第 192 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:49      字数:9322
  The bird has come in at last。  There it is with its head on
  his shoulder; billing and cooing close up to his heart;
  with soft outstretched fluttering wings。  This is what he
  has asked for every day and hour for eighteen years。  This
  is what he pined after。  Here it isthe summit; the end
  the last page of the third volume。  Good…bye; Colonel
  God bless you; honest William!Farewell; dear Amelia
  Grow green again; tender little parasite; round the
  rugged old oak to which you cling!
  Perhaps it was compunction towards the kind and
  simple creature; who had been the first in life to defend
  her; perhaps it was a dislike to all such sentimental scenes
  but Rebecca; satisfied with her part in the transaction;
  never presented herself before Colonel Dobbin and the
  lady whom he married。  〃Particular business;〃 she said;
  took her to Bruges; whither she went; and only Georgy
  and his uncle were present at the marriage ceremony。
  When it was over; and Georgy had rejoined his parents;
  Mrs。 Becky returned (just for a few days) to comfort the
  solitary bachelor; Joseph Sedley。  He preferred a
  continental life; he said; and declined to join in housekeeping
  with his sister and her husband。
  Emmy was very glad in her heart to think that she
  had written to her husband before she read or knew of
  that letter of George's。  〃I knew it all along;〃 William
  said; 〃but could I use that weapon against the poor
  fellow's memory? It was that which made me suffer so
  when you〃
  〃Never speak of that day again;〃 Emmy cried out; so
  contrite and humble that William turned off the
  conversation by his account of Glorvina and dear old Peggy
  O'Dowd; with whom he was sitting when the letter of
  recall reached him。  〃If you hadn't sent for me;〃 he added
  with a laugh; 〃who knows what Glorvina's name might
  be now?〃
  At present it is Glorvina Posky (now Mrs。 Major
  Posky); she took him on the death of his first wife;
  having resolved never to marry out of the regiment。  Lady
  O'Dowd is also so attached to it that; she says; if anything
  were to happen to Mick; bedad she'd come back
  and marry some of 'em。  But the Major…General is quite
  well and lives in great splendour at O'Dowdstown; with
  a pack of beagles; and (with the exception of perhaps
  their neighbour; Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty) he is the
  first man of his county。  Her Ladyship still dances jigs; and
  insisted on standing up with the Master of the Horse at
  the Lord Lieutenant's last ball。  Both she and Glorvina
  declared that Dobbin had used the latter SHEAMFULLY; but
  Posky falling in; Glorvina was consoled; and a beautiful
  turban from Paris appeased the wrath of Lady O'Dowd。
  When Colonel Dobbin quitted the service; which he did
  immediately after his marriage; he rented a pretty little
  country place in Hampshire; not far from Queen's Crawley;
  where; after the passing of the Reform Bill; Sir Pitt
  and his family constantly resided now。  All idea of a
  Peerage was out of the question; the Baronet's two seats
  in Parliament being lost。  He was both out of pocket and
  out of spirits by that catastrophe; failed in his health;
  and prophesied the speedy ruin of the Empire。
  Lady Jane and Mrs。 Dobbin became great friends
  there was a perpetual crossing of pony…chaises between
  the Hall and the Evergreens; the Colonel's place (rented
  of his friend Major Ponto; who was abroad with his
  family)。  Her Ladyship was godmother to Mrs。 Dobbin's child;
  which bore her name; and was christened by the Rev。
  James Crawley; who succeeded his father in the living:
  and a pretty close friendship subsisted between the two
  lads; George and Rawdon; who hunted and shot together
  in the vacations; were both entered of the same college
  at Cambridge; and quarrelled with each other about Lady
  Jane's daughter; with whom they were both; of course;
  in love。  A match between George and that young lady was
  long a favourite scheme of both the matrons; though I
  have heard that Miss Crawley herself inclined towards
  her cousin。
  Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's name was never mentioned by
  either family。  There were reasons why all should be silent
  regarding her。  For wherever Mr。 Joseph Sedley went; she
  travelled likewise; and that infatuated man seemed to be
  entirely her slave。  The Colonel's lawyers informed him
  that his brother…in…law had effected a heavy insurance
  upon his life; whence it was probable that he had been
  raising money to discharge debts。  He procured prolonged
  leave of absence from the East India House; and indeed;
  his infirmities were daily increasing。
  On hearing the news about the insurance; Amelia; in
  a good deal of alarm; entreated her husband to go to
  Brussels; where Jos then was; and inquire into the state
  of his affairs。  The Colonel quitted home with reluctance
  (for he was deeply immersed in his History of the
  Punjaub which still occupies him; and much alarmed
  about his little daughter; whom he idolizes; and who was
  just recovering from the chicken…pox) and went to Brussels
  and found Jos living at one of the enormous hotels
  in that city。  Mrs。 Crawley; who had her carriage; gave
  entertainments; and lived in a very genteel manner;
  occupied another suite of apartments in the same hotel。
  The Colonel; of course; did not desire to see that lady;
  or even think proper to notify his arrival at Brussels;
  except privately to Jos by a message through his valet。  Jos
  begged the Colonel to come and see him that night; when
  Mrs。 Crawley would be at a soiree; and when they could
  meet alone。  He found his brother…in…law in a condition of
  pitiable infirmityand dreadfully afraid of Rebecca;
  though eager in his praises of her。  She tended him through
  a series of unheard…of illnesses with a fidelity most
  admirable。  She had been a daughter to him。  〃Butbut
  oh; for God's sake; do come and live near me; andand
  see me sometimes;〃 whimpered out the unfortunate
  man。
  The Colonel's brow darkened at this。  〃We can't; Jos;〃
  he said。  〃Considering the circumstances; Amelia can't
  visit you。〃
  〃I swear to youI swear to you on the Bible;〃 gasped
  out Joseph; wanting to kiss the book; 〃that she is as
  innocent as a child; as spotless as your own wife。〃
  〃It may be so;〃 said the Colonel gloomily; 〃but Emmy
  can't come to you。  Be a man; Jos:  break off this
  disreputable connection。  Come home to your family。  We hear
  your affairs are involved。〃
  〃Involved!〃 cried Jos。  〃Who has told such calumnies?
  All my money is placed out most advantageously。  Mrs。
  Crawleythat isI meanit is laid out to the best
  interest。〃
  〃You are not in debt; then? Why did you insure your
  life?〃
  〃I thoughta little present to herin case anything
  happened; and you know my health is so delicatecommon
  gratitude you knowand I intend to leave all my
  money to youand I can spare it out of my income;
  indeed I can;〃 cried out William's weak brother…in…law。
  The Colonel besought Jos to fly at onceto go back to
  India; whither Mrs。 Crawley could not follow him; to
  do anything to break off a connection which might have
  the most fatal consequences to him。
  Jos clasped his hands and cried; 〃He would go back to
  India。  He would do anything; only he must have time:
  they mustn't say anything to Mrs。 Crawleyshe'dshe'd
  kill me if she knew it。  You don't know what a terrible
  woman she is;〃 the poor wretch said。
  〃Then; why not come away with me?〃 said Dobbin in
  reply; but Jos had not the courage。  〃He would see
  Dobbin again in the morning; he must on no account say that
  he had been there。  He must go now。  Becky might come
  in。〃 And Dobbin quitted him; full of forebodings。
  He never saw Jos more。  Three months afterwards
  Joseph Sedley died at Aix…la…Chapelle。  It was found that
  all his property had been muddled away in speculations;
  and was represented by valueless shares in different
  bubble companies。  All his available assets were the two
  thousand pounds for which his life was insured; and which
  were left equally between his beloved 〃sister Amelia;
  wife of; &c。; and his friend and invaluable attendant
  during sickness; Rebecca; wife of Lieutenant…Colonel
  Rawdon Crawley; C。B。;〃 who was appointed administratrix。
  The solicitor of the insurance company swore it was
  the blackest case that ever had come before him; talked
  of sending a commission to Aix to examine into the death;
  and the Company refused payment of the policy。  But
  Mrs。; or Lady Crawley; as she styled herself; came to
  town at once (attended with her solicitors; Messrs。  Burke;
  Thurtell; and Hayes; of Thavies Inn) and dared the
  Company to refuse the payment。  They invited examination;
  they declared that she was the object of an infamous
  conspiracy; which had been pursuing her all through life;
  and triumphed finally。  The money was paid; and her
  character established; but Colonel Dobbin sent back his share
  of the legacy to the insurance office and rigidly declined to
  hold any communication with Rebecca
  She never was Lady Crawley; though she continued so
  to call herself。  His Excellency Colonel Rawdon Crawley
  died of yellow fever at Coventry Island; most deeply
  beloved and deplored; and six weeks before the demise of
  his brother; Sir Pitt。  The estate consequently devolved
  upon the present Sir Rawdon Crawley; Bart。
  He; too; has declined to see his mot