vanity fair(名利场)-第149节

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carried　away　Rawdon　from　the　bailiff's　house；　and　they
went　homewards　in　the　cab　in　which　she　had　hastened
to　his　release。　　〃Pitt　was　gone　to　a　parliamentary　dinner；〃
she　said；　〃when　Rawdon's　note　came；　and　so；　dear
Rawdon；　II　came　myself〃；　and　she　put　her　kind　hand　in
his。　　Perhaps　it　was　well　for　Rawdon　Crawley　that　Pitt
was　away　at　that　dinner。　　Rawdon　thanked　his　sister　a
hundred　times；　and　with　an　ardour　of　gratitude　which
touched　and　almost　alarmed　that　soft…hearted　woman。
〃Oh；〃　said　he；　in　his　rude；　artless　way；　〃youyou　don't
know　how　I'm　changed　since　I've　known　you；　andand
little　Rawdy。　　II'd　like　to　change　somehow。　　You　see
I　wantI　wantto　be〃　He　did…　not　finish　the
sentence；　but　she　could　interpret　it。　　And　that　night　after　he
left　her；　and　as　she　sat　by　her　own　little　boy's　bed；　she
prayed　humbly　for　that　poor　way…worn　sinner。
Rawdon　left　her　and　walked　home　rapidly。　　It　was　nine
o'clock　at　night。　　He　ran　across　the　streets　and　the　great
squares　of　Vanity　Fair；　and　at　length　came　up　breathless
opposite　his　own　house。　　He　started　back　and　fell　against
the　railings；　trembling　as　he　looked　up。　　The　drawing…
room　windows　were　blazing　with　light。　　She　had　said　that
she　was　in　bed　and　ill。　　He　stood　there　for　some　time；
the　light　from　the　rooms　on　his　pale　face。
He　took　out　his　door…key　and　let　himself　into　the
house。　　He　could　hear　laughter　in　the　upper　rooms。　　He
was　in　the　ball…dress　in　which　he　had　been　captured　the
night　before。　　He　went　silently　up　the　stairs；　leaning
against　the　banisters　at　the　stair…head。　　Nobody　was
stirring　in　the　house　besidesall　the　servants　had　been　sent
away。　　Rawdon　heard　laughter　withinlaughter　and　singing。
Becky　was　singing　a　snatch　of　the　song　of　the　night
before；　a　hoarse　voice　shouted　〃Brava！　　Brava！〃it　was
Lord　Steyne's。
Rawdon　opened　the　door　and　went　in。　　A　little　table
with　a　dinner　was　laid　outand　wine　and　plate。　　Steyne
was　hanging　over　the　sofa　on　which　Becky　sat。　　The
wretched　woman　was　in　a　brilliant　full　toilette；　her　arms
and　all　her　fingers　sparkling　with　bracelets　and　rings；
and　the　brilliants　on　her　breast　which　Steyne　had　given
her。　　He　had　her　hand　in　his；　and　was　bowing　over　it
to　kiss　it；　when　Becky　started　up　with　a　faint　scream
as　she　caught　sight　of　Rawdon's　white　face。　　At　the　next
instant　she　tried　a　smile；　a　horrid　smile；　as　if　to
welcome　her　husband；　and　Steyne　rose　up；　grinding
his　teeth；　pale；　and　with　fury　in　his　looks。
He；　too；　attempted　a　laughand　came　forward　holding
out　his　hand。　　〃What；　come　back！　　How　d'ye　do；　Crawley？〃
he　said；　the　nerves　of　his　mouth　twitching　as　he
tried　to　grin　at　the　intruder。
There　was　that　in　Rawdon's　face　which　caused　Becky
to　fling　herself　before　him。　　〃I　am　innocent；　Rawdon；〃
she　said；　〃before　God；　I　am　innocent。〃　She　clung　hold
of　his　coat；　of　his　hands；　her　own　were　all　covered　with
serpents；　and　rings；　and　baubles。　　〃I　am　innocent。　　Say　I
am　innocent；〃　she　said　to　Lord　Steyne。
He　thought　a　trap　had　been　laid　for　him；　and　was　as
furious　with　the　wife　as　with　the　husband。　　〃You
innocent！　　Damn　you；〃　he　screamed　out。　　〃You　innocent！　　Why
every　trinket　you　have　on　your　body　is　paid　for　by　me。
I　have　given　you　thousands　of　pounds；　which　this　fellow
has　spent　and　for　which　he　has　sold　you。　　Innocent；
by　！　　You're　as　innocent　as　your　mother；　the　ballet…
girl；　and　your　husband　the　bully。　　Don't　think　to　frighten
me　as　you　have　done　others。　　Make　way；　sir；　and　let　me
pass〃；　and　Lord　Steyne　seized　up　his　hat；　and；　with
flame　in　his　eyes；　and　looking　his　enemy　fiercely　in　the
face；　marched　upon　him；　never　for　a　moment　doubting
that　the　other　would　give　way。
But　Rawdon　Crawley　springing　out；　seized　him　by　the
neckcloth；　until　Steyne；　almost　strangled；　writhed　and
bent　under　his　arm。　　〃You　lie；　you　dog！〃　said　Rawdon。
〃You　lie；　you　coward　and　villain！〃　And　he　struck　the
Peer　twice　over　the　face　with　his　open　hand　and　flung
him　bleeding　to　the　ground。　　It　was　all　done　before
Rebecca　could　interpose。　　She　stood　there　trembling　before
him。　　She　admired　her　husband；　strong；　brave；　and
victorious。
〃Come　here；〃　he　said。　　She　came　up　at　once。
〃Take　off　those　things。〃　She　began；　trembling；　pulling
the　jewels　from　her　arms；　and　the　rings　from　her　shaking
fingers；　and　held　them　all　in　a　heap；　quivering　and　looking
up　at　him。　　〃Throw　them　down；〃　he　said；　and　she
dropped　them。　　He　tore　the　diamond　ornament　out　of　her
breast　and　flung　it　at　Lord　Steyne。　　It　cut　him　on　his
bald　forehead。　　Steyne　wore　the　scar　to　his　dying　day。
〃Come　upstairs；〃　Rawdon　said　to　his　wife。　　〃Don't　kill
me；　Rawdon；〃　she　said。　　He　laughed　savagely。　　〃I　want
to　see　if　that　man　lies　about　the　money　as　he　has　about
me。　　Has　he　given　you　any？〃
〃No；〃　said　Rebecca；　〃that　is〃
〃Give　me　your　keys；〃　Rawdon　answered；　and　they
went　out　together。
Rebecca　gave　him　all　the　keys　but　one；　and　she　was　in
hopes　that　he　would　not　have　remarked　the　absence　of
that。　　It　belonged　to　the　little　desk　which　Amelia　had
given　her　in　early　days；　and　which　she　kept　in　a　secret
place。　　But　Rawdon　flung　open　boxes　and　wardrobes；
throwing　the　multifarious　trumpery　of　their　contents　here
and　there；　and　at　last　he　found　the　desk。　　The　woman　was
forced　to　open　it。　　It　contained　papers；　love…letters　many
years　oldall　sorts　of　small　trinkets　and　woman's
memoranda。　　And　it　contained　a　pocket…book　with　bank…notes。
Some　of　these　were　dated　ten　years　back；　too；　and　one
was　quite　a　fresh　onea　note　for　a　thousand　pounds
which　Lord　Steyne　had　given　her。
〃Did　he　give　you　this？〃　Rawdon　said。
〃Yes；〃　Rebecca　answered。
〃I'll　send　it　to　him　to…day；〃　Rawdon　said　（for　day　had
dawned　again；　and　many　hours　had　passed　in　this　search）；
〃and　I　will　pay　Briggs；　who　was　kind　to　the　boy；　and
some　of　the　debts。　　You　will　let　me　know　where　I　shall
send　the　rest　to　you。　　You　might　have　spared　me　a
hundred　pounds；　Becky；　out　of　all　thisI　have　always
shared　with　you。〃
〃I　am　innocent；〃　said　Becky。　　And　he　left　her　without
another　word。
What　were　her　thoughts　when　he　left　her？　She
remained　for　hours　after　he　was　gone；　the　sunshine
pouring　into　the　room；　and　Rebecca　sitting　alone　on　the
bed's　edge。　　The　drawers　were　all　opened　and　their　contents
scattered　aboutdresses　and　feathers；　scarfs　and　trinkets；
a　heap　of　tumbled　vanities　lying　in　a　wreck。　　Her　hair
was　falling　over　her　shoulders；　her　gown　was　torn　where
Rawdon　had　wrenched　the　brilliants　out　of　it。　　She　heard
him　go　downstairs　a　few　minutes　after　he　left　her；　and
the　door　slamming　and　closing　on　him。　　She　knew　he
would　never　come　back。　　He　was　gone　forever。　　Would
he　kill　himself？she　thoughtnot　until　after　he　had
met　Lord　Steyne。　　She　thought　of　her　long　past　life；　and
all　the　dismal　incidents　of　it。　　Ah；　how　dreary　it　seemed；
how　miserable；　lonely　and　profitless！　　Should　she　take
laudanum；　and　end　it；　to　have　done　with　all　hopes；
schemes；　debts；　and　triumphs？　The　French　maid　found
her　in　this　positionsitting　in　the　midst　of　her　miserable
ruins　with　clasped　hands　and　dry　eyes。　　The　woman　was
her　accomplice　and　in　Steyne's　pay。　　〃Mon　Dieu；
madame；　what　has　happened？〃　she　asked。
What　had　happened？　Was　she　guilty　or　not？　She　said
not；　but　who　could　tell　what　was　truth　which　came　from
those　lips；　or　if　that　corrupt　heart　was　in　this　case　pure？
All　her　lies　and　her　schemes；　an　her　selfishness　and　her
wiles；　all　her　wit　and　genius　had　come　to　this
bankruptcy。　　The　woman　closed　the　curtains　and；　with　some
entreaty　and　show　of　kindness；　persuaded　her　mistress
to　lie　down　on　the　bed。　　Then　she　went　below　and
gathered　up　the　trinkets　which　had　been　lying　on　the　floor
since　Rebecca　dropped　them　there　at　her　husband's
orders；　and　Lord　Steyne　went　away。

CHAPTER　LIV
Sunday　After　the　Battle
The　mansion　of　Sir　Pitt　Crawley；　in　Great　Gaunt　Street；
was　just　beginning　to　dress　itself　for　the　day；　as　Rawdon；
in　his　evening　costume；　which　he　had　now　worn
two　days；　passed　by　the　scared　female　who　was　scouring
the　steps　and　entered　into　his　brother's　study。　　Lady
Jane；　in　her　morning…gown；　was　up　and　above　stairs　in
the　nursery　superintending　the　toilettes　of　her　children
and　listening　to　the　morning　prayers　which　the　little
creatures　performed　at　her　knee。　　Every　morning　she　and
they　performed　this　duty　privately；　and　before　the　public
ceremonial　at　which　Sir　Pitt　presided　and　at　which　all　the
people　of　the　household　were　expected　to　assemble。
Rawdon　sat　down　in　the　study　before　the　Baronet's　table；
set　out　with　the　orderly　blue　books　and　the　letters；　the
neatly　docketed　bills　and　symmetrical　pamphlets；　the
locked　account…books；　desks；　and　dispatch　boxes；　the
Bible；　the　Quarterly　Review；　and　the　Court　Guide；　which
all　stood　as　if　on　parade　awaiting　the　inspection　of　their
chief。
A　book　of　family　sermons；　one　of　which　Sir　Pitt　was
in　the　habit　of　administering　to　his　family　on　Sunday
mornings；　lay　ready　on　the　study　table；　and　awaiting　his
judicious　selection。　　And　by　the　sermon…book　was　the
Observer　newspaper；　damp　and　neatly　folded；　and　for
Sir　Pitt's　own　private　use。　　His　gentleman　alone　took　the
opportunity　of　perusing　the　newspaper　before　he　laid　it
by　his　master's　desk。　　Before　he　had　brought　it　into　the
study　that　morning；　he　had　rea