第 65 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:46      字数:9322
  any communication with me; he has flung us off; and
  leaves us to poverty。  I can rough it well enough; but
  you; my dear; how will you bear it? read here。〃 And he
  handed her over the letter。
  Amelia; with a look of tender alarm in her eyes;
  listened to her noble hero as he uttered the above generous
  sentiments; and sitting down on the bed; read the letter
  which George gave her with such a pompous martyr…like
  air。  Her face cleared up as she read the document; however。
  The idea of sharing poverty and privation in company
  with the beloved object is; as we have before said;
  far from being disagreeable to a warm…hearted woman。
  The notion was actually pleasant to little Amelia。  Then;
  as usual; she was ashamed of herself for feeling happy at
  such an indecorous moment; and checked her pleasure;
  saying demurely; 〃O; George; how your poor heart must
  bleed at the idea of being separated from your papa!〃
  〃It does;〃 said George; with an agonised countenance。
  〃But he can't be angry with you long;〃 she continued。
  〃Nobody could; I'm sure。  He must forgive you; my
  dearest; kindest husband。  O; I shall never forgive myself
  if he does not。〃
  〃What vexes me; my poor Emmy; is not my misfortune;
  but yours;〃 George said。  〃I don't care for a little
  poverty; and I think; without vanity; I've talents enough
  to make my own way。〃
  〃That you have;〃 interposed his wife; who thought that
  war should cease; and her husband should be made a
  general instantly。
  〃Yes; I shall make my way as well as another;〃 Osborne
  went on; 〃but you; my dear girl; how can I bear
  your being deprived of the comforts and station in
  society which my wife had a right to expect?  My dearest
  girl in barracks; the wife of a soldier in a marching
  regiment; subject to all sorts of annoyance and privation!
  It makes me miserable。〃
  Emmy; quite at ease; as this was her husband's only
  cause of disquiet; took his hand; and with a radiant face
  and smile began to warble that stanza from the favourite
  song of 〃Wapping Old Stairs;〃 in which the heroine; after
  rebuking her Tom for inattention; promises 〃his trousers
  to mend; and his grog too to make;〃 if he will be constant
  and kind; and not forsake her。  〃Besides;〃 she said;
  after a pause; during which she looked as pretty and
  happy as any young woman need; 〃isn't two thousand
  pounds an immense deal of money; George?〃
  George laughed at her naivete; and finally they went
  down to dinner; Amelia clinging to George's arm; still
  warbling the tune of 〃Wapping Old Stairs;〃 and more
  pleased and light of mind than she had been for some
  days past。
  Thus the repast; which at length came off; instead of
  being dismal; was an exceedingly brisk and merry one。
  The excitement of the campaign counteracted in George's
  mind the depression occasioned by the disinheriting letter。
  Dobbin still kept up his character of rattle。  He amused
  the company with accounts of the army in Belgium;
  where nothing but fetes and gaiety and fashion were
  going on。  Then; having a particular end in view; this
  dexterous captain proceeded to describe Mrs。 Major
  O'Dowd packing her own and her Major's wardrobe; and
  how his best epaulets had been stowed into a tea canister;
  whilst her own famous yellow turban; with the bird of
  paradise wrapped in brown paper; was locked up in the
  Major's tin cocked…hat case; and wondered what effect
  it would have at the French king's court at Ghent; or the
  great military balls at Brussels。
  〃Ghent! Brussels!〃 cried out Amelia with a sudden
  shock and start。  〃Is the regiment ordered away; George
  is it ordered away?〃 A look of terror came over the
  sweet smiling face; and she clung to George as by an
  instinct。
  〃Don't be afraid; dear;〃 he said good…naturedly; 〃it
  is but a twelve hours' passage。  It won't hurt you。  You
  shall go; too; Emmy。〃
  〃I intend to go;〃 said Becky。  〃I'm on the staff。  General
  Tufto is a great flirt of mine。  Isn't he; Rawdon?〃
  Rawdon laughed out with his usual roar。  William
  Dobbin flushed up quite red。  〃She can't go;〃 he said; 〃think
  of theof the danger;〃 he was going to add; but had
  not all his conversation during dinner…time tended to
  prove there was none?  He became very confused and
  silent。
  〃I must and will go;〃 Amelia cried with the greatest
  spirit; and George; applauding her resolution; patted her
  under the chin; and asked all the persons present if
  they ever saw such a termagant of a wife; and agreed
  that the lady should bear him company。  〃We'll have
  Mrs。 O'Dowd to chaperon you;〃 he said。  What cared she
  so long as her husband was near her?  Thus somehow
  the bitterness of a parting was juggled away。  Though war
  and danger were in store; war and danger might not
  befall for months to come。  There was a respite at any rate;
  which made the timid little Amelia almost as happy as
  a full reprieve would have done; and which even Dobbin
  owned in his heart was very welcome。  For; to be permitted
  to see her was now the greatest privilege and hope
  of his life; and he thought with himself secretly how he
  would watch and protect her。  I wouldn't have let her go
  if I had been married to her; he thought。  But George was
  the master; and his friend did not think fit to remonstrate。
  Putting her arm round her friend's waist; Rebecca at
  length carried Amelia off from the dinner…table where so
  much business of importance had been discussed; and
  left the gentlemen in a highly exhilarated state; drinking
  and talking very gaily。
  In the course of the evening Rawdon got a little family…
  note from his wife; which; although he crumpled it up
  and burnt it instantly in the candle; we had the good
  luck to read over Rebecca's shoulder。  〃Great news;〃 she
  wrote。  〃Mrs。 Bute is gone。  Get the money from Cupid tonight;
  as he'll be off to…morrow most likely。  Mind this。
  R。〃 So when the little company was about adjourning
  to coffee in the women's apartment; Rawdon touched
  Osborne on the elbow; and said gracefully; 〃I say; Osborne;
  my boy; if quite convenient; I'll trouble you for
  that 'ere small trifle。〃 It was not quite convenient; but
  nevertheless George gave him a considerable present
  instalment in bank…notes from his pocket…book; and a bill
  on his agents at a week's date; for the remaining sum。
  This matter arranged; George; and Jos; and Dobbin;
  held a council of war over their cigars; and agreed that a
  general move should be made for London in Jos's open
  carriage the next day。  Jos; I think; would have preferred
  staying until Rawdon Crawley quitted Brighton; but Dobbin
  and George overruled him; and he agreed to carry
  the party to town; and ordered four horses; as became his
  dignity。  With these they set off in state; after breakfast;
  the next day。  Amelia had risen very early in the morning;
  and packed her little trunks with the greatest alacrity;
  while Osborne lay in bed deploring that she had not a
  maid to help her。  She was only too glad; however; to
  perform this office for herself。  A dim uneasy sentiment
  about Rebecca filled her mind already; and although they
  kissed each other most tenderly at parting; yet we know
  what jealousy is; and Mrs。 Amelia possessed that among
  other virtues of her sex。
  Besides these characters who are coming and going
  away; we must remember that there were some other old
  friends of ours at Brighton; Miss Crawley; namely; and
  the suite in attendance upon her。  Now; although Rebecca
  and her husband were but at a few stones' throw of the
  lodgings which the invalid Miss Crawley occupied; the
  old lady's door remained as pitilessly closed to them as it
  had been heretofore in London。  As long as she remained
  by the side of her sister…in…law; Mrs。 Bute Crawley took
  care that her beloved Matilda should not be agitated by a
  meeting with her nephew。  When the spinster took her
  drive; the faithful Mrs。 Bute sate beside her in the carriage。
  When Miss Crawley took the air in a chair; Mrs。
  Bute marched on one side of the vehicle; whilst honest
  Briggs occupied the other wing。  And if they met Rawdon
  and his wife by chancealthough the former constantly
  and obsequiously took off his hat; the Miss…Crawley party
  passed him by with such a frigid and killing indifference;
  that Rawdon began to despair。
  〃We might as well be in London as here;〃 Captain
  Rawdon often said; with a downcast air。
  〃A comfortable inn in Brighton is better than a
  spunging…house in Chancery Lane;〃 his wife answered; who was
  of a more cheerful temperament。  〃Think of those two
  aides…de…camp of Mr。 Moses; the sheriff's…officer; who
  watched our lodging for a week。  Our friends here are
  very stupid; but Mr。 Jos and Captain Cupid are better
  companions than Mr。 Moses's men; Rawdon; my love。〃
  〃I wonder the writs haven't followed me down here;〃
  Rawdon continued; still desponding。
  〃When they do; we'll find means to give them the slip;〃
  said dauntless little Becky; and further pointed out to her
  husband the great comfort and advantage of meeting
  Jos and Osborne; whose acquaintance had brought to
  Rawdon Crawley a most timely little supply of ready
  money。
  〃It will hardly be enough to pay the inn bill;〃 grumbled
  the Guardsman。
  〃Why need we pay it?〃 said the lady; who had an answer
  for everything。
  Through Rawdon's valet; who still kept up a