第 191 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:49      字数:9322
  anxious to go to England。
  At last she took a great resolutionmade the great
  plunge。  She wrote off a letter to a friend whom she had
  on the other side of the water; a letter about which she
  did not speak a word to anybody; which she carried
  herself to the post under her shawl; nor was any remark
  made about it; only that she looked very much flushed
  and agitated when Georgy met her; and she kissed him;
  and hung over him a great deal that night。  She did not
  come out of her room after her return from her walk。
  Becky thought it was Major Loder and the Captain who
  frightened her。
  〃She mustn't stop here;〃 Becky reasoned with herself。
  〃She must go away; the silly little fool。  She is still
  whimpering after that gaby of a husbanddead (and
  served right!) these fifteen years。  She shan't marry either
  of these men。  It's too bad of Loder。  No; she shall marry
  the bamboo cane; I'll settle it this very night。〃
  So Becky took a cup of tea to Amelia in her private
  apartment and found that lady in the company of her
  miniatures; and in a most melancholy and nervous
  condition。  She laid down the cup of tea。
  〃Thank you;〃 said Amelia。
  〃Listen to me; Amelia;〃 said Becky; marching up and
  down the room before the other and surveying her with
  a sort of contemptuous kindness。  〃I want to talk to you。
  You must go away from here and from the impertinences
  of these men。  I won't have you harassed by them:  and
  they will insult you if you stay。  I tell you they are rascals:
  men fit to send to the hulks。  Never mind how I know
  them。  I know everybody。  Jos can't protect you; he is too
  weak and wants a protector himself。  You are no more fit
  to live in the world than a baby in arms。  You must marry;
  or you and your precious boy will go to ruin。  You must
  have a husband; you fool; and one of the best gentlemen
  I ever saw has offered you a hundred times; and you have
  rejected him; you silly; heartless; ungrateful little
  creature!〃
  〃I triedI tried my best; indeed I did; Rebecca;〃 said
  Amelia deprecatingly; 〃but I couldn't forget〃; and she
  finished the sentence by looking up at the portrait。
  〃Couldn't forget HIM!〃 cried out Becky; 〃that selfish
  humbug; that low…bred cockney dandy; that padded
  booby; who had neither wit; nor manners; nor heart; and
  was no more to be compared to your friend with the
  bamboo cane than you are to Queen Elizabeth。  Why;
  the man was weary of you; and would have jilted you; but
  that Dobbin forced him to keep his word。  He owned it
  to me。  He never cared for you。  He used to sneer about
  you to me; time after time; and made love to me the
  week after he married you。〃
  〃It's false!  It's false!  Rebecca;〃 cried out Amelia;
  starting up。
  〃Look there; you fool;〃 Becky said; still with provoking
  good humour; and taking a little paper out of her
  belt; she opened it and flung it into Emmy's lap。  〃You
  know his handwriting。  He wrote that to mewanted me
  to run away with himgave it me under your nose; the
  day before he was shotand served him right!〃 Becky
  repeated。
  Emmy did not hear her; she was looking at the letter。
  It was that which George had put into the bouquet and
  given to Becky on the night of the Duchess of Richmond's
  ball。  It was as she said:  the foolish young man
  had asked her to fly。
  Emmy's head sank down; and for almost the last time
  in which she shall be called upon to weep in this history;
  she commenced that work。  Her head fell to her bosom; and
  her hands went up to her eyes; and there for a while; she
  gave way to her emotions; as Becky stood on and
  regarded her。  Who shall analyse those tears and say
  whether they were sweet or bitter? Was she most grieved
  because the idol of her life was tumbled down and
  shivered at her feet; or indignant that her love had been so
  despised; or glad because the barrier was removed which
  modesty had placed between her and a new; a real affection?
  〃There is nothing to forbid me now;〃 she thought。
  〃I may love him with all my heart now。  Oh; I will; I will;
  if he will but let me and forgive me。〃 I believe it was this
  feeling rushed over all the others which agitated that
  gentle little bosom。
  Indeed; she did not cry so much as Becky expected
  the other soothed and kissed hera rare mark of
  sympathy with Mrs。 Becky。  She treated Emmy like a child
  and patted her head。  〃And now let us get pen and ink
  and write to him to come this minute;〃 she said。
  〃II wrote to him this morning;〃 Emmy said; blushing
  exceedingly。  Becky screamed with laughter〃Un
  biglietto;〃 she sang out with Rosina; 〃eccolo qua!〃the
  whole house echoed with her shrill singing。
  Two mornings after this little scene; although the day
  was rainy and gusty; and Amelia had had an exceedingly
  wakeful night; listening to the wind roaring; and pitying
  all travellers by land and by water; yet she got up early
  and insisted upon taking a walk on the Dike with Georgy;
  and there she paced as the rain beat into her face; and
  she looked out westward across the dark sea line and
  over the swollen billows which came tumbling and frothing
  to the shore。  Neither spoke much; except now and
  then; when the boy said a few words to his timid
  companion; indicative of sympathy and protection。
  〃I hope he won't cross in such weather;〃 Emmy said。
  〃I bet ten to one he does;〃 the boy answered。  〃Look;
  Mother; there's the smoke of the steamer。〃 It was that
  signal; sure enough。
  But though the steamer was under way; he might not
  be on board; he might not have got the letter; he might
  not choose to come。  A hundred fears poured one over the
  other into the little heart; as fast as the waves on to the
  Dike。
  The boat followed the smoke into sight。  Georgy had a
  dandy telescope and got the vessel under view in the most
  skilful manner。  And he made appropriate nautical
  comments upon the manner of the approach of the steamer
  as she came nearer and nearer; dipping and rising in the
  water。  The signal of an English steamer in sight went
  fluttering up to the mast on the pier。  I daresay Mrs。
  Amelia's heart was in a similar flutter。
  Emmy tried to look through the telescope over
  George's shoulder; but she could make nothing of it。
  She only saw a black eclipse bobbing up and down
  before her eyes。
  George took the glass again and raked the vessel。
  〃How she does pitch!〃 he said。  〃There goes a wave slap
  over her bows。  There's only two people on deck besides
  the steersman。  There's a man lying down; and achap
  in acloak with aHooray!it's Dob; by Jingo!〃
  He clapped to the telescope and flung his arms round
  his mother。  As for that lady; let us say what she did in
  the words of a favourite poet〃Dakruoen gelasasa。〃 She
  was sure it was William。  It could be no other。  What she
  had said about hoping that he would not come was all
  hypocrisy。  Of course he would come; what could he do
  else but come? She knew he would come。
  The ship came swiftly nearer and nearer。  As they went
  in to meet her at the landing…place at the quay; Emmy's
  knees trembled so that she scarcely could run。  She would
  have liked to kneel down and say her prayers of thanks
  there。  Oh; she thought; she would be all her life saying
  them!
  It was such a bad day that as the vessel came alongside
  of the quay there were no idlers abroad; scarcely
  even a commissioner on the look out for the few
  passengers in the steamer。  That young scapegrace George
  had fled too; and as the gentleman in the old cloak lined
  with red stuff stepped on to the shore; there was scarcely
  any one present to see what took place; which was briefly
  this:
  A lady in a dripping white bonnet and shawl; with her
  two little hands out before her; went up to him; and in
  the next minute she had altogether disappeared under the
  folds of the old cloak; and was kissing one of his hands
  with all her might; whilst the other; I suppose; was
  engaged in holding her to his heart (which her head just
  about reached) and in preventing her from tumbling
  down。  She was murmuring something aboutforgive
  dear Williamdear; dear; dearest friendkiss; kiss; kiss;
  and so forthand in fact went on under the cloak in an
  absurd manner。
  When Emmy emerged from it; she still kept tight hold
  of one of William's hands; and looked up in his face。  It
  was full of sadness and tender love and pity。  She
  understood its reproach and hung down her head。
  〃It was time you sent for me; dear Amelia;〃 he said。
  〃You will never go again; William?〃
  〃No; never;〃 he answered; and pressed the dear little
  soul once more to his heart。
  As they issued out of the custom…house precincts;
  Georgy broke out on them; with his telescope up to his
  eye; and a loud laugh of welcome; he danced round the
  couple and performed many facetious antics as he led
  them up to the house。  Jos wasn't up yet; Becky not
  visible (though she looked at them through the blinds)。
  Georgy ran off to see about breakfast。  Emmy; whose
  shawl and bonnet were off in the passage in the hands of
  Mrs。 Payne; now went to undo the clasp of William's
  cloak; andwe will; if you please; go with George; and
  look after breakfast for the Colonel。  The vessel is in port。
  He has got the prize he has been trying for all his life。
  The bird has come in at last。  There it is with its head on
  his shoulder; billing and