vanity fair(名利场)-第46章

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a　time。　　Had　Rebecca's　resolutions　been　entirely　different；
he　would　have　followed　them　as　implicitly。　　〃You　have
head　enough　for　both　of　us；　Beck；〃　said　he。　　〃You're　sure
to　get　us　out　of　the　scrape。　　I　never　saw　your　equal；　and
I've　met　with　some　clippers　in　my　time　too。〃　And　with
this　simple　confession　of　faith；　the　love…stricken　dragoon
left　her　to　execute　his　part　of　the　project　which　she　had
formed　for　the　pair。
　　
It　consisted　simply　in　the　hiring　of　quiet　lodgings　at
Brompton；　or　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　barracks；　for
Captain　and　Mrs。　Crawley。　　For　Rebecca　had　determined；
and　very　prudently；　we　think；　to　fly。　　Rawdon　was
only　too　happy　at　her　resolve；　he　had　been　entreating
her　to　take　this　measure　any　time　for　weeks　past。　　He
pranced　off　to　engage　the　lodgings　with　all　the　impetuosity
of　love。　　He　agreed　to　pay　two　guineas　a　week　so　readily；
that　the　landlady　regretted　she　had　asked　him　so　little。
He　ordered　in　a　piano；　and　half　a　nursery…house　full　of
flowers：　and　a　heap　of　good　things。　　As　for　shawls；　kid
gloves；　silk　stockings；　gold　French　watches；　bracelets　and
perfumery；　he　sent　them　in　with　the　profusion　of　blind
love　and　unbounded　credit。　　And　having　relieved　his　mind
by　this　outpouring　of　generosity；　he　went　and　dined
nervously　at　the　club；　waiting　until　the　great　moment　of　his
life　should　come。
　　The　occurrences　of　the　previous　day；　the　admirable
conduct　of　Rebecca　in　refusing　an　offer　so　advantageous
to　her；　the　secret　unhappiness　preying　upon　her；　the
sweetness　and　silence　with　which　she　bore　her　affliction；
made　Miss　Crawley　much　more　tender　than　usual。　　An
event　of　this　nature；　a　marriage；　or　a　refusal；　or　a
proposal；　thrills　through　a　whole　household　of　women；　and
sets　all　their　hysterical　sympathies　at　work。　　As　an
observer　of　human　nature；　I　regularly　frequent　St。　George's；
Hanover　Square；　during　the　genteel　marriage　season；　and
though　I　have　never　seen　the　bridegroom's　male　friends
give　way　to　tears；　or　the　beadles　and　officiating　clergy
any　way　affected；　yet　it　is　not　at　all　uncommon　to　see
women　who　are　not　in　the　least　concerned　in　the
operations　going　onold　ladies　who　are　long　past　marrying；
stout　middle…aged　females　with　plenty　of　sons　and　daughters；
let　alone　pretty　young　creatures　in　pink　bonnets；　who
are　on　their　promotion；　and　may　naturally　take　an
interest　in　the　ceremonyI　say　it　is　quite　common　to　see
the　women　present　piping；　sobbing；　sniffling；　hiding　their
little　faces　in　their　little　useless　pocket…handkerchiefs；
and　heaving；　old　and　young；　with　emotion。　　When　my
friend；　the　fashionable　John　Pimlico；　married　the　lovely
Lady　Belgravia　Green　Parker；　the　excitement　was　so
general　that　even　the　little　snuffy　old　pew…opener　who　let　me
into　the　seat　was　in　tears。　　And　wherefore？　I　inquired　of
my　own　soul：　she　was　not　going　to　be　married。
　　
Miss　Crawley　and　Briggs　in　a　word；　after　the　affair　of
Sir　Pitt；　indulged　in　the　utmost　luxury　of　sentiment；　and
Rebecca　became　an　object　of　the　most　tender　interest　to
them。　　In　her　absence　Miss　Crawley　solaced　herself　with
the　most　sentimental　of　the　novels　in　her　library。　　Little
Sharp；　with　her　secret　griefs；　was　the　heroine　of　the　day。
　　
That　night　Rebecca　sang　more　sweetly　and　talked　more
pleasantly　than　she　had　ever　been　heard　to　do　in　Park
Lane。　　She　twined　herself　round　the　heart　of　Miss　Crawley。
She　spoke　lightly　and　laughingly　of　Sir　Pitt's　proposal；
ridiculed　it　as　the　foolish　fancy　of　an　old　man；　and　her
eyes　filled　with　tears；　and　Briggs's　heart　with　unutterable
pangs　of　defeat；　as　she　said　she　desired　no　other　lot　than
to　remain　for　ever　with　her　dear　benefactress。　　〃My　dear
little　creature；〃　the　old　lady　said；　〃I　don't　intend　to　let
you　stir　for　years；　that　you　may　depend　upon　it。　　As　for
going　back　to　that　odious　brother　of　mine　after　what
has　passed；　it　is　out　of　the　question。　　Here　you　stay　with　me
and　Briggs。　　Briggs　wants　to　go　to　see　her　relations　very
often。　　Briggs；　you　may　go　when　you　like。　　But　as　for　you；
my　dear；　you　must　stay　and　take　care　of　the　old　woman。〃
　　
If　Rawdon　Crawley　had　been　then　and　there　present；
instead　of　being　at　the　club　nervously　drinking　claret；　the
pair　might　have　gone　down　on　their　knees　before　the　old
spinster；　avowed　all；　and　been　forgiven　in　a　twinkling。
But　that　good　chance　was　denied　to　the　young　couple；
doubtless　in　order　that　this　story　might　be　written；　in
which　numbers　of　their　wonderful　adventures　are　narrated
adventures　which　could　never　have　occurred　to　them
if　they　had　been　housed　and　sheltered　under　the
comfortable　uninteresting　forgiveness　of　Miss　Crawley。
Under　Mrs。　Firkin's　orders；　in　the　Park　Lane　establishment；
was　a　young　woman　from　Hampshire；　whose　business　it　was；
among　other　duties；　to　knock　at　Miss　Sharp's　door　with
that　jug　of　hot　water　which　Firkin　would　rather　have
perished　than　have　presented　to　the　intruder。　　This
girl；　bred　on　the　family　estate；　had　a　brother　in　Captain
Crawley's　troop；　and　if　the　truth　were　known；　I　daresay
it　would　come　out　that　she　was　aware　of　certain　arrangements；
which　have　a　great　deal　to　do　with　this　history。
At　any　rate　she　purchased　a　yellow　shawl；　a　pair　of　green
boots；　and　a　light　blue　hat　with　a　red　feather　with　three
guineas　which　Rebecca　gave　her；　and　as　little　Sharp　was
by　no　means　too　liberal　with　her　money；　no　doubt　it
was　for　services　rendered　that　Betty　Martin　was　so　bribed。
　　
On　the　second　day　after　Sir　Pitt　Crawley's　offer　to
Miss　Sharp；　the　sun　rose　as　usual；　and　at　the　usual　hour
Betty　Martin；　the　upstairs　maid；　knocked　at　the　door　of
the　governess's　bedchamber。
　　
No　answer　was　returned；　and　she　knocked　again。　　Silence
was　still　uninterrupted；　and　Betty；　with　the　hot　water；
opened　the　door　and　entered　the　chamber。
　　
The　little　white　dimity　bed　was　as　smooth　and　trim　as
on　the　day　previous；　when　Betty's　own　hands　had　helped
to　make　it。　　Two　little　trunks　were　corded　in　one　end　of
the　room；　and　on　the　table　before　the　windowon　the
pincushionthe　great　fat　pincushion　lined　with　pink
inside；　and　twilled　like　a　lady's　nightcaplay　a　letter。　　It
had　been　reposing　there　probably　all　night。
　　
Betty　advanced　towards　it　on　tiptoe；　as　if　she　were
afraid　to　awake　itlooked　at　it；　and　round　the　room；
with　an　air　of　great　wonder　and　satisfaction；　took　up　the
letter；　and　grinned　intensely　as　she　turned　it　round　and
over；　and　finally　carried　it　into　Miss　Briggs's　room
below。
　　
How　could　Betty　tell　that　the　letter　was　for　Miss　Briggs；
I　should　like　to　know？　　All　the　schooling　Betty　had　had
was　at　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley's　Sunday　school；　and　she　could
no　more　read　writing　than　Hebrew。
　　
〃La；　Miss　Briggs；〃　the　girl　exclaimed；　〃O；　Miss；
something　must　have　happenedthere's　nobody　in　Miss
Sharp's　room；　the　bed　ain't　been　slep　in；　and　she've　run
away；　and　left　this　letter　for　you；　Miss。〃
　　
〃WHAT！〃　cries　Briggs；　dropping　her　comb；　the　thin　wisp
of　faded　hair　falling　over　her　shoulders；　〃an　elopement！
Miss　Sharp　a　fugitive！　　What；　what　is　this？〃　and　she　eagerly
broke　the　neat　seal；　and；　as　they　say；　〃devoured　the
contents〃　of　the　letter　addressed　to　her。
Dear　Miss　Briggs　＇the　refugee　wrote＇；　the　kindest
heart　in　the　world；　as　yours　is；　will　pity　and　sympathise
with　me　and　excuse　me。　　With　tears；　and　prayers；　and
blessings；　I　leave　the　home　where　the　poor　orphan　has
ever　met　with　kindness　and　affection。　　Claims　even
superior　to　those　of　my　benefactress　call　me　hence。　　I　go　to
my　dutyto　my　HUSBAND。　　Yes；　I　am　married。　　My
husband　COMMANDS　me　to　seek　the　HUMBLE　HOME　which
we　call　ours。　　Dearest　Miss　Briggs；　break　the　news　as　your
delicate　sympathy　will　know　how　to　do　itto　my　dear；
my　beloved　friend　and　benefactress。　　Tell　her；　ere　I　went；
I　shed　tears　on　her　dear　pillowthat　pillow　that　I　have
so　often　soothed　in　sicknessthat　I　long　AGAIN　to　watch
Oh；　with　what　joy　shall　I　return　to　dear　Park　Lane！
How　I　tremble　for　the　answer　which　is　to　SEAL　MY　FATE！
When　Sir　Pitt　deigned　to　offer　me　his　hand；　an　honour
of　which　my　beloved　Miss　Crawley　said　I　was　DESERVING
（my　blessings　go　with　her　for　judging　the　poor　orphan
worthy　to　be　HER　SISTER！）　I　told　Sir　Pitt　that　I　was　already
A　WIFE。　　Even　he　forgave　me。　　But　my　cour