vanity fair(名利场)-第134节

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all　except　the　little　clasp；　which　a　dear　friend　of　mine
gave　me　long　ago。　　I　hired　them；　to　be　sure。　　I　hired　them
at　Mr。　Polonius's；　in　Coventry　Street。　　You　don't　suppose
that　all　the　diamonds　which　go　to　Court　belong　to　the
wearers；　like　those　beautiful　stones　which　Lady　Jane　has；
and　which　are　much　handsomer　than　any　which　I　have；
I　am　certain。〃
〃They　are　family　jewels；〃　said　Sir　Pitt；　again　looking
uneasy。　　And　in　this　family　conversation　the　carriage
rolled　down　the　street；　until　its　cargo　was　finally
discharged　at　the　gates　of　the　palace　where　the　Sovereign
was　sitting　in　state。
The　diamonds；　which　had　created　Rawdon's　admiration；
never　went　back　to　Mr。　Polonius；　of　Coventry　Street；　and
that　gentleman　never　applied　for　their　restoration；　but
they　retired　into　a　little　private　repository；　in　an　old　desk；
which　Amelia　Sedley　had　given　her　years　and　years　ago；
and　in　which　Becky　kept　a　number　of　useful　and；
perhaps；　valuable　things；　about　which　her　husband
knew　nothing。　　To　know　nothing；　or　little；　is　in　the
nature　of　some　husbands。　　To　hide；　in　the　nature　of　how
many　women？　Oh；　ladies！　how　many　of　you　have
surreptitious　milliners'　bills？　How　many　of　you　have　gowns
and　bracelets　which　you　daren't　show；　or　which　you　wear
trembling？trembling；　and　coaxing　with　smiles　the
husband　by　your　side；　who　does　not　know　the　new　velvet
gown　from　the　old　one；　or　the　new　bracelet　from　last
year's；　or　has　any　notion　that　the　ragged…looking　yellow
lace　scarf　cost　forty　guineas　and　that　Madame　Bobinot　is
writing　dunning　letters　every　week　for　the　money！
Thus　Rawdon　knew　nothing　about　the　brilliant　diamond
ear…rings；　or　the　superb　brilliant　ornament　which
decorated　the　fair　bosom　of　his　lady；　but　Lord　Steyne；
who　was　in　his　place　at　Court；　as　Lord　of　the　Powder
Closet；　and　one　of　the　great　dignitaries　and　illustrious
defences　of　the　throne　of　England；　and　came　up　with　all
his　stars；　garters；　collars；　and　cordons；　and　paid　particular
attention　to　the　little　woman；　knew　whence　the　jewels
came　and　who　paid　for　them。
As　he　bowed　over　her　he　smiled；　and　quoted　the
hackneyed　and　beautiful　lines　from　The　Rape　of　the　Lock
about　Belinda's　diamonds；　〃which　Jews　might　kiss　and
infidels　adore。〃
〃But　I　hope　your　lordship　is　orthodox；〃　said　the　little
lady　with　a　toss　of　her　head。　　And　many　ladies　round
about　whispered　and　talked；　and　many　gentlemen　nodded
and　whispered；　as　they　saw　what　marked　attention　the
great　nobleman　was　paying　to　the　little　adventuress。
What　were　the　circumstances　of　the　interview　between
Rebecca　Crawley；　nee　Sharp；　and　her　Imperial　Master；
it　does　not　become　such　a　feeble　and　inexperienced　pen
as　mine　to　attempt　to　relate。　　The　dazzled　eyes　close
before　that　Magnificent　Idea。　　Loyal　respect　and　decency　tell
even　the　imagination　not　to　look　too　keenly　and　audaciously
about　the　sacred　audience…chamber；　but　to　back　away
rapidly；　silently；　and　respectfully；　making　profound
bows　out　of　the　August　Presence。
This　may　be　said；　that　in　all　London　there　was　no
more　loyal　heart　than　Becky's　after　this　interview。　　The
name　of　her　king　was　always　on　her　lips；　and　he　was
proclaimed　by　her　to　be　the　most　charming　of　men。　　She
went　to　Colnaghi's　and　ordered　the　finest　portrait　of　him
that　art　had　produced；　and　credit　could　supply。　　She　chose
that　famous　one　in　which　the　best　of　monarchs　is
represented　in　a　frock…coat　with　a　fur　collar；　and　breeches
and　silk　stockings；　simpering　on　a　sofa　from　under　his
curly　brown　wig。　　She　had　him　painted　in　a　brooch　and
wore　itindeed　she　amused　and　somewhat　pestered　her
acquaintance　with　her　perpetual　talk　about　his　urbanity
and　beauty。　　Who　knows！　　Perhaps　the　little　woman
thought　she　might　play　the　part　of　a　Maintenon　or　a
Pompadour。
But　the　finest　sport　of　all　after　her　presentation　was　to
hear　her　talk　virtuously。　　She　had　a　few　female　acquaintances；
not；　it　must　be　owned；　of　the　very　highest　reputation
in　Vanity　Fair。　　But　being　made　an　honest　woman　of；
so　to　speak；　Becky　would　not　consort　any　longer　with
these　dubious　ones；　and　cut　Lady　Crackenbury　when　the
latter　nodded　to　her　from　her　opera…box；　and　gave　Mrs。
Washington　White　the　go…by　in　the　Ring。　　〃One　must；　my
dear；　show　one　is　somebody；〃　she　said。　　〃One　mustn't　be
seen　with　doubtful　people。　　I　pity　Lady　Crackenbury　from
my　heart；　and　Mrs。　Washington　White　may　be　a　very
good…natured　person。　　YOU　may　go　and　dine　with　them；
as　you　like　your　rubber。　　But　I　mustn't；　and　won't；　and
you　will　have　the　goodness　to　tell　Smith　to　say　I　am　not
at　home　when　either　of　them　calls。〃
The　particulars　of　Becky's　costume　were　in　the　newspapers
feathers；　lappets；　superb　diamonds；　and　all　the
rest。　　Lady　Crackenbury　read　the　paragraph　in　bitterness
of　spirit　and　discoursed　to　her　followers　about　the　airs
which　that　woman　was　giving　herself。　　Mrs。　Bute　Crawley
and　her　young　ladies　in　the　country　had　a　copy　of　the
Morning　Post　from　town；　and　gave　a　vent　to　their　honest
indignation。　　〃If　you　had　been　sandy…haired；　green…eyed；
and　a　French　rope…dancer's　daughter；〃　Mrs。　Bute　said
to　her　eldest　girl　（who；　on　the　contrary；　was　a　very
swarthy；　short；　and　snub…nosed　young　lady）；　〃You　might
have　had　superb　diamonds　forsooth；　and　have　been
presented　at　Court　by　your　cousin；　the　Lady　Jane。　　But　you're
only　a　gentlewoman；　my　poor　dear　child。　　You　have　only
some　of　the　best　blood　in　England　in　your　veins；　and
good　principles　and　piety　for　your　portion。　　I；　myself；
the　wife　of　a　Baronet's　younger　brother；　too；　never
thought　of　such　a　thing　as　going　to　Courtnor　would
other　people；　if　good　Queen　Charlotte　had　been　alive。〃
In　this　way　the　worthy　Rectoress　consoled　herself；　and
her　daughters　sighed　and　sat　over　the　Peerage　all　night。
A　few　days　after　the　famous　presentation；　another
great　and　exceeding　honour　was　vouchsafed　to　the
virtuous　Becky。　　Lady　Steyne's　carriage　drove　up　to　Mr。
Rawdon　Crawley's　door；　and　the　footman；　instead　of　driving
down　the　front　of　the　house；　as　by　his　tremendous
knocking　he　appeared　to　be　inclined　to　do；　relented　and　only
delivered　in　a　couple　of　cards；　on　which　were　engraven
the　names　of　the　Marchioness　of　Steyne　and　the
Countess　of　Gaunt。　　If　these　bits　of　pasteboard　had　been
beautiful　pictures；　or　had　had　a　hundred　yards　of　Malines　lace
rolled　round　them；　worth　twice　the　number　of　guineas；
Becky　could　not　have　regarded　them　with　more　pleasure。
You　may　be　sure　they　occupied　a　conspicuous　place　in
the　china　bowl　on　the　drawing…room　table；　where　Becky
kept　the　cards　of　her　visitors。　　Lord！　lord！　how　poor
Mrs。　Washington　White's　card　and　Lady　Crackenbury's
cardwhich　our　little　friend　had　been　glad　enough　to
get　a　few　months　back；　and　of　which　the　silly　little
creature　was　rather　proud　onceLord！　lord！　I　say；　how　soon
at　the　appearance　of　these　grand　court　cards；　did　those
poor　little　neglected　deuces　sink　down　to　the　bottom　of
the　pack。　　Steyne！　　Bareacres；　Johnes　of　Helvellyn！　　and
Caerylon　of　Camelot！　we　may　be　sure　that　Becky　and
Briggs　looked　out　those　august　names　in　the　Peerage；
and　followed　the　noble　races　up　through　all　the
ramifications　of　the　family　tree。
My　Lord　Steyne　coming　to　call　a　couple　of　hours
afterwards；　and　looking　about　him；　and　observing
everything　as　was　his　wont；　found　his　ladies'　cards　already
ranged　as　the　trumps　of　Becky's　hand；　and　grinned；　as
this　old　cynic　always　did　at　any　naive　display　of　human
weakness。　　Becky　came　down　to　him　presently；　whenever
the　dear　girl　expected　his　lordship；　her　toilette　was
prepared；　her　hair　in　perfect　order；　her　mouchoirs；　aprons；
scarfs；　little　morocco　slippers；　and　other　female
gimcracks　arranged；　and　she　seated　in　some　artless　and
agreeable　posture　ready　to　receive　himwhenever　she
was　surprised；　of　course；　she　had　to　fly　to　her　apartment
to　take　a　rapid　survey　of　matters　in　the　glass；　and
to　trip　down　again　to　wait　upon　the　great　peer。
She　found　him　grinning　over　the　bowl。　　She　was
discovered；　and　she　blushed　a　little。　　〃Thank　you；
Monseigneur；〃　she　said。　　〃You　see　your　ladies　have
been　here。　　How　good　of　you！　　I　couldn't　come　before
I　was　in　the　kitchen　making　a　pudding。〃
〃I　know　you　were；　I　saw　you　through　the　area…railings
as　I　drove　up；〃　replied　the　old　gentleman。
〃You　see　everything；〃　she　replied。
〃A　few　things；　but　not　that；　my　pretty　lady；〃　he　said
good…naturedly。　　〃You　silly　little　fibster！　　I　heard　you　in
the　room　overhead；　where　I　have　no　doubt　you　were
putting　a　little　rouge　onyou　must　give　some　of　yours　to
my　Lady　Gaunt；　whose　complexion　is　quite　preposterous
and　I　heard　the　bedroom　door　open；　and　then　you
came　downstairs。〃
〃Is　it　a　crime　to　try　and　look　my　best　when　YOU　come
here？〃　answered　Mrs。　Rawdon　plaintively；　and　she　rubbed
her　cheek　with　her　handkerchief　as　if　to　show　there　was
no　rouge　at　all；　only　genuine　blushes　and　modesty　in　her
case。　　About　this　who　can　tell？　I　know　there　is　some
rouge　that　won't　come　off　on　a　pocket…handkerchief；
and　some　so　good　that　even　tears　will　not　disturb　it。
〃Well；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　twiddling　round　his
wife's　card；　〃you　are　bent　on　becoming　a　fine　lady。
You　pester　my　poor　old　life　out　to　get　you　into　the
world。　　You　won't　be　able　to　hold　your　own　there；　you
silly　little　fool。　　You