vanity fair(名利场)-第36节

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suspicion　all　the　while　of　her　affectionate　nurse　and　friend。
It　must　have　often　crossed　Miss　Crawley's　mind　that
nobody　does　anything　for　nothing。　　If　she　measured　her　own
feeling　towards　the　world；　she　must　have　been　pretty
well　able　to　gauge　those　of　the　world　towards　herself；
and　perhaps　she　reflected　that　it　is　the　ordinary　lot　of
people　to　have　no　friends　if　they　themselves　care　for
nobody。
　　
Well；　meanwhile　Becky　was　the　greatest　comfort　and
convenience　to　her；　and　she　gave　her　a　couple　of　new
gowns；　and　an　old　necklace　and　shawl；　and　showed　her
friendship　by　abusing　all　her　intimate　acquaintances　to
her　new　confidante　（than　which　there　can't　be　a　more
touching　proof　of　regard）；　and　meditated　vaguely　some
great　future　benefitto　marry　her　perhaps　to　Clump；
the　apothecary；　or　to　settle　her　in　some　advantageous
way　of　life；　or　at　any　rate；　to　send　her　back　to　Queen's
Crawley　when　she　had　done　with　her；　and　the　full
London　season　had　begun。
　　
When　Miss　Crawley　was　convalescent　and　descended
to　the　drawing…room；　Becky　sang　to　her；　and　otherwise
amused　her；　when　she　was　well　enough　to　drive　out；
Becky　accompanied　her。　　And　amongst　the　drives　which
they　took；　whither；　of　all　places　in　the　world；　did　Miss
Crawley's　admirable　good…nature　and　friendship　actually
induce　her　to　penetrate；　but　to　Russell　Square；
Bloomsbury；　and　the　house　of　John　Sedley；　Esquire。
　　
Ere　that　event；　many　notes　had　passed；　as　may　be
imagined；　between　the　two　dear　friends。　　During　the
months　of　Rebecca's　stay　in　Hampshire；　the　eternal
friendship　had　（must　it　be　owned？）　suffered　considerable
diminution；　and　grown　so　decrepit　and　feeble　with　old
age　as　to　threaten　demise　altogether。　　The　fact　is；　both
girls　had　their　own　real　affairs　to　think　of：　Rebecca　her
advance　with　her　employersAmelia　her　own　absorbing
topic。　　When　the　two　girls　met；　and　flew　into　each　other's
arms　with　that　impetuosity　which　distinguishes　the
behaviour　of　young　ladies　towards　each　other；　Rebecca
performed　her　part　of　the　embrace　with　the　most　perfect
briskness　and　energy。　　Poor　little　Amelia　blushed　as　she
kissed　her　friend；　and　thought　she　had　been　guilty　of
something　very　like　coldness　towards　her。
　　
Their　first　interview　was　but　a　very　short　one。　　Amelia
was　just　ready　to　go　out　for　a　walk。　　Miss　Crawley　was
waiting　in　her　carriage　below；　her　people　wondering　at
the　locality　in　which　they　found　themselves；　and　gazing
upon　honest　Sambo；　the　black　footman　of　Bloomsbury；
as　one　of　the　queer　natives　of　the　place。　　But　when　Amelia
came　down　with　her　kind　smiling　looks　（Rebecca　must
introduce　her　to　her　friend；　Miss　Crawley　was　longing
to　see　her；　and　was　too　ill　to　leave　her　carriage）when；
I　say；　Amelia　came　down；　the　Park　Lane　shoulder…knot
aristocracy　wondered　more　and　more　that　such　a　thing
could　come　out　of　Bloomsbury；　and　Miss　Crawley　was
fairly　captivated　by　the　sweet　blushing　face　of　the　young
lady　who　came　forward　so　timidly　and　so　gracefully　to
pay　her　respects　to　the　protector　of　her　friend。
〃What　a　complexion；　my　dear！　What　a　sweet　voice！〃
Miss　Crawley　said；　as　they　drove　away　westward　after
the　little　interview。　　〃My　dear　Sharp；　your　young　friend
is　charming。　　Send　for　her　to　Park　Lane；　do　you　hear？〃
Miss　Crawley　had　a　good　taste。　　She　liked　natural
mannersa　little　timidity　only　set　them　off。　　She　liked　pretty
faces　near　her；　as　she　liked　pretty　pictures　and　nice
china。　　She　talked　of　Amelia　with　rapture　half　a　dozen
times　that　day。　　She　mentioned　her　to　Rawdon　Crawley；
who　came　dutifully　to　partake　of　his　aunt's　chicken。
　　
Of　course；　on　this　Rebecca　instantly　stated　that　Amelia
was　engaged　to　be　marriedto　a　Lieutenant　Osborne
a　very　old　flame。
　　
〃Is　he　a　man　in　a　line…regiment？〃　Captain　Crawley
asked；　remembering　after　an　effort；　as　became　a
guardsman；　the　number　of　the　regiment；　the　th。
　　
Rebecca　thought　that　was　the　regiment。　　〃The
Captain's　name；〃　she　said；　〃was　Captain　Dobbin。〃
　　
〃A　lanky　gawky　fellow；〃　said　Crawley；　〃tumbles　over
everybody。　　I　know　him；　and　Osborne's　a　goodish…looking
fellow；　with　large　black　whiskers？〃
　　
〃Enormous；〃　Miss　Rebecca　Sharp　said；　〃and
enormously　proud　of　them；　I　assure　you。〃
　　
Captain　Rawdon　Crawley　burst　into　a　horse…laugh　by
way　of　reply；　and　being　pressed　by　the　ladies　to　explain；
did　so　when　the　explosion　of　hilarity　was　over。　　〃He
fancies　he　can　play　at　billiards；〃　said　he。　　〃I　won　two
hundred　of　him　at　the　Cocoa…Tree。　　HE　play；　the　young
flat！　　He'd　have　played　for　anything　that　day；　but　his　friend
Captain　Dobbin　carried　him　off；　hang　him！〃
　　
〃Rawdon；　Rawdon；　don't　be　so　wicked；〃　Miss　Crawley
remarked；　highly　pleased。
　　
〃Why；　ma'am；　of　all　the　young　fellows　I've　seen　out
of　the　line；　I　think　this　fellow's　the　greenest。　　Tarquin　and
Deuceace　get　what　money　they　like　out　of　him。　　He'd　go
to　the　deuce　to　be　seen　with　a　lord。　　He　pays　their
dinners　at　Greenwich；　and　they　invite　the　company。〃
　　
〃And　very　pretty　company　too；　I　dare　say。〃
　　
〃Quite　right；　Miss　Sharp。　　Right；　as　usual；　Miss　Sharp。
Uncommon　pretty　companyhaw；　haw！〃　and　the
Captain　laughed　more　and　more；　thinking　he　had　made　a
good　joke。
〃Rawdon；　don't　be　naughty！〃　his　aunt　exclaimed。
　　
〃Well；　his　father's　a　City　manimmensely　rich；　they
say。　　Hang　those　City　fellows；　they　must　bleed；　and　I've
not　done　with　him　yet；　I　can　tell　you。　　Haw；　haw！〃
　　
〃Fie；　Captain　Crawley；　I　shall　warn　Amelia。　　A
gambling　husband！〃
　　
〃Horrid；　ain't　he；　hey？〃　the　Captain　said　with　great
solemnity；　and　then　added；　a　sudden　thought　having
struck　him：　〃Gad；　I　say；　ma'am；　we'll　have　him　here。〃
　　
〃Is　he　a　presentable　sort　of　a　person？〃　the　aunt
inquired。
　　
〃Presentable？oh；　very　well。　　You　wouldn't　see　any
difference；〃　Captain　Crawley　answered。　　〃Do　let's　have
him；　when　you　begin　to　see　a　few　people；　and　his
whatdyecallemhis　inamoratoeh；　Miss　Sharp；　that's　what
you　call　itcomes。　　Gad；　I'll　write　him　a　note；　and　have
him；　and　I'll　try　if　he　can　play　piquet　as　well　as　billiards。
Where　does　he　live；　Miss　Sharp？〃
　　
Miss　Sharp　told　Crawley　the　Lieutenant's　town　address；
and　a　few　days　after　this　conversation；　Lieutenant
Osborne　received　a　letter；　in　Captain　Rawdon's
schoolboy　hand；　and　enclosing　a　note　of　invitation　from
Miss　Crawley。
　　
Rebecca　despatched　also　an　invitation　to　her　darling
Amelia；　who；　you　may　be　sure；　was　ready　enough　to
accept　it　when　she　heard　that　George　was　to　be　of　the
party。　　It　was　arranged　that　Amelia　was　to　spend　the
morning　with　the　ladies　of　Park　Lane；　where　all　were
very　kind　to　her。　　Rebecca　patronised　her　with　calm
superiority：　she　was　so　much　the　cleverer　of　the　two；　and
her　friend　so　gentle　and　unassuming；　that　she　always
yielded　when　anybody　chose　to　command；　and　so　took
Rebecca's　orders　with　perfect　meekness　and　good　humour。
Miss　Crawley's　graciousness　was　also　remarkable。　　She
continued　her　raptures　about　little　Amelia；　talked　about
her　before　her　face　as　if　she　were　a　doll；　or　a　servant；
or　a　picture；　and　admired　her　with　the　most　benevolent
wonder　possible。　　I　admire　that　admiration　which　the
genteel　world　sometimes　extends　to　the　commonalty。
There　is　no　more　agreeable　object　in　life　than　to　see
Mayfair　folks　condescending。　　Miss　Crawley's　prodigious
benevolence　rather　fatigued　poor　little　Amelia；　and　I　am
not　sure　that　of　the　three　ladies　in　Park　Lane　she　did
not　find　honest　Miss　Briggs　the　most　agreeable。　　She
sympathised　with　Briggs　as　with　all　neglected　or　gentle
people：　she　wasn't　what　you　call　a　woman　of　spirit。
　　
George　came　to　dinnera　repast　en　garcon　with
Captain　Crawley。
　　
The　great　family　coach　of　the　Osbornes　transported
him　to　Park　Lane　from　Russell　Square；　where　the　young
ladies；　who　were　not　themselves　invited；　and　professed
the　greatest　indifference　at　that　slight；　nevertheless　looked
at　Sir　Pitt　Crawley's　name　in　the　baronetage；　and　learned
everything　which　that　work　had　to　teach　about　the
Crawley　family　and　their　pedigree；　and　the　Binkies；　their
relatives；　&c。；　&c。　　Rawdon　Crawley　received　George　Osborne
with　great　frankness　and　graciousness：　praised　his　play　at
billiards：　asked　him　when　he　would　have　his　revenge：
was　interested　about　Osborne's　regiment：　and　would　have
proposed　piquet　to　him　that　very　evening；　but　Miss
Crawley　absolutely　forbade　any　gambling　in　her　house；
so　that　the　young　Lieutenant's　purse　was　not　lightened
by　his　gallant　patron；　for　that　day　at　least。　　However；　they
made　an　engagement　for　the　next；　somewhere：　to　look
at　a　horse　that　Crawley　had　to　sell；　and　to　try　him　in　the
Park；　and　to　dine　together；　and　to　pass　the　evening　with
some　jolly　fellows。　　〃That　is；　if　you're　not　on　duty　to　that
pretty　Miss　Sedley；〃　Crawley　said；　with　a　knowing　wink。
〃Monstrous　nice　girl；　'pon　my　honour；　though；　Osborne；〃
he　was　good　enough　to　add。　　〃Lots　of　tin；　I　suppose；　eh？〃
　　
Osborne　wasn't　on　duty；　he　would　join　Crawley　with
pleasure：　and　the　latter；　when　they　met　the　next　day；
praised　his　new　friend's　horsemanshipas　he　might　with
perfect　honestyand　introduced　him　to　three　or　four
young　men　of　the　first　fashion；　whose　acquaintance
immensely　elated　the　simple　young　officer。
　　
〃How's　little　Miss　Sharp；　by…the…bye？〃　Osborne　inquired
of　his　frien