vanity fair(名利场)-第192节

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The　bird　has　come　in　at　last。　　There　it　is　with　its　head　on
his　shoulder；　billing　and　cooing　close　up　to　his　heart；
with　soft　outstretched　fluttering　wings。　　This　is　what　he
has　asked　for　every　day　and　hour　for　eighteen　years。　　This
is　what　he　pined　after。　　Here　it　isthe　summit；　the　end
the　last　page　of　the　third　volume。　　Good…bye；　Colonel
God　bless　you；　honest　William！Farewell；　dear　Amelia
Grow　green　again；　tender　little　parasite；　round　the
rugged　old　oak　to　which　you　cling！
Perhaps　it　was　compunction　towards　the　kind　and
simple　creature；　who　had　been　the　first　in　life　to　defend
her；　perhaps　it　was　a　dislike　to　all　such　sentimental　scenes
but　Rebecca；　satisfied　with　her　part　in　the　transaction；
never　presented　herself　before　Colonel　Dobbin　and　the
lady　whom　he　married。　　〃Particular　business；〃　she　said；
took　her　to　Bruges；　whither　she　went；　and　only　Georgy
and　his　uncle　were　present　at　the　marriage　ceremony。
When　it　was　over；　and　Georgy　had　rejoined　his　parents；
Mrs。　Becky　returned　（just　for　a　few　days）　to　comfort　the
solitary　bachelor；　Joseph　Sedley。　　He　preferred　a
continental　life；　he　said；　and　declined　to　join　in　housekeeping
with　his　sister　and　her　husband。
Emmy　was　very　glad　in　her　heart　to　think　that　she
had　written　to　her　husband　before　she　read　or　knew　of
that　letter　of　George's。　　〃I　knew　it　all　along；〃　William
said；　〃but　could　I　use　that　weapon　against　the　poor
fellow's　memory？　It　was　that　which　made　me　suffer　so
when　you〃
〃Never　speak　of　that　day　again；〃　Emmy　cried　out；　so
contrite　and　humble　that　William　turned　off　the
conversation　by　his　account　of　Glorvina　and　dear　old　Peggy
O'Dowd；　with　whom　he　was　sitting　when　the　letter　of
recall　reached　him。　　〃If　you　hadn't　sent　for　me；〃　he　added
with　a　laugh；　〃who　knows　what　Glorvina's　name　might
be　now？〃
At　present　it　is　Glorvina　Posky　（now　Mrs。　Major
Posky）；　she　took　him　on　the　death　of　his　first　wife；
having　resolved　never　to　marry　out　of　the　regiment。　　Lady
O'Dowd　is　also　so　attached　to　it　that；　she　says；　if　anything
were　to　happen　to　Mick；　bedad　she'd　come　back
and　marry　some　of　'em。　　But　the　Major…General　is　quite
well　and　lives　in　great　splendour　at　O'Dowdstown；　with
a　pack　of　beagles；　and　（with　the　exception　of　perhaps
their　neighbour；　Hoggarty　of　Castle　Hoggarty）　he　is　the
first　man　of　his　county。　　Her　Ladyship　still　dances　jigs；　and
insisted　on　standing　up　with　the　Master　of　the　Horse　at
the　Lord　Lieutenant's　last　ball。　　Both　she　and　Glorvina
declared　that　Dobbin　had　used　the　latter　SHEAMFULLY；　but
Posky　falling　in；　Glorvina　was　consoled；　and　a　beautiful
turban　from　Paris　appeased　the　wrath　of　Lady　O'Dowd。
When　Colonel　Dobbin　quitted　the　service；　which　he　did
immediately　after　his　marriage；　he　rented　a　pretty　little
country　place　in　Hampshire；　not　far　from　Queen's　Crawley；
where；　after　the　passing　of　the　Reform　Bill；　Sir　Pitt
and　his　family　constantly　resided　now。　　All　idea　of　a
Peerage　was　out　of　the　question；　the　Baronet's　two　seats
in　Parliament　being　lost。　　He　was　both　out　of　pocket　and
out　of　spirits　by　that　catastrophe；　failed　in　his　health；
and　prophesied　the　speedy　ruin　of　the　Empire。
Lady　Jane　and　Mrs。　Dobbin　became　great　friends
there　was　a　perpetual　crossing　of　pony…chaises　between
the　Hall　and　the　Evergreens；　the　Colonel's　place　（rented
of　his　friend　Major　Ponto；　who　was　abroad　with　his
family）。　　Her　Ladyship　was　godmother　to　Mrs。　Dobbin's　child；
which　bore　her　name；　and　was　christened　by　the　Rev。
James　Crawley；　who　succeeded　his　father　in　the　living：
and　a　pretty　close　friendship　subsisted　between　the　two
lads；　George　and　Rawdon；　who　hunted　and　shot　together
in　the　vacations；　were　both　entered　of　the　same　college
at　Cambridge；　and　quarrelled　with　each　other　about　Lady
Jane's　daughter；　with　whom　they　were　both；　of　course；
in　love。　　A　match　between　George　and　that　young　lady　was
long　a　favourite　scheme　of　both　the　matrons；　though　I
have　heard　that　Miss　Crawley　herself　inclined　towards
her　cousin。
Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley's　name　was　never　mentioned　by
either　family。　　There　were　reasons　why　all　should　be　silent
regarding　her。　　For　wherever　Mr。　Joseph　Sedley　went；　she
travelled　likewise；　and　that　infatuated　man　seemed　to　be
entirely　her　slave。　　The　Colonel's　lawyers　informed　him
that　his　brother…in…law　had　effected　a　heavy　insurance
upon　his　life；　whence　it　was　probable　that　he　had　been
raising　money　to　discharge　debts。　　He　procured　prolonged
leave　of　absence　from　the　East　India　House；　and　indeed；
his　infirmities　were　daily　increasing。
On　hearing　the　news　about　the　insurance；　Amelia；　in
a　good　deal　of　alarm；　entreated　her　husband　to　go　to
Brussels；　where　Jos　then　was；　and　inquire　into　the　state
of　his　affairs。　　The　Colonel　quitted　home　with　reluctance
（for　he　was　deeply　immersed　in　his　History　of　the
Punjaub　which　still　occupies　him；　and　much　alarmed
about　his　little　daughter；　whom　he　idolizes；　and　who　was
just　recovering　from　the　chicken…pox）　and　went　to　Brussels
and　found　Jos　living　at　one　of　the　enormous　hotels
in　that　city。　　Mrs。　Crawley；　who　had　her　carriage；　gave
entertainments；　and　lived　in　a　very　genteel　manner；
occupied　another　suite　of　apartments　in　the　same　hotel。
The　Colonel；　of　course；　did　not　desire　to　see　that　lady；
or　even　think　proper　to　notify　his　arrival　at　Brussels；
except　privately　to　Jos　by　a　message　through　his　valet。　　Jos
begged　the　Colonel　to　come　and　see　him　that　night；　when
Mrs。　Crawley　would　be　at　a　soiree；　and　when　they　could
meet　alone。　　He　found　his　brother…in…law　in　a　condition　of
pitiable　infirmityand　dreadfully　afraid　of　Rebecca；
though　eager　in　his　praises　of　her。　　She　tended　him　through
a　series　of　unheard…of　illnesses　with　a　fidelity　most
admirable。　　She　had　been　a　daughter　to　him。　　〃Butbut
oh；　for　God's　sake；　do　come　and　live　near　me；　andand
see　me　sometimes；〃　whimpered　out　the　unfortunate
man。
The　Colonel's　brow　darkened　at　this。　　〃We　can't；　Jos；〃
he　said。　　〃Considering　the　circumstances；　Amelia　can't
visit　you。〃
〃I　swear　to　youI　swear　to　you　on　the　Bible；〃　gasped
out　Joseph；　wanting　to　kiss　the　book；　〃that　she　is　as
innocent　as　a　child；　as　spotless　as　your　own　wife。〃
〃It　may　be　so；〃　said　the　Colonel　gloomily；　〃but　Emmy
can't　come　to　you。　　Be　a　man；　Jos：　　break　off　this
disreputable　connection。　　Come　home　to　your　family。　　We　hear
your　affairs　are　involved。〃
〃Involved！〃　cried　Jos。　　〃Who　has　told　such　calumnies？
All　my　money　is　placed　out　most　advantageously。　　Mrs。
Crawleythat　isI　meanit　is　laid　out　to　the　best
interest。〃
〃You　are　not　in　debt；　then？　Why　did　you　insure　your
life？〃
〃I　thoughta　little　present　to　herin　case　anything
happened；　and　you　know　my　health　is　so　delicatecommon
gratitude　you　knowand　I　intend　to　leave　all　my
money　to　youand　I　can　spare　it　out　of　my　income；
indeed　I　can；〃　cried　out　William's　weak　brother…in…law。
The　Colonel　besought　Jos　to　fly　at　onceto　go　back　to
India；　whither　Mrs。　Crawley　could　not　follow　him；　to
do　anything　to　break　off　a　connection　which　might　have
the　most　fatal　consequences　to　him。
Jos　clasped　his　hands　and　cried；　〃He　would　go　back　to
India。　　He　would　do　anything；　only　he　must　have　time：
they　mustn't　say　anything　to　Mrs。　Crawleyshe'dshe'd
kill　me　if　she　knew　it。　　You　don't　know　what　a　terrible
woman　she　is；〃　the　poor　wretch　said。
〃Then；　why　not　come　away　with　me？〃　said　Dobbin　in
reply；　but　Jos　had　not　the　courage。　　〃He　would　see
Dobbin　again　in　the　morning；　he　must　on　no　account　say　that
he　had　been　there。　　He　must　go　now。　　Becky　might　come
in。〃　And　Dobbin　quitted　him；　full　of　forebodings。
He　never　saw　Jos　more。　　Three　months　afterwards
Joseph　Sedley　died　at　Aix…la…Chapelle。　　It　was　found　that
all　his　property　had　been　muddled　away　in　speculations；
and　was　represented　by　valueless　shares　in　different
bubble　companies。　　All　his　available　assets　were　the　two
thousand　pounds　for　which　his　life　was　insured；　and　which
were　left　equally　between　his　beloved　〃sister　Amelia；
wife　of；　&c。；　and　his　friend　and　invaluable　attendant
during　sickness；　Rebecca；　wife　of　Lieutenant…Colonel
Rawdon　Crawley；　C。B。；〃　who　was　appointed　administratrix。
The　solicitor　of　the　insurance　company　swore　it　was
the　blackest　case　that　ever　had　come　before　him；　talked
of　sending　a　commission　to　Aix　to　examine　into　the　death；
and　the　Company　refused　payment　of　the　policy。　　But
Mrs。；　or　Lady　Crawley；　as　she　styled　herself；　came　to
town　at　once　（attended　with　her　solicitors；　Messrs。　　Burke；
Thurtell；　and　Hayes；　of　Thavies　Inn）　and　dared　the
Company　to　refuse　the　payment。　　They　invited　examination；
they　declared　that　she　was　the　object　of　an　infamous
conspiracy；　which　had　been　pursuing　her　all　through　life；
and　triumphed　finally。　　The　money　was　paid；　and　her
character　established；　but　Colonel　Dobbin　sent　back　his　share
of　the　legacy　to　the　insurance　office　and　rigidly　declined　to
hold　any　communication　with　Rebecca
She　never　was　Lady　Crawley；　though　she　continued　so
to　call　herself。　　His　Excellency　Colonel　Rawdon　Crawley
died　of　yellow　fever　at　Coventry　Island；　most　deeply
beloved　and　deplored；　and　six　weeks　before　the　demise　of
his　brother；　Sir　Pitt。　　The　estate　consequently　devolved
upon　the　present　Sir　Rawdon　Crawley；　Bart。
He；　too；　has　declined　to　see　his　mot