vanity fair(名利场)-第152节

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him；　you　know；　and　say　that　I　was　very　fond　of　him；　and
that。　　Anddash　itold　chap；　give　him　these　gold　sleeve…
buttons：　　it's　all　I've　got。〃　He　covered　his　face　with　his
black　hands；　over　which　the　tears　rolled　and　made
furrows　of　white。　　Mr。　Macmurdo　had　also　occasion　to　take
off　his　silk　night…cap　and　rub　it　across　his　eyes。
〃Go　down　and　order　some　breakfast；〃　he　said　to　his
man　in　a　loud　cheerful　voice。　　〃What'll　you　have；　Crawley？
Some　devilled　kidneys　and　a　herringlet's　say。　　And；
Clay；　lay　out　some　dressing　things　for　the　Colonel：　　we
were　always　pretty　much　of　a　size；　Rawdon；　my　boy；　and
neither　of　us　ride　so　light　as　we　did　when　we　first
entered　the　corps。〃　With　which；　and　leaving　the　Colonel　to
dress　himself；　Macmurdo　turned　round　towards　the　wall；
and　resumed　the　perusal　of　Bell's　Life；　until　such　time　as
his　friend's　toilette　was　complete　and　he　was　at　liberty
to　commence　his　own。
This；　as　he　was　about　to　meet　a　lord；　Captain
Macmurdo　performed　with　particular　care。　　He　waxed　his
mustachios　into　a　state　of　brilliant　polish　and　put　on　a
tight　cravat　and　a　trim　buff　waistcoat；　so　that　all　the
young　officers　in　the　mess…room；　whither　Crawley　had
preceded　his　friend；　complimented　Mac　on　his　appearance
at　breakfast　and　asked　if　he　was　going　to　be　married
that　Sunday。

CHAPIER　LV
In　Which　the　Same　Subject　is　Pursued
Becky　did　not　rally　from　the　state　of　stupor　and　confusion
in　which　the　events　of　the　previous　night　had　plunged
her　intrepid　spirit　until　the　bells　of　the　Curzon　Street
Chapels　were　ringing　for　afternoon　service；　and　rising
from　her　bed　she　began　to　ply　her　own　bell；　in　order　to
summon　the　French　maid　who　had　left　her　some　hours
before。
Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　rang　many　times　in　vain；　and
though；　on　the　last　occasion；　she　rang　with　such
vehemence　as　to　pull　down　the　bell…rope；　Mademoiselle
Fifine　did　not　make　her　appearanceno；　not　though　her
mistress；　in　a　great　pet；　and　with　the　bell…rope　in　her　hand；
came　out　to　the　landing…place　with　her　hair　over　her
shoulders　and　screamed　out　repeatedly　for　her　attendant。
The　truth　is；　she　had　quitted　the　premises　for　many
hours；　and　upon　that　permission　which　is　called　French
leave　among　us　After　picking　up　the　trinkets　in　the
drawing…room；　Mademoiselle　had　ascended　to　her　own
apartments；　packed　and　corded　her　own　boxes　there；
tripped　out　and　called　a　cab　for　herself；　brought　down
her　trunks　with　her　own　hand；　and　without　ever　so　much
as　asking　the　aid　of　any　of　the　other　servants；　who　would
probably　have　refused　it；　as　they　hated　her　cordially；
and　without　wishing　any　one　of　them　good…bye；　had
made　her　exit　from　Curzon　Street。
The　game；　in　her　opinion；　was　over　in　that　little
domestic　establishment。　　Fifine　went　off　in　a　cab；　as　we
have　known　more　exalted　persons　of　her　nation　to　do
under　similar　circumstances：　　but；　more　provident　or
lucky　than　these；　she　secured　not　only　her　own　property；
but　some　of　her　mistress's　（if　indeed　that　lady　could　be
said　to　have　any　property　at　all）and　not　only　carried
off　the　trinkets　before　alluded　to；　and　some　favourite
dresses　on　which　she　had　long　kept　her　eye；　but　four
richly　gilt　Louis　Quatorze　candlesticks；　six　gilt　albums；
keepsakes；　and　Books　of　Beauty；　a　gold　enamelled
snuff…box　which　had　once　belonged　to　Madame　du　Barri；　and
the　sweetest　little　inkstand　and　mother…of…pearl　blotting
book；　which　Becky　used　when　she　composed　her　charming
little　pink　notes；　had　vanished　from　the　premises　in
Curzon　Street　together　with　Mademoiselle　Fifine；　and　all
the　silver　laid　on　the　table　for　the　little　festin　which
Rawdon　interrupted。　　The　plated　ware　Mademoiselle　left
behind　her　was　too　cumbrous；　probably　for　which
reason；　no　doubt；　she　also　left　the　fire　irons；　the
chimney…glasses；　and　the　rosewood　cottage　piano。
A　lady　very　like　her　subsequently　kept　a　milliner's
shop　in　the　Rue　du　Helder　at　Paris；　where　she　lived　with
great　credit　and　enjoyed　the　patronage　of　my　Lord
Steyne。　　This　person　always　spoke　of　England　as　of　the
most　treacherous　country　in　the　world；　and　stated　to　her
young　pupils　that　she　had　been　affreusement　vole　by
natives　of　that　island。　　It　was　no　doubt　compassion　for
her　misfortunes　which　induced　the　Marquis　of　Steyne　to
be　so　very　kind　to　Madame　de　Saint…Amaranthe。　　May
she　flourish　as　she　deservesshe　appears　no　more　in　our
quarter　of　Vanity　Fair。
Hearing　a　buzz　and　a　stir　below；　and　indignant　at　the
impudence　of　those　servants　who　would　not　answer　her
summons；　Mrs。　Crawley　flung　her　morning　robe　round
her　and　descended　majestically　to　the　drawing…room；
whence　the　noise　proceeded。
The　cook　was　there　with　blackened　face；　seated　on　the
beautiful　chintz　sofa　by　the　side　of　Mrs。　Raggles；　to　whom
she　was　administering　Maraschino。　　The　page　with　the
sugar…loaf　buttons；　who　carried　about　Becky's　pink
notes；　and　jumped　about　her　little　carriage　with　such
alacrity；　was　now　engaged　putting　his　fingers　into　a
cream　dish；　the　footman　was　talking　to　Raggles；　who
had　a　face　full　of　perplexity　and　woeand　yet；　though
the　door　was　open；　and　Becky　had　been　screaming　a
half…dozen　of　times　a　few　feet　off；　not　one　of　her
attendants　had　obeyed　her　call。　　〃Have　a　little　drop；　do'ee
now；　Mrs。　Raggles；〃　the　cook　was　saying　as　Becky
entered；　the　white　cashmere　dressing…gown　flouncing
around　her。
〃Simpson！　　Trotter！〃　the　mistress　of　the　house　cried　in
great　wrath。　　〃How　dare　you　stay　here　when　you　heard
me　call？　How　dare　you　sit　down　in　my　presence？　Where's
my　maid？〃　The　page　withdrew　his　fingers　from　his　mouth
with　a　momentary　terror；　but　the　cook　took　off　a　glass
of　Maraschino；　of　which　Mrs。　Raggles　had　had　enough；
staring　at　Becky　over　the　little　gilt　glass　as　she　drained
its　contents。　　The　liquor　appeared　to　give　the　odious　rebel
courage。
〃YOUR　sofy；　indeed！〃　Mrs。　Cook　said。　　〃I'm　a　settin'　on
Mrs。　Raggles's　sofy。　　Don't　you　stir；　Mrs。　Raggles；　Mum。
I'm　a　settin'　on　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Raggles's　sofy；　which　they
bought　with　honest　money；　and　very　dear　it　cost　'em；
too。　　And　I'm　thinkin'　if　I　set　here　until　I'm　paid　my
wages；　I　shall　set　a　precious　long　time；　Mrs。　Raggles；
and　set　I　will；　tooha！　　ha！〃　and　with　this　she　filled
herself　another　glass　of　the　liquor　and　drank　it　with　a　more
hideously　satirical　air。
〃Trotter！　　Simpson！　　turn　that　drunken　wretch　out；〃
screamed　Mrs。　Crawley。
〃I　shawn't；〃　said　Trotter　the　footman；　〃turn　out
yourself。　　Pay　our　selleries；　and　turn　me　out　too。　　WE'LL
go　fast　enough。〃
〃Are　you　all　here　to　insult　me？〃　cried　Becky　in　a　fury；
〃when　Colonel　Crawley　comes　home　I'll〃
At　this　the　servants　burst　into　a　horse　haw…haw；　in
which；　however；　Raggles；　who　still　kept　a　most　melancholy　
countenance；　did　not　join。　　〃He　ain't　a　coming　back；〃
Mr。　Trotter　resumed。　　〃He　sent　for　his　things；　and　I
wouldn't　let　'em　go；　although　Mr。　Raggles　would；　and　I
don't　b'lieve　he's　no　more　a　Colonel　than　I　am。　　He's
hoff；　and　I　suppose　you're　a　goin'　after　him。　　You're　no
better　than　swindlers；　both　on　you。　　Don't　be　a　bullyin'
ME。　　I　won't　stand　it。　　Pay　us　our　selleries；　I　say。　　Pay　us
our　selleries。〃　It　was　evident；　from　Mr。　Trotter's　flushed
countenance　and　defective　intonation；　that　he；　too；　had
had　recourse　to　vinous　stimulus。
〃Mr。　Raggles；〃　said　Becky　in　a　passion　of　vexation；
〃you　will　not　surely　let　me　be　insulted　by　that　drunken
man？〃　〃Hold　your　noise；　Trotter；　do　now；〃　said　Simpson
the　page。　　He　was　affected　by　his　mistress's　deplorable
situation；　and　succeeded　in　preventing　an　outrageous
denial　of　the　epithet　〃drunken〃　on　the　footman's　part。
〃Oh；　M'am；〃　said　Raggles；　〃I　never　thought　to　live　to
see　this　year　day：　　I've　known　the　Crawley　family　ever
since　I　was　born。　　I　lived　butler　with　Miss　Crawley　for
thirty　years；　and　I　little　thought　one　of　that　family　was
a　goin'　to　ruing　meyes；　ruing　me〃said　the　poor　fellow
with　tears　in　his　eyes。　　〃Har　you　a　goin'　to　pay　me？　You've
lived　in　this　'ouse　four　year。　　You've　'ad　my　substance：
my　plate　and　linning。　　You　ho　me　a　milk　and　butter　bill
of　two　'undred　pound；　you　must　'ave　noo　laid　heggs　for
your　homlets；　and　cream　for　your　spanil　dog。〃
〃She　didn't　care　what　her　own　flesh　and　blood　had；〃
interposed　the　cook。　　〃Many's　the　time；　he'd　have　starved
but　for　me。〃
〃He's　a　charaty…boy　now；　Cooky；〃　said　Mr。　Trotter；
with　a　drunken　〃ha！　　ha！〃and　honest　Raggles　continued；
in　a　lamentable　tone；　an　enumeration　of　his　griefs。　　All　he
said　was　true。　　Becky　and　her　husband　had　ruined　him。
He　had　bills　coming　due　next　week　and　no　means　to　meet
them。　　He　would　be　sold　up　and　turned　out　of　his　shop
and　his　house；　because　he　had　trusted　to　the　Crawley
family。　　His　tears　and　lamentations　made　Becky　more
peevish　than　ever。
〃You　all　seem　to　be　against　me；〃　she　said　bitterly。
〃What　do　you　want？　I　can't　pay　you　on　Sunday。　　Come
back　to…morrow　and　I'll　pay　you　everything。　　I　thought
Colonel　Crawley　had　settled　with　you。　　He　will　to…morrow。
I　declare　to　you　upon　my　honour　that　he　left　home　this
morning　with　fifteen　hundred　pounds　in　his　pocket…book。
He　has　left　me　nothing。　　Apply　to　him。　　Give　me　a　bonnet
and　shawl　and　let　me　go　out　and　find　him。　　There　was　a
difference　between　us　this　morning。　　You　all　seem　to
know　it。　　I　promise　you　upon　my　word　that　you　shal