vanity fair(名利场)-第19节

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very　stingy；　avaricious　person。　　He　never　gives　any　money
to　anybody；　they　said　（and　this　meanness　I　hate）；　and
the　young　gentleman　made　me　remark　that　we　drove
very　slow　for　the　last　two　stages　on　the　road；　because
Sir　Pitt　was　on　the　box；　and　because　he　is　proprietor
of　the　horses　for　this　part　of　the　journey。　　〃But　won't　I
flog　'em　on　to　Squashmore；　when　I　take　the　ribbons？〃
said　the　young　Cantab。　　〃And　sarve　'em　right；　Master
Jack；〃　said　the　guard。　　When　I　comprehended　the
meaning　of　this　phrase；　and　that　Master　Jack　intended　to
drive　the　rest　of　the　way；　and　revenge　himself　on　Sir
Pitt's　horses；　of　course　I　laughed　too。
　　
A　carriage　and　four　splendid　horses；　covered　with
armorial　bearings；　however；　awaited　us　at　Mudbury；
four　miles　from　Queen's　Crawley；　and　we　made　our
entrance　to　the　baronet's　park　in　state。　　There　is　a　fine
avenue　of　a　mile　long　leading　to　the　house；　and　the　woman
at　the　lodge…gate　（over　the　pillars　of　which　are　a　serpent
and　a　dove；　the　supporters　of　the　Crawley　arms）；　made
us　a　number　of　curtsies　as　she　flung　open　the　old　iron
carved　doors；　which　are　something　like　those　at　odious
Chiswick。
　　
〃There's　an　avenue；〃　said　Sir　Pitt；　〃a　mile　long。
There's　six　thousand　pound　of　timber　in　them　there
trees。　　Do　you　call　that　nothing？〃　He　pronounced　avenue
EVENUE；　and　nothingNOTHINK；　so　droll；　and　he　had
a　Mr。　Hodson；　his　hind　from　Mudbury；　into　the　carriage
with　him；　and　they　talked　about　distraining；　and　selling
up；　and　draining　and　subsoiling；　and　a　great　deal　about
tenants　and　farmingmuch　more　than　I　could
understand。　　Sam　Miles　had　been　caught　poaching；　and　Peter
Bailey　had　gone　to　the　workhouse　at　last。　　〃Serve　him
right；〃　said　Sir　Pitt；　〃him　and　his　family　has　been
cheating　me　on　that　farm　these　hundred　and　fifty　years。〃
Some　old　tenant；　I　suppose；　who　could　not　pay　his　rent。
Sir　Pitt　might　have　said　〃he　and　his　family；〃　to　be　sure；
but　rich　baronets　do　not　need　to　be　careful　about
grammar；　as　poor　governesses　must　be。
　　
As　we　passed；　I　remarked　a　beautiful　church…spire
rising　above　some　old　elms　in　the　park；　and　before　them；
in　the　midst　of　a　lawn；　and　some　outhouses；　an　old　red
house　with　tall　chimneys　covered　with　ivy；　and　the
windows　shining　in　the　sun。　　〃Is　that　your　church；　sir？〃
I　said。
　　
〃Yes；　hang　it；〃　（said　Sir　Pitt；　only　he　used；　dear；　A　MUCH
WICKEDER　WORD）；　〃how's　Buty；　Hodson？　Buty's　my
brother　Bute；　my　dearmy　brother　the　parson。　　Buty　and
the　Beast　I　call　him；　ha；　ha！〃
　　
Hodson　laughed　too；　and　then　looking　more　grave
and　nodding　his　head；　said；　〃I'm　afraid　he's　better；　Sir
Pitt。　　He　was　out　on　his　pony　yesterday；　looking　at　our
corn。〃
　　
〃Looking　after　his　tithes；　hang'un　（only　he　used　the
same　wicked　word）。　　Will　brandy　and　water　never　kill
him？　He's　as　tough　as　old　whatdyecallumold
Methusalem。〃
　　
Mr。　Hodson　laughed　again。　　〃The　young　men　is　home
from　college。　　They've　whopped　John　Scroggins　till　he's
well　nigh　dead。〃
　　
〃Whop　my　second　keeper！〃　roared　out　Sir　Pitt。
　　
〃He　was　on　the　parson's　ground；　sir；〃　replied　Mr。
Hodson；　and　Sir　Pitt　in　a　fury　swore　that　if　he　ever　caught
'em　poaching　on　his　ground；　he'd　transport　'em；　by　the
lord　he　would。　　However；　he　said；　〃I've　sold　the
presentation　of　the　living；　Hodson；　none　of　that　breed
shall　get　it；　I　war'nt〃；　and　Mr。　Hodson　said　he　was　quite　right：
and　I　have　no　doubt　from　this　that　the　two　brothers　are
at　varianceas　brothers　often　are；　and　sisters　too。　　Don't
you　remember　the　two　Miss　Scratchleys　at　Chiswick；
how　they　used　always　to　fight　and　quarreland　Mary
Box；　how　she　was　always　thumping　Louisa？
　　
Presently；　seeing　two　little　boys　gathering　sticks　in　the
wood；　Mr。　Hodson　jumped　out　of　the　carriage；　at　Sir
Pitt's　order；　and　rushed　upon　them　with　his　whip。　　〃Pitch
into　'em；　Hodson；〃　roared　the　baronet；　〃flog　their　little
souls　out；　and　bring　'em　up　to　the　house；　the　vagabonds；
I'll　commit　'em　as　sure　as　my　name's　Pitt。〃　And　presently
we　heard　Mr。　Hodson's　whip　cracking　on　the
shoulders　of　the　poor　little　blubbering　wretches；　and
Sir　Pitt；　seeing　that　the　malefactors　were　in　custody；
drove　on　to　the　hall。
All　the　servants　were　ready　to　meet　us；　and
。　。　。
Here；　my　dear；　I　was　interrupted　last　night　by　a
dreadful　thumping　at　my　door：　and　who　do　you　think　it
was？　Sir　Pitt　Crawley　in　his　night…cap　and　dressing…
gown；　such　a　figure！　As　I　shrank　away　from　such　a
visitor；　he　came　forward　and　seized　my　candle。　　〃No
candles　after　eleven　o'clock；　Miss　Becky；〃　said　he。　　〃Go　to
bed　in　the　dark；　you　pretty　little　hussy〃　（that　is　what
he　called　me）；　〃and　unless　you　wish　me　to　come　for　the
candle　every　night；　mind　and　be　in　bed　at　eleven。〃　And
with　this；　he　and　Mr。　Horrocks　the　butler　went　off
laughing。　　You　may　be　sure　I　shall　not　encourage　any　more
of　their　visits。　　They　let　loose　two　immense　bloodhounds
at　night；　which　all　last　night　were　yelling　and　howling
at　the　moon。　　〃I　call　the　dog　Gorer；〃　said　Sir　Pitt；　〃he's
killed　a　man　that　dog　has；　and　is　master　of　a　bull；　and
the　mother　I　used　to　call　Flora；　but　now　I　calls　her
Aroarer；　for　she's　too　old　to　bite。　　Haw；　haw！〃
　　
Before　the　house　of　Queen's　Crawley；　which　is　an
odious　old…fashioned　red　brick　mansion；　with　tall
chimneys　and　gables　of　the　style　of　Queen　Bess；　there　is　a
terrace　flanked　by　the　family　dove　and　serpent；　and　on
which　the　great　hall…door　opens。　　And　oh；　my　dear；　the
great　hall　I　am　sure　is　as　big　and　as　glum　as　the　great
hall　in　the　dear　castle　of　Udolpho。　　It　has　a　large
fireplace；　in　which　we　might　put　half　Miss　Pinkerton's
school；　and　the　grate　is　big　enough　to　roast　an　ox　at　the
very　least。　　Round　the　room　hang　I　don't　know　how
many　generations　of　Crawleys；　some　with　beards　and
ruffs；　some　with　huge　wigs　and　toes　turned　out；　some
dressed　in　long　straight　stays　and　gowns　that　look　as
stiff　as　towers；　and　some　with　long　ringlets；　and　oh；　my
dear！　scarcely　any　stays　at　all。　　At　one　end　of　the　hall　is
the　great　staircase　all　in　black　oak；　as　dismal　as　may　be；
and　on　either　side　are　tall　doors　with　stags'　heads。over
them；　leading　to　the　billiard…room　and　the　library；　and
the　great　yellow　saloon　and　the　morning…rooms。　　I　think
there　are　at　least　twenty　bedrooms　on　the　first　floor；　one
of　them　has　the　bed　in　which　Queen　Elizabeth　slept；
and　I　have　been　taken　by　my　new　pupils　through　all
these　fine　apartments　this　morning。　　They　are　not
rendered　less　gloomy；　I　promise　you；　by　having　the　shutters
always　shut；　and　there　is　scarce　one　of　the　apartments；
but　when　the　light　was　let　into　it；　I　expected　to
see　a　ghost　in　the　room。　　We　have　a　schoolroom　on　the
second　floor；　with　my　bedroom　leading　into　it　on　one
side；　and　that　of　the　young　ladies　on　the　other。　　Then
there　are　Mr。　Pitt's　apartmentsMr。　Crawley；　he　is
calledthe　eldest　son；　and　Mr。　Rawdon　Crawley's　rooms
he　is　an　officer　like　SOMEBODY；　and　away　with　his
regiment。　　There　is　no　want　of　room　I　assure　you。　　You
might　lodge　all　the　people　in　Russell　Square　in　the
house；　I　think；　and　have　space　to　spare。
Half　an　hour　after　our　arrival；　the　great　dinner…bell
was　rung；　and　I　came　down　with　my　two　pupils　（they
are　very　thin　insignificant　little　chits　of　ten　and　eight
years　old）。　　I　came　down　in　your　dear　muslin　gown
（about　which　that　odious　Mrs。　Pinner　was　so　rude；　
because　you　gave　it　me）；　for　I　am　to　be　treated　as　one　of
the　family；　except　on　company　days；　when　the　young
ladies　and　I　are　to　dine　upstairs。
Well；　the　great　dinner…bell　rang；　and　we　all　assembled
in　the　little　drawing…room　where　my　Lady　Crawley
sits。　　She　is　the　second　Lady　Crawley；　and　mother　of　the
young　ladies。　　She　was　an　ironmonger's　daughter；　and
her　marriage　was　thought　a　great　match。　　She　looks　as
if　she　had　been　handsome　once；　and　her　eyes　are　always
weeping　for　the　loss　of　her　beauty。　　She　is　pale　and
meagre　and　high…shouldered；　and　has　not　a　word　to　say
for　herself；　evidently。　　Her　stepson　Mr。　Crawley；　was
likewise　in　the　room。　　He　was　in　full　dress；　as　pompous
as　an　undertaker。　　He　is　pale；　thin；　ugly；　silent；　he　has
thin　legs；　no　chest；　hay…coloured　whiskers；　and　straw…
coloured　hair。　　He　is　the　very　picture　of　his　sainted
mother　over　the　mantelpieceGriselda　of　the　noble
house　of　Binkie。
〃This　is　the　new　governess；　Mr。　Crawley；〃　said　Lady
Crawley；　coming　forward　and　taking　my　hand。　　〃Miss
Sharp。〃
〃0！〃　said　Mr。　Crawley；　and　pushed　his　head　once
forward　and　began　again　to　read　a　great　pamphlet
with　which　he　was　busy。
〃I　hope　you　will　be　kind　to　my　girls；〃　said　Lady
Crawley；　with　her　pink　eyes　always　full　of　tears。
〃Law；　Ma；　of　course　she　will；〃　said　the　eldest：　and　I
saw　at　a　glance　that　I　need　not　be　afraid　of　THAT　woman。
〃My　lady　is　served；〃　says　the　butler　in　black；　in　an
immense　white　shirt…frill；　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been
one　of　the　Queen　Elizabeth's　ruffs　depicted　in　the　hall；
and　so；　taking　Mr。　Crawley's　arm；　she　led　the　way　to　the
dining…room；　whither　I　followed　with　my　little　pupils　in
each　hand。
Sir　Pitt　was　already　in　the　room　with　a　silver　jug。　　He
had　just　been　to　the　cellar；　and　was　in　full　dress　too；
that　is；　he　had　taken　his　gaiters　off；　and　showed　his　little
dumpy　legs　in　black　worsted　stockings。　　The　sideboard
was　covered　with　glistening　old　plateold　cups；　both