第 133 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:47      字数:9322
  person; covered with orders; and in a rich curling head of
  hairhow we sang God save him!  How the house rocked
  and shouted with that magnificent music。  How they
  cheered; and cried; and waved handkerchiefs。  Ladies
  wept; mothers clasped their children; some fainted with
  emotion。  People were suffocated in the pit; shrieks and
  groans rising up amidst the writhing and shouting mass
  there of his people who were; and indeed showed them…
  selves almost to be; ready to die for him。  Yes; we saw
  him。  Fate cannot deprive us of THAT。  Others have seen
  Napoleon。  Some few still exist who have beheld Frederick
  the Great; Doctor Johnson; Marie Antoinette; &c。be it
  our reasonable boast to our children; that we saw George
  the Good; the Magnificent; the Great。
  Well; there came a happy day in Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's
  existence when this angel was admitted into the
  paradise of a Court which she coveted; her sister…in…law
  acting as her godmother。  On the appointed day; Sir Pitt
  and his lady; in their great family carriage (just newly
  built; and ready for the Baronet's assumption of the
  office of High Sheriff of his county); drove up to the little
  house in Curzon Street; to the edification of Raggles; who
  was watching from his greengrocer's shop; and saw fine
  plumes within; and enormous bunches of flowers in the
  breasts of the new livery…coats of the footmen。
  Sir Pitt; in a glittering uniform; descended and went
  into Curzon Street; his sword between his legs。  Little
  Rawdon stood with his face against the parlour window…
  panes; smiling and nodding with all his might to his aunt
  in the carriage within; and presently Sir Pitt issued forth
  from the house again; leading forth a lady with grand
  feathers; covered in a white shawl; and holding up
  daintily a train of magnificent brocade。  She stepped into the
  vehicle as if she were a princess and accustomed all her
  life to go to Court; smiling graciously on the footman at
  the door and on Sir Pitt; who followed her into the
  carriage。
  Then Rawdon followed in his old Guards' uniform;
  which had grown woefully shabby; and was much too
  tight。  He was to have followed the procession and waited
  upon his sovereign in a cab; but that his good…natured
  sister…in…law insisted that they should be a family party。
  The coach was large; the ladies not very big; they would
  hold their trains in their lapsfinally; the four went
  fraternally together; and their carriage presently joined
  the line of royal equipages which was making its way
  down Piccadilly and St。  James's Street; towards the old
  brick palace where the Star of Brunswick was in waiting
  to receive his nobles and gentlefolks。
  Becky felt as if she could bless the people out of the
  carriage windows; so elated was she in spirit; and so
  strong a sense had she of the dignified position which
  she had at last attained in life。  Even our Becky had her
  weaknesses; and as one often sees how men pride
  themselves upon excellences which others are slow to
  perceive:  how; for instance; Comus firmly believes that he
  is the greatest tragic actor in England; how Brown; the
  famous novelist; longs to be considered; not a man of
  genius; but a man of fashion; while Robinson; the great
  lawyer; does not in the least care about his reputation in
  Westminster Hall; but believes himself incomparable
  across country and at a five…barred gateso to be; and
  to be thought; a respectable woman was Becky's aim in
  life; and she got up the genteel with amazing assiduity;
  readiness; and success。  We have said; there were times
  when she believed herself to be a fine lady and forgot
  that there was no money in the chest at homeduns
  round the gate; tradesmen to coax and wheedleno
  ground to walk upon; in a word。  And as she went to
  Court in the carriage; the family carriage; she adopted a
  demeanour so grand; self…satisfied; deliberate; and
  imposing that it made even Lady Jane laugh。  She walked
  into the royal apartments with a toss of the head which
  would have befitted an empress; and I have no doubt had
  she been one; she would have become the character
  perfectly。
  We are authorized to state that Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's
  costume de cour on the occasion of her presentation
  to the Sovereign was of the most elegant and brilliant
  description。  Some ladies we may have seenwe
  who wear stars and cordons and attend the St。  James's
  assemblies; or we; who; in muddy boots; dawdle up and
  down Pall Mall and peep into the coaches as they drive
  up with the great folks in their featherssome ladies of
  fashion; I say; we may have seen; about two o'clock of
  the forenoon of a levee day; as the laced…jacketed band
  of the Life Guards are blowing triumphal marches seated
  on those prancing music…stools; their cream…coloured
  chargerswho are by no means lovely and enticing
  objects at that early period of noon。  A stout countess of
  sixty; decolletee; painted; wrinkled with rouge up to her
  drooping eyelids; and diamonds twinkling in her wig; is a
  wholesome and edifying; but not a pleasant sight。  She
  has the faded look of a St。  James's Street illumination; as
  it may be seen of an early morning; when half the lamps
  are out; and the others are blinking wanly; as if they
  were about to vanish like ghosts before the dawn。  Such
  charms as those of which we catch glimpses while her
  ladyship's carriage passes should appear abroad at night
  alone。  If even Cynthia looks haggard of an afternoon; as
  we may see her sometimes in the present winter season;
  with Phoebus staring her out of countenance from the
  opposite side of the heavens; how much more can old
  Lady Castlemouldy keep her head up when the sun is
  shining full upon it through the chariot windows; and
  showing all the chinks and crannies with which time has
  marked her face!  No。  Drawing…rooms should be
  announced for November; or the first foggy day; or the
  elderly sultanas of our Vanity Fair should drive up in
  closed litters; descend in a covered way; and make their
  curtsey to the Sovereign under the protection of lamplight。
  Our beloved Rebecca had no need; however; of any
  such a friendly halo to set off her beauty。  Her complexion
  could bear any sunshine as yet; and her dress; though if
  you were to see it now; any present lady of Vanity Fair
  would pronounce it to be the most foolish and preposterous
  attire ever worn; was as handsome in her eyes
  and those of the public; some five…and…twenty years since;
  as the most brilliant costume of the most famous beauty
  of the present season。  A score of years hence that too;
  that milliner's wonder; will have passed into the domain
  of the absurd; along with all previous vanities。  But we
  are wandering too much。  Mrs。 Rawdon's dress was
  pronounced to be charmante on the eventful day of her
  presentation。  Even good little Lady Jane was forced to
  acknowledge this effect; as she looked at her kinswoman;
  and owned sorrowfully to herself that she was quite
  inferior in taste to Mrs。 Becky。
  She did not know how much care; thought; and genius
  Mrs。 Rawdon had bestowed upon that garment。  Rebecca
  had as good taste as any milliner in Europe; and such a
  clever way of doing things as Lady Jane little understood。
  The latter quickly spied out the magnificence of the
  brocade of Becky's train; and the splendour of the lace on
  her dress。
  The brocade was an old remnant; Becky said; and as
  for the lace; it was a great bargain。  She had had it these
  hundred years。
  〃My dear Mrs。 Crawley; it must have cost a little
  fortune;〃 Lady Jane said; looking down at her own lace;
  which was not nearly so good; and then examining the
  quality of the ancient brocade which formed the
  material of Mrs。 Rawdon's Court dress; she felt inclined to
  say that she could not afford such fine clothing; but
  checked that speech; with an effort; as one uncharitable
  to her kinswoman。
  And yet; if Lady Jane had known all; I think even her
  kindly temper would have failed her。  The fact is; when
  she was putting Sir Pitt's house in order; Mrs。 Rawdon
  had found the lace and the brocade in old wardrobes;
  the property of the former ladies of the house; and had
  quietly carried the goods home; and had suited them to
  her own little person。  Briggs saw her take them; asked
  no questions; told no stories; but I believe quite
  sympathised with her on this matter; and so would
  many another honest woman。
  And the diamonds〃Where the doose did you get the
  diamonds; Becky?〃 said her husband; admiring some
  jewels which he had never seen before and which sparkled
  in her ears and on her neck with brilliance and profusion。
  Becky blushed a little and looked at him hard for a
  moment。  Pitt Crawley blushed a little too; and looked
  out of window。  The fact is; he had given her a very
  small portion of the brilliants; a pretty diamond clasp;
  which confined a pearl necklace which she wore… and the
  Baronet had omitted to mention the circumstance to
  his lady。
  Becky looked at her husband; and then at Sir Pitt;
  with an air of saucy triumphas much as to say; 〃Shall
  I betray you?〃
  〃Guess!〃 she said to her husband。  〃Why; you silly
  man;〃 she continued; 〃where do you suppose I got them?
  all except the little clasp; which a dear friend of mine
  gave me long ago。  I hired them; to be su