vanity fair(名利场)-第39章

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attack　was　so　sharp　that　Matildaas　his　Reverence
expressed　itwas　very　nearly　〃off　the　hooks〃；　all　the
family　were　in　a　fever　of　expectation　regarding　the　will；
and　Rawdon　Crawley　was　making　sure　of　at　least　forty
thousand　pounds　before　the　commencement　of　the
London　season。　　Mr。　Crawley　sent　over　a　choice　parcel　of
tracts；　to　prepare　her　for　the　change　from　Vanity　Fair
and　Park　Lane　for　another　world；　but　a　good　doctor
from　Southampton　being　called　in　in　time；　vanquished
the　lobster　which　was　so　nearly　fatal　to　her；　and　gave
her　sufficient　strength　to　enable　her　to　return　to　London。
The　Baronet　did　not　disguise　his　exceeding　mortification
at　the　turn　which　affairs　took。
　　
While　everybody　was　attending　on　Miss　Crawley；　and
messengers　every　hour　from　the　Rectory　were　carrying
news　of　her　health　to　the　affectionate　folks　there；　there
was　a　lady　in　another　part　of　the　house；　being　exceedingly
ill；　of　whom　no　one　took　any　notice　at　all；　and　this　was
the　lady　of　Crawley　herself。　　The　good　doctor　shook　his
head　after　seeing　her；　to　which　visit　Sir　Pitt　consented；
as　it　could　be　paid　without　a　fee；　and　she　was　left　fading
away　in　her　lonely　chamber；　with　no　more　heed　paid　to
her　than　to　a　weed　in　the　park。
　　
The　young　ladies；　too；　lost　much　of　the　inestimable
benefit　of　their　governess's　instruction；　So　affectionate　a
nurse　was　Miss　Sharp；　that　Miss　Crawley　would　take
her　medicines　from　no　other　hand。　　Firkin　had　been
deposed　long　before　her　mistress's　departure　from　the
country。　　That　faithful　attendant　found　a　gloomy　consolation
on　returning　to　London；　in　seeing　Miss　Briggs　suffer
the　same　pangs　of　jealousy　and　undergo　the　same
faithless　treatment　to　which　she　herself　had　been　subject。
　　
Captain　Rawdon　got　an　extension　of　leave　on　his
aunt's　illness；　and　remained　dutifully　at　home。　　He　was
always　in　her　antechamber。　　（She　lay　sick　in　the　state
bedroom；　into　which　you　entered　by　the　little　blue
saloon。）　His　father　was　always　meeting　him　there；　or　if　he
came　down　the　corridor　ever　so　quietly；　his　father's
door　was　sure　to　open；　and　the　hyena　face　of　the　old
gentleman　to　glare　out。　　What　was　it　set　one　to　watch
the　other　so？　　A　generous　rivalry；　no　doubt；　as　to　which
should　be　most　attentive　to　the　dear　sufferer　in　the　state
bedroom。　　Rebecca　used　to　come　out　and　comfort　both
of　them；　or　one　or　the　other　of　them　rather。　　Both　of
these　worthy　gentlemen　were　most　anxious　to　have　news
of　the　invalid　from　her　little　confidential　messenger。
　　
At　dinnerto　which　meal　she　descended　for　half　an
hourshe　kept　the　peace　between　them：　after　which　she
disappeared　for　the　night；　when　Rawdon　would　ride　over
to　the　depot　of　the　150th　at　Mudbury；　leaving　his　papa
to　the　society　of　Mr。　Horrocks　and　his　rum　and　water。
She　passed　as　weary　a　fortnight　as　ever　mortal　spent　in
Miss　Crawley's　sick…room；　but　her　little　nerves　seemed
to　be　of　iron；　as　she　was　quite　unshaken　by　the　duty　and
the　tedium　of　the　sick…chamber。
　　
She　never　told　until　long　afterwards　how　painful　that
duty　was；　how　peevish　a　patient　was　the　jovial　old　lady；
how　angry；　how　sleepless；　in　what　horrors　of　death；
during　what　long　nights　she　lay　moaning；　and　in　almost
delirious　agonies　respecting　that　future　world　which　she
quite　ignored　when　she　was　in　good　health。Picture　to
yourself；　oh　fair　young　reader；　a　worldly；　selfish；
graceless；　thankless；　religionless　old　woman；　writhing　in　pain
and　fear；　and　without　her　wig。　　Picture　her　to　yourself；
and　ere　you　be　old；　learn　to　love　and　pray！
　　
Sharp　watched　this　graceless　bedside　with　indomitable
patience。　　Nothing　escaped　her；　and；　like　a　prudent　steward；
she　found　a　use　for　everything。　　She　told　many　a
good　story　about　Miss　Crawley's　illness　in　after　days
stories　which　made　the　lady　blush　through　her　artificial
carnations。　　During　the　illness　she　was　never　out　of
temper；　always　alert；　she　slept　light；　having　a　perfectly　clear
conscience；　and　could　take　that　refreshment　at　almost
any　minute's　warning。　　And　so　you　saw　very　few　traces　of
fatigue　in　her　appearance。　　Her　face　might　be　a　trifle
paler；　and　the　circles　round　her　eyes　a　little　blacker　than
usual；　but　whenever　she　came　out　from　the　sick…room
she　was　always　smiling；　fresh；　and　neat；　and　looked　as
trim　in　her　little　dressing…gown　and　cap；　as　in　her
smartest　evening　suit。
　　
The　Captain　thought　so；　and　raved　about　her　in
uncouth　convulsions。　　The　barbed　shaft　of　love　had
penetrated　his　dull　hide。　　Six　weeksappropinquity
opportunityhad　victimised　him　completely。　　He　made　a
confidante　of　his　aunt　at　the　Rectory；　of　all　persons　in　the
world。　　She　rallied　him　about　it；　she　had　perceived　his
folly；　she　warned　him；　she　finished　by　owning　that　little
Sharp　was　the　most　clever；　droll；　odd；　good…natured；
simple；　kindly　creature　in　England。　　Rawdon　must　not
trifle　with　her　affections；　thoughdear　Miss　Crawley
would　never　pardon　him　for　that；　for　she；　too；　was　quite
overcome　by　the　little　governess；　and　loved　Sharp　like　a
daughter。　　Rawdon　must　go　awaygo　back　to　his
regiment　and　naughty　London；　and　not　play　with　a　poor
artless　girl's　feelings。
　　
Many　and　many　a　time　this　good…natured　lady；
compassionating　the　forlorn　life…guardsman's　condition；
gave　him　an　opportunity　of　seeing　Miss　Sharp　at　the　Rectory；
and　of　walking　home　with　her；　as　we　have　seen。　　When
men　of　a　certain　sort；　ladies；　are　in　love；　though　they
see　the　hook　and　the　string；　and　the　whole　apparatus
with　which　they　are　to　be　taken；　they　gorge　the　bait
neverthelessthey　must　come　to　itthey　must　swallow
itand　are　presently　struck　and　landed　gasping。　　Rawdon
saw　there　was　a　manifest　intention　on　Mrs。　Bute's　part
to　captivate　him　with　Rebecca。　　He　was　not　very　wise；
but　he　was　a　man　about　town；　and　had　seen　several
seasons。　　A　light　dawned　upon　his　dusky　soul；　as　he　thought；
through　a　speech　of　Mrs。　Bute's。
　　
〃Mark　my　words；　Rawdon；〃　she　said。　　〃You　will　have
Miss　Sharp　one　day　for　your　relation。〃
　　
〃What　relationmy　cousin；　hey；　Mrs。　Bute？　James
sweet　on　her；　hey？〃　inquired　the　waggish　officer。
　　
〃More　than　that；〃　Mrs。　Bute　said；　with　a　flash　from
her　black　eyes。
　　
〃Not　Pitt？　　He　sha'n't　have　her。　　The　sneak　a'n't
worthy　of　her。　　He's　booked　to　Lady　Jane　Sheepshanks。〃
　　
〃You　men　perceive　nothing。　　You　silly；　blind　creature
if　anything　happens　to　Lady　Crawley；　Miss　Sharp　will
be　your　mother…in…law；　and　that's　what　will　happen。〃
　　
Rawdon　Crawley；　Esquire；　gave　vent　to　a　prodigious
whistle；　in　token　of　astonishment　at　this　announcement。
He　couldn't　deny　it。　　His　father's　evident　liking　for　Miss
Sharp　had　not　escaped　him。　　He　knew　the　old　gentleman's
character　well；　and　a　more　unscrupulous　oldwhyou
he　did　not　conclude　the　sentence；　but　walked　home；
curling　his　mustachios；　and　convinced　he　had　found　a
clue　to　Mrs。　Bute's　mystery。
　　
〃By　Jove；　it's　too　bad；〃　thought　Rawdon；　〃too　bad；　by
Jove！　I　do　believe　the　woman　wants　the　poor　girl　to　be
ruined；　in　order　that　she　shouldn't　come　into　the　family
as　Lady　Crawley。〃
　　
When　he　saw　Rebecca　alone；　he　rallied　her　about　his
father's　attachment　in　his　graceful　way。　　She　flung　up　her
head　scornfully；　looked　him　full　in　the　face；　and　said；
　　
〃Well；　suppose　he　is　fond　of　me。　　I　know　he　is；　and
others　too。　　You　don't　think　I　am　afraid　of　him；　Captain
Crawley？　　You　don't　suppose　I　can't　defend　my　own
honour；〃　said　the　little　woman；　looking　as　stately　as　a
queen。
　　
〃Oh；　ah；　whygive　you　fair　warninglook　out；　you
knowthat's　all；〃　said　the　mustachio…twiddler。
　　
〃You　hint　at　something　not　honourable；　then？〃　said
she；　flashing　out。
〃O　GadreallyMiss　Rebecca；〃　the　heavy　dragoon
interposed。
　　
〃Do　you　suppose　I　have　no　feeling　of　self…respect；
because　I　am　poor　and　friendless；　and　because　rich　people
have　none？　　Do　you　think；　because　I　am　a　governess；　I
have　not　as　much　sense；　and　feeling；　and　good　breeding
as　you　gentlefolks　in　Hampshire？　I'm　a　Montmorency。
Do　you　suppose　a　Montmorency　is　not　as　good　as　a
Crawley？〃
　　
When　Miss　Sharp　was　agitated；　and　alluded　to　her
maternal　relatives；　she　spoke　with　ever　so　slight　a
foreign　accent；　which　gave　a　great　charm　to　her　clear
ringing　voice。　　〃No；〃　she　continued；　kindling　as　she　spoke　to
the　Ca