vanity fair(名利场)-第42章
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with you that I would have married Mr。 Joe Sedley； for
could a poor penniless girl do better？ Now you know
the whole secret。 I'm frank and open； considering all
things； it was very kind of you to allude to the
circumstancevery kind and polite。 Amelia dear； Mr。
Osborne and I were talking about your poor brother Joseph。
How is he？〃
Thus was George utterly routed。 Not that Rebecca was
in the right； but she had managed most successfully to
put him in the wrong。 And he now shamefully fled；
feeling； if he stayed another minute； that he would have
been made to look foolish in the presence of Amelia。
Though Rebecca had had the better of him； George was
above the meanness of talebearing or revenge upon a
ladyonly he could not help cleverly confiding to
Captain Crawley； next day； some notions of his regarding
Miss Rebeccathat she was a sharp one； a dangerous
one； a desperate flirt； &c。； in all of which opinions
Crawley agreed laughingly； and with every one of which Miss
Rebecca was made acquainted before twenty…four hours
were over。 They added to her original regard for Mr。
Osborne。 Her woman's instinct had told her that it was
George who had interrupted the success of her first
love…passage； and she esteemed him accordingly。
〃I only just warn you；〃 he said to Rawdon Crawley；
with a knowing lookhe had bought the horse； and lost
some score of guineas after dinner； 〃I just warn youI
know women； and counsel you to be on the look…out。〃
〃Thank you； my boy；〃 said Crawley； with a look of
peculiar gratitude。 〃You're wide awake； I see。〃 And
George went off； thinking Crawley was quite right。
He told Amelia of what he had done； and how he had
counselled Rawdon Crawleya devilish good；
straightforward fellowto be on his guard against that
little sly； scheming Rebecca。
〃Against whom？〃 Amelia cried。
〃Your friend the governess。Don't look so astonished。〃
〃O George； what have you done？〃 Amelia said。 For her
woman's eyes； which Love had made sharp…sighted； had
in one instant discovered a secret which was invisible to
Miss Crawley； to poor virgin Briggs； and above all；
to the stupid peepers of that young whiskered prig；
Lieutenant Osborne。
For as Rebecca was shawling her in an upper apartment；
where these two friends had an opportunity for a
little of that secret talking and conspiring which form
the delight of female life； Amelia； coming up to Rebecca；
and taking her two little hands in hers； said； 〃Rebecca；
I see it all。〃
Rebecca kissed her。
And regarding this delightful secret； not one syllable
more was said by either of the young women。 But it was
destined to come out before long。
Some short period after the above events； and Miss
Rebecca Sharp still remaining at her patroness's house
in Park Lane； one more hatchment might have been seen
in Great Gaunt Street； figuring amongst the many which
usually ornament that dismal quarter。 It was over Sir
Pitt Crawley's house； but it did not indicate the worthy
baronet's demise。 It was a feminine hatchment； and
indeed a few years back had served as a funeral compliment
to Sir Pitt's old mother； the late dowager Lady Crawley。
Its period of service over； the hatchment had come
down from the front of the house； and lived in retirement
somewhere in the back premises of Sir Pitt's mansion。
It reappeared now for poor Rose Dawson。 Sir Pitt
was a widower again。 The arms quartered on the shield
along with his own were not； to be sure； poor Rose's。
She had no arms。 But the cherubs painted on the
scutcheon answered as well for her as for Sir Pitt's
mother； and Resurgam was written under the coat；
flanked by the Crawley Dove and Serpent。 Arms and
Hatchments； Resurgam。Here is an opportunity for
moralising！
Mr。 Crawley had tended that otherwise friendless
bedside。 She went out of the world strengthened by such
words and comfort as he could give her。 For many years
his was the only kindness she ever knew； the only
friendship that solaced in any way that feeble； lonely soul。
Her heart was dead long before her body。 She had sold
it to become Sir Pitt Crawley's wife。 Mothers and
daughters are making the same bargain every day in
Vanity Fair。
When the demise took place； her husband was in
London attending to some of his innumerable schemes；
and busy with his endless lawyers。 He had found time；
nevertheless； to call often in Park Lane； and to despatch
many notes to Rebecca； entreating her； enjoining her；
commanding her to return to her young pupils in the
country； who were now utterly without companionship
during their mother's illness。 But Miss Crawley would
not hear of her departure； for though there was no lady
of fashion in London who would desert her friends more
complacently as soon as she was tired of their society；
and though few tired of them sooner； yet as long as her
engoument lasted her attachment was prodigious； and
she clung still with the greatest energy to Rebecca。
The news of Lady Crawley's death provoked no more
grief or comment than might have been expected in Miss
Crawley's family circle。 〃I suppose I must put off my
party for the 3rd；〃 Miss Crawley said； and added； after a
pause； 〃I hope my brother will have the decency not to
marry again。〃 〃What a confounded rage Pitt will be in if
he does；〃 Rawdon remarked； with his usual regard for his
elder brother。 Rebecca said nothing。 She seemed by far the
gravest and most impressed of the family。 She left the
room before Rawdon went away that day； but they met
by chance below； as he was going away after taking leave；
and had a parley together。
On the morrow； as Rebecca was gazing from the window；
she startled Miss Crawley； who was placidly occupied
with a French novel； by crying out in an alarmed
tone； 〃Here's Sir Pitt； Ma'am！〃 and the Baronet's knock
followed this announcement。
〃My dear； I can't see him。 I won't see him。 Tell Bowls
not at home； or go downstairs and say I'm too ill to
receive any one。 My nerves really won't bear my brother
at this moment；〃 cried out Miss Crawley； and resumed
the novel。
〃She's too ill to see you； sir；〃 Rebecca said； tripping
down to Sir Pitt； who was preparing to ascend。
〃So much the better；〃 Sir Pitt answered。 〃I want to
see YOU； Miss Becky。 Come along a me into the parlour；〃
and they entered that apartment together。
〃I wawnt you back at Queen's Crawley； Miss；〃 the
baronet said； fixing his eyes upon her； and taking off his
black gloves and his hat with its great crape hat…band。
His eyes had such a strange look； and fixed upon her so
steadfastly； that Rebecca Sharp began almost to tremble。
〃I hope to come soon；〃 she said in a low voice； 〃as
soon as Miss Crawley is betterand return toto the
dear children。〃
〃You've said so these three months； Becky；〃 replied
Sir Pitt； 〃and still you go hanging on to my sister； who'll
fling you off like an old shoe； when she's wore you out。
I tell you I want you。 I'm going back to the Vuneral。
Will you come back？ Yes or no？〃
〃I daren'tI don't thinkit would be rightto be
alonewith you； sir；〃 Becky said； seemingly in great
agitation。
〃I say agin； I want you；〃 Sir Pitt said； thumping the
table。 〃I can't git on without you。 I didn't see what it was
till you went away。 The house all goes wrong。 It's not
the same place。 All my accounts has got muddled agin。
You MUST come back。 Do come back。 Dear Becky； do
come。〃
〃Comeas what； sir？〃 Rebecca gasped out。
〃Come as Lady Crawley； if you like；〃 the Baronet
said； grasping his crape hat。 〃There！ will that zatusfy you？
Come back and be my wife。 Your vit vor't。 Birth be
hanged。 You're as good a lady as ever I see。 You've got
more brains in your little vinger than any baronet's wife
in the county。 Will you come？ Yes or no？〃
〃Oh； Sir Pitt！〃 Rebecca said； very much moved。
〃Say yes； Becky；〃 Sir Pitt continued。 〃I'm an old man；
but a good'n。 I'm good for twenty years。 I'll make you
happy； zee if I don't。 You shall do what you like； spend
what you like； and 'ave it all your own way。 I'll make
you a zettlement。 I'll do everything reglar。 Look year！〃
and the old man fell down on hi
