vanity fair(名利场)-第67章

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reader　exclaim　against　this　selfishness　as　unnatural。　　It
was　but　this　present　morning；　as　he　rode　on　the　omnibus
from　Richmond；　while　it　changed　horses；　this　present
chronicler；　being　on　the　roof；　marked　three　little　children
playing　in　a　puddle　below；　very　dirty；　and　friendly；　and
happy。　　To　these　three　presently　came　another　little　one。
〃POLLY；〃　says　she；　〃YOUR　SISTER'S　GOT　A　PENNY。〃　　At　which
the　children　got　up　from　the　puddle　instantly；　and　ran
off　to　pay　their　court　to　Peggy。　　And　as　the　omnibus　drove
off　I　saw　Peggy　with　the　infantine　procession　at　her
tail；　marching　with　great　dignity　towards　the　stall　of　a
neighbouring　lollipop…woman。

CHAPTER　XXIV
In　Which　Mr。　Osborne　Takes　Down　the　Family　Bible
So　having　prepared　the　sisters；　Dobbin　hastened　away
to　the　City　to　perform　the　rest　and　more　difficult　part
of　the　task　which　he　had　undertaken。　　The　idea　of　facing
old　Osborne　rendered　him　not　a　little　nervous；　and　more
than　once　he　thought　of　leaving　the　young　ladies　to
communicate　the　secret；　which；　as　he　was　aware；　they　could
not　long　retain。　　But　he　had　promised　to　report　to　George
upon　the　manner　in　which　the　elder　Osborne　bore　the
intelligence；　so　going　into　the　City　to　the　paternal
counting…house　in　Thames　Street；　he　despatched　thence
a　note　to　Mr。　Osborne　begging　for　a　half…hour's　conversation
relative　to　the　affairs　of　his　son　George。　　Dobbin's　messenger
returned　from　Mr。　Osborne's　house　of　business；　with　the
compliments　of　the　latter；　who　would　be　very　happy　to　see　the
Captain　immediately；　and　away　accordingly　Dobbin　went
to　confront　him。
The　Captain；　with　a　half…guilty　secret　to　confess；　and
with　the　prospect　of　a　painful　and　stormy　interview
before　him；　entered　Mr。　Osborne's　offices　with　a　most
dismal　countenance　and　abashed　gait；　and；　passing　through
the　outer　room　where　Mr。　Chopper　presided；　was　greeted
by　that　functionary　from　his　desk　with　a　waggish　air
which　farther　discomfited　him。　　Mr。　Chopper　winked　and
nodded　and　pointed　his　pen　towards　his　patron's　door；
and　said；　〃You'll　find　the　governor　all　right；〃　with　the
most　provoking　good　humour。
Osborne　rose　too；　and　shook　him　heartily　by　the　hand；
and　said；　〃How　do；　my　dear　boy？〃　with　a　cordiality　that
made　poor　George's　ambassador　feel　doubly　guilty。　　His
hand　lay　as　if　dead　in　the　old　gentleman's　grasp。　　He　felt
that　he；　Dobbin；　was　more　or　less　the　cause　of　all　that
had　happened。　　It　was　he　had　brought　back　George　to
Amelia：　it　was　he　had　applauded；　encouraged；　transacted
almost　the　marriage　which　he　was　come　to　reveal　to
George's　father：　　and　the　latter　was　receiving　him　with
smiles　of　welcome；　patting　him　on　the　shoulder；　and　calling
him　〃Dobbin；　my　dear　boy。〃　The　envoy　had　indeed
good　reason　to　hang　his　head。
Osborne　fully　believed　that　Dobbin　had　come　to
announce　his　son's　surrender。　　Mr。　Chopper　and　his
principal　were　talking　over　the　matter　between　George　and
his　father；　at　the　very　moment　when　Dobbin's　messenger
arrived。　　Both　agreed　that　George　was　sending　in　his
submission。　　Both　had　been　expecting　it　for　some　daysand
〃Lord！　Chopper；　what　a　marriage　we'll　have！〃　Mr。
Osborne　said　to　his　clerk；　snapping　his　big　fingers；　and
jingling　all　the　guineas　and　shillings　in　his　great　pockets
as　he　eyed　his　subordinate　with　a　look　of　triumph。
With　similar　operations　conducted　in　both　pockets；
and　a　knowing　jolly　air；　Osborne　from　his　chair　regarded
Dobbin　seated　blank　and　silent　opposite　to　him。　　〃What
a　bumpkin　he　is　for　a　Captain　in　the　army；〃　old　Osborne
thought。　　〃I　wonder　George　hasn't　taught　him　better
manners。〃
At　last　Dobbin　summoned　courage　to　begin。　　〃Sir；〃　said
he；　〃I've　brought　you　some　very　grave　news。　　I　have　been
at　the　Horse　Guards　this　morning；　and　there's　no　doubt
that　our　regiment　will　be　ordered　abroad；　and　on　its
way　to　Belgium　before　the　week　is　over。　　And　you　know；
sir；　that　we　shan't　be　home　again　before　a　tussle　which
may　be　fatal　to　many　of　us。〃
　　Osborne　looked　grave。　　〃My　s　；　the　regiment　will
do　its　duty；　sir；　I　daresay；〃　he　said。
〃The　French　are　very　strong；　sir；〃　Dobbin　went　on。
〃The　Russians　and　Austrians　will　be　a　long　time　before
they　can　bring　their　troops　down。　　We　shall　have　the　first
of　the　fight；　sir；　and　depend　on　it　Boney　will　take　care
that　it　shall　be　a　hard　one。〃
〃What　are　you　driving　at；　Dobbin？〃　his　interlocutor
said；　uneasy　and　with　a　scowl。　　〃I　suppose　no　Briton's
afraid　of　any　d　Frenchman；　hey？〃
〃I　only　mean；　that　before　we　go；　and　considering　the
great　and　certain　risk　that　hangs　over　every　one　of　us
if　there　are　any　differences　between　you　and　Georgeit
would　be　as　well；　sir；　thatthat　you　should　shake　hands：
wouldn't　it？　　Should　anything　happen　to　him；　I　think　you
would　never　forgive　yourself　if　you　hadn't　parted　in
charity。〃
As　he　said　this；　poor　William　Dobbin　blushed　crimson；
and　felt　and　owned　that　he　himself　was　a　traitor。　　But
for　him；　perhaps；　this　severance　need　never　have　taken
place。　　Why　had　not　George's　marriage　been　delayed？
What　call　was　there　to　press　it　on　so　eagerly？　　He　felt　that
George　would　have　parted　from　Amelia　at　any　rate　without
a　mortal　pang。　　Amelia；　too；　MIGHT　have　recovered　the
shock　of　losing　him。　　It　was　his　counsel　had　brought
about　this　marriage；　and　all　that　was　to　ensue　from　it。
And　why　was　it？　　Because　he　loved　her　so　much　that　he
could　not　bear　to　see　her　unhappy：　　or　because　his　own
sufferings　of　suspense　were　so　unendurable　that　he　was
glad　to　crush　them　at　onceas　we　hasten　a　funeral
after　a　death；　or；　when　a　separation　from　those　we　love
is　imminent；　cannot　rest　until　the　parting　be　over。
〃You　are　a　good　fellow；　William；〃　said　Mr。　Osborne　in
a　softened　voice；　〃and　me　and　George　shouldn't　part　in
anger；　that　is　true。　　Look　here。　　I've　done　for　him　as
much　as　any　father　ever　did。　　He's　had　three　times　as
much　money　from　me；　as　I　warrant　your　father　ever
gave　you。　　But　I　don't　brag　about　that。　　How　I've　toiled
for　him；　and　worked　and　employed　my　talents　and　energy；
I　won't　say。　　Ask　Chopper。　　Ask　himself。　　Ask　the　City　of
London。　　Well；　I　propose　to　him　such　a　marriage　as　any
nobleman　in　the　land　might　be　proud　ofthe　only　thing
in　life　I　ever　asked　himand　he　refuses　me。　　Am　I　wrong？
Is　the　quarrel　of　MY　making？　　What　do　I　seek　but　his
good；　for　which　I've　been　toiling　like　a　convict　ever　since
he　was　born？　　Nobody　can　say　there's　anything　selfish　in
me。　　Let　him　come　back。　　I　say；　here's　my　hand。　　I　say；
forget　and　forgive。　　As　for　marrying　now；　it's　out　of　the
question。　　Let　him　and　Miss　S。　make　it　up；　and　make　out　the
marriage　afterwards；　when　he　comes　back　a　Colonel；
for　he　shall　be　a　Colonel；　by　G　he　shall；　if　money
can　do　it。　　I'm　glad　you've　brought　him　round。　　I　know　it's
you；　Dobbin。　　You've　took　him　out　of　many　a　scrape
before。　　Let　him　come。　　I　shan't　be　hard。　　Come　along；　and
dine　in　Russell　Square　to…day：　both　of　you。　　The　old　shop；
the　old　hour。　　You'll　find　a　neck　of　venison；　and　no
questions　asked。〃
This　praise　and　confidence　smote　Dobbin's　heart　very
keenly。　　Every　moment　the　colloquy　continued　in　this
tone；　he　felt　more　and　more　guilty。　　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃I
fear　you　deceive　yourself。　　I　am　sure　you　do。　　George　is
much　too　high…minded　a　man　ever　to　marry　for　money。　　A
threat　on　your　part　that　you　would　disinherit　him　in
case　of　disobedience　would　only　be　followed　by　resistance
on　his。〃
〃Why；　hang　it；　man；　you　don't　call　offering　him　eight
or　ten　thousand　a　year　threatening　him？''　Mr。　Osborne
said；　with　still　provoking　good　humour。　　〃'Gad；　if　Miss
S。　will　have　me；　I'm　her　man。　　I　ain't　particular　about　a
shade　or　so　of　tawny。〃　And　the　old　gentleman　gave　his
knowing　grin　and　coarse　laugh。
〃You　forget；　sir；　previous　engagements　into　which
Captain　Osborne　had　entered；〃　the　ambassador　said；　gravely。
〃What　engagements？　What　the　devil　do　you　mean？
You　don't　mean；〃　Mr。　Osborne　continued；　gathering
wrath　and　astonishment　as　the　thought　now　first　came
upon　him；　〃you　don't　mean　that　he's　such　a　d　fool
as　to　be　still　hankering　after　that　swindling　old　bankrupt's
daughter？　　You've　not　come　here　for　to　make　me
suppose　that　he　wants　to　marry　HER？　　Marry　HER；　that　IS
a　good　one。　　My　son　and　heir　marry　a　beggar's　girl　out　of
a　g