vanity fair(名利场)-第93章

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know；〃　Dobbin　said　in　a　very　incoherent　manner；　〃because
you　know　some　of　us　mayn't　come　back　again；　and
I　like　to　see　you　all　well；　andand　that　sort　of　thing；　you
know。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Jos　asked；　rubbing　his　eyes。　　The
Captain　did　not　in　the　least　hear　him　or　look　at　the　stout
gentleman　in　the　nightcap；　about　whom　he　professed　to
have　such　a　tender　interest。　　The　hypocrite　was　looking
and　listening　with　all　his　might　in　the　direction　of　George's
apartments；　striding　about　the　room；　upsetting　the　chairs；
beating　the　tattoo；　biting　his　nails；　and　showing　other
signs　of　great　inward　emotion。
Jos　had　always　had　rather　a　mean　opinion　of　the
Captain；　and　now　began　to　think　his　courage　was　somewhat
equivocal。　　〃What　is　it　I　can　do　for　you；　Dobbin？〃　he　said；
in　a　sarcastic　tone。
〃I　tell　you　what　you　can　do；〃　the　Captain　replied；　coming
up　to　the　bed；　〃we　march　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour；
Sedley；　and　neither　George　nor　I　may　ever　come　back。
Mind　you；　you　are　not　to　stir　from　this　town　until　you
ascertain　how　things　go。　　You　are　to　stay　here　and　watch
over　your　sister；　and　comfort　her；　and　see　that　no　harm
comes　to　her。　　If　anything　happens　to　George；　remember
she　has　no　one　but　you　in　the　world　to　look　to。　　If　it　goes
wrong　with　the　army；　you'll　see　her　safe　back　to　England；
and　you　will　promise　me　on　your　word　that　you　will
never　desert　her。　　I　know　you　won't：　　as　far　as　money　goes；
you　were　always　free　enough　with　that。　　Do　you　want　any？
I　mean；　have　you　enough　gold　to　take　you　back　to
England　in　case　of　a　misfortune？〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Jos；　majestically；　〃when　I　want　money；　I
know　where　to　ask　for　it。　　And　as　for　my　sister；　you
needn't　tell　me　how　I　ought　to　behave　to　her。〃
〃You　speak　like　a　man　of　spirit；　Jos；〃　the　other　answered
good…naturedly；　〃and　I　am　glad　that　George　can
leave　her　in　such　good　hands。　　So　I　may　give　him　your
word　of　honour；　may　I；　that　in　case　of　extremity　you
will　stand　by　her？〃
〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　answered　Mr。　Jos；　whose
generosity　in　money　matters　Dobbin　estimated　quite
correctly。
〃And　you'll　see　her　safe　out　of　Brussels　in　the　event　of
a　defeat？〃
〃A　defeat！　D　it；　sir；　it's　impossible。　　Don't　try　and
frighten　ME；〃　the　hero　cried　from　his　bed；　and　Dobbin's
mind　was　thus　perfectly　set　at　ease　now　that　Jos　had
spoken　out　so　resolutely　respecting　his　conduct　to　his
sister。　　〃At　least；〃　thought　the　Captain；　〃there　will　be　a
retreat　secured　for　her　in　case　the　worst　should　ensue。〃
If　Captain　Dobbin　expected　to　get　any　personal　comfort
and　satisfaction　from　having　one　more　view　of　Amelia
before　the　regiment　marched　away；　his　selfishness　was
punished　just　as　such　odious　egotism　deserved　to　be。　　The
door　of　Jos's　bedroom　opened　into　the　sitting…room　which
was　common　to　the　family　party；　and　opposite　this　door
was　that　of　Amelia's　chamber。　　The　bugles　had　wakened
everybody：　　there　was　no　use　in　concealment　now。　　George's
servant　was　packing　in　this　room：　　Osborne　coming　in
and　out　of　the　contiguous　bedroom；　flinging　to　the　man
such　articles　as　he　thought　fit　to　carry　on　the　campaign。
And　presently　Dobbin　had　the　opportunity　which　his
heart　coveted；　and　he　got　sight　of　Amelia's　face　once
more。　　But　what　a　face　it　was！　　So　white；　so　wild　and
despair…stricken；　that　the　remembrance　of　it　haunted　him
afterwards　like　a　crime；　and　the　sight　smote　him　with
inexpressible　pangs　of　longing　and　pity。
She　was　wrapped　in　a　white　morning　dress；　her　hair
falling　on　her　shoulders；　and　her　large　eyes　fixed　and
without　light。　　By　way　of　helping　on　the　preparations　for
the　departure；　and　showing　that　she　too　could　be　useful
at　a　moment　so　critical；　this　poor　soul　had　taken　up　a
sash　of　George's　from　the　drawers　whereon　it　lay；　and
followed　him　to　and　fro　with　the　sash　in　her　hand；　looking
on　mutely　as　his　packing　proceeded。　　She　came　out　and
stood；　leaning　at　the　wall；　holding　this　sash　against　her
bosom；　from　which　the　heavy　net　of　crimson　dropped
like　a　large　stain　of　blood。　　Our　gentle…hearted　Captain
felt　a　guilty　shock　as　he　looked　at　her。　　〃Good　God；〃
thought　he；　〃and　is　it　grief　like　this　I　dared　to　pry　into？〃
And　there　was　no　help：　　no　means　to　soothe　and　comfort
this　helpless；　speechless　misery。　　He　stood　for　a　moment
and　looked　at　her；　powerless　and　torn　with　pity；　as　a
parent　regards　an　infant　in　pain。
At　last；　George　took　Emmy's　hand；　and　led　her　back
into　the　bedroom；　from　whence　he　came　out　alone。　　The
parting　had　taken　place　in　that　moment；　and　he　was　gone。
〃Thank　Heaven　that　is　over；〃　George　thought；　bounding
down　the　stair；　his　sword　under　his　arm；　as　he　ran
swiftly　to　the　alarm　ground；　where　the　regiment　was
mustered；　and　whither　trooped　men　and　officers　hurrying
from　their　billets；　his　pulse　was　throbbing　and　his　cheeks
flushed：　　the　great　game　of　war　was　going　to　be　played；
and　he　one　of　the　players。　　What　a　fierce　excitement　of
doubt；　hope；　and　pleasure！　　What　tremendous　hazards　of
loss　or　gain！　　What　were　all　the　games　of　chance　he　had
ever　played　compared　to　this　one？　　Into　all　contests
requiring　athletic　skill　and　courage；　the　young　man；　from
his　boyhood　upwards；　had　flung　himself　with　all　his　might。
The　champion　of　his　school　and　his　regiment；　the　bravos
of　his　companions　had　followed　him　everywhere；　from
the　boys'　cricket…match　to　the　garrison…races；　he　had　won
a　hundred　of　triumphs；　and　wherever　he　went　women
and　men　had　admired　and　envied　him。　　What　qualities
are　there　for　which　a　man　gets　so　speedy　a　return　of
applause；　as　those　of　bodily　superiority；　activity；　and
valour？　　Time　out　of　mind　strength　and　courage　have　been
the　theme　of　bards　and　romances；　and　from　the　story　of
Troy　down　to　to…day；　poetry　has　always　chosen　a　soldier
for　a　hero。　　I　wonder　is　it　because　men　are　cowards　in
heart　that　they　admire　bravery　so　much；　and　place
military　valour　so　far　beyond　every　other　quality　for
reward　and　worship？
So；　at　the　sound　of　that　stirring　call　to　battle；　George
jumped　away　from　the　gentle　arms　in　which　he　had　been
dallying；　not　without　a　feeling　of　shame　（although　his
wife's　hold　on　him　had　been　but　feeble）；　that　he　should
have　been　detained　there　so　long。　　The　same　feeling　of
eagerness　and　excitement　was　amongst　all　those　friends
of　his　of　whom　we　have　had　occasional　glimpses；　from
the　stout　senior　Major；　who　led　the　regiment　into　action；
to　little　Stubble；　the　Ensign；　who　was　to　bear　its　colours
on　that　day。
The　sun　was　just　rising　as　the　march　beganit　was
a　gallant　sightthe　band　led　the　column；　playing　the
regimental　marchthen　came　the　Major　in　command；
riding　upon　Pyramus；　his　stout　chargerthen　marched
the　grenadiers；　their　Captain　at　their　head；　in　the　centre
were　the　colours；　borne　by　the　senior　and　junior　Ensigns
then　George　came　marching　at　the　head　of　his　company。
He　looked　up；　and　smiled　at　Amelia；　and　passed
on；　and　even　the　sound　of　the　music　died　away。

CHAPTER　XXXI
In　Which　Jos　Sedley　Takes　Care　of　His　Sister
Thus　all　the　superior　officers　being　summoned　on　duty
elsewhere；　Jos　Sedley　was　left　in　command　of　the　little
colony　at　Brussels；　with　Amelia　invalided；　Isidor；　his
Belgian　servant；　and　the　bonne；　who　was　maid…of…all…work
for　the　establishment；　as　a　garrison　under　him。　　Though
he　was　disturbed　in　spirit；　and　his　rest　destroyed　by
Dobbin's　interruption　and　the　occurrences　of　the　morning；
Jos　nevertheless　remained　for　many　hours　in　bed；
wakeful　and　rolling　about　there　until　his　usual　hour　of
rising　had　arrived。　　The　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens；　and
our　gallant　friends　of　the　th　miles　on　their　march；
before　the　civilian　appeared　in　his　flowered　dressing…gown
at　breakfast。
　
About　George's　absence；　his　brother…in…law　was　very
easy　in　mind。　　Perhaps　Jos　was　rather　pleased　in　his　heart
that　Osborne　was　gone；　for　during　George's　presence；　the
other　had　played　but　a　very　secondary　part　in　the
household；　and　Osborne　did　not　scruple　to　show　his　contempt
for　the　stout　civilian。　　But　Emmy　had　always　been　good
and　attentive　to　him。　　It　was　she　who　ministered　to　his
comforts；　who　superintended　the　dishes　that　he　liked；
who　walked　or　rode　with　him　（as　she　had　many；　too
many；　opportunities　of　doing；　for　where　was　George？）
and　who　interposed　her　sweet　face　be