the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第6节
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INTO A MAGNIFICENT CHARIOT； AND HAS YET FURTHER
GOOD LUCK
I sat on the back seat of the carriage； near a very nice young lady；
about my dear Mary's agethat is to say； seventeen and three…quarters； and
opposite us sat the old Countess and her other grand…daughterhandsome
too； but ten years older。 I recollect I had on that day my blue coat and
brass buttons； nankeen trousers； a white sprig waist…coat； and one of
Dando's silk hats； that had just come in in the year '22； and looked a great
deal more glossy than the best beaver。
〃And who was that hidjus manster〃that was the way her Ladyship
pronounced；〃that ojous vulgar wretch； with the iron heels to his boots；
and the big mouth； and the imitation goold neck…chain； who STEERED at
us so as we got into the carriage？〃
How she should have known that Gus's chain was mosaic I can't tell；
but so it was； and we had bought it for five…and…twenty and sixpence only
the week before at M'Phail's； in St。 Paul's Churchyard。 But I did not like
to hear my friend abused； and so spoke out for him …
〃Ma'am；〃 says I； 〃that young gentleman's name is Augustus Hoskins。
We live together； and a better or more kind…hearted fellow does not exist。〃
〃You are quite right to stand up for your friends； sir；〃 said the second
lady； whose name； it appears； was Lady Jane； but whom the grandmamma
called Lady Jene。
〃Well； upon me conscience； so he is now； Lady Jene； and I like sper't
in a young man。 So his name is Hoskins； is it？ I know； my dears； all
the Hoskinses in England。 There are the Lincolnshire Hoskinses； the
Shropshire Hoskinses： they say the Admiral's daughter； Bell； was in love
with a black footman； or boatswain； or some such thing； but the world's so
censorious。 There's old Doctor Hoskins of Bath； who attended poor dear
Drum in the quinsy； and poor dear old Fred Hoskins； the gouty General：
I remember him as thin as a lath in the year '84； and as active as a
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harlequin； and in love with meoh； how he was in love with me！〃
〃You seem to have had a host of admirers in those days；
Grandmamma？〃 said Lady Jane。
〃Hundreds； my dear；hundreds of thousands。 I was the toast of Bath；
and a great beauty； too： would you ever have thought it now； upon your
conscience and without flattery； Mr。…a…What…d'ye…call… 'im？〃
〃Indeed； ma'am； I never should；〃 I answered； for the old lady was as
ugly as possible； and at my saying this the two young ladies began
screaming with laughter； and I saw the two great…whiskered footmen
grinning over the back of the carriage。
〃Upon my word； you're mighty candid； Mr。 What's…your…namemighty
candid indeed； but I like candour in young people。 But a beauty I was。
Just ask your friend's uncle the General。 He's one of the Lincolnshire
HoskinsesI knew he was by the strong family likeness。 Is he the eldest
son？ It's a pretty property； though sadly encumbered； for old Sir George
was the divvle of a mana friend of Hanbury Williams； and Lyttleton； and
those horrid； monstrous； ojous people！ How much will he have now；
mister； when the Admiral dies？〃
〃Why； ma'am； I can't say； but the Admiral is not my friend's father。〃
〃Not his father？but he IS； I tell you； and I'm never wrong。 Who is
his father； then？〃
〃Ma'am； Gus's father's a leatherseller in Skinner Street； Snow Hill；a
very respectable house； ma'am。 But Gus is only third son； and so can't
expect a great share in the property。〃
The two young ladies smiled at thisthe old lady said； 〃Hwat？〃
〃I like you； sir；〃 Lady Jane said； 〃for not being ashamed of your
friends； whatever their rank of life may be。 Shall we have the pleasure of
setting you down anywhere； Mr。 Titmarsh？〃
〃Noways particular； my Lady；〃 says I。 〃We have a holiday at our
office to…dayat least Roundhand gave me and Gus leave； and I shall be
very happy； indeed； to take a drive in the Park； if it's no offence。〃
〃I'm sure it will give usinfinite pleasure；〃 said Lady Jane； though
rather in a grave way。
〃Oh； that it will！〃 says Lady Fanny； clapping her hands： 〃won't it；
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Grandmamma？ And after we have been in the Park； we can walk in
Kensington Gardens； if Mr。 Titmarsh will be good enough to accompany
us。〃
〃Indeed； Fanny； we will do no such thing；〃 says Lady Jane。
〃Indeed； but we will though！〃 shrieked out Lady Drum。 〃Ain't I
dying to know everything about his uncle and thirteen aunts？ and you're
all chattering so； you young women； that not a blessed syllable will you
allow me or my young friend here to speak。〃
Lady Jane gave a shrug with her shoulders； and did not say a single
word more。 Lady Fanny； who was as gay as a young kitten （if I may be
allowed so to speak of the aristocracy）； laughed； and blushed； and giggled；
and seemed quite to enjoy her sister's ill…humour。 And the Countess began
at once； and entered into the history of the thirteen Misses Hoggarty；
which was not near finished when we entered the Park。
When there； you can't think what hundreds of gents on horseback
came to the carriage and talked to the ladies。 They had their joke for
Lady Drum； who seemed to be a character in her way； their bow for Lady
Jane； and； the young ones especially； their compliment for Lady Fanny。
Though she bowed and blushed； as a young lady should； Lady Fanny
seemed to be thinking of something else； for she kept her head out of the
carriage； looking eagerly among the horsemen； as if she expected to see
somebody。 Aha！ my Lady Fanny； I knew what it meant when a young
pretty lady like you was absent； and on the look…out； and only half
answered the questions put to her。 Let alone Sam Titmarshhe knows
what Somebody means as well as another； I warrant。 As I saw these
manoeuvres going on； I could not help just giving a wink to Lady Jane； as
much as to say I knew what was what。 〃I guess the young lady is looking
for Somebody；〃 says I。 It was then her turn to look queer； I assure you；
and she blushed as red as scarlet； but； after a minute； the good…natured
little thing looked at her sister； and both the young ladies put their
handkerchiefs up to their faces； and began laughinglaughing as if I had
said the funniest thing in the world。
〃Il est charmant； votre monsieur；〃 said Lady Jane to her grandmamma；
and on which I bowed； and said； 〃Madame； vous me faites beaucoup
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d'honneur：〃 for I know the French language； and was pleased to find that
these good ladies had taken a liking to me。 〃I'm a poor humble lad； ma'am；
not used to London society； and do really feel it quite kind of you to take
me by the hand so； and give me a drive in your fine carriage。〃
At this minute a gentleman on a black horse； with a pale face and a tuft
to his chin； came riding up to the carriage； and I knew by a little start that
Lady Fanny gave； and by her instantly looking round the other way； that
SOMEBODY was come at last。
〃Lady Drum；〃 said he； 〃your most devoted servant！ I have just been
riding with a gentleman who almost shot himself for love of the beautiful
Countess of Drum in the yearnever mind the year。〃
〃Was it Killblazes？〃 said the lady： 〃he's a dear old man； and I'm quite
ready to go off with him this minute。 Or was it that delight of an old
bishop？ He's got a lock of my hair nowI gave it him when he was
Papa's chaplain； and let me tell you it would be a hard matter to find
another now in the same place。〃
〃Law； my Lady！〃 says I； 〃you don't say so？〃
〃But indeed I do； my good sir；〃 says she； 〃for between ourselves； my
head's as bare as a cannon…ballask Fanny if it isn'
