第 74 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:46      字数:9322
  the old Earl said。
  〃Well; my dear Blanche;〃 said the mother; 〃I suppose;
  as Papa wants to go; we must go; but we needn't know
  them in England; you know。〃 And so; determined to cut
  their new acquaintance in Bond Street; these great folks
  went to eat his dinner at Brussels; and condescending to
  make him pay for their pleasure; showed their dignity
  by making his wife uncomfortable; and carefully excluding
  her from the conversation。  This is a species of dignity
  in which the high…bred British female reigns supreme。  To
  watch the behaviour of a fine lady to other and humbler
  women; is a very good sport for a philosophical frequenter
  of Vanity Fair。
  This festival; on which honest George spent a great
  deal of money; was the very dismallest of all the
  entertainments which Amelia had in her honeymoon。  She
  wrote the most piteous accounts of the feast home to
  her mamma:  how the Countess of Bareacres would not
  answer when spoken to; how Lady Blanche stared at her
  with her eye…glass; and what a rage Captain Dobbin was
  in at their behaviour; and how my lord; as they came
  away from the feast; asked to see the bill; and pronounced
  it a d bad dinner; and d dear。  But though Amelia
  told all these stories; and wrote home regarding
  her guests' rudeness; and her own discomfiture;
  old Mrs。 Sedley was mightily pleased nevertheless;
  and talked about Emmy's friend; the Countess of
  Bareacres; with such assiduity that the news how his son
  was entertaining peers and peeresses actually came to
  Osborne's ears in the City。
  Those who know the present Lieutenant…General Sir
  George Tufto; K。C。B。; and have seen him; as they may
  on most days in the season; padded and in stays; strutting
  down Pall Mall with a rickety swagger on his high…heeled
  lacquered boots; leering under the bonnets of passers…
  by; or riding a showy chestnut; and ogling broughams in
  the Parksthose who know the present Sir George Tufto
  would hardly recognise the daring Peninsular and Waterloo
  officer。  He has thick curling brown hair and black
  eyebrows now; and his whiskers are of the deepest
  purple。  He was light…haired and bald in 1815; and stouter
  in the person and in the limbs; which especially have
  shrunk very much of late。  When he was about seventy
  years of age (he is now nearly eighty); his hair; which
  was very scarce and quite white; suddenly grew thick;
  and brown; and curly; and his whiskers and eyebrows
  took their present colour。  Ill…natured people say that
  his chest is all wool; and that his hair; because it never
  grows; is a wig。  Tom Tufto; with whose father he quarrelled
  ever so many years ago; declares that Mademoiselle
  de Jaisey; of the French theatre; pulled his
  grandpapa's hair off in the green…room; but Tom is
  notoriously spiteful and jealous; and the General's wig has
  nothing to do with our story。
  One day; as some of our friends of the th were
  sauntering in the flower…market of Brussels; having been
  to see the Hotel de Ville; which Mrs。 Major O'Dowd
  declared was not near so large or handsome as her
  fawther's mansion of Glenmalony; an officer of rank; with
  an orderly behind him; rode up to the market; and
  descending from his horse; came amongst the flowers; and
  selected the very finest bouquet which money could buy。
  The beautiful bundle being tied up in a paper; the officer
  remounted; giving the nosegay into the charge of his
  military groom; who carried it with a grin; following his
  chief; who rode away in great state and self…satisfaction。
  〃You should see the flowers at Glenmalony;〃 Mrs。
  O'Dowd was remarking。  〃Me fawther has three Scotch
  garners with nine helpers。  We have an acre of hot…houses;
  and pines as common as pays in the sayson。  Our greeps
  weighs six pounds every bunch of 'em; and upon me
  honour and conscience I think our magnolias is as big
  as taykettles。〃
  Dobbin; who never used to 〃draw out〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd
  as that wicked Osborne delighted in doing (much to
  Amelia's terror; who implored him to spare her); fell
  back in the crowd; crowing and sputtering until he
  reached a safe distance; when he exploded amongst the
  astonished market…people with shrieks of yelling laughter。
  〃Hwhat's that gawky guggling about?〃 said Mrs。
  O'Dowd。  〃Is it his nose bleedn?  He always used to say
  'twas his nose bleedn; till he must have pomped all the
  blood out of 'um。  An't the magnolias at Glenmalony
  as big as taykettles; O'Dowd?〃
  〃'Deed then they are; and bigger; Peggy;〃 the Major
  said。  When the conversation was interrupted in the
  manner stated by the arrival of the officer who purchased
  the bouquet。
  〃Devlish fine horsewho is it?〃 George asked。
  〃You should see me brother Molloy Malony's horse;
  Molasses; that won the cop at the Curragh;〃 the Major's
  wife was exclaiming; and was continuing the family
  history; when her husband interrupted her by saying
  〃It's General Tufto; who commands the  cavalry
  division〃; adding quietly; 〃he and I were both shot in
  the same leg at Talavera。〃
  〃Where you got your step;〃 said George with a laugh。
  〃General Tufto! Then; my dear; the Crawleys are come。〃
  Amelia's heart fellshe knew not why。  The sun did
  not seem to shine so bright。  The tall old roofs and
  gables looked less picturesque all of a sudden; though
  it was a brilliant sunset; and one of the brightest and
  most beautiful days at the end of May。
  CHAPTER XXIX
  Brussels
  Mr。 Jos had hired a pair of horses for his open carriage;
  with which cattle; and the smart London vehicle; he made
  a very tolerable figure in the drives about Brussels。
  George purchased a horse for his private riding; and
  he and Captain Dobbin would often accompany the
  carriage in which Jos and his sister took daily excursions
  of pleasure。  They went out that day in the park for their
  accustomed diversion; and there; sure enough; George's
  remark with regard to the arrival of Rawdon Crawley and
  his wife proved to be correct。  In the midst of a little
  troop of horsemen; consisting of some of the very greatest
  persons in Brussels; Rebecca was seen in the prettiest
  and tightest of riding…habits; mounted on a beautiful
  little Arab; which she rode to perfection (having acquired
  the art at Queen's Crawley; where the Baronet; Mr。
  Pitt; and Rawdon himself had given her many lessons);
  and by the side of the gallant General Tufto。
  〃Sure it's the Juke himself;〃 cried Mrs。 Major O'Dowd
  to Jos; who began to blush violently; 〃and that's Lord
  Uxbridge on the bay。  How elegant he looks!  Me brother;
  Molloy Malony; is as like him as two pays。〃
  Rebecca did not make for the carriage; but as soon
  as she perceived her old acquaintance Amelia seated in
  it; acknowledged her presence by a gracious nod and
  smile; and by kissing and shaking her fingers playfully
  in the direction of the vehicle。  Then she resumed her
  conversation with General Tufto; who asked 〃who the
  fat officer was in the gold…laced cap?〃 on which Becky
  replied; 〃that he was an officer in the East Indian service。〃
  But Rawdon Crawley rode out of the ranks of his
  company; and came up and shook hands heartily with
  Amelia; and said to Jos; 〃Well; old boy; how are you?〃
  and stared in Mrs。 O'Dowd's face and at。the black cock's
  feathers until she began to think she had made a
  conquest of him。
  George; who had been delayed behind; rode up almost
  immediately with Dobbin; and they touched their caps to
  the august personages; among whom Osborne at once
  perceived Mrs。 Crawley。  He was delighted to see Rawdon
  leaning over his carriage familiarly and talking to Amelia;
  and met the aide…de…camp's cordial greeting with more
  than corresponding warmth。  The nods between Rawdon
  and Dobbin were of the very faintest specimens of
  politeness。
  Crawley told George where they were stopping with
  General Tufto at the Hotel du Parc; and George made
  his friend promise to come speedily to Osborne's own
  residence。  〃Sorry I hadn't seen you three days ago;〃
  George said。  〃Had a dinner at the Restaurateur'srather a
  nice thing。  Lord Bareacres; and the Countess; and Lady
  Blanche; were good enough to dine with uswish we'd
  had you。〃 Having thus let his friend know his claims to be
  a man of fashion; Osborne parted from Rawdon; who
  followed the august squadron down an alley into which
  they cantered; while George and Dobbin resumed their
  places; one on each side of Amelia's carriage。
  〃How well the Juke looked;〃 Mrs。 O'Dowd remarked。
  〃The Wellesleys and Malonys are related; but; of course;
  poor I would never dream of introjuicing myself unless
  his Grace thought proper to remember our family…tie。〃
  〃He's a great soldier;〃 Jos said; much more at ease
  now the great man was gone。  〃Was there ever a battle
  won like Salamanca?  Hey; Dobbin?  But where was it he
  learnt his art?  In India; my boy!  The jungle's the school
  for a general; mark me that。  I knew him myself; too;
  Mrs。 O'Dowd:  we both of us danced the same evening
  with Miss Cutler; daughter of Cutler of the Artillery; and
  a devilish fine girl; at Dumdum。〃
  The apparition of the great personages held them
  all in talk during the drive; and at dinner; and until the
  hour came when they were all to go to the Opera。
  It was almost like Old England。  The house was filled
  with familiar British faces; and those toilettes for whic