vanity fair(名利场)-第162节

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neat　country　towns　where　landlords　came　out　to
welcome　him　with　smiles　and　bows；　by　pretty　roadside　inns；
where　the　signs　hung　on　the　elms；　and　horses　and
waggoners　were　drinking　under　the　chequered　shadow　of　the
trees；　by　old　halls　and　parks；　rustic　hamlets　clustered
round　ancient　grey　churchesand　through　the　charming
friendly　English　landscape。　　Is　there　any　in　the　world
like　it？　To　a　traveller　returning　home　it　looks　so　kind
it　seems　to　shake　hands　with　you　as　you　pass　through　it。
Well；　Major　Dobbin　passed　through　all　this　from
Southampton　to　London；　and　without　noting　much　beyond　the
milestones　along　the　road。　　You　see　he　was　so　eager　to
see　his　parents　at　Camberwell。
He　grudged　the　time　lost　between　Piccadilly　and　his
old　haunt　at　the　Slaughters'；　whither　he　drove　faithfully。
Long　years　had　passed　since　he　saw　it　last；　since　he　and
George；　as　young　men；　had　enjoyed　many　a　feast；　and
held　many　a　revel　there。　　He　had　now　passed　into　the
stage　of　old…fellow…hood。　　His　hair　was　grizzled；　and　many
a　passion　and　feeling　of　his　youth　had　grown　grey　in　that
interval。　　There；　however；　stood　the　old　waiter　at　the
door；　in　the　same　greasy　black　suit；　with　the　same
double　chin　and　flaccid　face；　with　the　same　huge　bunch　of
seals　at　his　fob；　rattling　his　money　in　his　pockets　as
before；　and　receiving　the　Major　as　if　he　had　gone　away
only　a　week　ago。　　〃Put　the　Major's　things　in　twenty…three；
that's　his　room；〃　John　said；　exhibiting　not　the　least
surprise。　　〃Roast　fowl　for　your　dinner；　I　suppose。　　You　ain't
got　married？　They　said　you　was　marriedthe　Scotch
surgeon　of　yours　was　here。　　No；　it　was　Captain　Humby　of
the　thirty…third；　as　was　quartered　with　the　th　in　Injee。
Like　any　warm　water？　~What　do　you　come　in　a　chay　for
ain't　the　coach　good　enough？〃　And　with　this；　the　faithful
waiter；　who　knew　and　remembered　every　officer　who
used　the　house；　and　with　whom　ten　years　were　but　as
yesterday；　led　the　way　up　to　Dobbin's　old　room；　where
stood　the　great　moreen　bed；　and　the　shabby　carpet；　a
thought　more　dingy；　and　all　the　old　black　furniture
covered　with　faded　chintz；　just　as　the　Major　recollected
them　in　his　youth。
He　remembered　George　pacing　up　and　down　the　room；
and　biting　his　nails；　and　swearing　that　the　Governor　must
come　round；　and　that　if　he　didn't；　he　didn't　care　a　straw；
on　the　day　before　he　was　married。　　He　could　fancy　him
walking　in；　banging　the　door　of　Dobbin's　room；　and　his
own　hard　by
〃You　ain't　got　young；〃　John　said；　calmly　surveying　his
friend　of　former　days。
Dobbin　laughed。　　〃Ten　years　and　a　fever　don't　make　a
man　young；　John；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　you　that　are　always
youngno；　you　are　always　old。〃
〃What　became　of　Captain　Osborne's　widow？〃　John
said。　　〃Fine　young　fellow　that。　　Lord；　how　he　used　to
spend　his　money。　　He　never　came　back　after　that　day　he
was　marched　from　here。　　He　owes　me　three　pound　at　this
minute。　　Look　here；　I　have　it　in　my　book。　　'April　10；
1815；　Captain　Osborne：　　'3pounds。'　I　wonder　whether　his
father　would　pay　me；〃　and　so　saying；　John　of　the　Slaughters'
pulled　out　the　very　morocco　pocket…book　in　which
he　had　noted　his　loan　to　the　Captain；　upon　a　greasy
faded　page　still　extant；　with　many　other　scrawled
memoranda　regarding　the　bygone　frequenters　of　the　house。
Having　inducted　his　customer　into　the　room；　John
retired　with　perfect　calmness；　and　Major　Dobbin；　not
without　a　blush　and　a　grin　at　his　own　absurdity；　chose　out　of
his　kit　the　very　smartest　and　most　becoming　civil
costume　he　possessed；　and　laughed　at　his　own　tanned　face
and　grey　hair；　as　he　surveyed　them　in　the　dreary　little
toilet…glass　on　the　dressing…table。
〃I'm　glad　old　John　didn't　forget　me；〃　he　thought。
〃She'll　know　me；　too；　I　hope。〃　And　he　sallied　out　of　the
inn；　bending　his　steps　once　more　in　the　direction　of
Brompton。
Every　minute　incident　of　his　last　meeting　with　Amelia
was　present　to　the　constant　man's　mind　as　he　walked
towards　her　house。　　The　arch　and　the　Achilles　statue　were
up　since　he　had　last　been　in　Piccadilly；　a　hundred
changes　had　occurred　which　his　eye　and　mind　vaguely
noted。　　He　began　to　tremble　as　he　walked　up　the　lane
from　Brompton；　that　well…remembered　lane　leading　to
the　street　where　she　lived。　　Was　she　going　to　be　married
or　not？　If　he　were　to　meet　her　with　the　little　boyGood
God；　what　should　he　do？　He　saw　a　woman　coming　to　him
with　a　child　of　five　years　oldwas　that　she？　He　began
to　shake　at　the　mere　possibility。　　When　he　came　up　to
the　row　of　houses；　at　last；　where　she　lived；　and　to　the
gate；　he　caught　hold　of　it　and　paused。　　He　might　have
heard　the　thumping　of　his　own　heart。　　〃May　God　Almighty
bless　her；　whatever　has　happened；〃　he　thought　to
himself。　　〃Psha！　　she　may　be　gone　from　here；〃　he　said
and　went　in　through　the　gate。
The　window　of　the　parlour　which　she　used　to　occupy
was　open；　and　there　were　no　inmates　in　the　room。　　The
Major　thought　he　recognized　the　piano；　though；　with　the
picture　over　it；　as　it　used　to　be　in　former　days；　and　his
perturbations　were　renewed。　　Mr。　Clapp's　brass　plate　was
still　on　the　door；　at　the　knocker　of　which　Dobbin
performed　a　summons。
A　buxom…looking　lass　of　sixteen；　with　bright　eyes　and
purple　cheeks；　came　to　answer　the　knock　and　looked
hard　at　the　Major　as　he　leant　back　against　the　little
porch。
He　was　as　pale　as　a　ghost　and　could　hardly　falter　out
the　words〃Does　Mrs。　Osborne　live　here？〃
She　looked　him　hard　in　the　face　for　a　momentand
then　turning　white　toosaid；　〃Lord　bless　meit's
Major　Dobbin。〃　She　held　out　both　her　hands　shaking
〃Don't　you　remember　me？〃　she　said。　　〃I　used　to　call　you
Major　Sugarplums。〃　On　which；　and　I　believe　it　was　for
the　first　time　that　he　ever　so　conducted　himself　in　his
life；　the　Major　took　the　girl　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。
She　began　to　laugh　and　cry　hysterically；　and　calling　out
〃Ma；　Pa！〃　with　all　her　voice；　brought　up　those　worthy
people；　who　had　already　been　surveying　the　Major　from
the　casement　of　the　ornamental　kitchen；　and　were
astonished　to　find　their　daughter　in　the　little　passage　in
the　embrace　of　a　great　tall　man　in　a　blue　frock…coat　and
white　duck　trousers。
〃I'm　an　old　friend；〃　he　saidnot　without　blushing
though。　　〃Don't　you　remember　me；　Mrs。　Clapp；　and　those
good　cakes　you　used　to　make　for　tea？　Don't　you　recollect
me；　Clapp？　I'm　George's　godfather；　and　just　come
back　from　India。〃　A　great　shaking　of　hands　ensued
Mrs。　Clapp　was　greatly　affected　and　delighted；　she　called
upon　heaven　to　interpose　a　vast　many　times　in　that
passage。
The　landlord　and　landlady　of　the　house　led　the　worthy
Major　into　the　Sedleys'　room　（whereof　he　remembered
every　single　article　of　furniture；　from　the　old　brass
ornamented　piano；　once　a　natty　little　instrument；　Stothard
maker；　to　the　screens　and　the　alabaster　miniature　tombstone；
in　the　midst　of　which　ticked　Mr。　Sedley's　gold
watch）；　and　there；　as　he　sat　down　in　the　lodger's　vacant
arm…chair；　the　father；　the　mother；　and　the　daughter；
with　a　thousand　ejaculatory　breaks　in　the　narrative；
informed　Major　Dobbin　of　what　we　know　already；　but　of
particulars　in　Amelia's　history　of　which　he　was　not　aware
namely　of　Mrs。　Sedley's　death；　of　George's　reconcilement
with　his　grandfather　Osborne；　of　the　way　in　which
the　widow　took　on　at　leaving　him；　and　of　other　particulars
of　her　life。　　Twice　or　thrice　he　was　going　to　ask
about　the　marriage　question；　but　his　heart　failed　him。
He　did　not　care　to　lay　it　bare　to　these　people。　　Finally；
he　was　informed　that　Mrs。　O。　　was　gone　to　walk　with　her
pa　in　Kensington　Gardens；　whither　she　always　went　with
the　old　gentleman　（who　was　very　weak　and　peevish　now；
and　led　her　a　sad　life；　though　she　behaved　to　him　like　an
angel；　to　be　sure）；　of　a　fine　afternoon；　after　dinner。
〃I'm　very　much　pressed　for　time；〃　the　Major　said；
〃and　have　business　to…night　of　importance。　　I　should　like
to　see　Mrs。　Osborne　tho'。　　Suppose　Miss　Polly　would
come　with　me　and　show　me　the　way？〃
Miss　Polly　was　charmed　and　astonished　at　this
proposal。　　She　knew　the　way。　　She　would　show　Major
Dobbin。　　She　had　often　been　with　Mr。　Sedley　when　Mrs。　O。
was　gonewas　gone　Russell　Square　wayand　knew　the
bench　where　he　liked　to　sit。　　She　bounced　away　to　her
apartment　and　appeared　presently　in　her　best　bonnet
and　her　mamma's　yellow　shawl　and　large　pebble　brooch；
of　which　she　assumed　the　loan　in　order　to　make　herself
a　worthy　companion　for　the　Major。
That　officer；　then；　in　his　blue　frock…coat　and　buckskin
gloves；　gave　the　young　lady　his　arm；　and　they　walked
away　very　gaily。　　He　was　glad　to　have　a　friend　at　hand
for　the　scene　which　he　dreaded　somehow。　　He　asked　a
thousand　more　questions　from　his　companion　about
Amelia：　　his　kind　heart　grieved　to　think　that　she　should
have　had　to　part　with　her　son。　　How　did　she　bear　it？　Did
she　see　him　often？　Was　Mr。　Sedley　pretty　comfortable
now　in　a　worldly　point　of　view？　Polly　answered　all　these
questions　of　Major　Sugarplums　to　the　very　best　of　her
power。
And　in　the　midst　of　their　walk　an　incident　occurred
which；　though　very　simple　in　its　nature；　was　productive
of　the　greatest　delight　to　Major　Dobbin。　　A　pale　young
man　with　feeble　whiskers　and　a　stiff　white　neckcloth　came
walking　down　the　lane；　en　sandwichhaving　a　lady；　that
is；　on　each　arm。　　One　was　a　tall　and　commanding　middl