第 56 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:46      字数:9321
  coverings of his lanky person。
  Dobbin had been in the coffee…room for an hour or
  more。  He had tried all the papers; but could not read
  them。  He had looked at the clock many scores of times;
  and at the street; where the rain was pattering down;
  and the people as they clinked by in pattens; left long
  reflections on the shining stone: he tattooed at the table:
  he bit his nails most completely; and nearly to the quick
  (he was accustomed to ornament his great big hands in
  this way): he balanced the tea…spoon dexterously on the
  milk jug: upset it; &c。; &c。; and in fact showed those
  signs of disquietude; and practised those desperate
  attempts at amusement; which men are accustomed to
  employ when very anxious; and expectant; and perturbed
  in mind。
  Some of his comrades; gentlemen who used the room;
  joked him about the splendour of his costume and his
  agitation of manner。  One asked him if he was going to be
  married?  Dobbin laughed; and said he would send his
  acquaintance (Major Wagstaff of the Engineers) a piece of
  cake when that event took place。  At length Captain Osborne
  made his appearance; very smartly dressed; but
  very pale and agitated as we have said。  He wiped his
  pale face with a large yellow bandanna pocket…handkerchief
  that was prodigiously scented。  He shook hands with
  Dobbin; looked at the clock; and told John; the waiter;
  to bring him some curacao。  Of this cordial he swallowed
  off a couple of glasses with nervous eagerness。
  His friend asked with some interest about his health。
  〃Couldn't get a wink of sleep till daylight; Dob;〃 said
  he。  〃Infernal headache and fever。  Got up at nine; and
  went down to the Hummums for a bath。  I say; Dob; I feel
  just as I did on the morning I went out with Rocket at
  Quebec。〃
  〃So do I;〃 William responded。  〃I was a deuced deal
  more nervous than you were that morning。  You made a
  famous breakfast; I remember。  Eat something now。〃
  〃You're a good old fellow; Will。  I'll drink your health;
  old boy; and farewell to〃
  〃No; no; two glasses are enough;〃 Dobbin interrupted
  him。  〃Here; take away the liqueurs; John。  Have some
  cayenne…pepper with your fowl。  Make haste though; for it
  is time we were there。〃
  It was about half an hour from twelve when this
  brief meeting and colloquy took place between the two
  captains。  A coach; into which Captain Osborne's servant
  put his master's desk and dressing…case; had been in
  waiting for some time; and into this the two gentlemen
  hurried under an umbrella; and the valet mounted on the
  box; cursing the rain and the dampness of the coachman
  who was steaming beside him。  〃We shall find a better
  trap than this at the church…door;〃 says he; 〃that's a
  comfort。〃 And the carriage drove on; taking the road
  down Piccadilly; where Apsley House and St。 George's
  Hospital wore red jackets still; where there were oil…
  lamps; where Achilles was not yet born; nor the Pimlico
  arch raised; nor the hideous equestrian monster which
  pervades it and the neighbourhood; and so they drove
  down by Brompton to a certain chapel near the Fulham
  Road there。
  A chariot was in waiting with four horses; likewise a
  coach of the kind called glass coaches。  Only a very few
  idlers were collected on account of the dismal rain。
  〃Hang it!〃 said George; 〃I said only a pair。〃
  〃My master would have four;〃 said Mr。 Joseph Sedley's
  servant; who was in waiting; and he and Mr。 Osborne's
  man agreed as they followed George and William into
  the church; that it was a 〃reg'lar shabby turn
  hout; and with scarce so much as a breakfast or a
  wedding faviour。〃
  〃Here you are;〃 said our old friend; Jos Sedley; coming
  forward。  〃You're five minutes late; George; my boy。
  What a day; eh? Demmy; it's like the commencement of
  the rainy season in Bengal。  But you'll find my carriage
  is watertight。  Come along; my mother and Emmy are in the
  vestry。〃
  Jos Sedley was splendid。  He was fatter than ever。  His
  shirt collars were higher; his face was redder; his shirt…
  frill flaunted gorgeously out of his variegated waistcoat。
  Varnished boots were not invented as yet; but the Hessians
  on his beautiful legs shone so; that they must have been
  the identical pair in which the gentleman in the old picture
  used to shave himself; and on his light green coat
  there bloomed a fine wedding favour; like a great white
  spreading magnolia。
  In a word; George had thrown the great cast。  He was
  going to be married。  Hence his pallor and nervousness
  his sleepless night and agitation in the morning。  I have
  heard people who have gone through the same thing
  own to the same emotion。  After three or four ceremonies;
  you get accustomed to it; no doubt; but the first
  dip; everybody allows; is awful。
  The bride was dressed in a brown silk pelisse (as
  Captain Dobbin has since informed me); and wore a straw
  bonnet with a pink ribbon; over the bonnet she had a
  veil of white Chantilly lace; a gift from Mr。 Joseph Sedley;
  her brother。  Captain Dobbin himself had asked leave
  to present her with a gold chain and watch; which she
  sported on this occasion; and her mother gave her her
  diamond broochalmost the only trinket which was left
  to the old lady。  As the service went on; Mrs。 Sedley sat
  and whimpered a great deal in a pew; consoled by the
  Irish maid…servant and Mrs。 Clapp from the lodgings。
  Old Sedley would not be present。  Jos acted for his father;
  giving away the bride; whilst Captain Dobbin stepped up
  as groomsman to his friend George。
  There was nobody in the church besides the officiating
  persons and the small marriage party and their attendants。
  The two valets sat aloof superciliously。  The rain
  came rattling down on the windows。  In the intervals of
  the service you heard it; and the sobbing of old Mrs。
  Sedley in the pew。  The parson's tones echoed sadly
  through the empty walls。  Osborne's 〃I will〃 was sounded
  in very deep bass。  Emmy's response came fluttering up
  to her lips from her heart; but was scarcely heard by
  anybody except Captain Dobbin。
  When the service was completed; Jos Sedley came
  forward and kissed his sister; the bride; for the first time
  for many monthsGeorge's look of gloom had gone; and
  he seemed quite proud and radiant。  〃It's your turn;
  William;〃 says he; putting his hand fondly upon Dobbin's
  shoulder; and Dobbin went up and touched Amelia on
  the cheek。
  Then they went into the vestry and signed the register。
  〃God bless you; Old Dobbin;〃 George said; grasping him
  by the hand; with something very like moisture glistening
  in his eyes。  William replied only by nodding his head。
  His heart was too full to say much。
  〃Write directly; and come down as soon as you can;
  you know;〃 Osborne said。  After Mrs。 Sedley had taken an
  hysterical adieu of her daughter; the pair went off to the
  carriage。  〃Get out of the way; you little devils;〃 George
  cried to a small crowd of damp urchins; that were hanging
  about the chapel…door。  The rain drove into the bride
  and bridegroom's faces as they passed to the chariot。
  The postilions' favours draggled on their dripping jackets。
  The few children made a dismal cheer; as the carriage;
  splashing mud; drove away。
  William Dobbin stood in the church…porch; looking at it;
  a queer figure。  The small crew of spectators jeered him。
  He was not thinking about them or their laughter。
  〃Come home and have some tiffin; Dobbin;〃 a voice
  cried behind him; as a pudgy hand was laid on his shoulder;
  and the honest fellow's reverie was interrupted。  But
  the Captain had no heart to go a…feasting with Jos Sedley。
  He put the weeping old lady and her attendants into the
  carriage along with Jos; and left them without any farther
  words passing。  This carriage; too; drove away; and the
  urchins gave another sarcastical cheer。
  〃Here; you little beggars;〃 Dobbin said; giving some
  sixpences amongst them; and then went off by himself
  through the rain。  It was all over。  They were married; and
  happy; he prayed God。  Never since he was a boy had he
  felt so miserable and so lonely。  He longed with a heart…
  sick yearning for the first few days to be over; that he
  might see her again。
  Some ten days after the above ceremony; three young
  men of our acquaintance were enjoying that beautiful
  prospect of bow windows on the one side and blue sea
  on the other; which Brighton affords to the traveller。
  Sometimes it is towards the oceansmiling with countless
  dimples; speckled with white sails; with a hundred
  bathing…machines kissing the skirt of his blue garment
  that the Londoner looks enraptured: sometimes; on the
  contrary; a lover of human nature rather than of prospects
  of any kind; it is towards the bow windows that
  he turns; and that swarm of human life which they
  exhibit。  From one issue the notes of a piano; which a young
  lady in ringlets practises six hours daily; to the delight
  of the fellow…lodgers: at another; lovely Polly; the nurse…
  maid; may be seen dandling Master Omnium in her arms:
  whilst Jacob; his papa; is beheld eating prawns; and
  devouring the Times for breakfast; at the window below。
  Yonder are the Misses Leery; who are looking out for the
  young officers of the Heavies; who are pretty sure to be
  pacing the cliff; or again it is a City man; with a nautical
  turn; and a telescope;