vanity fair(名利场)-第31章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
alter it； you who can do it so well？〃 So this old philanthropist
used to make her equal run of her errands； execute her
millinery； and read her to sleep with French novels；
every night。
At this time； as some old readers may recollect； the
genteel world had been thrown into a considerable state
of excitement by two events； which； as the papers say；
might give employment to the gentlemen of the long robe。
Ensign Shafton had run away with Lady Barbara Fitzurse；
the Earl of Bruin's daughter and heiress； and poor Vere
Vane； a gentleman who； up to forty； had maintained a
most respectable character and reared a numerous family；
suddenly and outrageously left his home； for the sake of
Mrs。 Rougemont； the actress； who was sixty…five years
of age。
〃That was the most beautiful part of dear Lord
Nelson's character；〃 Miss Crawley said。 〃He went to the
deuce for a woman。 There must be good in a man who will
do that。 I adore all impudent matches。What I like
best； is for a nobleman to marry a miller's daughter； as
Lord Flowerdale didit makes all the women so angry
I wish some great man would run away with you； my
dear； I'm sure you're pretty enough。〃
〃Two post…boys！Oh； it would be delightful！〃 Rebecca
owned。
〃And what I like next best； is for a poor fellow to run
away with a rich girl。 I have set my heart on Rawdon
running away with some one。〃
〃A rich some one； or a poor some one？〃
〃Why； you goose！ Rawdon has not a shilling but what I
give him。 He is crible de detteshe must repair his
fortunes； and succeed in the world。〃
〃Is he very clever？〃 Rebecca asked。
〃Clever； my love？not an idea in the world beyond his
horses； and his regiment； and his hunting； and his play；
but he must succeedhe's so delightfully wicked。 Don't
you know he has hit a man； and shot an injured father
through the hat only？ He's adored in his regiment； and all
the young men at Wattier's and the Cocoa…Tree swear by
him。〃
When Miss Rebecca Sharp wrote to her beloved friend
the account of the little ball at Queen's Crawley； and the
manner in which； for the first time； Captain Crawley had
distinguished her； she did not； strange to relate； give an
altogether accurate account of the transaction。 The Captain
had distinguished her a great number of times before。 The
Captain had met her in a half…score of walks。 The Captain
had lighted upon her in a half…hundred of corridors and
passages。 The Captain had hung over her piano twenty
times of an evening （my Lady was now upstairs； being ill；
and nobody heeded her） as Miss Sharp sang。 The Captain had
written her notes （the best that the great blundering
dragoon could devise and spell； but dulness gets on
as well as any other quality with women）。 But when he
put the first of the notes into the leaves of the song she
was singing； the little governess； rising and looking him
steadily in the face； took up the triangular missive daintily；
and waved it about as if it were a cocked hat； and she；
advancing to the enemy； popped the note into the fire； and
made him a very low curtsey； and went back to her
place； and began to sing away again more merrily than
ever。
〃What's that？〃 said Miss Crawley； interrupted in her
after…dinner doze by the stoppage of the music。
〃It's a false note；〃 Miss Sharp said with a laugh； and
Rawdon Crawley fumed with rage and mortification。
Seeing the evident partiality of Miss Crawley for the
new governess； how good it was of Mrs。 Bute Crawley not
to be jealous； and to welcome the young lady to the
Rectory； and not only her； but Rawdon Crawley； her
husband's rival in the Old Maid's five per cents！ They
became very fond of each other's society； Mrs。 Crawley
and her nephew。 He gave up hunting； he declined
entertainments at Fuddleston： he would not dine with the
mess of the depot at Mudbury： his great pleasure was to stroll
over to Crawley parsonagewhither Miss Crawley came
too； and as their mamma was ill； why not the children
with Miss Sharp？ So the children （little dears！） came with
Miss Sharp； and of an evening some of the party would
walk back together。 Not Miss Crawleyshe preferred her
carriagebut the walk over the Rectory fields； and in at
the little park wicket； and through the dark plantation；
and up the checkered avenue to Queen's Crawley； was
charming in the moonlight to two such lovers of the
picturesque as the Captain and Miss Rebecca。
〃O those stars； those stars！〃 Miss Rebecca would say；
turning her twinkling green eyes up towards them。 〃I
feel myself almost a spirit when I gaze upon them。〃
〃OahGadyes； so do I exactly； Miss Sharp；〃 the
other enthusiast replied。 〃You don't mind my cigar； do
you； Miss Sharp？〃 Miss Sharp loved the smell of a cigar
out of doors beyond everything in the worldand she just
tasted one too； in the prettiest way possible； and gave a
little puff； and a little scream； and a little giggle； and
restored the delicacy to the Captain； who twirled his
moustache； and straightway puffed it into a blaze that
glowed quite red in the dark plantation； and swore〃Jove
awGadawit's the finest segaw I ever smoked in
the world aw；〃 for his intellect and conversation were
alike brilliant and becoming to a heavy young dragoon。
Old Sir Pitt； who was taking his pipe and beer； and
talking to John Horrocks about a 〃ship〃 that was to be killed；
espied the pair so occupied from his study…window； and
with dreadful oaths swore that if it wasn't for Miss
Crawley； he'd take Rawdon and bundle un out of doors； like a
rogue as he was。
〃He be a bad'n； sure enough；〃 Mr。 Horrocks remarked；
〃and his man Flethers is wuss； and have made such a row
in the housekeeper's room about the dinners and hale； as
no lord would makebut I think Miss Sharp's a match
for'n； Sir Pitt；〃 he added； after a pause。
And so； in truth； she wasfor father and son too。
CHAPTER XII
Quite a Sentimental Chapter
We must now take leave of Arcadia； and those amiable
people practising the rural virtues there； and travel back
to London； to inquire what has become of Miss Amelia
〃We don't care a fig for her；〃 writes some unknown
correspondent with a pretty little handwriting and a pink seal
to her note。 〃She is fade and insipid；〃 and adds some more
kind remarks in this strain； which I should never have
repeated at all； but that they are in truth prodigiously
complimentary to the young lady whom they concern。
Has the beloved reader； in his experience of society；
never heard similar remarks by good…natured female
friends； who always wonder what you CAN see in Miss
Smith that is so fascinating； or what COULD induce Major
Jones to propose for that silly insignificant simpering Miss
Thompson； who has nothing but her wax…doll face to
recommend her？ What is there in a pair of pink cheeks
and blue eyes forsooth？ these dear Moralists ask； and hint
wisely that the gifts of genius； the accomplishments of the
mind； the mastery of Mangnall's Questions； and a ladylike
knowledge of botany and geology； the knack of making
poetry； the power of rattling sonatas in the Herz…manner；
and so forth； are far more valuable endowments for a
female； than those fugitive charms which a few years will
inevitably tarnish。 It is quite edifying to hear women
speculate upon the worthlessness and the duration of
beauty。
But though virtue is a much finer thing； and those
hapless creatures who suffer under the misfortune of good
looks ought to be continually put in mind of the fate
which awaits them； and though； very likely； the heroic
female character which ladies admire is a more glorious
and beautiful object than the kind； fresh； smiling； artless；
tender little domestic goddess； whom men are inclined
to worshipyet the latter and inferior sort of women
must have this consolationthat the men do admire them
after all； and that； in spite of all our kind friends' warnings
and protests； we go on in our desperate error and
folly； and shall to the end of the chapter。 Indeed； for my
own part； though I have been repeatedly told by persons
for whom I have the greatest respect； that Miss Brown is
an insignificant chit； and Mrs。 White has nothing but her
petit minois chiff
