her　life　saying
them！
It　was　such　a　bad　day　that　as　the　vessel　came　alongside
of　the　quay　there　were　no　idlers　abroad；　scarcely
even　a　commissioner　on　the　look　out　for　the　few
passengers　in　the　steamer。　　That　young　scapegrace　George
had　fled　too；　and　as　the　gentleman　in　the　old　cloak　lined
with　red　stuff　stepped　on　to　the　shore；　there　was　scarcely
any　one　present　to　see　what　took　place；　which　was　briefly
this：
A　lady　in　a　dripping　white　bonnet　and　shawl；　with　her
two　little　hands　out　before　her；　went　up　to　him；　and　in
the　next　minute　she　had　altogether　disappeared　under　the
folds　of　the　old　cloak；　and　was　kissing　one　of　his　hands
with　all　her　might；　whilst　the　other；　I　suppose；　was
engaged　in　holding　her　to　his　heart　（which　her　head　just
about　reached）　and　in　preventing　her　from　tumbling
down。　　She　was　murmuring　something　aboutforgive
dear　Williamdear；　dear；　dearest　friendkiss；　kiss；　kiss；
and　so　forthand　in　fact　went　on　under　the　cloak　in　an
absurd　manner。
When　Emmy　emerged　from　it；　she　still　kept　tight　hold
of　one　of　William's　hands；　and　looked　up　in　his　face。　　It
was　full　of　sadness　and　tender　love　and　pity。　　She
understood　its　reproach　and　hung　down　her　head。
〃It　was　time　you　sent　for　me；　dear　Amelia；〃　he　said。
〃You　will　never　go　again；　William？〃
〃No；　never；〃　he　answered；　and　pressed　the　dear　little
soul　once　more　to　his　heart。
As　they　issued　out　of　the　custom…house　precincts；
Georgy　broke　out　on　them；　with　his　telescope　up　to　his
eye；　and　a　loud　laugh　of　welcome；　he　danced　round　the
couple　and　performed　many　facetious　antics　as　he　led
them　up　to　the　house。　　Jos　wasn't　up　yet；　Becky　not
visible　（though　she　looked　at　them　through　the　blinds）。
Georgy　ran　off　to　see　about　breakfast。　　Emmy；　whose
shawl　and　bonnet　were　off　in　the　passage　in　the　hands　of
Mrs。　Payne；　now　went　to　undo　the　clasp　of　William's
cloak；　andwe　will；　if　you　please；　go　with　George；　and
look　after　breakfast　for　the　Colonel。　　The　vessel　is　in　port。
He　has　got　the　prize　he　has　been　trying　for　all　his　life。
The　bird　has　come　in　at　last。　　There　it　is　with　its　head　on
his　shoulder；　billing　and　cooing　close　up　to　his　heart；
with　soft　outstretched　fluttering　wings。　　This　is　what　he
has　asked　for　every　day　and　hour　for　eighteen　years。　　This
is　what　he　pined　after。　　Here　it　isthe　summit；　the　end
the　last　page　of　the　third　volume。　　Good…bye；　Colonel
God　bless　you；　honest　William！Farewell；　dear　Amelia
Grow　green　again；　tender　little　parasite；　round　the
rugged　old　oak　to　which　you　cling！
Perhaps　it　was　compunction　towards　the　kind　and
simple　creature；　who　had　been　the　first　in　life　to　defend
her；　perhaps　it　was　a　dislike　to　all　such　sentimental　scenes
but　Rebecca；　satisfied　with　her　part　in　the　transaction；
never　presented　herself　before　Colonel　Dobbin　and　the
lady　whom　he　married。　　〃Particular　business；〃　she　said；
took　her　to　Bruges；　whither　she　went；　and　only　Georgy
and　his　uncle　were　present　at　the　marriage　ceremony。
When　it　was　over；　and　Georgy　had　rejoined　his　parents；
Mrs。　Becky　returned　（just　for　a　few　days）　to　comfort　the
solitary　bachelor；　Joseph　Sedley。　　He　preferred　a
continental　life；　he　said；　and　declined