第 111 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:47      字数:9322
  she did not possess those sycophantic arts which her
  hypocritical nephew; Pitt Crawley; practised? She wished
  him all the happiness which he merited out of his
  ill…gotten gains。  〃At least the money will remain in the
  family;〃 she said charitably。  〃Pitt will never spend it; my
  dear; that is quite certain; for a greater miser does not
  exist in England; and he is as odious; though in a
  different way; as his spendthrift brother; the abandoned
  Rawdon。〃
  So Mrs。 Bute; after the first shock of rage and
  disappointment; began to accommodate herself as best
  she could to her altered fortunes and to save and retrench
  with all her might。  She instructed her daughters how to
  bear poverty cheerfully; and invented a thousand notable
  methods to conceal or evade it。  She took them about to
  balls and public places in the neighbourhood; with
  praiseworthy energy; nay; she entertained her friends in a
  hospitable comfortable manner at the Rectory; and much
  more frequently than before dear Miss Crawley's legacy
  had fallen in。  From her outward bearing nobody would
  have supposed that the family had been disappointed
  in their expectations; or have guessed from her frequent
  appearance in public how she pinched and starved at
  home。  Her girls had more milliners' furniture than they
  had ever enjoyed before。  They appeared perseveringly
  at the Winchester and Southampton assemblies; they
  penetrated to Cowes for the race…balls and regatta…gaieties
  there; and their carriage; with the horses taken from the
  plough; was at work perpetually; until it began almost to
  be believed that the four sisters had had fortunes left them
  by their aunt; whose name the family never mentioned in
  public but with the most tender gratitude and regard。  I
  know no sort of lying which is more frequent in Vanity
  Fair than this; and it may be remarked how people who
  practise it take credit to themselves for their hypocrisy;
  and fancy that they are exceedingly virtuous and
  praiseworthy; because they are able to deceive the world
  with regard to the extent of their means。
  Mrs。 Bute certainly thought herself one of the most
  virtuous women in England; and the sight of her happy
  family was an edifying one to strangers。  They were so
  cheerful; so loving; so well…educated; so simple!  Martha
  painted flowers exquisitely and furnished half the charity
  bazaars in the county。  Emma was a regular County Bulbul;
  and her verses in the Hampshire Telegraph were
  the glory of its Poet's Corner。  Fanny and Matilda sang
  duets together; Mamma playing the piano; and the other
  two sisters sitting with their arms round each other's waists
  and listening affectionately。  Nobody saw the poor girls
  drumming at the duets in private。  No one saw Mamma
  drilling them rigidly hour after hour。  In a word; Mrs。 Bute
  put a good face against fortune and kept up appearances
  in the most virtuous manner。
  Everything that a good and respectable mother could
  do Mrs。 Bute did。  She got over yachting men from
  Southampton; parsons from the Cathedral Close at Winchester;
  and officers from the barracks there。  She tried to inveigle
  the young barristers at assizes and encouraged Jim to
  bring home friends with whom he went out hunting with
  the H。  H。  What will not a mother do for the benefit of
  her beloved ones?
  Between such a woman and her brother…in…law; the
  odious Baronet at the Hall; it is manifest that there could
  be very little in common。  The rupture between Bute and
  his brother Sir Pitt was complete; indeed; between Sir
  Pitt and the whole county; to which the old man was a
  scandal。  His dislike for respectable society increased with
  age; and the lodge…gates had not opened to a gentleman's
  carriage…wheels since Pitt and Lady Jane came to pay their
  visit of duty after their marriage。
  That was an awful and unfortunate visit; never to be
  thought of by the family without horror。  Pitt begged his
  wife; with a ghastly countenance; never to speak of it;
  and it was only through Mrs。 Bute herself; who still
  knew everything which took place at the Hall; that the
  circumstances of Sir Pitt's reception of his son and
  daughter…in…law were ever known at all。
  As they drove up the avenue of the park in their neat
  and well…appointed carriage; Pitt remarked with dismay
  and wrath great gaps among the treeshis treeswhich
  the old Baronet was felling entirely without license。  The
  park wore an aspect of utter dreariness and ruin。  The
  drives were ill kept; and the neat carriage splashed and
  floundered in muddy pools along the road。  The great
  sweep in front of the terrace and entrance stair was
  black and covered with mosses; the once trim flower…beds
  rank and weedy。  Shutters were up along almost the
  whole line of the house; the great hall…door was unbarred
  after much ringing of the bell; an individual in ribbons
  was seen flitting up the black oak stair; as Horrocks at
  length admitted the heir of Queen's Crawley and his bride
  into the halls of their fathers。  He led the way into Sir
  Pitt's 〃Library;〃 as it was called; the fumes of tobacco
  growing stronger as Pitt and Lady Jane approached that
  apartment; 〃Sir Pitt ain't very well;〃 Horrocks remarked
  apologetically and hinted that his master was afflicted
  with lumbago。
  The library looked out on the front walk and park。
  Sir Pitt had opened one of the windows; and was bawling
  out thence to the postilion and Pitt's servant; who seemed
  to be about to take the baggage down。
  〃Don't move none of them trunks;〃 he cried; pointing
  with a pipe which he held in his hand。  〃It's only a morning
  visit; Tucker; you fool。  Lor; what cracks that off hoss
  has in his heels!  Ain't there no one at the King's Head to
  rub 'em a little? How do; Pitt? How do; my dear? Come
  to see the old man; hay? 'Gadyou've a pretty face; too。
  You ain't like that old horse…godmother; your mother。
  Come and give old Pitt a kiss; like a good little gal。〃
  The embrace disconcerted the daughter…in…law
  somewhat; as the caresses of the old gentleman; unshorn and
  perfumed with tobacco; might well do。  But she
  remembered that her brother Southdown had mustachios;
  and smoked cigars; and submitted to the Baronet with a
  tolerable grace。
  〃Pitt has got vat;〃 said the Baronet; after this mark of
  affection。  〃Does he read ee very long zermons; my dear?
  Hundredth Psalm; Evening Hymn; hay Pitt? Go and get
  a glass of Malmsey and a cake for my Lady Jane; Horrocks;
  you great big booby; and don't stand stearing there like
  a fat pig。  I won't ask you to stop; my dear; you'll find it too
  stoopid; and so should I too along a Pitt。  I'm an old man
  now; and like my own ways; and my pipe and backgammon
  of a night。〃
  〃I can play at backgammon; sir;〃 said Lady Jane;
  laughing。  〃I used to play with Papa and Miss Crawley; didn't
  I; Mr。 Crawley?〃
  〃Lady Jane can play; sir; at the game to which you
  state that you are so partial;〃 Pitt said haughtily。
  But she wawn't stop for all that。  Naw; naw; goo back
  to Mudbury and give Mrs。 Rincer a benefit; or drive down
  to the Rectory and ask Buty for a dinner。  He'll be charmed
  to see you; you know; he's so much obliged to you for
  gettin' the old woman's money。  Ha; ha!  Some of it will
  do to patch up the Hall when I'm gone。〃
  〃I perceive; sir;〃 said Pitt with a heightened voice;
  〃that your people will cut down the timber。〃
  〃Yees; yees; very fine weather; and seasonable for the
  time of year;〃 Sir Pitt answered; who had suddenly
  grown deaf。  〃But I'm gittin' old; Pitt; now。  Law bless you;
  you ain't far from fifty yourself。  But he wears well; my
  pretty Lady Jane; don't he? It's all godliness; sobriety; and
  a moral life。  Look at me; I'm not very fur from fowr…score
  he; he〃; and he laughed; and took snuff; and leered
  at her and pinched her hand。
  Pitt once more brought the conversation back to the
  timber; but the Baronet was deaf again in an instant。
  〃I'm gittin' very old; and have been cruel bad this year
  with the lumbago。  I shan't be here now for long; but I'm
  glad ee've come; daughter…in…law。  I like your face; Lady
  Jane:  it's got none of the damned high…boned Binkie look
  in it; and I'll give ee something pretty; my dear; to go to
  Court in。〃 And he shuffled across the room to a cupboard;
  from which he took a little old case containing jewels of
  some value。  〃Take that;〃 said he; 〃my dear; it belonged
  to my mother; and afterwards to the first Lady Binkie。
  Pretty pearlsnever gave 'em the ironmonger's daughter。
  No; no。  Take 'em and put 'em up quick;〃 said he; thrusting
  the case into his daughter's hand; and clapping the door of
  the cabinet to; as Horrocks entered with a salver and
  refreshments。
  〃What have you a been and given Pitt's wife?〃 said
  the individual in ribbons; when Pitt and Lady Jane had
  taken leave of the old gentleman。  It was Miss Horrocks;
  the butler's daughterthe cause of the scandal
  throughout the countythe lady who reigned now almost
  supreme at Queen's Crawley。
  The rise and progress of those Ribbons had been
  marked with dismay by the county and family。  The
  Ribbons opened an account at the Mudbury Branch Savings
  Bank; the Ribbons drove to church; monopolising the
  pony…chaise; which was for the use of the servants at
  the Hall。  The domestics were dismissed at her